Story note: I'm using to indicate texting. I don't know if there's an established convention for it.

Chloe flipped her notebook closed again, the pristine first page bothered her too much to look at. The cover was much more attractive. A half dozen stickers of bees were spaced across the bright yellow cover and the top spiral alternated yellow and black. It was perfect; absolutely perfect. She opened it again and wrote across the top of the first page 'The Buzz Feed'

"Take that with your stupid Ladyblog Alya."

Chloe frowned. She wrote across the first line 'Bee less hostile.' Then after looking at it for a moment tore the page from the notebook and crumpled it up, throwing it across the room to join a score of others around the trashcan. She flopped back on her bed and let out an exasperated growl at the ceiling,"How can this be so hard? Why am I doing this?" She rolled over and punched one of her pillows,"Stupid peons don't deserve it." Instead of the usual shot of joy she instantly felt a spike of self loathing in its place. Chloe grabbed her pillow and screamed into it full force; kicking the bed for good measure. She collapsed face-first into the pillow just in time. The doors opened in the entryway and Chloe pushed herself off her bed to peek around the corner,"Sabrina?"

Sabrina was pushing a small trolley in,"Sorry it took so long Chloe. I didn't like the look of the Brioche, and I know you don't like Focaccia, so I had to find something else for the sandwiches."

Chloe walked over to examine the tea service Sabrina had brought in,"Why didn't you just have the staff make it?" she drawled, reaching for one of the paired scones before anything else.

"Oh no." Sabrina blushed slightly, fidgeting,"They might not do it right. You never know who will be there."

Chloe rolled her eyes,"Whatever. Just take it into the sitting room, I'll be right in. Turn on the lights too, it'll be dark soon."

Chloe stopped at the threshold to her bedroom; had a small fight with herself,"Thank you Sabrina." then ducked into her bedroom proper as if she was on fire.

She stepped into the sitting room with her notebook as Sabrina was just finishing up unloading the cart. The service was crammed between mountains of books. It was always mountains. The schoolwork never seemed to go away no matter how hard she ignored it. Sabrina began organizing books and clearing some space while Chloe sat down and took up a teacup. This was a blend she liked not that other... Chloe frowned into the cup at the memory. Luckily Sabrina was on hand to pull her back out of it.

"So we've got a math test coming up. I thought maybe we could study for it a bit?"

In her introspective mood Chloe was aware Sabrina was very nearly flinching as she spoke. The coin dropped to a hundred other times she'd seen that look and ignored it. Guilt rose. In a familiar pattern it turned to anger. She gripped her cup so tightly her tea slipped. She could attack from so many angles. Sabrina's hair, her father's poor job, a few words about how she'd never amount to anything, about how nerds were useless; there were so many lines of attack and they all felt so very well tread. Chloe felt the bile rise in her throat and her stomach twisted and threatened to punish her for the scone.

"Chloe? We don't have to if you don't want to. We can do whatever you want." Sabrina's eyes reflected Chloe's own face and showed her just how much she was failing holding it all in.

I want to die right now. I want to curl up and hide. I want to stop being me. Was my mom right? Cinnamon in the veins.

'Not just yet." Chloe forced a big smile, that much was very familiar,"I have an idea. Would you like to pick out something new?"

Sabrina looked momentarily confused,"But Discard Day isn't for two more weeks."

Chloe sat her cup down without taking a sip. She slapped her palms down on her thighs,"No, no discards. Let's pick you out an outfit. A whole new look top to bottom." The pressure was lifting, this was working.

Then Sabrina gave her a look of such pure shocked joy that it all came clamping back down. Chloe couldn't take it. She looked away and swept up,"Come on. We've got a LOT of work to do."

Chloe threw herself into it. She tore apart her closet with abandon. Pitching carefully curated clothes into a pile was a balm. She held an unworn white silk jacket with the softest of sable linings in her hands, running her fingers over it and remembering how much she had wanted it, the relentless campaign she had waged to wear her father down. It was ridiculously expensive, and it was a victory. She tossed it further than the rest, it thmped limply against the wall and slid down to a formless pile.

