The fact hypnosis was possible was fucking insane. By the following morning, Sofia had finished all three books and done some Googling.

Not only did her eyes seem somewhat less mythic but she had an inkling of how to use them. Maybe only in fun and creative ways but it was a base she could certainly build upon.

Despite her eagerness to test things out, Jackie had left for class.

Begrudgingly Sofia forced herself to read some of her school books. She needed to do some work if she was going to have any hope of passing her classes. As much as maybe none of it mattered, she also didn’t want to fail. She had worked hard this year, she didn’t want it to go to waste.

Thankfully her teachers and academic adviser, who she spoke to on the phone, were more than accommodating. That was a first. Then again losing most of her sight was horrifying enough to get her brownie points.

Exams were right around the corner but she would be doing them remotely.

With school mostly sorted that left one glaring issue that needed to be felt with. How to handle going home for the summer? Because she desperately wanted to, even if she didn’t have too.

Toronto would be better for hunting, better for hiding out, there were no expectations. But she didn’t have a job, and couldn't easily work one in her condition unless it was the night shift.

And her family wasn’t here. Home wasn’t here. For better and for worse.

She would have to inform her parents of her blindness and sensitivity to light. That would give her an excuse to hide away somewhat during the day.

But she needed to be more than well-fed, she needed to be gorged on blood if she was going to have any hope of normalcy. It all hinged on how well she could handle sunlight in her prime.

Sofia wasn’t feeling super optimistic and the only alternative she could think of was not staying with her family. But Gem Creek was small with only a few thousand residents. She would be recognized, she would be questioned. And that would require money.

Still, if she could find someplace to stay, and her parents knew about her issues with light, maybe they would stick to evening visits?

This was never going to work.

She still needed to talk to Jackie. She had mentioned it as an option months ago but everything was different now.

Her parents would be fine with Jackie coming to stay for the summer. They would be more than happy for the company as mortifying as it would be.

They could share her room. Her mother had never cared if friends slept over regardless of gender. As long as no one was “getting pregnant under this roof.”

Jackie was a good enough liar that she could be Sofia’s nurse. I would give her an excuse to be there. Granted if Sofia was in a condition that required a nurse to accompany her mother would lose her mind. Not to mention her family all know Jackie.

There was a third option, Sofia already hated it. She hopped up from her bed and made her way to the kitchen for a snack. She warmed up the oven and put in a few chicken fingers to cook. The batter wasn’t great for her stomach, especially since it could currently feel bad, but she could handle small amounts of human food without issue. She just needed to be careful not to make herself sick.

She turned her attention back to the third option. Telling them everything. Sofia prided herself on honesty and was nearly compulsively so. But as much as she didn’t want to hide from her family… what else could she do?

Her family was religious, how the hell could her mother accept a vampire? Granted Sofia being a lesbian hadn’t been a big deal. Though it hardly seemed comparable.

Jackie was a fucking weirdo, there was a reason she could handle such a revelation. But as much as Sofia wished she just couldn’t see it working.

She could still hide things but even burning in the sun and being undead would be too much. Let alone her diet and eyes.

There were worse outcomes than rejection. She could be exposed, captured, or experimented on.

Her family could never know and Sofia doubted she would ever be able to bring herself to mind control her family into ignoring her strangeness. If that was even possible.

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Renting hardly seemed like an option considering she had just started getting her degree. She would have to go back to Toronto. Or… she could drop out. Fully move back to Gem Creek, then she could justify renting an apartment.

Desperate for options she started looking into farms for sale in the area. Specifically dairy farms. She had no money but she had magic eyes. Maybe she could cobble something together.

“What’s wrong?” Jackie asked the moment she got home.

Apparently Sofia’s nervous energy was obvious from miles away.

“I think I have to drop out,” Sofia replied, eating her chicken fingers. “You wanna come home with me for the summer?”

Jackie looked her over, sighed, and brushed by her to put the kettle on to boil. “I'll leave you alone for a few hours,” she muttered.

“I know, I know, but I really need to go home. The city is suffocating, Jackie. I need to go home. Which means I can’t pay rent and since we’re… buddies you might as well save your money,” Sofia continued around a mouthful of disappointing breaded chicken.

“Uh… sure?” Jackie replied, unsure of how any of it would work as she stole one of Sofia’s chicken fingers. “Why do you want to drop out?”

“Because you were right. I’ve… escaped capitalism. What the fuck am I gonna do with a philosophy degree? Especially in ten years when I need a new identity because Sofia Ortíz can’t be 21 forever,” Sofia replied, sitting on a kitchen stool. “Sure I could do night classes or get the credits online but even with the scholarship my family is paying for it and it’s not cheap,” Sofia continued.

“Just find some rich guy to steal from. Or make him think he’s your sugar daddy or something and he’ll gladly give you all the money you could want,” Jackie suggested.

Sofia sighed. “I just… everything’s changed and I don’t want to be doing this anymore.”

Jackie gave her words a considering nod. “How would going to your parents’ even work? You can't even touch a sunbeam without cooking.”

