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"And he's still there?" Sabrina was beside herself with excitement. She was practically skipping on their way to school.

"Probably." Chloe infused her voice with as much disinterest as possible to try and calm her friend down,"I'm not his keeper, not normally anyway." Chloe rolled her eyes and gave Sabrina a smile. It was a clear morning and she was feeling the most rested she had in as long as she could remember.

"So what else happened?" Sabrina was wearing a jean and blazer combo they'd picked out the other day. It added three years to her, her bouncing took off six.

"Gah. NOTHING Sabrina." Chloe tickled Sabrina's side,"He helped me re-sort all the things Jean had moved, and I went to bed. Now tell me about your night."

Sabrina visibly ordered her thoughts,"Marinette did come back near the end of the film. It looked like they were having fun. He dropped her off afterwards and went back to the cool boat he lives on. I didn't really get to talk to him."

Chloe hmmed, "Cutting out of a movie is a very Marinette thing. Try to get a word in at school if you can run into him."

Sabrina brushed at her bangs nervously, she was working up to something and Chloe let her,"I can try. Is this right Chloe?"

"Right?"

"Like, they're going out. Should we really be messing with that?"

Chloe sighed,"Sabrina, Sabrina." She put a hand on Sabrina's shoulder,"People do dumb things all the time, especially Du-Pain-Chang. Adrien is PERFECT. If she settles for some other boy she'll only make herself miserable, and then he'll be miserable. We absolutely HAVE to intervene, for her own good, for the boy's good, and for Adrien's good." Chloe gave Sabrina an encouraging smile,"Right?"

It was easy to lead Sabrina to the right choices. Chloe just let the pieces fall into place, until Sabrina finally brightened,"Right." She squeezed the books she was carrying,"We're helping."

"Exactly." Chloe spread her arms wide and did a slow pirouette,"We're heroes!"

That got a giggle and so Chloe prompted,"This evening we'll spend some time going over the routine, and maybe poking around the internet for this." she tapped the Necklace. It had been blissfully docile this morning.

"Oh! I did get something last night." Sabrina shifted her burden and Chloe actually deigned to take a few of the books from her arms. Sabrina pulled out her phone and Chloe leaned in,"I got a video of the dock explosion. I also dug around some university archives online. There's a few descriptions of something like the necklace but not much." Sabrina tapped quickly and efficiently through her phone, paging through a long organized list of sources. Chloe glanced up at Sabrina's face. Focused Sabrina was an entirely different person in poise and voice. Chloe resolved to figure out how to get more of this out of her.

"You did all this last night?" Chloe looked back down, trying to follow the documents flashing across the screen.

Sabrina shifted back into embarrassment so quickly Chloe nearly got whiplash. She hid her phone and mumbled,"Well, I had some time."

Chloe tried to pry her back out,"So what did you discover?" They were nearing school.

It half-worked. Sabrina held her phone out again, and her voice switched over to a more confident tone, but she was still slouched,"There's a lot of similar images, but none connected to a necklace. Most of them seem to be Slavic, some Celtic. There's lots of names too. Old English, Slavic, and Latin." She scrolled,"See?"

Chloe squinted at the screen," Cz- Cher- How are you even supposed to say that? It doesn't sound like a Miraculous name."

Sabrina turned the phone back to herself and tapped through a few screens. She cleared her throat,"Tschernaboch." The ending was almost a cough instead of a word.

Chloe wrinkled her nose,"That is NOT cute in the least." She wet her lips and tried the word herself,"Tscherna-"

Cold closed in on Chloe, cold and damp. The light seemed to go out of the air. She was standing in a glade, but also still on the sidewalk. Her eyes couldn't focus. They flickered between the Paris street and a primal green. A low sound made her turn. Her feet didn't move, only her vision seemed to shift. At the edge of the glade a shadow, a dark den nearly hidden by the green. There was something there. Chloe couldn't see it, she could feel it. Sleeping, freshly wakened, barely attentive.

What is this? You are not mine.

The voice was nails across her brain. Chloe yelped and dropped the books. She felt Sabrina trying to steady her. The shadow seemed to fade but then renewed itself. Chloe tried to shut it out but couldn't.

Little thing. Are you food?

In Paris Choe knew she was crouched on the sidewalk, eyes vacant. In the glade she was braced, feet wide against a warm exhalation from the Den. She couldn't see into the gloom. She wasn't sure she wanted to.

I am your Miraculous wielder

Chloe couldn't speak in the glade, but her thoughts hung in the air.

Miraculous? Fire shot through Chloe's mind again; claws sifting through her memories. Oh my. Precious. Bring me one perhaps? I am hungry. The voice had a sleepy bemused tone.

You are supposed to help me! That's how this works! I get to be a hero.

A stirring in the den. A shadow within the shadows. Chloe felt eyes on her.

You seek power? Mmmm yes. So much anger in a little thing. You might be amusing. A glint in the darkness, the impression of teeth. And if not, perhaps a light snack. What to do with you though?

