Chapter 53: Chameleon
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Oh man things are getting intense both in this story and in the actual show. I hope you like what I have planned for this one. Please Review and Enjoy.
At school, Marinette was running as fast as she could to not be late.
Upon arrival, she looks to see Adrien sitting all by himself.
Smiling she slowly sneaks over to Alya who was sitting with Sam.
"How'd you pull this off, Alya? You're the best. I can't believe you got everyone to swap seats so I can sit next to Adrien. Then again, it might not be the best idea. It could keep me from paying attention in class, and if I fail it'd be a total disaster because then Adrien and I would never have our own house, the three kids, the hamster named—" Marinette said trailing off again.
"Uh Marinette bad news you're not sitting there." Sam said.
"Huh?" Marinette asks.
"You're over there." Alya said pointing to the back corner of the room.
"At the back? Why? What's going on?" Marinette asks.
"Well since she's got a hearing issue, there's no way she can sit at the back of the class, right? Which means she needed a place up in the front." Nino said.
"So they decided to do some moving around." Alya said.
"Who's she?" Marinette asks confused when Ms. Bustier enters.
"Good morning, students. I'm sure you've all heard by now, but Lila's home from her trip to Achu and she's back in school with us again." Ms. Bustier said as Lila walked in.
"Hi everyone." Lila smiles.
"Hi Lila." Everyone smiles.
"Oh, a seat in the front row. You all remembered my hearing issue. You're such sweethearts, all of you." Lila said blowing a kiss.
"You have a hearing problem, Lila?" Marinette asks.
"Yes, I suffer from tinnitus, a constant ringing in my left ear. I've had it ever since the sound of an airplane engine burst my eardrum on the runaway when I was saving Jagged Stone's kitten." Lila said.
"Isn't Jagged Stone's pet a crocodile?" Marinette asks not buying it.
"Now it is, yes. But he had a kitten until he found out he was allergic to it. The best part is, since you're such an excellent student, Adrien, you'll be able to help me catch up with all the schoolwork I missed while I was traveling with my parents. Would you do that for me?" Lila asks sitting next to him.
"Sure Lila." Adrien said while Sam narrowed his eyes.
"Miss Bustier, why do I have to sit in the back now?" Marinette asks.
"Do you have any trouble hearing or seeing, Marinette?" Ms. Bustier asks causing Marinette to stutter.
"My eyesight and hearing are good. I'll sit in the back of the class and you two can sit up front. I don't mind." Adrien offers.
"No!" Both Marinette and Lila said.
"My return is causing so much trouble, maybe I should have just stayed on the other side of the world. If Marinette has an issue too, then I should be the one to go and sit in the back. It's okay." Lila said causing most of the class to gasp and glare at Marinette.
'That sneaky little liar.' Sam glared.
"I don't actually have any trouble seeing or hearing. I mean…" Marinette admits.
"Good, so there's no problem then. You sit here, Lila, Adrien, you stay where you are and, Marinette, you sit in the back row." Ms. Bustier said as Marinette growls angrily before sitting in the back while Lila sat with Adrien.
At his lair, Hawk Moth saw it all.
"Ah, high school, the arena of teenage angst, where emotions are so intense. A perfect stadium for my dear akumas. Being separated from your friends, becoming isolated just what devastating anger is made of." Hawk Moth said turning a butterfly into an akuma. "Fly away and evilize this angry high school girl." Hawk Moth said as the Akuma flew out the window.
Watching Lila flirt with Adrien, Marinette was growling in anger as the Akuma approached her when Ms. Bustier claps her hands getting everyone's attention.
"Open your books to page 23." Ms. Bustier said.
Taking a deep breath, Marinette calms down just before the akuma reached her causing it to fly away.
"Strange, I feel the fury dying down, but the wheels are in motion. It's only a matter of time, be patient now my akuma." Hawk Moth said as the akuma flew to the roof to wait.
Later that day in the cafeteria, Sam, Marinette, Alya and Nino were in line to buy lunch.
