Time for a love triangle! And for once, it's not involving Adrien or Marinette. This time Rochelle's the one caught in the middle!
Colbert's back, and he's transferred to Rochelle's school due to circumstances. And with his crush on her more prominent than ever, he intends on making a move. Sadly, Kim beats him to the punch! Uh-oh!
Rochelle's stuck, unsure of what to do, because she doesn't want to risk either boy getting akumatized! It doesn't help matters that Marinette tells her about the last time that Kim got rejected by a girl. We all know how THAT ended.
It was a new day at school for everyone. Rochelle was still the greatest confidant to Marinette about her troubles as Ladybug, but she now found herself being a confidant to Adrien about his Cat Noir issues. Needless to say, it was hard keeping the identity of one secret from the other.
Rochelle was sitting in class, waiting on Alya and Marinette. She was thinking over her new situation.
'It's so tricky keeping Marinette and Adrien's secrets from each other. Why does this have to be so hard?! I'm only keeping quiet out of respect for Marinette. She told me she didn't want her secret getting out because she's afraid of disappointing others. But at the end of the day, Marinette and Ladybug are one and the same. The same applies to Adrien and Cat Noir. Besides, it might be better for them to figure it out on their own. Mom always told me that when it comes to matters of the heart and relationships, a third party can only help so much. Otherwise it becomes borderline meddling.' Rochelle thought, mulling over the predicament.
Speaking of Marinette, Rochelle soon saw the door open and she walked in. Right on time, for once. Rochelle waved her BFF over, and then Marinette arrived at Rochelle's seat.
"Hi, Rochelle!" Marinette said.
"Hey," Rochelle said. "Where's Alya?"
"Oh, she should be on her way." Marinette said.
Alya soon came in, along with Nino. Marinette had informed Rochelle that Alya and Nino were an item after the whole Animan fiasco.
'Those two are cute together. I'm surprised it started with Nino putting his foot in his mouth when trying to get a date with Marinette.' Rochelle said, giggling to herself.
However, Rochelle soon saw Adrien come in. He gave Rochelle a wave, and Rochelle waved back. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Marinette blush and get a goofy smile on her face.
'Oh boy, Marinette's smitten with a kitten and she doesn't even know it!' Rochelle thought, internally shaking her head. 'Good thing I don't have anyone like that in my life yet. It'd become insane.'
Little did she know that she had just jinxed herself. Everyone else had piled into the classroom - save for Kim for some reason - and they were all talking and chatting about nothing important.
Soon, Madame Bustier walked into the room, and she clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Okay, everyone," Madame Bustier said. "We have another friend joining our class. He transferred here from a different school in town due to familial circumstances."
Everyone was murmuring about this new person. Rochelle paid no attention to this, but in the back of her mind, she knew that she probably would probably have to keep an eye on him in case Chloé tried to pull something.
The door opened, and a fit, yet lanky boy with black hair, brown eyes, and freckles came in. For Marinette and Rochelle, he was a familiar face.
"Everyone, meet Colbert Rousseau." Madame Bustier said.
As Colbert timidly looked around the class, he and Rochelle locked eyes.
"Rochelle?" Colbert asked, smiling.
"Colbert?! Hey, great to see you!" Rochelle said.
Colbert immediately ran up the steps and he soon came to Rochelle's spot.
"It's great to see a familiar face here," Colbert said. "Now I don't feel so alone."
Rochelle blushed a bit, and she said, "That's good to hear. So, how has your swim practice been coming along?"
"It's been coming along swimmingly." Colbert said, making a joke that actually caused everyone in the room to laugh.
'Hey, how come whenever I make a joke, no one laughs?!' Adrien thought, a little jealous of Colbert's sense of humor.
"Well, since it seems that Colbert knows you, Rochelle, how about you be his guide for the week? That's normally something left to our class president, Marinette, but I think this will facilitate Colbert's transition." Madame Bustier asked.
"Sure thing!" Rochelle said, with a big smile on her face.
Colbert blushed, seeing Rochelle's happy face.
Marinette and Alya saw this, and they both got curious and eager to see what would go down.
"So Colbert, are you okay with sitting with Rochelle?" Madame Bustier inquired.
"Yes, I am!" Colbert said, as he sat next to Rochelle.
Because it was basically four people to the desk at that point, Madame Bustier had to reshuffle the classroom so that everyone was still sitting in the same configuration (who sat next to whom) while still finding room for Rochelle and Colbert.
"It's really good to see you again, Rochelle," Colbert said, slowly reaching for her hand. "Having a friend here is really comforting."
Rochelle smiled and giggled a bit before saying, "I... I-I-I... I'm glad you're here, too."
Marinette and Alya were smiling at each other, seeing the blossoming romance between Colbert and Rochelle. Rose, ever the romantic, was also interested in the slow development.
