Title: A Glimpse Of Bliss
Rating: M
Summary: Laura Hollis is your average, college girl. She doesn't think she'll ever make a difference or change the world. That is, until she meets Carmilla Karnstein, an alluring bartender who mysteriously disappears one night. Human AU
A/N: First installation of my first Carmilla FanFiction! Enjoy

If there's one thing Laura Hollis absolutely, positively DID NOT do, it was speed dating. So, how she ended up at a local bar during their speed dating hour is beyond her. Oh, right… Because her roommates practically dragged her here by her hair.

When they were leaving the apartment, with Laura protesting very loudly that speed dating was just a exploitation and all around stupid, Perry and LaFontaine were rolling their eyes and yelling at her to shut the fuck up and to suck it up. They went on to rant about how Laura needed to get out because she's done nothing but mope around the apartment in her pajamas, clutching onto her coffee mug like the world was going to end, and constantly complain about her ex-girlfriend, Danny. Needless to say, they were sick of it.

Despite all of Laura's yelling and protesting, the pair managed to dress her like a decent human being and drag her out of the apartment they had now titled "The Pity Pit."

They stood in line at the bar, twelve minutes before speed dating started. They figured getting alcohol into Laura's system would help loosen up the uptight, short brunette. Well, at least, that's what they were hoping.

The line was moving quickly, and before they knew it, they had made it to the bar.

"What can I get you ladies?" A raspy voiced bartender asks, smiling at them.

Laura still looks completely unamused and raged at her friends who push her forward so that the bartender could hear her better. Lauren mutters something along the lines of 'you guys are fucking assholes', and continues staring everywhere but the bar.

"We'll take… two Adios Motherfuckers," LaFontaine says, gesturing towards themselves and Perry.

Laura's still looking around, huffing as LaFontaine nudges her side. She gives her friend a 'what the fuck do you want' look before adverting her eyes towards her ginger friend who was nodding towards the bartender.

"And for you, cutie?" The bartender rasps out.

Laura finally looks at the sound of the bartender's voice and her breathing hitches. This bartender was absolutely stunning. "Uh…" Laura stutters out, internally slapping herself for acting so stupid, "Can I get a shot of Jack?"

"Sure thing, cupcake," The raven haired girl says as she winks at Laura.

If Laura could instantly be resuscitated, she's pretty sure that wink would have killed her. Laura watches as the bartender makes LaFontaine's and Perry's drinks with ease, all while pouring her shot.

"Uhm, how much do we owe you?" Laura asks, reaching for her wallet.

"There are one me," The bartender smiles. Seriously, this girl was killing Laura right now.

Laura nervously rubs the back of her neck, "No, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"What if I want to?"

"Are you sure?" Laura presses.

"You sure are stubborn, cupcake. Don't sweat it." The bartender hands the group their drinks, and watches as Laura throws back her shot like a pro. She overhears the two redheads say they're going to go sign up for speed dating and they walk away leaving Laura to her own devices. And boy, did that make her nervous. "Anything else I can get you?"

"Yeah, you can get me out of here," Laura says, the slight sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Not a fan of speed dating, huh?"

"Not a fan of being set up with strangers." Laura corrects.

"Well, so we're not strangers anymore, my name's Carmilla." Carmilla flashes another smile at Laura that makes her want to die on the inside. She seriously… She can't even think.

"Laura," Laura tells Carmilla, pressing her lips together, "And if you're offering, I'll take anything that's strong and can get me through the night without jumping off of a cliff."

"Well, we wouldn't want you jumping off any cliffs, I don't think I would be able to save you from that one, but four more shots of whiskey, coming right up." Carmilla jokes. "Kidding, but I can imagine your discomfort."

Laura goes to reply, but feels a tap on her shoulder. She looks behind her to find Perry, wide eyed grinning at her and gesturing excitedly towards the speed dating area. Laura looks at Carmilla, then at Perry, then back to Carmilla, excusing herself as she and Perry make their way over to LaFontaine.

