"Adrien." Juleka almost flinches when Adrien and Lila both turn their surprised gazes on her.

"Juleka!" Adrien smiles. "What's up?"

Juleka sees the assessment in Lila's eyes. Shy, anxious, gullible, gay. Not a threat. Good. As far as Juleka is concerned, that's how Lila should see her. It makes getting a moment alone with Adrien nearly trivial. She was, admittedly, worried after yesterday, but clearly Lila chalks it up to Alya being so aggressive rather than Juleka actually defending Marinette's grudge. "Can you help me with something, please?"

"Of course, Juleka!" Lila exclaims. "We'd be happy to help you. What do you need?"

"Oh." Juleka allows her eyes to widen in surprise, even though Lila inserting herself when she was obviously not invited is not surprising at all. "Well, actually, I was just talking about Adrien. But, uh, if you play piano, too, I suppose you can help."

Lila makes a face at that. Not suspecting but plotting. She doesn't know how to play, Juleka thinks, and is trying to figure out how to pretend she does. Juleka hopes she'll let it go. As fun as it would be to insist she play something when she can't, it would firmly place Juleka on Lila's list of threats. More likely, it wouldn't come to that. Lila was a good enough liar to have a way out. Juleka just has to pretend to buy it.

"Of course!" Lila insists. "My uncle is a great pianist, so I've played since I was little! I'm practically a master at this point. Have I ever mentioned; I was lucky enough to have Hélène Grimaud hear me play! She told me I'm one of the best young pianists she's ever heard!"

Juleka looks to Adrien, whose song is nothing but a gentle scale down and up. "That's amazing." Juleka says. "I'm really sorry about your wrist last month, then. Hand injuries are the worst for musicians. Are you all healed up from that? It hasn't hurt your playing, has it?"

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine now! Good as new!"

"Rad." Juleka smiles. "Then you can play with us. I'm looking forward to hearing you."

Lila hit an off key and her pleasant smile twitched. "Naturally! But, actually, I just remembered, I really need to be getting home. My mom needs my help, you see. She asked me to come with her to meet some dignitaries from Germany."

"That's too bad." Juleka says. "Maybe next time."

"Yeah, next time for sure!" Lila waves and leaves and Juleka is left alone in the courtyard with Adrien. Maneuvering through the lies is surprisingly easy, once Juleka knows what to look for.

"So, what exactly did you need?" Adrien asks carefully.

Juleka smiles to him. "Can you come over today? You said you were free earlier, right?"

"Yeah." Adrien furrows his brow. "It should be fine, but what do you really need?"

"I'll tell you the details back home." Lila just left, so maybe Juleka is being paranoid, but she still doesn't feel comfortable talking about it out in the open like that. For her own and Adrien's sake.

Adrien, because he's Adrien, follows her to her houseboat with little protest. Luka, when he sees Adrien, plays a short little riff and returns to his happy melody. "Hey, man." Luka smiles. "Good to see you."

"You too, Luka." Adrien grins back and turns to Juleka. "So, you needed my help with the piano?"

"No." Juleka said. "I lied, to get Lila away from us."

"You… wait, what?"

"The way Marinette talks about Lila," Luka says, holding his guitar close, "she sounds like this." He moves his fingers along the strings and creates a devious melody. It's bordering on playful, but it maintains a dark and sinister edge. "But," Luka says, interrupting the tune, "I think you're more like this." It's almost comical, how simple the tune he plays is. It's soft and unobtrusive and painfully pleasant. Juleka still thinks Luka is better with words than his musical metaphors, even if they are pretty accurate.

Especially since Adrien just looks confused. "This is about Lila?"

"No." Luka says calmly. "This is about Marinette."

Adrien crosses his arms. "What's going on?"

"Marinette is upset." He shakes his head. His music stops. "I don't understand how you can see a girl like her suffer and do nothing."

"Excuse me?" Adrien has the sense to take offense to that comment, if only a little. "Why don't you just tell me what's going on? Juleka? What is this?"

Juleka sighs. "We talked to Marinette not long ago. She told us you knew all along that Lila was lying."

