Serendipity
Carmilla's POV:
"Why hello there miss Hollis, a little late today aren't we?" The professor turns to greet her. The girls face goes pink as she looks at the floor, avoiding all the class' gaze.
"I um.. traffic was really ba-"
"Right right. Speak with me after class." The professor interrupts her. She nods and starts to walk to closest seat she could find, aka, the front row.
I sigh leaning back in my seat.
Well this will be.. interesting?
The professor taps her chin looking at the class.
"What was I... oh yeah! Introductions, well since you were late," I knew she was going to put the girl on the spot as the first to introduce herself. Remembering the last experience she had with being on the spot I raise my hand catching the teacher off guard.
"Carmilla?" she says slowly.
"I'm volunteering to go first, or whatever." I say with a sigh.
"That's unlike you." The class' gaze falls upon me now, including the girl's, who is now in complete shock at seeing me. She quickly turns her head back and pretends to read the syllabus causing me to smirk at her shyness. I was starting to get used to the feeling of eyes on me, although all these years I was the quiet one.
"Yeah well, it's gonna be a new year so I'm working on a new me I guess." I roll my eyes at the terrible excuse I gave and stand up walking to the front.
"Name, major and a little about yourself if you'd like to add."
I stand in front of the class and the girl finally takes her eyes off the class syllabus before her and they fall upon me. I give her a small wink and smile causing her face to again fall onto her hands and paper on her desk.
"Right. Well." I say looking up at the class crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm Carmilla, I don't do nicknames or friends so don't be surprised if I'm not the friendly type-"
"Carmilla." The teacher warns causing me to laugh.
"I'm a psychology major and this is my second semester here at Silas." I put my hands out in a "ta-da" gesture and begin walking to my desk when the professor stops me.
"And where are you originally from Carmilla?"
"Woah there professor, information like that usually requires a second date," I wink in sarcasm as the class begins laughing causing my professor to give me a disapproving look.
"Alright, that's enough. Thank you Carmilla." She says in an annoyed tone.
"Anytime." I slump down in my seat crossing my arms over my chest.
"Let's just move down the row shall we."
In a class full of over 40 students we ended up spending the whole day on introductions and somehow the girl managed to go last.
"And last but not least, Ms. Hollis?" She says smiling at the girl. The girl begins to stand but does not move from beside her seat.
"M-my name is Laura Hollis,"
So that's the cutie's name.
"and I'm a journalist major."
This explains her need to know things. I smile to myself. Before she begins to speak again a bell rings causing the whole class to begin running out the door.
"We shall continue with our first assignment tomorrow!" The professor yells at everyone running out the door. I begin to gather my things and walk towards the front as the girl sits and waits for everyone to leave.
"You know," I smile beside her desk, "it's time to go?"
She nods, "I have to take a moment to speak with the professor." She sends me a sad smirk gathering her stuff.
"Oh right. Sorry cupcake, see you in the halls?" I smile and her facial expression doesn't change.
"I suppose so."
I nod and walk out the door.
Why do I feel the need to pursue her.
I wait outside the classroom as the professor closes the door.
- - - - - -
Laura's POV:
I hate to be rude but I didn't need a friend in my life right now. She seemed nice but I wasn't here to make friends, nor should I be. The professor closes the door leaving me and her alone.
"So miss Hollis, please give me the real reason you were late this morning?"
I give her a confused look.
"But that was my-"
"We both know there's hardly any traffic around this part of town."
I sigh and search through my satchel for the doctors note. I hated giving these things to professors and past bosses. I didn't want them to see me any different. I sigh and hand her the note.
She reads it and, just as I suspect, her facial expression softens and almost instantly drops.
"I-.." She pauses. "I'm so sorry Laura I didn't mean to put you on the sp-"
"Nobody must know." I interrupt her looking down to avoid her sympathetic looks that mostly everyone who knew gave me.
She nods slowly.
I look at her with a stern strong look. "I would like to be treated like anyone else in this class. I apologize for being late today, yesterday was my first session in awhile and the side effects will be hitting me hard for the next few days. Soon I should be able to control them better."
Again she nods. "I understand Laura, if you're ever late again or have an emergency for class please feel free to contact me." She sends me a sad smirk and hands me her card with her number and email.
"Thank you professor." We shake hands and I grab my satchel to walk out. I scheduled myself to take one class a day every week. Somehow they allowed me to, so I was ready to go home. I walk out of the classroom only to be met with a familiar smile.
"We must stop meeting like this you know?" She smiles at me causing a small smirk to form on my face.
"I-its strange isn't it. Serendipity?"
"Quite" she begins observing me with a big smile. "Black really suits you, you know?" I nod in agreement to cut the conversation short knowing she was talking about me wearing her jacket.
"I um. I really must be going."
"Where to cupcake?" She smiles
"I-its Laura," I had no intention of allowing her to use my name but I wasn't sure if she had heard it before.
"I'm aware." She laughs quietly. "I'm sorry, do my nicknames bother you I can st-"
"No no," I say sending her a friendly smile, "I just wasn't sure I-If you.. I mean I figured.." I rub the back of my neck as I watch her smile in amusement at me fumbling to find words.
"Slow down Laura it's okay" she places a gentle hand on my shoulder then quickly removes it. " So um, do you have another class today?"
I shake my head.
"Swell! How about we get a coff-"
"I um, I can't,"
"Oh? Why's that?" She says furrowing her eyebrows in curiosity.
"I've got to um." I try to come up with an excuse for my appointment and come up with a terrible one. "My dad"
"Your. Dad?" She repeats slowly.
"Yes he's um, very sick. I must visit him in the hospital."
Her face softens.
"I'm sorry Laura. I hope he's alright?"
"He's fine, I just usually visit him throughout the week." I'm such a terrible liar.
"Right." She says firmly. "I could walk you if you'd like-"
"That's okay, I've got my car here thanks anyways Carmilla," I put my hand out to shake and she smiles at it, taking it in hers and slowly shaking it.
"Maybe tomorrow then creampuff?" She says not letting go of my hand. The contact was nice. Her hands were warm and fit well in mine giving me a mushy feeling inside. I feel her thumb tap my hand lightly to bring my attention back to her.
"You alright?" She says concerned.
"Y-yes," I say removing my hand from hers. "And that's a 'maybe' on tomorrow, I'll have to check my schedule."
Carmilla laughs,
"Smart, beautiful and busy, you sound like quite the handful" I feel my face heat up so I look at the floor trying to avoid her deep brown eyes.
"See you later cupcake," she nudges my shoulder and walks away, leaving me to smile then frown at realization that I had another session to do.
I can't meet her tomorrow. I refuse to start a friendship. I can't afford one right now..