Gossip Column (Carmilla Fanfic)

Chapter 2

Laura sat down with a groan and put her head on the table. She had texted LaFontaine as soon as she had finished reading that travesty of an article, asking them to meet at their favorite coffee shop. LaFontaine laughed at Laura's display.

"Come on L, it's not so bad. Sooner or later people would learn about this. Karnstein is really famous, there's no way you could hide it forever. What I don't understand is why you felt the need to hide it from me." They said, their voice sounding a little hurt.

Laura finally looked up at her best friend.

"I didn't hide anything from you because there was never anything to hide. I'm not dating Carmilla Karnstein."

"Oh" LaFontaine furrowed their brow in thought, "then you had a one night stand with her?"

"God, no!" Laura almost shouted. "This is all just a huge misunderstanding. The first and only time I've ever been in Carmilla's company was the one minute when that photo was taken."

"But, I don't understand Laura, in the picture the two of you are holding each other. Why would you be hugging her then?"

"And that is why I don't read the gossip columns," Laura said letting her anger show, "those people don't have any respect for journalism. They simply took that picture out of context and created a whole new and untrue story with it."

"Ok, tell me exactly what happened after we left the restaurant last night." Said LaFontaine who was now more confused than ever.

Laura told the story to her friend, how she had gone back for her jacket and ran into Carmilla. When she finished, she slumped in her chair and waited for LaFontaine to process the information they'd just been given.

"Holy shit, L! This is so crazy. I can't believe you got yourself into this mess." They laughed.

"Stop laughing LaF. This isn't funny. Do you have any idea of how much trouble this could be if that rumormonger finds out my name? And just to make it clear, I didn't get myself into this mess, I was put into it by a very irresponsible 'journalist'", she finished with an air quote.

"I'm sorry, Laura. But this is hilarious. Think about it, you always hated the gossip column and now you've been featured in it as the lady love of one of the most famous musicians nowadays, and you're not even really dating her." They kept laughing.

"Uggh, this is ridiculous. I just hope they don't discover my name." She said.

"Don't worry, Laura. I don't think they'll find out who you are. And once they realize that was the only time you've been seen with Karnstein they will forget the whole thing and move on to the next scandal. You know how it works." LaFontaine tried to console Laura.

"Yeah, let's hope you're right".

"I am right, you'll see. But damn, Laura. Karnstein is hot, it wouldn't be a bad thing if you were dating her." They said.

Laura finally begun to relax and laughed at LaFontaine's disappointment at her nonexistent relationship with the famous punk singer.

"Yeah, I googled her after I read that stupid article. I have to agree with you that she is hot, but honestly, LaF, I don't know the first thing about her, so I can't say I'd like to actually date her."

Laura's phone started to ring again, checking the caller ID she groaned. It was Danny and she probably wanted to know what was going on just like LaFontaine did earlier.

"Hi Danny!" She answered.

"Why the hell are you dating a woman like Karnstein, Laura?"

"Well, I'm fine, thanks for asking Danny." Laura replied sarcastically. She wasn't in the mood to take shit from anyone.

"I'm sorry, Laur. It's just that" she took a deep breath before continuing, "Carmilla Karnstein, really? She has a really bad reputation Hollis, I've read that she sleeps with a different fan at each concert she gives."

"I'm NOT dating Carmilla Karnstein." Laura replied forcefully. "I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe that my friends are buying into this bullshit story from a gossip column. You guys were with me yesterday, do you remember seeing me holding hands with this punk girl or sharing heart-eyes with her? If you people who were actually there with me are believing in this article, the rest of the world is going to think Carmilla and I are getting married tomorrow."

When she finally stopped speaking there was silence on the other end of the line. LaFontaine was once again laughing at the absurdity of it all while watching Laura.

"Uhm, I'm sorry Laura. It's just that the picture..." Danny started, but was cut off by Laura.

"Is completely out of context and does not represent the facts described in that article."

"Okay, I believe you, but, what the hell happened then?"

Once again Laura told the whole true story, she was starting to get sick of talking about it. After making sure that Danny would let Kirsch know the truth before he also called her, she hung up her phone. She made LaFontaine promise to tell the truth to Perry too and stop her from getting so worried that it would result in her cleaning Laura's entire apartment, again.

She said goodbye to LaFontaine and left to go grocery shopping. As she went through the day, Laura stopped thinking about the infamous gossip article, certain that nothing else would come of it now that her friends knew the truth. There was no way that Sarah Jane person would find out her name, she was safe.

Maybe she relaxed a bit too early. By evening, she ordered a pizza and prepared to lie down in front of Netflix. When her food arrived she was suddenly reminded of the article when the delivery boy recognized her.

"Aren't you the girl who is dating Carmilla Karnstein? That is so rad, I'm a big fan of hers. Think you could get me an autograph?" The guy said.

Laura's faced morphed into pure rage. She took the pizza from the guy shoving the money at him and closing the door without saying a word. With her night ruined by this reminder of her appearance in the gossip column, Laura quickly ate her dinner and decided go to bed.

The next morning she woke up to the buzzing of her phone once again.

"Noooooo" she groaned as she grabbed it from her nightstand. Once again, she had a text from LaFontaine.

LaF: Not that I like being the bearer of bad news, but I think you should check Sarah Jane's Twitter. She discovered your name.