But You Are
Friday -
You had just wrapped up finishing your (very) over due LIT paper before you notice your phone screen light up. Awesome, just what you need.. a distraction.
You glance down at the screen to see a text notification from Danny.
Danny(7:43pm):hey laura.. So perry , laf and I were thinking about hitting the town to recover from the stress of studying and I was wondering if you’d wanna tag along??
You dont even have to think twice before responding.
Laura(7:45pm):YES. Totally! I mean - ya sure I’ve been needing some time away argg
Danny(7:45pm):Awesome! Great and yeah, we were due for a break :p
Yes, yes they were, and what better to take your mind off things then your -super tall, super gorgeous TA-? You still aren't quite sure what you and Danny were , but according to Laf you both might as well be a couple. You on the other hand, aren't even sure if the red head feels the same way, or what you even felt in the first place. Everything was so complicated and confusing this first year of college..
Laura(7:53pm):Defiantly. So what time should we all meet up??
Danny(7:54pm):Were meeting by the library at about 8:30. Sound good?
Laura(7:55pm):Yup! See you then.
Oh god, that leaves you exactly 25 minutes to find something presentable to wear! You jump up from your computer chair and rush around trying to find the most suitable outfit. Normally when the gang went out you all go to the Lustig bar around the corner. It tends to have a decent rate of professional performers so you don't want to look too 'Provincial'. You settle on a blue blouse that ties up in a bow just bellow your belly button and a pair of skinny jeans. Hopefully everyone will be too hammered to even notice your attire anyways.
--
When you arrive at the lustig, Lafontaine and Perry run off to find the most vacant booth. While You and Danny make your way to the bar to grab drinks.
“You look nice tonight Hollis” Danny says as you both reach the counter.
“Thanks” You respond, feeling your cheeks starting to light up at the compliment. “You do too”.
“I’ll take two jack on the rocks, a Shirley temple and uh” Danny turns her head back to look at you “What are you having?”
You suddenly snap out of the trance you seemed to be in “Oh uh, Just a porn star” Danny raises her eyebrow at you. “What? I like my drinks sweet” You shoot back with a smirk.
“Ha, uh and a Porn star apparently.” You can't help but giggle. “Coming right up” Theo smiles.
As you both make your way over to the booth Lafontaine and Perry have grabbed, you notice Kirsch walking up to the bar.
“Kirsch, hey! I didn’t know you came here, thought you’d be with your zeta bro’s being its Friday and all.”
“Hey little nerd hottie! Yeah, Sarah-Jane and I sorta just broke up and I didn’t want to sit around listening to the guys asking questions about it. Thought it would be better to just treat myself. Hey, Mind if I join you guys?”
“Yes” Danny expresses with a very annoyed response. “No, not at all!” You reply while giving Danny a genuine look “Our booths just over here”.
The three of you walk over and sit down, Danny making sure to sit on the completely opposite side of the table as Kirsch.
“Just because Laura is too nice to shut you down, does not mean that you are welcome” Danny vocalizes with a sigh. “Hey, just because you summer psycho’s have a problem with us zeta’s does not give you the right to be such a bitc-” Before he can finish though, you cut him off.
“Okaaaaay, let’s try not to rip each others heads off and just have a good time? Please.” you articulate with your -very tiny tone- which you have learned makes everyone do what you've asked.
“Fine. Just keep your level 1 intelligence away from me” Danny’s reply directing to Kirsch.
You all sit around talking about your upcoming assignments that are due. Wasn’t the point in coming here to not stress about school? Whatever, At least you were out of that dorm and away from those books.
“Hey guys, so I’m working on this new experiment.. Where I get to figure out how brain fluid works” Lafontaine voices with great pride. Perry rolls her eyes
“Yeah well keep it in the bio lab, I don’t need another “experiment” to clean up after this mornings explosion” Lafontaine smirks at that “ Perr how was I supposed to know that building a water bottle rocket out of a plastic bottle, demonstrating how air pressure works would make such a mess?”
Perry stiffens her posture “ You don’t think the words “Air pressure” were blatant enough?”
Everyone laughs. Perry and Lafontaine have been best friends since they were 5. They have an unbreakable bond but were completely different from one another. It really is true when they say opposites attract. You can only wish to find someone like that. You envy what they have so much.
Just then a loud voice comes over the mic to announce that there was a very special guest about to perform. The Lustig is local and a lot of local artists played here so you were a little interested as to who this person might be. When you glance over at the stage, you spot her. Is that really her? Are you just seeing things? It can’t be. You're just drunk. But wait, no - because you haven't even touched your drink yet.
“Is that who I think it is ?” Lafontaine announces with a higher pitch in their tone.
