Wow, things have gotten crazy in the last week...

I'm hoping the quarantine will give more time to right, so I can work on updating my other stories besides this one, but we'll have to see. I hope everyone reading this is safe and healthy.


Chapter 11: Behind the Mask

Lacy, for some reason, followed Chloe out of the classroom.

She found her sobbing in the bathroom, eye makeup already smeared. When Chloe saw Lacy enter, she scowled.

"Go away," she snapped.

For some reason, she didn't.

Maybe it was because no one else followed Chloe (well, Adrien might have if he could, but they were hiding in the girls bathroom so he couldn't come in). Maybe it was because she didn't want to deal with another akuma. Or maybe Chloe reminded her so much of several of her sisters that Lacy couldn't help but feel bad for her.

So Lacy stayed.

That didn't mean she knew what to say.

"I'm sorry Sabrina's been ignoring you all day," she eventually said.

Chloe sniffled. "Are you?"

"It sucks, feeling like you're all alone," Lacy stated. "I've been there before."

Chloe huffed. "I'm not all alone."

Lacy sighed. If Piper was here, she would know what to say. She always knew how to make their sisters listen, even the brattiest ones. Lacy, on the other hand, had no clue.

She thought about something her dad said once. If you don't know what to say to someone, just let them know you're there.

"Listen, we don't know each other," Lacy said. "I don't think you want to know me, and honestly I don't really want to know you either. But right now you're sobbing in a smelly bathroom, and you're not alright, and you need someone to stay with you. So even if all I can do is stay here, I will."

"Why? Why do you care?"

"Because I've sobbed my heart out in a smelly bathroom before," Lacy replied. "Because someone a lot like Lila stole someone I thought was my friend - and I don't know what I would have done if some random new girl hadn't found me there and stayed with me until I felt better."

Chloe started at her for a moment.

"And because the three people I admire most in life would have followed you too," Lacy admitted. "If they could. But ones on the other side of the ocean right now, and ones - well, she's dead. But mostly because I've felt alone before, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

Chloe scoffed. "Please. You have a perfect family, I doubt-"

Lacy cut her off with a laugh that surprised even herself. "Perfect family? I've never even met my mother."

Chloe blinked. "What about that woman you're always around?"

"Elisabeth? She's my stepmom." Lacy sighed. "And I love her, but that never changed the fact that my own mother never bothered to visit me. And it's not like she couldn't! My sister met her - twice! But I guess I'm not worth the time."

"Oh." Chloe said.

"So yeah, I know what it's like to feel alone," Lacy said. "When everyone has this picture perfect family and you don't."

"My mother forgot my birthday again," Chloe blurted. "Sabrina and Adrien remembered, and my butler and my father, but she didn't. And then Sabrina immediately ditched me after giving me my present, and Adrien's sitting next to Dupain Cheng, the pinnacle of all things I'll never be, and I just-"

"Feel forgotten," Lacy finished. "It brought up all the old insecurities again."

"Yeah," Chloe agreed. "And lashing out, it helps. Sometimes."

"Fight or flight," Lacy said. She herself was very much flight - whether it was shutting up whenever Lila or Drew was around, running from akuma attacks, or skipping school when she had a scary teacher. But Chloe must have been a fighter - she wanted to defend herself, even if there was nothing to defend from.

"Maybe," Chloe said. "I don't always know why."

"My sister stole a car once." Why that came out her mouth, Lacy had no idea. "Well, she said she talked them into it. She has the same ability as Lila has, except better, and whenever she felt ignored by her father, she talked people into giving her free stuff, knowing the effect would wear off and she'd get caught. I guess she figured that if she couldn't get her dad's attention for being good, she'd get it by being bad."

"That makes sense," Chloe said. "Sometimes, I'm afraid that people will forget me. Especially Adrien. Or my mom. And I'll just fade away."

Lacy hesitated. "Honestly I don't know what to say to that."

"What? No magical therapy cures from the daughter of a therapist?" Chloe huffed and crosses her arms.

"There's no magical therapy cures period," Lacy said. "Therapy takes a lot of work. Change takes a lot of work."

Chloe eyed her suspiciously. "You ever go to therapy?"

