Chapter Text
Laura is in her dorm room getting ready for her class that begins at 12:00pm. Human Geography is definitely not one of her favorite classes but it fulfills one of her last requirements so she needs to do well in it if she plans on graduating next month, which is something Laura has all intentions of doing. She is in the middle of brushing her teeth when she hears her iphone ringing on her bed. Quickly, Laura spits the toothpaste out of her mouth and into the sink before running out of the bathroom and into her bedroom to pick up her cell phone. Laura does not recognize the number but she does recognize the area code to be of one from Boston. Laura quickly answers the phone and says “Hello?”
“Hi, yes may I please speak to Laura Hollis?” the man on the other end of the line says.
“She’s speaking” Laura quickly answers. She is still confused by who the man is and why they may be calling her.
“Ah, yes, hello Ms. Hollis, this is Dave Johnson from The Boston Globe speaking. You sent us your resume a few weeks ago-.”
Laura is stunned. She never told anyone she applied for a position at the Boston Globe because she didn’t think they would actually hire her. And now some man from there is calling her and everything seems unreal.
The man continues to speak while Laura attempts get her thoughts straight. “Anyway we are very impressed with your resume, especially with all the work you have done with your universities newspaper. We think you’re exactly the type of new blood the Boston Globe desperately needs. If all goes as planned and you graduate this May we would like to offer you a position here at the Boston Globe.”
If Laura was stunned earlier she is downright dumbfounded right now. Laura sits down because she thinks if she stands any longer she is surely going to faint.
“Hello? Ms. Hollis are you still there?” Dave asks through the telephone.
Laura has trouble finding her words but is finally able to reply. “Yes! Sorry, I’m just a little shocked that is all. I’ve always dreamed about working for you guys and it would be an amazing honor. Like. A super great honor, I’m honestly just trying to process everything, I mean this is surely a big deal and-” Laura can’t stop herself from rambling. This always happens to her especially when she is nervous. She decides she needs to cut herself off before she ruins any chance of acquiring this position.
“Is it ok if I have some time to think about it?” Laura asks Dave realizing she shouldn’t jump to a decision so quickly, especially with something as serious as this. She definitely wants to talk to her father about this. He always tells her the right thing to do.
“Of course that’s no problem at all Ms. Hollis. We understand the type of decision this is for a soon to be college graduate. We’ll be in touch. How about you give us a final answer in 3 weeks.”
“Yes! Thank you so much Mr. Johnson. I will definitely be in touch with you.”
They both say their goodbyes and Laura hangs up her cell phone. Laura stays sitting on her bed for a few minutes trying to understand everything that just happened. “Holy crap. I can’t believe I got a job at the Boston Globe” Laura thinks to herself. And then it hits Laura. Having a job at the Boston Globe means she will have to live in Boston. Which means she will have to leave Philadelphia where she currently lives and where her girlfriend Carmilla lives? Everything suddenly feels very confusing and heavy. Not to mention when Laura looks over at the alarm clock on her desk she realizes she has 10 minutes to leave so she can get to class on time. All of these thoughts are going to have to wait till later.
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Laura meets with Lafontaine for lunch at the Food Court on lower campus like they always do on Tuesdays. Lafontaine graduated, like all of her other friends Carmilla, Perry, Kirsch, and Danny last year. Well technically Danny graduated 2 years ago but the point is it’s nice to be able to still hang out with some of her friends on campus. Laura has a month left before graduating from Silas University. Thankfully, Lafontaine is earning her Master’s Degree from Silas, so they are still able to meet up some days. Lafontaine is going on and on about something they just learned from one of their biology lectures when they stop and start staring at Laura.
“Hey L, everything ok?” Lafontaine asks with a mouth full of their tuna sandwich and looking at Laura very confused.
Laura snaps out of her daydream and focuses back on Lafontaine. “Yeah, sorry about that, what were you saying?”
“I was talking about the lecture I just had today, and you weren’t even pretending to be interested, like you do anytime I talk about this stuff. What’s on your mind?”
Laura didn’t want to tell anyone about her phone call with the Boston Globe before she had a chance to speak with her dad and Carmilla but this is something too big to just keep in and Lafontaine has been her best friend since she was a freshman when they were her unofficial Resident Assistant. Perry technically was her RA but Lafontaine was always around and was just as helpful so they might as well have been hired as an RA. Laura knew she would be able to confide in Lafontaine.
“Ok, well I got a crazy phone call earlier and if I tell you have to promise not to tell anyone, got it?”
“Yeah of course. I mean Laura if you need help disposing of a body this is definitely something better suited for Carmilla but I mean I’ll help as best as I could.”
“Shut up.” Laura says after laughing at one of Lafontaine’s ridiculous jokes.
“Well what is it?” Lafontaine asks curiously
“The Boston Globe called me today. They offered me a job after graduation. How crazy is that?!”