“Oh my god it is” Danny says while standing up to get a better view.
So You aren't just imagining things. Nope. That was very much Carmilla Karnstein. The deans daughter who refused to attend Silas because she’s “Too good for that kind of school". You personally think it’s just because she’s a brat who has always gotten everything she wanted because Mommy dearest also owns a very wealthy line of fashion that just so happened to become a world wide trend. Karnstein. As if that name couldn’t be any more original. You roll your eyes at that thought.
But wait-- Was she looking at you?
Friday-
You don't normally perform in front of crowds, but the way Will begs you on the phone there was no way you could say no.
“Please kitty, I really need this. My boss is on the verge of laying me off if I don’t find another gig.” You let out a long sigh.
“What happened to the preppy boy band you had booked?” You lift your beer up to your lips to take a sip.
“They bailed last minute, apparently one of their grandparents died”
Well lucky them. “Fine. But I’m only on for 30 minutes and that’s it.” You respond sternly while swallowing another sip.
Will sounds like he's jumping up and down at your answer. You roll your eyes slightly. “Yes! Thank you thank you, you won’t regret it.” He let's out with complete relief.
“Pretty sure I already do” You groan. Will chuckles “ Hey don’t be so broody, maybe you’ll find a hot chick to take home after”
Ha! At the bar that is stationed right next to the building you hate the most? “Doubt it” You reply while ended the call in the middle of Will’s laughing.
You glance up at the clock. 7:30pm. That means you only have an hour an a half till you need to be up on stage. He’s so gonna owe you for this. You set your beer down on the counter, let out a sigh, grab your guitar and make your way over to your leather couch to start laying out in your head what songs you are going to perform.
You have always loved music. Ever since you were 9 and picked up your first guitar. It was your escape from the reality that you called your life. Your mother never accepted your passion and always tried to direct you in the direction she wanted for you, To be her little run way model. Up until you were 12 she made you wear all her designs and go to all of the run way shows. Then you turned 13 and told her to simply fuck off because you would no longer be anyone's dress up doll. That’s when the on going arguments had started..
Your mothers line of clothing was so typical, it’s basically urban outfitters with a different name. Your last name. How original? You hated being a Karnstein for that specific reason.Now being 21 and living on your own, you were glad you didn’t have to deal with your mothers rash opinions anymore and were finally proceeding in your passion. Music.
After panning out what songs you were going to play it was now 8:25 and you have to be on in 30 minutes. So you grab your guitar, pack up your things and exit your apartment. On the walk down to your car, you get to thinking about what Ell always told you. You’re so talented Carm, you’re gonna go so far I just know it! You're pretty sure that Ell is the only reason you even kept perusing your music. Up until your mother had Ell deported to teach you a lesson. You guess you kind of betrayed Ell by even telling your mother that she was an illegal citizen in the first place, and there’s not a day that goes by that you don't hate yourself for it. You lost all contact when she was deported right after you both got into a heated argument when Ell had found out you told your mother about her secret. The last words you ever heard from her were “I’ll never forgive you Carmilla, I hate you for this.”
Ever since then you have pushed yourself away from all relationships , One night stands did the trick with no way for you to fuck things up because no feelings were involved.
--
You pull up to the Lustig at around 8:45pm. Just enough time to get in and get set up.
“You made it oh thank god!” Will shouts as you glide through the back door to the stage. “I told you I’d be here didn’t I?” you shrug and sling your guitar from off your back.
“Yes but normally you show up an hour late, I’m surprised” Will responds with a more serious tone. “Yeah well, I had nothing better to do so..” You reply as you push past your brother to set up your equipment.
“Yeah yeah kitty, just admit it you love me” Will sing-songs while prancing towards you. You let out a loud groan “ Oh shut up before I dip out of here so fast there will be scorch marks on my leather jeans!”
At exactly 8:55 Will announces there will be a special guest performing. Yay, as if you needed more of an introduction. You tread onto the stage to sit on the stool Will has ever so kindly placed out for you. As you look out over the crowd you over hear all the whispering about how “It couldn’t be” “Is it really her?” “Carmilla Karnstein??”. This is why you hate crowds. Yup, Will now owes you his soul. As you lift your guitar up onto your lap and place the microphone accordingly to your now new level height, You glanced out over the crowd once more and noticed a very tall red head that kinda reminds you of Xena. But to her right, You catch glimpse of a very tiny very surprised looking light brunette that for some reason sticks out in the group of sweaty drunk collage kids. Something about her makes your heart jump slightly. Woah, what the fuck? --
Nope, You cant afford to think about this right now, It was time to preform. You run your right hand through your hair lightly.
It's Now or never.