"Carmmmm," I whined at my best friend, "I don't understand any of this!" I flipped through my book, frustration written all over my face.

"What's not to understand creampuff?" Carmilla questioned while peeking over my shoulder. "Add butter mixture to dry ingredients, mix thoroughly until smooth-"

"I can read it Carm, that's not the problem," I turned to face her, "I think we should give up on our quest to make me cook." Carmilla looked like she was going to protest so I talked faster to prevent her response; "We have burnt six batches of cookies," I glare pointedly at the evidence (still smoking) on the countertop, "and I even managed to set fire to the pudding we attempted to make." I gestured animatedly at the pot soaking in soapy water as an attempt to get the charcoaled pudding off of it.

Carmilla cracked a small smile before lightly gripping my arms and turning me back towards our latest attempt at cookie dough. "You got this Laura."

I sighed and then started adding the ingredients listed on the recipe to the bowl. The whole time Carmilla is talking me through the steps of cookie dough making. It's the random moment like these; the one that are so simple, comfortable, yet still amazing; that I love to share with Carm. These are the times that I am so grateful for my sarcastic, dorky, bookworm.

"You alright there cupcake?" Carmilla said, staring at me expectantly.

I realized I had stopped making cookie dough and was just staring at my best friend with a goody smile on my face. Before I thought about it, I blurted; "I'm so glad you pulled me into that janitor's closet on the second day of kindergarten."

She quirked an inquisitive eyebrow at me, her chocolate eyes searching my own, before she whispered; "What do you mean creampuff!"

I turned to face her and grabbed her hands; "I mean that you are the best person I know. That I love everything about you, from your wicked sarcasm to your smile. I mean," I looked directly into her eyes, "that I am so glad we became friends, because I don't know how I could have gotten even this far in life without you."

Her lips parted in a silent gasp at my words, while tears started to form in her eyes; "I- I don't know how to say how much that means to me, how much you mean to me." She pauses, then abruptly said; "Laura, there's something I need to tell you, it's about my mother-"

"Wow! What the heck happened in here? And why does it smell distinctly like you burnt down half the kitchen?" papa Hollis questioned as he strode into the kitchen. When he noticed all the burnt cookie corpses his eyes widened marginally and then he started to laugh.

Carm and I shared a confused look as we listened to my dad cackle hysterically. Carmilla stood up a little straighter and adjusted her leather jacket before speaking; "Mr. Hollis, I was just trying to teach Laura to cook. We're sorry about the mess, I promise we will clean it up before I leave."

"It's fine Carmilla, I actually admire you for attempting such a huge feat with my daughter. I don't know how, but when I tried to teach that girl to cook pasta, she managed to set the boiling water on fire." Dad let out a hardy laugh before dismissing himself and heading to his room to change into more comfortable clothes.

I stared at the floor, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment from my father's words, "I don't get what I do wrong." I murmur quietly.

Carmilla's light chuckles died down when she saw my reaction; "Laura, it's really not a big deal; that's how people learn. You know, one time, I made spaghetti, and I wanted to be able to eat it on the go. So, me being my brilliant self, I decided it would be a great idea to blend my pasta."

I laugh, "No way?! You made a spaghetti smoothie! I made a green bean smoothie one time." Carm gave me an incredulous look, while I shrugged slightly embarrassed, "I thought it might go down easier," I have not grown out of my hatred for vegetables, and am always trying to find ways to make them palatable. "it didn't." My face scrunched up at the thought of that disgusting goop.

She laughs, then looks at me sheepishly, "We all do things wrong at some point, you just happen to burn things, and someday you won't; and that's all I want to help you achieve."

I scooped her up in a big hug, buried my head in her shoulder, and we just stood there; holding each other. "I love you." I whispered to her.

She tensed slightly before she pulled me even tighter, "I love you too cupcake." We pulled apart and just smiled at each other.

"What are you two smiling about?" papa Hollis said as he came into the kitchen, now dressed in a pair of sweats and an Old Navy t-shirt.

"Umm we were thinking of asking you if Carm could stay the night." I said.

"Ohhh, is that so?"

"If that is alright with you sir." Replied Carmilla (ever-polite to my father).

"I've told you, please, call me papa Hollis. And, of course you can stay the night." I cheer and do a victory dance around the kitchen. I stop when I notice everyone else is staring at me like I'm a lunatic and smile sheepishly. "I'll order some pizza for dinner," I opened my mouth to speak, but dad kept talking; "yes, Laura, I will get the cookie pizza."

Carmilla laughed at that. Personally, I don't see what is so funny, my love of cookies is very serious business, but I can't help but smile at her.

After dad left I remembered Carm wanted to tell me something before dad interrupted (the first time). "Hey, maybe after we clean all of this up, and eat dinner, you could finish telling me what you wanted to tell me earlier."

The brunette looked surprised that I remembered, but responded with a; "Sure, that sounds good cupcake."