"So?" Adrien frowns. "She just wants attention. She's not hurting anyone. I don't understand why Marinette can't just let it go."

Juleka sees how Luka's fingers tighten around the neck of his guitar. Getting angry wouldn't solve anything, though, and Luka's jealousy was clear to see – that would make it even worse. Though Juleka still isn't convinced Adrien even realizes Marinette likes him, so he probably wouldn't put the jealous angle together. "When's the last time Marinette tried to call out Lila for lying?" Juleka asked. "Because the last one I saw was weeks ago."

Adrien nods. "Yeah. So, why are you bothering with this now? Everything's fine."

"It's not!" Luka explodes, takes a deep breath, loosens his grip on his guitar. "Marinette isn't fine. She's…" He struggles with his words, Juleka knows. She does too. It's why he likes music, why he thinks he's better with it. He doesn't struggle with music. Music is clear and sincere. "She needs to know you're on her side. She's like this." He starts playing again, and the song may as well be a dirge. It's too angry, too frustrated, for it, but the mourning is there as well. "Do you understand?"

"No? Marinette's perfectly fine. She's stopped antagonizing Lila, and now things are back to normal."

Juleka and Luka share a look. "Not for Marinette." Juleka hisses. Even she's losing her patience with Adrien after that comment. It is one thing to be scared to step in, or be unsure how to, but if he legitimately doesn't see how Marinette is hurting then he isn't just negligent, but downright stupid.

Not that Juleka's one to talk, but still. At least she pays attention. At least she's trying.

"Marinette hasn't said anything about Lila upsetting her."

"I wonder why." Luka bites his lip. "Juleka, what happened yesterday?"

Adrien raises his brow and turns to Juleka to listen. Juleka sighs. "Adrien knows. He was there."

"For what?" Adrien asks, as if it isn't obvious.

"For Alya bullying Marinette."

"Bullying?! When did Alya bully her?"

"Yesterday." Juleka snarls. "She was in the art room working on her designs when you, Nino, and Alya came in to drag her to hang out with Lila."

Adrien scoffs. "Inviting her to hang out isn't bullying."

"No, but berating her and insulting her when she refuses is. You know she doesn't like Lila in the first place, and she was in the middle of her designing."

Luka glares at Adrien. "She had every reason to say no without even considering that you guys were just trying to force her to hang out with Lila. Again. But the moment she does you're yelling at her for being unreasonable and cruel for no reason. Who's really cruel here, Adrien?"

"You weren't even there." Adrien shakes his head. "Alya didn't mean anything by it."

"I was." Juleka says. "And she did. But even if she didn't, she still said it."

Adrien sighs, and Juleka can't hear his song. It's exasperated, maybe. Maybe indignant. Maybe accepting. She can't tell in that moment, and she isn't sure if his song became more complicated or if she just stopped listening. "What do you want me to do?" He asks. "I didn't call her any names or anything. How is this my fault?"

"What everyone else is doing isn't your fault." Luka says. "But knowing it's unfair and still standing back and letting everyone hurt Marinette is."

"Alya isn't the only one who says stuff like that to her." Juleka says. "Yesterday was just one of the bigger confrontations."

"Not to mention everyone who talks behind her back." Luka adds.

"You were with Alya." Juleka growls. "You set up Marinette to refuse, and then let her scream at her for doing what you expected."

Adrien curls up into himself. "That… wasn't what I expected." He says. "I didn't want that, either. I hate watching my friends fight. But what am I supposed to do? Trying to expose Lila wouldn't do anything good. I can't control Alya."

Juleka and Luka both sigh and shake their heads. "You really don't get it." Juleka says.

"Marinette knows you can't control other people." Luka says. "She needs you to support her, not take down her enemies."

Adrien rubs his neck. "I want to. But… I don't know how. Why're you after me about this? Why not talk to Alya?"

"Because you know better, Adrien." Juleka crosses her arms and scowls at him. "Alya actually believes Lila when she says she just wants to be friends with Marinette. You know that if Marinette did give her a chance, Lila would use it to tear her down even more."

