Your POV

I was currently sitting in the school's library waiting for the detention to start. I think I came a bit early because there was no one else here yet.

It's not like I have anywhere else to be anyways so I might as well scroll through my social medias while I wait for Normani to get here.

I unlocked my phone and went searching through the depths of Twitter then soon after getting bored of it. I swiped up so that I could go onto Snapchat but my phone was snatched out of my hand by the one and onl y Miss Kordei.

"What cha lookin at? Ooooh Snapchat? You've got some unopened snaps from people! Should I open them? Actually, you know what, knowing you, maybe I shouldn't look at those. Don't wanna expose my clean eyes to that." The brat rambled.

"Um actually they're streaks!" I bit back in a playful manner.

"Really? How come I only see your streak emoji next to half of those unopened pics then? Who are the other people and what could they possibly want to show you, Y/N?"

I was about to reply when I noticed an unfamiliar student lowly snickering at me and Normani's interaction from her table in the corner. That's weird, I didn't notice her there a second ago and I've definitely never seen her around the halls. Then again, it is a large student body.

"Well- I-....how should I know what they want? I clearly haven't opened them so, therefore, I know just as much as you do about these unseen pictures." I rambled.

"Sure."

"You know what-" I stop my sentence as soon as I see a gloomy and irritated Lauren Jauregui sluggishly walk in the library.

She made her way over to our area where detention is being held and when her eyes met mine, her irate state visibly amplified. She looks like she's had a long, shitty day. Amazing.

"Well would you look at that. It's a Lauren Jauregui. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" I ask in a dramatic manner which made Normani struggle to stifle a laugh. The unknown girl in the corner table made no effort to hide the amused grin on her face. Lauren, on the other hand, was not amused in the slightest.

"Funny you should ask. But since you did, I'll let you know. I've been given a week of after school detention after some ugly, spud faced fucker pushed me into the now broken vending machine. I'm sure you can make an educated guess on who I'm talking about. But if you have a hard time guessing, I'd be happy to help you because I'm full aware of the fact that your brain has the attention span and capability of a goldfish." She finished with a flushed red face of annoyance.

"Damn. That was a lot. I deserved that, though." I said in truth.

"Yeah no shit, sweetheart."

At this point, Normani was in a fit of laughter and the unfamiliar girl in the corner was watching this whole interaction with wide eyes and a look that read that she was entertained by this. If her eyes didn't give away her utter amusement, her body language sure did. Sitting back in her chair with her arms folded comfortably across her stomach whilst her feet were crossed and resting on the table top.

Lauren settled three tables away from mine and Mani's. It didn't come as a shock to anyone in that library that she didn't want to sit next to me.

It's too bad she's a jerk, she looked mighty fine today in her white adidas shirt, teal-green bomber jacket, and black shorts that left her toned legs exposed.

She held a partially annoyed but mostly vacant facial expression while she was watching me undress her with my eyes. I shot her a faint sly grin and turned back to Normani.

Just then, the detention hall teacher walked in and sat at his desk before he spoke "I don't really care what y'all do during this 2 hours. I'm going to be reading this whole time, try not to bug me." He pulled out his newspaper and fully opened it, blocking his view of us all. Not a smart move on his part really. We could easily slip out of here.

"And don't even think about leaving. I may be lenient on what you guys do in here, but you still have to be here, nonetheless. You can't exit without passing by my desk and if you do somehow manage to weasel out of here, I'll mark you down." He said all this without peeping out from behind his paper.

The man's speech on how things work around here at the detention hall didn't come as a surprise to the unnamed girl a few seats over because she's been scrolling through her phone since he walked through the door.

So clearly she isn't new if she's already well situated with the swing of after school detention. This only inclined me to wonder about where this girl had been before this, I truly don't think I've seen her around campus. As I began to ponder about the girl's sudden appearance, the Snapchat notification that sounded off made me reach for my phone to see who it was.

"Probably another nude." Normani simply stated.

I rolled my eyes at her as I checked to see who the snap was from and the screen read "Ari💝".

"No, actually, it isn't a nude. It's a snap from Ari."

"Right. Well then if that's the case I'm still not entirely sure it won't be some racy picture." She snorted at her own joke.

