Chapter 4 Charlotte

Charlotte Quinto was determined to make Steffy Rivera's life a living hell. Being humiliated in front of the class-especially in front of Teacher Greg-was something she refused to tolerate.

That afternoon, she stormed into Teacher Greg's office. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him hard on the lips.

"What are you doing, Charlotte?" he asked, his voice low and irritated.

Ignoring him, she slid her hands toward his belt. But he shoved her back, his face hard with disapproval.

"What now, Sir Greg? You don't want me anymore?" she sneered. "Is it her? You want her, don't you?"

"Get out of my office," he snapped, barely expressing anger.

Charlotte didn't budge. "Just admit it!" she screamed.

Slamming his fist on the desk, the teacher angrily spat. "You don't get to tell me what to do. Leave, or you'll regret it."

"Are you threatening me now?"

"Get out!" he bellowed.

Tears burning her eyes, Charlotte fled the office and locked herself in the girls' bathroom. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Teacher Greg had never resisted her charm before-until now.

After a few minutes, she stepped out, her tear-streaked face now set with determination. Her friends were waiting quietly. They didn't need an explanation to sense her fury, especially since asking would only make them targets for her wrath, and none of them dared risk that. Without a word, they made their way to the locker room to change into their PE uniforms-only to find Steffy rummaging through her locker.

"What a sight for sore eyes," Charlotte sneered, stalking toward her. "You know what, I really like your hair."

"Thanks... I guess," Steffy muttered.

"Want us to shave it off for you?"

The girls laughed.

Steffy glanced at her, irritation flashing briefly before she turned to leave. But Charlotte shoved her to the ground.

"Suits you right!" one of the girls jeered.

"What do you want?" Steffy asked, brushing herself off.

Charlotte shoved her again, this time into the lockers, the metallic clang echoing in the room. "You humiliated me yesterday, remember?"

"I didn't mean to humiliate you. You're the one with the problem," Steffy said coolly, meeting Charlotte's rage with infuriating calm.

"You're so full of yourself, newbie! You've got no right to talk to me like that!"

"And what right do you have?" Steffy shot back. "Why do you terrorize people, Charlotte? Does it make you feel better? Does it heal the emptiness you feel inside?"

Charlotte was taken aback by her bold comment.

"You don't know me! Shut your mouth! I saw you yesterday-Teacher Greg walked you through the rain."

Steffy raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so, this is about him?" she said, laughing coldly.

Charlotte faltered, her confidence slipping.

"Tell me, Charlotte... are you obsessed with him?" Steffy pressed, her mocking laughter slicing through Charlotte's defenses. "Do you know how pathetic that is?"

The word hit like a slap. Charlotte had loved Teacher Greg for years. Now Steffy, with her perfect face and infuriating confidence, was laughing at her. "How dare you!" she hissed, lunging forward. "Girls like you need to learn their place!"

Steffy's smirk didn't waver. "And what's my place, Queen Charlotte?"

Something in Steffy's expression-the glint in her eye, the sharp curl of her smile-made Charlotte hesitate. 'There's something seriously wrong with this bitch,' but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Still, anger won out. She grabbed Steffy by the collar, yanking her close. "You've pushed me too far," Charlotte growled. "I'm the queen of this school, and Teacher Greg is mine. You'll pay for trying to steal him."

Steffy laughed again, louder this time. "You're delusional."

"Shut up!" Charlotte screamed. "Girls, hold her!"

Two of her friends immediately grabbed Steffy's arms, pinning her in place.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Steffy warned, her voice now eerily calm.

Charlotte slapped her across the face. Steffy's head snapped to the side, but she only spat blood from the corner of her mouth.

"You're testing my patience," Charlotte growled.

Before Charlotte could say another word, Steffy sprang into action. She slammed the two girls' heads together, sending them crumpling to the floor.

Screams erupted as Steffy turned, her movements swift and brutal. She kicked another girl in the stomach, sending her sprawling, then turned her attention to Charlotte. "You're the one testing my patience," Steffy hissed, grabbing Charlotte's hair and yanking her down. Charlotte shrieked in pain, clawing at Steffy's hands, but it was useless to do so.

"No one leaves!" Steffy barked when one girl tried to escape. "Lock the door."

Terrified, the girl obeyed. Steffy threw Charlotte into the corner, sending her crashing into a chair. Smirking, she knelt beside her, brushing the tears from Charlotte's face.

"Please... I-I'm s-sorry."

"Okay... I'll spare you," Steffy said sweetly. "But there are conditions."

***

Days passed, and Teacher Greg noticed Charlotte and her friends were absent. When they finally returned, the sight of them shocked the entire class.

Charlotte shuffled into the room with her head down, her once-lustrous hair shaved into uneven patches. Her face was bruised, her lip swollen, and her friends looked equally battered. Whispers spread through the room before a student burst out laughing.

"Settle down!" Teacher Greg barked, though he couldn't hide his confusion. "Miss Quinto," he said carefully, "what happened? Why did you cut your hair?"

"You look like Shaolin monks!" a boy shouted, sending the class into hysterics.

"Karma's a bitch!" someone yelled from the back.

Charlotte and her friends stayed silent, their eyes darting nervously to Steffy, who sat calmly at her desk, chatting with a friend.

'Does Steffy have something to do with this?' Teacher Greg wondered. But from where he stood, she looked sweet and innocent. Guilt gnawed at him for even thinking it.

"Enough," he said finally. "Turn to page 77 in your history books."

The students obeyed, though the laughter lingered. But Teacher Greg couldn't shake the feeling that something about his students was not right.