Chapter 10
"Carm!" Laura said loudly as she pulled on the girl's arm. She turned her head around and laughed at the grim scowl on Carmilla's face. Her eyes were almost entirely dark, but the strange fluorescent lights brought out the hints of gold that brightened her usually dark expressions, "Don't be such a grumpy cat."
"I don't want to be here, cupcake," Carmilla whined, a pout appearing on her lips that Laura had to tear her eyes away from before the overwhelming urge to kiss her won out.
"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to,” Laura commented, stepping up the last step on the staircase to the stands.
Carmilla rolled her eyes, "Yes, cutie, and in most cases I have lived that philosophy. But when it comes to attending institutionalized sports games, I think we can bend the rules."
Laura adamantly shook her head, not willing to give in to Carmilla. They had come, Carmilla more willingly than she would admit Laura knew, because one of Will's Zeta brothers invited him to the game (though Laura was under the impression that it was really because of Zayne) and he had wanted company. Kirsch would have been his go to, but he was preoccupied with basketball practice.
Laura spotted a head of black hair out in the crowd and waved. When she received a wave in return she tugged on Carmilla, pulling her through the stands to where Will was sitting, though for him, it looked like casual lounging. He patted the seats next to him but stood up, "Laura."
He greeted and hugged her, squeezing her until she let out a small “oof.” He backed up and nodded behind Laura, "Millie."
"Don't even think about it."
Will dismissed her, sitting down again, "Wouldn't dream of it."
Laura sat down next to him, leaving the seat next to the wall of the stands for Carmilla who fell into the seat in defeat, immediately leaning against the wall and flipping her leg over the seat so that one foot was on the same level as Laura's while the other was behind the seat they were sitting upon. Laura frowned, "Carm, you're taking up more room than necessary."
"I'm comfortable."
"Yeah, but you're..."
Carmilla narrowed her eyes but Laura could tell that it was not out of actual frustration. There was a slight curve to her lips where she was trying to hold back a smile and there was a glint in her eyes that betrayed her supposed air of anger, "I'm comfortable, cupcake."
Laura sighed, knowing all too well that Carmilla was not going to give up her comfort just so someone else could sit. Laura swiveled around to sit forward and jumped when the buzzer went off, forcing her to endure laughter from the siblings.
Laura watched the first half intently. Though she had no idea what was going on as she had never been to a hockey game before, Will seemed knowledgeable enough to help her out, "I figured I should know enough to tell Za-Davis good game afterwards."
Laura smiled but did not comment on his slip up, only exchanged a look with Carmilla who was being better than normal and letting it slide without making a jab at Will.
Apparently Laura’s small gasps whenever one of the players got smashed into a wall amused Carmilla whom she could see chuckling next to her. She chose to ignore Carmilla who after the first break seemed to be fed up with the lack of attention. Laura had been feeling soft pokes to her side through the entire first period. She returned during the break with two cups of hot chocolate, which she handed off to Carmilla without a word. She was not mad at Carmilla for any reason, but the girl's stubbornness she could do without sometimes and in order to plot her not so terrible revenge, she would prove she could be just as stubborn. But, apparently, her return spurred Carmilla to amp up her annoying attempts at getting Laura's attention and soon Carmilla had leaned forward, her nose inches from Laura's shoulder and a hand reached up to twirl Laura's hair. She could deal with that; she refocused on the game, watching as the team she thought was Silas, due to the colors of the uniforms, scored a goal. Will had jumped up from beside her and beat his fist in the air, whooping, "Yeah, go Zayne!"
Laura was not sure if Zayne had scored the goal or if Will was congratulating him on the team's behalf. Will had pointed Davis and Zayne out once but without specification of their actual numbers, she had lost them amidst the chaos she presumed was normal out on the rink.
Unfortunately, Carmilla's antics had progressed and Laura felt an arm behind her back as delicate fingers slowly found their way to the bare skin right above her jeans on her right side. Carmilla's nudged her shoulder before there were playful nips at her sweater.
