Let Me Free

Chapter 4

Jocelyn's POV

I looked deep into my bedroom mirror at my still red face. Get. A. Grip. They're just people. You can handle this, it's only two more semesters. Great. I put my head in my hands in exasperation, my fangs sliding into place from my lack of concentration.

I groaned, painful memories and shadow aches welling up inside of me, caused by my relapse in memory earlier. I could still hear his angry shouting, smell the salty iron of spilt blood, my blood. I could feel the heat, the burning flames that never ceased, taste the acridity of my scorching flesh. I slid my tongue over my fangs in a habitual calming manor, grounding myself to the present. He was gone, and so should've my problems, but they always resurfaced. 'You escaped, but you can never stop running, never stop hiding, because you can never tell who knows, who could find out your terrible, horrible secret.'

I immersed myself in the past for the next hour, reliving the horrors over and over again until a knock sounded at my door. "Just a second," I called out breathlessly, my fangs accidentally piercing my tongue. I winced as I tasted the iron and focused, pulling my fangs up into my mouth. Talking with fangs is troublesome. I crossed the room in a few easy strides, unlocking the door and tugging it open. I came face-to-face with a certain raven haired girl. Amanda looked nervous and guilty, glancing at my face before looking away, then back to me, never holding my steady gaze.

"H-hey, uh, look, I'm real sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to freak you out or anything, and I didn't want to make you uncomfortable or hate me because of that, and I didn't know if you were cool with my sexuality for the past hour. I'm sorry Jocelyn, I have a bad habit of taking my games too far and-" she rambled before I put my hand up to silence her.

"It's fine, I don't hate you. We're cool. I just had a relapse in memory, and it wasn't a pleasant one. But, we're cool." I smirked, "And besides, I've had my fair share of playing with other girls too."

Her face split into a wide grin. "Are you...?" she questioned. I gave a thumbs up and walked past her, pulling my door closed behind me. "Guys," Amanda shouted behind me as I walked into the living room, Emma and Mila on the couch, "she's cool with everything!"

Emma gave an excited yell and practically tackled Mila, giving out a continuous stream of giggles while Mila planted little fluttering kisses all over her face, hands resting gently on Emma's waist. I raised an eyebrow and smiled at their antics. "I'm guessing you two are together?" I asked teasingly. Their heads turned to look at me, happiness etched across their faces. "We were hoping that we wouldn't get a homophobic roommate. You just made our day." Mila answered with a dead serious expression. Her stony expression melted however, when she turned her head back to look at her girlfriend over top of her. I smiled, and Mila suddenly smirked, beginning to tickle her girlfriend.

3rd person POV

Jocelyn's smile widened and she left the two lovers to themselves, Emma's shrieking laughter and Mila's soft chuckles echoing behind her as Jocelyn traveled to the kitchen to satisfy her hunger. As a vampire, Jocelyn couldn't satisfy her bloodlust with human food, but it stifled her hunger, making her blood cravings easier to ignore. Opening the fridge, she noticed she had all the ingredients for spicy chicken curry and cornbread. She decided she was in the mood for some spice, since spice foods especially helped to curb the hunger for blood.

Jocelyn made enough for everyone to share, then grabbed a bowlful herself and re-entered the living room. The playful couple were nowhere to be seen, so Jocelyn took the couch and switched on Netflix, happily chowing down on her spicy food and sweet cornbread. In a matter of minutes, the other girls settled on the upholstery around her, each with a bowl of curry and a square of cornbread. Jocelyn selected a movie as everyone took a collective bite of curry, then practically moaned as the delicate balance of spices touched their tongues.