"Yeah," Lacy agreed. "My father had a colleague that I used to go to - since my dad couldn't do it right, being so close to me. He helped with a lot of my problems with my mom, and my teachers, and - well, I'm a mess, and he helped with a lot of that. Actually, I'm the reason my father switched his focus to youth, especially those with learning disabilities and family struggles. Because he saw how little people knew how to help me, and he decided to make sure he could help others like me, even if it meant a little more schooling."

"Your father must love you a lot," Chloe said.

"Yeah," Lacy agreed. She looked down at her feet. "Sometimes I feel selfish for wanting my mother to love me, when I have him and Elisabeth. Like they're not enough."

"But mothers are supposed to love you," Chloe argued.

"Yeah." Lacy sighed. "They are."

Silence. Lacy shifted her weight, wondering if she should say something.

Chloe broke the silence first. "Want to get out of the smelly bathroom?"

Lacy nodded. "Yeah."

The two girls sat down on a bench in the locker room, and Chloe was quiet for a moment.

"Do you think Cesaire is right?"

"Uh..." Lacy stammered. "Kinda?"

Chloe scoffed. "You can be honest, you know."

"Yeah, I do," Lacy said. "You - I get it, change is hard and scary, but when you're entrusted with something like that, I don't know, you need to take it seriously."

"I do," Chloe said. "Ladybug's the only person who's ever trusted me like that. But, if I try to change, and I don't-"

"You'll feel even worse," Lacy finished. "Failing at something can be scarier than not even trying. Like procrastinating a big essay."

"I guess."

"And you will fail," Lacy said.

Chloe shot her a glare, and she backtracked.

"Not you, specifically. I meant - my father always told me, that when you try to do any big changes in your life, any big improvements, he always said that you will backslide once or twice. And that's why a lot of people give up. But that's okay! I mean, not giving up, but backsliding, and being afraid, and I think Ladybug would understand. But I think she'd appreciate it if you showed you took it seriously, even if just through little things."

"Maybe." Chloe sighed. She was quiet, staring at the wall, and Lacy shifted on the bench awkwardly.

Chloe's head lulled, falling onto Lacy's shoulder. "I'm tired."

"Schools almost over," Lacy replied.

"I don't want to go back in there," Chloe admitted.

"That's fine," Lacy said. "We can stay out here as long as we need."

"Thank you," Chloe replied.

They stayed silent for a moment, Lacy listening as Chloe's breathing became steadier and steadier.

She sniffled, and raised up to look at Lacy. "Can you come over to my place tonight?"

"Sure," Lacy agreed. "I'll just have to let my father know."


"- and if she's even a little bit mean to you-" Alix continued.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Lacy replied.

"She'll regret the day she was born," Alix finished.

Lacy rolled her eyes. "Alix, I'll be fine. I promise."

Alix sighed. "Okay, if you say so. But if I find out she brought you to tears, or you get akumatized-"

Alix was cut off by a phone alert.

"Another akuma," Alix said after checking her phone. "Other side of Paris."

The two of them reached the stairs outside of the school.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Lacy said, continuing down the stairs and waving bye to Alix.

"There you are."

Lacy startled as Chloe put her hand around her shoulders.

"You startle too easily," Chloe scoffed.

"So I've been told," Lacy grumbled.

"Hey Chloe!"

Both girls jumped this time as Adrien passed them on the stairs.

"I hope today wasn't too bad of a birthday," he said. "I'd hang with you tonight, but-"

Chloe scoffed. "I'm having a girls night anyways. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Adrien replied before continuing down the stairs.

Chloe's limo pulled up a second later, and Lacy felt a glimmer of excitement at the idea of riding in one, if only a short distance. Limos were cool - Piper had once promised Lacy a ride in one, but outside circumstances kept that from happening.

Chloe smirked, clearly reading the excitement on Lacy's face.

The ride to the hotel was just enough time for Chloe to snap a selfie of them together and post it on her Instagram.

"What's your instagram?" Chloe asked.

"Oh, uh, I don't have one."

Chloe gave her a look over her phone.

"I'm cursed when it comes to technology," Lacy explained. "Bad things happen when I use it."

Chloe didn't look convinced. "We're getting you an Instagram tonight."

"Okay... but if we get attacked by killer birds, it's your fault."

In Paris, no one thought she was joking when she said that (unlike when she tried that excuse on her friends in New York), but Chloe wasn't swayed.