"Your complexion is so pale. We need to find something that contrasts." Chloe turned and studied her poor paralyzed friend. Chloe stepped up. Sabrina flinched. Chloe reached out and lifted Sabrina's chin. The fashion voice was buzzing in Chloe's head now, blessedly drowning everything else out. Chloe turned Sabrina's head slightly to the side,"You've got so much delicacy about you." Why hadn't she ever said this before? "Your hair begs for bold colors but we'd spend eternity trying to make it work." Chloe paced around Sabrina,"You've been in sweater vest hell for so long. It's hard to imagine you in anything else." Circling back Chloe caught a hurt look in Sabrina's eyes. In her element she could respond. She placed a hand on Sabrina's shoulder,"Don't feel bad. This is entirely my fault." Chloe stepped back, folding her arms and cupping her chin with thumb and forefinger,"I think the best solution is to throw everything at it and see what sticks."

So they did. Anything Chloe could fit Sabrina into she did. Flats, heels, skirts, pants. Blouses, sweaters. A hurricane of clothing filled her bedroom. Sabrina was hard to read, alternating between embarrassment and bliss most of the time. Finding the right look with just the small selection at hand would be a heroic task.

Heroic. "I've got it!" Chloe dove back in and found what she was looking for. She found it packed away with her ladybug outfit. Chloe hissed at that outfit and didn't feel one iota of remorse for it. She pulled out what she had been looking for. Sabrina's cat Noir outfit. Chloe tossed the pants to Sabrina,"Put these on, quickly." Chloe dug into the shirtpile and came out with one of her Jagged Stone t-shirts. This she threw at the half-changed Sabrina and then hunted for the proper jacket. "Shoes!" she called while discarding failure after failure,"I've got those little black ankleboots. Tuck them in the cuffs." Chloe kicked her way out of the clothes-drift with prize in hand. A neat little ¾ length denim jacket.

Sabrina was struggling into the boots but looked up with eager anticipation as Chloe handed down the jacket.

"Who ever would have thought you could pull off leather. I might be a little jealous." Chloe commented.

Sabrina pushed herself up and turned to look in the mirror. She looked entirely uncertain. Something was throwing off the vibe.

"Hold on." Chloe scrounged her vanity and came back. She slipped the headband from Sabrina's hair and instead used a small clip to keep her right-side bangs back, revealing her ear and more of her face on that side. Tucking the headband under one arm Chloe then attacked the left side of Sabrina's bangs with a brush.

"Chloe what're you-?"'

"Hush. I'm working,"but Chloe peeked around her hands at Sabrina,"Trust me." She twisted Chloe's bangs on that side into a short braid then stepped back,"one last bit." She took Sabrina's glasses and carefully folded them,"There."

Sabrina stood meekly then looked back to the mirror,"But now I can't really see." she squinted at her reflection.

"Don't worry I have a solution for that." Chloe set down everything and got out her phone. She snapped off a picture then frowned,"No no, you need to give me something to work with." She stepped out and cocked her hip,"Show me what you've got Sabrina. You're a tough girl. Bikerbrina. Let me see you growl." It was perhaps too much to ask, but it was a huge effort not to laugh at Sabrina's attempts. It was something like a puppy trying to growl. Still she took more pictures, looking for the right one. Finally something dawned on her,"Give me a Cat Noir smile."

Instantly a smug little grin lit up Sabrina's face, complete with a puffed out chest and swagger-stepped pose. Chloe clicked the shot before it vanished,"Perfect!" Chloe waved to Sabrina's glasses,"Go ahead and put them on again."

Sabrina's usual posture immediately reasserted itself with her glasses. She shuffled over to look and Choe proudly presented the photo, complete with caption ready to post to her instagram account. The captain read 'Watch out boys. This Akuma will steal your heart.'

"Oh my God Chloeeeeeee!" Sabrina squeeked in a voice that ascended into super-sonics.

"Posted." Chloe countered triumphantly with a push of a button.

Sabrina melted, a little dramatically by Chloe's estimation.

"Oh quit playing." Chloe tugged her up,"You looked good. I mean, I helped create the look, how could you not? You should flaunt your Bourgeois original right?"

Sabrina started to come around from her swoon,"I guess." she said hopefully.

Chloe had one more trick to pull,"You like it?"

Sabrina took one more look at the picture then nodded sheepishly,"I do."

"Then it's all yours."

"Really?" Sabrina's eyes went wide.

"If-"

Sabrina froze.

"If you wear it to school tomorrow."

