"So, you bumped into your crush, spilled your coffee on her, she took off her shirt, and you didn't ask her out?" Betty asked incredulously.
Laura tugged at the sleeves of her blue hoodie. "Um... Yeah."
Betty scoffed, taking money offered by a customer for a collar. "You're a whole new level of awkward."
"I know, I know." Laura groaned. "She called me cutie, though. Which was pretty cool."
"Everyone calls you cute." Betty pointed out.
Betty was very straight-forward when it came to certain matters. That was partly the reason she and Laura were so close. She didn't give you any of that follow-your-heart bullshit. She told it like it was. Some people disliked her for her brutal honesty, but it was refreshing for Laura.
"Well, yeah, but coming from her it wasn't annoying." Laura sighed, taking a glance at the music store.
She could see Carmilla talking animatedly to a handsome boy who worked with her a lot. Not that Laura noticed that kind of stuff. She usually focused solely on the brunette. Like, right now, she seemed visibly annoyed.
"Did you at least find out her name?" Betty asked, waving her hand in front of Laura's face, as if to get her attention.
"Hm? Oh, yeah. Carmilla." The name tasted sweet on her lips. Carmilla, Carmilla, Carmilla. She wished she could say that name until her last breath.
"Geez, Laura, if you don't stop giving her those puppy eyes from here she might not return your sweater and just pretend you don't exist. Maybe even get a restraining order." Betty snorted.
"Shut up," Laura muttered, blushing. "I wasn't giving her puppy eyes."
"Puh-lease. You're already head-over-heels for her and you don't even know her."
"Yet." Laura added. "I'm gonna go check on Mama and her kittens."
"What the hell are you wearing?" Will raised his eyebrows when Carmilla stepped into the store, her wet shirt in one hand and her half-empty espresso in the other.
Carmilla looked down at the big sweater and shrugged. "That girl in the pet store accidentally spilled coffee on me, so she gave me this."
"And you didn't rip her head off? That's weird." Will chuckled.
Carmilla rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
Carmilla had known Will for years. He was practically her brother. Hell, he technically was. Her mother had taken him in after his parents died when he was ten. It was pretty much the only decent thing her mother had done that she could ever remember. He was snarky, but honest when it came to serious stuff.
"By the way, Mother called." His expression turned awkward.
Carmilla's stomach dropped and her entire body tensed. She resembled a statue of some sort. "What did she say?"
A customer cleared their throat and Carmilla looked at them.
"Do you have anything by Vampire Weekend?" The man asked.
"I'll show you," Will lead him around a shelf.
Carmilla felt a sickening twist in her stomach. She loathed her mother. Although the brunette had a rather extensive vocabulary, she couldn't string together any words that could perfectly describe her feelings towards her mother. So, she settled with 'execrate, loathe, detest, abhor,' and other similar words with some choice swears in between.
She and her mother existed on two entirely different wavelengths. Her mother was what one would consider 'high-class'. She expected nothing but the best from everything and everyone – including Carmilla. That was probably the biggest rift between them. That and the fact that her mother was a manipulative, scheming, terrible, awful bi-
"She said she needs to talk to you." Will had come up behind her unannounced, causing her to jump.
"Shit," Carmilla groaned. "Don't scare me like that." Will rang up the customer from before. "Did she say what she wanted to talk about?"
He shook his head. "No, but I think we both know what it is."
Carmilla rolled her eyes. "God, if my interest in women is that much of a pain for her, I don't see why she can't just let it fucking go."
He shrugged. "She's traditional, you know that. It's all about rules with her."
"Well I don't see how me liking the same gender breaks any of those stupid rules."
"She'll come around to it."
"Don't fucking lie to me," Carmilla gripped the counter so hard her knuckles turned white. She was surprised the thing didn't shatter in her grasp. "You and I both know she won't 'come around'. She doesn't change – people don't change."
"Carm-"
"No matter how many times I tell her that she should accept me, she pulls that 'Oh, it's just a phase' bullshit. Every time I bring home a girl, she treats her like shit and practically shoves her out the door. She. Will. Not. Change." Carmilla turned away from him, her breathing ragged with anger. "I'm going on break."
"We just opened half an hour ago-" he stopped talking as soon as she shot him a dangerous glare. "Uh, alright."
She charged out of the store, her entire body tense with frustration.
She can't just leave me alone for once? I moved out of her damn house so I could get away from her, not have her up my ass 24/7. Carmilla thought to herself as she made her way to the exit. Maybe some fresh air would help.
Laura watched Carmilla practically run out of the music store. Concern for the brunette took hold and, before she could stop herself, Laura muttered out a quick "be right back" to Betty before slipping out of her own store.
It took a moment before she was able to find the girl outside, by the entrance. She was sitting on one of the benches. Her elbows were perched on her knees as her face was buried in her hands. She looked stressed, so Laura decided not to speak as she sat down beside her.
Carmilla looked up, angrily at first, but her eyes soon turned soft when she noticed who dared to go near her.
"Cupcake," Carmilla breathed, visibly relaxing slightly. "What are you doing out here?"
"You seemed upset." Laura shrugged.
"You were watching me?" Carmilla half-smirked, though she didn't really seem to want to be her usual playful self. Something was bothering her.
Laura blushed nonetheless. The other girl could be sobbing her eyes out and any type of flirting would still fluster Laura.
"Um, anyway," Laura decided to dodge the whole 'I was totally watching you' thing and changed the subject. "What's got you so upset?"
Air escaped Carmilla's lungs in a single long, slow sigh. "Just... my mother."
"Your mother?" Laura pressed.
Carmilla tensed and Laura knew she crossed a line. Before she could say anything, though, Laura quickly sputtered out "Y-You don't have to talk about her. I mean, I get it. My dad can get pretty bad sometimes."
The brunette seemed to let the first comment go. She looked at Laura.
"We'd better get inside," she murmured, her voice surprisingly soft. "It's going to get really busy soon."
Laura nodded and the two slipped back into the mall.
Carmilla watched the smaller girl out of the corner of her eye. She was... interesting, to say the least. She was pretty bubbly, and the huge grin on her face was pretty cute.
But, then again, the last time Carmilla fell for a girl, her mother had...
She shuddered at the memory.
No, she would not fall for Laura. She would befriend her, sure, but she would do everything in her power to make sure she didn't feel anything other than platonic for the girl.
"I'll see you later?" Laura's sweet voice pulled Carmilla from her thoughts. The blonde's doe-eyes were hopeful as the looked into Carmilla's.
"Yeah, of course." Carmilla smiled softly.
"Um, c-can I get your number? I mean, in case you don't know where I am or..." Laura blushed furiously.
The brunette almost wanted to say "I work right across from you, I don't think I would lose you", but decided against it. She did enjoy talking to the girl. What harm could a stupid phone number do?
The two quickly exchanged numbers before parting ways.
Carmilla was almost hyper aware of Laura's scent clinging to the sweater she was wearing. It was a nice smell – vanilla and sugar cookies – and she kind of wanted to drown in it.
She had to remind herself to stay distanced from Laura. For Laura's sake. But, her heart never really listened to reason.
I have so much feedback for this so thanks everyone holy shit! Reviews are amazing, by the way!