Chloe weathered the storm. The voice echoed through her head and she tried to push back.

Bee. I am Queen Bee!

A Bee? Oh no, that just won't do. I will play your game, but you'll wear a more fitting form. Bid me Awaken when you wish my aid, but do not be boring. The shadows of the Den stirred. A sharp wind tore through the glade and threw Chloe back onto the streets of Paris.

"Chloe! Chloe!" Sabrina's voice cut into the fog. Chloe's eyes focused next. The Daylight seemed overbright after staring into the abyss.

"I'm here Sabrina. I'm okay." Chloe steadied herself. She patted Sabrina's arm to make her let go and scooped up the fallen books before standing weakly,"I think we can say you got the name right."

"What happened Chloe?" Sabrina stood then added with a small giggle,"I feel like I say that a lot lately. That necklace keeps messing with you."

Chloe waved away the concern,"It doesn't work like a normal miraculous. The.. elding… is all dramatic. I've got it on my side now though. I can't wait to try it out." Chloe grinned to reassure Sabrina. "Just need a crisis now."

Homeroom wasn't a crisis, but it was unexpected. Chloe had just entered the room when a hand shot out and caught her by the ear, pulling her off to the side.

"Oww Oww Oww, what do you THINK you are doing?" Chloe rounded on her attacker.

Alya stood there, arms folded and a superior grin on her lips. She held up one finger for a conspicuous 'shhh',"This has to be quick. We don't have time for Chloeness."

Chloe was too stunned to retort.

"I don't know if you're playing a game or not, but you're right. Marinette's still pining for Adrien. She's not doing herself or Luka any favors dating him right now."

Chloe managed to get out a confused,"How did you know what I-"

Alya waggled her phone in front of Chloe's face,"Super-snoop App. Have an upgraded mic, place your phone against the glass, and it can pick up some of what's being said on the other side." Alya re-crossed her arms,"You probably said it in the worst most Chloe way possible, but you are right. I'm going to give you my number, and if you think you have an idea for helping them you can call. But if you're just trying to mess with any of them, Marinette, Adrien, OR Luka…" Alya leaned in,"I've got enough embarrassing photos of you to keep the internet laughing all throughout college."

"Hey!" Chloe began but Alya cut her off

"Ah-ah-ah" she keyed up a picture of Chloe and Mr. Cuddly from the party so long ago,"I can put this all over social media, every fashion site. Buuut, if you behave, I'll delete it."

Chloe huffed,"Blackmail?" she started, then recovered herself enough and put on an upper crust smile,"I'm impressed. We'll see what happens. I can't promise anything with Marinette being Marinette." She held out her hand.

Alya stuffed a folded piece of paper into it,"Marinette is Marinette." She dropped the act for a moment, sincerity replacing condescension in her voice,"Chloe doesn't have to be Chloe though."

Chloe closed her hand around the paper, crumpling it,"Chloe will always be Chloe." she countered. Then a thought appeared in her head. It spun down to her stomach and tied knots, jumped back up to her heart and clenched it in a vice. The pause was only a pair of heartbeats. Did she have the guts to say it? Would saying it make it true? Chloe had to swallow once before she could speak,"But, what that means doesn't have to remain the same forever."

Chloe turned and fought every instinct, forcing herself not to run to her seat. She walked, and barely made her chair before her legs gave out. She dug into her bag and pulled out a pencil, then snapped it in two. Taking one of the halves she snapped that in two, and again until she couldn't manage it anymore. Her peculiar strength seemed to have left her. Preempting Sabrina this time Chloe managed to get out,"Alya sucks." without much conviction behind it.

Chloe: Still Lazing around on my couch?

Chloe sent the text and picked up her lunchtime tea, blowing on it and watching the steam curls rising; trying in vain to recapture her morning calm.

"Hey Chloe, am I interrupting?" Nathaniel approached holding a sketchbook, and sans Marc for once.

Chloe resigned herself to a peaceless lunch but did her best to hide it. An entire conversation played out in her mind where she told Nathaniel exactly what he could go and do, but she uttered not a word of it.

"I can drink and listen at the same time." she said instead,"Have a seat." Just to show her sincerity Chloe sipped her tea and couldn't help but make a face; still too hot.

Nathaniel gave her a curious look but sat, opening his sketchbook and sliding it in front of her,"How do these look?" he asked hopefully.

Chloe gave the sketches a disinterested glance, but was forced to look again. "These are actually good."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes,"You don't have to sound so shocked."

Chloe scooted the sketchbook closer. She flipped pages, then back, finding where in the song sketches were,"This is the stage positioning?" she asked, pointing to a small box at the top of each page.

"Yeah, I figured it would help rather than just the motions without a map."

Chloe nodded,"It is. I was afraid I'd have to be pushing people around into position until we got it right." She flipped forward until she hit the end of the pad,"Where's the rest?"

Nathaniel looked a bit embarrassed,"That's my last sketchbook. I'll get my allowance tomorrow, but then it's Shabbat so I'll have to wait until Sunday to get out and get more; then I can finish."

