"Heading over to Carmilla's, I wasn't worried about monsters... except maybe Elly," Cassie chuckled. "Which just shows how little I knew."
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Duplantier House, Willow Creek, 2000
"I checked on the Monster under Alexander's bed," I told Bella, "but I know he'll feel better if you could look in on him at bedtime."
"Which one of us is the mom here?" Bella chuckled. "I'll check on him. Now, you..."
"I know, I know," I smiled back, "No boys, no booze, no pot, no mischief... Jeez, what kind of slumber parties did you go to, Bella?"
"Just be safe," she said.
For as protective as Bella was, you'd think I was going to Oasis Springs. Carmilla's family were our neighbors. Duplantier House was practically across the street.
At least, I managed to convince her not to walk me all the way to Carmilla's door. She didn't even hover, watching me go... much. I had the brief thought that, if she could, Bella would probably have someone following me, to keep an eye on me.
Of course, as soon as I saw Gwen, I quickly forgot about such thoughts.
"You're here," Gwen smiled at me. "I was... Molly said you still weren't sure Bella would let you come."
"I managed to convince her," I smiled back.
"Told you," Molly said. "This is going to be great... like old times."
"Your friends are all here, then. Hello Cassandra," Mrs. Duplantier, Carmilla's grandmother, said indulgently. "I'm going up to my room. Give you girls your space. Have fun."
"Goodnight, Gramma," Carmilla said.
"What did I tell you," Carmilla said once her grandmother had gone upstairs. "We have the place as good as all to ourselves. Let's get this party started."
"So, Gwen, how was the City?" Molly asked. "Was it amazing? Is the Gallery incredible?"
"The City was... loud," Gwen said, wrinkling her nose (in a way I found incredibly cute). "Loud and smelly and crowded and... just very unpleasant. The Gallery, on the other hand, was incredible. The paintings and murals and... oh, the music. I think I could tolerate the City for the sake of the Gallery."
"Cool," Carmilla said, with a hint of impatience, "but what about you, Cas? You haven't said anything about the raven's message and it's been days. Did you find the book? What was it?"
"I... I did," I stammered.
I'd been so eager to tell Gwen about my mother's book and the magic but suddenly, under Carmilla's hungry gaze, I didn't want to say too much. It felt like a secret, and I wasn't ready to share.
"Well?" she insisted.
"Yeah, I mean there's a book," I said. "A book my mother left for me. It's got all kinds of thoughts and things she wanted me to know. It's... pretty incredible."
"That's amazing," Carmilla said. "Gwen has an incredible gift... being able to share a message from the Netherworld like that."
"Oh, well, I just listened to Roac... the raven," Gwen said, clearly surprised.
"You're amazing," Carmilla repeated in a way that made me a little uncomfortable.
Why was she looking at Gwen like that?
"So, is this a slumber party or what?" Molly put in, breaking the momentary tension.
"Right," Carmilla smiled. "Let's get changed."
"Changed?" Gwen asked.
"Into sleepwear," I explained. "It's kind of a slumber party tradition... we hang around in our pajamas."
"I've got the bathroom first," Molly said brightly.
Gwen looked at me, puzzled.
"Over there," I nodded toward the downstairs bathroom door. "To change clothes in," I added, forcefully pushing away the sudden image of Gwen changing into her sleepwear right next to me.
Molly quickly dashed off and came back in her comfortable looking pajamas. I feel like I could always count on Molly to be comfortable, practical and, at the same time, a little more grown-up than she seemed at first glance. With the simmering tension I felt when I was near Gwen, seeing Molly relaxed me a little.
Of course, Carmilla managed to banish that relaxed moment and rachet up my tension. If Molly was being comfortable with herself, Carmilla was showing off.
I mean, seriously... who actually wears a gauzy black teddy at a sleepover? I swear I could almost see through it, and I was pretty sure she wasn't wearing anything under it. I could almost see... I mean, not that I was looking that closely or anything.
I suddenly kind of regretted that I'd left my little panties at home in favor of the shorts. Still, I guess the shorts looked nice. I mean, I definitely had the legs for them.
The smile Gwen gave me made me feel good about them anyway. It did nothing for the butterflies in my stomach, but in a good way.
I'm not really sure what I expected Gwen to come out wearing. It occurred to me that just about anything was possible. From the odd comments she let slip sometimes, she was clearly... um... comfortable in her own skin (and nothing more). I had the sudden panicked thought - did she wear anything at all to bed?
I was a little relieved when she come out of the bathroom in a simple nightshirt. It was plain, comfortable looking and... absolutely breathtaking.
"OK, now it's a slumber party," Molly said brightly as Gwen sat back down next to me. "Oh, careful there Gwen... I almost got a peek at your undies."
"Hmm," Gwen looked puzzled. "Oh, no... you didn't."
"Oh yes, I did," Molly smiled.
Carmilla was visibly holding herself back from trying to get a peek.
"No, you couldn't," Gwen explained with serene confidence. "I only wear panties when my courses come, and that isn't for a while."
"Wait," I blinked. "You're not wearing... You never wear panties?"
"No, why?" Gwen said.
"Don't let the boys at school know," Molly laughed. "There'll be an epidemic of dropped pencils around you."
Gwen just looked slightly puzzled.
"Well," Carmilla said, "on that very interesting note... what do people want on their pizza?"
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