"Everyone has an Instagram," she stated, just as the limo rolled to a stop in front of the hotel.


Of course, Chloe's apartment was huge. Lacy couldn't help but gasp when she walked in.

Chloe flicked her hair as she continued into her room, beckoning Lacy to follow her.

"So what do you want to do?" Chloe asked, plopping down on her sofa.

"I don't know." Lacy sat down next to Chloe, shifting from the nerves she always felt when visiting someone's home for the first time. "What do you feel up to?"

"Well, let's see. Sabrina and I like to cosplay, but I know you're not really into superheroes."

"Not really, no."

"Which I don't understand, but whatever. Have you ever tried jewelry making?"

Lacy perked up. "I've always wanted to."

Chloe smiled. "Well, Daddy bought me some expensive crafting supplies for making jewelry we could use."

Lacy quickly agreed, and Chloe dug the supplies out of her extremely large closet. She showed Lacy the few things she had learned so far before the two started digging in.

They fell into a comfortable rhythm quickly, chatting about the different beads, lengths of the necklaces, and their favorite jewelry designers as they crafted. After an hour, their workspace had expanded to cover most of Chloe's amazingly soft bed and the floor, and Lacy had almost glued her thumb to one of her fingers.

Chloe had created three necklaces - her designs were gaudy and flashy, but she had the details like length correct. Lacy had finished two necklaces, both looking disjointed with one too long to wear and one so short it was almost a choker.

"I think I'm jewelry-ed out," Lacy admitted, leaning back onto Chloe's bed.

"Agreed." Chloe half-flung the bead case onto her nightstand and plopped down next to Lacy.

The two girls were silent for a moment, and it was a peaceful silence, but Lacy eventually had to readjust the pillow her head fell on.

"Hey Lacy," Chloe whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for coming over. I didn't want to spend tonight alone."

"Of course."

Lacy shifted her pillow again.

"You don't sit still, do you?" Chloe asked.

"No," Lacy admitted. She rolled over to face Chloe. "Your bed is really comfortable, you know?"

"I know. After all, I have to get my beauty sleep."

"I thought you woke up like that." Lacy flashed a cheeky grin, and Chloe playfully hit her with a throw pillow.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come on in!" Chloe yelled, pushing herself up and fixing her hair.

Her butler came in. "Madamoiselle, your father wanted me to tell you that he cannot make dinner tonight for a meeting."

"What?" Chloe demanded. "Tell him he's being ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!"

"I will. Is there anything I can get for you two in the meantime?"

"Ugh, no, we're fine. I'll call you if I need you." Chloe dismisses the butler with a hand wave, before collapsing back onto her bed.

"The one person I can count on being there on my birthday," she lamented. "By the way, your phone's been going off for five minutes now and it's driving me nuts."

Lacy glanced up, looking for her phone - which would still be across the room in her backpack. Bemoaning leaving the comfy bed, Lacy swung her feet over and went to retrieve the bag.

"Who is it?" Chloe asked.

Lacy unzipped her pocket and pulled out her phone. "It's Marinette - which is probably not who you want to hear about."

Chloe groaned. "Please no. I get enough of her and her goody-two-shoes-ness at school."

Double-checking that her parents hadn't contacted her, Lacy quickly sent Marinette a text telling her she was busy and put her phone back in her bag.

"Part of me thinks I should defend her, but I don't know if that would help," Lacy admitted, retaking her position on the insanely soft bed.

"Don't tell me you've fallen for it too," Chloe groaned.

"Oh, I see," Lacy mused. "You think it's all an act, don't you?"

Chloe scoffed. "Everyone's acting, Lacy. Some people just get away with pretending to be the good, heroic student who everyone likes and flocks to. It's no wonder Rossi targets her so much."

"And you're jealous."

"A little." Chloe sighed and rolled over. "It's not fair. She has the perfect family, more friends than I can count, and she's not tragically poor either - it's like everything someone could want. And it was one thing when I could, you know..."

"Bully her?"

"Yeah, but now she blows me off like I'm nothing. And now Adrien's starting to have a crush on her, instead of me."

"You don't like Adrien anyways," Lacy replied. "Not like that."

Chloe grumbled. "He's the only guy who pays me any attention - except for Kim, but I thought he was kidding until he got akumatized over it!"

