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There was something off about the principal’s kid, Penny. Carla knew this. They sat together during Dr. Danner’s morning class. So Carla got to see these things a lot closer than others would, especially when she would go silent and leave the room abruptly. Carla wasn’t going to bother her though, that would have been a death sentence. She had known kids who mysteriously vanished after an encounter with Penny, and it wasn’t always pretty. So Carla tried her best to steer clear of her outside of the desk situation, but that was proving hard.
Penny really liked to talk to Carla, everytime Danner was done with his whole spiel, Penny would turn to her and ask her about her day, or what her favorite shade of green was, or even what her favorite subject was. It should have been annoying, and it was, at first. Talking to Penny was like talking to a living landmine, one had to tread carefully if not to infer the wrath of the small blonde. Carla valued her life, so she knew she couldn’t say much. Especially since Carla had a knack for sneaking in contraband, something Penny was well known for being able to detect immediately. Yet, Carla was always able to sneak in her little projects, somehow. She never questioned it though, just figured she was way too good at what she did. So she kept talking to Penny, even if she was afraid it could kill her..
One Monday morning, Dr. Danner finished his spiel, Penny didn't turn to her. Instead, she went robotic. She got up and marched out of the room, not even earning a gaze from their awful teacher.
let a few moments pass before raising her hand, “I need to use the restroom, Dr. Danner!”
Danner looked at her, before shrugging, “Whatever, bring me your passbook to sign then.”
Carla made her way out to the hall, looking around for Penny. To her left was Stevie, bounding down the stairs. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with him then. She heard a commotion from the girl’s bathroom. She pressed her ear against the door.
“Boys are not allowed in the Girl’s bathroom, Malcolm.” Penny’s voice rang out.
Malcolm yelled, “What does it matter, Freak? You girls have a couch, how unfair is that?”
Freak , Carla thought. The term could probably be the best way to describe Penny, but it still felt…wrong to hear someone call her that.
“What are you doing out here?” Carla jumped out of her skin, turning around to see Bob. Bob had a worried look on his face.
“I was just…”
“Shhh.” Bob hushed, “Are any of these lockers yours?”
Carla nodded.
Bob pointed, “Get in one and don’t come out until every adult is gone. Understand?”
Carla nodded, running over and hopping into her locker.
Just as she shut the door, the lights went out. A 5 second pause. The lights came back on as Carla maneuvered herself to be peeking out the little grates.
Out from the bathroom came Penny, covered in a red liquid. “Penny, what happened?”
“I-I don’t-” A snap interrupted the convo.
Bob stood straight up, his eyes glazing over.
“Bob, please go take care of Penny’s accident.” The Principal called out.
Bob simply nodded and headed into the bathroom, not saying a word. The Principal came walking down the hall, her heels clicking with every walk.
She stopped before Penny, “Shame about poor Malcolm. But what is done is done.”
“Mommy, did I…did I hurt someone?” Penny cried out, causing Carla’s heart to ache.
The Principal simply pulled out a remote, clicking a button. Penny straightened up, pulling out a cleaning wipe and wiping herself clean of any and all blood on her or her outfit.
Just as Penny finished, Carla’s footing slipped.
The Principal turned her ugly head to the direction of the noise, “Penny, please be a dear and check on what that was.”
Penny nodded, heading over to the locker. She ripped the locker open, coming face to face with Carla. Carla clamped her hands over her mouth, ready for whatever was to come. But Penny just stared at her, with those bright green eyes glowing, before closing the locker.
“It was just gravity, mommy.”
“Oh, you kids say the darndest things. Now get back to class, sweetie.”
The Principal clicked the remote, sending Penny skipping back to class. Carla waited as the principal left the hall and Bob made his way back to the Janitor’s closet. Carla slowly inched out, heading back to Danner’s room. Back next to Penny.
Danner waved her in as she entered. As soon as she sat down, Penny turned to her.
“Can I talk to you?”
Carla was shaking, “About?”