"Carm," she reprimanded as she made the wrong decision to turn and face her girlfriend. Carmilla's face was closer than she had expected and the mischievous smile planted on it told Laura that she knew she had won their little game. Laura pecked her on the lips and Carmilla slid both arms around Laura's waist, pulling her in to the space between her legs. As Carmilla leaned against the wall again, Laura leaned against her chest. She felt a vibration through Carmilla's black t-shirt and looked up to see Carmilla staring at her, her lips in a relaxed and her eyes sparkling. Laura couldn't help but beam back because though she saw Carmilla's happiness more than anyone else, it made her even more aware that happiness came hard for her.
"Gross. I don't know why I ever invite you guys to hang out. I'm always left alone anyways."
Laura tried to sit up but Carmilla squeezed her closer and Laura settled for a sigh, "I just spent the first period talking with you."
Carmilla growled quietly and Will raised an eyebrow at her, "Really, Millie."
"She's mine."
Laura's eyebrows furrowed, "Carm."
"I’m sorry," her head turned back to Will, "But it's my turn. I want the attention."
"You're just too greedy, Millie."
Carmilla snarled at him but Laura grabbed ahold of one of her hands and she turned her attention from Will who went back to watching the game. "What if I started calling you Millie?"
"I would never..."
Laura laughed before Carmilla could finish her answer, "I would never, ever call you Millie, Carm."
"Good thing, cutie. I wouldn't want to have to do without you," she paused as if she was struggling on deciding if she was going to continue, "I'm not sure I could do without you."<
Her sincerity sometimes caught Laura off guard and this was one of those times. She could not imagine life without Carmilla now that she had her, but the way in which Carmilla spoke, it sounded as if Laura was her lifeline. Laura realized that it was very possible that was the case, at least to the extent that Laura helped Carmilla through the anxiety and the depression and without that help, she would return to the deep hole that she had been climbing out of when she met Laura. Laura never doubted the truth of Carmilla's words but they often scared her. Her father had warned about this sort of attachment. She wiggled in even closer to Carmilla and titled her head up at a weird angle to look her in the eyes, "I just don't like when you say that. It makes it sound like you own me."
Carmilla slowly closed and reopened her eyes, "I know, Laura. I'm sorry."
Laura pushed herself up so she could better face Carmilla and the girl loosened her arms allowing for the movement. She leaned in, cupped Carmilla's jaw and laid a tender kiss on Carmilla's lips and lingered just a little but longer than she figured was appropriate for public, "But I like knowing that I'm yours."
Laura was not sure she had ever seen Carmilla's eyes shine so bright. She decided it was something she wished she could see every second of every day. Carmilla kissed her again, deepening the kiss enough for Laura to giggle and push her away. Will was making gagging noises behind her but she ignored him. “Et je suis à toi.”
Will ran too eagerly forward when the team emerged from their locker room after the game for him to still be trying to hide whatever crush he thought he harbored for Zayne. She looked over at Carmilla who was smiling like a proud older sister. Davis came out first by the looks of it because Will’s entire body stopped vibrating and he patted the guy on the back in congratulations before Davis wrapped some girl up in his arms. When Zayne came out on the other hand, there was awkward hesitation before they both decided to hug. That was when Carmilla dragged Laura over, not wanting to miss out on meeting her brother’s guy though that title was probably too soon for where they were at. Zayne reached out his hand to Laura, “Laura, it is nice to see you again,” his attention turned to Carmilla, “And you must be Will’s sister.”
“And you must be Will’s friend,” the emphasis on ‘friend’ was not missed by anyone and Will glared at her while Zayne kept his composure. “That would be me. Will talks a lot about you and I had the pleasure of briefly meeting your beautiful girlfriend only a little while ago.”
“If you’re trying to win me over, its only working because she is beautiful; though anyone in the world would be able to see that.” Laura elbowed Carm and pursed her lips. “Ignore her, Zayne. She can be insufferable sometimes.”
But Zayne had already turned to Will, “I see where you get it from. But thanks for coming out to watch. Glad we didn’t lose when you were in the crowd.”
“I surprised myself,” Will shrugged.
“How?”
“I actually enjoyed it.”
Zayne threw a hand over his heart like he had been stabbed, “Ouch.”