"That's for you, Lila." Sabrina said as they looked over to see everyone bringing Lila food.
"Here's your appetizer, Lila." Max said.
"Thank you, you're all so sweet." Lila said.
"I'll get your dessert." Kim said going to get it.
"I'm sorry I can't carry my own tray. It's almost impossible with this sprained wrist." Lila said.
"Lila's totally lying. She made up that whole tinnitus story just so she could sit next to Adrien, and her sprained wrist's completely bogus, too." Marinette said.
"I don't get it, Marinette. You barely know Lila. Why all the hate?" Alya asks.
'I can think of a few reasons.' Sam thought recalling all the times Volpina's caused trouble.
"Fine, I'll tell you everything." Marinette said leading her, Sam and Nino to another table. "You remember Lila when she first came to school right after the summer break? She was only here for one day and then she left on that 'round-the-world trip. Everyone was captivated by her. Something just felt off to me. So I followed her." Marinette said surprising them.
"Wait what?" Alya and Nino said.
"Where was I when this happened?" Sam asks as Marinette told them about how she eavesdropped on Lila and Adrien.
"She lies with every breath." Marinette said.
"Wait. You eavesdropped on Lila and Adrien? That's not cool." Nino said.
"A good reporter always verifies her sources. Can you prove she doesn't actually know Ladybug?" Alya asks.
"I uh well…" Marinette stutters.
"I believe her." Sam said looking over. "Marinette has never lied before why would she lie now? I think Lila's nothing but trouble." Sam said.
"Here if you guys need proof. Hey Lila you forgot your napkin." Marinette said crumbling one into a ball and throwing it to Lila who caught it with her sprained hand. "Ha! See that? It's obvious she doesn't have a sprained wrist."
Gasping the class looks to Lila who immediately flinches in pain.
"Uh, ow! Once when I was in India, I witnessed someone getting their eye gouged out by the corner of a napkin. If I hadn't caught it, this napkin could've injured Max. I didn't have a choice. Ow!" Lila fakes.
"Lila, you saved my eye. You sacrificed yourself for me." Max said touched.
"Why wouldn't I? We're friends." Lila said.
"She's good." Sam mumbles.
"We'll take you to the nurse's office." Sabrina offers.
"You proud of yourself?" Mylene glares at Marinette.
"Lila's in even more pain now, all because of you." Kim glares.
"No, no, don't blame Marinette. She was just trying to give me a napkin. Right, Marinette?" Lila asks causing Marinette to growl and storm out.
"Alya may I have a word with you?" Sam asks leading her out.
"What's going on with you? You and Marinette are acting weird." Alya said.
"Uh hello, are you forgetting all the times Volpina gave us trouble and tried to take your Miraculous?" Sam reminds.
"Sam people go through some bad stuff when they're akumtazied. Or do you need a refresher, Alpha Claw?" Alya raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah and she's been akumatized 3 times. She's trouble Alya." Sam said.
"You're being crazy." Alya said.
"Oh yeah? Marinette's your best friend and Lila is already turning everyone including you against her." Sam points out.
"What? You're being crazy. I bet I can talk some sense into Marinette." Alya said leaving.
As Sam went down the stairs with his lunch, he sat down only to see Lila walking to him.
"Hi, I don't think we've really met face to face before. I'm Lila." Lila smiles.
"Sam. Uh yeah I think I might have missed you when you last came to school." Sam said.
"Well no time like the present. Alya told me all about you. How your parents run that new computer company. That is so cool. You know I'm a bit of a tech girl myself." Lila said.
"You don't say." Sam said narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah in fact if you'd like I could help you out. I know quite a few people who work in Silicon Valley." Lila said.
"Wow, uh…let me get back to you on that." Sam said before getting an idea to get rid of her. "Here, think of this as a better soon gift." Sam said giving her his dessert.
"Aww thank you. I gotta say I totally see why Alya likes you. You're such a gentleman. Shame you're already taken." Lila said walking away.
As she turns a corner, Sam sits down and Faang pops his head out.
