Author's Note: Chapter 21 and prepare for the angst, tensions rise and people are misunderstood. Emotions run high and feelings are tested. So buckle up creampuffs, hope you enjoy it! :3

'Remind me again why we're going to this lackwit's party?'

'It will be fun Carm.'

'We don't even like that dumb jock?!'

'He throws awesome parties and his house has a super awesome basement, you promised you'd come to the party, you can't back out now!'

'The things I do for you Cupcake!'

'Yeah, yeah. Listen I have to go Danny's going to be here any minute.'

'Tell Xena I said hi.'

...

'Hey Hollis how's the assignment going?' Laura looked up to see Danny walking into her room. She pushed herself off of the chair to embrace the redhead in a hug.

'It's going great, thanks to your tutoring Danny!'

'No Laura it's just your natural ability.' Laura smiled awkwardly, embarrassed by the compliment as she shuffled back to sit in her chair.

'So how's the boxing going? Is Kirsch still hanging around there?'

'The dumb ass keeps hanging around after my session. You'd think after I popped him one the other week he'd get the message!'

'Woah wait you punched him?!'

'He made a comment about hitting like a girl so I decided to show him how I hit.'

'Nice one Lawrence, you're still going to his party right?'

'Definitely, so I was thinking we should go together? We could get ready at mine as it's like 10 minutes away from his house.'

'That sounds great Danny! So It's a date then.'

'Yeah it'll be awesome Laura. Oh did you tell Carmilla yet?'

'I haven't seen her a lot recently with all of our study sessions and journalism project but I will'

'She's going to love it Laura!'

'Right? I just wanted to do something special.'

'It will be special, she doesn't suspect a thing.'

Carmilla grinned at the name appearing on her Skype, she happily clicked answer and within seconds she was facing her older brother: Will. Carmilla took in his appearance, his hair was much shorter, it used to sweep over his head but now his hair was cut into a neat trim. From what Carmilla could see he'd gotten more stocky, she thought she could make out a six-pack.

'Kittyyyyyy!'

'Will, what did you do to your hair?!'

'It was getting way too shaggy kid. So what are your plans this weekend? Please tell me you have plans.' Carmilla rolled her eyes at his hopeful expression, nodding.

'I'm going to a party tonight.'

'Oooooh will there be anyone you like there?'

'I don't know what you're talking about...' Carmilla looks to see Will raising his eyebrow at her in disbelief a smug expression on his face. Suddenly she felt nervous to talk to him, something he must have picked up on because it was then that he started speaking.

'Carmilla you know you can talk to me right? You looked ill the last time we skyped, have you been eating right? Do I need to call Mum?'

'NO DON'T DO THAT.'

Will held his hands up in mock surrender before he looked at her panicked face and he wanted to reassure her, to comfort her even if it was through a screen.

'Okay Kitty just relax. I want to ask you something, is that okay?' receiving a small nod he continued 'I know things have been weird with us lately and I promise I'm coming home soon to cuddle you and probably to tease the hell out of you but you know you can always tell me anything. Do you need to tell me something?'

Carmilla looked behind her her eyes flicking around the room, seeing an empty space she nodded. Giving him a shaky smile before she bit her lip, her fingers playing with the sleeve of her hoodie.

'I...I...um...I...think I love someone.'

'She's a very lucky girl.' Will couldn't help but laugh at the wide-eyed expression Carmilla gave him, here mouth opening and closing for a few seconds before snapping out of it to look him in the eye.

'How... what... how did you know?'

'Kitty I've known you were in love with her for years'

'If you knew why wouldn't you tell me? Save me all this heart ache!'

'I wanted you to figure out in your own time, I knew I just had to be patient and let you tell me in your own time and you did. I am so proud of you Carmilla.' The brunette felt her eyes welling up as she looked at his warm features and for the first time this year she felt relief.

'You don't hate me?'

'You're my baby sister, I could never hate you.'

'Thank you' her voice was so soft, barely audible as she choked back the tears streaming down her face, hastily trying to wipe them away with her sleeve.

'Kitty please don't thank me for being a decent human being. So have you told her yet?'