“Dude! I’m so happy for you, jeez! You’re getting them big girl jobs without even having to leave the state!”
Laura laughs again. “I know, but I don't know what to do. I love Boston, I always have, but being here at Silas and meeting all of you guys, and Carmilla of course, I don't know if I want to leave everything just yet.”
“Well you know L, no one should ever hold you back from your dreams, ya know? You deserve that kickass job.”
“I know but it just seems so much more complicated” Laura leans her head against her hand that is upright on the table and sighs. She drinks her grape soda slowly from her straw trying to hide the frown that is attempting its way onto her face.
“Well whatever you do, I’ll support you L, always” Lafontaine says to Laura with such a genuine smile that Laura can’t help but smile back at them. “When are you going to talk to Carmilla?” Lafontaine asks with a little bit of hesitation.
Laura hasn't really given much thought about that. Today was their 3rd year anniversary and Carmilla planned on taking them out for an amazing date. Laura didn’t want to ruin their date with talk about the future especially because she knows that type of stuff bothers Carmilla. Carmilla doesn’t like to dwell too much on the past or future, saying it’s much better to live in the present and take everything day to day. It is one of the things Laura loves most about Carmilla. Laura tries to plan too much and focus on particular things that eventually upset her. Carmilla however is carefree and doesn’t let too many things bother her.
“Um well definitely not tonight, right? I don’t want to mess up our anniversary with talks about our future.” Laura says to Lafontaine but there’s something in her tone that Lafontaine can tell Laura is trying to ask them if it’s the right or wrong decision.
“Yeah, I guess that’s valid. But don't wait too long, frosh”
“I’m not a freshman anymore, Laf! You can’t keep calling me that” Laura says after a small giggle.
“Well for one you’re always be frosh to me. You’re lucky I took you under my wing. God knows what sorority you would have ended up in ruining your life by nonstop partying” Lafontaine says in their dramatic voice. Laura shakes her head and laughs a little smiling at Lafontaine.
“Plus, if you keep asking for advice from me, my fee is being able to call you any nickname I want, Hollis” Lafontaine tells her before throwing a French fry in Laura’s direction and laughing.
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Laura just got done applying her mascara when she hears a knock on her dorm room’s door. She quickly runs to go answer it and when she opens the door she see’s Carmilla on the other side, wearing her trademark ripped leather pants and black boots, but this time she paired it with a dressy all black button up. Her hair is down in her natural curls and her bangs look perfectly done (when did her hair ever not look perfect) and she was holding a singular red rose.
“Happy anniversary, sweetheart” Carmilla says before reaching over and gently kissing Laura on the lips and handing over the rose to her. Laura blushes and takes the rose from Carmilla thanking her. “Ready to go? Or are we going to have to wait another half an hour before you’re done?” Carmilla jokingly ask Laura.
“Shut up.” Laura says as she playfully pushes her girlfriend. “Everyone knows you take far longer than I do Ms. Diva.” Laura moves away from the doorway to allow Carmilla to enter her dorm room. She grabs her purse from her bed and puts the rose Carmilla gave her into an empty cup that is on her desk.
Carmilla looks around the dorm room she has seen thousands of times. Laura was lucky enough to have a single room for the past two years. Not having a roommate surely allowed them enough privacy for all their activities. Even though now that Carmilla has her own apartment that she shares with their friend Kirsch privacy isn’t exactly an issue that comes up in their relationship. Carmilla smiles at the new Doctor Who poster she bought last week for Laura that is hanging on her wall. Along the other walls were posters of various Boston sports teams and pictures of her with Laura, as well as their friends Lafontaine, Perry, Danny, and Kirsch. Many people assume that if someone is as nerdy as Laura they also wouldn’t be into sports but Laura takes that assumption and throws it out the window. Carmilla knows from firsthand experience how serious she takes her teams and isn't afraid to throw down: the proof being the many times Carmilla would have to pull Laura away from an argument whenever a Yankee fan said anything about her beloved Red Sox to her.
Of course, Laura isn’t like anyone Carmilla has ever met before. She’s so unique and so perfect and Carmilla thinks of how in love she is with this tiny ball of life she gets to call her girlfriend.
“I’m ready.” Laura says as she walks toward Carmilla from across the room and smiles at her.
“All right, after you my lady” Carmilla says as she bows and extends her arm out directing Laura out of her dorm room.
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Carmilla made reservations for them at a restaurant in downtown. The restaurant is called One-Eleven and Laura heard how pricey it could be. It doesn’t surprise her though that Carmilla would go all out on something like their anniversary. Many people don’t get to see it but Laura knows how thoughtful Carmilla is and how she always tries her best to make someone else feel good.