"Okay that girl is sneaky. She was totally trying to get you onto her side." Faang said.
"Too bad I've seen what she's really like. She can flatter me all she wants none of it's gonna work." Sam said.
"If only the others weren't fooled that easily." Faang sighs.
In the girl's bathroom, Alya looks around for any sign of her friend.
"Marinette? Marinette?" Alya asks looking into the stalls only to see they were empty when suddenly the door opens causing Alya to gasp and quickly hide in one.
Slowly peeking through the door, Alya sees Marinette growling in front of the mirror.
"Marinette." Alya was about to go out to talk to her when Lila enters causing her to stop.
"Marinette? Oh, are you crying?" Lila asks getting her attention.
"No I'm not." Marinette denies.
"I can sense that you don't like me, but I don't understand why. We barely know each other." Lila said but Marinette still remembered all the garbage she pulled when Ladybug dealt with her.
"Don't tell me it's because of this new seating arrangement in class?" Lila asks as Marinette turns away. "It is! Of course, you're jealous because I'm sitting next to Adrien, because you would've given anything to sit there yourself. You know what? It's really not worth fighting over a boy. You and I could be friends, and who knows, I might even be able to help you with Adrien."
'See Marinette worried for nothing.' Alya thought.
"You and I will only be friends the day you stop lying, Lila." Marinette accuses surprising them both. "I can't prove it, but I know for a fact that you don't have tinnitus, that your wrist is just fine, that you don't know Prince Ali because you've never even stepped foot in Achu, and despite what you got Alya to write on her Ladyblog, Ladybug has never saved your life!"
"I only tell people what they want to hear." Lila admits shocking Alya.
"No way." Alya mutters.
"It's called lying." Marinette declares.
"There's nothing you can do about it, anyway. People can't resist when they hear what they like to hear. If you don't want to be my friend, fine! But soon you won't have any friends left at all. And trust me, I'll make sure you never get close to Adrien in class or anywhere. You seem a little less dumb than the others, so I'll give you one last chance. You are either with me or against me. You don't have to answer right away. I'll give you till the end of class today." Lila smirks before walking out.
Almost instantly Marinette ran into the stall next to Alya as Alya peeks her head out.
"Oh man, Marinette was right about her all along." Alya said looking to the door. "And now I feel bad for calling Sam out on it."
In the stall, Marinette let Tikki out and sat down.
"I thought Chloe was evil, but Lila really takes the whole cake! She's like a supervillain who doesn't even need a costume!" Marinette said.
"You mustn't let her get to you, Marinette." Tikki warns.
"If I don't manage to expose her lies, she'll ruin my life, Tikki. She'll turn my friends against me, including Adrien!" Marinette screams in anger before punching the side of the stall frustrated.
"Yes! I can feel it. The anger's about to emerge!" Hawk Moth grins.
As Alya walks out of the stall she gasps seeing an akuma fly into Marinette's stall.
"Marinette get out of there!" Alya yells as Tikki sees the akuma enter.
"Marinette!" Tikki gasps alerting Marinette.
"Aah! An Akuma!" Marinette panics.
As Lila was walking out of the locker room, the door opens to reveal Adrien.
"Hi, Lila." Adrien said.
"Adrien, we'll have to figure when you're gonna help me catch up on all the schoolwork I missed. I also heard you play piano, my uncle's the great pianist Chuch Boroughchuck. He wanted to teach me when I was little, but I had to stop playing because of arthritis but when my wrist gets better, I'd love for you to give me some lessons." Lila flirts.
"Lila, I'm perfectly happy being friends with you, and I'll gladly help you catch on your schoolwork, but please don't lie to me like you did last time with Ladybug." Adrien said surprising her.
"Ladybug's the liar." Lila growls.
"I'm not judging you, Lila, but instead of making friends you're going to turn everyone against you. You can tell me if there's something bothering you. I can help. But you need to be honest with me." Adrien offers.
"Are you trying to be some superhero lecturing me just like Ladybug did? Well thanks, but no thanks." Lila growls before storming off.