However, things were about to take a turn for the crazier. The door to the classroom opened up again, and this time Kim walked in. He was holding a bouquet of flowers - orange and red roses, and sunflowers, to be exact. There were some blue irises mixed in as well. There was even a card.
Madame Bustier immediately looked at the athletic boy and sternly said, "Mr. Lê Chién, you are tardy."
"Sorry, Madame Bustier, but I had to get something." Kim said, as he held up the bouquet.
Everyone else started murmuring and talking about what Kim would be doing with flowers, of all things. Even Chloé, of all people, was curious.
"Flowers?" Marinette said, whispering to Alya. "Why would he have flowers? He'd better not be trying to ask Chloé out again."
"Yeah, we all know how that ended up." Alya muttered.
Marinette groaned internally, since she remembered the Valentine's Day madness that occurred with Dark Cupid.
Kim started walking, with determination in his face over to someone. Everyone was half expecting it to be Chloé, but to their surprise, he went right past her.
He walked up the steps, and with what seemed to be tunnel vision, he stopped in front of Rochelle.
"Uh..." Rochelle began, surprised at Kim's actions. Colbert, whom Kim apparently failed to notice, began feeling a sense of dread in his gut.
Kim handed Rochelle the flowers, and then he took out the card. Rochelle took the flowers and gave Kim a questioning look. He took a deep breath, and then he started to read it aloud.
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea. My love as deep; the more I give thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." Kim quoted.
Everyone - Madame Bustier especially - recognized it as a quotation from Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare's most famous works.
Kim continued, this time saying, "O! She doth teaches to the torches to burn bright. It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love 'till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty until this night."
Everyone was agape at the exchange. Rochelle and Colbert especially. Rochelle was not sure what to make of this.
'Did he...? What is he doing?!' Rochelle thought, completely surprised at the event. Colbert was seething with jealousy and shock at the thought of someone asking out Rochelle.
Madame Bustier cut into the awkwardness and said, "Mr. Lê Chién, if you are trying to show off how well you've kept up with our Shakespeare unit, you're doing a good job, but this isn't the time or place for this."
Kim ignored Madame Bustier, and just continued.
"Rochelle DeL'eau..." Kim began, as he put the card down, took Rochelle's free hand into both of his own, and got down on one knee, causing everyone to gasp and an uproar to start. "Will you go out with me?"
Everyone exploded with shock and excitement at this turn of events. Marinette and Alya just grew bug-eyed at the whole exchange. Colbert was getting angry, everyone was curious as to what was going to happen next. Madame Bustier had half a mind to stop it, but the commotion had just gotten too out of hand.
Rochelle's face went redder than a boiled lobster, and just looked at Kim with wide eyes. She could tell by his body language that he was serious.
"I... Uh..." Rochelle began, not sure what to do or say.
"Mr. Lê Chién! That is quite enough! Now go to your seat so we can continue our Shakespeare lesson. You gave us a good the starting point with this." Madame Butsier sternly said.
Kim snapped out of it, and then he whispered in Rochelle's ear, "I'll give you time to think it over."
He went back to his seat, next to Max. Kim was still blushing while giving Rochelle some amorous looks.
Rochelle, still red in the face, could not concentrate on the lesson. Colbert, still angry, could not really think, either.
Later at her locker, Rochelle put the flowers inside, slammed the door shut, and then laid her head against the door. She groaned really loudly, completely in shock at the turn of events.
"What just happened?!" Rochelle muttered.
"You were asked out by Kim, that's what happened!" Marinette cheerfully said. Alya nodded, too, very anxious for more details.
"Marinette," Rochelle darkly said. "This was out of the blue. I don't talk to Kim very much, so what on earth could have brought this on?! Didn't he notice the setting?!"
"Yeah, I have to admit that his timing was BAD," Alya said. "Did he even notice that Colbert was sitting there?"
"I guess not," Marinette said. "So what are you going to do?"
"I think the proper question is what can I do." Rochelle said.
Alya soon got an alert on her phone and said, "Oh, gotta go! Nino and I are getting lunch together."
Alya split the scene, leaving Marinette and Rochelle to breathe.
"Good, she's gone," Rochelle muttered. "The bottom line is that I don't want my true feelings to be the trigger for an akuma."
"Do you have feelings for Kim?" Marinette asked.
"I hardly know the guy, so how can I have feelings for him?" Rochelle said, as she read over the card again.
"What about Colbert?" Marinette inquired.
Rochelle blushed, and said, "Well, he is my swimming student. And he was such a sweetheart to me during the whole Poseidon disaster."
"So?" Marinette asked, trying to coax more details out of Rochelle.
"...I think I do like him," Rochelle said. "But now that Kim put me on the spot like that, I'm not sure what to do."
