LaFontaine latched onto the idea at once, of course, because nothing apparently excited them as much as vampires. Laura should have guessed, but it was still slightly disconcerting.
"Aren't you even gonna care that she's a big jerk?" No one really payed attention to the TV in front of the worn couch they were sitting on. Now and then, a student would pass by the kitchen area of the room, saying a quick hello or ignoring them as they went about their own business.
"A big, jerky vampire, Laura! You live with a vampire who probably eats people!"
"She leaves her clothes everywhere and steals my pillow, you know? And she has this really annoying habit of getting way too close without reason and… what?"
LaFontaine was giving her that patient look that was both nice and frustrating. "Vampire, Laura. If it's true, that might mean that those girls have been eaten. By her. And you're probably next."
Perry placed a plate of brownies between them and said, resting a hand on LaFontaine's shoulder, "I will have to agree with Laura on this one, dear. Perhaps Carmilla just wants to feel special? She does have a certain style, after all."
LaFontaine sighed and straightened their vest, their eyes a bit more vulnerable as they looked up at Perry. Laura looked away from the silent conversation to survey the brownies, but then she sighed and curled up further in her corner of the couch.
"Shouldn't we be concentrating on just asking her what's up? I tried, but I didn't get a reply. I never do." She rested her cheek on her knee and let her eyes absent-mindedly follow the line of LaFontaine's neck as they turned to look at her again. That really was a nice haircut.
"Aww, don't pout, Laura. I have a plan. And anyway, are you still feeling sick? We've barely seen you around except in the evenings, and you don't…" Laura blinked and looked up at LaFontaine's suddenly changed expression. "...eat."
Laura shrugged and shifted, uncomfortably aware of the two gingers staring at her. "I eat, I'm just not hungry right now."
"Not hungry for brownies. Uh-huh."
LaFontaine was still staring at her, but now Perry's eyes was on LaFontaine instead. After a moment of awkward silence, Laura asked, "So… what's the plan?"
Her friend scratched at their neck. "Um… it's not really finished yet. I'll tell you when I've worked it out, yeah?"
"I'm sorry, Carmilla, I drank all your cranberry juice."
Carmilla looked up from her dusty old book - Schopenhauer this week - and said, slowly, "I don't have any cranberry juice, Muffin."
Laura hung her hoodie on the door of their room and wiped at her forehead with the back of her hand. The sun had set an hour ago, and she had been out on an evening run despite the curfew. Since morning runs were out lately, she had to rework her schedule. "Really, Carmilla? I mean, I don't know why you kept it in the soy milk container in the first place, but it was really good, and I'm sorry. I'll buy some more for you." She gave Carmilla her best smile, but apparently it didn't work. Carmilla's eyebrows were knitted, and she stared at Laura in a way that made Laura feel even guiltier.
"You drank my blood? All of it? Laura, you-"
"Cranberry juice! And I said I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you, okay? Danny says there's this party over at the Summer Society tonight, and I'm feeling much better, so we should really go, right? I'll buy you a beer or something."
It had taken some effort to convince Danny to allow Camilla into the dorm. Apparently they had some stupid rule about vampires entering the building, but werewolves were totally fine. Laura didn't know how anyone at Silas could sleep through the full moon with all the howling, anyway. Being awake at night really had led to some surprises. For example, how and why the members of the Alchemy club manage to glow in the dark?
Carmilla was still looking at her, but then she closed her eyes and let the book slide off her lap. "Fine. But please, could you just tell me, who-"
"Great! We should leave in an hour or so. Please, clean the hairs off my bed first? Honestly, Carmilla, you know pets aren't allowed in the dorms, right?"
She headed for the shower and allowed herself a small smile as she heard the growl coming from the bedroom.
"Carmilla! What the hell?"
Carmilla lifted her head and licked her lips as Laura slammed the door to the unused bedroom on the second floor shut behind her. Moonlight illuminated the exposed the neck of the girl in Carmilla's arms. The girl, whom Laura vaguely recognized as Sarah from her Lit class, tugged a bit at Carmilla's black camisole, exposing more white flesh to the overly dramatic lighting. This party was not going at all how Laura expected.
"What is it, Sugar? I am kind of busy at the moment."
Laura almost stomped at the ground, but she was way too mature for such childish acts. "I thought we came here together, and then I find you... you..." She gestured wildly. "...with someone else!"
Both of Carmilla's perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted at that, and she looked down at Sarah's absent smile before saying, "Well, someone ate all my food, so I had to get more, didn't I?"
The bass notes of the music coming from downstairs filled the momentary silence in the room. Carmilla shifted her grip on the dazed girl, cold light catching in wavy, blonde hair and dark blood.
Holy shit. Laura huffed and looked away, licking her lips. "Is she even into that?"
Carmilla gave a short bark of laughter. "Maybe so, Cupcake."
"You know what? I don't care. Have fun or whatever. I'm going back."
And she did, with her pulse beating loudly in her ears.