“Again, ignore him. Don’t take it personally,” Laura commented, “Hate for institutionalized anything runs in the family.”
“Nice to know,” Zayne nodded.
“So, I don’t know if you have anything going on with the team but we were gonna go for pizza if you’d like to join?”
Laura looked to see that the team was mostly dispersing. Zayne gripped his bag tighter, “I’d like that.”
Maybe it was rude for Carmilla and Laura to get snuggled up in the booth across from the awkward boys who did not know what to do with themselves when they were by themselves let alone when they were next to each other, but it was their normal and Will had asked them to act normal. Carmilla’s arm was slung over Laura’s shoulder as Laura leaned into her, a hand resting on her leg, innocent, just there. Carmilla oddly, had not asked the waitress for an alcohol she had never heard of before but instead ordered a beer for herself. She had almost ordered them for the table before she realized that aside from herself an Laura, she did not know how old Zayne was and they would not serve Will. So Laura watched as she spun her bottle in circles on the table, taking sips here and there. Laura stole it once, thinking Carmilla would swipe it back before she could lift it to her lips but the fizzy liquid touched her tongue and Carmilla was still looking across the table. So overprotective about him.
Carmilla was acting like an interrogator, not with words, only with looks. It was working so well that no one was talking. Laura clasped her hands and leaned forward, “Sooooo, Zayne what do you do besides play hockey?”
Zayne looked relieved to not have had to break the silence himself and Will even adjusted, watching Zayne react. Carmilla stayed exactly where she was, one eyebrow raised as she awaited his answer. Zayne put a hand on Will’s shoulder, “Actually, Will and I found out we are a little bit in the same field.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Will joked.
“I’m in sports medicine. I’m a junior.” The waitress interrupted his biography to stick the large pizza in front of them. Laura grabbed her grape soda and took a sip, ignoring the food as Will took a couple pieces and Zayne heaped his plate. All of a sudden, he looked up and apologized, “After a game, it’s just – I can pay for half.”
“No need,” Will responded though Carmilla looked like she thought there definitely was a need. Zayne checked, “If you’re sure.”
Laura felt Carmilla’s eyes on her but ignored it until Carmilla found it necessary to lean over and whisper in her ear, “I was trying to avoid shoving food down your throat out in public but if it comes to that -”
“No need,” Laura said quickly, grabbing a piece and sliding it onto her plate while Carmilla followed suit. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to eat; she didn’t feel hungry. And she knew she needed to get used to eating three meals a day because of her past patterns and she knew she should have probably had herself diagnosed but it was never serious, or so she thought, and she was fine. Carmilla took much more of a serious attitude towards her eating behaviors than Laura thought was necessary. But she had been doing much better, mostly because Carmilla was there to remind her to eat, but also because Carmilla made it easier. She never thought twice when Carmilla offered her food as when someone else did. Laura was glad Carmilla pushed though because the pizza was amazing.
“Anyway,” Zayne continued between bites of pizza, “I’m not a Zeta as is Will. Not really my thing.”
“I don’t understand how it’s anyone’s thing,” Carmilla took a sip of her beer. Zayne seemed not to know how to respond but Will egged him on. “I don’t know what else to say. I live in an apartment with a couple roommates. I have a couple sisters. Yeah,” he laughed nervously, “that’s about it.”
Laura took the initiative to welcome him and Will shot her a smile to show he was grateful. Carmilla responded with another sip of beer.
At one point, Will and Zayne both excused themselves to go play the games in the tiny arcade the pizza joint offered. Their overzealous shouts reverberated back to the table and Laura watched for a little. But then Carmilla nuzzled her with her nose and she was distracted. “Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?”
“You know what. Why don’t you seem happy for Will or try to get to know Zayne? You act like you would rather be anywhere else.”
Carmilla smirked, “Cutie, I’ve wanted to be anywhere else with you since the beginning of the game so you can’t blame me for being a little uptight when I’ve had…other thoughts on my mind.”