"I have seen a lot of people make that mistake," Lacy admitted.

"And Kim was different back then anyways - he's played meaner pranks than that. I mean, everyone blames me for the akumas but he caused the first one!"

"Yeah, but he's changed."

Chloe scoffed. "Maybe he has."

"But that's beside the point, weren't we talking about Marinette?"

"Ugh, even thinking about her makes me mad."

"I get it." Lacy turned so she was facing Chloe, who turned to her. "Girls who seem to have everything together, who are confident, popular, well-loved, they're easy to hate."

"Really easy," Chloe agreed.

"But I don't think Marinette's faking it."

Chloe scoffed. "Everyone's faking it. Even you."

Lacy opened her mouth to argue - of course she wasn't - but closed it when she realized Chloe was right. It was the small things - the pressure mostly from her sisters. Only movies with romance were worth watching. Don't do any activities that will ruin your hair (even climbing! Lacy had sat out so many climbing lessons at camp because the rest of her cabin was). Gossip. Always watch your image.

That's what a daughter of Aphrodite was supposed to do, right?

"Yeah, okay," Lacy agreed. "I do it, you do it, everyone does it. But the person behind the mask - I think for Marinette, it's usually just someone who really, really wants to go sleep. Not someone trying to be the most popular girl in school or compete with you for attention or anything."

"Oh really? Then what's her problem with Rossi?"

"Lila? She lies."

"So?"

"You know how my phone buzzer was bothering you a little bit ago? Marinette's pet peeve is liars - and yeah, the fact that she flirts with Adrien isn't helping anything either."

"That is not making her many friends at all," Chloe added. "So you really think all this comes naturally?"

"You say that like it means she has no flaws." Lacy frowned. "But I'm not going to tell you what those are, because you are a jerk to her."

"Fair enough. But she does have flaws?"

"Everyone has flaws, and crappy parts of their life. You thought I had a perfect life too, remember?"

"You handle it all better than I do."

"It's called therapy. You should try it sometimes."

Chloe chuckled. "Fair." She pushed herself back up and undid her ponytail. "Today was exhausting."

Lacy pushed herself up as well. "You should try to go to bed early after a day like today."

Chloe fussed with her hair for a minute, but Lacy pushed her hands out of the way and started doing it herself.

"Maybe take a nice bath in that bathtub I saw in there," Lacy suggested. She stretched for the brush on Chloe's nightstand and started slowly combing through her hair.

"This feels nice," Chloe said.

Lacy haltered, but just for a second. It wasn't something she had intended to do, but something had caused her to do it anyways.

A bittersweet memory tugged at her brain, and Lacy remembered Silena combing her hair like this, and singing, just a few nights before she died...

Lacy shook the thought out of her head and focused on the hair in front her hair. Absentmindedly, she began to hum as well, and eventually she let herself sing.

"A naeoidhean bhig
cluinn mo ghuth
Mise rid' thaobh
O mhaighdean bhan"


"Pound it!"

"Two akumas in one day again," Chat Noir commented. "Hawkmoth must be getting impatient."

"Honestly the akumas have been the least stressful part of my day," Ladybug admitted. "School drama sucks."

"Tell me about it," Chat Noir grumbled. "Who knew school could get this complicated?"

"Speaking of drama, I think I owe Rena an apology," Ladybug said. "I was thinking about how Chloe handled the drama with Sabrina, and I was sympathetic at first, but then I found out she ruined someone's artwork and, I don't know. I'm not sure why that makes me want to talk to her - I guess I realized I missed her too. And I didn't handle it well either."

"I'm sure you handled it fine," Chat Noir replied. "You didn't get anyone akumatized, did you?"

"Well, no-"

"And you didn't lash out at anyone, right?"

"I did, but she kinda deserved it, so-" Ladybug sighed. "I'm a mess today."

"So many akumas will do that to you." Chat Noir rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I lost my temper today too, and probably made things worse for my friend."

Ladybug shook her head. "I've never seen you lose your temper with someone who didn't deserve it."

"I'm not saying she didn't," Chat Noir argued. "But - like you said, drama sucks."

"I don't have time to be dealing with drama on top of everything else," Ladybug complained. "But if I don't do something, people are going to get hurt."

"You're braver than I am," Chat Noir said. "I can handle akumas fine, but when it comes the littlest bit of social pressure, I panic."