"I'm still here if you need help catching up with your schoolwork." Adrien calls out.
In the bathroom, Alya was banging against the door.
"Marinette don't let that Akuma change you! I'm sorry for ever doubting you!" Alya calls out.
"Alya?" Marinette gasps.
"You're right, Lila's a horrible liar and even worse person! But you never have to worry about her pushing me away from you girl! We're best friends and I'll always be there for you!" Alya said causing Marinette to gasp. "You can beat this stupid akuma. You're the toughest girl I know! Please Marinette!"
Looking to Tikki, the small kwami nods meaning the same thing.
"You're right! You won't get me, I'm proud, I'm confident, I'm Marinette!" Marinette declares causing the akuma to stop.
As it flew out of the stall, Alya looks to see Marinette still herself.
"Marinette." Alya smiles hugging her. "I'm so glad you didn't get akumatized."
"I almost was. Alya you saved me." Marinette smiles hugging back.
"What's happened? The anger has disappeared. Hmm, but I can feel something new arising." Hawk Moth said.
Up on the second floor, Sam was walking by when he sees Lila walk up the stairs.
"I can't stand those super goody-two-shoes." Lila said when Sam noticed an Akuma waiting for her. "Yes, here's my chance."
"Wait? She's willing to accept an akuma?" Sam asks shocked.
Downstairs, Marinette looked to Alya.
"Marinette do you mind if I leave? I need to go delete some stuff from Ladyblog." Alya said.
"Take all the time you need." Marinette said as Alya walked out.
Once she did, Tikki flew out.
"Thank goodness Alya came around." Tikki said.
"She really saved me back there. We can't let this akuma run loose. Tikki, Spots on!" Marinette said as her earrings glowed and she turned into Ladybug.
On the second floor, Sam slowly snuck over to see Lila grab the akuma.
"Come here little akuma." Lila said letting it enter her earring. "Hawk Moth, I am Lila. I know you want to destroy Ladybug and so do I."
"Yes, I remember you." Hawk Moth grins.
"Give me supervillain powers and I'll give you her, Silver Claw and Cat Noir's Miraculous." Lila offers.
"No way, she's actually making a deal with Hawk Moth?" Sam gasps.
"With pleasure. I have some new powers for you, Chameleon." Hawk Moth said as Lila started to akumatize.
Acting quickly Sam ran down the hall to an empty room.
"Remember when I said she was sneaky? Forget that. She's downright evil. She's as bad as Hawk Moth." Faang said.
"Yeah no kidding. Time to transform. Faang, Teeth Out!" Sam said as his bracelet glows and he transforms into Silver Claw.
Downstairs, Ladybug was about to run out the bathroom when she sees Adrien nearby and quickly goes back in.
"I gotta find another way." Ladybug said before noticing the airduct.
As Adrien was about to leave he sees Lila run in.
"Hey." Adrien said as Lila stops in front of him.
"Adrien, I wanted to apologize for what just happened. I've thought about it and you're right. I want us to be friends, so I'll never tell another lie again. Will you make peace with me?" Lila asks kissing him on the cheek causing her to turn into Adrien.
"Whoops. I lied." Chameleon grins as the real Adrien fell asleep.
Grabbing the real Adrien, Chameleon stuffs him into a locker before walking out.
"Adrien? Adrien?" Plagg asks trying to wake him up.
"Going somewhere Adrien?" Chameleon looks to see Silver Claw at the end of the hall. "Or should I say Lila?"
"I think you have me mixed up Silver Claw." Chameleon said.
"Yeah I don't think so." Silver Claw said drawing his sword. "Give up now and I won't hurt you."
"Oh I don't think so." Chameleon said before running out into the open with Silver Claw right behind her and knocks her to the ground. "Help! Help! Silver Claw's trying to hurt me! Help!"
"Huh?" As everyone turns to see Silver Claw knocking who they thought was Adrien to the ground they all gasped.
