Chapter Text
Laura has been staring at the business card that LaFontaine gave her an hour ago. She’s been internally debating if she’s going to call the woman whose name is on the calling card or just forget about bringing a plus one to her dad’s birthday party in two days. Not going to her dad’s birthday is out of the question. She would never miss it for the world even though she has to endure a weekend of her extended relative’s probing about her love life or the lack-there-of and their habit of setting her up with blind dates. She appreciates the concern but going to these blind dates is a waste of time for her. It’s just not her thing. The only good thing that she got from the previous blind dates she went to was meeting Danny who is very nice and sweet. They didn’t work out, but they turned to be good friends.
Her phone beeps notifying that she got a text message.
LaFonBrain: Soooo… did you call her?
Tiny Gay L: No… I haven’t decided yet!
LaFonBrain: Geez, it’s not like you’re going on a date. It’s just business L!
LaFonBrain: You won’t regret it! I bet my collection of rare mushroom species. :D Yes?
Tiny Gay L: Laaaaaaaf! And what would I even do with your… “mushrooms”
LaFonBrain: These are SPECIAL mushrooms, how dare you quote my mushrooms! Speciesist, much?
Tiny Gay L: Okay okay, I’m sorry! Your mushrooms. Happy? :P
LaFonBrain: Apology accepted. Now, call her or go on another blind date this weekend!
Laura groans just thinking about going to another blind date set up by her aunts.
Tiny Gay L: Ugh. You’re right. Fine, I’m calling her.
LaFonBrain: Yes!
Tiny Gay L: Wait. Why are you so eager I call her? LaFontaine, what do you get out of this?
LaFonBrain: Ha ha. Well, let’s just say it is for science. Also, I’m helping both my friends, win-win. :D
Tiny Gay L: What? Really? You’re friends with her?
LaFonBrain: Oh did I forget to tell you? We had a class together before, I think it was in a theology elective.
LaFonBrain: ahem. Someone’s interested!
Tiny Gay L: Shut up! It’s just business! Hmmp!
LaFonBrain: If YOU say so!
Tiny Gay L: Good. And thank you~
LaFonBrain: Pssshh you’re my first volunteer on my next experiment >:D
Tiny Gay L: LAFONTAINE!!
Laura shakes her head, but a smile is forming on her lips.
Okay, Laura, it’s just business.
She takes a deep breath before dialling the number written in the card. She hears the other line ring.
“Hello?” Laura hears a raspy but sexy voice of a woman on the other line.
Retreat Laura. This is a bad idea.
“Uhm… Is this Carmilla?” Laura decides to stay on the line and not hang up.
“Must I be?” the woman’s sarcastic response is starting to annoy Laura.
“If I got the wrong number, just say it. You don’t need to be rude!” Laura blurts out unable to hide her annoyance. Laura is starting to doubt LaF about their friend. If this is who she’s going to deal with the whole two days maybe it’s better she hung up the phone now.
She hears a chuckle coming from the woman.
“Relax, cupcake. This is Carmilla how may I help you?” Laura cringed at the nickname and the sarcasm that never left the other line.
Laura holds the phone away and looks at it in disbelief.
Is this woman for real? Maybe this is just LaF’s prank. How can someone who’s offering this kind of service have this attitude?
She puts the phone back again after letting out a soft sigh.
Patience Laura…
“This is Laura and I got your business card from… a friend,” she makes sure she sounds serious and business like.
I didn’t sound desperate, did I? This is embarrassing.
“Why hello there, cutie. How about we talk business over coffee?” The nicknames are still coming, but Carmilla’s tone has changed from sarcastic playful to all-business.
“Right. Yes. Three P.M this afternoon, then? The event will be in two days so…” She hopes that Carmilla is free that afternoon. Not that she’s eager to meet the woman behind the sultry voice, but she only has two days to see if this plan is going to work out.
“Sure thing, buttercup. I’ll meet you at the Silas Cafe downtown?”
“Yeah okay, see you later. Bye!”
“Bye, cupcake.” Carmilla is able to say goodbye before she ends the call.
Laura arrives at Sila’s Cafe five minutes before 3 o’clock in the afternoon. She’s feeling nervous meeting a total stranger, which feels similar to blind dates. Ironic. She needs to eat something sweet so she orders a chocolate chip cookie and hot cocoa before settling at a table near the entrance just in case she has to make a run for it. Thank goodness they have cocoa!
Laura looks at the clock on her phone that displays ten minutes past three in the afternoon. She has a paper due in two weeks so she’s catching up some reading while waiting for not-so-punctual-Carmilla. Then she realizes that she never told the woman what she looks like. She immediately sends a text message describing her outfit: a gray tank top paired with a dark blue jeans.
As soon as the barista comes over to her table to serve her order the cafe entrance opens but she was too busy ogling at the chocolate chip cookie to notice a brunette coming in. She just took the first bite on her cookie when a woman in black leather pants and jacket sits opposite her on the table. Laura pauses her attack on the cookie to stare in disbelief at the gorgeous punk chick in front of her.
"Hey," the punk girl flatly greets her.
Gorgeous but definitely rude!
“Excuse me? I have company…. and who are you?” She’s not hiding the irritation in her voice.
The woman smirks before saying, “I’m your new girlfriend, cupcake.”
She recognizes that sultry voice. Holy Llama, this is Carmilla?
Laura’s jaw unconsciously drops after the woman’s revelation.
“A fly will eventually land in your mouth if you keep that up,” Carmilla comments before sipping her coffee.
Laura clears her throat feeling a little embarrassed. “I have a name, it’s Laura, not cupcake or cutie or whatever sweet things.” She tries to hide her embarrassment by sipping her cocoa and showing her disapproval about the nicknames.
“I know,” Carmilla’s face looks amused and by what, she rather not know “so, where and when is the event exactly?” Carmilla’s tone shifts to business again which makes Laura wonder how this woman can easily switch personalities like that. Though it does makes sense with the nature of Carmilla service.
“It’s gonna be at my hometown this Saturday and Sunday. The event, my dad’s birthday party, is on Saturday, but my dad wants me to stay over the weekend and my “girlfriend” which would be you probably should too to make it more convincing. My dad can be intense, but he’s really nice once he knows I’m in safe hands. He’s just over protective. The only child here. It’s not my dad that we have to convince though! I have very nosy aunts who like to set me up on blind dates, which is sweet but I’ve been in too many I think I’ve had enough. There’s just so many blind dates a girl could take, you know.” Laura sighs and just realizes that she has been rambling too much. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to ramble and tell you my life story!”
“That’s fine. At least I know I have to prepare myself from your extremely dangerous aunts.” Carmilla responds with a straight face. “Now… first of all, the second day will cost you extra. Second, I don’t mind meeting the parents as long as I don’t need to run for my life. And lastly, you don’t have to worry about convincing your sweet aunts.” Carmilla winks at Laura after that last statement.
Did she just wink at me? Winking should be illegal!
Laura swallows her cocoa before giving Carmilla a small nervous smile.
Worst. Idea. Ever.