Laura closes the door after waving Danny goodbye.
"Those noises were not human." Carmilla states flatly, studying a copy of 'Principles of Anatomy and Physiology'.
Laura starts to blush profusely. "What are you talking about?"
"Vampire hearing, buttercup. You were either copulating or having a prayer meeting with the amount of 'Oh Gods' flying around in there."
"Are you hungry?" Laura asks, desperately wanting to change the subject.
"Why, are you offering?" Carmilla smirks looking up at Laura who is raiding the kitchen cupboards.
"No!" Laura replies all too quickly, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. "I mean, don't you eat anything else? Normal food?"
"Sure, I can eat food but it doesn't really have any nutritional value for me. I mostly stick to the food groups of candy and caffeine."
"I can make pancakes?"
Carmilla is quiet, a perplexed look passing across her face. "I confess to be a vampire, you invite me to stay in your home and now you want to make me pancakes. What am I missing here? Are you keeping me busy while the townspeople ready with their torches and pitchforks?" She arches her eyebrows in mock accusal.
"Well from what I've seen in the movies and on tv, all vampires really want is to be loved. Buffy and Angel, Bella and Edward, Stefan and Elena. They aren't out of control monsters, just people who occasionally like to drink the neighbour boys." Laura smiles one of those cheesy grins.
Carmilla tries to keep a solemn face but something about this girl makes her feel like she can let her guard down, her eyes soften and her lips curl up into a toothy grin.
"Not all of us are gentle like that. I wouldn't go making this a routine."
"I truly believe you will be the first and last vampire I invite in. I didn't throw you out because I know what it's like not to have a home to go to." Laura pauses, wringing her hands. "When I was nine we lived in Nova Scotia and there was a really bad hurricane that year. It was a Saturday morning, my dad was driving me to softball practice about twenty minutes away. Mum stayed at home, she wasn't feeling well that day so she stayed in bed."
Laura blinked tears away as she continued. "Half way through practice the wind started picking up, it got so bad that we had to stop. Everyone went inside and the lights went out. I remember thinking thank God mom is safe at home and not in this. We waited around for an hour or two till the storm passed. On the way home, the closer we got the worse the damage was, trees blown down, debris everywhere. We rounded the corner and our house came into view…" Laura feels a firm hand press to her back. Looking up she sees Carmilla at her side, sincere dark eyes staring back into hers.
"It was completely destroyed. We called everyone we knew nearby and the hospitals but no one knew where mom was. They found her bod, body…" Laura breaks down, turning towards Carmilla who wraps strong arms around her.
"It's ok Laura." Carmilla comforts, tenderly stroking the shorter girl's hair. "You're ok." She whispers.
'God Carmilla, what are you doing?' The slender girl addresses herself silently. 'Get your strength back and get out of here. Do not fall for this girl. You have to go far away from here or they'll find you and put you back in a box. Laura too if they think you feel anything for her.' Carmilla anguishes, still holding the crying girl close.