Normani knew about Ari and I's weird friendship. She also knew that Ari helped me with figuring out more information about being a vampire due to her witch abilities and magnanimous knowledge she gained from her ancestors. I pretty much tell Normani everything so it isn't a big deal. She's good at keeping secrets.

"Oh shut up. And look, it's just a picture of her with the caption 'Ready to get my study on'. See?"

"Yeah I bet she's ready to study. Anatomy, that is. Specifically yours."

"Will you stop?" I said fighting the smile that was trying to make its way on my face.

"Oh please, Y/N. You know damn well that things between you two have been different. The tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife. And honestly I'm living for it. Ari is a cool girl. One of our closest, most trusted friends even and you know I just wanna see you all coupled up already." She said with these lovesick eyes.

"Normani." I warned. "I already told you how I feel about stupid relationships."

"Yeah I know I know." A couple moments of silence went by and I figured she dropped it until she opened up her mouth again. "Well what about Shawn? He's nice and I know you guys have gotten more than just a little bit friendly with each other so I-"

"Can you not say that out loud?!" I whisper yelled while I covered her mouth with my hand so she would stop talking. I could feel Lauren's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head at Normani's comment.

"Oh yeah...sorry."

"I know I don't exactly have the reputation of Virgin Mary around school but I also don't want you airing out my dirty laundry." I said in a hushed tone.

"Ok sorry. Damn. I just want to see you at least attempt at finding love. It's wonderful." And there she goes again with that dopey smile.

"I don't know if I need to give you this speech like every time we have a conversation but I'll say it once more. That shit is for the birds. It ain't for me. How else do I need to say it, Manibear? It's just not realistic. Love is just a mental thing anyways. It's not this special emotion. It's a dependance on another person and it's sad. It's just a white lie humanity likes to fantasize about. It. Ain't. Special." I said in a calm, unbothered tone because I'm used to my best friend's hopeless antics.

But following the last couple words of my little spiel I heard the stranger scoff. It was a very audible scoff, too. She definitely scoffed.

It was at that moment I turned my attention to the girl and really took in what she looked like. She was pretty, not gonna lie. From her long, deep brown locks and plump pink lips to her tan, olive skin. I can't really analyze her sexy ass right now, though. I want to know what's so funny.

"Mind telling me what's funny?" I said while trying to sound nice. She looked up from her phone finally and we met eyes for the first time since the beginning of detention. When I looked into her orbs I was surprised by what I saw. Her eyes turned into a bright orange, golden shade and I could feel my own eyes mirroring that same color. I saw everything in a very light and subtle tint of tangerine and this was how I knew that my eyes had changed from their normal deep hazel color. This is what normally happens when my eyes change, I see everything in a light shade of whatever color they decided to be at the moment. And now my eyes were mirroring hers and I could feel it. The strange experience only lasted seconds and fled quickly when her irises went back to their normal state of forest brown.

A couple seconds had passed after we were done having our little staring contest and her face held the same expression as it had before: blank.

She had no reaction whereas with me I think anyone who was paying attention could sense I was confused and uncomfortable. But she was just sitting there with no reaction at all really. Her eyes had a small glint of mischief but that was it. Whatever had happened a few moments ago clearly was nothing anew to her because she proceeded to speak as if nothing happened when she said,

"Oh nothing. Just your reasoning and thought process is amusing to me that's all."

My reasoning is amusing? What's that supposed to mean? "What do you mean?"

She looked at me with a tantalizing smirk. "You really want to know?"

"Yes. I really want to know. That's why I asked." I said with an unimpressed tone. She looked at me with a challenging brow and set her phone down softly.

"Okay. I'll tell you why it's amusing. That whole 'love is just a mental thing' argument you had. Well, beautiful, when you think about it everything is just a 'mental thing'. Being sad is a mental thing, being happy is a mental thing, being nervous is a mental thing. All your emotions are just one big knot of quote on quote 'mental things'. Kind of like how depression is often referred to as a chemical imbalance. Because it has to do with your brain activity." Okay...

"That doesn't minimize how people feel though. It's kind of insensitive to tell someone that their sadness is just a mental thing no? The emotion might be linked to the brain but it's still not easy to control after all. And love is an emotion. You should let yourself and other people be sad and to love, Y/N." She shrugs.