Laura blushed like she always did when Carmilla hinted at anything sexual. It was involuntary and she hated it because she knew she could hold her own and be just as overt when she wanted to be. Carmilla always caught her off guard and it resulted in her melting into a puddle. “It’s your brother -”
“Exactly,” Carmilla moved out of Laura’s space and finished off her beer, “and this seems serious for him so I’m treating it as such. I could easily sit here and make fun of the guy but I’m not. Will is nervous about this because he’s never felt this way. I’m making sure this guy isn’t screwing with him.”
“Well,” Laura said, surprised, “that’s rather considerate of you.”
“Neither of them have any idea what they’re doing anyway,” Carmilla scoffed.
“There it is.”
“Just pointing out the obvious, cutie,” she said, her face, again, too close to Laura’s for the public setting they were in. Carmilla’s hand was starting to move precariously up her leg and Laura swatted at her. “I know what those thoughts are but you’ll just have to save them for later.”
“I think there’s a perfectly private bathroom just over there,” Carmilla made it a little more than a suggestion but Laura wrinkled her nose.
“Despite the whole idea not being entirely off the books for me,” Carmilla seemed generally surprised at that confession, “a grimy bathroom in a pizza joint is not going to be that place.”
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They stopped outside the pizza place to say goodbye to Carmilla and Laura. Carmilla was far too eager to be headed home for Will to question her motives. He did not want to have that conversation in front of Zayne. But then Zayne didn’t move when he tried to start walking so Will stopped and turned, “Yes?”
“I’m going to be very forward with you. I know it’s only been a couple weeks since we’ve met and we haven’t hung out a ton or anything but you…you like me, right?”
A lump grew in Will’s throat and he could not swallow around it, “I guess you warned me that it was going to be ‘very forward.’
Zayne smiled shyly, waiting for Will to respond and he did because what else was he going to do? Stand on the street corner for ages? “Yes.”
Zayne let out a deep breath, the air whizzing past his teeth, “That’s what I thought.”
Panic came over Will, “You like me too though, right?”
Zayne stuck his arms out as he realized his error, “Oh, yes, yes I like you to,” he laughed, “I’m sorry, I was just so relieved that I didn’t think.”
Will clutched at his chest, “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Not at all,” Zayne assured, “But I have another question?”
“I’m gonna hate this, aren’t I? Go ahead.”
“You’ve never liked a guy.” It wasn’t a question. Will honestly thought about it because he wasn’t sure. He’d never ‘liked’ anyone so in a way that was true. “I don’t really know how to answer that. I don’t ever ‘like’ people, persay. I’ve never dated a guy or been with a guy but then again, I’ve only dated two girls and it barely lasted a month with either.”
“You? With a sister like that? And how you seem so…”
“So what? I’ve acted like a complete idiot and bundle of nerves with you this entire time,” Will said, incredulously.
Zayne’s eyes widened, “You have a rather low view of yourself if that’s what you believe. I’ve felt like I’ve had to catch up to your level these past couple of weeks. You’re very intimidating and very good at the whole charming thing. Sometimes I forget what I’m doing.”
Will’s mouth dropped open, “Are you kidding me? You seem so nonchalant and easy going about everything. I feel like I’m going to make a mistake every single second.”
Zayne laughed, “We’ve obviously put way too much pressure on ourselves.”
“Apparently,” Will laughed along with him.
“But seriously, you’ve never…” he made a gesture to finish the sentence without words but Will knew what he was going to ask. He had only just voiced this for the first time and telling the guy he liked, was even more nerve-wracking than telling his sister who he knew wouldn’t care. Zayne seemed too interested to not care. But Will sighed because sooner or later, if they started dating, Will would have to tell him, “I’ve only just told my sister this if I’m honest. I am rarely attracted to someone and by rarely I mean you’re pretty much the first person. I’ve never thought about dating anyone because it never felt like it worked with me until I met you and then I wanted to date you. It’s known as –”
“Asexual, yeah. I know. I just didn’t know that was you,” Zayne stated.
“I get if it changes things because it can be a deal breaker for people. So I’m glad you know now instead of later.”