Adrien shakes his head. "You're wrong. Lila just wants attention. She's just mad because Marinette isn't giving that to her."

Juleka throws her hands in the air. "I give up. He's hopeless."

Luka chuckles at her. "Adrien…"

"Why would Lila hate Marinette?" Adrien asks. "Marinette is amazing! Sure, Marinette isn't the nicest to her because of her lies, but I'm sure Lila just wishes that the Marinette we know would like her, too."

Juleka shares a look with Luka. He says, "Do you want to say it, or should I?"

"I'll do it." Juleka says. "Adrien, I don't know if you're really just that naïve, or if you're really just that stupid. Marinette knows Lila's lying. She wants to expose Lila. Lila sees her as a threat. That's why Lila hates her."

Luka adds, "That's why she's turned all her friends, including you, against her."

"What?" Adrien scoffs. "Don't be ridiculous. That's not Lila. Marinette's doing that herself, because she keeps attacking Lila. Lila isn't doing anything."

"Right." Luka huffs. "Then yesterday was all Marinette's fault, too, was it?"

"Huh? I never said that!"

"You know what? I'm glad Marinette isn't relying on you. I had no idea you were actually this bad."

"Excuse me?"

"I can't believe you'd blame Marinette for her getting bullied." Luka says sharply. "If that's really what you think, you can leave. Juleka and I will watch out for her ourselves. She's better off without you."

"I- I'd never! Marinette's my friend! I want to support her as much as you!"

"So you say." Luka sighs. "Just get out, Adrien. You still don't understand, and we're out of ways to explain it to you." He looks to Juleka. "I told you this was a bad idea."

"You're also jealous." Juleka says. She sighs, too, and shrugs. "It was worth a shot."

"Jealous?" Adrien asks.

Juleka looks to the sky. "Why on earth does Marinette like you?"

Luka rolls his eyes. "Got me."

"Wait. Marinette… likes me?!"

Juleka can't help covering her face. "How did you not pick that up yesterday? Alya literally told you that Marinette was jealous because Lila likes you."

"Well… yeah, but… that doesn't mean she likes me likes me."

"Permission to make the guest walk the plank?" Juleka asks Luka.

"Tempting." Luka responds, smiling again. "But just put him back on dry land where he belongs."

"No, wait!" Adrien holds up his hands as his song goes staccato. He stares at the Couffaines with big eyes. "I want to help Marinette. Just please tell me what to do."

Juleka is still unimpressed, and she suspects her brother feels the same, but if he's earnest then it's worth a try. The whole point is to get Marinette more people who support her, after all, and maybe Adrien can temper Alya just a little.

Maybe. Juleka honestly doubts it.

If there is one thing Adrien can do, it's follow directions. Juleka is pleasantly surprised to find that he does exactly as Juleka and Luka had asked and starts pointing out to Alya that the only time Marinette's feud with Lila becomes relevant nowadays is when Alya or one of the other classmates is prodding her about it.

"It doesn't matter if she doesn't like her." Adrien tries to say. "Marinette isn't hurting anyone."

"She's hurting Lila!" Alya exclaims. "You know how upset it makes Lila that Marinette hates her for no reason."

Bravely, Adrien says, "And you know how upset it makes Marinette that you keep pushing them together. Marinette is allowed to not like someone."

"How upset it makes Marinette?! Whose side are you on?!"

"I'm not on anyone's side, Alya, I just want my friends to stop fighting."

"That's what I'm trying to do! I'm trying to make Marinette get along with Lila!"

"You're trying to make Marinette friends with Lila. Marinette already gets along with her just fine. I know it's upsetting, but you can't force Marinette to like her. If we just leave them alone, they'll be fine."

"No. Marinette's being ridiculous, and I'm going to show her that. There's no reason for this."

"Well, have you asked for a reason? Because the other day, you really didn't seem interested in what she had to say."

Alya at least has the dignity to look ashamed at that. "You know." She says. "Marinette insists that Lila's lying about everything, even though she has no evidence of it."

Adrien chuckles awkwardly. "You know…" He mutters, "usually it's the truth claims that have the burden of proof…"

"What's that?"