Chloe pushed the sketchbook back and picked up her phone,"Ridiculous." she griped to a shocked Nathaniel. Chloe tapped call.

"Daddy? I need art supplies for class. Sketchbooks. I have to make lots of drawings." Chloe listened,"I don't know what size, just get all of them. Have them delivered to my room tonight or I won't be able to finish my homework." Chloe whined that last sentence out with a practiced conviction. "Thank you daddy!"

Chloe hung up and smiled,"You can swing by after school and pick them up. You might want to bring someone to help you carry them. Daddy can be thorough."

Nathaniel still looked shocked, but it was an entirely different sort of shock,"Well, uh. Thank you Chloe?" He took back his sketchbook and picked at the corners unnecessarily.

Chloe felt her spirits lifting. This was a balm for Alya this morning,"Well, I do owe you. Maybe we can call it even now?"

Nathaniel startled from wherever his thoughts had gone and looked up,"Oh, yeah." he gave her a smile,"I do mean it. I was mad at you, but then I went off the deep end myself and turned into Evilstrator. In the end though I got support and was able to start my comics. Then I met Marc and well." Nathaniel's smile became a bit wistful,"I guess I'm saying whatever happened, I'm in a good place now."

"Lucky." Chloe let slip, and immediately took a sip from her tea to try and cover herself.

Nathaniel caught it,"What could be bothering you Chloe? You've got everything."

Internal laughter threatened to burst free. Chloe didn't like how hysterical it felt in her head. "Even utterly fabulous people have a rough patch now and then." She smoothed back nonexistent loose hairs,"Sometimes the pressure of being me can simply be a bit much."

Nathaniel snorted,"That sounds more like it." he toyed with the sketchpad a little before broaching a new subject,"You will be making the costumes?"

Chloe nodded,"Yes. Unless you have some hidden talent with a thread and needle?"

Nathaniel shook his head,"No, not me or Marc either. I can draw you my costume though. Marc's shouldn't be too hard." Nathaniel hesitated and Chloe tried to fill in the words. She took a guess and asked.

"What kind of costume does he want?"

Nathaniel smiled with second hand embarrassment and said,"He'd like to be Ladybug, if that's cool?"

Of course he would. Chloe drained the last of her cup to compose herself,"He does? Well, I know he does like Ladybug. A lot of people like Ladybug. I suppose I can't blame him for wanting to be Ladybug. She's quite popular, and always a hero who helps everyone." Chloe heard herself babbling and realized she wasn't handling this as well as she'd hoped. She sounded like Miss Du-Pain-Chang of all people.

Apparently she wasn't going to get anything past Nathaniel. She would have to remember that. He said,"It is a problem." in a flat voice.

Cornered, Chloe resorted to the last refuge of the damned, the truth,"It is. But it's my problem with Ladybug, not his." She refused to be the villain in this,"He can be Ladybug. It will even make things easier. I've got a Ladybug costume. I can alter it for him." Chloe finished her confession with a dismissive wave of her hand,"Problem solved. He can keep it when we're done even."

"Oh." Nathaniel looked like he had been bracing for a different sort of fight, and was left wrong footed now. He tapped the sides of his sketchpad again,"I should have the sketches done by sunday."

Chloe tried to figure out what she had missed but it wasn't coming to her. "Sabrina and I are going over the routine together tonight. You should give me your number in case she wants to make any changes." Chloe picked up her phone, noticed she had a text but swiped it away to open contacts.

"Right, sure." Nathaniel rattled off his number,"Just don't expect a reply between sundown friday and saturday."

Chloe pulled a confused face,"ooooo-h kay." she shrugged, then gestured to the sketchbook,"Will you need anything to make the Programme?"

They descended into some minutiae that ate up the rest of the lunch period in idle distraction. After Nathaniel rose to leave Chloe spun her cup on its saucer. She picked up her phone and her bag, finally opening that text.

Dev: No ma'am. I'm out and about like a healthy boy. I told you I'd be fine.

Chloe texted as she walked.

Chloe: You're not fine, even when you're not blown up. Drag yourself back later, I'll have the doctor look you over again since you're weird about actual hospitals. Besides, Sabrina is going to be coming back with me. She'll be happy to see you.

Dev: I'll see what I can do. I might be in lockdown for skulking off last night. You're definitely not good for my rep as the Good Son.

Chloe: I'm a terrible corrupting influence. I'd like it if you stopped by. I've had to deal with people today and it's been draining.

Chloe stared at the text after she sent it. She'd typed it out without thinking and her mind had to catch up with her fingers' betrayal. Without mercy the bell rang and she had to stuff her phone in her bag.

The walk home was traumatic. Chloe was so used to having only Sabrina with her that Nathaniel's company had completely thrown her off. She found herself suddenly tongue tied as the prospects of having to manage two people at once had arisen. Of all people Sabrina came to the rescue, asking Nathaniel about the sketches he had done. Chloe was able to walk and listen with half an ear while trying to sort it all out.

