Going Home

Laura sat with back against the wall in the bookstores backroom. Perry sat beside her, torn between offering comfort or letting the silence linger.

"Laura," she tried. "Say something."

"What the hell does she think, showing up here after all this time?"

Anger. There was always some wondering about which emotion Laura would show if Carmilla ever returned home again.

"You should talk to her."

Laura snorted. "I have nothing to say."

Perry, who had been there eight years ago when Carmilla left and had comforted Laura more times than she cares to remember, couldn't help but sympathise.

The storeroom door burst open and they both jumped. Lafontaine grinned at them apologetically.

"Karnstein’s back," they said unnecessarily.

"We know,"

"Did she see me?"

"Considering you tripped over books twice and knocked over a display table, yeah, you caught her attention." Laf shrugged at Perry, who glared disapprovingly. "She was looking for you, L."

"I don’t want to see her."

"She said you'd say that. She also said that she's staying in town for a while, and in desperate need of reading material. Given that you’re the only bookshop in town..."

Laura groaned and leant her head on her knees. "I'm not going to ever speak to her."

"It’s like she's psychic. She said you'd say that too. She's going to keep showing up until you speak to her."

"Then she's going to have a long wait."

Perry caught the knowing look in Lafontaine's eyes. "Something tells me she's willing to do just that," she said softly.

//

They hated each other. That’s what they always said. Since the beginning of high school, when Carmilla had embarrassed Laura by correcting her answer in English and Laura had got her own back in math, they had been enemies.

"You didn't have to call my interpretation 'utter tripe', you know."

"You didn't to point out to Donaldson I was copying your answers."

"You were!"

"What can I say, I don't like math.  Figured sitting next to you would be good for something."

"You're mean."

"Can I copy your homework?"

"No!"

Carmilla had smirked and stalked away. Laura later found her in the library, copying from Laura's answer sheet.

"What the hell?" She snatched it from Carmilla.

"Always close your bag, cutie. Nimble fingers." She wiggled her finger and raised an eyebrow, smirking even more when Laura blushed. She had decided then, from that moment, that she hated Carmilla and they were enemies.

It didn't stop her heart from breaking when Carmilla left town without a word five years later.

//

It wasn't like Carmilla had expected a fanfare. Or any kind of positive reaction really. But watching Laura trip over books and upend a stand Perry had probably taken ages to construct had brought back the familiar humour and fondness she had spent eight years carefully repressing. It was quickly replaced by guilt and hurt as Laura threw herself through the door to avoid her.

Laf had been more welcoming, but didn't look thrilled to see her. They had been friends, once, sort off, through Laura's doing and not her own, but still friends. Carmilla had told them she'd keep coming back until Laura talked to her, and they'd promised to relay the message.

Instead of words she got a glare when Carmilla entered the book shop Laura had taken over running from her father. Apparently a day hadn't been enough for Laura to entertain the idea of talking to her.

"Hey, cupcake. Long time no see."

The glare Laura sent her way was enough to terrify the most hardened soul. But Carmilla had spent five years being glared at by Laura Hollis, and had built up an immunity.

Laura turned around without a word and stalked to the backroom. Perry emerged a moment later, having the decency to look a bit sheepish.

"Hello, Carmilla." The greeting was formal and polite. She had never gotten along with Perry the way she had with Laf, but Perry had once seen her at her lowest, and that was hard to forget.

"Hi, Perry. How have you been?"

"I've been well." Carmilla noticed a ring on her left hand, matching the one she had spotted on Lafontaine. Perry caught her looking. "They proposed last year."

"Good. They've been wanting to do that since we were fifteen. When's the big day?"

"Six months."

Carmilla nodded.

"Laura won’t talk to you."

"It’s a small town." Too small for Carmilla in the end. "Can't avoid me forever."

"How long are you here for?"

Carmilla shrugged. "I've moved back into my old house. Mother left it to William in the end, but..."

"I heard. I'm sorry, Carmilla."

"Yeah. So now it’s mine."

"Why did you come back?" It wasn't an accusation, just a question.

"I have to sort out some things. There's a lot of open ends, now that Will's..." She drifted off again, not daring say it.

"Is that a lie?" Perry asked gently.

Carmilla couldn't but grin. "Maybe. Do you have the new Stephen King?" Perry handed it over and Carmilla paid. "I'm going to read it over there. Tell Laura that the owner can't hide in the back forever, and this is a really big book."

//

It turns out that the owner can't stay outback all day, but can ignore the only customer sitting at the reading tables.

"You can't keep this up, cutie."

Laura glared in a way that said yes, she can.

"How about if I talked and you listened?"

Laura made a show of putting her fingers in her ears.

"Mature. Laura, come on." Carmilla stood and tried to get her attention.

"Move." Carmilla felt the prickle of hurt. The first word Laura had said to her in eight hears had been a demand filled with so much anger. She stepped aside.

“Aren’t you even going to ask why I’m back? Everyone else has.”

“Everyone else cares.”