“Will, again with me being very forward. I’m not going to say right now that I’m never going to want sex. I can’t promise that to you. But that’s not what I’m really worried about at the moment. I don’t care that you’re ace. I don’t really care about sex right now. If that bridge ever comes, I hope we’ll have another conversation about it and see where that takes us but I like you and I would like to ask you out.”
Zayne’s mature and understanding attitude toward the situation filled Will with hope. He could have reacted very negatively but that fact that he hadn’t made Will’s crush grow even more. “And I would like to say yes.”
They walked a little more around Silas before Zayne told Will he really needed to get some sleep; they had early, early practice the next morning. He leaned forward and kissed Will on the cheek, “I will call you.”<
Will nodded and smiled.
“See, Will, you do not know what that smile does,” Zayne waved, shoved his hands in his pockets, and started off. Will dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed Carmilla who picked up, “What the hell.”
Will had forgot what Carmilla and Laura had left to do and he grimaced, “Um, sorry, for interrupting whatever…”
“Oh no, don’t worry, that hasn’t happened yet because Laura here has decided instead that is was more pertinent to watch the new episode of Doctor Who,” she raised her voice so that it was clear to Will she was making herself audible for Laura to hear. A quiet voice came through the background noise, “But Carm, this episode is so good."
Carmilla growled into the phone. “Okay, well that was a weird way to answer the phone anyway.”
“If you can tell, I’m not in a good mood. I can’t even be near her because she said she “doesn’t want the distraction.” From a show, Will. I’m right here and she wants to watch a goddamn show.”
“Um, okay, I mean, that’s Laura,” Will suggested.
Carmilla let out a groan, “Yes, I know. I’ve just got pent up - ”
“Yeah, we definitely don’t need to talk about this,” Will cut her off, “I called for a reason by the way.”
“Oh yes, porqué es eso?”
“Zayne asked me out.” There was silence on the other end. “Millie?”
“Oh was that it? Sorry, that was just kind of obvious.”
“I wish I could throw someone at you right now.”
Carmilla chuckled, “Will, I was joking. I’m happy for you.”
“So you treated him so coldly because…”
“…you’re my brother and I needed to know he was good enough,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“You didn’t seem to think that very much when we were out earlier,” Will pointed out. Carmilla had barely said a word to Zayne the entire night; Laura saved the table from complete silence.
“He wasn’t entirely terrible.”
“I guess that’s the best I can ask for from you,” Will shook his head. Sometimes she was more difficult than necessary just to make you know she could be. He heard ruffling on the other end of the phone and Laura’s voice, “Hi, Will.”
“Yeah, okay, nice talk, Will, but the time has come-”
“Ugh, gross. A simple “I’ve got to go” would’ve sufficed.” Will hung up before she could say anything else but he doubted that she would have. There was a little pep in his step as he walked back to the Zeta house and he couldn’t stop smiling thinking of a date with Zayne.
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Knock. Knock. Knock. Kirsch held onto her other gloved hand and smiled at her as they waited for the door to be opened. There was a muffled voice on the other side and click of a lock and then the door swung inward, revealing a tall, thin, red-haired woman, “Hi, mom.”
The woman stepped out onto the porch, pulling Danny into a hug that yanked her hand out of Kirsch’s, “Oh, I am so glad you’re here this year, sweetheart.”
When her mother finally let go, Danny stepped back to Kirsch, “Mom, this is…”
Danny paused, not sure how Kirsch wanted to be introduced but he took up the cue and stuck out his hand to shake her mother’s, “Wilson Kirsch. But most people just call me Kirsch.”
Ignoring the hand, her mother hugged Kirsch instead and though his eye widened in surprise, he accepted and returned the hug. Her dad appeared in the doorway and he smiled at her. Not as touchy feely as her mother, “Daniella."
Danny squeezed her eyes shut, “You did not just call me that.”
“I named you that; I will call you that,” he asserted, “And Wilson, is it?”
“I prefer Kirsch, Mr. Lawrence,” Kirsch replied.
“Kirsch is it.”
Danny threw her hands up and pushed through the doorway into the house, “Oh, you can call him by his last name but I have to be Daniella.”