Sabrina didn't QUITE swoon all the way to the floor this time. "I could never."

Chloe tsked and waggled a finger at Sabrina,"No, you could, and you will if you want to keep it." She swung her phone in front of Sabrina's face,"Besides, anyone worth knowing will have seen it long before the morning bell."

It was possible to actually see Sabrina working up the nerve,"Okay. If you think I can. I'll do it! Sabrina clenched both hands under her chin.

Chloe let out a long but quiet enervated sigh. "Okay. Now why don't you spend the time we've got left trying to explain the useless world of math."

Later that evening when she was contemplating the area under the curve of an arc high enough to hang herself from so she could escape from a horde of rampaging cosecants Chloe opened her notebook and wrote 'I did a good thing today.' She closed the notebook then opened it once more quickly 'I think.'

Chloe stood in the schoolyard waiting. Others filed past and she caught their glances. It was hard to tell just why they were looking. The eyes bothered her, not quite as they did before but in a new and equally uncomfortable way. What was worse was that her usual defense was off the table. Chloe had bit her tongue on so many insults in the last few days, and she doubted anyone was giving her the least bit of credit for it. Her notebook was filling up but she was also starting to resent it for existing. She shuffled it in her hands and gripped it tighter.

Adrien and his dragon lady were crossing from the Fencing hall. The way Kagami walked so close to him had Chloe seeing red again. She pulled her eyes away to try and recenter. She took a deep breath in through her nose and let it out.

"Hey Chloe." Adrien's voice, of course. "Are you waiting for Sabrina?"

Chloe controlled herself, she hoped it wasn't too noticeable,"No Adrikins." She stepped in closer to Adrien and was rewarded by Kagami moving in closer too with a gaze at Chloe that shot daggers. Adrien tried to make himself as small as possible between the two of them, looking back and forth. Chloe continued,"I was waiting for that Big brown jacketed oaf. He's bound to show up one of these days."

"Oh Dev? He was at fencing this morning, wasn't he Kagami?"

Chloe was surprised enough to step back, Kagami's matter of fact "He was." was almost lost in the moment.

"Fencing?" Chloe couldn't imagine it.

"It's not for a grade. Apparently he just needs some kind of structured gym class. I was showing him the ropes."

Kagami chimed in with a blunt,"He is awful." Chloe noticed she hadn't backed up from Adrien and was still looking directly at Chloe when she spoke.

"Hey now. He's new. I mean he did win that one match against me."

"He cheated." Kagami stated with undisguised disdain. "Striking with the guard is not permitted."

"I'm sure it was an accident, and he was carded for it." Adrien kept his voice light, ever the conciliator. "It did ring my bell though. I wasn't any use for the next several bouts."

Kagami appeared to take the bait, She reached up and brushed back Adrien's bangs, revealing a small cut,"Then we must toughen you up." She took Adrien's arm, Chloe died a little inside, and Kagami purposefully led him away. Adrien shot Chloe a look of apology as he was all but abducted.

Chloe mulled over the little scene in a vicious circle of self-harm while she waited, eyes fixed on the door to the Fencing hall. It didn't take long before Dev emerged. Chloe was on him before he even registered her presence.

"You! You've got a lot to answer for!" She seethed,"First, you do NOT strike Adrien and leave a MARK not even by accident."

Despite her best effort, she still didn't get a rise out of Dev,"Hello Chloe."

Chloe huffed,"Did you or did you not hit him in mask with your guard? And leave a MARK!" she folded her arms crossly, trying to pour every ounce of disapproval she could into the pose.

"Oh, yeah I did." Dev rolled his shoulders, stuffing his hands into his pockets and wincing in the process,"He's so fast. There was no way I was going to hit him at all unless I slowed him down first." He added after a pause,"Chicks dig scars."

Dev's utter refusal to go on the defensive left Chloe wrongfooted. She was still gathering herself for a new assault when he asked,"Was there anything else?"

"Um, ye-ah." Chloe snapped,"A whole lot of something else. Not that we're done with the fencing thing, but you've got a whole mess of other things to answer for."

Dev could apparently read a mood after all,"If I'm going to get yelled at can I at least sit down?" he prompted. Chloe realized in a flash he hadn't smiled yet.

