CARMELLA

CHAPTER 9. great misery

*Fairburn High – Girl’s Bathroom – Morning*

Carmella stood silently at the sink, rinsing her hands as the stale bathroom light flickered above her. The door creaked open. In strutted Natalie, Leslie, and Ruth—the so-called perfect girls—radiating their usual storm of arrogance.

Natalie marched toward the sink and turned off Carmella’s tap with an unnecessary snap.

“New girl!!” she snapped, arms folded. “This isn't funny anymore!”

Leslie and Ruth began pacing the bathroom, checking each stall like guards in a prison.

“Yeah,” Leslie added. “Just tell us who the hell you are.”

Carmella slowly lifted her gaze and locked eyes with Natalie. Her expression was blank, unreadable… but something in it made Natalie pause.

“Hey! Stop looking at me like that!” Natalie barked and raised her hand, but Ruth caught her wrist.

“Don’t, Natalie. Someone might come in.”

Carmella didn’t flinch. Her eyes remained fixed on Natalie with a dark calmness that sent a chill through the air.

“You’re so weird!” Natalie spat, then shoved her backward with a laugh.

But the laughter died fast.

In a blink, heat surged in the room. Orange flames curled mid-air—unnatural and bright, dancing close to their skin but not quite touching. Then the burning began.

“Ahhh!!! What did you do, freak?!” Natalie screamed.

“It hurts!” Leslie shouted, clutching her arm. “AHHHH!!”

“What is this?! What is this?!” Ruth cried, twisting away from the flames. “It’s too hot!!”

Carmella stood there, motionless, watching them writhe.

“I can cool it down,” she said, her tone icy.

She waved her fingers and uttered another spell. A sharp chill swept through the room as the flames vanished, instantly replaced by a freezing wind. The three girls froze in place—literally—locked in a layer of enchanted frost. Another whisper, and the fog in their minds thickened.

They wouldn’t remember a thing.

Carmella brushed her sleeves down calmly. “You're the least of my problems.”

She turned and walked out, her boots echoing down the hall.

Just as she stepped into the corridor, Lisa spotted her from across the lockers.

“Carmella! Where have you been?” she asked, rushing over.

“I had something to take care of,” Carmella replied coolly.

“Come on! Class is about to start!” Lisa said, tugging her lightly.

The two girls walked off side by side, leaving the icy chaos behind.

—

The afternoon sun bathed Fairburn High’s veranda in soft golden light. Carmella sat quietly, legs crossed, listening to the playful banter around her. Lisa, Alex, and Daniel lounged beside her, laughing with ease, their friendship flowing naturally.

"I'm guessing you guys heard about the Mask-Off Dance-Off coming up soon!" Lisa chirped excitedly.

"Yeah, it happens every year," Alex replied, a grin tugging at his lips.

"And every year, something always happens to Lisa’s drip," Daniel added with a smirk.

"Correct," Alex agreed quickly, exchanging a fist bump with Daniel.

Lisa rolled her eyes. "That’s a lie!"

"You want me to remind you what happened last year?" Alex teased, leaning forward.

Lisa’s smile faltered, embarrassment creeping onto her face.

"Fine," she muttered. "I just didn’t wear the right shoes last year."

Daniel raised a brow. "And what happened to them?"

"They broke," Lisa confessed, her voice low.

"That’s what we wanted to hear," Daniel chuckled.

"Yeah—*not* lies," Alex added, laughing louder.

Lisa huffed. "But this year’s gonna be different. I’ll make sure everything goes right."

"You said that last year too," Alex pointed out.

—