Why was this suddenly a thing? Chloe tried to follow the anxiety back to its source. Nathaniel was making her uncomfortable. Why? She couldn't split her attention. She didn't want to offend him. She didn't want to hurt Sabrina either. Trying to do both, keep up with both, while still being in control of things was giving her fits. Was this what having multiple friends was like? It hadn't been like this hanging with Sabrina and Dev, why? What was the difference?

Chloe bit her thumb with the effort of trying to sort it out, finally it hit her,"Too much history." she mumbled to herself and sagged.

"Chloe?" Sabrina asked,"What do you think?"

"Hmm?" Chloe oriented herself and tried to remember something of the conversation,"I was thinking of something else Sabrina, sorry."

Sabrina was holding Chloe's original notepad,"Can we make copies of this at the hotel, so we can have it while Nathaniel keeps the original to work from?"

"Yes yes of course." Chloe waggled her fingers. She'd been assuming she'd have to perform the entire routine for Sabrina without notes. Then feeling a need to participate,"If you need help getting everything home Nathaniel, I can have Jean drive you."

"O-Kay, Thanks?" Nathaniel answered with obvious confusion before diving back into explaining the stage-direction diagrams he had added to the movement breakdowns.

Chloe retreated back into her own head. Had she said something wrong? Was it not enough? Should she have offered something more? Fear ate at her and then turned itself into anger as it always had and threatened to boil up.

Oh my, the snack has fangs. Sink them into one of these creatures. It might be fun.

Didn't scream, to her credit. The voice had purred in her ear. She could feel it, not like before. The shadow was in her head. She could feel the den. What lay within was lolling about, an indistinct blurr in a playful mood.

What are you doing here? I didn't call you.

Call? Does a meal call the Diner? The shadows rolled and somewhere huge ears perked to attention

Get out of my head! Leave my friends alone! Chloe clenched her fists, but kept walking. This wasn't like fighting an Akuma. She felt like she was pushing on the inside of her own head, grasping for something that disappeared into smoke the moment she grappled with it.

No. I don't think I will. You are not seeing things clearly.

From the Den the shadows struck, glinting claws and sudden motion.

Chloe screamed and clutched her left eye. Sabrina and Nathaniel rounded at the noise. Chloe staggered but didn't drop her books this time. Her eye burned like it was on fire. She rubbed frantically at it,"Sabrina, Sabrina. Water.. Water..!" Chloe heard more than saw the others moving around. Sabrina was calling out to a street vendor. It seemed like an eternity before she heard Nathaniel's voice,"Here, you need to move your hand." He touched her arm and pulled it away slowly. Cold water poured down over her face and hair. Chloe tried opening her eye, blinking away the water droplets.

She could see. Her vision swam but she could see out of her eye. Chloe blinked and tried rubbing it lightly again as Nathaniel stepped back.

"You shouldn't touch it too much Chloe." he said.

Sabrina handed her a stack of napkins and Chloe dabbed her face and eye, she was tearing up making the whole process harder. The pain subsided into a dull burning. "Ugh. How bad is it?" she asked the pair, finally straightening herself up and keeping both eyes open.

They exchanged a look, Sabrina spoke hesitantly,"Your eye's red Chloe, like, completely."

Chloe scrambled for her compact. Snapping it open she saw that Sabrina was exaggerating, but only just. Her pupil and lovely blue iris were both still there, but they swam in a sea of red. Shutting first one eye then the other Chloe realized whatever happened had tinted her vision out of that eye a filmy yellow.

"Well isn't this lovely. Walking along and boom, something flies into my eye and I get THIS to deal with. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" It wasn't totally a lie. She snapped her compact shut again after a quick touch up. She couldn't fix her makeup properly here.

Putting her best face on it Chloe smiled oversize for effect,"At Least I look the part people expect of me now." Sabrina giggled and Nathaniel gave a hesitant smile. Chloe waved them on with an imperious gesture,"Let's go."

They were almost to the hotel before Chloe realized her anger had gone.

At the hotel Chloe stopped in at the desk,"JEAN!" she bellowed. He appeared momentarily and Chloe gestured to her notepad, still in Nathaniel's hands,"Make copies of this. Have them sent up to my room. Also dinner; I'm starving. Have the art supplies arrived yet? I'll be needing Dr D'iedre too once Dev arrives." Chloe paused. Jean was so obviously trying not to stare at her eye. "Well?" She prompted, folding her arms.

"There are twenty one sketchpads of various sizes on a trolley upstairs Madmoiselle. I will gladly send up Dinner, what would Madmoiselle like? I shall call the doctor presently to inform him of a later engagement, and I can have copies made while I do." Jean extended a hand to Nathaniel.

Chloe was a little put out; she hadn't managed to put Jean off balance. "Very Good." she begrudgingly offered,"As for dinner. Something with plenty of red meat." Chloe raised her hands and made mock-claw gestures at Jean while opening her eyes wide.