"Nothing! Sorry, I just wish you and Marinette weren't fighting."

"We wouldn't be if she wasn't so stubborn!"

Juleka is pleasantly surprised at Adrien's attempt, but not surprised at all that he fails extraordinarily at doing anything beyond what she and Luka had explicitly told him to do and say. Still, it was something.

Marinette comes to the Couffaine house more often than not, these days. Juleka is satisfied letting her hang out with Luka alone unless she's needed. She's rarely needed. Marinette is a strong girl and knowing that the siblings have her back is enough to help her through things so far. For all the days Marinette spends on their boat, no matter the fact that what is happening is clear like a strummed chord and sincere like a scratch of pencil on paper, Juleka allows them their privacy. Whatever develops, or fails to develop, in those moments alone with the rocking of the boat and the music and the art and each other, was all Marinette and Luka's.

As his sister, Juleka is quite sure she absolutely does not want to know what goes on behind closed doors, though in truth she suspects nothing untoward. In the night, and only the night, when the stars sway in the sky, Luka's song still pines for her. When that changes, for whatever reason, Juleka will know. She couldn't possibly miss the clear, sincere song her brother plays every night.

It won't change. No matter how much time Marinette spends there, it won't change. Because anything Marinette sets her mind to inevitably gets done one way or another. Her song plays for Adrien, and that isn't about to change anytime soon. Especially given Juleka and Luka's directives for him.

"Tell me what to do." He had said. And he left with an itemized list of exactly what he asked for.

Talk to Alya about forcing Marinette and Lila together – if people can just accept that they don't like each other, Marinette will have a much easier time holding off Lila's attacks since she doesn't also have to suffer pretending to enjoy them or hearing her friends attack her in turn.

Adrien handles that well enough in the coming days. Instead of following like a lost duckling, he follows like a lost duckling who has a penchant for complaining. Juleka doesn't think Alya takes even a moment to consider his point, but she notices others – Nino, Alix, Nathanaël – bite their lips and exchange looks. Alix, who used to be quite vocal, quiets a little. Maybe it is just because she was also present in the art club, or maybe Adrien's pleas aren't falling entirely on deaf ears.

Actually, the ones who let Adrien's words affect them seem to only be those who were present at the art club.

Talk to Marinette in private. Explain to her that you do notice what's happening and offer your support. If you can't be publicly vocal, explain to her your fears of it. Make sure she knows you're her friend and make sure you actually be a friend to her.

As it's told to him explicitly, Adrien follows through on that as well. Juleka smiles when she sees him pull Marinette aside, and smiles a little more when she sees Lila glare at the scene. Marinette mentions sometimes, before she retires to the privacy of her alone time with Luka, that Adrien calls her often. She expresses her gratitude for it.

Juleka's song plays a dirge in major key. It's hard to explain how it makes her feel. It's the directive that means Adrien isn't going anywhere in Marinette's song. It's the one that means Luka's song isn't ever going to change. But it is necessary. For all her scheming and plotting, to earn Marinette's song through those kinds of tactics – eliminating Adrien by letting him let down his friend – wouldn't be a victory the Couffaines would abide. Marinette has lost enough friends for Juleka to let one who could be saved fall away because of something as silly as secondhand jealousy. And knowing Adrien, he wouldn't even realize when or why he'd lost Marinette. He never had enough friends to start with for Juleka to let that happen when she saw such an obvious route to safety.

Spread the word, quietly. Marinette's side of the story needs to be heard, so ask people to let her tell it. You don't need to be loud or aggressive. Sowing the seeds would be enough. If people start talking about her attitude, for example, ask why she would act that way when she hasn't in all the time you've known her. You don't need to sway people or risk your own image, just get them wondering.

Though the boys' lyrics are pianissimo, their songs are fortississimo. Juleka is on her way to the art room when she hears them in the courtyard. They don't see her. One of the advantages of being mostly invisible.

"Can you believe Marinette?" Kim asks. "She's not understanding of Lila at all!"

