The Time Traveler's Wife - The Other Side

The Bully

February 1999

Laura is waiting patiently for Carmilla to reappear in her time. The clothes have been sitting there, but so much has happened since the last time she saw her and she just...

She just really needed a best friend right now.

And just as soon as she's had the thought, Carmilla reappears in front of her.

Naked.

Facing the attic window directed at the street.

"Are you gonna keep flashing all my neighbors?" Laura demands when Carmilla doesn't turn.

Carmilla continues staring at Laura so she decides to just hand her some clothes and turn as Carmilla puts them on.

"Uhm, how old are you?" Carmilla asks when she's done.

"Eight."

Carmilla hums in response. "Have we had a picnic together yet?"

Laura shakes her head no and starts walking out of the attic and down the stairs. She leads Carmilla down the second floor hallway and into what Carmilla her bedroom."The last time I saw you, you left me this." She holds up the note Carmilla put in her pocket before tucking her in to sleep.

"What is it?" Carmilla asks with a frown.

Trying to wrap her mind around how weird it is to be talking to someone who's life seems to be running in the opposite direction of hers, Laura works to remain patient."It told me the next couple times I'd see you, and that the first would be today. You said you got dates from—"

Carmilla clamps her hand over Laura's mouth. "Ah! Spoilers."

Laura huffs, her patience running thin. "Ahhat wen yoo sey that," she says, muffled. Carmilla chuckles and removes her hand. "Then we watched some TV and you disappeared. This was like, over a year ago. Super nice of you."

Carmilla frowns at the tone. "You do know I can't control when I come back to you, right?"

Patience gone. "Yeah. Whatever."

Carmilla's frown deepens. "What's with you?" she asks, obviously trying to keep the edge from her voice and instead going for a concerned tone.

Laura shrugs and walks away. "A lot can happen in a year." She pauses in the hallway as Carmilla lets out a sigh and follows her.

Mommy would be so disappointed in you for acting like this. Just like she would be for what you did to Danny.

"I'm sorry," Laura finally says. "I shouldn't be snapping at my best friend. Especially not over something tha—especially at you."

Carmilla furrows her eyebrows together, her worry growing. "Laura."

Laura dejectedly heads to the stairs down to the living room, willing herself not to cry. Carmilla was probably only going to be here for a short amount of time and she didn't want to waste a second of it crying.

"Where's your dad?" Carmilla says hesitantly.

"I don't want to talk about that," Laura mumbles, descending.

Carmilla joins her in the living room.

"I've been gone a year," Carmilla says slowly, looking around the room. "And I have it on good authority that something pretty major happened... in November."

Laura crosses her arms and starts to walk off. Carmilla reaches out to gently grab Laura by the arm, just to stop her, but Laura lets out a loud yelp.