"Madmoiselle?" her antics did throw him off this time.

"Got to feed the BEAST Jean!" Chloe added a growl and another swipe, turning her head so she was looking at him with only her red eye. She heard Sabrina giggle again, and this time even a small laugh from Nathaniel.

Chloe felt good.

Jean took the notebook and quickly retreated. Chloe turned on the other two with a comfortably superior smile on her face again,"Shall we?"

Upstairs in her room Nathaniel picked through the trolley full of sketch pads. Three each were here from A0 all the way down to A7. "There's no way I can get this all home Chloe." he said.

"Take what you need, and we'll have a car bring the rest around. They won't do me any good here." Chloe crossed to her bedroom and vanity, getting a better look at herself in the mirror.

She sighed, there was no makeup for this. She picked up eye drops and tilted her head back. The regret was immediate. She managed to keep from making a sound other than the dull *thumps* of picking up and throwing whatever bottles she could reach with her free hand onto the carpet. Her other hand rubbed mercilessly at her eye as it teared up.

Chloe pulled out her phone as her eye cleared. No messages. She tapped one out, closing her red eye to give herself crisper vision.

Chloe: I see you didn't decide to come back. You're missing quite a show at my expense.

Chloe shuffled her scattered cosmetics together into one area, she'd deal with them later. Buzz, a rapid reply.

Dev: I told you I'd try. I am. You'd appreciate that it's a clothing issue. Besides, just because I'm gone doesn't mean I'm not there.

Chloe: What?

Chloe wasn't in the mood for riddles.

Dev: You left me alone in your suite for the day. Think about it. I'll text you in a couple hours one way or the other.

Chloe huffed and tossed her phone on the bed. It fell next to Mr. Cuddly who was holding a folded square of paper. Chloe frowned at that and took the paper from the little bear's arms. The handwriting was appalling but she could read it. 'I have deposited one hug in this bear. To be used in case of emergency.'

Chloe stared at the note long after deciphering the chicken scratch. Eventually she folded it back up and went to put it in her pocket. She paused, then carefully returned the note to Mr. Cuddly's hands, giving the bear a pat on the head.

Returning to the entryway Chloe scanned for any more notes. There, tucked into the flower vase on the central table. She put on an extra casual air and strode over. Sabrina was in the sitting room with laptop already open and homework out. Nathaniel was looking out over the balcony at the moment, his arms full of new sketchbooks. Chloe snuck, snuck. She snatched the note and stuffed it into her pocket.

"Do you Want to get together Monday after school to start rehearsing? Marc has Savate at seven but we could probably get a start." Chloe jumped as if stung at the sound of Nathaniel's voice.

She rounded on him quickly, he was watching her. Had he seen her grab the note? Why did she care so much? "Monday, yes. Monday sounds good. I'll get your measurements as well. Magic doesn't happen overnight you know."

A knock at the door announced Jean with both a food trolley and copies. Chloe attacked a Bahn Pate So,"Jean bring the car around for Nathaniel, and load the rest of his things in the trunk."

Nathaniel, after looking to ensure it was okay, picked up a pastry but just held it for a moment,"I don't need a ride Chloe, I can walk."

Chloe stepped up to him and raised an Imperious finger,"Have you ever ridden in a Limo before?"

"No?"

Chloe grinned,"It just so happens I have a Limo. Everyone should ride in Limos if they can, and now you can." She made a shooing gesture,"Hop to it Jean." Chloe leaned in conspiritously to Nathaniel,"There's a micro freezer behind the middle arm rest. I had it put in and filled with ice cream. Help yourself."

Nathaniel didn't look as impressed as Chloe had hoped, he looked slightly uncomfortable. Uncertainty bloomed in Chloe's stomach. She pulled back,"Anyway. Yes, Monday. We will send you any corrections we come up with before then." She stepped away towards the Balcony.

"Um. Alright Chloe, sounds good. Thanks again."

Chloe didn't turn back. She hugged herself loosely and gripped her elbows to try and still her stomach,"Yes yes I'm wonderful, I know. Now off you go. Sabrina and I have a lot to do." She didn't turn around until she heard the art trolly roll out and the door shut behind them.

Chloe let out a breath and walked over to the sitting area,"Why was that so awful?"

Sabrina looked up from her screen,"Awful Chloe?"

"That, all that. Nathaniel. I can't talk to him."

Sabrina looked genuinely confused,"I thought it was fine?"

Chloe sat down and sulked,"Well, yeah. You two chatted the whole way home. Then there's me so busy trying to figure out what to say I give myself an Aneurism." Chloe closed and covered her eye with the palm of her hand. It helped reduce the itch. "I thought buying him those sketchbooks would make everything easier."

"I think he really liked them."

Chloe fought being consoled,"It didn't seem like it. Then I offer him a ride in the limo and he treats it like a snake!"

"Maybe it was too much?" Sabrina hadn't turned to face her yet, but Chloe noticed she'd stopped typing and was sitting very still except for her fingertips which pinched the fabric of her leggings at the knee.