“Just…meet me in the girl’s bathroom at lunch, please?”
Before Carla could answer, the bell rang. Danner dismissed everyone and Penny took off.
Carla made her way to the bathroom, having got a pass from Margaret, the lunch lady. She walked with gusto, hoping Penny would be in the bathroom already.
She was, thankfully.
She was sitting on the couch, playing with her shoes. She looked up, smiling wide at the sight of Carla.
“You’re here!” She said, enthusiastically.
“I’m here,” Carla stated, looking around, “What do you need?”
Penny patted the spot next to her, “Please come sit.”
Carla nodded, climbing onto the couch.
“Carla, something is happening to me,” Penny said, holding herself.
“I…I know,” Carla admitted.
Penny nodded, “Carla, there is a laboratory under the school.”
Carla raised her eyebrow, “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you are the only person I trust. I don’t…I don’t know why but I… if anything happened to me, please just go down there, please.” Penny stammered out, tears in her eyes.
Carla felt her heart tense as she watched the blonde girl softly weep, she didn’t know what to do. She reached her hand out to pat her, but as she reached out, Penny turned to Carla, crying into her jacket. Carla wrapped her arms around the girl, letting her air it out.
“I…I just don’t know what is going on. I have moments where I blackout and…and…”
Carla just let the girl cry. Patting her head softly.
Penny looked up, “The only thing I remember from my last episode was your face, it was…filled with terror. Carla, I never want to see that look on your face again. I…I need to end this. I need to figure this out.”
Carla's eyes widened, “What-what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. But if anything happens, I just…I need you to go down to that lab please.” Penny asked, extending her pinky finger.
Carla looked between the girl and the pinky, taking it into hers, “I will Penny.”
Penny smiled, “Thank you Carla. You…You are my best friend, even if you may not really like me.”
Carla wanted to deny that, but she couldn’t find the words. Penny wasn’t her best friend, but Carla wished she could ask Penny to be so much more. Penny gave Carla a card, getting up to leave. She was stopped though, as Carla’s hand shot forward to her arm, “Wait, Penny.”
Penny looked back at Carla, “Yeah?”
“Will you…jump on the trampoline with me at recess?” Carla didn’t know why she wanted this, but she knew she needed it.
Penny smiled, “I would love to.”
That recess was spent laughing, with Carla and Penny jumping up and down, hand in hand. Whatever was coming, would not take away this moment from the two girls. Or so, Carla was hoping…
The following day, new students came. Penny didn’t really talk to Carla, much to her chagrin. Even in science, Penny just would not acknowledge her, disappearing at random times, returning completely in tears and with gum in her hair. She was distant.
It scared Carla.
Carla was in on the plan to help kill the adults, but she didn’t want to hurt Penny.
That was her one…her one demand (even if she forgot to tell The Kid that)
She always had her eye on Penny, trying to figure out some way to get Penny out of this unscathed.
The Kid didn’t care how he used Penny, he just had her go from point to point, like she was just some tool. It…pissed Carla off, so much. Penny was more than just a machine, and this little brat didn’t care.
Then Carla didn’t have her eye on Penny.
In the ensuing chaos after the bomb went off, Carla tried to sneak into The Principal’s office, hoping there was some sort of info on how to give Penny her freedom.
But the ugly puta locked the door, leaving Carla to pound on the door.
“Hey Carla.” The Kid showed up behind her, scaring her.
Carla tried to keep her cool, making up some lie or another about why she was sneaking into the principal’s office, but The Kid clearly just didn’t care.
“Penny isn’t at the door anymore.”
Carla’s eyes widened, “What?”
“Yeah, she jumped into the h-” Carla pushed past the kid.
She ran over to the hole, looking down to make sure Penny was okay.
She was, though she was crying.
Carla let out a sigh of relief before she ran inside, pulling one of her little bombs from her jacket.
She walked into the teacher’s lounge, ignoring Dr. Danner’s corpse to her right.
