AN: Just a bit of a heads up. For those of you who like Lila, you may not be a huge fan of this chapter. Or the next one. xD

Marinette was released from the hospital a few days after Chat's visit.
She was still feeling sore and stiff, and parts of her memory were still but being out of her hospital room made the journey she was going to have to face seem a little more tolerable.

"Do you want to stay home from school today, Marinette?" her mother asked her the following morning.

Marinette groaned, and climbed down from her bed. "No, I should go, I've missed so much school already."
"Alright dear, if you get too tired or you're in any pain, come straight home."
Marinette rubbed her eyes, yawning. "Yes, maman."
Sabine smiled at her daughter, before heading back down to the bakery.

Tikki flew down from Marinette's bed.
"Morning Marinette! Ready for your first day back at school?"

"I guess so, I'm a little bit nervous about it though."

"Don't worry, you've got your friends there to help you if you need them."

"Thanks Tikki," she patted the top of the Kwami's head. "But I'm more concerned about Ladybug duties, you know? I haven't had a chance to transform yet, and I really don't remember much about being Ladybug. What if I'm not...? What if I...?" Marinette slumped down in her desk chair, and put her head in her hands.

"Marinette, I know you're worried, but you do remember some things about being Ladybug." Tikki reminded her.
"When you first transformed, you were very unsure of yourself. But you got the hang if it very quickly. It was quite impressive. This time, you'll have experienced heroes with you. If something happens, they'll be there to help."
Marinette nodded, picking up her phone from her desk. "I'm going to text Nino and let him know I'm going to school this morning."

After texting Nino, she got dressed and ready for school, before heading down to the kitchen for breakfast. Nino, and Alya (who was already at school with him), were video chatting with Marinette while she ate.

"We should fill you in on a few things before you come back to school, Marinette," Nino told her. His tone made her suspicious.
"What things?" she raised an eyebrow.
Nino uncomfortably played with his cap.
"Well, remember how Chloe always used to be the school bully?"
Marinette simply nodded in response.

"That job has been taken by someone else now. Usually she leaves you alone, but since Adrien's been back, she heard how he's been spending a lot of time with you, and well..." he trailed off.
Alya pushed Nino over so she could be center of the video. "Lila's planning to confront you at school today, Marinette."
"Oh. Tch, that's not so bad," Marinette waved her hand dismissively. "I've got to leave now if I'm going to get there in time. I'll see you guys in a bit," she waved before hanging up.

"Do you really think Lila's not that big of a deal?" squeaked Tikki.
"I don't know, I don't really remember her. How bad could she be, really?" Marinette picked up her bag from the couch, and headed downstairs. She walked through the partially busy bakery, waving her parents goodbye, when something outside the window caught her attention.

Marinette opened the bakery door causing the bells to ring. Adrien turned at the sound, his face breaking into a toothy grin when he saw who stood beside him.
"Adrien?" she asked in surprise.
"Morning Marinette!" he waved. "Nino told me you'd be going to school today. Do you mind if I walk with you to school?"
"Of course not! I don't mind at all, I mean, who would, it's you after all. I-" a blushing and babbling Marinette abruptly cut herself off. Then she started giggling.
"What's so funny?" he wanted to know.
Marinette shook her head a second. "Me. I just remembered making a fool of myself like this in front of you a lot."
Adrien blinked in confusion. "What? I don't remember you making a fool of yourself in front of me."
"Babbling like an idiot. Me being extremely nervous around you, when I wasn't a nervous wreck around anyone else?"
"Oh, that. I always thought it was because you didn't like me very much," he walked with his hands in his pockets, and his head down. The little of his expression she could see told her that he truly believed that was the case.
"Seriously Adrien? I liked you so much that I couldn't even form coherent sentences around you. I was absolutely terrified I'd say something stupid, and look like a complete dorkasaurus around you. Because why would you like someone like that?" she stuck her tongue out, and glared to her side, opposite of Adrien.

She felt Adrien take her hand, and glanced over took look at him.
"Hmm, yeah, I wonder why I would ever like someone like that," he teased. "It's not like she's beautiful, smart, extremely talented, confident with herself, kind to everyone, not afraid to stand up for herself or for others - " Adrien listed, counting each trait off with his free hand.
"Oh yeah, about that last one..." Marinette interrupted with sighed, and explained to him about what Nino and Alya warned her about.

"Don't worry about her, Princess. We can handle it," he squeezed her hand gently, and a smile spread across her face as she looked down at the ground.
"I wish I could remember everything."
"You will," he assured her again. "You don't have to remember it all yet. You just remembering me at all is enough for now."

They arrived at school after a short walk, the first thing to greet them was Alya, Nino, Chloe, and Nathaniel on one side, and Lila, Sabrina, and a group of a few girls, and a couple of boys from another class on the other.

"What's going on?" Adrien asked, tightening his grip on Marinette's hand.
"Adrien!" Lila greeted sweetly, a smug smile on her face. That is, until she saw his hand holding Marinette's.
"Oh look, you got him to feel sorry for you Marinette by getting hurt. Since that's the only way someone like Adrien would ever be interested in someone like you," she scoffed.
Adrien glared at her, but before he could say anything, someone else spoke for him.
"What are you, delusional?" Chloe sniggered. "And you think he'd be interested in you? Puh-lease. Any guy with half a brain would know to keep away from you. The girl who made up the biggest, most outlandish lies just to get others to like her, because she knew they wouldn't like her for who she is. That's pathetic," she spat.
Lila clenched her fists.
"The only reason you ever liked Adrien in the first place was because he was the most popular guy at school. Paris' famous teen model. You knew he liked Ladybug, so you made up the lie that you were super close with her," something dawned on Chloe then.
"Actually Lila, you knew just what to say to impress everybody here. Now how is that? Did you get some of your dad's people to investigate us?" The Italian girl was silent. "That's what I thought. How creepy," Chloe rolled her eyes, and turned to walk away, but there was still one last thing she wanted to say before they parted.
"Keep away from Marinette and Adrien, and stay away from the rest of us. Got it?" she glowered. "Good."

Chloe walked swiftly up the stairs into the school building, her friends followed, leaving behind a shaking and enraged Lila Rossi.