Marinette silently groans as the girls have a stare off. Of course they were doing this, what had she expected Chloe to do? The girls idea of helping was asserting her dominance over everything even if it didn't work.
Mind working overtime to figure out a way to get out of the current situation, she doesn't take into account that Alya would turn to her first.
"And what, exactly, are you doing in my seat?"
Words leave her in that moment. Abandoning her much like they did when Adrien was around, but for the first time in her life, it isn't Alya who comes to her rescue.
Chloe starts examining her nails, "She's sitting in her seat. Isn't that obvious?"
Alya's face twists into anger, "And what are you doing there? Last I checked, that wasn't your seat."
Lila places a hand on the brunettes shoulder, "It's alright Alya. If they want to trade seats with us for a day we can sit in the front row!"
Her sickeningly sweet smile makes Marinette sick. How can someone act like nothing was wrong when they are using mental manipulation to get what they want?
Chloe turns up her nose as the girls walk past them to the front row seats. Alya's anger settling down to a low simmer when she finally sits down.
Marinette has the passing thought that if Alya keeps being angry she might turn into an Akuma but she tries hard to keep that thought away. Maybe, just maybe, no one will get mad enough to become akumatized today.
Nino's furrowed brow and deep frown pop into her vision with surprising speed, "I didn't think you would take Chloe's side on anything. Let alone over a friend." And just like that he's gone.
Shame digs deep into her stomach, making her want to throw up. Was that really what they thought? That she was siding against them in some kind of war? After everything Lila did to her, all of the lies she spits out, and after all the time she has spent trying to make her friends happy?
The bell rings as her thoughts spiral down a similar path. Constant negativity making her eyes water slightly. Just as the teacher walks in, the heroine lurches from her sitting position to basically run up the stairs and to her spot at the back of class. She knows everyone is watching, she can hear Chloe's confused voice trying to call her back, but she's just not in the mood for an emotional roller coaster.
Class passes in a blur, her teacher trying her best to get Marinette to participate in whatever small way she can and while the teen greatly appreciates it, she just doesn't feel up to it.
By the time lunch has rolled around, Marinette is ready to do anything as long as it's not deal with the reality that has become her life.
"Tikki, can I please just transform and wait for an akuma attack? With it being Monday, it's bound to happen." Blue eyes fall to the library floor.
The small Kwami pops out of her bag with a frown, "You can't seriously be wishing for someone to be akumatized, come on Marinette, it can't really be all that bad here! I'm sure something good is bound to happen if you just look on the bright side!"
The teen sighs, "I'm tired of always looking on the bright side. I would like to just sit and exist without being pestered for a few minutes but with Chloe's version of helping and Lila threatening me at every corner, how am I supposed to come up with a plan to save Adr-... uh, save the cat?"
Tikki floats to her face with a soft smile, "Marinette. I believe that you have the power and strength to get everything done that you need to. If you want to save your partner, then you will find a way to do it. Just as you have found a way to defeat every Akuma that has come your way no matter what's happened. If you want to get your friends back from Lila, then I think you can. If you want to become friends with Chloe, you can do that too." She nuzzles against her cheek, "If you want a break for a while, I won't stop you, but please remember that every action has a reaction and I don't want you to get into trouble for skipping class."
Marinette lets her hand rest over the Kwami in their closest version of a hug, "You're right, like always." she lets go and holds the small Kwami in her hands, "Ok. I'll stick around for the rest of school. After classes are over though, I kind of want to get away from everyone. Will that be ok with you?"
"As long as you keep your phone on and keep an eye on the news, I think that's a great idea."
"Thank you, Tikki."
"Of course, Marinette." She gives a deep bow before disappearing back into her bag.
Marinette faces her day with a little more hope and the smallest of smiles plastered on her face.
