As soon as she arrived in the new city, Carmélia noticed it was a small place with few markets and few people. She was already missing her old city and her brother Jonathan, who had stayed behind because of his job; so, she decided to sleep until they reached the new house. Suddenly, the car stopped. Her mother woke her and Bryan up with a smile on her face:
"We're at the new house, time to get organized!"
Carmélia was startled; it looked like she was on a "farm." Their new home was far from the little town she had seen; there was nothing nearby but brush, corn, and soy fields, like a ranch. When she entered the house, she gasped—it was full of giant spiders. Carmélia screamed and ran outside:
"Mom, the house looks abandoned and it's full of spiders! I'm not sleeping in there!"
Her mother replied: "That's why I said it's time to get organized. We're going to have to give this house a deep clean to make it perfect. It's quite big, and you can have your own room."
Carmélia grew excited at the thought of her own room, privacy, and her own decorations. But then came the news from her stepfather:
"There's no water in the faucets. I'll see if I can get the water turned on tomorrow; for now, I'll get some buckets so we can clean the house."
Carmélia was horrified, as there would be no water for a shower or to cook dinner. That night, they had to sleep on a mattress on the floor after they finished cleaning. The next day, the water was restored, and they managed to organize everything else. And wouldn't you know it? Her mother was right. The house looked beautiful, and Carmélia was happy. Her mother sent her to bed early, as tomorrow would be her first day at the new school.
Carmélia had moved in the middle of the school year, which was unusual. She also noticed her mother was changing: she was more cheerful, affectionate, and less grumpy than before. She soon discovered her mother would no longer work outside the home; now she would take care of the house and the younger brother, though Carmélia continued to help with the chores. As soon as she stepped into the new school, she realized she wouldn't go unnoticed. With her "new student" aura and a beauty that turned heads in the hallways, she became an instant hit. Proposals to date came from all sides, but to her, it was all new and strange. Since she had only ever cared for the house and her little brother, she had no interest in empty romances. It was in this whirlwind that she met Elizabeth and Lavínia. On the first day of class, the three of them sealed a friendship that seemed to be the safe harbor Carmélia needed in this new world.