"Fine." she conceded and plucked his sleeve to pull him over to one of the courtyard benches. The brief pause interrupted her flow. She adjusted her notebook in her lap then snatched it up and stabbed it up at Dev,"Look. I've been good, why isn't it working?"

His slow response in taking the notebook from her fingers all too gently once more stole her thunder. Chloe felt a full blown pout coming on.

"What isn't working?" Dev asked as he opened the notebook. Chloe was surprised she let him. His eyes swept over her notations but she explained anyway.

"I haven't talked down to anyone for an entire WEEK. Not even Miss Du-Pain-Chang" Chloe sarcastically enunciated every syllable purely by reflex."

Dev put a finger to a line and read out,"Didn't tell Max his suspenders make him look like a plumber." then another,"Didn't trip Alya despite her stupid face." and a third on the next page,"Didn't set Kagami's hair on fire in chemistry. Bet Adrien wouldn't look at her without hair."

Dev closed the notebook,"Sounds like you didn't do quite a bit. What DID you do?"

Chloe felt the ground drop out from under her. She had been so proud of herself. "What do you mean by that?" she snapped. "I've been doing everything I can think of! I've been thinking!" Chloe gripped her head in her hands, stopping just short of pulling her hair out. "You started this! Fix it!" she thumped Dev's arm with a fist in pure frustration. It was like hitting a tree.

Dev reached up and plucked the hand still entwined in her hair free,"Fix what?" he said in his infuriatingly low rumble.

"This!" Chloe exploded. Something told her she was drawing attention but her focus narrowed to a point,"All this! Everything was fine before you did your stupid trick." Images flashed before Chloe's mind. Adrien and Kagami, Ladybug leaving with the Miraculous, Chloe's mother taking Marinette to New York… had that even happened? Chloe could see it so clearly. "Well, maybe not fine, but I could deal with it. I knew what I was doing!" She grabbed the front of Dev's jacket and yanked. He didn't budge,"Now I don't know anything. I have a thought then I have to rethink that thought. Is what I'm doing good or bad? If being good hurts why am I doing it? How am I supposed to act?" Chloe shoved the notebook at Dev's chest,"Is this what I am?" She opened it and tore out pages, then more, and more. She ripped written and blank pages out and let them spill across the bench and floor. She wanted to cry but was too angry for the tears to come. The empty cover of the notebook wavered in her shaking fist. "They look at me now. I can feel it. They feared me. Now I can't tell if it's pity or contempt." Chloe slumped,"I hate it. I hate being sad. I hate hurting. I want it all to go away." her hands fell into her lap and her glasses slipped from her hair to clatter on the ground. Chloe didn't even bother with them. "Fix this."

"I can't."

So easily sadness turned to anger. Chloe exploded up and grabbed hold of Dev again,"You WHAT?"

That slow stare seemed so utterly implacable. His hands covered hers and with infinite care but inexorable force removed her grip, The feel of his brace on her skin was a sharp cold counterpoint to the warmth of his touch,"I can't fix anything." for the first time that smile slipped onto his face,"The problem with moving so often is you never get past the first few steps of therapy. You do get REALLY good at those though." he chuckled warmly.

Chloe wanted to explode again, but she was too drained.

"What I can do is be here. Well, sometimes." Dev offered,"You've got my number."

Chloe was in a haze,"I do?"

"I gave it to Sabrina, remember?"

"Oh."

"Do you talk to your other friends about this?"

Chloe instinctively puffed up but she didn't have the energy for it. She slumped back on the bench, poise gone and hands in her lap,"I can't let Adrien see me like this. What would he think?"

"What about Sabrina?"

The fatalistic humor in that suggestion made Chloe sit up and an uncomfortable laugh escaped her,"How would that work? 'Hey Sabrina, I'm coming to realize I've treated you like utter garbage for years. Will you sit here and listen to me while I try to work it all out?'"

"It might be that simple. She seems to care a good deal about you."

Chloe thought about that a long moment. The courtyard was almost empty. She would be late to her next class,"No. No. I can't risk losing her. With Kagami sinking her fangs into Adrien she might be my last friend."

"She might also be your first new friend."

Chloe leaned forward, elbows on knees. She was beginning to collect herself again,"Do you always speak in riddles?"

Dev snorted "No, I'm not usually that smart. I get lucky sometimes. Does that make you furious?" He tilted his head and made what could only be described as an attempt at a suave smile.