"I think it's simple: you turn him down," Marinette said. "All you have to do is be gentle and kind about it. Back on Valentine's Day, Kim asked out Chloé of all people, and he was humiliated by the rejection. She snapped a photo of him and sent a chain text to everyone in class. He was akumatized into Dark Cupid."
"...If you were trying to encourage me, Marinette, that was NO HELP. And seriously, he asked out Chloé Bourgeois?! Was his taste in girls that bad?" Rochelle said.
"Considering he asked you out today, I think he's moved on to better things." Marinette said, with a smile.
Rochelle groaned and laid against her locker. She was even more upset about what to do now.
Colbert, meanwhile, could not really relax after everything that happened. He was walking to his newly-assigned locker and he was fuming.
Out of his peripheral vision, he saw Kim talking to Max at their respective lockers. Colbert was angry, but not to the point where could be akumatized. He began to approach the two boys.
"...So, how do you think I did, Max?" Kim inquired.
"You mean other than your horrendous timing? Like Madame Bustier said, there's a time and a place for everything," Max said, pushing his glasses up his face. "That aside, I think your taste in girls has improved by leaps and bounds since Valentine's Day. And your flower choices were impeccable, too. Red roses are a sign of love, and the orange roses were a sign of your enthusiasm to ask her out. The sunflowers were a nice touch, since they mean that you want to continue being friends regardless of what happens. And the blue irises were also a nice color contrast to pair with the orange, red, and yellow tones of the bouquet. Blue irises also show how much you admire her, too."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, enough with the flower trivia," Kim said. "So..."
"So, what I want to know is what exactly started this? I know you had feelings for Chloé at one point, but...?" Max asked.
"Oh..." Kim began, before blushing. "Well, it started when she first came to our class..."
~Flashback Sequence - Narrated By Kim~
~Flashback #1~
"Everyone," Madame Bustier said, at the beginning of the day. "We have a new friend joining us today. From the Crescent City of New Orleans, Louisiana, we have Rochelle."
Kim's eyes went wide when he saw Rochelle. Her eyes sparkled in the light of the classroom, and her hair was shiny and healthy. She had a healthy amount of color on her face, and she looked very cheerful.
Kim blushed, and rested his face on one of his hands. He smiled a bit, as he took Rochelle's profile in.
'When I saw her for the first time, I had to admit she was beautiful. I've never seen a girl so beautiful without having any makeup on.'
"Hello," Rochelle said, in perfect French. "I hope to get along with everyone here."
'I wanted to talk to her. I honestly felt attracted to her.'
~Flashback #2~
Rochelle was at the athletic complex, and was swimming in the pool, happy and having fun. Kim was nearby at the pool, watching her from a distance. His face was red and he felt his heartbeat go a little faster.
'When I learned she was a fellow athlete, I felt my heart pound. She looked gorgeous in the water, and it looked like she was having so much fun. I wanted to join her. But it was like she was in her own world, and it made me want to just let her be.'
Rochelle dove and twirled in the water, smiling and singing with joy.
'She was like something out of a dream. Kind of stupid, huh?'
~Flashback #3~
Kim was in the audience at the singing competition. He was not really expecting much, he was just there out of boredom.
"Due to circumstances, our next act, Jade Cosgrove, cannot perform," The emcee said, getting disappointed groans from the audience. "So singing on Jade's behalf, we have Rochelle DeL'eau!"
Alya, Marinette, and Chloe were all shocked that Rochelle was singing. Kim did not expect to hear Rochelle's name being called.
"I thought she wasn't competing!" Chloe declared.
Rochelle walked on stage. Kim stood up straight in surprise.
'I honestly wasn't expecting Rochelle to compete in that competition, let alone win.'
"With a sound, the colors were changing. And if you gazed deeply at the blue sky, you could bring your distant memories back to you." Rochelle sang.
"You know, beyond the seven seas, I just have this feeling someone is crying with their heart squealing in pain. Please save me..." Rochelle sang, putting a hand to her chest.
Kim was in shock. He was entranced by her singing voice. He had never heard a more beautiful sound. He relaxed at the sound and just imagined the scenes unfold with her singing voice.
"Something, anything to notify me of my fate. I embrace the guidance of the stars in my chest." Rochelle sang, before getting into the next part of the song. She was going for it.
"It shines forever with blue, like my beloved sea. To protect the future, now I gather power for the people and places I should be loving!" Rochelle sang.
'Her voice was so beautiful, I couldn't stop listening. It was just so perfect.'
~Flashback #4~
'I also never thought anyone would have the spine to stand up to Chloé the way that she did. It was amazing.'
He remembered he was walking through the halls when Rochelle was calling Chloe out. Kim noticed his crush was there, so he hid behind the other corridor.
"Wake up and smell your own overwhelming perfume, Chloé!" Rochelle said.