Carmilla snorted. “I doubt that.” Her family had been hated in the town and she knew it. “I’ve also been getting a lot of condolences.”

That stopped Laura in her tracks. “That’s low,” she murmured.

“I know,” conceded Carmilla. “But perseverance obviously isn’t working. Now I’m edging for manipulation.”

Laura looked at her, into the eyes she had forced herself to forget. Despite Carmilla’s small smile, they looked impossible sad. “Will didn’t deserve what happened to him. You didn’t deserve what happened to him.”

“Most people go for the ‘I’m sorry for your loss’”

“I know how much that doesn’t work.” Laura turned away and started sorted books.

Carmilla put her book in her bag and threw it over her shoulder. "I'll be back tomorrow," she told Laura's turned back. "And until you talk to me."

“You’re going to have a long wait,” Laura promised.

//

Having been home-schooled for most of her formative years, starting high school made Carmilla's stomach stir. Her mother had wanted her and her siblings to get a proper education, meaning the education she approved of, but also needed her children to get along with other. Integrate, she called it.

As she had only ever had her siblings for company, and they had three years between them and her either side, she found the company of kids her own age unnerving. She was awkward and slightly shy, and she transformed that to apathy and disinterest.

Laura had been pointing out problems in Shelley's work when Carmilla had snorted the first day. She forgot, momentarily, that this wasn’t Will or Mattie she was mocking, but by then the whole class was looking at her and it wasn't like she could back down. She recounted a point her tutors had taught her years ago, and the glare and red face she received had made her smile.

Later, when she was late to math and had to take a seat by Laura as it was all that was left, she was ignored completely. The numbers weren’t making sense, as they never did. An innocent glance at Laura's paper to see if she was having the same trouble resulted in a warning for copying and a smug look from Laura.

Stealing her homework had been too easy to resist, and even though she still couldn't understand, she could understand enough to copy them.

Laura seemed to decide from then on that they were enemies. Carmilla was more than happy to oblige. Partly because Laura was stuck up and smug in a way that grated on her, but mostly because it amused her greatly to get on her nerves.

//

The next day Carmilla found arms encircling her as she headed to the bookstore. If she hadn't recognised the cry of "C-dog!" she would have started breaking fingers.

"Get off me, Kirsch."

Kirsch put her down and stepped back, same stupid grin he always had on his face.

"I heard you were back."

"Yup."

"Bit hurt you didn't come say hello."

"Been busy."

"Trying to get Laura to talk to you."

"How do you know she's not talking to me?"

"Laf told me."

"Is nothing sacred?"

"I missed you."

Carmilla looked into those big honest eyes and it reminded her it wasn't just Laura she left all those years ago.

"Whatever, loser." She punched him on the shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'm going to be late. Yesterday Laura ignored me for four hours. Let’s see how she does with seven."

"Good luck."

"You still at the mechanics?"

"Yeah."

"I'll stop by."

"You have a car?"

"To see you, moron."

Kirsch beamed. "You totally missed me too."

"Fuck off."

//

Laura stared at Carmilla from the counter. She had finished Stephen King and had purchased an anthology of short stories, served to her by Perry as Laura refused, and seated herself in the same seat. For the third day.

Having enough, Laura stormed over and slammed her book shut, causing Carmilla to jump.

"You need to leave."

"I paid for that."

"Now."

"Shouldn't kick out a customer for a good reason, cutie."

"Shouldn't leave without one either. But you did."

Carmilla nodded. "I deserved that."

"Why are you back, Carmilla?"

Carmilla smiled at her sadly. "I can't tell you that."

"Why?"

"Because I'll lie."

"You're still the same, aren't you?"

"Don't say that like it's a bad thing."

"Whatever you want to talk about I don’t want to hear. I don’t want an apology."

"I think I've gone past an apology."

"Then what? Forgiveness?"

"Nope."

"Then why?"

"How about this," Carmilla suggested, standing up, "each time we see each other and you deem to speak to me you get one question that I'll answer with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Laura wasn't matching Carmilla’s grin. "Why did you leave?"

"That questions banned."

“Where’s Ell?”

“Also banned.”

"You won’t lie?"

"Not for one question."

"Were you ever happy here?"

Carmilla smiled sadly. "Sometimes."

"When?"

"What part of one question did you miss?"

"Whatever. I'm kicking you out."

"Fine. But only because I have somewhere to be."

//

The cat had gone into the woods near the edge of town, and Laura had hurtled along after it. She always saw herself as dedicated, and she was going to stroke the small black tom if it killed her.

It just might, she realised, as she progressed further into the unfamiliar woods. But she was nothing if not tenacious, and carried on anyway.

She followed the car through a bush and emerged into a garden with a pool. Her eyes went from the pool, to a pair of legs dipped in the pool, then to Carmilla Karnstein wearing an expression caught between amusement and confusion.

She found no cat.

“Hello, cupcake.”

“Hello.”

Laura went for casual, standing up straight and casting her eyes around. A stretch of grass reached further than the length of her own house, and a huge mansion stood near the pool.