"Guys, we really shouldn't gossip about her. Either of them." Adrien holds his hands up like he's facing off with a panther instead of a boy. "Let's talk about something else."

Kim rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. "Sure, I guess, I'm just saying. She's been real mean to Lila."

"Mmm." Adrien sighs. "I wonder why." His question really isn't a question. He knows, of course, but also it sounds more sarcastic than Juleka thinks he probably intends. She starts thinking maybe he really is as determined as he pretends to be, and really is just too oblivious and nervous to go above and beyond.

But then, even with his list of directives, he still didn't leave the Couffaine boat convinced of Lila's foul intentions, only her foul effect. So Juleka keeps doubting.

But the boys all stare at Adrien like he's grown a second head, for a moment, and then they all laugh and shake their heads and share what they think are secret looks. Even now, they don't spill Marinette's open secret.

That's nice of them.

Juleka is about to leave, because she's sure Adrien will leave it there. He did what was asked – he attempted to sow doubt. Unfortunately, his method means that the boys all just think he is still oblivious to what they assume is the reason for Marinette's behavior.

Her movement catches the eye of one of the boys. Nino. They look at each other for a long moment as the rest of them chuckle to themselves and Adrien furrows his brow at them. Nino looks into her, and she's uncomfortable but she lets him. She has a feeling in her gut, like she did in the art room, but this feeling isn't so bad. Something about the way Nino watches her feels like something she'd want to dance to. He's a catchy beat and an electronic overture leading into… something Juleka wants to hear.

"I got to wonder the same thing." Nino says. His eyes leave her for Ivan. None of the other boys notice her loitering. "It's not really the Marinette I remember." He's careful with his words, too. Just like Juleka always is. Like Adrien is. Juleka feels like she's on the cusp of remembering the chorus of a song she's starting to become familiar with.

Kim scoffs and laughs. "Dude, really? I know Adrien wouldn't know, but you have to!"

Nino scrunches up his face. "Do I? I'm pretty sure Adrien knows everything I do."

"You got to be joking, man. The thing! You know, with Marinette… her and Adrien…" Kim probably thinks he's being subtle. Juleka secretly hopes he doesn't turn to Marinette's side anytime soon. Though, knowing him, he'd be one of the last anyway.

Well, if things really are heading the direction she hopes, anyway.

"What, her crush?" Nino laughs. "You kidding, dude? Chloé's been all over Adrien since he and Marinette met and she's never gotten like this with her."

Kim makes a face, but it's Ivan and Max who look at each other and miss some easy notes in their songs. There's a moment of stuttering, in which no one manages to say anything coherent. They're surprised that Nino would say it aloud. Surprised that Adrien doesn't react.

"…That may be true." Max says, nodding firmly with a look at Kim. "But Marinette knows that Chloé was Adrien's best friend before he came here. A certain level of intimacy, even if Chloé is competition, would be expected." He adjusts his glasses and examines Adrien critically. "So to see that kind of behavior with Lila would be different. I'm sure she's just jealous."

"Yeah!" Kim exclaims. "She really needs to put it behind her. Hey, Adrien, you know about her crush? You think if you just turned her down she'd get over it?"

"Doubtful." Max replies, despite not being the one asked. "Given her behavior, it is likely that she would only get worse if Adrien rejects her."

Adrien covers his face in his hands. Juleka wishes he'd say something, but she understands he's embarrassed. Nino shakes his head. "Maybe." He says. Juleka notices him give her one more glance. "Maybe not. Probably not a good idea, though. Just in case."

Marinette's going through enough.

Kim and Max shake it off, dismiss the idea, decide that Marinette would turn unredeemable if they pushed Adrien into saying something. Decide that it would only hurt Lila.

But Ivan frowns, he taps his chin, he looks around, directly at Juleka. She looks back, impassively, matching the gaze of the gentle giant for as long as she can bear. Not long. They look away at the same time. As Juleka walks away from the boys, she hears two songs distinctly. One with a catchy beat and electronic melody carrying out clear as a directive typed conspiratorially onto a teenage boy's phone. Another a struggling metal piece sincere as the lyrics that haven't yet accompanied it.