Kim had watched the whole thing, and he felt his heart swell with love and affection for Rochelle.
'I couldn't help but join in when everyone else was applauding her for standing up to Chloé. I couldn't have been more impressed.'
"Rochelle! Rochelle! Rochelle!" Everyone chanted.
'I joined in when the class and I were tossing Rochelle up in the air, applauding her for her guts! I even got to touch her hand at some point.'
Once the students had put Rochelle down, she and Kim shared a high-five, and Kim felt his heart throb sweetly. Kim blushed.
~End of Flashback Sequence!~
"Beautiful, emotionally strong, athletic, gutsy, there for others... How can you not love that girl?" Kim said, sighing romantically.
"Now I see what you see in her," Max said. "But why act now?"
"Well, "Romeo and Juliet" is a popular love story, isn't it? I thought that since we were studying it in class, it would be a good chance to tell her." Kim said, shrugging.
"You certainly have been taking our Shakespeare unit seriously if you could write down entire passages." Max said.
"Excuse me," Colbert said, interrupting the boys. "Kim, I need to talk to you, one-on-one."
Kim immediately recognized Colbert as the boy sitting next to Rochelle in class.
"Um, okay." Kim said, as he followed Colbert.
The two boys walked into an empty classroom. Once Colbert shut the door, he breathed a sigh of relief, and then turned to Kim. He shoved Kim against the wall, and glared at him.
"Dude, what's wrong?" Kim asked.
"What were you thinking, doing that to Rochelle?!" Colbert demanded. "Didn't you notice I was even there?!"
"Barely, but yes," Kim said. "Is it so wrong to ask a girl out?"
Colbert recoiled a bit, before saying, "No, but it's how you did it that I'm upset about! You embarrassed her in front of the whole class!"
"Why do you care so much?" Kim inquired. "You're just the new boy."
"No, I'm Rochelle's bo... her friend. She's been giving me swimming lessons on Saturdays." Colbert said. He nearly said 'boyfriend', but he luckily caught himself.
"So that's how you know her," Kim said, as he crossed his arms. "But again, it's none of your business."
Colbert snapped and said, "Of course it is! I was going to ask her out after school today, but then YOU moved in on my girl!"
Kim immediately realized that Colbert was his rival for Rochelle's affections.
"So, you like her, too?" Kim said.
"No... I love her!" Colbert declared. "So, since we're on the subject, what brought this crush on Rochelle on?"
"I guess the bro code trumps the rivalry thing here," Kim said. "She's beautiful."
"No argument there, but it can't be just that, can it?" Colbert asked.
"Well, no. She's an amazing swimmer. Athletes got to stick together, don't they?" Kim said.
"Again, I don't argue with her swimming skills, but 'athletes got to stick together?' Come on!" Colbert said. "Anyway, what else?"
"She doesn't have a filter, but it's with the best intentions," Kim said. "I've seen her stand up to Chloé. She's amazing. She didn't hold back, she told it like it was. It was awesome."
"Yeah, she stands up to people who are in the wrong, no matter what. There's more, though, isn't there?" Colbert said.
"Definitely," Kim said, blushing. "She's got a great singing voice."
"Amen to that." Colbert said.
"I don't think I've ever met a girl like Rochelle," Kim said, a lovesick look on his face. "What about you? What do you see in her, Colbert?"
"Aside from everything else you mentioned?" Colbert asked, eliciting a nod from Kim. "She... She saved my life."
"What do you mean? Isn't that a little corny?" Kim asked, snickering a bit.
"This isn't a joke!" Colbert said. "She seriously did save my life! See, what happened was..."
~Flashback - Chapter Three~
Colbert smiled again, feeling more confident. When it was his turn on the diving board, he took a deep breath. He stepped onto the board, and made his way to the edge. He was still afraid. However, he knew that he would not take the first step towards conquering his fear if he did not dive off the board.
However, one of the more malicious of the boys had a pretty nasty smile on his face. Just as Colbert was about to quite literally dive in, the boy heavily pushed Colbert. Colbert flailed his arms in fright, and then he fell into the pool face-first. He was panicking and floundering in the water, struggling to keep his head above water. Colbert started to sink, and then he was still in the water.
Knowing where this could be going, Rochelle immediately dove underwater before the coach even had the chance. She immediately swam her way over to Colbert, and then she grabbed him before surfacing.
As she took in some air, she noticed something that made her eyes widen.
"He's not breathing...!" She shouted. Rochelle brought him onto the pool deck, laid him down gently, and began performing CPR.
The coach, meanwhile, was reprimanding the boys who had been participating in the teasing. He noticed that Rochelle knew what she was doing, and decided to let a pro swimmer do her thing.
After a third round of chest compressions, Colbert coughed up some water and started breathing heavily.
