"Please… Please just shut up…" Carol Pingrey thinks.

But it would appear she shan't get her hopes up, because, as expected, stupid Luna Loud raises her hand to answer stupid Mr. Sunderland's stupid question.

"Ughhhhh…"

He calls on her. "Luna?"

She smiles and lowers her hand. "Emma Stone?"

The teacher smiles. "Excellent. Great work today, Luna. You're on fire!" he compliments.

"Oh my god she's such a kiss up…"

It's always the same thing with this class. Carol honestly only took journalism because it's a perquisite for yearbook committee class, and because her friends said it would be an easy A. What they failed to tell her was that stupid Lori Loud's baby sister would be in the class too, and she'd be that one girl that has to answer every question and just be an all-around annoying teacher's pet.

Ugh indeed.

She tries just playing with her phone and tuning the dork out for the next ten minutes, but her phone's almost dead, and she just now realizes she left her charger at home.

"I seriously cannot catch a break."

She could ask one of the other losers in this class to borrow theirs until after lunch at least, but- ehhh, that would mean she'd have to talk to one of them…

So she grins and bears it, or bears it at least, and hopes, prays that Mr. Sunderland doesn't ask another…

"Okay, now how about somebody surprise me on this Thursday morning. Who can tell me how social media sites perpetuate yellow journalism… Come on, anyone? Anybody?"

Yeah, so not only does she not know what this creep is talking about, but she also knows that a certain someone will, and she'll be all skittish about raising her hand and answering- as if she's really that unsure of herself.

"Spare us the drama! Just answer the stupid question already so I can move on with my life!"

Sure enough, Luna Loud timidly raises her hand…

"Okay… Luna. Go ahead."

"Uhh… I think we see this with like, YouTube thumbnails and things like that. They'll say something bad about someone without really having the full story, because they want to be the first to cover it. Like all these scandals happening right now," she answers.

"I swear everyday with this girl oh em gee why do I have class with her she's so cringey I am literally going to punch someone if I have to hear her stupid raspy voice answer one more of this ugly jerk-"

"Right again!"

"UGHHHH!"

She just leans back in her chair, accepting her defeat. If she had more energy, or cared enough about this chick to sacrifice yearbook class next year, she would call her out on being such a spaz. "It's so annoying! Nobody likes you, so just stop!"

"You're really smart, Luna!" one tool says.

"Yeah! Great job!" another adds.

And Carol just frowns.

But finally, it would appear that this torture is ending, as Mr. Sunderland checks the clock, and lets out a tired little sigh.

"Finally!"

"Okay everyone, I'm going to wrap up just a few minutes early today because I have an announcement."

"This better be good…"

"Alright, so normally we write a paper for midterm, but I think I want to try something different this go 'round. It's not enough to be a good writer to be a good reporter. You also have to have this crazy thing called people skills, and it helps to know your way around a camera."

This peeks Carol's curiosity. Not like she's interested or anything, just, it wasn't expected. That's all.

"…And I know a lot of you are interested in joining the yearbook committee next year."

"Doy! Get a clue, old man!"

"…So, I'm going to be assigning you all a midterm project instead."

Some of the students groan, and some of them just nod in approval. Luna actually turns and smiles at the idiot sitting next to her, because of course she would…

Carol just rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

"Here's what we're going to do," Mr. Sunderland begins. "I'm going to assign each of you a partner, and I want you both to come up with an idea for an article. You'll need to write a summary for the article, and take a cover photo. Then you will present it to the class in a couple weeks. And, as always, I want to see effort! I can give passing grades to passable submissions, but if you want to be considered for the committee, you need to impress me. So take this seriously."

Carol takes a moment to digest it.

"Well, I guess this won't be so bad. I mean, what the heck? Take a picture, write a couple paragraphs, do a dumb presentation. That beats a stupid essay…"

"Wait a minute… did he say partner?"

"Oh no… No… Please, no…"

"Alright, here's who you're going to be working with, so pay attention!" Mr. Sunderland starts.