It is remarkable, really. Because when so many are consumed with Lila's stories and ensorcelled by her song, things can get muddy. Clearness is difficult to come by, when Lila is tinting everything rose-colored. Sincerity is not so rare, but sincerity of doubt and the chance of being wrong often is even in the best of times.

Juleka smiles.

"Juleka! You'll never believe what happened yesterday!"

Marinette is radiant when she crosses the gangplank onto the boat proper. By now, it may as well be her home, too. Not that Juleka – or especially Luka – doesn't spend just as much time at Marinette's place.

Marinette hadn't come over yesterday, though she had planned to. Luka and Juleka both received a text after school that something else had come up.

Juleka suspects she will absolutely believe what happened.

Luka's beaming grin matches Marinette's. "Something good, I bet. You look great."

Marinette giggles and twirls her hair and blushes. "Oh…" She shakes her head. "Nino talked to me! He said he figured out Lila was lying, and he apologized for not supporting me."

Juleka isn't surprised one bit. She pretends to be, though. "That's amazing, Marinette."

"See?" Luka says. "I told you they'd come around. You just need to give them time. Keep being strong for us."

Marinette nods eagerly. "You're right! Oh, god, I'm so glad you were right."

Luka's grin softens. "So, did you forgive him?"

"Nino? Of course." Marinette's own smile falls. "But… he's Nino. I mean, I don't think anyone would hurt me on purpose, but Nino never really got bad in the first place. He just… didn't intervene. And that's fine. Especially with Alya, I understand why he wouldn't want to say anything."

"He did believe it, though."

"Yeah." Marinette inclines her head carefully. "But I can forgive him. He can't help being tricked. I… yes, I'm still upset that he believed Lila over me, and that he never gave me the chance to explain, but he never actually… did what Alya did. He was right, when I tried to tell them. Eavesdropping wasn't cool. But… you know, he did believe me! He believed that I did that. And when he apologized, I realized I kind of never finished explaining. Alya demanded proof, and when I tried Lila turned it on me and I stormed off. Then I gave up."

Luka hummed softly. "He believed Lila, but he also believed you."

"Yeah." Marinette whispers. "And so, I think I can forgive him. I think if I'd taken more time with him – alone, without Alya – this would have happened a long time ago."

Juleka isn't so sure about that, but she's also not entirely sure what triggered Nino's change of heart. It could be Adrien's efforts, or it could be just as Marinette suspects – that he was never truly against her from the start, and he was more like Juleka was and just kept quiet because he never had a good chance, or the bravery, to speak out. There's no way to know for sure.

"Do you think you'd forgive the others?"

Marinette's song plays that increasingly familiar sad little refrain even as she smiles. "I don't know. I'm not sure it's worth thinking about unless they apologize like he did."

"Maybe not." Luka's gentle, as always. Juleka wishes he'd press a little harder. She's still not totally sure Marinette even forgives her. She never said it, and Juleka never asked. She still isn't sure she deserves forgiveness. Marinette was on her own for over a month. That's a long time to suffer like that. "But hey," he smiles and strums, copying Marinette's song, "Adrien, now Nino. Soon you'll have all your friends back, if you'll take them."

"That's the thing, though, isn't it? Can I? Can I trust them again?"

Luka closes his eyes. "I'm sorry, Marinette. I wish I could help, but that's something only you can figure out."

"I know." She sighs heavily. "You do help. Thanks again, for being here." Juleka averts her gaze when Marinette looks up to her. "Both of you. You both have helped me so much. Thank you."

"We're here for you, Marinette." Luka says. "Anytime."

Juleka mutters out her own response. "Yeah. Always."

"Really, though," Marinette says, lightening again, "I really should have seen Nino coming. I mean, Adrien has been just wonderful. He calls me every night, you know! He always listens. Always asks me how I'm doing. I… don't think I can really tell him how much I appreciate that."