"You okay?" Rochelle asked.
"Waterlogged, but fine," Colbert said. However, one look at Rochelle and his face was red from something other than lack of air. "At least I hope I will be."
~End of Flashback~
"...And there you have it." Colbert said.
"Sounds like we both have our hearts on Rochelle," Kim said, with a smirk and an evil look on his face. "Looks like we're due for a brawl for her heart. Get ready for that."
Colbert, appalled at such a prospect, started growling and glaring at Kim. Sparks were flying between them, but they were not the good kind.
Max, meanwhile, had seen the whole thing from outside the classroom, and he was looking at the scene in concern.
'Oh boy...' Max thought. 'This isn't going to go over well, is it?'
After school that day, Rochelle was up in her bedroom, trying - and failing - to get her literature homework done. She was already finished with all of the other subjects.
She had put the flowers that Kim gave her into a vase and put them on her windowsill. She wanted them out of sight so she could concentrate, but she was having a hard time thinking.
As she was reading the visual novel version of "Romeo and Juliet", she felt a little nervous. Every line she read just reminded her of what Kim did earlier that day.
"UGH!" Rochelle shouted, before slamming her head against the desk.
"Can't concentrate?" Finni asked, eating some saltines.
"No, I can't," Rochelle said. "Reading this is just giving me flashbacks of what Kim did this morning!"
"That was ridiculous. His timing was terrible," Finni said. "And in front of Colbert?! What was he thinking!?"
"What indeed," Rochelle groaned. "I don't feel that way about Kim, but if I turn him down, I could hurt his feelings and cause him to become akumatized. And if I DON'T turn him down, I'd be leading him on and that would be just as bad. And Colbert wouldn't be happy about that, either, and that could cause him to become akumatized!"
"You're caught between a rock and a hard place, no doubt. But you'd better figure out a way to focus. You're reading the remainder of the play in class tomorrow, so if you don't buckle down, you won't be able to focus or keep up with the class." Finni said.
"I'm more worried about being bombarded with questions by everyone in class tomorrow." Rochelle said, feeling really nervous.
"Try thinking about something else," Finni said. "For example, how to get Marinette and Adrien together now that you know that they're Ladybug and Cat Noir. You can get them together and they can be an item as heroes and as people."
"I don't play matchmaker, Finni," Rochelle said. "That is in bad taste. Besides, I can only do so much or else it goes into meddling territory."
Finni's fins drooped. Rochelle had a point.
The next day at school, Rochelle was walking through the halls, the hair on the back of her neck raised up, and she was feeling really nervous. She was hoping to encounter neither Kim nor Colbert on the way to class.
"Hey, Rochelle," Someone said, and Rochelle turned behind her to see Colbert. One of the last people she wanted to see. "Um... are you okay after what happened yesterday?"
"...I still have no idea what to do," Rochelle said. "I just need some time alone to think it over."
Rochelle kept walking to class. Colbert felt horrible. He wanted to help Rochelle, but he felt like there was nothing he could do.
Kim, meanwhile, was at his locker, reading over "Romeo and Juliet" once again. He was looking for more quotations to use so he could potentially win over Rochelle, without interference from Colbert.
He spotted Rochelle walking to class, and was about to call out to her, but someone said, "Don't you even dare!"
Kim turned to see Colbert, glaring at him.
"It's your fault that Rochelle is so confused and unsure of what to do!" Colbert shouted.
"Excuse me?!" Kim said.
"You know I'm right," Colbert said. "You don't put a girl on the spot like that! And how do you know she likes someone else *cough* me *cough* and is too afraid of causing an akuma to say anything?!"
Sparks of hate once again started flying between them and then they 'humphed' and turned their backs on each other, crossing their arms.
In class, Rochelle was sitting at her desk, with Colbert next to her. Colbert and Kim were once again glaring daggers at one another, sparks were flying, and the vibe in the room was uncomfortable. Everyone was unsure of what to make of the situation.
"So, who knows what Rochelle's going to decide?" "It's her choice." "But what brought this on? Why would Kim be smitten with Rochelle out of nowhere?"
Hearing all of the gossip and the questions from her peers was driving Rochelle crazy.
Madame Bustier soon clapped her hands to start class, and then she said, "Okay, everyone. We're now going to read and act out Act 5, Scene 3 - that is, the last of the play."
'That's when Romeo and Paris battle it out in front of Juliet's "grave" and Romeo winds up killing Paris. It's also when Romeo kills himself to be with Juliet in death and puts an end to the feud.' Rochelle thought.
"To make it easier for everyone to understand, we shall modernize the language. And considering yesterday's disruption, I know just who shall play whom. Romeo shall be read by Colbert, and Kim will be playing the part of Paris." Madame Bustier said.
Colbert and Kim glared at each other again, both giving each other the vibe, "Bring it on."