Chloe shoved him without Malice,"Absolutely. Good job." She pushed herself to her feet then turned back and asked a question that seemed suddenly risky,"Are you my friend?"

Dev bent down and scooped up the scattered mess Chloe had created. He even passed up her glasses and now the smile he showed her was his more natural one,"I don't know. I thought you were only friends with the best of the best."

"In light of recent staffing issues the requirements for the position will be temporarily suspended." Chloe replied with her best haughty tone.

The smile turned into a grin,"Oh how can I possibly resist an offer like that?" he stood abruptly and took off the necklace he wore,"A little something to seal the deal." He pressed it into Chloe's hand,"You can keep it close or throw it across the room when you think of me. It won't complain."

Instinct made Chloe raise and examine the necklace. She had a vague memory of being unimpressed before. It might be sliver, if she was being generous. A pendant from an unfashionably thick chain. The pendant was shaped slivers of metal and wire that formed a mosaic clawed animal's paw.

"It looks cheap." Chloe bit her tongue too late.

"Ha!" Dev shook his head,"It's old and crude, but take it to a museum and some old guy will probably faint over it."

Chloe brought her other hand up and tapped the pendant with a fingertip, setting the pieces turning."I put this on and there will be all sorts of gossip."

"You already said you feel like you're being watched. The best gossip is the kind you start yourself, isn't it?"

That appealed to Chloe's sense of mischief,"You're on Mister. Just don't get too many ideas."

"Another thing I've never been accused of."

Chloe shook her head "You're not as stupid as you pretend. Now I better get going before someone comes looking." Chloe turned to take the stairs to the second level. She paused,"Oh, and I MEAN this. Do NOT put another mark on Adrien." Chloe extended one hand up and touched the very tip of Dev's nose with a fingernail to emphasize her point.

Dev crosseyed at her finger then smiled,"Understood. Do not break the blond boy."

"Good." Chloe headed for the stairs, and on a whim put the necklace on. She stopped dead in the middle of the stairs. The metal of the staircase; tar of the Asphalt; Dev. Was he close? It was a mix of Musk, forest, and warmth she'd never consciously thought of but could instantly identify. Chloe took a deep breath and a wave of other scents assaulted her. Her own makeup and perfume were in the forefront. She staggered and gripped the rail. Chloe's mind gave her the answer even as she tried to parse the sensations. She pulled the necklace off and immediately everything receded.

"Miss Bourgeois. Are you well?" Mr. Damocles' voice cut in from above.

Chloe looked up, and immediately composed herself,"Yes. Of Course. Quite well. Why wouldn't I be?" She stepped primly up to the second level, nodding to the principal as she walked past him. Chloe lightly squeezed the necklace in her palm. Under whatever had happened there was something familiar, but it would have to wait. She needed to think of an excuse for being late to class.

Chloe kept quiet all throughout Ms. Bustier's class. She had been lucky it wasn't Ms Mendeleiev or she might've needed to put more effort into her excuse. As it was the whispers at her arrival had distracted enough from her actual infraction to quickly sidetrack Ms. Bustier.

In a pique of spite Chloe quite deliberately put Dev's necklace back on as she crossed to her seat. Ready for it this time, the assault of scents didn't stagger her and she was able to complete the journey without falling. She even managed to touch the pendant and smile with what she thought was the appropriate theatrical flair. She pulled it off if Sabrina's expression was any indication.

Ms. Bustier's voice quickly receded into the background, that was nothing new for Chloe. This time however she was trying to pull apart all the sensations she was experiencing. Breathing shallowly helped, and keeping her mouth tight shut.

She picked out Adrien's signature cologne first of all. The familiar scent was comforting. Then with a shock Chloe realized she could pick out the direction. It wasn't coming from Adrien at all, it was coming from Nino? Why was HE wearing Adrien's cologne? The answer made Chloe want to gag. It could only be that he was trying to impress Alya. Gross.

Flour, sugar, a medley of too many spices to pick apart; that could only be Dupain Chang. Chloe tried to pick out Sabrina but when she focused the bundle of scents seemed too much of a tangle to pick out. Chloe gave up and instead worked on trying to push it all down. She was not taking this thing off again, whatever it was.