I was left speechless at her words. Nobody ever formulated a reply like that to my views on love like she just had. I wouldn't go as far to say she changed my mind about it but she definitely gave me something to think about.

I sat there for a beat of silence, stuck expression very evident, wondering how I should reply to this but all I could manage to say was, "How do you know my name?"

"Because your friend, Normani, said it while you guys were talking with each other. Didn't really see a point in pretending I didn't hear both of your names thrown into the mix of your conversation because I did hear it. Your name is Y/N, her name is Normani, and the brooding, green eyed chick over there is Lauren Jauregui. See, I saved us all the hassle of introducing ourselves just by using simple listening skills." She jested.

"Well, actually, an introduction is still needed because we've yet to hear what your name is." I said to the increasingly interesting stranger.

"It's Camila. Nice to meet you guys."

"Nice to meet you too." Me and Mani both said.

"Camila? Pretty. Are you Hispanic?" I asked.

"Cuban-Mexican." She responded.

"Oh sweet, I'm Cuban too." Lauren spoke from a couple tables over to which Camila responded with a toothy smile.

"So you have been listening to our conversations. I figured as much, Lauser. I know how obsessed you are with me."

"It's hard not to listen to your conversations, Y/N. Your voice travels. That or you're just talking obnoxiously loud like you always do." She replied.

"Why don't you just come over here and sit with us so you don't have to talk across the room?"

"Mm. I'll pass. You're still not my favorite person right now after the shit you pulled this morning. So I think I'll just stay over here." She finished with burying her head in her arms that were crossed on the table.

"Yeah, whatever." I breathed out while turning my attention back to Mani and Camila.

"Are you new here? To the school I mean." The dark skinned girl beside me asked the Latina.

"Yep. I've only been here for about a week or so."

"A week? And you've already landed yourself in detention? How? No judgement, just curious." said Mani.

"Yeah are you one of those self proclaimed rebellious types? The ones who smoke on school grounds and get caught for it and like have an attitude problem in class all the time. You know what I'm talkin' about." I rambled.

She chuckled at my comment. "No yeah, I know what you mean. But I wouldn't consider myself the rebel pothead archetype because for one, I don't get caught when I light up on campus and two, I don't live to piss my teachers off. I despise that most druggies in high school think having a bad attitude is a substitute for having a personality." She stopped talking for a second to laugh at her comment. "But anyways, the reason I'm in detention is because I keep missing classes."

"Ah. So you're one of those." Normani says.

"Yeah. I guess I am one of those." She let out an amused chuckle.

"How come you skipped?" My curiosity spoke for me.

"Had shit to do." She replied with a shrug.

"Right....Well I have to say, what you said a couple minutes back was interesting. You seem pretty smart. Observant."

"Smart? Eh, maybe a little. Observant? Most definitely." She replied with a smug grin.

"Cocky much?" I questioned with a playful brow.

"Just confident."

"And what makes you so confident in your... 'observing skills' let's call em." I challenged.

She waited a couple seconds and just looked at me. Peered at me from top to bottom for a good couple moments. Her gaze was so consistent and intense I didn't know if I should be uncomfortable or turned on.

She looked my body up and down for the final time and a tight smirk crept on her face before she let out a deep breath. "Because I think I'm good at reading people, that's why." Good at reading people? Edgy bullshit.

"You think you're good at reading people? Hm. I doubt that. I bet you a lot of money you couldn't guess a single thing about me, gorgeous." She looked at me with a competitive expression.

"Oh alright. You wanna hear who I think Y/N is then?" She said with pure mischief in her voice.

"Tell me who you think I am, please." I say in taunting disbelief.

"Easy, I think you're hurt." She said simply.

"I'm hurt? Please, Camila, do tell."

"No really, I really think you are. I think you're hurt that you don't get the concept of love. I think you're hurt that it hasn't touched you yet. I think that when you're in a big room full of people, you can feel them connecting and you wonder why that scares you. I think you wonder why you can't feel the connection like the rest of those people. You're scared and you're hurt. And that's why you probably indulge in hookup culture and turning people down just so you can spite love. So you can spit in its face." She said all this as if we were having a chat about the weather.

Well she definitely did not sugar coat. And it dug at me a little. It's not that what she said held any truth I was just irritated at the assumption. Is that what people think of me as? As hurt and spiteful?

