There were a lot of colleges in Paris but this particular one was new, founded by famed fashion designer Gabriel Agreste. Just in time for his son to enroll no less. The Agreste School of Fine Arts and Business was pretty straight forward. It focused on teaching the fine arts, everything from fashion to animation, as well as the business aspects it took for a person to succeed and not become a starving artist. It had only been open two years but was already well respected in its field and offering multiple scholarships.
Chloe didn't need scholarships and she wasn't going to pretend that she did. Instead she chose her major and applied to the school, determined to succeed without help. She didn't count her father paying as help, she would eventually be richer than him after all. It was just a small loan.
When the first day of the new semester rolled around Chloe was ready. She had long since given up on her ponytail, it was too childish for her new adult self. Instead she wore her hair loose, curling the ends just enough to add a tasteful wave. Her make up was thick, but more natural than when she was young. Her outfit was sleek and fashion ready, covered in her signature yellow and black colors. Everyone would recognize her. She was going to make sure of that.
As her driver rolled up to the college Chloe took a deep breath and reapplied her lip-gloss.
"Okay Chloe Bourgeois," She said, hyping herself up, "time to make your entrance."
People had started to crowd the car, admiring the expensive vehicle. The driver got out and opened the door, the crowd parting to let whoever was in it through. Out came Chloe, bag slung over one shoulder and slacks ready for business. As she stepped forward someone shoved their way through the crowd.
"Chloe?!" A familiar shrill voice said.
Chloe turned to find a familiar red head heading for her. Sabrina. She hadn't grown much over the years, height wise at least. Her red hair had been trimmed back to a pixie cut and she had gotten a small nose piercing. Chloe blinked, taking a second look. It was unmistakably Sabrina, but it just didn't feel like Sabrina.
A second later the saw another girl come up behind Sabrina. That explained it. Layla. She had kept her orange color scheme but now tied her hair back into a loose low ponytail. Everything about her exuded innocence, but Chloe knew that Sabrina tended to reflect her style to match whatever her 'friends' needed. If she was hanging out with Layla looking like that, as it seemed she was, then nothing was as it seemed.
"Oh my gosh, is that you Chloe?" Lila said, sliding up to her, "It's been sooo long. You've gotten so pretty!"
Okay. Backwards complement. That wasn't going to fly. "Sabrina I know," Chloe said flicking her fingers, "You I don't."
"Ohh, Chloe, don't say that. It's me, Lila, remember? I transferred in the semester you transferred out."
"Oh right, the girl with the secret way to call Ladybug. Tell me, how did that go again?"
"Oh, um, I can't do it here. Then everyone would do it to try and call Ladybug."
Chloe turned on her heels, shooting the girl a lazy glare. "That's what I thought. I'd rethink the way you make friends Sabrina."
As her heels clicked away an unseen force followed her pace, scanning the people around her.
"Yes," The deep gravelly voice said from its dark lair, "That's the Chloe Bourgeois I know. So curt. So… exploitable. With her back the number of akumatized victims will escalate along with my plans. And then…. heheHeHEHAHAHAHA!"
Dozens of shining white butterfly's scattered around him, disturbed by Hawkmoth's noise. He stopped laughing suddenly and brought down his cane with a satisfying thud.
"Welcome back to Paris Chloe," he sneered, "I'm so happy you decided to return."
In a chattering mess hall a group of students were talking worriedly over their table.
"Do you think it's true?" a heavy set girl with beautiful puffy hair pulled back into a ponytail said.
"I don't know Mylene," Alex said, her choice of hot pink hair unchanged from when she was younger though the pizza delivery uniform was new, "all the text said was 'I'm back'."
"Logically it makes sense that she's returned," Max said punching numbers into his phone uninterested, "otherwise the text would make no sense."
"It sounds kinda ominous," Julika mumbled, tugging her grey cabby hat further over her face.
"Don't say that!" A perky Rose said pushing her gloomy friend over a bit, "The fact that she texted us shows that she cared enough to reach out. Mabey she's changed."
"Sure," Alex said blowing a strand of hair out of her face, "Queen of the world Chloe has changed. Have any of us mentioned the fact that she willingly joined up with Hawkmoth the last time we saw her yet, or are we just going to conveniently leave that part out."
"It was on the news at the time…" Mylene relented.
"Hey, I think it's cool she's coming back," A very bulky Kim cut in, "maybe she'll let me use the hotel pool to practice!"
"I'd say that there's a 98% chance of that not happening Kim." Max said pushing up his glasses.
"Well I think-" A slightly slimmed down Ivan started, only to be cut off by the arrival of Lila and Sabrina.
"Hey guys," Lila said sliding into the already crowded table, "What are you talking about?"
"We were wondering if Chloe's really back or not," Mylene said, "since she sent that text out to all of us."
"Oh, she's back all right," Lila said, "we saw her this morning, didn't we Sabrina."
"Yes Lila! It's true. She's attending this school." Sabrina said, standing awkwardly behind them all as there was no room left at the table.
A beeper went off and Alex looked down at her watch. "Crap. Well I'm not a part of this school. And my break's over. See y'all later! Enjoy the pizza!"
Sabrina took her spot as Alex ran off.
"Do Alya and Marinette know?" Kim asked, taking a huge slice of the pizza Alex had left for them.
"Good question Kim," Max said, "they weren't exactly on the best of terms with her. I'd say yes as she sent the text to all of us."
"She wasn't on the best of terms with most of us." Iven said sobering the mood.
"Oh come now," Lila said, grabbing a slice of pizza for herself, "it's been years since any of us last saw her. We should at least give her a chance."
"You're too sweet for this world." Mylene said, giving her a hug.
"I know." Lila replied smiling, taking a small bite of her slice of pizza.