It's so obvious where this is going. The writing is on the wall. This cruel, sick, twisted joke just turned into a slap- no, a giant middle finger directly in her flawless face.

"If anybody's listening… Please… PLEASE don't let it be her!"

"Ash, you'll be working with Tabby."

"Anybody but her!"

"Kirk, you'll be working with Lora."

"I will do anything… Please!"

"Daryl, you'll be working with Dwight."

"Okay, not anything, but-"

"Carol…"

She freezes. Her heart is pounding. It's like the words he's about to say will come out of his mouth in slow motion.

"There's still hope! I could be teamed with Greg, or Dex! That wouldn't be so bad. No big. Whatever! Anyone would be better than stinkin'-"

"…You'll be working with Luna."

Her face- is like- wow. She literally can't even. He did not just say that. This cannot be happening.

Wearing the dumbfoundedness on her face like the newest brand of contour, she slowly turns to look…

Luna meets her with a little smile, a chin raise, and an inaudible: "Sup."

Then Carol's head bursts into a mushroom cloud.

Okay, so it doesn't, but she really wishes it would.

Her worst nightmare has come true. Not only does she have to put up with even more of this loser, but she has to actually work with her? Like, as partners?

That means they'll have to talk and stuff! And set up time outside of class to do more talking and stuff! And, "Oh my gosh," she'll have to pretend to like it if she wants to get into yearbook next year!

"This can't be happening…" she thinks as she lets her face fall into her hands.

All the other losers begin filing out of the journalism room, including cringey Luna Loud and her dumb paperclip earrings.

"I can't work with her. I LITERALLY can't. I WON'T!"

Carol wants be sure everyone has left before she complains to Mr. Sunderland, but four rejects decide they want to take up her precious time and make her wait her turn. As if what they have to say is important.

She slowly stands up, stalling as she methodically grabs all her things, just kind of sneaking glances at the gaggle as she eavesdrops.

"Please Mr. Sunderland! We all agreed on it! We'll just trade partners!" a chunky girl with freckles begs.

He crosses his arms and unapologetically meets her with indifference. "I'm sorry, but no. The whole point of me assigning you a partner is to make you get out of your comfort zone a little bit. Trust me, when you get out in the real world, it makes you look good to be able to handle whatever gets thrown your way. I have a feeling you'll all be thanking me for this later."

Carols heart sinks. One: she'll get the same spiel if she complains about being paired with Luna.

Two: …He's right.

"I'm Carol Pingrey! I don't back down to anything or anyone! I can handle this stupid project! I'll ACE it! Psh, I'll probably even end up doing all the work! What was I even worried about? I can do this!"

In the hallway…

"Ugh! I can't do this!" Carol whines to her friend Whitney, who just wears this discomfited face as Carol vents about how horrible being paired with Luna will be.

"Uhm… Don't take this the wrong way, Carol… But, I think you're kind of making a big deal about nothing…" she nervously tells the queen bee.

And Carol scowls. "Ugh- no! You don't understand!... For one, Luna is Lori's sister. Uh huh, yeah! That Lori!..."

"I'm friends with Lori, too, you know?" Whitney says after rolling her eyes.

"Whatever! So you know what I mean! That Loud blood is in her just like her stupid sister… And then there's the constant talk about rock and roll and the dorky punk clothes! Like, we get it, Luna! You're a rocker! Big deal! Nobody cares. Get over yourself…"

"You're one to talk," Whitney mutters, just quietly enough that she doesn't hear her.

They get to Carol's locker, and as she opens it to reorganize her belongings, she continues listing off her grievances, and Whitney just tries not to look totally unimpressed.

"Like, seriously… I really don't care that we have to do a project, it's nothing I can't handle," she says with an arrogant little scoff. "But why did he have to team me up with Luna?"

Finally, Whitney relents from biting her tongue. "I don't understand what your thing is with Luna? She's actually pretty cool, I think."

Carol looks at her- shocked. "Please do not tell me you just said Luna is cool?"

