You're out on the fire escape, leaning over the rail when you hear your name from inside. Poking your head through the window, you call to the voice.
"I'm out here."
You see Laura walk through the kitchen. She slips through the window to join you.
"So what did you while I was away?" She asks, turning to look at you.
"Pretty much just this. Your apartment has a wonderful view." You say as you take in the busy city down below.
You had spent another hour sleeping before you stepped out onto the fire escape and immediately became mesmerized by the busy streets and endless amount of people. It kept
you entertained for the two hours Laura was gone.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" You turn towards her.
You can see that she is mentally prepping herself, which steels you, prepared for the following conversation you've been dreading.
"Well, um," She purses her lips before turning back towards the city. "This is a conversation for everyone in the house. We should wait for LaF and Perry."
You nod, despite wanting to know what's buzzing through her pretty little head right now.
"Okay." And with that you both slip through the window.
"So, can I ask you something?" The smaller woman questions
"Go for it." You say as you make your way into the living room, sitting on the couch. She follows behind you, sitting opposite cushion.
She turns toward you, crossing her legs. You mirror her position
"Okay I was wondering why you live on the streets." She says, studying you inquisitively.
You suck in a breath. You were aware that this conversation might have been brought up eventually, but it doesn't make anything any easier.
"Well," You begin, trying to remain a cavalier façade. "I think there needs to be a little back story before I tell you exactly why I'm… on my own" You say
"So, okay. Picture this. Beautiful young daughter of a successful doctor, forced to endure every social gathering that took place in a large fancy house. Always expected to be the
picture perfect child in frilly dresses with the perfect attitude. That was the life everyone saw me live." You glance up at Laura, who is listening intently to everything you say.
"What they didn't see was how heartless Mother could be. She didn't really care for me. She cared about my brother, treating him like an angel. She would constantly scream at me,
telling me how worthless I am or that she regretted me, telling me I was a mistake. So finally I couldn't handle it. I left. And some days it's freezing and I don't have a blanket or some days I go without eating, but I am a lot happier, now."
Laura smiles at you sympathetically. "Well, you have a blanket now."
This makes you laugh, which make the shorter woman smile more.
"You are so weird. And reckless, and naive," you smile. "You walk into your kitchen in the middle of the night to find someone robbing you of your grape soda and you offer her Macaroni and a place to sleep. I could be a murderer for all you know."
'Yeah, but you're not." She smiles.
You're about to retort when the door opens and closes. Perry and LaFontaine emerge from the entryway.
"Oh, hey! We all need to talk." Laura says, getting up from the couch. LaF and Perry exchange a confused look before they shrugged and walked to the kitchen table, each sitting in a chair.
You join them after Laura motions you over.
"Okay, so," She says, giving everyone a grin. "Carmilla is homeless."
You raise your eyebrows at her bluntness. Everyone's eyes turns toward you.
"And since we have an empty room after Betty moved out. I thought it would be nice that Carmilla could move in." She finishes with an excited smile.
You see the ginger twins exchange unsure glances towards you and each other.
"Um, L. Can we speak to you," their eyes skim over you once more. "Privately."
Laura nods. She gives you a small smile before following the two redheads down the hall. You hear a door close and you let out a breath. This is definitely not what you expected.
Quite the opposite, actually. You thought you were about to have to leave. Go back to your designated bench in the park.
You're chewing your lip nervously, deep in thought, when you here the door opens minutes later. They all wear straight faces when they enter the kitchen.
They sit down. Laura turns toward you and gives you a pointed look.
"Carmilla, do you want to stay here?" She asks.
You take in her words, looking around the nice kitchen and LaF and Perry, then you lay your eyes on her.
"Yes."
The brunette's face breaks into a huge smile. She looks at her roommates, who shrug their shoulders.
LaF offers you a smile. "Welcome to the family."
You can't help but to laugh.
"Okay. Well, then we need to make an impromptu trip to IKEA, then."
"Uh oh," LaFontaine looks at you. "She's got her game face on. Good luck, my friend."
Laura ignores the short haired ginger, requesting Carmilla to go throw her clothes on.
"They're back on the counter in the bathroom." She says.
"Okay, thanks."
After you change, you both leave, headed to IKEA.
"So it's about a ten minute walk." She tells you as you exit the apartment complex.
"I know. I've been there before." You say.
"Oh, yeah, what for?" She gives you a curious glance.
"A bed."
"Where'd you put it?"
You duck your head because of the misunderstanding, embarrassment flooding your mind.
"Oh." She understands after a moment.
"Yeah. I slept on one of the display beds." You murmur.