I couldn't let her know that she got under my skin a little so I thought of something to say quick.

"Interesting. Very interesting. Hm. And my friends say I'm an edge lord. I got nothing on you. 'Cause that was some tumblr, coming of age indie movie type of shit that just came out of your mouth. I bet you don't like the songs on the radio, huh?" I let out in a teasing tone.

"Struck a nerve." She tried to say under her breath but failing. "Actually, I love the songs on the radio. They get way overplayed but I like what I like. I like the underground stuff and the popular stuff. I see on both sides like Chanel, you feel me?" Camila replied immediately without faltering her confidence and looking me dead in the eyes.

"You talk a lot huh?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I got a lot to say."

"Of course." I snickered a bit. "What area did you say you moved from again?" I asked in all curiosity.

"I didn't say." She smiled. This girl was sure arrogant. A bit condescending but not in an overbearing way. It was kind of charming to me. I enjoyed her.

"Well could you say now?"

"Y/N, we should invite this girl to sit with us at our table. The group would love her." Normani chimed in for the first time in a few minutes.

"Oh they for sure would. Camila, whaddya say? Want to sit with our table during lunch periods?"

"Sounds nice. Only if I can bring my best friend Dinah, though."

"You know Dinah?!" Me and Mani simultaneously yelled. The girl looked puzzled at our sudden outburst.

"Yeah.... Damn. We both just got here last week and she's already a celebrity?" She replied in disbelief.

"Yoooooo she's mad funny in our ceramics class." Normani said in a laugh.

"Hot too." I added and Mani nodded in agreement.

The Cuban's eyes widened at my comment. "She's off limits. I don't need your angsty ass breaking her golden heart." The girl said in a very protective tone.

"Damn, okay." Some seconds went by until I spoke up again. "I bet you're a top, huh Mila? Is it ok if I call you Mila? It's a pretty nickname."

"Yeah." She replies while not breaking her gaze from my eyes.

"Yes I can call you Mila or yes you're a top?" I quickly asked to which she just replied with a nonchalant shrug and a quiet "Whichever."

"That's hot." I whispered to my best friend.

"Y/N....you've been so horny lately what the fuck."

The teasing grin she had on her face immediately dissipated after I shot her a stern side eye. "Anyways, Mila, give us your number so we can text you about plans to hang out with our group or something." I handed her my phone so she could type in her number and she did.

"Damn, Y/N. I thought it'd take a little while longer to get your number on my phone." She said tauntingly.

"You're quite the charmer, Mila." She gave me a small, smug smile at my comment.

"Ok, Normami, hand your phone over." She said to the flustered girl beside me. She typed her number in Mani's phone and we all fell into casual conversation until detention was over. When it was time for us to leave, Normani made a group chat of us three and she dropped me off at home. I'd drive myself home but when Mani picked me up to go over to her house for the weekend, I left my car.

I arrived home and noticed I was the only one here. I figured my mom was still at the firm and my sister was out with her friends or something.

My sister, Detroit, was 18 and was a senior at my rival high school, Miami Beach High, and she was normally out with her friends during the school week. Me and Detroit get along well and we're fairly close.

My mother was a lawyer at a successful law firm and was constantly working her ass off. Due to my mother's high paying job, we live in a fairly luxurious type of lifestyle. Me and my mother are kind of close but it's hard to spend time with her and talk to her when she's always busy.

(Some visuals for your house^)

With my sister being out a lot and my mom always working, it only made it easier to hide my blood crazed condition from them.

Normani always asked me why I never told them and...Well they never ask. While me and my family are close, they're still hardly ever around and I resent them somewhat for that. So, for the time being, they don't need to know.

It was now around 6 and I was expecting Ariana any minute. I wonder what that look she was giving me was all about. I swear it's always so intense when us two are alone.

(Movie Room^)

I thought to switch it up for once and do my homework in the movie room while I wait for Ariana. I had just finished bringing my stuff in there when the doorbell rang.

I quickly made my way down the stairs, opened the door, and there the Italian stood. "Hey y/n. Ready to 'study'." She wiggled her brows. I gave her a questioning look at her suggestive actions but ultimately decided to ignore them.