Whitney shrugs. "I just don't see why you don't like her so much."

"Pffft! What?! I mean- there's just like- so much not to like?"

"Like what?" Whitney says with a challenging gaze.

Carol frowns. "Just... ugh… Do you ever just meet someone and just- don't like them? Like, they just make your skin crawl even thinking about them?! Cause that's me with Luna," she says, shutting her locker door.

And lo and behold, Luna Loud herself is leaning up against the locker next to hers, and she looks ticked off.

Carol grows wide-eyed as a dreadful feeling overcomes her.

"Luna!"

Luna takes a step forward, and Carol takes a step back. Whitney just watches on with wide eyes of her own, knowing full well that the proverbial "it" is about to hit the fan.

"You've got a lot of nerve, dude… I was just coming by to talk about getting started on our project..." Luna begins with a snarl.

"The project! RIGHT! Aheh heh! Uhm… It's uhh… You know?" Carol nervously says, backing up more.

And Luna keeps stepping forward until they're face to face. Carol literally gulps, and starts sweating.

"So it's not enough to be a jerk to my sister; you've gotta throw shade at me, too? Is that how it's gonna be?"

Carol smiles a pathetically desperate smile as her face begins paling.

"Oh, I was just kidding about all that stuff! You know- aheh, tell her Whitney…"

"Hey! Don't bring me in this!" the other girl says, defensively backing away.

Luna just keeps burning a hole through Carol with her fiery brown eyes.

"Something about 'Loud blood?' Yeah, I think I can work with that," Luna threateningly says, and she clenches her fists as she backs Carol into the wall.

And for the first time in a long time, Carol isn't getting her way… And she knows it.

"Uhm, could you please not hit me in the face?" she asks, which just makes Luna growl.

She cocks her fist…

"Hey!" a deep, firm voice calls out.

The ladies turn to see a very burly looking teacher frowning at them, crossing his arms.

Luna deflates, and Carol brightens up.

"Oh thank goodness you're here, sir! This- miscreant was about to assault me!"

"Save it, Pingrey. I saw the whole thing…" he callously barks, and she sinks.

"Detention! Both of you!" the man orders.

Luna scornfully looks to Carol, but says nothing.

And Carol just nervously smiles. "Heh heh… Maybe we can start on our project?"

Thanks you so much for reading the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll stay tuned for more! Comments/Reviews are appreciated by the way:)

That being said, it's time you learned something about me. If you aren't familiar with my work, let me introduce you to some of my notoriously long winded author's notes. If you have better things to do with your time than read them, no hard feelings, but I might actually say something interesting;)

So, why the heck am I writing a story about Carol Pingrey- a character only recently became relevant, and why am I pairing her with Luna? Well, it all started with a little videogame called "Life is Strange." See, I totes shipped Max and Victoria from that game, and my obsession for that somewhat carried over into my story "Luna is Strange," where I had Carol assume the role of total mean girl Regina George to Luna. Well, I ended up REALLY getting invested in the character, and the potential pairing of Carol/Luna (or, as I like to call them, Caroluna:D).

Anyway, that's how this thing got started. So how's it gonna play out? Well, you'll have to read to find out. The good news is I'm pretty good about updating regularly; I've had people ask me if I'm a robot because of my "outrageous word output." I also have a thorough outline of how I want this to play out until the ending. It pays to have no social life sometimes.

So, to reiterate, I love my tsunderes going after normal girls, I will finish this story and do my best to make it entertaining, and I will update sooner than later.

And for all my dutiful minions who've read Wanderers and Luna is Strange, thanks for checking this out, and know that I'm going to be toning down on the mature stuff. Very little cursing, no ideologically sensitive material- just good natured stuff we love about The Loud House, hence the rating:)

(Also, to avoid any confusion, this story is a different canon than that of Luna is Strange. This is it's own thing, and Luna is Strange is it's own thing. Clear as mud? Good.)

Thanks again for reading, and please stay tuned for more!