when the heart bleeds ink ‖ vampire jjk x reader

First Encounter

Several thoughts race in your head as you unpack your belongings from your best friend's jeep, nervously facing your new apartment building.

You were finally free. The distance between you and your controlling parents was close enough for them to stop by once a month, but it wasn't the everyday meetup they'd been pressuring you about.

Of course, they weren't supportive of you coming all the way out to Boston, eagerly accepting your new fate at Boston University, your dream school. But here you were anyways, and even better, your best friend Laila was right beside you.

You wait in the lounge as Laila checks you both in, and you overhear her telling the desk lady that you two had just turned eighteen, it was your first time living alone, and how excited you both were. The lady mirrored Laila's excitement, and you couldn't help but grin at how infectious her happy mood was.

You follow Laila upstairs when she's done, and she palms you a set of keys.

"The gold one is for the front door, the silver one is for the backdoor, the grey-ish one is for.." Laila drones on about the keys, while you eye the building and your neighbors.

You guys had picked an apartment on the top floor. It was due to your insistent fear that if you lived on a lower floor, you might one day look out the window and see a face grinning back at you. Laila didn't question you more about it, knowing it was probably due to your obsession with horror movies, despite being scared shitless each time.

When you two finally reach the top floor, Laila puts down her bags and fumbles with the keys, trying to open the door. Our door was 24C.

The door adjacent to yours swung open, and a cranky-looking woman came out. Her hair was a mess, and she was in her pajamas. Tattoos decorated her neck, and you couldn't help but stare as they trailed down her neck. A cigarette rested between her fingers, and you become embarrassed when you realize she's staring at you.

"We're, uh, you're new neighbors," you say, trying to break the thick tension.

Laila pauses and looks at our neighbor, eyebrows raised. She mirrors your hello. The woman stays silent, staring at us for what felt like an eternity. She then smiles, her face devoid of any humor.

"I'm Laurel," she says, before abruptly going back inside and slamming the door shut.

Her abrupt leave startled you guys, and you let loose your laughter once we were inside.

"God, what the fuck was her problem?" You giggle.

Laila shrugs, and the two of us hastily unpack. We were beyond excited to leave the apartment and explore, but we needed to unpack and organize first.

You had already visited a month earlier, buying and placing furniture and decorations- you were both proud, as the product looked like a photo from Pinterest.

You both had our rooms, not wanting to walk in on the other hooking up with someone. Not that hooking up was your thing, of course. It was Laila's. You kind of wish you were as bold and flirty as her.

When you finish, you pull out your phone from your back pocket and search for any nearby grocery stores. You had done a lot of research on budgeting and preserving food, not wanting to finish your freshman year broke.

"Fuck that, let's go out and eat!" Laila exclaims, slipping the phone back into your pocket.

The two of you take an Uber to the nearest Chipotle, and Laila orders for the both of you. The thought of talking to a worker made you want to vomit- you were way too shy to do that. Luckily, Laila had a good memory and knew your favorite order by heart.