'No way, it would ruin everything if I told her and I doubt she feels the same way'

'I thought she was the only one that's oblivious to your feelings, of course she feel the same way.'

'She's not oblivious Will. If she doesn't feel the same way I could lose the only other person I can't live without.'

'That wouldn't happen Carm, you never know if you don't try and I think you should tell her then maybe you can stop worrying about it.'

'Maybe. I have to get ready so I'll talk to you later.'

'Alright Kitty, love you.'

'Love you too.'

'Good luck.'

'Thanks Will, I miss you'

'I miss you too Kitty.' and with that he ended the call leaving Carmilla to raid her wardrobe, this had to be perfect!

Laura looked herself over in the mirror and smiled, she had filled out a bit more and tonight she wanted to show off a little. She'd chosen to wear some plain blue jeans and a blue and white checkered shirt. She'd applied so light make-up and a bit of lip gloss.

That was when she'd enlisted the help of Perry, Lafontaine and Danny for the job of sorting out her hair. Its usual straight style was replaced with hair that had slight waves to it. Perry had even managed to pull two pieces of hair together, braiding them to join at the back. The blonde hugged them all tightly whispering many thank yous as she thought about the night ahead.

'You look hot crushes-on-celebrities!'

'She's right Hollis you look great, she's going to be so blown away!'

'You think so?'

'Laura you look beautiful and Carmilla will be so surprised.'

'I hope so, we've been friends for almost 9 years and we haven't been hanging out as much recently. I just wanted to do something that shows her that she's still my best friend and that she deserves something special.'

'Laura that's lovely, she's going to love it'

'I just hope she isn't too mad that I've been blowing her off for the past two weeks in preparation. I even told her that I couldn't give her a lift so she couldn't see the present I got her!'

'If she is annoyed it'll go as soon as she sees how much effort you went to.'

...

They walked to Kirsch's house from Danny's, Danny had pulled on a low cut black top with bright green jeans and baseball shoes. Her hair was curled slightly and she wore make-up that accented her eyes. Laura looked slightly taken with Danny but she soon snapped out of it when she saw the door open, coming face to face with Brody Kirsch.

'Sup little hottie, glad you could make it'

'Could you please stop calling me a little hottie'

'Oh ummm sure, nerdy hottie?'

'She means stop calling her a hottie you dickwad'

Kirsch turned his attention to the fiery redhead and he couldn't help but let his eyes rake over her tall frame. His eyes must have lingered a little too long on her chest because he felt Danny thump his arm. Snapping out of it he turned to address her.

'Sorry Lawrence but you're one tall hottie!'

'You're disgusting, are you going to let us in or what?'

'Oh yeah of course' he stepped aside to let them both in, pointing ahead as they walked down the hallway and into the lounge, his eyes may have checked out Danny's ass when she walked by.

...

Laura spotted Carmilla almost instantly. Her usual mess of curls was pulled back into a pony tail, her fringe still fell just above her eyes. Laura then looked at Carmilla's eyes, she was wearing smoky eyeshadow and thick black eye liner that had a slight flick at the end and her lips were coated in dark red lip stick. Carmilla was wearing a white and black lacy shirt tucked into a pair of small denim black shorts which she'd accompanied with long black knee high socks and a pair of black boots with black and white skull laces. Laura felt heat rush through her body at the sight and this was when she decided that it would be a good time to get herself a drink.

Carmilla looked up when she saw the blonde leave and she smirked at the flushed expression that Laura had. This was the reaction she was hoping for, after being blown off by Laura for the past two weeks she'd wanted to show the blonde that she was missing out and that she didn't deserve to get blown off. Her first mission was to make Laura blush, mission complete!

Laura sat with Lafontaine and Perry across the room Carmilla was busy talking to some girl from her art class. Which she'd been doing for most of night, not once had she came over to see Laura and the blonde was starting to get irritated.

'Why won't she come over?!'

'Um maybe you should go over there?'

'If I go over there I'll look needy!'

'You ARE needy.' They winced when Perry gave them a sharp prod shaking her head in disapproval before she turned to address Laura herself.

'What Sus...Lafontaine means to say is maybe Carmilla's waiting for you to make truth e first move?'

'You think so?'

