Chapter Text
Laura transfers to Silas a week before fall term. It’s not ideal but her dad’s new job puts him only an hour away and she knows that as much as he says he’s fine with her away at college he kinda really isn’t. Closer is infinitely better. Besides the school is nestled in a little valley surrounded by gorgeous hills and so what it’s not University of Toronto. She’s sure it will be amazing.
Even if she’s technically three days late for class.
“Dad, come on! I’m going to be fine. I’m sure it’s much safer than it looks,” she reassures her skeptical father as they stare up at the ancient dorm. He scratches his chin and tilts his head to the side.
“Are you sure, Laura? You could always take online classes and study from home.” Laura rolls her eyes but the grin on her lips betrays her.
“You know I can’t do that. I need to get out and experience the world remember? I’m 19. I can’t just stay home forever.” Her father smiles.
“Your mother would be proud of you, y’know.” Laura sighs and hugs him tightly.
“Yeah, I know.”
The dorm lobby is pretty much empty. There’s a desk at the back with a big sign that reads “Housing Office” above the window. Laura trots up to it and looks around expectantly. No one is actually manning the desk, but there is someone with short red hair is sitting in the back with a textbook a few inches from their face desperately scribbling notes.
“Excuse me?” Laura says loudly. The person’s head jerks up and they stare at Laura in confusion for a second before snapping their fingers.
“Let me guess, you’re Laura?” Laura nods and the person jumps up to shake her hand.
“Lafontaine. You picked one epic university, freshmeat.”
“I haven’t actually heard much about it,” Laura admits. Lafontaine laughs.
“Yeah that isn’t really surprising.” Laura scrunches up her face, confused, and Lafontaine laughs.
“Come on, you’re on the fourth floor. Perry’s up there right now talking to your roommate.” Lafontaine grabs a set of keys on the wall and locks the office on their way out. Laura glances at the clock and realizes it’s nearly half an hour after she was meant to arrive.
“Perry?” Lafontaine grins widely and takes Laura’s duffel bag.
“You’re going to love her. She keeps everything around here running like a dream.” The adoration in their voice cascades out of their mouth effortlessly and Laura bites her lip. So that was definitely something.
Lafontaine doesn’t notice her sly look. They beckon her to follow and bound up the stairs, of which there are a lot.
“Dorm rules are pretty standard. No loud noises after ten, don’t leave food out for more than two hours, parties are strictly forbidden, and there will be absolutely no tolerance for experiments on unwitting students,” Lafontaine explains as they go.
“Why is that last one even necessary?” Laura asks.
“Beats me,” Lafontaine shrugs, “I was acquitted and everything.”
“You were the one doing experiments on unwitting students?” Laura exclaims.
“No I was acquitted. Besides, Perry made sure everyone signed waivers,” Lafontaine dismisses quickly. Laura squints at the back of their head and wonders if that’s strictly true. Lafontaine glances back at her and she quickly looks away.
“Soooo... I have a roommate! What are they like?” Laura asks.
“Oh y’know, she’s a person,” Lafontaine says. Laura raises an eyebrow.
“That literally tells me nothing.” Lafontaine grips Laura’s duffel a little bit tighter.
“Have I told you yet that you’re really lucky. Usually there aren’t any spots left this late. Actually it’s kinda weird no one was placed in the room considering-”
They’re cut off by the sound of loud voices exchanging not so pleasant words in the hallway. Lafontaine’s eyes nearly pop out of their head and they take the last few steps two at a time. Laura struggles to keep up, her ears straining to pick up the conversation.
“You morons can’t just put someone in my room without asking me first. I specifically requested to be in my own room for a reason. We know what those are right? Reasons?” She’s pale like pages of a book and sharp around the edges. Her arms are crossed over a Van Halen T-shirt partially obscured by glossy dark curls and the look in her eye could be the new universal symbol for murder.
“Unfortunately for all of us this is the only spot left. If you want to complain you can take it up with the Dean’s office like everyone else.” The other woman hisses. This must be Perry the infamous floor don. Laura’s eyes are immediately drawn to her mane of silken red ringlets and smooth, striking face. Better that than the ill-fitted denim shirt below them or the terrifying corduroy pants below that. Perry has her fists on her hips and looks two seconds away from tapping her foot.
“Perry.” Perry’s eyes swivel towards Lafontaine and then Laura. For a moment her lips form a perfect circle and then they curl up in a modest smile.
“Ah, there you are. This must be Laura. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is Carmilla. Your new roommate.”
Oh.
Laura swallows her nerves and sticks her hand out. It’s never too late to make a good impression.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she says. Carmilla’s eyes skim over Laura on their way into an impressive roll. She had no doubt Laura wasn’t going to last more than a week away from home.
Laura awkwardly drops her hand.
“Whatever,” Carmilla growls. She glides through the open door and disappears. Lafontaine and Perry share disdained expressions.
“I apologize for Carmilla’s attitude. She’s a bit anti-social at times and it seems that the notice announcing your arrival somehow never arrived. I’m sure she’ll warm up to you… You’re adorable,” Perry says. Lafontaine nods. Laura takes a deep breath and ignores her frantically beating heart. So her wildly attractive and rude as hell roommate hates her. There are worse things right?
“It’s fine. I’ll figure something out.” Perry shoots her another short smile and tugs on Lafontaine’s arm.
“We’ll let you get settled in.” Lafontaine drops Laura’s bags inside the room and jumps back out.
“If you need anything at all,” they lower their voice, “Like an exorcism or holy water, a knife for under your pillow…”
“Lafontaine!” Perry exclaims.
“We’re right down the hall,” Lafontaine finishes. Laura nods.
“Thanks?” Lafontaine pats her on the back and lets Perry drag them away. Laura stares at the door. So still not ideal, but what could go wrong? It’s just one little college snag. Nothing to worry about.
Laura steps in holding her breath. One half of the room is covered from ceiling to floorboards in nothing but colors darker than navy blue. Carmilla is sprawled out on her bed with a tattered copy of Catcher in the Rye. Her goal is to ignore Laura until a better opportunity presents itself. Shouldn’t take too long.
Laura drops her things on the opposite bed and sits with her fingers curled around the frame. It’s actually nicer than she was expecting, other than Carmilla. It had never occurred to her that her roommate might not like her. Even the mean girls in highschool at least tolerated her. Well, everyone tolerated her, but that was beside the point. They were adults now. Things were different.
Carmilla turns the page in her book and very pointedly doesn’t notice Laura staring at her. Laura clears her throat and sits forward.
“So I was thinking…” she starts.
“Are you sure that’s good for you?” Carmilla asks. Laura frowns.
“If we’re going to be roommates we need some rules.” Carmilla shoves her book into her face and groans.
“God you’re one of those people.”
“Boundaries are a very healthy part of any relationship!” Laura argues. Carmilla sighs and sits up. Her eyes rake over Laura. The last thing she needs is someone ruining her plans. She has one chance to get out of this hell hole and if Laura messes that up….
Well, she supposes that would be unfortunate. For Laura.
“How about this. I don’t bother you and you don’t bother me. That way we both live happily ever after and I don’t have to murder anybody from housing,” she sneers. Laura stares at her, speechless. Carmilla goes back to her book, turning the pages in a way that somehow makes Laura feel suddenly and irrevocably worthless.
“Fine,” she snaps finally. If that’s how Carmilla wanted things to be, then that’s how they would be. Laura got up and began to unpack.
Hopefully Carmilla’s attitude will get her kicked out.
Or flunked.
Or both.
Unfortunately for Laura, all Carmilla’s attitude really seems to affect is whether or not her life absolutely sucks.