“What brings you here?”

Laura shrugged and murmured.

“I didn’t catch that, cutie.”

“I was chasing a cat.”

“Why?” Carmilla sounded far too amused for Laura’s liking.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s my house.”

Laura’s eyes snapped to her in surprise. “You live here?”

“Where did you think I live?”

“Never really thought about it.”

“Most people know where the Karnstein’s live.”

Laura shrugged. “Did you see the cat?”

“No I have not seen the cat. Do you need help getting back?”

Laura scoffed. “I know my way around.”

“Is that why you chased a cat into a stranger’s garden?”

“I can get back.” She started walking.

“It’s quicker that way.”

“I don't think I asked.”

Carmilla narrowed her eyes. “You always seem so nice.”

“Because I am.”

“I’m not getting that.”

“You stole my homework.”

“Five weeks ago.”

“You copy me in class.”

“I’m one of the cool kids, I can’t study.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“I like the peace.”

Laura watched Carmilla carefully, her legs dangling in the water and hands gripping the edge of the pool. She looked apprehensive, and far away from peace.

“Whatever,” Carmilla kicked some water towards where Laura was standing, causing her to complain and step back. “Private property. Go chase pussy somewhere else.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“That was funny.”

//

The mechanics were just as she remembered, hot and sticky and full of men. A couple she recognised from high school, and judging by the looks she got they remembered her to. Carmilla could never be accused of being too nice to people she deemed idiotic.

“C-dog!” Except Kirsch. That idiot had gotten through to her somehow. Again, she blamed Laura.

“Put a shirt on, man.”

“Sorry.” He grinned sheepishly as he pulled on a t-shirt that may have once been white. “How did operation perseverance go?”

“Well, I’m standing here talking to you, so guess.”

“Sorry, dude.”

Carmilla shrugged. “She hasn’t thrown anything at me yet.”

“Keeping a positive outlook.”

His grin was infectious, and Carmilla couldn’t help but smile back. “I’m starving. Want to get a burger?”

//

“I can’t believe this place is still open.”

“There was a small health scare.”

“How small?”

“Small enough that people still eat here.”

“Rats?”

“No.”

“Cockroaches?”

“Gross.”

“Do I want to know what’s in the burgers?”

“Did you ever?”

Carmilla shook her head, only pausing momentarily before she started eating again. Kirsch had insisted on paying, despite Carmilla reminding him of that Karnstein fortune she was the sole heir of, and she was actually enjoying his company, something she would never admit to him.

“Look who deemed herself worthy to return.” Joey’s voice cut through any enjoyment she may be having. She glanced behind her and rolled her eyes.

“Is that the same baseball cap you wore in high school, Joey?”

“Shove off, Joe.”

“Now don’t be like that, Kirsch,” He clapped Kirsch on the back, sinking into the third seat on their table. “Just thought I’d welcome Karnstein back to the neighbourhood. After all, you left so suddenly and without saying goodbye.”

“Joey.” Kirsch warned, but Joey just smiled. In the years since Carmilla had been him apparently Joey Johnson had gone from high school bully to bar bully. Given Kirsch’s size, she was sure he could take Joey in a fight, but given Joey’s entourage she was sure Kirsch would get his ass kicked.

“It’s fine,” she said to him.

“Hear that, Kirsch. It’s fine. Let me buy you a drink, Karnstein.”

“Go fuck yourself with a snooker cue, Johnson.”

The grin faltered slightly, but Joey recovered. “We used to be friends.”

“No. We didn’t.”

“Did you know your little brother cried when you left?”

Carmilla was out her seat and grabbing Joey by the collar before Kirsch could stop her. “Don’t you dare.”

“Two sisters abandoning him. Must have hurt.”

Carmilla pulled back to punch him but Kirsch grabbed her and pulled away. “He’s not worth it, Carm,” he said quietly. She shoved Kirsch off her.

“And don’t even get me started on Hollis.”

This time she did punch him. Kirsch pulled her from the bar before she could do it again. Then he started laughing, Carmilla confused look only making him laugh harder.

“Feels just like old times,” he explained. Carmilla smiled ruefully, and couldn’t help but laugh as well.

//

"You're failing math?"

"I'm below average."

"You're failing math."

"It isn't easy, mother."

"William seems to disagree."

Her mother frowned over the letter she had received from Donaldson. It told how Carmilla was underachieving in every aspect of the subject.

"So now you need a tutor."

"Yes.”

"A student."

"It says it all there."

"I'll get you one myself."

"You can't. They've already been assigned. I have no choice."

"I don't like the idea of a student teaching you. You're smarter than them, Carmilla."

"Not in this.”

“You're just not trying hard enough. You'll get this tutor and you'll pass this damn subject."

"That’s the idea." Carmilla muttered.

"What was that?"

"Yes of course, mother."

Carmilla went into school the next day to be introduced to her tutor. Laura Hollis's smile faded as soon as Carmilla walked in, and she began to debate whether it would be worth the extra credit she would receive.