"Hey leave my buddy Adrien alone!" Nino yells.
"What? No, you've got it all wrong." Silver Claw said as everyone booed him.
Leaping up onto the roof, Ladybug looks down at the chaos below.
"Silver Claw?" Ladybug said confused.
Using this chance, Chameleon swept his leg and leaped up to Nino.
"Nino, I have something to tell you. You don't deserve my friendship your cap!" Chameleon said taking Nino's cap and putting it on her head.
"Hey!" Nino gasps as Silver Claw leaped after her but Chameleon kicked him the face knocking him against the rail.
"You should see your faces, don't miss my performance at the Eiffel Tower. You're gonna love it." Chameleon said running off.
"What? Not Adrien." Ladybug gasps going after him.
Growling Silver Claw shook off the attack and looks to see Nino help him.
"You really thought I would attack an innocent civilian?" Silver Claw asks.
"Sorry dude, my bad." Nino said.
"Now the big question is where's the real Adrien?" Silver Claw asks before leaping after Ladybug.
At the Eiffel Tower, Chameleon is popping Ladybug balloons including one that was in a little kid's hand.
"My balloon! Mommy!" The kid whines.
Laughing Chameleon pops more Ladybug balloons before taking a Cat Noir and Silver Claw balloon.
"Thank you!" Leaping up onto the rails Chameleon walks along the edge like she could fall.
"Oh no! He's gonna fall!" A woman calls out as Ladybug arrives.
"Whoa!" Chameleon said acting like she was gonna fall.
Gasping Ladybug swings up to help.
"This is so easy, as soon as someone needs saving that stupid Ladybug shows up." Chameleon said.
"Adrien stop!" Ladybug said reaching his level.
"Ah, help me. I'm losing my balance, I'm gonna fa—" Chameleon said before falling over.
Gasping Ladybug swings in and catches him causing the people below to cheer.
"My princess charming, you saved my life." Chameleon said about to kiss her when Ladybug pushes her away.
"You're not Adrien!" Ladybug said.
"You're right, I'm Chameleon. You're getting better at this, Ladybug. Which is a good thing. It'll make this fight all the more interesting." Chameleon said about to attack when Silver Claw swings in and kicks Chameleon to the ground.
"Mind if I cut in?" Silver Claw asks.
"Absolutely." Ladybug smiles as Chameleon gets up.
"Grr dirty trick." Chameleon growls.
"Like you're one to talk." Silver Claw said.
Charging in Chameleon tries to kiss Ladybug but Silver Claw's sword wasn't making it easy before kicking her in the chest.
"Now Ladybug!" Silver Claw said.
Lunging at her, Ladybug knocks Chameleon to the ground and grabbed Nino's hat.
"I know where your akuma is, Chameleon. Time to de-evil—" However when Ladybug rips it nothing happened. "Huh? But?"
"She grabbed that hat after she tricked Nino into attacking me." Silver Claw said.
'But then." Ladybug looks to see Chameleon had escaped.
Back at the school, Adrien was fast asleep in the locker as Plagg was trying to wake him up.
"If this an enchanted sleep, what can possibly wake him up?" Plagg asks before looking to his lips. "Oh no, not an enchanted kiss, please!" Plagg begs but realized Adrien needed to wake up. "Nobody will ever know."
As Plagg was about to kiss him, Adrien slowly wakes up.
"Plagg, what happened? And what are you doing?" Adrien asks causing him to pull back.
"Oh, me? Nothing I, uh… your friend Lila put you to sleep with an evil kiss. You should be more careful picking your friends." Plagg said recovering.
"Lila must've been re-akumatized. Quick Plagg, claws out!" Adrien said as his ring glowed and he transformed into Cat Noir.
Meanwhile in Trocadero, a mother was walking around looking for her boy.
"Quentin! Quentin!" She calls out when Silver Claw and Ladybug land nearby.
"Ladybug, I saw the supervillain running away." Looking over Ladybug saw a little boy pointing the merry go round.