"Too much? It's just a limo. I ride in it practically every day. Who doesn't want to ride in a limo?" Chloe's voice rose slightly in disbelief.

"Me?" Sabrina curled her fingers into little trembling fists.

"You?" Chloe couldn't believe her ears,"You love riding in my limo. You are always asking to go with me everywhere."

Sabrina did turn now but didn't raise her eyes. She fumbled her hands together, white knuckled,"That's because you're there Chloe."

Chloe was aware she was missing something,"Well, of course. It's my Limo." she pushed on.

"No, don't you see? I only want to go because you're there. It's big, cold, and the air always smells too clean. I don't care about some dumb car."

"My Limo's not good enough? What else are you ungrateful for? Is My suite too tacky for you too?" Chloe rose and her voice rose too as anger bubbled up.

Sabrina dove for Chloe's hand grabbing it in both of hers,"No!" She looked up now, a pained expression on her face,"I'm not doing this right. I want to help Chloe. I just." She squeezed,"I don't know how to say it."

Every instinct told Chloe to yell, to toss Sabrina out, to get out of this situation. And where have those instincts gotten me? Instead she sat down hard.

Sabrina scrambled into a hug, half curled up across her,"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Chloe was completely lost. She felt uncomfortable and somehow at fault. Timidly she rested a hand on Sabrina's back,"It's okay Sabrina." She said lamely,"Just try to get it out?" Chloe moved her hand a little, rubbing in what she hoped was a comforting manner.

Sabrina whimpered, but sat herself up. She took Chloe's hand again though, holding it tightly,"It's. I." She took a deep breath,"You give people things when you think they're mad, or sad. I mean, when you don't want them to be." Sabrina hesitated,"It's not always good. Like, if I'm sad or mad, I'll still be that way later, just with more stuff, and sometimes-" She cut off and dropped her head again,"Ohhh I'm doing this all wrong."

Chloe couldn't keep up, so she bought time,"Where is this all coming from Sabrina?" she asked. She still gently rubbed Sabrina's back, hand on autopilot.

Sabrina raised her head and smiled hopefully through a flushed face,"I want to be a good friend. You said you were going to try so I want to too."

"You want to-?" Chloe was dumbfounded,"You're there for me whenever I call. You do my homework. You organize my schedule. You carry my books. I could probably save time and list the things you don't do for me. What more could you possibly do?"

Sabrina hung her head again,"Talk to you about hard stuff." she mumbled,"Tell you things that might make you mad at me. I never did before because I was scared. I don't know how."

Chloe was fried. She couldn't tell if she was feeling happy, sad, angry, excited, terrified, panicked, or safe. All she knew was that she felt entirely too much. "Oh Sabrina." she managed then she grabbed her friend and pulled her back in. She squeezed Sabrina tight as she could. There was a little 'eep' but Sabrina didn't complain, she cuddled in and stayed.

Chloe waited until the overload receded then gently let go,"Allright, up now." She steadied her voice,"I still don't know what you mean, but at least there's something to know." Sabrina peeled herself away but Chloe caught her cheek and added,"I'm probably the worst person to ask about how to be a friend, but please keep trying and I will too." Chloe let go and added one more thing,"Thank you." it was starting to feel almost natural now.

Sabrina smiled a good smile, then gestured to the table,"I've started our Math homework. Should we keep going?"

Chloe considered,"No. If I don't move I think I might explode. Let's leave it be for now and dance until we fall over." Chloe's stomach growled audibly in protest,"and, maybe raid the trolley."

Exhaustion. Chloe had forgotten how good it could feel. When had she last done something like this? Ballet? The sun was painting the sky a fading rose. She stood with a small towel draped over her shoulders, cardigan and shoes abandoned in a corner. The splashing hiss of Sabrina in the shower was the only sound in the suite and Chloe let it hypnotize her. Homework, School, and the chaos of trying to be something more all faded into the distance.

The sun was bidding it's last goodbyes when Chloe slipped back out of her reverie. Sabrina popped back out in silk night clothes from the hotel. "These are so SOFT." she announced upon arrival, rubbing the too-long sleeves of the pajamas on her cheeks.

"Only the best for daddy's hotel." Chloe mused,"My turn." by old habit she checked her pockets before heading to shower and came up with the stashed note. Sabrina had already noticed and after the day Chloe didn't feel she could chase her off. Chloe opened the note to see more of the scrawl 'Did you find this one first? Sorry about the penmanship, writing is harder these days. Welcome home.'

Chloe turned it for Sabrina to see. Sabrina's eyes scanned it, and she started working herself up into a squee,"So CUTE."

"Hmph. That's more your thing." Chloe folded the note back up.

"Oh!" Sabrina jumped,"There's another one! Hold on." She dashed into the sitting room and came back out with her prize,"It was on the table, I just set my laptop down next to it."

Chloe took the note and opened it with a resigned air,"Probably just something else Gouche." Once more the scrawl, just four little words 'Best seats in town.'