"Okay, here's your name tag," LaF says. "And uhm, try not to bite any heads off."

Tonight was going to be a long night.

XXX

It's 20 minutes into speed dating and so far, it's a bust. Laura is waiting awkwardly for the bell to ding and for the girl in front of her to move on. She was in no way the least bit interested in someone who constantly parties and goes to raves. Laura's way too much of a nerd for that scene.

The bell dings and Laura instantly thanks God. She gives LaF and Perry an angry look before turning back around to find Carmilla sitting in front of her.

"I totally just kicked some girl out of your chair so I could talk to you. I hope that's okay…" Carmilla says nervously.

"No, no… it's totally cool. Thank you." Laura replies, smiling at the beautiful creature in front of her.

"You looked like you were super uncomfortable most of the night." Carmilla says, her eyes instantly going wide, "I mean, not that I was intently watching you or anything…"

"Would it be a bad thing if you were?" Laura questions.

"You tell me, cutie. I'm just the bartender, people watching is what I do." Carmilla shrugs. "Luckily for you, this is the last round. So… I guess, tell me about yourself?"

"Okay… well, I'm 19 and I go to Silas University. I moved here from Canada. I have an extremely overprotective father. And I don't know. I like film journalism? I do have a question for you, though." Laura says as she takes a deep breath in.

"Shoot," Carmilla replies instantly.

"The whole 'cutie' and 'cupcake' thing… Is that how you get all the girls? Use your charm on them?" Laura doesn't even know why the question crossed her mind, but it did.

"Why, is it working?" Carmilla asks back, leaning in closer to the tiny brunette.

When Carmilla does this, Laura forgets how to breathe properly. She wonders if this is all just a game to Carmilla, something that she does with all girls that come into the bar. She goes to say something, but comprehensible words don't come out of her mouth.

"Well, I… Uh… you know… no…" She spits out, "I mean, I just… I don't know why I asked that."

"Don't sweat it, Laura." Carmilla says and Laura takes in how her name sounds coming from Carmilla.

The bell rings signaling the end of the last speed dating round and Laura almost wishes it hadn't ended. She was enjoying talking to Carmilla and had to admit to herself that the speed dating wasn't all that bad. If she got anything out of it, it was a conversation from an incredibly gorgeous bartender.

"Well, I guess that's our cue to go…" Laura says, trailing off. She looks for Perry and LaFontaine, but they're nowhere to be found. "Seeing as they probably left the bar already…"

"I guess so…" Carmilla replies reluctantly. "Hey, Laura?"

"Yeah?"

"Uhm… I was just wondering…" Carmilla pauses, the nervousness taking over.

"You were just wondering?" Laura questions, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you want a water to go?" Carmilla spits out, internally slapping herself for not asking what she really wanted to. Way to blow it, Carm.

"Yeah, sure. I'm kind of burning up in here." Laura replies with a smile. Yeah, burning up for you…

The two get up from their seats and walk over to the bar together. Carmilla hops over the counter and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, handing it to the short brunette. Carmilla looks behind Laura to see the ginger duo standing behind her, trying to get Laura's attention. "Well, I'll see you around, cupcake." Carmilla smirks as she gestures towards Laura's friends.

"Yeah, around." Laura barely mumbles before waving goodbye to Carmilla and walking towards the pair.

"So, how was it?" LaFontaine asks as they walk out of the bar together.

"It was a lot better than I imagined… But yeah, let's never do that again." Laura demands.

"I saw you talking to that cute bartender. Did you get her number?" Perry pipes in.

"No…" Laura replies sadly. "But there's plenty of reasons for us to come back to this bar to potentially bump into her, right?" Keep dreaming, Hollis. That girl was way far out of your league. She was just being a friendly bartender.

Perry and LaFontaine look at each other with concerned looks on their face. "Uh, sure, Laura. You're absolutely right."

And the mystery continues... NEXT CHAPTER!