The hot water washed over Marinette mixing with her tears. The roar of the water drowned out her sobs. She held her knees to her chest. She tried to process the events of this terrible day. As she did, the day seemed less terrible. She started the day finding out how much Juleka cared for her. She was on the same team as Nino this year. She'd met Alya and Adrien. They both seemed nice. Alya was so great. She didn't die on that ladder.

As she washed her hair, Marinette imagined she washed away all of the day's negativity. It spiraled down the drains with the water and suds.

Could she really live with Chloe for a year? She couldn't if everything stayed like this. Something-someone?- needed to change and probably wouldn't be Chloe. She turned off the water. She needed to change. She wrapped a towel around her body. She needed to become durable and flexible like her metal wire. She got out of the shower, wrapping her hair as she made her way to the counter.

It was nice to think that she could change, but how could she ever do that?

The scent of her lotion was "cupcakes". It was actually just vanilla, but each scent had a fun dessert based name. The lotion had stars sprinkled through it and it looked like frosting. Her mother sent it to her in a dessert-themed skincare set. Marinette smiled. Whenever she used it she was reminded of home. She put on her pajamas. They were warm and soft.

She reached for her utility belt. Her fingers grazed the surface of the book. She took the book out and opened it. Tikki appeared.

"Don't freak out!"

Marinette laughed and sat the book on the counter.

"Sorry about earlier."

"It's okay, it wasn't the worst reaction I've ever gotten." Tikki flew close to Marinette. "Are you okay? Chloe really is a menace!"

"I'm okay."

"She shouldn't boss people around just because she can! That's villainous."

"Isn't it?" Marinette sat on the counter and started fixing her hair. "You might believe it, but Chloe's just the tip of the iceberg. The upperclassman are ridiculous! 'We all came here because we love magic, so why do we lose our hearts?' She used to say that."

Marinette spotted Adrien in the mirror. She looked at Tikki. Tikki was gone. She shut the book.

"Sorry!" Adrien stumbled back, "I didn't know anyone was in here."

Marinette jumped off the counter. She slipped. Adrien caught her. She thanked him and stood up.

"Who used to say that?" Adrien looked at the floor. "The thing about the hearts."

"Nobody you'd know." It came out harsher than it was intended. "She doesn't go here anymore."

"Oh," Adrien kept his eyes down, "sorry."

Marinette shook her head.

"These showers are for everyone." Marinette packed up her stuff. She looked at Adrien. Their eyes locked. His eyes were pools of sadness. Marinette wanted to run over and hug him. He looked away. Maybe Chloe had been honest about Adrien's eye contact anxiety.

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien focused his eyes on her, "is Chloe a bully?"

The dinner bell rung.

"She is a bully and an all-around bad person."

"Oh, I see."

"But she does seem to care about you, so maybe she's got a heart in there somewhere."

Marinette offered her hand. Adrien stared at her.

"Let's go eat!" Marinette smiled. "I don't want to miss all the good food."

Adrien took her hand. They walked to the dining hall together. Marinette held his hand until they arrived. There was something about him, something small and sad that she wanted to protect.