"And our lady of the hour, Rochelle, shall be Juliet. Rochelle, I need you to come up in front of my desk and lay down on the ground as if you were really dead." Madame Bustier said.
'Not you, too, Madame!' Rochelle thought, slapping herself in the face.
Rochelle complied, though, and soon laid in front of Madame Bustier's desk.
"And... Action!" Madame Bustier said, as she clapped her hands.
Kim came in from the left and started his part.
"Keep a lookout, page. I'll take your torch, meanwhile you hide under the trees and have your torch out. Whistle if you see someone coming. Now hand me those flowers," Kim said, as he used his hand movements to make it seem like he was actually holding flowers. He started to pretend to scatter petals around Rochelle. "My sweet flower, I'm spreading these flowers over your bed, fit for a bride. Ugh, it hurts that your canopy is only rocks! But worry not, my love. I'll come and water these flowers with sweet water every eve. If I can't do that, I'll bring you fresh flowers and weep for you each night."
'Ugh, this is humiliating!' Rochelle thought, trying her best not to move.
Kim pretended to hear someone whistle and then he said, "Someone's coming? Who's walking around here at this hour? Or more importantly, who dares interrupt my rituals of true love? Oh man, they have a torch. I'd better hide."
Kim then left and pretended to hide somewhere.
Colbert entered from the right, and said, "Okay, give me the pickaxe and crowbar, and take this letter to my father tomorrow morning. Now hand me the torch. Now, whatever happens, no matter what, stay back. No interference must happen. I'm here not only to see my beloved wife, but to get the ring off of her finger. I need it for something else. Try to intervene, and I will leave you for dead at the hands of the animals! Now, my friend, take this. Farewell..."
As Colbert tried to mime breaking into the grave, Kim was speaking his lines.
"That arrogant Montague, the one who killed my beloved's cousin and was exiled! She died because of grief over him! So, he thinks he can come here and commit more crimes on the dead?! Not on my watch! I'll catch him and bring him to justice," Kim said, as he then came out from his 'hiding spot' and spoke to Colbert. "Stop right there, Montague! I've caught you red-handed! Is revenge really capable of reaching beyond death?! You have to die, so you're coign with me!"
"I know I have to perish; that's why I'm here," Colbert said, reciting his lines, too. "Good man, please don't mess with a desperate guy, it isn't wise. Please, leave and leave me be. Don't forgot those who have passed on, and let them scare you. It will do you good not to anger me. I care about others more than myself, so the only weapons I have are intended for use against myself. Just go, and say a nutcase told you to run."
"No way! You're a criminal and I'm going to book you for what you've done!" Kim said, pretending to draw a sword.
"You're seriously going to provoke me? Alright, then bring it on!" Colbert said, as he also pretended to draw a sword.
The two of them started to act out a sword fighting scene. Rochelle was hoping for it to stop and soon, because she was not really enjoying being in the position she was in.
Colbert then pretended to fatally stab Kim. Kim pretended to be choking and dying, before saying, "I... I'm going to die... Please, if you know mercy, lay me next to my dear Juliet."
"I will, I promise. Now, to see who I just killed... Oh, crap, Count Paris, Mercutio's relative. Damn, and he said that Paris was about to wed my Juliet. I can't believe I went and jumped to conclusions..." Colbert said, as he then started acting out the rest of the scene.
He pretended to open the grave, and then said, "This isn't a grave, Paris. It's a lantern, and Juliet is the flame that lights up the whole room."
After a brief period, Colbert put Kim down next to Rochelle, and then he approached Rochelle, continuing his role.
"My beloved wife. You may have passed on, but you're still so beautiful, with your cheeks and lips still a healthy color. Tybalt, if you're there, the least I can do is kill the man who murdered you with the same hand. My sweet Juliet, you're still stunning. I guess death has fallen for you and is keeping you as a lover. Not if I can help it. I'll stay with you forever. With one last hug, one last look, and one last kiss..." Colbert began.
He started to lean in and made to kiss Rochelle. She herself was getting shivers from the discomfort of the situation.
'Come on, Madame Bustier, put a stop to this, please!' Rochelle thought, desperate for the whole thing to stop.
Colbert faked the kiss, however, and then he pretended to pop the poison. He then said, "Time to crash this plane into the ocean. So I die with one last kiss."
Colbert then pretended to die on the ground.
"And scene!" Madame Bustier said, and then everyone stood up. "Good work, all of you."
'Oh, what a relief.' Rochelle thought, going back to her seat.
Colbert and Kim were still giving each other dirty looks, and soon class resumed.
Once class was over, Colbert was at his locker. He was blushing, still a little riled up over the near-kiss with Rochelle.
'I was so close. If it weren't a class, I would have kissed her for real.' Colbert thought.
