Because why not make a Mall AU while we wait for season 2.
So, if you don't know me, hello, I'm Aurora. I'm a loser. But that's okay.
This is rated M for language and eventual -ahem- sexy times. Because I like to write smut with plots. So yeah.
Reviews are cool.
Laura Hollis loved her job. Which was pretty unique, considering she worked at the mall, of all places. You'd think working at the pet store would be hellish (especially since it was the holidays), but, for Laura it was perfect.
She loved animals. The store she worked at was partners with the local animal shelter, so they always had rescued pets up for adoption. She loved seeing families take home a dog or cat or bunny in need. She liked happy endings, especially when she got to witness them herself.
She also loved the busyness of the mall. She could never really stay focused on one thing at a time, so being in a large place with crowds of people was pretty nice. Plus, she liked how convenient everything was. The food court wasn't too far from the pet store, so lunch was pretty fast and easy.
Carmilla Karnstein, however, hated the mall. She worked at the music store, which would normally be pretty great, but you can only take so much 'Top 50 Christmas Songs'. Carmilla preferred to spend her time reading rather than helping customers (a preference she's surprised hadn't gotten her fired yet), but she liked to drown herself in her music.
She was a musician, of sorts. Not with a guitar or a piano, but with actions. The way she spoke, the way she moved, it was all smooth and graceful, as if everything she did had to be precise. Perfect. She was the definition of beauty. The Mona Lisa had nothing on her smile (although it was a rare occasion that she would even curl her lips up into something besides a smirk).
Or, maybe those were just Laura's feelings towards her.
The pet shop was directly across from the music store, and the hours were quite similar. So, the blonde had seen the brunette occasionally. And, each time, Laura found herself internally swooning over the stranger.
Yeah, it was foolish. A stupid little girl crush she was sure would go away soon. But, there was no denying the attraction she felt.
They had never spoken. Laura was too shy. She was sure she'd say something embarrassing anyway, or possibly fall on her face. Or both, knowing her.
Carmilla had noticed the girl in the pet shop, as well. But it was mostly because she had nothing better to do. Okay, fine, the girl was... cute. In the charming 'Way Too Pure' kind of way. She seemed like the type of girl who would go to a Catholic school. The stereotypical schoolgirl kind of girl. The kind of girl who's way too innocent for Carmilla. A purity that Carmilla didn't want to taint.
And, yes, Carmilla knew of the stranger's occasional glances that were thrown her way. Carmilla's co-worker and best friend, Will, pointed that out a long time ago.
"She's into you," Will had snorted.
"Who?"
"Little Virgin Mary over there."
"Oh. She's not my type. Too... straight."
"She might not be straight with the way she's been looking at you."
Carmilla had shrugged. "Well, I'm hot. What do you expect?"
Will rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Karnstein."
Carmilla almost wanted to approach the blonde. Almost. But something inside her kept her to herself. There was no way in hell she'd talk to the stranger first. She preferred to silently observe. As did the pet store girl, it seemed.
Carmilla had only been working the earlier hours for about two months (why her manager changed her schedule, she'll never know), so she was still coping with the mornings.
Laura had been working at the mall for almost 6 months, and she'd already made friends among the other stores. There was Perry and LaFontaine, who owned the mall's coffee shop (LaF also ran the photography studio, they were quite the prodigy according to Perry), Danny, who was a worker in an athletic store, Kirsch, who was part of the mall's security, and Betty, Laura's co-worker and sort of best friend (besides LaFontaine).
She hadn't stepped foot into the music store (which was called Vampire Records, for some weird reason), so she obviously didn't know anyone there. All she knew was that it played Christmas music nonstop around this time of year and that the beautiful brunette worked there.
Today, Laura worked from 8 to 4, so she arrived extremely early. She was surprisingly chipper in the morning.
Carmilla also worked 8 to 4, but she arrived grumpy and pretty annoyed.
She hated mornings.
Perry always got to work before everyone else so she could open the coffee shop (probably so she could prevent any accidents from happening, what with everyone's bad tempers that usually flared in the morning), so Carmilla decided she may as well get a cup of coffee before even attempting to face Will and the customers.
She would probably be less grumpy if it weren't Monday and she didn't spend the weekend getting drunk with a few of her friends. But, hey, what can you do?
The coffee shop was modest in size, but nice. It was called "The Cozy Corner" but everyone just called it the Corner because of its location in the center part of the mall all the way to the right, closer to one of the exits than the shops themselves.
It was a modern-styled place. Right across from the entrance was a large counter with dessert foods behind glass and a cash register, and to the right of the register was the pickup area. On either side of the counter were places to sit. To the left was tables with standard chairs, and to the right was recliners and couches, all extremely comfortable. The lighting was a little dim, but not uncomfortably so. One could read a book if they wished, or just people-watch through the shop's windows that overlooked the rest of the mall.