She dropped her luggage in the side room and hung up her coat in the closet, taking Kirsch’s as well. He took the moment to whisper, “Daniella? I like that.
“Well, I don’t so don’t get any ideas.”
He shook his head, “D-Bear is much better.”
She whacked his arm, “Not in front of my parents its not.”
He pecked her on the cheek but let her guide him into the kitchen where the table was set and the smells of wonderful food were wafting from the oven. Her father was a turkey master and every year he made sure no one forgot that. Sammy and James were laying on the living room floor having, what looked like to Danny, an arm wrestling competition. She pointed, “Are they…?”
“It’s their new thing,” her mom explained, “They’re keeping a count of who’s winning. At this rate, it will never end. Hey boys, come and meet Kirsch.”
They scrambled up from the floor, tackling each other as they tried to race to the kitchen. Sammy pushed James one last time when they came to stand in front of Danny. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Danny,” they said, almost in unison.
She set her hands on Kirsch’s arm, “Kirsch, this is Sammy and James,” she pointed them each out so he would know which was which. They weren’t so identical that it was impossible to tell them apart but it took some getting used to. “Hey, little dudes.”
James turned to Sammy, “I bet I could take him.”
“No, you can’t. I can.”
“You wanna arm wrestle?” James looked up at Kirsch. Kirsch looked at Danny who just rolled her eyes. Sooner or later the twins were going to find a way to entice him into playing with them so she might as well let him go now. Her parents wanted to talk with him but they could do so at dinner. Her mother looked around the corner of the kitchen, “Only a few more minutes, boys, then its time to wash up to eat.”
They paid her no heed; James already had Kirsch lying on the ground and was counting down to go. Danny scooted into one of the counter stools, “Want something to drink, hun?”
Her dad asked even while he was busy checking on the turkey. “A glass of wine would be fine.”
Danny didn’t have to specify the kind, her parents only kept one type in the house. It was a French merlot that they fell in love with on their trip to Bordeaux for their twentieth anniversary. She had become accustomed to seeing it and then when she hit the drinking age, it was the first wine she ever tasted. Maybe not her favorite, she definitely did not have any complaints about having to drink it; there was no mystery to why her parents favored it over any others. “You can pour one for Kirsch too.”
Her mother set his glass at one of the place settings on the table as a timer went off on the oven. Her dad stood back, preparing to enter the heat and bring out his most glorious turkey yet, or so he said. It came out a glistening gold and the smile on her dad’s face was priceless. “Good job again this year, dad.”
He looked at her, a mitted hand pointing to his chest, “Turkey master.”
Her mother called her brothers to wash up and when they were all sitting around the table, Kirsch next to her, across from her brothers with her two parents on either end, her dad set the turkey down with the most care in the center of the table. He picked up the knife to start carving when her mother stopped him, “Don’t you think you should say a little something.”
Her dad did not look pleased but went ahead and did so anyway, “Another year has come and gone. We are so happy to have you with us this year, Daniella. And to meet Kirsch, who I hope we will get to know a little better,” he turned to her mother, “Is that alright?”
Her mother pursed her lips, “Yes, Robert, you may carve it now.”
Her brothers snickered on the opposite side of the table and Danny and Kirsch shared a smile. Her parents were very much in love but once you live with someone for years, there are certain things that get old. Her father’s impatience was one thing her mother was always irritated with and everyone knew it.
But all was forgotten and forgiven when the food was passed around the table.
“You’re family is really nice, D-Bear.”
Kirsch was leaning into the couch an hour after dinner and Danny was laying beside him, her head on his chest. “And you were right, I love your brothers.”
After dinner, James and Sammy had tackled Kirsch and an all out wrestling match ensued, one which Kirsch, in fact, won after Sammy almost knocked the television off the stand. Their mother quickly shut it down with Kirsch holding James in a headlock; his other hand was on Sammy’s forehead, holding him at arms length while the boy tried to run at him. “You know what? I could go for another round of dinner.”
“You had three helpings the first time around,” she responded incredulously.
Kirsch patted his stomach, “I think I can fit a turkey sandwich in there.”
“Am I going to have to make us leave today instead of tomorrow so you don’t eat my parents out of food?” Danny joked.