"Yeah. I set up camp in the movie room. Let's go." I say as I take her hand and lead her.

"So, was there anything in specific you wanted to hear about today?" She sat down a few feet across from me but still relatively close.

"Eye color. Like how does the whole changing the color of your eyes thing work? It's happened more often recently. I wanna know what it means." She nodded before she opened up one of her ancient looking witch books.

"Alright let's see.....Ok here it is. The excerpt says:

' When it comes to Eye Morphing, otherwise known as your eye transitioning in between its natural color and the supernatural color, it depends on the intensity of a vampire's emotional and mental state. If the eye turns red, that means the creature is immensely angry and irritated. If the eye turns purple, that indicates that the vampire has activated it's supernatural ability rather it be their super strength, super speed etc.... Purple can also be used to hypnotize or seduce. Depending on the power of each vampire, they should be able to control when they want their eyes to change color and what color they want it to change to. Practice makes perfect in the action of Eye Morphing. '

As Ari read that passage aloud, I realized just how much responsibility comes with my condition. There could be some really fucked up people out there abusing this gift. Or at least I like to think of it as a gift. Depending on how you use it of course.

I realized I hadn't said anything yet so I spoke up finally. "No fucking way. I can change my eyes to seduce people?! That's so sick. Kinda manipulative but still pretty cool. I should find someone to practice this on and get better at it."

"It's not only seducing people that you can do, Y/N. I'm sure people would also cower in fear if they saw you in your red eye state. It's very well known that a vampire's scowl is a scary powerful thing......Plus I definitely don't think you need purple eyes to get people in bed with you." She said the last bit flickering her eyes between looking at mine and looking at my lips. The site was hard to turn away from but I did anyway. I didn't want to give her the wrong idea. I cleared my throat.

"Uh yeah thank you....So what else is there about the eyes in your old book here?" I questioned nervously.

"Oh there's a bunch of stuff. It all really differs on what emotional state you're in and what kind of vamp you are I guess."

"What kind? There's different kinds?" I cocked my brow.

"Duh. There's born vampires and there's turned vampires. I think the difference in the two is quite clear but just to clarify, born vampires are typically more powerful than turned vampires. In fact, if you're turned by a powerful enough vamp, they have the ability to track you down if they please. It has something to do with the fact that they marked you permanently, it's almost as if you have a super natural tracker in you."

That's... unsettling. I don't know how I would feel if that crazy chick who turned me showed up again one day. "Oh....I guess I've got a lot more learning to do." I let out a chuckle

"Well I'm always available to teach you, no problem." She looked at me with a smile which I returned.

"Thanks, Ari. I knew I could count on you to show me some pointers with this."

"Of course. Anything for you..." I slowly looked up at her and once we met eyes I noticed hers were filled with lust and anticipation. There's no denying what that look was implying. It's tempting, but I know I can't give her what she wants, we're friends. I had to let her know that.

"I can't give you wha-" I was cut off when an eager set of lips latched to mine desperately. The kiss was hungry and was getting hungrier by the second. Pretty soon she had my back pressed on my sofa and her hands on the back of my neck. I was starting to enjoy this too much, I had to stop this. I gently took her off of me and sat up.

"Ari, we really shouldn't be doing this..."

"Why not, y/nn? It's not like either one of us is new to this. Plus you can't deny that this has been a long time coming. I've caught you undressing me with your eyes, I know those looks you were giving to me because I give the same exact looks to you." She said in a whisper while her lips were dangerously close to my neck.

"Ok, you may be right about that but we can't be together. Ari I can't be with you. You know how I am. I can't give you what you want." She sighed and let her head drop.

"I know how you are, I know all this already. But maybe...maybe we could succumb to it just this once? I'm not asking for a date or anything just an opportunity to....release some pent up frustration." Her demeanor quickly changed from sad to aiming and she had an evil grin playing on her face.

"Um....I don't know about that, Ariana. It'd make things kinda weird wouldn't it?" I looked at her feeling very unsure about all of this. She pressed me back down on the sofa while her hands were skimming over my collar bones.

"Don't worry about it. It won't be weird. It's not like we have to tell anybody."

I looked at her hungry eyes one last time before I gave her my answer. "Okay fine." I paused to flip us over. "But I wanna treat first for a change."

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happy new year ✨