"I don't get it?" Sabrina admitted when Chloe showed it to her.

"But I do." Chloe smiled knowingly and put a finger to her lips. That set Sabrina to overdrive again. A happy overdrive, one Chloe was starting to enjoy.

Chloe stepped away,"Now, I'll be back soon. Feel free to start but don't do all our homework without me." She grinned back at Sabrina,"At least, not this time."

On her way to the bathroom Chloe spotted her phone on the bed where she'd left it hours ago. One panicked dash later she was staring at a message already thirty minutes old.

Dev: Success. I've got something new for you to make fun of. I should be by in about half an hour if all goes well. See you soon.

Chloe checked the time again to be sure,"Sabrina!" she yelled,"We're going to have company! Ogrish company! Stall!"

She swept into the bathroom, back out, back in, and looked at herself in the vanity. She was panicking, why was she panicking? How was this different from last night; she was a sweaty wreck with a scarlet eye is how. What should she wear? Sabirna was in PJs, Sabrina wouldn't care about being in PJs. Sabrina looked cute in PJs. Should she wear PJs too? Something nicer? Should she wash her hair tonight, or leave it for tomorrow?

Sabrina popped her head in,"You mean Dev's coming over? When?"

"Soon!" Chloe shot back,"Now let me work." she made her mind up and swept through to the shower.

Voices confirmed Dev was here when she got out. She left her hair down and tried to battle it forward on the left side. How did Juleka do it? Chloe gave up for time. Perfume? No. No strong scents. Chloe grabbed a bodyspray, just a dash of honeysuckle. She pirouetted twice on her way to the closet, trying to air the spray; Towel became oversized sweats. If Sabrina was elegant Chloe would be cozy. A dash to grab the note from her bear and her phone then Chloe bounced her way down the steps to the entrance. Perky wasn't a role she normally played, but she'd committed herself now.

"So, how's our invalid doing?" she asked as she stepped into the sitting room. Chloe took extra care to keep a slight tilt to her head to keep her bangs in place over her eye.

Sabrina was sat opposite Dev with her laptop in her lap. For a moment it seemed to Chloe as if the conversation had been serious but at the sound of her voice both turned to her. Sabrina lit up and Dev cracked one of his slow smiles.

Chloe forestalled any greeting with an accusatory,"What is THAT?" Leveling an accusing finger at the new jacket Dev wore.

"Told you." Dev quipped to Sabrina then he stood, arms out and slowly turning,"I left it on just so you could see, new digs courtesy of my father's paranoia."

It was tailored to his broad shoulders and powerful frame but even so it was a bulky black affair of synthetic fiber, zippers, and seams. Chloe had never seen the like in any fashion book, not even under fashion don'ts.

"What IS it though?" Chloe demanded. She stepped up and gave him a poke in the chest. This time he didn't move, Chloe felt slightly cheated.

"Kevlar." Dev thumped himself in the side,"And internal metal plates. Level Three protection. I'm virtually indestructible if some Frenchman attacks me with a stale baguette." Show over, he reached for the collar strap and zipper, peeling it off,"a bit heavy though." He folded the jjacket as best he could and lobbed it gently at Sabrina who had to scramble her laptop to safety and try to catch it at the same time. She oofed and went over under it, wrestling her way up to sitting and heaving it off beside her. She made a face and waggled her fingers at Dev.

Little imp is stealing my game. Chloe mused with equal parts consternation and pride. She noticed Dev was wearing a long sleeve shirt today. Bandages poked out at the collar and cuffs but he was lacking the thick padded look from yesterday. That didn't seem right; she left it go,"Why do you have this?" She stepped over to lay the jacket out again, he wasn't kidding about heavy.

"Paranoia. Dad thinks it'll keep me safer so I get to lug twenty pounds of sweat-inducing tactical gear around."

"Safer from what?" Sabrina chimed in, plucking at the zipseal on a cuff.

Chloe teased,"Zee Germans?"

Dev sighed and threw himself back down the couch, almost all the stiffness of yesterday gone. "You'd have to ask him." his tone was downright surly.

"Meeting the parents so soon?" Chloe mock swooned and advanced on Dev,"You can't blame him too much. You are the most blown-up person I know." she raised her hands, nails out and threatening a poking.

Dev bore up under the attack, a light challenging glint to his eye. Chloe heard Sabrina giggle and she was committed. She lunged and clawed lightly, hoping for a squirm.

She didn't get it. Instead dev caught her by the wrist,"You got to push me around yesterday. My turn." He tugged effortlessly and Chloe was on her back across his lap. A flick of the fingers from his other hand, metal brace just grazing her cheek, and Chloe's work to conceal her eye was undone,"Well now, she wasn't joking was she?"

Chloe's brains were still standing back where she had been for a moment. She unfroze a moment later and flailed, covering her eye and kicking her feet in embarrassment,"Sabrina, you little snitch!"