“You mean they aren’t going to give us leftovers?” Kirsch sounded liked a sad puppy. Danny gave him a quick kiss, “I’m sure they will send food home with us. They seemed to like you.”
“I noticed that. I’m a likeable guy.”
“Yeah, but you’re also the one dating their daughter. But both you and Laura didn’t seem to have a problem winning them over,” Danny remembered.
“I thought Laura didn’t meet your family.”
“She only met my parents in passing once I think but even then, they always asked about her and seemed happy for me.”
“So are you saying it doesn’t take much for your parents to like people and I shouldn’t be proud of myself for making such a good impression? Because that’s mean.” She knew he was only joking around with her but he was wrong. Her parents honestly took a liking to him quicker than she had expected and maybe that’s because she had such a prejudice against him for years that she figured everyone else did as well. In reality, she had just been flat out wrong and had had to accept that more than once. Her parents met him as he was and as he said, he was a pretty likeable guy. “I’ve never been nervous to meet parents though to be honest, your parents are the only the second set I’ve ever met.”
Danny was taken aback, “What?”
“I’ve had one other girlfriend, D-Bear. She broke my heart. That didn’t leave much room for someone else for a very long time.” Danny had entirely forgotten about SJ. Kirsch never talked about her and after she left, Laura had never mentioned her again and Danny had never asked about her. “Do you ever talk to her?”
“I did,” Kirsch sighed, “But then it seemed like it was just hurting both of us. I was still holding out hope and she knew that. I knew she didn’t have hope because she didn’t want to have hope. And Laura tried to stay in touch but it was too hard knowing what happened between her and I and so they fell apart. I feel bad for that because she was Laura’s closest friend. Laura seems fine though and eventually it stopped hurting. You know, first loves and all.”
Danny bit her lip. She did not really know. Laura was the first person she had ever loved and that had ended. And yeah it hurt and she was not sure if she could ever be around Laura again but she had. That made her wonder if she had ever been in love with Laura and second guessing three years of her life was not a road she ever wanted to go down. She got over Laura; she only saw her as a friend now. And that was just fine with her.
Danny also thought it was wonderful that Kirsch and Laura had no weird feelings between them. They were still best friends. Laura was not upset with him for dating her ex and she was not upset with Danny for dating her best friend. It had all worked out, as it should have.
Kirsch moved his shoulder and Danny sat up. He patted the armrest and pushed himself up, “Time for that turkey sandwich.”
“You’re gross!” Danny called after him and fell down, taking up the entire couch.
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The lights surrounding the rink were bright and she had to blink for her eyes to adjust to the light that also bounced off the ice. It was busy; filled with people talking and laughing and singing along to the Christmas carols that were playing from speakers hung on stands around the park. The cold usually did not bother her too much but she was hyperaware of how the wind nipped at her face because of how warm her hand was as it held tightly to Laura’s. On her other side was the giant puppy that seemed to follow them everywhere and his faithful friend Clifford.
“Come on, Carm, please,” Laura begged. Carmilla only sighed and shook her head, “I don’t think so, cutie.”
“Come on, Laura. Leave Elvira alone and let’s go pay.” Carmila sneered at Danny who scrunched up her nose in disgust. Kirsch looked at Carmilla and then to the two girls walking away and then back to Carmilla and then finally jogged after the others. Carmilla stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets and found a seat on an empty bench outside the rink. She did not see the enjoyment people found in sliding across ice on very thin blades that did not look very sturdy but Laura had wanted to go and so she had tagged along even if it was only to watch Laura have fun. That was always worth it. She always tired of people before things even began but with Laura she could never get enough. That smile was unforgettable and Carmilla could not help but smiling along when she saw it; it was contagious and Carmilla never remembered smiling as much before she met Laura. Infectious happiness. Warmth came along with that too and Carmilla could not say she minded that much.
Laura fell into the seat next to her and dropped her skates on the ground before attempting to lace them up. Danny and Kirsch followed suit. “Alright, Carm. Last chance.”
“You go have fun, sweetheart.” Laura leaned over and kissed Carmilla on the cheek, melting the icy skin.