'Well she keeps on looking over here so I think she wants you to move first.'

'You're totally right, okay I'm going in...wish me luck.' Laura stood with a determined look in her eye as she made her way over to where the brunette stood. She mentally prepared herself as she leant in to tap Carmilla on the shoulder, watching and waiting as she slowly turned around. Seeing Laura brought that familiar mischievous smirk back and she arched her brow signalling for the other girl to speak.

'Are you going to speak to me at all tonight Carm?'

'We're speaking right now Cupcake.'

'You know what I mean, eugh you can be so irritating sometimes!'

'Well you must inspire it in me.'

'Shut up, do you want to dance?'

Carmilla smiled smugly before turning to the girl she'd been talking to 'thanks for the help Elsie, you're a life safer. If you'll excuse me'

With that she grabbed Laura's hand guiding her to a less crowded spot before pulling her close. Her hands trailed along Laura's hips as they swayed to the beat, never breaking eye contact as they moved closer following each other's rhythm. Carmilla could feel Laura's breathe hitching and she moved to whisper in her ear.

'Can we go somewhere quieter Cupcake?'

At a nod from Laura, Carmilla linked their fingers, pulling the girl through the crowd as they made their way through the house. Carmilla pushed the door open pulling Laura outside as she led her onto the patio. Seeing a bench they sat down looking out at the stars.

...

'Why did you want to come outside Carm?'

'It was just getting too crowded in there. The more I thought about spending time with those lackwits the more I disliked the idea so I brought the party here.'

'You didn't seem to mind spending time with that girl.'

'Who? Elsie? She's just a girl from my art class.'

'Must be some girl, you spent the night with her. You didn't even speak to me.'

At this Carmilla stood up, anger flashing through her face as she spoke. 'I'm speaking to you now, you sound like a jealous ex or something. What I can't talk to anyone other than you? Is that it?!'

'No I never said that, I'm just saying that it would be nice if you didn't ignore me the whole night!' Laura was standing up too at this point, her arms shaking with frustration.

'You want to talk about ignoring people? You have been blowing me off and avoiding me for the past two weeks! And for what Laura? So you could spend time with your new girlfriend Xena?!'

'Woah, woah, woah Danny is not my girlfriend besides I haven't been...I had my reasons.'

'Cut the crap Laura, I don't care what your reasons are you left me defenseless for two weeks!'

'Defenseless? What the hell is that supposed to mean?'

'Just forget it.'

'No tell me what you meant by that!'

'Why do you care? You've been too oblivious when I needed you.'

'Don't call me oblivious! Maybe if you actually told me what's going on instead of hiding everything from me then I'd be able to help.'

'I don't have to tell you everything, I didn't want to tell you I just wanted you to be there for me, I needed someone...no I needed you and you were too busy with Xena to even notice.'

'Don't you dare make out like I'm not there for you, I always am and if you must know I was planning a surprise for you, that's what I was doing with Danny. I thought because we have been friends for almost 9 years I'd surprise you, do something nice but you just don't want anyone to care, you can't stand the idea of letting anyone in because you're so scared of letting people see that you're not the badass you lead everyone to believe.'

'And you're a child, you don't understand anything about obligation or pressure. You think you can analyze everyone, that I can be another journalism project that you can write about. You think I have all of these problems that you can fix well you can't! You can't talk to me about not letting anyone in and act like you have no problems, you're scared of cars Laura and how about you stop trying to talk about my deeply painful past and sort out your own mess. I don't want your damn surprise!'

Carmilla had tears in her eyes as she spoke, angry tears and for a second she wanted to hug Laura. Laura who had hurt flashing in her eyes as she struggled to keep in her own tears but Carmilla was too emotional. She felt trapped and as though she would break in an instant, so she left. She didn't just walk, she ran. She ran away from obligation and pain, away from the girl she'd just broken.

Her head was swimming as the tears poured down her cheeks and she tried to keep running when a pair of strong hands grabbed her, blinking through the tears she looked up and into the familiar pair of warm brown eyes as she buried her face in their chest. Their arms coming round to envelope her in a protective hug.

'It's going to be okay Kitty, I'm here. It's okay.'