“Carm, you really didn’t have to do this. I don’t mind going somewhere else” Laura says while looking at the menu and seeing that nothing is fewer than thirty dollars.
“Stop. Of course I did, cupcake. You’re the best and you deserve the best, and this is our 3rd year together. I want everything to be special”. Carmilla says while smiling at Laura before taking a sip of her wine.
Laura cannot believe how lucky she is to be able to be with Carmilla. Laura remembers when they first met back when Laura was a freshman and Carmilla was a sophomore in a photography class they both took together. Laura could have sworn Carmilla hated her when they first met but she has yet to get Carmilla to verify her theory. Laura signed up for the class because at the time she was still undeclared and wanted to take a bunch of different classes before deciding on one major. The class also had an alternative spring break attached to it which meant that they were able to travel to Costa Rica as a class and use the techniques they learned in class while taking pictures on the beautiful island. Carmilla was an Art major so she signed up more for the fact that it was a photography class and fulfilled a requirement of hers. However, the alternative spring break surely was a bonus of the class. Carmilla and Laura got paired up together to work on some projects throughout the semester and were even roommates on their trip. As the semester progressed and they spent more time together they each soon fell for one another and when they returned from Costa Rica their feelings were only that much stronger and they made their relationship official two weeks after returning from Costa Rica.
“What are you thinking about?” Carmilla asks Laura as they wait for their waiter to return to take their orders.
“Just how grateful I am that I signed up for the photography class back in freshman year.” Laura said smiling at her girlfriend.
“You know it’s still one of the best decisions I've ever made. And I definitely learned two important things on that Costa Rica trip.
“Yeah? What were they?” Laura asks her girlfriend jokingly but also still very curious as to what Carmilla will say.
“First, I learned how shitty you are at taking photographs. That class surely did not help.” Carmilla tells her girlfriend jokingly. Laura lightly kicks Carmilla’s leg under the table which makes Carmilla laugh a little more.
“The second thing is I learned how much I truly was in love with you and how I didn't want to be with anyone else, ever, and how no one on earth could ever compare to you.”
Carmilla is looking at Laura with so much love and sincerity that is feels so fulfilling and overwhelming at the exact same time. Laura feels so lucky to be with Carmilla. She has never been happier. She thinks of the love her father and mother shared before her mother passed away. She thinks that what she and Carmilla have is exactly the type of love her parents told her to find. And she found it. She found it with Carmilla.
“I love you.” Laura says smiling back at Carmilla.
“I love me too” Carmilla jokingly responds and Laura’s huffs before giving Carmilla a pout.
“I’m just playing” Carmilla says after a small laugh. “I love you too.” She says while reaching over to grab Laura’s hand.
“I, uh, got you a present” Carmilla says nervously still holding onto Laura’s hand and reaching into her pocket with her other hand.
“Carm, you really didn't have to do that. This dinner is already amazing enough.”
“Just- here” Carmilla says while she hands over a blue jewelry box to Laura. The box is too big to be a ring or earrings and Laura is too curious to see what it is to fight Carmilla on it anymore.
When Laura opens the box she see’s a beautiful silver heart shaped necklace that has a solid silver heart shaped plaque attached to it with writing on it. Laura cannot believe her eyes and is left speechless. It surely is the most beautiful necklace she has ever been given. When Laura looks closely at the necklace she notices there is an inscription engraved on it: I have been in love with no one, and never shall, unless it should be with you
Laura feels so overwhelmed and happy at the exact same time. A few tears make their way down her face and she quickly goes to wipe them away. Laura looks up at Carmilla who is looking at her with such a bright smile. A smile Laura knows is only reserved for her.
“Do you like it, cupcake?”
“I love it, Carm. More than anything. Put it on me?”
Carmilla gets up from her chair at the table and walks over to Laura. Laura hands over the necklace and pushes her hair to one side of her neck. Carmilla moves behind Laura and clasp the necklace around her neck, where it falls perfectly onto Laura's chest, just above her breasts.
Laura looks up at Carmilla from her seat smiling at her. “I love you so much.”
Carmilla leans down and gently kisses her girlfriend on the lips. When she pulls away she leans their foreheads together and whispers “I love you too, sweetheart.”
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After dinner Carmilla took Laura to the park where they laid down on a blanket looking up at the stars. When it seemed to be getting late they decided to head back to Carmilla’s apartment seeing as she still has work the next morning at the elementary school as an art teacher. After they made love that night and were cuddled up into each other Laura could not stop herself from thinking of how in love she was with Carmilla. But then the conversation from earlier crept inside her head as well. She still needed to decide what she is going to do. Stay in Philadelphia with Carmilla after graduation or ask Carmilla to move to Boston with her. It was the love of her life versus her dream job in her dream city. Laura hoped with everything in her that it will all work out. But learning from past experiences she knew not everything in this world had a happy ending.