"Trust me, I'd take an akuma any day over some of people in my class," Ladybug agreed.

Chat Noir's ring beeped. "Looks like I have to go. Until next time, my lady." He gave an extravagant bow, before bounding off.

Ladybug watched him go. It was nice to know that whatever drama happened in school, her partnership with Chat Noir would remain untouched.

Her own earrings beeped, reminding her to recharge before visiting Alya. She ducked into an alleyway, and her transformation dropped.

Marinette dug into her purse for her macaroons and handed one to Tikki.

"I wish I could tell Chat what's going on at school," she mused. "He's such a good listener, and I always feel better talking to him."

"You can," Tikki replied. "As long as you're very careful not to reveal too much."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Marinette replied. "We've already run into Lila so many times, it would be easy to guess who I'm talking about."

"She does have a habit of causing problems," Tikki agreed.

Marinette sighed. "She's become more of a headache than Chloe."

Tikki finished her macaroon, and Marinette called for her transformation.

"Tikki, spots on!"


Alya stared at the ceiling, not having the will to do anything else.

Today was a disaster. She had lost her temper at Miss Bustier twice after the argument with Chloe, and had almost snapped at Nino too. She had been seconds away from earning herself a detention for a bad attitude (why didn't Chloe ever get detentions for a bad attitude?), and then had accidentally grumbled at her mom when she got home, which just made everything worse.

Her phone buzzed again on her nightstand, but she couldn't bring herself to check.

Someone knocked on her window, and that made Alya sit up. Only two people ever did that.

Usually such a visit would make her excited, but tonight it only filled her with nerves. Had the superheroes heard of her outburst at school? Did they think she went too far?

Alya took two deep breaths before approaching the window, where Ladybug was waiting for her. The superhero looked a little nervous, but not angry.

Alya opened the window for her and Ladybug gave a small, awkward wave.

"Can I come in?"

Alya blinked. "Yeah, Yeah, of course you can come in!" She backed away, letting Ladybug crawl into her room.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Alya asked.

"No," Ladybug replied. She sat in the desk chair she usually did when visiting, shifting her weight several times as she did so.

Ladybug's nervous, Alya noted.

Wait, am I making her nervous?

"Listen," Ladybug started. "What I said yesterday - sometimes, what I'm saying gets a little jumbled, and I don't always mean what I say-"

"You mean, say what you mean?" Alya asked, sitting down on her bed.

"Yeah." Ladybug sighed. "And when you - no, sorry, I - I shouldn't start this off with an accusation, should I? I don't know what I'm doing."

"It's okay." Alya leaned forward, giving Ladybug an encouraging pat on her knee. "My friends get nervous all the time."

In fact, Ladybug very much reminded her of Marinette right then - the nervous, constant motion, the mixing up her words.

Ladybug gets nervous. It was oddly humanizing.

"Right, okay," Ladybug continued. "I guess I'm trying to apologize here, for being so defensive yesterday. I did not mean to imply that you've been anything less than amazing as a hero, and both me and Chat Noir appreciate your help tremendously."

"Really?" Alya asked, her chest swelling in pride.

Ladybug nodded. "Really. So you have to understand, when I say I want you to be better, it's because I know you can. And because me and Chat - we're starting to become overwhelmed with everything, and out of everyone, I trust you most - except for Chat Noir, of course. And I need your support."

Alya straightened up. That was a huge responsibility, but she knew she was up for it.

"I will do whatever I can to support you, Ladybug," Alya said.

Ladybug smiled. "I know. But what I'm talking about is a big responsibility, and there's been times where I - I know you're up to it, but you have to be a little more careful about who to trust."

Alya nodded. "Right. I know I'm a lot more trusting than some of my friends sometimes, but I promise I haven't told anyone about my secret identity. Except for Nino, but he's really trustworthy too!"

"I know, I know," Ladybug assured her. "But yesterday, when you brought up that rumor you heard somewhere-"

"I know," Alya sighed. "Not my greatest moment. I was just - shocked."

"The girl who told you that - do you trust her?"

Now that was a question.

Alya hesitated. Did she?