“I don’t know,” Sofia groaned.

“Sofia, I say this with the utmost kindness,” Jackie began. “Chill the fuck out.”

Sofia groaned and leaned her head in her hands.

Jackie rummaged around in her bag and pulled something out. The kettle boiled and Sofia got up to make her tea. “Earl gray?” She asked, already knowing the answer.

“Please,” Jackie replied.

Sofia poured the water. She sniffed, she could smell blood. She turned around to look at Jackie in alarm. She seemed fine, except she definitely smelled blood.

Her mouth began to water, yet another new miracle of warm flesh.

“What?” Jackie asked, glancing up from her notebook.

Sofia swallowed the lump in her throat. The chicken fingers hadn’t done fuck all to satiate her hunger. “You uh… pretty sure you just started your period.”

“Oh,” was all Jackie had to say.

“I’m not uh… one to tell people what to do with their bodies but um… maybe start birth control,” Sofia suggested, trying to cover her nose without making it obvious. She had a feeling she was failing horribly. “I’m gonna go…” Sofia trailed off, she couldn’t very well go for a walk when the sun was still up. “To my room,” she finished.

“Sorry,” Jackie offered.

“Nope, don’t apologize, this is totally on me. I should really just remember to eat more because you are very appetizing right now… fuck, ignore me bye!”

She could hear Jackie’s laugh from the kitchen as she fled.

Her face burned hot as she collapsed into her pillows. She could still smell it, smell her.

She felt like a kid again when her mother made fresh cookies but she wasn’t allowed to eat any of them.

A terrible but accurate analogy.

Hunger felt different like this. Less dull unpleasantness and more full-body thirst, which was just as much anger as arousal. A strange monstrous desire to fuck and fight and feed. Like an itch, an itch to drink. At least her obliviousness to her hunger, until she was famished and starving, was consistent. She had been like that as a human too.

Sofia shivered and resolved herself to not breathe for the next few days.

This was so fucking embarrassing. They never showed vampires dealing with this in the movies. Probably because the last thing Hollywood ever wanted to do was say the word period. Still, she had not remotely seen this coming and she really really should have.

The smell of steak that evening drew Sofia from her room. Jackie was sitting at the counter, her attention split between the sizzling pan and… Sofia wasn’t actually sure.

Jackie wrinkled her nose as she pushed the needles into her arm. The tube turned red, blood instantly swirling through into a glass.

Sofia stayed entirely silent as after a few moments Jackie removed the needle and put a bandaid on her arm. It was strange to see her like this when she thought she was alone. Sofia couldn’t bring herself to announce her presence.

“Don’t just stand there you creep,” Jackie snarked. Okay, maybe not then.

Sofia walked over. “Uh…” She didn’t know what to say.

Jackie slid the glass of blood over and turned back to the pan. “You need to eat more, I mean seriously. You can’t be at the point where you run away at the smell of blood,” Jackie scolded.

Sofia felt thoroughly chastised.

“Drink up, this will be ready in a few minutes,” Jackie added, motioning to the steak.

“Thank you,” Sofia offered, picking the glass up. She eagerly drank, liquid heat flowing into her body and warming her veins up. It was only a small glass of vitality and Sofia was already warm but she still needed to hold back tears.

How could blood be so perfect? Food could never compare.

“Thank you, I… thank you,” Sofia repeated.

“Blood buddies,” Jackie replied, holding up her hand for a fist bump before frowning at her choice of words.

“Here,” Sofia offered, awkwardly sinking a single fang into her wrist before holding it out for Jackie.

“You think it will taste better without water?” Jackie laughed.

“Oh, right,” Sofia winced. Their experiences when it came to blood were entirely opposite. “Maybe don’t uh… watch this. My blood is a lot… thicker than yours.”

Jackie raised an eyebrow in silent question but turned her attention to the steak as Sofia grabbed a large knife and began the process of cutting her arms open again. It hurt far more than it had before.

This time she added less water. Ensuring that Jackie would be able to down it in a shot even if it was thicker. She figured it was better to get the process over with. She mixed the concoction and handed it over.

Jackie took a deep breath and downed it. She grimaced faintly. “it’s not as bad the second time around,” she offered optimistically.

Sofia laughed and flipped the steak over with a spatula. “Have you eaten dinner?”

“Uh not yet,” Jackie replied, washing the blood down with water.”

“Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,” Sofia smirked.

“Says the one who got the munchies from smelling my period blood,” Jackie chuckled.

Sofia winced, living that down was not going to be easy. Her reaction would have literally been the same regardless of why there had been blood. But circumstances only made her more mortified.

Sofia cut the large steak in half and served it on two plates with seasoning and sauces. She set one down in front of Jackie and kept the other for herself.

“Napkin?” Jackie handed it to her.

“Thanks, Bon appétit,” Sofia offered, picking up her utensils.

“Blood buddies?” Jackie tried again. Sofia sighed and gave her the fist bump she wanted.