She placed down the bomb against the wall, jumping away before it went off. The wall crumbled, and green smoke came out. Carla ran into the room, noting Bob.
He seemed to be in some sort of trance like state, whatever the principal had done to him must have been affecting him.
Carla walked up and snatched the ring of keys off of his utility belt. She walked back out of the hole she made in the wall, right as The Kid ran in.
She shrugged and pushed past him, having only one goal in mind.
She made her way up to the Principal’s office, hoping to find something…anything that would help her free Penny. As soon as she entered, she dashed over to the Principal’s desk. Opening the drawers, she quickly searched through for anything regarding Penny. Then she came across a little diary. She opened it, noting that it seemed to have belonged to the Principal.
She would have looked for more, but the final bell rang for the day.
Carla hid the book in her jacket, making her way to the entrance. She exited, noting Bob standing with a bloodied axe.
As every student exited, some proudly, others scared, Carla kept her eyes out for Penny.
As the new kids came out, Carla put together that Penny wasn’t coming out. She walked over to one of the new kids, a kid in a wheelchair.
She gave him the book, “You can read right?”
The kid raised an eyebrow, “Maybe. What’s it to you?”
Carla groaned, “I need you to read through this please. Just tell me anything you find in there.”
The kid smiled, “Perhaps, but only if you’ll be my girlfriend.”
Carla felt an immediate hatred for this kid, “You little cree-” She sighed, she knew she needed to know what was in this book, “Fine, but you need to tell me the contents of this by tomorrow!”
The nerd nodded, and Carla turned away from him.
She ran back in, heading straight for the elevator. “Come on, come on.” Carla swiped the keycard in, hopping on as it took her down.
She was taken to a cave, where several monster corpses were. Carla paid them no mind though, she was dead set on finding Penny.
There was a doorway on the wall to her left, it seemed to be stuck open. Carla slowly walked in, looking around. Penny was right, this was definitely a laboratory. Carla inched forward, before noticing a familiar hairstyle on the floor.
“Penny?” Carla cried out, running forward.
When she got to the other girl though, she found that Penny’s head was completely separate from her body. Carla’s blonde froze as tears flooded her eyes. Carla grabbed Penny’s head, its eyes shooting open, scaring the latina.
Penny’s head smiled, “you…you actually…came.”
Carla couldn’t speak, her throat tensing up. She simply nodded her head.
“I’m glad. I…I love you….Carla.” Penny’s eyes drooped to the floor, looking at a doll by her body. “M…my…dolly.”
With that, Penny’s eyes glazed over, completely shutting off.
Carla let the tears fall from her eyes as she hugged Penny’s head to herself. She let out a sob.
“Can you hand me the head, child?” Carla opened her eyes, looking up.
Standing before her, cradling Penny’s body, was Margaret, the lunch lady.
“Wh-what do you want with her?” Carla said, shielding Penny from the lady.
Margaret shrugged, “I don’t know. But I need the head if you ever want to see her again.”
Carla looked between Margaret and the head, she did want to see Penny again, no matter what. Carla relinquished the head, and Margaret shuffled out of the lab, leaving Carla alone.
Carla picked up Penny’s doll, carefully brushing its hair.
It reminded her so much of Penny…
The years passed, and Carla matured. Monty read to her about Penny, about how she was killed as a kid by those monsters but was brought back by Dr. Danner, only under complete control of her mother. Carla tried to hide her anger at that, but did so poorly.
She went through another kindergarten, with its own problems. She dated Monty for a week, broke up with him.
From there, Elementary school. She probably should have forgotten Penny by 5th grade, but she couldn’t. Not when she kept the very doll that reminded her of the robot girl. It brought her luck, and it reminded her of the only person she had ever loved.
So she held it, on through middle school.
As time went on, she found herself getting lonelier and lonelier.
The hardships of kindergarten long behind her, but her heart still yearned for that girl she sat next to in Dr. Danner’s class.
The first day of high school, Carla entered the new school, keeping to herself. Some kids she went to school with in kindergarten were still here.