"I mean, I like to believe I can trust most people. I've always believed in seeing the best in people, but I'll admit, there's been some things that have tested my faith in her. For one, my best friend Marinette - you met her, she set up that first interview we did! - doesn't like her, and then there's the whole spiel about Ryuko yesterday. But I don't know, it seems wrong to exclude someone just because they're trying to fit in - and that's the thing, she's the new girl. Or was, at least. And moving to a new school is scary, and I want to make sure she feels welcome, because Marinette and everyone was so nice to me when I moved the last time, but - ugh, why does it have to be so complicated." Alya sighed. "I just want to be able to, I don't know, be nice to people without it being a whole thing. But it never works that way!" Alya frowned. "I did yell at Chloe today, though."

Ladybug chuckled. "Everyone lost their temper with Chloe today. I wouldn't worry about it."

Alya chuckled. "She was a force to be reckoned with today."

"Tell me about it," Ladybug agreed. "Just be careful, okay? I - I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I think I've proven I can handle myself."

At that exact moment, with Ladybug hanging out in her room like they were college buddies, was the moment Alya's mom decided to poke her head in.

"Hey Alya, I just wanted to ch-" her eyes went wide. "Uh - hello, Ladybug. Is there anything we can help you with?"

Ladybug gave a polite smile. "No, Ms Cesaire, we're just catching up on some blog-related news."

Alya's mom beamed. "It is an amazing blog, isn't it? We're super proud of all Alya has achieved."

Alya felt a smile creep across her face.

"You should be," Ladybug agreed. "She's an impressive person."

Did I die and go to heaven? Did Ladybug just compliment me? In front of my mom?

This is the greatest moment of my life.

"I'll leave you two to it, then."

Her mom closed the door, and Alya tried to school her expression back to something professional.

"You should be proud of yourself, you know?" Ladybug said. "You have done a lot, both as a blogger and as Rena Rouge."

"Th-thank you," Alya stuttered, her grin coming back on her face.

"No, thank you." Ladybug stood up and headed to the window. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see you around."


Refreshed was not the word Chloe would use, but she did feel better when her alarm went off the next morning.

She turned it off, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, and slipping her feet into her favorite pair of slippers. On the other side of the bed, Lacy was still fast asleep.

Chloe sighed, taking a moment to stretch her neck and arms. She debated whether to wake Lacy or leave her sleeping, but eventually decided that she didn't want to have to sneak around all morning.

She shoved Lacy in the arm, but Lacy didn't twitch. Chloe shook her arm once, but no movement.

Chloe sighed in exasperation. She did not have the patience for this.

"Lacy!" She called, moving right up to the other girl's ear.

That caused her to twitch, and eventually Lacy cracked open an eye.

"Chloe," she grumbled. "G'morning."

"Good morning to you, sleeping beauty," Chloe commented. "Come on, Jean-Luc should be up with breakfast for us soon."

Lacy pushed herself up. "Breakfast sounds good."

"And then I'm doing your hair and makeup," Chloe decided.

Lacy looked at her for a moment, expressionless, before yawning and plopping her head back onto the pillow.

"Oh come on, it's not even that early!" Chloe complained, snatching the pillow from under Lacy.

"I'm awake, I swear," Lacy replied.

Chloe (playfully) hit her with a pillow. Lacy moaned, but didn't move.

"This is why you're always late, you know," Chloe grumbled, moving from the bed and towards her mirror.

"Fine, fine." Lacy swung her legs over the bed, and yawned again. "I'm up. See?"

Chloe sighed, turning back to her mirror to start untangling her hair. She glanced over her shoulder again, and saw that Lacy had plopped back down again.

Chloe gave up on trying to wake Lacy before breakfast. When her butler appeared with breakfast, the smell jolted Lacy awake. The butler set them up for breakfast on the patio, and Lacy marveled at the view.

"Paris is so beautiful," Lacy muttered as she sat down. She was wearing her usual gray jacket over the ladybug pajamas she had borrowed from Chloe, her hair still a bedhead. Chloe mentally ran over how she was going do her hair, and what clothes she could lend her (just this once!).

Lacy noticed her looking and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Just thinking what I'm going to do with your hair," Chloe admitted.

"Woah, I did not agree to let anyone mess with my hair."

"Oh come on," Chloe whined. "It's kinda a girls night thing, isn't it?"

Lacy hesitated, but eventually relented.

"But only if I get to do yours too!"

"Uh no," Chloe replied. "No one touches my hair."