"Hey." Kim said, getting Colbert's attention.
"What do you want, Kim?" Colbert asked.
"You did good in class." Kim said.
"...Thanks." Colbert said, as he made to leave.
"...Want to fight for Rochelle for real?" Kim said.
"Excuse me?" Colbert asked, turning back to his rival.
"Simple, we just compete, and the winner earns the right to ask out Rochelle." Kim said.
"Are you insane?!" Colbert asked. "That isn't right!"
"Really?" Kim asked, crossing his arms and smirking. "Are you sure you aren't being a chicken?"
"Me?! Chicken?!" Colbert asked, getting angry. "No, I'm not."
"So man up and fight for the girl," Kim said. "A swimming race should be a good one. How does Friday afternoon at the athletic complex sound?"
"It's a deal!" Colbert said, as he and Kim shook hands. "Rochelle trained me herself. I'm confident I can at least be evenly matched with you."
That Friday afternoon, Rochelle had had enough with all of the drama between Colbert and Kim vying for her affection.
"Ugh, all of this madness is driving me nuts," Rochelle said. "Going swimming will help me clear my head."
"I think that's just what you need." Finni said.
She had entered the athletic complex's swimming area, wearing her swimsuit, ready for a swim break, when...
"Rochelle! Oh, Rochelle!" Marinette shouted, as she ran over to Rochelle.
"Marinette? What's going on?" Rochelle asked.
"We've got trouble!" Marinette shouted.
"Calm down," Rochelle said. "What kind of trouble? An akuma?"
"No! Kim and Colbert are having a swim race..." Marinette said. "And the winner gets the right to ask you out!"
"SAY WHAT?!" Rochelle shouted. She and Marinette broke into a sprint. Rochelle followed Marinette into one of the pool rooms, and then they burst through the doors.
Everyone in their class was sitting on the bleachers, with Alya playing emcee for the event. Meanwhile, everyone was cheering for either Kim or Colbert. Marinette was looking at the scene awkwardly, and Rochelle was seething.
"On your marks..." Alya began, as she raised her hand.
Kim and Colbert were on some boxes above the lanes, and were in diving positions to start the race.
Colbert turned to Kim said, "I don't care for wagering a date on this, but may the best swimmer win."
"I'm sure you'll be a great competitor, Colbert," Kim said. "Rochelle taught you. I'm expecting a great race."
Colbert and Kim then nodded to each other before refocusing on the race.
"Get set... GO!" Alya shouted, karate-chopping the air, in lieu of a whistle.
Kim and Colbert immediately dove in and started swimming like professionals.
"So, our swim competition is just underway! It's Lê Chién Kim versus Colbert Rousseau! The race has just started, and they're already neck-and-neck!" Alya said. "It's twenty laps, and the winner of the race will prove himself worthy enough to pursue the romantic affections of our favorite American girl, Rochelle DeL'eau!"
"I can't believe that they're turning my predicament into a competition!" Rochelle said, on fire.
Alya noticed Rochelle, and soon said, "Okay, peeps, speak of the devil, here she is now! Come on, Rochelle!"
Alya stormed over to Alya and then she demanded of her, "Alya, how in the name of the Dead Sea did this come about?!"
Adrien piped up and said, "Well, after reading the last of "Romeo and Juliet" in class, Kim challenged Colbert to a swimming match with the wager being the right to ask you out. Colbert wasn't really fond of the idea. In fact, he protested, but then Kim called him 'chicken' and then Colbert gave in."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Rochelle shouted. "I have to stop this!"
She soon remembered that she had a whistle somewhere and then ran back to the locker to get it.
"They're taking things too far!" Finni said. She used her intangibility powers to go into the locker, and then grabbed the whistle.
"Thanks, Finni! Time to end this." Rochelle shouted, before dashing back to the race.
Back at the race, everyone was hollering and whooping to encourage the boys.
"Colbert has already finished five laps as of right now, and Kim is close behind by about two feet!" Alya said. "And here comes our heroine, running in with... A whistle?"
Rochelle ran to the other side of the pool, and then she waited for the boys to approach.
Seeing them coming close, Rochelle took a very deep breath, and blew into the whistle VERY hard. The tweeting noise caused everyone to cover their ears from the noise. Once Colbert and Kim reached the edge, they stopped swimming and covered their ears, too.
Once Rochelle ran out of air, she stopped blowing the whistle, and started breathing heavily. Colbert and Kim were looking her, and they noticed how angry she was.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Rochelle hollered.
"And it looks like our swimming champion is calling the boys out! What's going to happen?" Alya said, still playing emcee.
"I'm SO angry at you two! If you think that you can just race each other to see who can get a romantic relationship going with the same girl, then clearly you don't care about how I feel!" Rochelle said, tears flooding her eyes. "You don't wager a relationship like that! It isn't fair to the girl involved! If you two want to prove yourselves as men or whatever to each other, go ahead, but leave my feelings out of it!"