By the end of class she'd managed well enough that Ms Bustier's cheerful reminder,"The Summer talent show will be coming up in just six weeks. Those wishing to participate will need to register their groups by the end of the month." got through and stuck.

Chloe stood, and was almost bowled over by a very wound up Marinette.

"Chloe! Hi! That's a cool necklace you have there. It kinda looks a lot like the one that our visiting student was wearing. Dev, maybe you know him?"

"You're being stranger than usual Dupain Chang" Chloe tried to keep her usual demeanor but it was hard to condescend to what her nose was telling her was a bag of sugar.

Marinette laughed a little too conspicuously and sidestepped the comment,"It's just, I've always thought it was an interesting necklace. Is there any chance I might have a look at it?"

Chloe covered it with her hand,"You can see it quite well enough from there Dupain Chang." Other students were beginning to file out.

Marinette laughed again and tapped her forefingers together,"It's just. I was thinking of maybe using it as inspiration for a piece I am making. I was hoping to be able to see the wirework on it up close?"

Chloe stiffened. She took her hand away from the necklace,"No. I do not think so, Dupain Chang. The last time you made something it ruined my mother's return to Paris." there was a lot more to it than that, but Chloe wasn't in any condition to unravel her memories of that time.

The barb did seem to sink in. Marinette sagged,"Oh, right. I'm sorry about that Chloe."

"Don't be sorry. Just be gone." Chloe was well aware she was being harsh now, but she was not in the mood and this was Dupain Chang of all people.

Marinette looked like she might try one more time, but seemed to decide the better of it and turned away, pausing to look back one more time at the necklace before heading out.

Sabrina was at Chloe's side the moment Marinette left,"So umm. Chloe. I couldn't help but notice…"

"Yes Sabrina." Chloe sighed. "Later Sabrina." this time there was no malice in her tone, just tiredness. This had been a busy morning.

Chloe was for once grateful that Sabrina made it a habit to open doors. The ride home had been an ordeal. She was just getting a handle on the necklace while sitting and walking. Being driven through Paris had felt like drowning. Sabrina had been treated to Chloe turning several unhealthy colors without the benefit of any explanation.

Crossing the threshold met a personal goal and Chloe pulled the necklace off with a gasp. She staggered against the doors and didn't fuss when Sabrina reached out to steady her.

"Chloe, really, what's going on?" Sabrina began trying to walk her over to the sitting area but Chloe steered them towards her bedroom instead, but didn't break free of Sabrina's support.

"It's this." she finally confessed, pouring the necklace back and forth between her hands. Chloe took the steps up to her bed then flopped.

Sabrina hoped onto the Diwan, sitting with feet tucked under. She looked understandably confused but put things together quickly,"Is it a miraculous?"

"I don't know. No. Wearing one never did this." Chloe pushed herself on her elbows.

"Did what?"

Chloe extended the necklace, fought off an instinct to horde, then finished the gesture,"Try it."

With a mixture of excitement and trepidation Sabrina took the necklace and put it on. Her eyes went as wide as saucers and she flapped her hands wildly before hooking it back off in seconds. "What was that?"

Chloe pulled a pillow over for her chin then picked the necklace back up. She put it back on again, bracing herself and dealing with the assault even better this time. Her vanity was a toxic wasteland of scents.

Sabrina squinted at the necklace,"Did he say anything about it?"

"Not a word."

"Why did he give it to you?"

Chloe smiled slightly into her pillow, keeping secrets from Sabrina was an old pastime, this one didn't seem too mean,"Oh, reasons."

Sabrina's moue meant she was familiar with the game too. Chloe didn't want her to feel too bitter though. Actually caring about that was an odd feeling but Chloe couldn't deny she did now,"I actually need you to give me his number. Maybe I can wheedle some answers out of him."

The sidetrack worked. Sabrina took out her phone,"Sure thing Chloe."

Chloe leaned over, being shamelessly nosy as Chloe scrolled down the screen,"That's a lot of messages for just the one meeting."

Sabrina jumped as if stung and hid her screen against her chest,"Oh well um, I just kind of figured you might want to know other stuff you know so I kind of kept talking." her voice got smaller as she talked and color rose brightly in her cheeks,"I wanted to try some other teas too."