Lacy crossed her arms and gave Chloe a defiant look, and Chloe was surprised when she found herself relenting.

"Fine. But it better look nice!"

Lacy smiled. "Deal."


Marinette was in a moderately happy mood the next morning.

It was threatening to rain, and she was still wary of Chloe's recent Chloe-ness, but she had made things with Alya a little better the previous night, and she made it to school ten minutes before the bell rang!

Alya arrived just after she did, and the two girls exchanged bright, genuine smiles before heading in to class together.

Alya grumbled when she saw who was already there. "I can't believe both you and Lacy beat me to school today."

Lacy turned from her conversation with Alix and Kim when she heard her name and gave Alya and Marinette a bright smile and wave.

"She does seem more awake than usual," Marinette noted. She slid into her normal seat, and when Alya hesitated, invited her to the one next to her.

Nino looked back with a little pout, but didn't say anything.

Max entered the room, giving Marinette a confused look before taking his seat.

Marinette sighed. "I'm not always that late, you know?"

"Yeah, you kinda are," Alya teased.

"Hey, I beat you today," Marinette countered.

Alya grinned. "You must be wearing off on me then."

The girls both giggled.

"I've missed you, girl," Alya said.

"Me too," Marinette agreed.

"Listen, I know I already apologized, but-"

"It's okay," Marinette interrupted. "I know you're just making sure everyone is included, and while what you did was wrong, I know you won't do it again."

Alya shook her head. "No, of course not. Your space is your space."

"Thank you," Marinette said. "And if I ever invade your space-"

"I'll let you know," Alya confirmed.

Miss Bustier walked into the room, and she gave Alya and Marinette a bright smile.

"I'm so glad you two made up," she declared.

Marinette smiled. "So are we."

Adrien came in a few seconds later, slipping into his seat next to Nino, and Lila followed soon after.

She stopped when she saw Alya and Marinette sitting together.

"Oh, Marinette, I'm so glad you apologized to Alya," Lila declared.

Marinette sighed.

"Actually, I apologized to her," Alya admitted.

"But you did nothing wrong?" Lila questioned.

Alya sighed. "I appreciate the concern, girl, but our friendship is really only between us." Alya turned to Marinette. "Right, girl?"

Marinette nodded. "Right."

Lila looked stunned, and she was uncharacteristically quiet as she took her seat in the back.

"Alright, now that we're all here, let's start with our morning exercise," Bustier declared. "Let's see who's first - Alya, and Chloe!"

Marinette deflated. That was bound to put everyone in a bad mood.

Alya scowled as she stood up, and walked up to the front of the classroom. Chloe also stood up, and Marinette noticed that she looked different - she wore her hair in a more stylized, loose ponytail, wore gold makeup instead of blue, and had on a black shirt with her khakis instead of that horrible white. She looked almost nice.

"I'm not complimenting her," Alya said, crossing her arms. "She was nothing but rude yesterday, to everyone. She can't expect us to just drop that and-"

"Alya," Bustier interrupted. "This is a new day, and this exercise is intended to start everyone off with a good thought. Holding onto a grudge from yesterday will not help anybody."

"It's okay," Chloe said. "I don't need Cesaire's opinion to feel good about myself, I already know I'm awesome." She flipped her hair back over her shoulder. "I can still give my compliment." She studied Alya for a moment. "Cesaire, ugh, if I must compliment you on something, then I guess your Ladyblog-thingie is cool. As one of Ladybug's superheroes, I have personal knowledge of how much she likes your blog."

Marinette blinked. That... sounded like an actual compliment?

"Though I do think you need more Queen Bee content on it," Chloe finished. She sat back down at her seat, flicking her hair one more time.

"Thank you, Chloe," Bustier said, with a bright smile. "That was a wonderful compliment."

Alya looked as stunned as Marinette felt. She blinked a few times, before dazedly heading back to her seat. Halfway there, she paused.

"Hey Chloe," Alya said. "I think your hair looks nice."

Chloe grinned smugly. "Of course it does, but thank you."

Alya shook her head, still dazed, and took her seat next to Marinette.

"Did I imagine that?" Alya whispered.

"Nope," Marinette replied. "I think Chloe just paid you a genuine compliment."


The song Lacy sings in this chapter in "A Maiden Noble Fair" from the movie Brave.