Everyone went silent at Rochelle's rant. They were shocked that she would say such things. Kim and Colbert were especially shocked.
Colbert's face fell. He knew that doing this was wrong, but he let Kim's primitive and childish teasing get the better of him.
Rochelle started crying, and began to run out of the room. Colbert immediately got out of the pool, and caught a towel that Nathanael had thrown at him.
"Thanks, Nathanael," Colbert said, before turning to Kim. "Rochelle's right! I can't believe I stooped to your level! This race if OFF!"
Colbert briefly dried himself off and started to run after Rochelle. Kim himself also swam to the ladder and pulled himself out. He sighed and admitted, "They're right. What was I thinking?"
Everyone was still silent at the exchange. Kim also dried off, and started walking after Colbert and Rochelle to try and make things right.
Outside the pool area of the athletic complex, Rochelle was in the lobby, sobbing lightly. Her face was sitting in her crossed arms, and she was so angry. Luckily for her, there was no risk of an akuma.
'How could he? Why would Colbert do this?!' Rochelle thought, feeling heartbroken.
Colbert came into the lobby, and then he saw Rochelle crying her eyes out.
"Rochelle!" Colbert said, as he ran over to the bench.
Rochelle raised her head up and spat, "What do you want?"
"I wanted to apologize," Colbert said. "You were right about everything back there."
Rochelle went silent, and continued to listen to Colbert.
"... I really like you, okay?" Colbert said, his face redder than a tomato combined with a red delicious apple. "When Kim put you on the spot like that in class, I didn't know what to think."
"I'm surprised you didn't get akumatized again." Rochelle bluntly said.
Colbert flinched a bit before saying, "I just learned some coping mechanisms to help me keep my emotions in check. I guess that's why I wasn't akumatized."
"I guess that does help." Rochelle said, wiping her eyes.
Colbert sat down next to Rochelle, and gave her a hug from the side before saying, "I'm sorry..."
Rochelle merely gave Colbert another hug, and started lightly sobbing into his chest. Marinette, Adrien, and Alya had followed them, and were watching. Marinette and Alya were delighted to see the development.
Adrien merely looked at them and imagined himself in a similar position, but with himself as Cat Noir and with Ladybug in his arms. However, the image briefly changed to him and Marinette, too. Adrien shook his head a bit, before briefly looking at Marinette.
He noticed the similarities between Ladybug and Marinette - the hair and eyes, to start with.
'Marinette being Ladybug?' Adrien thought, but then put the idea out of his mind.
As Rochelle managed to calm down, she looked up to Colbert. He was giving her a calm smile that shimmered with the light of affection.
Kim soon arrived, and then he saw the scene. Looking at Rochelle, and seeing how happy she was, he grew a little sad. But he knew that Rochelle had chosen Colbert in the end.
"...I like you, too." Rochelle said.
Colbert smiled with joy, and then he dove in for a kiss. He smashed his lips onto Rochelle's. This elicited a cheer from the crowd.
Kim was sad that he had "lost", but he knew that in the back of his mind, Rochelle's happiness was what mattered. He took a deep breath and then he approached.
Rochelle saw Kim coming and then she froze. Colbert noticed Kim coming, too, and grew ready for another argument.
Kim scratched the back of his neck and then he said, "...Congrats. Both of you."
Rochelle and Colbert gave him questioning looks, but then Kim began to elaborate.
"Rochelle, Colbert, thanks for bringing me back to my senses," Kim said. "You were right; both of you. You shouldn't treat love like a competition. And the happiness of the one you love is what matters the most."
Colbert stood up and then he approached Kim.
"No hard feelings?" Kim asked, reaching his hand out to shake.
"No hard feelings." Colbert said, as he and Kim shook hands.
While Kim's heart hurt, he did win something in the end: he made a new friend.
The next day at school, Rochelle and Colbert were sitting next to each other, holding hands and blushing. When Kim walked in, he and Colbert gave each other a thumbs' up.
Colbert was at peace, as he kissed Rochelle's cheek once again. Everyone in the class either cheered or went 'Aw' at the scene - minus Chloe, ever the self-centered one - and it seemed like a happy ending for Colbert and Rochelle.
However, Marinette was watching, and wondered, 'Will that ever be me and Adrien?'
Adrien himself, however, wondered, 'Will that ever be me and Mari - no, me and Ladybug?'
And that's a wrap!
School will be starting up again for me soon, so I'll be swamped with work. I'll still try to write for the story, but otherwise I'll be busy with classes. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, otherwise.
Next time, Rochelle gets a cold, and the timing couldn't be worse! It's hard enough to deal with one akuma at a time, but TWO?! Oh boy...