"Thanks, but don't stay here, okay? It's dangerous." Ladybug warns as Silver Claw eyes the kid carefully.
As Ladybug approached the ride, the real kid was sound asleep in it.
"My Quentin! You found him, Ladybug." His mom smiles.
"Found him?" Ladybug looks to see Quentin leap at her ready to kiss her.
"Ladybug look out!" Moving in Silver Claw pushed Ladybug out of the way causing Chameleon to kiss him on the cheek making Chameleon turn into Silver Claw instead.
As the real Silver Claw falls asleep Chameleon tried to get his bracelet when Cat Noir swings his staff knocking her away.
"Oh no you don't!" Cat Noir said spinning his staff. "You're gonna pay for that."
"So Cat Noir is here as well. Well lucky for me, Silver Claw has the perfect attack. Moon Call!" Chameleon released a sonic howl sending Ladybug and Cat Noir flying backwards towards the Eiffel Tower. "Oh I am gonna enjoy this."
"Get me Silver Claw's Miraculous." Hawk Moth orders.
"No! I wanna get hers first!" Chameleon said going after Ladybug and Cat Noir.
"You got a plan milady?" Cat Noir asks.
"Always." Ladybug nods as they raced to the top of the tower.
"Nowhere to run now, Ladybug." Chameleon grins drawing her sword.
"I don't intend to. Lucky Charm!" Throwing her yoyo into the air a t-shirt appeared. "A t-shirt?"
"Hmm a little small for me." Cat Noir said while Chameleon laughs.
"That's your plan to defeat me, Ladybug? Make me dress like you? On second thought, such horrible fashion might actually do me in." Chameleon said charging in.
Raising his staff Cat Noir blocks Chameleon's strikes befoe countering back knocking her weapon out of her hand.
Leaping up Ladybug breaks the sword hoping to release the akuma but nothing happened.
"Wrong again Ladybug." Chameleon said lunging at her and pinning Ladybug to the ground. "Pucker up."
"Good job Chameleon, become Ladybug, then once you put her to sleep you can simply give me her Miraculous." Hawk Moth grins.
Looking around Ladybug sees the seafood restaurant below and gets an idea.
"Cat Noir use your Cataclysm!" Ladybug calls out.
"With pleasure, no one gets to kiss Ladybug but me! Cataclysm!" Slamming his hand to the floor, Ladybug and Chameleon fall through it and crash right next to the seafood bar.
As Chameleon was about to kiss her Ladybug presses an oyster to her lips causing Chameleon to change into one allowing the real Silver Claw to wake up.
"What the?" Silver Claw gasps.
"We should be friends, not anemones." Ladybug jokes.
"Wow, you certainly got that supervillain to clam up, milady. But we're still not out of the woods yet. Where's the akumatized object?" Cat Noir asks when Silver Claw leaps in.
"Hey what'd I miss?" Silver Claw asks.
"I think I might have an idea. Waiter?" Ladybug asks as the waitress stands up. "If you wouldn't mind?" Ladybug asks handing her the oyster and shirt.
"Yes, Ladybug, at your service." She said opening the clam with ease before giving it back to her.
Opening it, Ladybug sees the earring instead of a pearl.
"We're about to find out what you really look like Chameleon." Ladybug said.
"Oh I think you'll recognize her." Silver Claw said as Ladybug breaks it releasing the akuma.
"No more evil doing for you little akuma. Time to de-evilise!" Throwing her yoyo Ladybug captures the akuma and turns it back into a butterfly. "Gotcha. Bye-bye little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug!" Throwing her t-shirt into the air Ladybug returns everything back to normal and Chameleon back into Lila.
"Lila?" Ladybug said surprised.
"Ladybug?" Lila said equally surprised.
"At least now you can say I saved your life for real. Truce?" Ladybug offers holding out her hand.
Pausing Lila looks to her before smiling. "Thanks, Ladybug. I'd be honored to call you my friend." Lila said shaking her hand.
"Yeah, I'm happy to hear that. Hey, some advice. You don't have to lie and pretend to be something you're not. People will like you just for being yourself." Ladybug said.
