ANNIKA VIVIAN HAYDEN was born and raised in the state of California — more specifically in the City of Angels, where she was born as the only child to a newly-wed couple. The early years of her childhood were rather lovely, but those happy days came to an end when Annika's father left her and her mother on the young girl's birthday, turning his back on his daughter and leaving her asking all the big questions her mom had no answers to. However, Annika eventually learned to live without a man in the house, and actually, the life she then shared with only her mother turned out to be quite nice. Peaceful, calm. The two women were close, and with her kindness and loyalty, Annika's mother was the girl's role model growing up. Her mother never judged, and supported Annie through everything, especially when she started to realize she was bisexual and eventually got a girlfriend.

But sadly, the happiness Annika had rebuilt came crashing down when her mother fell ill, and was given only little time to live. Eventually, the woman passed away and Annika was left alone in the house that felt a lot bigger now that she was the only person living in it. She had now lost both of her parents, and it took her a while to get back up to both feet and keep on fighting.

It wasn't impossible, though. And once she had cried her eyes dry and put the pieces of her heart back together — many times — Annika decided to do something with her life, something that would make her mother proud. Certainly, she wouldn't want Annie to waste her days. So she began to fulfill her dreams. She studied hard and managed to get her dream job at a local school — inspired by a kind teacher in her childhood, Annika had desired the job of a school teacher for the longest time, and at last, it was hers. The rush she got whenever she stood in front of the class and started the young kids on their long road of education was always worth all the bad days and the struggles she faced on her career path. On top of her dream job, Annika found a new house to live in and bought a kitten. She was starting a new life, and somehow, it was easier than she had imagined.

The kindness she had gotten from her mother helped Annie make friends, even though very few — she was a good person, reliable and friendly, but she did like her own peace too — and she grew close with a woman named Maeve Reilly, who happened to work at the same school as her. They were complete opposites, as Annika was calm, quiet and reserved, but Myra was a party animal who had probably slept with the head teacher of the school too, yet they got along well. But being friends with Maeve also got Annika into situations she wouldn't have even thought of by herself, but indeed, her co-worker was eager to drag the redhead into parties.

But it isn't until Annika ends up at a club named Lux that things really take a turn — for the better.