A/N: Okay, I know what you're thinking. "Tana... where have you been? Why would you disappear during the hiatus that seemed endless? That's when we truly needed Hollstein in our lives!" Yes, I know. Let's all rage at me for a moment: TANA WTF WHY STOP DOING THAT AND YOU GOT OUT OF SCHOOL LIKE LAST WEEK YOU SHOULD HAVE UPDATED LIKE SIXTY TIMES ALREADY. K.
So! :D I got a little bit out of the Carmilla groove during the hiatus, but let's be real, that kiss last Tuesday shook everyone from their Hollstein hearts all the way down to their souls. And well, I've gotten back a little into the groove :) Woohoo c:
So here I am! With another update, and more lined up :) If you follow me on here you may have noticed that I went a little crazy. I started a Clexa fanfic on top of my Emison story, my Quinntana story, and this story. Then I finished the Quinntana story in order to post a Spashley story. So yeah I'm insane. Also my two French fics are being updated again (yay for translators) and I've begun to beta for two different people so whoa. Basically dug myself into a hole. So basically, what I'm trying to say is that updates for all of my stories will be slower, but I will be trying to update them all relatively equally. I tend to pick and choose, so I'm trying not to do that :)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Carmilla and if I did then I would hug Elise Bauman forever.
PLEASE enjoy, favorite, follow and REVIEW!
"Alright," Laura said, coming out of the bathroom a second, only this time looking much more presentable than before, in a cute little dress and with makeup on her face. Carmilla could even admit that she was sort of adorable. "Let's see what number two is on our list."
"Your list," Carmilla corrected. "Shouldn't you say it when your camera is rolling, for the dramatic effect?"
"What dramatic effect?" Laura asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Exactly. You won't have one until you read the next thing on the list while the camera is on," Carmilla stated matter-of-factly. Laura just stared at Carmilla for a moment, trying to figure her out.
"Umm, okay," Laura agreed, knitting her eyebrows together again as she looked back toward her computer. She started the recording, smiling brightly at the camera. "Welcome to week two of The Relaxation Project. I am about to launch my list generator to check which of the things on my list is next."
Carmilla couldn't help at smirk at the formal tone that Laura had switched to as soon as the camera was on. Laura clicked a few things with her mouse on the computer, and Carmilla tried not to be so obviously curious as to what the next thing on the list was. Laura might not be able to see her now, but when she was editing all of these videos together, Carmilla would be damned if the blonde could see any sort of real interest in her expression.
"Well," Laura said, sounding considerably less excited now, which only resulted to peak Carmilla's curiosity. "This week's step is to attend a college party—otherwise known as a rager."
Carmilla snickered, and Laura sent her a glare. "What?" Carmilla demanded. "Don't look so distressed, cupcake. The Zetas are throwing another party tonight."
Laura groaned. "Maybe I should skip this."
"Are you kidding?" Carmilla demanded. "You are forcing me to help you with this weird project of yours, and so far, the only thing you need to do for it is go to a party. Are you really that disappointed?"
Laura bit her lower lip, half out of embarrassment, and half because Carmilla was now sitting upright on her bed, and her short cut top was riding up slightly. "I mean…"
"You mean, cupcake, that you're going to relax, and go to the party tonight," Carmilla finished for her.
"Why are you so insistent about the party thing?" Laura asked. "You really wanted me to go last weekend, too."
"Because parties are fun," Carmilla insisted.
"Well I doubt that I will be any fun," Laura said. At this point in her conversation, she had nearly forgotten that the camera was even on. "The last party I went to was at the beginning of summer, and it was a high school party. I've heard that they're a lot different."
Carmilla smirked. Laura was entirely too innocent and adorable sometimes. "Well, that's what I'm here for, right?"
Laura let out a light sigh, nodding. She finally remembered to turn back to the camera, which was actually perfect timing, because she probably would have ended up awkwardly staring at Carmilla instead. "Well, I will be sure to take some video footage of the party tonight, and… besides that, see you next week." She stopped the recording and then let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding.
"You okay there, buttercup?" Carmilla teased.
Laura glared at the brunette again. "I'm fine. I need to find something to wear to the party tonight. What time are we going?"
"Whatever time you want to go, cutie," Carmilla stated. Laura was pretty positive that Carmilla was intentionally using her pet names extra excessively just to bother her.
After Laura managed to find an outfit that she deemed acceptable for a party, she settled into her bed to work on homework that she didn't want to be working on the following day.
Carmilla, in the meantime, was reading her psychology textbook, and wondering how Laura hadn't noticed her missing pillow. Honestly, that was the focus of her thoughts, even as she flipped through the pages of the huge book, absorbing most all the information despite her distraction.