Buggs was still causing problems and Nugget ... .well was being Nugget.
But many had moved away.
Carla walked to a clock in the middle of the school field, where she was supposed to get her schedule for the year. There was a foldable table with a stack of papers on it, but no one there. Carla rolled her eyes, going up to find her name.
As she approached the table however, a white girl with bright green eyes and blonde hair shot up from behind.
Carla jumped back, “Mierde!”
The girl behind the table giggled, “I am so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m…I’m fine.” Carla said. She looked at the girl, and could have sworn those eyes were glowing.
The girl turned to the papers, “So what was your name?”
“Carla Reyes.”
The girl stopped, slowly looking up at Carla. “Carla?”
Carla raised her eyebrow, “Is something the matter?”
The girl simply smiled, “I think you have something of mine.”
Carla stepped back a bit, “What do you mean?”
The girl stepped out from around the table, “You have my dolly.”
“Doll-” Carla reached into her bag and took out the doll, the doll she has carried around for more years than she dare count, she looked between the doll and the girl.
“Penny?”
The girl scooped her up in a huge hug, pulling her in. “Carla! Oh Carla, how I have missed you! I have thought about you nonstop these past ten years!”
“Penny? H-how is this possible?”
Penny put Carla down, “Well it was…” The bell rang, causing Penny to look around. “Oh dear, you better run to class. Here is your paper.” Penny said, handing Carla a paper from her pocket.
Carla looked at the paper, “Why-”
“I knew you would be here,” Penny smiled, “Now go!”
Carla took a step, before turning back to Penny, “Meet me in the girl’s bathroom at lunch!”
Penny smiled, “Okay.”
Carla took off to her first class.
Penny met Carla at lunch, and shared her story.
After Margaret left, she spent the next year repairing the girl. She took legal custody of Penny, sending her to the nicest private school.
“So why are you here then?” Carla asked, prompting Penny to laugh.
“I wanted to see my best friend again.”
Carla smiled. She took a look at Penny, taking in the features of her classmate.
“Hey, are you busy after school?” Penny asked.
Carla shook her head.
Penny smiled, “cool.”
Penny was showing Carla her new flying mechanics. Margaret put them on so she wouldn’t have to pick her up from the school.
“Want to go somewhere?” Penny asked, offering her hand to Carla.
Carla nodded, no hesitation.
As Penny flew her up to the top of the clock tower. From there, you could very well see every part of this town of theirs. Penny sat Carla down on the clock, before positioning herself next to her.
They sat in silence for a couple of moments, before Penny turned to Carla. “Can I confess something?”
Carla raised her eyebrow, “Yeah?”
“I used to let you sneak your items into the school. My eyes were well equipped enough to see the contraband. But I would often ignore it, simply because I really wanted you to like me.” Penny spoke really fast, Carla barely being able to keep up. “I would just find myself so flustered in your presence and wanting to be around you all the time.”
Carla shook her head, “I love you too, by the way.”
Penny looked at Carla, her eyes growing brighter than ever before, “Hmm?”
“The last thing you said to me was that you love me. I need you to know, I love you too.”
Penny smiled, “I’m-I’m glad. Genuinely. I know I was five at the time, but you really meant the world to me.” Carla smiled back, “There...there is one more thing. Would you…want to try being my girlfriend?”
Penny’s face turned bright red, “Carla, you’re asking me out?”
Carla nodded.
Penny smiled, a smile Carla would have loved to bask in. “I would love to be your girlfriend, Carla.”
Carla smiled, taking Penny’s hand in hers.
Time moved on as time does, Carla took Penny to prom as her date. They shared their first kiss. Their first car. Their first argument. They laughed, they loved. They moved into their first apartment together at 23. Penny popped the question at 25, with Carla giving a hearty yes.
The dolly was preserved in a case, for both girls to remember its significance. After all, Carla didn’t need it for good luck anymore.
For her, Penny was a lucky enough doll.