She intertwines your hand with hers, causing you to look at her.
"None of this is anything to be ashamed of, okay?" she squeezes your hand.
"Okay."
After a few more blocks, you come to IKEA. As soon as you enter, you're lost.
"I don't have any clue where the beds and stuff are." The brunette tells you.
"I don't remember either," you tell her. "And even if I did, everything looks different. I think they reorganized the store."
She shrugs. "Well, let the IKEA hunt begin. We need a bookshelf, a bed, and a desk."
"We are not splitting up. I may never see you again." You deadpan.
"But what if we both start walking left and everything we need is one the right?"
"If you get lost, then who would by the cupcakes?"
Laura stifles a chuckle. "Fine. Let's do this the hard way"
They both begin down a long isle filled with kitchen counters and large appliances.
"So, listen. Thank you for all of this. I don't want to just mooch off of you guys forever, or whatever. I want to get a job or something. To help out with things."
Laura laughs. "You're not mooching, first of all. And what type of job would you get? What do you want to do?"
You shrug your shoulders and walk a little further until you spot something. "I spy a desk." You point towards the desk section.
Laura lets out an excited squeal, causing you to smile. She let's go of your hand that you almost forgot she was holding.
"So which one tickles your fancy?" the shorter woman asks you, looking from desk to desk.
You look at all of them until you see a small nice desk.
"This one. I want this one." It was a simple wooden desk with a drawer on either side.
"Okay." She looks around before sighing. "We don't have a cart or anything."
"Why don't I go find a cart?" You say, before heading the way you came.
"Okay, I'll wait here, then." She yells.
You break into a light jog down the never ending isle. After five minutes, you find the entrance and the long row of shopping carts.
Soon, you're back at the desk section, realizing that there is no Laura in sight.
"Laura?" You call out.
"Laura I know you're hiding." You say a little louder.
You start walking further down the aisle, searching for the tiny brunette. You don't see any sign of her. You pace back and forth, unsure of where she could be.
You're about to give up when you feel hands drop on your shoulders and a loud "boo!" in your ear. You spin around, startled, you find a giggling Laura.
"Gotcha." She says, skipping back towards the desk of your choice.
"What do you mean 'Gotcha'? You didn't even scare me." You tell her.
"Okay, Carm. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
You've collected everything you need for your room, and after an IKEA truck helped you drop it off in front of your apartment complex, it was left up to you and Laura to bring it all to your apartment.
Using the elevator, you put the three boxes containing your desk, your bookshelf, and your bed frame. After dragging it in front of your door, you both rode the elevator down to
the first floor to grab the mattress.
You both stare at it.
"It's not going to fit in the elevator." You tell her. She nods.
"Nope, it's not." She looks at you, finally.
"We have to carry it."
"Fine."
With that, you both grab the mattress and begin your quest up the stairs.
You're eleven stories high, and you're both dripping with sweat, both from the overheated building and the intense physical activity you are both doing.
"Carmilla, I need a break." Laura whines.
"We're almost there, buttercup."
She lets out a groan.
Twelve stories
Thirteen stories
"I think I'm going to pass out,"
Fourteen stories
Fifteen stories.
"Oh, thank god."
Laura helps you drag the mattress into the living room before she unceremoniously drops onto the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Okay, cupcake. Let's put all of this stuff together."
Laura lets out a disgruntled noise.
"Come on." You poke her in the side, which elicits a small giggle.
"No. I want to rest now."
"Well, we can rest in my new bed after we put it together." You wiggle your eyebrows.
"Hmm, you've known me for less than a day and you're already trying to get me into bed?"
You retort without missing a beat "Well you just bought me six hundred dollars' worth of furniture while only knowing me for less than a day. It's the least I could do." You wink.
"That reminds me. I want to talk to you. About you. I want to get to know my new roommate." She smiles.
"We can do that." You nod. "After we set up my new room." You say, standing up.
You're being uncharacteristically happy. But that's the thing. You're so happy. Last night, you just wanted to steal some soda and be on your merry way. You never thought in less
than twenty four hours you would have a home. But now you do.
"Hey Laura?" You turn towards her. "Thank you again. This is really great. And weird. And unexpected. And completely batshit crazy. For all you know, I could be a psycho. And in
less than a day, you've changed my life." You fidget under her intense gaze.
She looks at you for a moment before standing up and walking toward you.
"There's something about you that made me want to keep you." She jokes, before wrapping her arms around your neck, pulling you into a hug. Your arms slide around her waist.
The door swings open, signaling someone's arrival, causing you both to abruptly pull apart.
Danny emerges into the living room.
"It's Kirsch."