Pictures of various things like coffee, wildlife, and pretty much anything lined the walls. The back wall behind the counter was stone, rather than wood, unlike the rest of the place. It had several chalkboards on it, all listing the kinds of coffees sold, the sizes, the foods. It was no wonder Perry got up so early. Everyday at least three of the items listed were changed or removed.
"Hello, Carmilla," Perry greeted politely when the brunette stepped into the shop. "What would you like today?"
Perry was a kind person. She was very sweet and motherly. She sort of reminded Carmilla of a bear with her cubs. She was very protective over her friends, and was always by their side to take care of them. She always had a first-aid kit with her, and she always seemed to be
"Busy day planned?" Perry took the card and swiped it.
"Nah, I'm just getting ready for the ultimate stupidity of the customers." Carmilla shrugged. "I swear, every time they ask me if something is on sale after grabbing it off of the 'On Sale' shelf, I get one step closer to doing something that will get me fired."
Perry smiled in understanding. "You just have to be patient."
"I try." Carmilla took back the card and waited for her order.
She was really not looking forward to today. Maybe she should start keeping score of how many people ask stupid questions.
When she got her espresso and began to walk towards the entrance, something slammed into her. Hard.
The coffee splashed out of its cup and onto her shirt.
"Ah, fuck!" She hissed in pain, the hot liquid burning her skin.
"Oh my god, I am so, so sorry!" Carmilla looked up to see her. The pet shop girl. She was wearing a red sweater with a cat (Grumpy Cat?) wearing a Santa hat on it. Her eyes were wide and her breathing was erratic. "I-I didn't mean to, I just- I had to get something to wake me up because I have to watch this cat and her kittens and I didn't see you because I was rushing because I can't leave them alone for too long, and-"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down there, cutie." Carmilla chuckled. She was even cuter up close. "It's just coffee. No harm done. Unless you count my shirt," she looked down at her once-grey shirt. A large stain marked the front of it.
"Oh my god," Laura blushed deeply, realizing who she had knocked into. The music store girl. The beautiful girl who she had been too afraid to talk to for two months. Awesome. Way to make a first impression, Hollis, she scolded herself internally. "I am so sorry. Here." She began to lift up her sweater.
"Whoa, no need to strip just because you spilled something on me. Not that I'm complaining or anything."
The comment made the blonde's cheeks heat up even more. "I-I have a shirt underneath. You should, um, put on something warm. I mean, I don't want you to be so wet all day." Her eyes widened when she realized her wording. "I-I mean – hold on – uh – not wet – just... stained."
Carmilla smirked. This girl was just too adorable. Maybe Will was right. Perhaps she did play for her team. Judging by the deep red blush, she could only assume so.
"Thanks for the offer, cupcake, but I'm not exactly a sweater kind of girl." She looked down at her shirt, then back up at the stranger, who seemed a little disappointed.
"Alright, alright. Come with me." Carmilla took Laura's hand and lead her to the bathroom, where she swiped the sweater and took off her shirt.
Laura was still in a daze from the brunette touching her arm, but she was suddenly extremely aware of the beauty taking off her shirt. She tried not to let her eyes wander over the girl's body, but she couldn't help it because damn. Was it hot in here?
Carmilla pulled on the sweater. "How do I look?"
Hot. Laura wanted to say. "G-Good. You uh, look great."
The shirt she was wearing was a brown tank top.
"It's like, below freezing temperatures 't you get cold?" Carmilla asked.
"Oh, I have a sweatshirt back at my store."
Carmilla watched the tiny girl as she ran a nervous hand through her hair. She was pretty. Beautiful, even. She was very short, but that just added to her adorableness. Her honey-coloured hair was smoothed back by a nervous hand, and an awkward smile played at her lips.
"So, who do I return this sweater to at the end of the day?" Carmilla asked after a moment.
"Oh, um. I work across from your store – not that I know where you work. I mean, I do. Because it's across from my store. And I see you sometimes." Laura sputtered. "Anyway, um, my shift ends at 4, you can come by and drop it off, if you want."
"I'll be sure to do that, cutie. I'm Carmilla."
"I'm Laura." Laura looked Carmilla up and down again (for probably the third time in the past five minutes). She somehow managed to make a baggy Christmas sweater look sexy. How does someone even look that good without being some sort of mythical goddess of beauty?
"I'll see you around, Laura," Carmilla brushed past her and left the bathroom, leaving Laura behind to contemplate what the hell just happened.
The next few chapters won't be as rushed as this one.
So yeah.
Reviews are great. Chapter 2 is already being worked on.
Thanks for reading!