Sabrina fell into a fit of giggles, and Dev laughed his full low rolling laugh. Chloe could feel it rumbling through her from the contact. Fear and inadequacy tried to take hold but the sheer joy of Sabrina's giggles plucked at the darkness. Chloe squirmed and bumped her cheek into Dev's hand. A moment's touch helped shake the last of the darkness away and replaced it with her friend's warmth. Chloe joined in the giggling and thumped her fists against Dev, making quite a show of her petulant struggle.

"Okay okay, I give." he surrendered eventually, sweeping her up out of his lap and back onto her feet as easily as he'd handled her before,"I'm not quite ready for a full assault."

Chloe worked to right herself. Oversized clothes were comfy but they maneuvered themselves weirdly in a tussle.

"Don't be too hard on Sabrina. She was looking out for you. She told me not to make a big deal if I saw it." Dev studied the eye openly, Chloe had never felt more awkward.

"You know, I blame you for this." She gestured to her eye.

"I can't argue that."

Another round of giggles from Sabrina. Chloe stepped back and shoved Dev's jacket onto the floor to sit beside her.

"You're not mad at me?" Sabrina asked tentatively.

"No Sabrina." Chloe drawled. Then she gave her friend a shove,"But I won't rule out revenge."

"It's good to hear you laugh."

Chloe did a double take, how was she supposed to stay mad when Sabrina said things like that?

Dev spoke up,"I think it suits you."

Chloe leveled a look at him,"Suits me?"

"Direct, intense, and fiery."

"Are you really trying to turn this into a compliment?"

"Couldn't hurt."

Chloe looked sideways at Sabrina,"You see what I put up with?"

Sabrina scooted her laptop back into her lap,"Compliments and notes. The hard life of Chloe Bourgeois, superstar."

Chloe did a second doubletake, what had gotten into this girl? Chloe leaned over and hit several keys on Sabrina's keyboard randomly,"Brat." she accused. They got into a mini slap battle that Chloe graciously lost, with Sabrina hunched protectly over her laptop as the victor.

Chloe gestured to Dev,"you got here late unfortunately. We've still got homework. Do you want me to ring the doctor?"

Dev shook his head,"nah. I might steal this couch for a bit though."

Chloe took out her books and tried to find the one Sabrina was using,"Oh, you come over here and fall asleep? Charming."

Dev held up his hands,"Invalid remember? And your suite is much better than my Uncle's place."

Chloe waved him off,"Fine fine, just behave." She set about reading the requirements for the assignment to end the conversation.

Thirty minutes later she lifted her head out of the equations and glanced over. Dev was quite asleep it seemed, on his side facing away from them. Chloe got an idea. She got Sabrina's attention and motioned for silence then picked up her things and rounded the coffee table. She nodded for Sabrina to follow and the latter did with some confusion. Chloe set her things down and wedged herself between the sofa and table again. Ha! She had been right. Her upper back, shoulders, and head bumped against Dev's back. He was warmer without all the padding. Sabrina's confusion remained fixed until she sat down too, leaning gently back and then she mouthed an 'Ooohhh' and covered a smile. The two continued working in whispers.

Two hours later and Sabrina's head slumped slowly to her chest. Chloe was grateful, she'd been fighting this same history paragraph for fifteen minutes but it simply would not stick. Chloe closed her book and scooted over slightly. She whispered,"you're not asleep." nearer Dev's ear

"No. How could you tell?"

"I felt your breathing change."

"Clever girl."

"Of course." She got to her feet and leaned over him,"I need two things."

Dev shifted his head and shoulders slightly, not moving his lower back where Sabrina was propped,"Yes?"

"One, help me get Sabrina up on the couch. And two." Chloe hesitated, She fidgeted slightly. Dev watched her but didn't speak. "Two. Mr. Cuddly says he lost what you gave him." She took out the note and dropped it still folded on the couch in front of Dev,"Do you think you've got another?"

Dev looked at the folded note then back up at Chloe. "I might."

He moved suddenly again, but precisely. One thick arm reached back and caught her 'round the waist. It was his right arm but he managed smoothly enough, Hauling her bodily across him to end up in the space between him and the back of the couch. Chloe closed her lips tightly to keep from crying out and the effort only intensified the spiraling butterflies she felt.

Dev kept his arm around her loosely. He whispered in the intimate shadow of two faces too close together,"Comfortable?"

Chloe ducked her head under his, feeling absolutely tiny but safe,"Utterly comfortable." She murmured, "but if you tell anyone, I'll end you." There she stayed for several long minutes before carefully extracting herself and stepping out over the back of the couch to avoid the minefield of books, laptop, and Sabrina on the other side.

Operation 'Sabrina bedtime' worked without a hitch. Chloe spread some of her own blankets on a couch and Dev with the utmost care lifted and settled Sabrina on them. Then she offered her sheet to Dev but he declined and settled back opposite the sleeping Sabrina. Not once did he mention Chloe's request.

As she walked back to her bedroom Chloe tucked this little memory carefully away next to that of another important hug, another important friend. Two lights where weeks ago there had been none.