Shock, that was a familiar sensation to Chloe, but the sensation that followed.. a sort of bubbling in her stomach that swelled up was so long dormant it had to shake off cobwebs. Chloe laughed, it was a sharp giddy uncontrolled thing that spooked her in its unfamiliarity. The giddiness remained mixed with… pride? "You imp!" she accused with another laugh.

Sabrina looked stunned, and more so when Chloe wacked her with the pillow.

"You utter scamp!" Chloe couldn't stop the laugh. It felt good and terrible all at once. Chloe was renewed. She scooted onto the Diwan beside Sabrina and leaned in while giving a light tug at Sabrina's hand to expose her phone,"Allright miss Rain-com-amore. You can't possibly keep this from me."

Sabrina was reticent at first, but Chloe's energy infected her. The messages were largely banal things, but the sheer audacity of it tickled Chloe. Soon she was giving little tips and suggestions pulled from the pages of all too many magazines. In the middle of it one piece of the bundle of scents that was Sabrina picked itself out. Chloe prided herself on identifying it. Frankincense. Why on earth Sabrina smelled of it Chloe had no idea but it was a good scent.

Time flew by but Chloe's stomach brought it back to the ground with a growl of protest. They both paused and laughed. Sabrina stood,"I'll go make us a trolley." she made a quick few taps on her phone,"There we go." and Chloe's phone buzzed on cue.

Chloe unlocked her phone to find, as she expected, Dev's number in a text. She added it to contacts and called after Sabrina absently,"Get Salmon for the sandwiches. I've got a craving." Chloe's fingers hovered over her phone for a moment, how to begin.

So, is there anything you want to tell me about this necklace? Direct seemed like the best approach.

Now the waiting game. Chloe stepped into her Vanity while she waited and made a game of trying to pick out the scents of each of the bottles in her cosmetics trove. Buzz.

It's very old and I'd rather you not break it?

Nothing else?

I've always thought Silver set off blue better than gold.

Chloe didn't pick up on that until she raised her eyes and saw herself in the mirror.

Oh, haha. Smooth. What's this I hear about you texting up my Sabrina?

80 grit smooth. Yeah she seems cool. Is it a problem?

Chloe had no idea what '80 grit' was. The rest was just as problematic. She shouldn't have teased in her question, now she was left puzzling over a non-committal answer. Chloe walked to the sitting area while she mulled a reply.

No, it's not. Just don't you mess with her head like you did mine or I'll have someone drop you off my balcony

Understood Mama Badger. I think she just wants someone to talk to. We both know it's not my scintillating conversation.

Chloe stuck her tongue out at her phone. It helped. She grappled with a small pang of jealousy but reasoned with herself that she couldn't fault Sabrina for reaching out when she was doing the same. That same reasoning wondered how many would be friends Sabrina might have lost sticking by her. Chloe shelved that uncomfortable idea for later.

Well now that I've got you in my pocket expect your phone to blow up the next time I have to deal with people nicely again.

If I buy a yellow case it'll be just like the real thing

Absolutely furious Chloe added a couple angry emojis and set her phone down. It buzzed again but she left it be. "Fired." She pouted at it.

Chloe was more than a little proud that she had the Chemistry homework out when Sabrina returned. She was lost at it, but it was at least a good show.

"They didn't have Salmon, just smoked Salmon mousse, but they put it in these cute boat things.". Sabrina presented a 4cm pastry crust with pipped mouse and a sprig of dill.

"Hors d'oeuvres Sabrina." Chloe lifted it from Sabrina's palm,"Now come explain how water is H2O in chemistry when it doesn't have a single H or O in it."

Sabrina set out their teacups and a full platter of the Salmon Mousse. Chloe refrained from pointing out those things were meant for a small party and half a dozen would have done fine along with their perennial paired scones. Chloe picked up another mousse and they descended into a world of equations and balancing that had Chloe convinced Chemistry was just Math in a funny hat.

"Why Is it moles Sabrina? They're so gross. Why not kittens, or Adriens?" Chloe sprawled across her tablet and groped for another mousse. Her hands came up empty and she peeked over her arm,"Sabrina! How many did you eat?" Chloe poked accusingly at the empty mirror tray.

Sabrina came up from the depths of some equation and blinked over at the tray,"Two?"

