Chapter Text
Adrien arrived at the Grand Paris a few minutes before seven and was still totally confused. What was happening? Why was Marinette so cryptic? He knocked on Chloe’s door.
“Adrikins!” Chloe hugged him, behind her he could see Marinette and Sabrina sitting on the floor doing some homework. What is happening?
“Hey, Chloe,” He replied.
“Come in! Come in!” She pulled him into the room and looked around the hallway for something. She must have not found it so she shut the door.
“What is this?”
“Did Dupain-Cheng not tell you anything?! Ugh! I have to do everything around here!” She dramatically Lied down. Marinette lightly punched her arm and laughed. She was really beautiful especially with her hair down. Sabrina joined in on the laughter.
“This is assault! Sabrina, do not laugh! I’m being beaten up here!” Chloe said with a straight face though her lips were deceiving her.
“Can you just tell me why we’re sitting here?”
“Because of a new plan, I’m becoming friends with Lila,” Marinette said.
“Why couldn’t you tell him before, Dupain-Cheng?”
“Because we need everything to look normal, Chloe. If I speak to him without stuttering once, it’s odd but not totally out of the blue. Twice and something’s definitely going on. I can’t tell her that I never had a crush on Adrien in the first place or one of two things will happen. A, she’ll hate me for lying and we can’t get rid of Lila with this plan. B, she’ll accuse me of lying and tell me how friends don’t lie even though I’m telling the truth and we can’t get rid of Lila with this plan. We need everything to be back to before and they’ll accept me again.”
“That gave me a headache, Mari,” Sabrina said.
“Why thank you, Sabrina,” Marinette replied while bowing.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Well first, Dupain-Cheng will become besties with reporter girl and lying bitch, lying bitch won’t be able to say anything mean about her friends so that’s perfect. She’ll be so nice that if Lila says something bad about her, it will totally backfire. Dupain-Cheng will always need an alibi so you’re going to be that alibi. If Lila says that Marinette pushed her, she couldn’t have done it because she was with you or Sabrina. Occasionally, I’ll be with Dupain-Cheng, but that’s a last resort.”
They sat and talked for the rest of the evening before Adrien offered to take Marinette home.
“Why does Alya think you have a crush on me?” Adrien asked when they were in his limo.
“Because I did, it was really small though! I swear! It was one of those like ‘oh he’s really nice and cute’ things.”
“You think I’m cute?” Adrien leaned in
“Thought. Past tense. As in, I don’t have a crush on you anymore.” He leaned in closer.
“You sure?” Marinette leaned in and smirked.
“Positive, are you sure you don’t like me?” Adrien gulped.
“Uh, yeah. I’m sure. I mean, I know you said you don’t like me, but well, I am a model.”
“I didn’t fall for Adrien the model. I fell for Adrien the person.”
“Yeah, but Adrien the person just happens to be a model.”
“Well, model or not, I think Adrien is great. Even though, I don’t have a crush on you. I just like you as a friend.” They were so close to each other that if they moved even slightly forward, they would bang their heads.
“Well, glad to know that you like me,” He moved back to his seat. “I actually thought that you hated me because you never stayed around me.” Marinette laughed.
“I never stayed around you because Alya would do something and make sure I could confess my undying love to you.” It was Adrien’s turn to laugh.
“Undying love?” He said while still laughing.
“Alya was just as overdramatic as Chloe, maybe even more.”
“Is it bad that I think Chloe will just pop up in here?”
“You’re overestimating her. She isn’t a god even though she believes she is.”
“Chloe would think she’s a god, wouldn’t she?”
“She has personally told me that she is a god. We had just watched Jennifer’s Body and she wanted to recreate the scene so I understand it.” They pulled up at the bakery.
“Bye Adrien. See ya tomorrow.”
“Bye Marinette!”
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“Girl! I was coming out of the bakery because I thought you were there and I wanted to accept your apology. Anyways, I saw you getting out of a limo, not just anyone’s limo, Adrien’s!” Alya said when she ran up to Marinette. Marinette put on her mask, effortlessly.
“I know! It was so amazing! The limo was so big! And Adrien was just!” Alya rolled her eyes.
“So do you want to hang out after school?” Alya talked oblivious to Marinette’s glares at everyone around them threatening them to not let them through. Everyone parted, scared that one of the Queens would ruin them.
“Sure, Al. Will Lila be there? I need to apologize to her, I was totally unfair. I feel horrible!”
“Apologize now! Class isn’t starting soon so you’ll have plenty of time.” Marinette made sure that she looked like she perked up.
“That’s a great idea, Al. Do you think she’ll accept it?”
“Of course, girl! She’s super nice!”
They walked in together and Chloe nodded at Marinette. Marinette nodded back. They walked to where Lila was sitting and Marinette made sure to suppress all emotions that weren’t guilt.
“Hey, Lila. I’m, uh, really sorry. I was horrible and mean to you for no reason. You don’t have to forgive me, I wouldn’t if I were you so if you don’t, I get it. I just wanted to make sure that I would apologize for everything. This doesn’t justify my behaviour, but I was just jealous that you were really close with Adrien. I’m so sorry,” Marinette said. Lila looked like a fish taken out of water. It took a minute before Lila regained consciousness.
“Of course, I forgive you! I’m so glad you came around!” Lila countered.
“Wow, you’re so nice! I’m really sorry about being so rude to you earlier.”
“Don’t be silly! I just know we’re going to be best friends.”
“I don’t doubt it!” Everyone was focused on their words so no one saw the malice in their eyes, the gears turning in their heads, no one except Chloe.
Game on, Lila. Game on.