That's what Laura was, a major distraction. Carmilla was having a harder and harder time focusing on other things when she was around Laura. She couldn't explain it really, and she was pretty sure that she was having a similar effect on her roommate. Of course, she wasn't going to say anything about it. They'd known each other for a week. Maybe a little longer, and Carmilla would start going in for it. And who knew? Maybe this crazy project of Laura's could help move along the process.
After Laura finished her homework, downed at least two cans of grape soda, and stuffed about ten cookies, the sun was starting to set, and she decided that it was time to go to the party. "Okay, I'm going to change, and then we can go."
Carmilla just gave a lame nod, because she was already ready to go to the party. Her usual attire—which she tended to sleep in as well—was suitable for basically any occasion, at least in her mind. Laura grabbed some clothing and disappeared into the bathroom.
When she emerged, she was wearing dark wash skinny jeans and a tight t-shirt that, if Carmilla was being honest, flatteringly accentuated her boobs. Despite her appearance, though, Laura seemed nervous. "I don't really have any party clothes."
"You look fine," Carmilla insisted.
"Are you just saying that because I'm so pathetic that you feel obligated to say it?" Laura demanded, though her tone hinted that she wasn't actually as insecure about her appearance as she had originally seemed.
"Laura, you are not an unattractive person," Carmilla stated evenly, "and you look perfectly fine in your chosen party attire."
It only took a second for Laura to realize that this was the first time that Carmilla had actually called her by her first name. She usually defaulted to nicknames like cupcake and cutie and creampuff. Laura did her best not to look overly flattered at the compliment combined with the sincerity. "Thanks," she managed, aware that her voice was coming out softer than it normally did when she was speaking to her generally jerk-like roommate. "So, should we go?"
They didn't say much as they made their way out of their room and across the campus to the Zeta Omega Mu's fraternity house. Seeing as it was already dark out, the place was lit up in dozens of colors, and loud music was coming from every direction- as if the surround sound was in the air itself. People were spread all throughout the front of the frat house, practically spilling out of the entrance. "Is like, everybody who goes to this school here?"
"You'd be surprised to know, cupcake," Carmilla started, "that people actually enjoy parties, and willingly attend them."
Laura didn't respond, instead taking out her portable camera and turning on the video.
"What are you doing?" Carmilla questioned seriously, raising an eyebrow.
"Filming- for my project, obviously," Laura stated. "So here we are, at the Zeta Omega Mu frat party. Yes, it's my first frat party. And of course, here is my broody roommate."
"Am I broody?" Carmilla asked rhetorically, purposely avoiding the lens on the camera with her eyes.
Laura giggled-a sound that Carmilla was honestly surprised to hear. "She's being just as dark and mysterious as normal, obviously." Carmilla felt her cheeks heat up, and she was incredibly grateful for the darkness and the multicolored lights that hid her blush. "Anyway, we just got here, and we're about to go inside, I guess."
"So, relaxed person advises that you ditch the camera, cutie," Carmilla stated, hoping that her blush was gone. "We want to look at least a little normal and not like we're at a tourist attraction."
"Fine," Laura gave in, stopping the recording and slipping the small camera back into her back pocket. "Let's go!"
Carmilla raised her eyebrows at the blonde. "Who are you and what did you do to my roommate?"
"I don't know, I'm just excited!" Laura exclaimed. Carmilla smirked, and she started into the frat house. She had only been there once- just the previous week -but she felt like she remembered it pretty well. And as she led Laura inside, she suddenly became aware of the feeling of responsibility that was lingering in her mind. She felt like she needed to keep Laura safe. And call her crazy, but she wasn't used to feeling like that about anyone- at least she hadn't for a long time. "I wonder if Perry and LaFontaine are here somewhere," Laura wondered.
"Probably somewhere," Carmilla answered lazily. "I'm going to grab something to drink. You want something?"
Laura nodded, but she didn't specify whether she wanted something alcoholic or not. Carmilla just decided to get her whatever looked the safest- she figured that anything not alcoholic had probably been spiked already anyway. It was, after all, a frat party.
"Don't get lost while I'm gone," Carmilla sarcastically advised, before heading toward where she recalled drinks being the last time that she was there.
Laura stayed behind, slightly intrigued by Carmilla. She seemed slightly different all day. Despite the normal teasing, she seemed to be a lot more genuine, or at least she was getting better at sounding concerned. Whether or not she actually was, now that was the real question.
Mm I'm excited to finally continue this story :D Woohoo! :)
Hope you enjoyed the chapter lovelies! Drop me a review, maybe? ^.^
Thanks for being amazing! Have a lovely night :D Please review! ;D