"Two? That's ridiculous! That would mean I had." Chloe took a moment to use her fingers for assistance,"Thirty eight?!" Chloe's stomach rumbled uncomfortably in confirmation."Oh why?" She doubled up and moaned,"I'm going to have to jog to London to work this off. Why did you let me eat so many?"

Sabrina spilled her own table to the floor standing and rushed around,"I'm so sorry Chloe, I should have paid more attention." She fidgeted,"Should I get you something? Water? A doctor? A treadmill?"

Chloe waved her off. The initial pain of discovery was subsiding surprisingly fast. She still felt bloated and suddenly sleepy. "No, but I do think I'm officially done with Chemistry for the night." Chloe slipped off the couch and wedged herself between it and the table and laid her head on her knees.

Sabrina picked up her tablet and sat on the couch again, but moved herself around beside Chloe. Chloe was surprised to feel a touch on her back. With a hesitant start Sabrina gave a small comforting rub.

Chloe didn't know how to react. She hadn't felt that much changed, but there was no way Sabrina of only a couple weeks ago would have dared touch her. Chloe had to admit she likely would have bit Sabrina's head off for it if she had tried. She would have sat here miserable, alone, and aloof just for the sake of superiority. Chloe decided no reaction was the best choice and just let herself sink into a doze.

"Chloe. Chloe." She was shaken gently awake in a dim urban twilight.

"Sabrina?" Chloe discovered she'd drooled on her knee and that brought her around as she quickly rubbed the corner of her mouth and twisted to hide the wet spot.

"Homework's done Chloe." Sabrina indicated the paired folders on the table and stood. Was there something just a little proprietary in her smile? The Frankincense was standing out strongly.

Chloe laid a hand on one of the folders, gathering herself,"Thank you Sabrina." She said absently,"What time is it?"

"Late enough that I should get home before dad worries. Will you be okay?"

Chloe waved her off,"Yes, yes of course." then stood to prove her point, turning just slightly to make her wet knee less noticeable,"Oh, I very nearly forgot!" Chloe thrust a finger at Sabrina, covering further,"The talent show. We're doing it. Details later."

That pronouncement was met with poorly disguised fear by Sabrina and Chloe felt a little safer for the dynamic shift. Still. "Don't worry Sabrina. You'll be with me. Everyone will love it."

That did not seem to have the desired effect, but Chloe was feeling sleep asserting it was not done with her just yet.

"But Chloe I-"

"Shush." Chloe stepped around and guided Sabrina to the door, pushing Sabrina's own homework folder and tablet into her hands,"Don't worry Sabrina I'll take care of everything. You will just have to show up and look pretty." that would be a change of roles.

"If you say so." Sabrina whimpered.

"I do say so." Chloe affirmed as she opened the door and scooted Sabrina out,"I'll see you tomorrow Sabrina, that is if all this Salmon doesn't swim me out to sea."

The bewildered look Sabrina gave Chloe as the door closed was reassuringly familiar. Chloe hoped not too familiar but vowed to make it up to Sabrina tomorrow. For now Chloe shuffled back to get her phone and cross into her bedroom. The pending message icon glared neglected up at her. With a sudden panic she tapped it.

Twice in one day. How about I treat you to lunch Saturday as an apology?

Chloe stared at the message, quite certain it must be in some language other than English.

Are you trying to ask me out?

Chloe went through the motions of getting ready for bed. It was a little early but she was feeling unnaturally drained. Her phone buzzed mid-change.

I'm asking if you would like to talk for more than the few minutes between classes, with food present. I will provide the funding for the excursion. You can bring a Chaperone if you fear for your virtue.

Chloe was relieved, but her ego was pricked at the same time.

You can't even talk like a normal person when you're typing.

No immediate reply. Had she been too rough? Chloe finished her transition, but decided to keep the necklace on. More than once she picked up her phone only for it to be a ghost buzz. Chloe plugged her phone in but unraveled the cord to pull it all the way to her bed. She settled in and felt a sudden need to cuddle her teddy.

Buzz.

Of course not. So what is your answer?

Ugh. Fine! You'd better pick somewhere with class. Maybe try to dress decently too.

Chloe stared at her own message. They were familiar quips, exactly the kind of thing she had been refraining from all week.

Of Course

Without another target Chloe bit her teddy's ear in blind frustration. He relaxed into a decent snuggle and mercifully sleep reclaimed her before she had worked up a suitable reply.