Juleka shares a look with her brother. As always, they're of two minds on Adrien. Their melody is pride, they're glad Adrien is helping Marinette, glad of their role in facilitating that, and glad that Marinette has him to support her. Their harmony is a flinching, grimacing bitterness. Jealousy that gnaws away at the lilting melody. It's stupid, and they're doing their best, but it's there. Though admittedly Juleka's bitterness isn't aimed at Adrien. Without a crush on Marinette, it's easier to blame the one who still won't change key than the one the song is for. Even though they both know there's really no blame to be had.

"It makes sense that Nino would talk to me, too, after Adrien did. He's his best friend, after all! Though… I wonder what caused it. Even Adrien was kind of sudden."

Another look is exchanged between the siblings. "Who knows." Juleka says.

"I'm just glad they came to their senses." Luka says.

If Adrien slipped that they told him to talk to her, that's out of their control, but the Couffaine siblings agreed it was best if Marinette was kept in the dark about that. Better for her to wonder how her friends suddenly saw sense than conclude that it's a soulless manufacturing. At least, until more people came around. If they did.

Juleka still isn't sure Adrien truly sees the threat Lila poses, but Juleka sees it all too clearly. She has to play pianissimo if she wants to keep getting away with this, especially if what she saw with Nino and with Ivan starts to become a trend.

If the boys doubt, the girls will follow, and if that happens, Lila will begin losing control. Already, the orchestra is starting to follow Juleka's song rather than Lila's. If Lila finds out who the conductor of this song, so discordant with her own, is… well, Juleka would rather that not happen. She never was one for the spotlight.

"Do you guys think Alya will come around, too? Like Adrien and Nino did?"

The quiet rocking is, for a while, the only sound in the boat. "Marinette…" Luka starts.

Marinette bites back something and dulls the clear ringing of her song with a stony façade. "No, you're right. That's wishful thinking. Nino's always been super chill, and Adrien knows Lila's lying. I shouldn't count on anyone else coming around. Not even…"

"We didn't say that." Juleka says. "They'll come around. It just… might take a while. Alya's pretty stubborn. You know she hates being wrong."

Marinette chuckles weakly. "Yeah, she does."

"From what I've heard of her," Luka says, "she'll probably be doubting for a while before she accepts that she was wrong."

"But she will." Juleka adds. "Eventually."

Marinette sniffs. "Yeah." She shakes her head. "Honestly, though, I'm not sure what I'd do if she did. I can forgive Nino, but… she was supposed to be my best friend. And she didn't just believe Lila over me, she's…"

"She's the one trying hardest to force you together with Lila." Juleka says.

Luka's soft gaze betrays his song, but Marinette doesn't seem to notice. "But that might just be because she cares about you." He says softly. At Marinette's reaction, he continues. "I know she said awful things to you, and you don't need to forgive her for that. I don't know Alya personally, so maybe I'm wrong, but I think maybe she just wants the same thing everyone else does."

Marinette closes her eyes and nods slowly. "She wants us all to be friends." Marinette takes a shaky breath. "I think so, too. But… that doesn't excuse how she's acting."

"Not an excuse, Marinette." Luka purrs. "There's no excuse, and I definitely couldn't give it for her, but… it's an explanation."

Marinette is quiet for a long time, and her song is too complicated for Juleka to parse. "Luka… Juleka… if it were you, would you forgive her?"

Would I?

Juleka thinks carefully about it and decides that she probably couldn't. Alya had been too cruel, and Juleka wouldn't trust that any new disagreement wouldn't lead to the same well-meaning cruelty. In fact, if Marinette forgives her, Juleka would worry for her. No one can go forever without a disagreement. If it's tomorrow or in twenty years, one day Alya will have another reason to be angry with Marinette, and when that happens… this kind of suffering can't happen again.

Juleka waits for Luka to speak, but he doesn't. He looks down at his guitar and frowns and doesn't say anything. She's not sure if he's still deliberating, or if he just doesn't want to tell Marinette the truth. So, Juleka sighs. "I don't know." It's a lie, but she doesn't want to tell Marinette her opinion, either. It's better if she comes to her decision on her own. Or, at least, that's how Juleka justifies it. "I'm not sure it's worth thinking about until she apologizes."

Marinette curls up a little tighter and her song plays a little quieter. "Maybe not."