Laura dashed off the rink as fast as she could with the blades on her feet and Danny awkwardly limped after her. Kirsch stayed for a few seconds, “Are you sure you don’t want to join?”
“Yes, meathead. Positive.”
Despite her insult, Kirsch smiled, “Suit yourself.”
They entered the rink, meshing together with the other people already skating and Carmilla lost sight of them. Eventually she found a flash of red above the other heads and only figured that Laura was nearby. When Laura finally came into focus again, a calm feeling settled in Carmilla’s chest. The girl was skating around like a pro, a huge smile on her face, laughing and dragging Kirsch around the rink. Her face was bright and full of youth, her cute cheeks were red from the cold but she did not seem to mind at the moment. Carmilla wondered how often Laura had gone ice-skating. She was not falling over herself; she was very steady on the skates. Carmilla began to realize that there was still a lot about Laura’s life that she didn’t know about and she could not help but blame them both equally. When she hesitantly told her own stories, Laura responded with one of her own but never said anything more. Carmilla had wondered about this before but they had built there own stories and it hadn’t felt important. She could only guess that this was how Laura and Will felt when she would not talk to them. She started to wonder who Laura was at five at twelve, even at sixteen? Who was the girl that Carmilla was in love with before they had had the privilege of meeting?
“Hey there.” A timid voice drew her away from her thoughts of Laura and she scowled. To her left sat a girl with long blonde hair that was draped over the scarf tightly twined around her neck and the hood that looked like it never laid flat against the back of the jackets. The coat was a navy blue pea coat and her hands were covered in fluffy, purple gloves. The voice seemed nice but Carmilla was annoyed at the interruption and had no qualms about showing that aggravation. She nodded her head and looked back to the rink, searching for Laura.
“Are you waiting on anyone?”
She sighed loudly, knowing that she was not going to be able to get out of having a conversation, no matter how short. Even so, she did not have to pleasant. “No.”
“Why aren’t you out on the ice?” The girls voice was high as if she was trying overly hard to be happy and outgoing; the noise grated against Carmilla’s ears.
“Not my thing.”
“Hey! Watch it!” Carmilla would recognize that voice anywhere and even amongst the noise of the crowd, she could hear Laura’s voice above it all. When her eyes found whom she was looking for, Laura’s face was bunched up in irritation and she was looking after a guy who was speeding haphazardly around the ice and had just cut her off, almost causing her to fall at the sudden stop she had been forced to make. Kirsch skidded to a stop next to her and with a gesture of his head, urged her to keep moving so as not to block anyone else’s path. She obliged him but Carmilla’s eyes had found the guy who had almost tripped up her girlfriend. He was wearing a red sweater and jeans and was not paying any attention to anyone else, acting like he had the entire rink to himself. Her eyes narrowed. If he ever left the ice, she would have some choice words for him.
“Oh, then why are you here?”
Carmilla shrugged, almost forgetting that someone was trying to engage her in conversation.
“Well, I saw you from over there. And you were sitting alone and I thought that well, someone as pretty as you shouldn’t be alone,” the girl laughed awkwardly, “I just wanted to come over and keep you company and maybe get a name…”
The scene unfolding in front of Carmilla seemed to happen in slow motion as her heart began to beat, the sound frighteningly loud in her ears. Red sweater was weaving in and out of people coming up to a family that was skating in a line. There was not enough room for him to slide between them and Laura and she almost knew what was happening before it transpired. He realized too late that he was not going to fit and instead of bailing or trying to slide to a stop, he turned sideways to make himself smaller and in doing so, his hand swung out and pushed at Laura, followed by the rest of his body colliding with her. One skate slipped out from underneath the tiny body and she scrambled as she tried to catch herself on the other one but to no avail, her arms flailing at her sides as she fell backwards. Carmilla’s entire body tensed as all she could do was watch. There was no way to help her. And then amidst the silence that had fallen over her, she heard a disgustingly loud crack as Laura went down, her head hitting ice. Carmilla lost control of her entire body as it bolted forward and rough shout ripped from her throat, “Laura!”