"You have my word, Ladybug." Lila nods.
"Bug out!" Ladybug said as the three heroes left.
"Bye." Lila said before seething in anger once they left.
At Hawk Moth's base, Hawk Moth wasn't as disappointed about his failure as usual.
"I sense a talent like no other in this young Lila. I'm sure that her feelings about Ladybug will serve my purposes well in the end. One way or another." Hawk Moth vows.
Later that day at school, Lila was being surrounded by everyone as she told them what happened.
"Of course Ladybug saved my life. She never misses an opportunity to rescue her best friends." Lila said.
"Didn't your tinnitus give you vertigo when you went up the Eiffel Tower?" Max asks.
"Oh no. Ladybug knows me so well that she brought me an earplug to stick in my right ear." Lila said.
Nearby Marinette, Sam and Alya were listening in.
"Oh man she really is the worst." Alya said.
"Right ear?! Did she say right ear?! This morning she said that the ringing was in her left ear! I've got her this time." Marinette said about to bust her when Adrien walks up
"You gonna tell everyone?" Adrien asks.
"Of course I am Lila's—"
"A liar. Yes, I know." Adrien interrupts. "But do you really think exposing her will make things better? If you humiliate her, she'll just be hurt more. Making a bad guy suffer has never turned them into a good guy."
"He does have a point." Sam said.
"So we just stand by and let her lie?" Marinette asks.
"As long as the three of us know does it really matter?" Adrien asks.
"I think you mean four of us." Alya said as she and Sam walk up to her.
"You're right, maybe it's not such a big deal." Marinette smiles.
"Hey uh guys I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. Marinette you're my best friend. Sam you're my boyfriend. I should've trusted both of you from the start when you said that Lila was a pathological liar. Can you two ever forgive me?" Alya asks.
"Absolutely." Marinette smiles.
"We're just glad you managed to figure it out rather than keep believing her like the others." Sam said as they both hugged Alya.
"Mind if I join in?" Adrien asks when Alya yanks him into the group hug.
Soon classes started up and everyone headed back. This time Marinette was fine sitting in the back.
"Good for you for taking the high road, Marinette." Adrien said walking up to sit next to her. "Hey, it's pretty cool back here."
Seeing this Marinette giggles while Lila was jealous.
"Lila?" Ms. Bustier calls out doing rollcall.
"Here." Lila said.
"Adrien?"
"Present." Adrien said.
'Stay focused now Marinette. Don't get distracted. Otherwise, you'll flunk school. And then how are you and Adrien gonna get that house, and have three kids and a hamster named—' Marinette thought when Adrien tapped her shoulder.
"Marinette. Miss Bustier's called your name three times already." Adrien said snapping her out of it.
"Oh. Sorry." Marinette said.
"Looks like you have trouble hearing after all, Marinette. Why don't you come sit up here in the front row next to Lila." Ms. Bustier suggests.
"Miss Bustier, this is incredible. My tinnitus, I don't feel it anymore. It's gone. it's a miracle. It must be Ladybug's doing, I can sit in the back now." Lila said almost immediately.
"Excuse me, Miss Bustier, can I go and sit next to Marinette? Sam and I can't stop chatting it up." Alya said walking down to sit with Marinette. "You didn't think I'd let my BFF sit all by herself, did you?"
Soon everyone was sitting back in their original spot and Lila was all by herself in the back.
Looking back at her, Sam narrowed his eyes.
'She was so willing to let Hawk Moth give her powers. Something's up with that girl. I think she's a lot closer to Hawk Moth than she could ever be to Ladybug.' Sam thought.
After school, Marinette was saying goodbye to everyone when Lila walks up to her.
"I see you've made your decision Marinette." Lila said before leaning to her ear to whisper. "From now on, you and I are at war. You will lose your friends and wind up all alone and Adrien will soon be mine."
"We'll see about that, Lila, we'll see." Marinette said walking away leaving Lila confused and surprised by her reaction.