Chloe paced her bathroom, chewing on her thumb. Her acrylic nails were starting to take a beating from her new habit. Every few paces she stopped and adjusted some aspect of her appearance in the mirror. Putting a stray hair back in place. Readjusting her eyeliner. Refreshing her lip-gloss. Smoothing her jacket.
Finally her phone buzzed.
HERE
She flew out of her room, tapping her foot nervously as she waited for the elevator to reach the bottom floor. By the time the doors opened again she was cool and composed. She waltzed through the lobby, smiling sweetly at the doorman as she left.
She didn't even hold her breath when Adrien's extremely recognizable gorilla like bodyguard opened the car door for her. At least she didn't think she did.
"Adriekins," She said sliding in, "It's been so long."
"Hey Chloe."
His hair was shorter, professionally styled. His face had lost its baby fat, leaving behind sleek and angled features. But it was unmistakably Adrien. His softness, his eyes, they were the same. In reality only one thing had really changed, Chloe didn't love him anymore. Not as she had when she was younger.
"Where have you been?" Adrien asked as the car started moving, "you just kind of, disappeared."
"Pa-lease," Chloe said dismissively, "as if you don't know why I left."
"I know why you left Chloe," Adrien said sternly, "I'm not going to pretend I don't, but you never said a word after it was all over. Where did you go? I was worried. You are still my oldest friend you know."
Chloe flinched a bit at the word friend. "Oh. I see. Well then. In that case, sorry."
Adrien tried not to react, he knew how adverse Chloe had become to social niceties, but he couldn't help his eyes from widening a bit. The Chloe he knew never apologized.
"Anyway, I was with my grandmere. The one on my dad's side with the chateau out in the country."
"I see. How is your grandmere? It's been over ten years since I last saw her."
"She's doing okay," Chloe said putting her head on the window, "but her memory is starting to get worse. Anyway, enough with all that boring stuff. Who are we bowling with today?"
Adrien smiled nervously, looking away, confirming Chloe's guess of who would be there. "Nino, Alya, Marinette, and her boyfriend Luca."
Chloe flashed back to the blue haired boy she had seen at the park. So his name was Luka. It wasn't familiar to her, but still. Where had she seen him before?
"Oh," She said shortly, "Well at least it doesn't sound like anyone who can beat me."
"You had a professional instructor," Adrien said, "but we're not competing, we're just trying to have fun."
"Why are you all even doing this in the first place," Choe asked, "you all must be desperate to invite someone of my caliber along to such a low class place."
Adrien looked at her, trying to puzzle through her words. Everything, every inflection, seemed the same as when they were younger. But there was a distinct change he couldn't put his finger on. Comments that might have been biting felt energy less, as if there were some sort of self loathing behind each word. That wasn't right, this was Chloe they were talking about. Still, something off gnawed at him as he answered her.
"Nino set it up," he explained, "They're trying to cheer me up since Kagami broke up with me."
Chloe choked. "Kagami? That muscle-bound brat? You were dating her?"
Adrien narrowed his eyes a bit, but Chloe continued.
"And then she has the audacity to break up with you? Ridiculous. Utterly Ridiculous." Chloe flopped back into her seat, away from the window, and crossed her arms. "You're better off Adrikins, she was way too hard for you."
"She wasn't all bad, I really did love her." Adrien said quietly.
Chloe glanced his way, seeing his downcast look. She sighed, rubbing her temples. Why didn't she ever recognize when she was supposed to empathize with others instead of stating her mind. "Look, Adrikins. The point is that she's incredibly stupid for dumping a guy like you. You'll find someone who suits you better, who's less forceful. What's important right now is for you to let her go."
"Chloe-" Adrien started, sounding tired. Chloe cut him off.
"Adrikins, I know how hard this is for you. I know how scared you are of people leaving you alone. Chances are you'll never find someone as good as me, but you will find 'the one' eventually. For now, take a break. I may not like those friends of yours, but I do agree with them on this. Besides, to mope about for a girl like that would be ridiculous." She smiled at him, a softer smile then he had ever seen her give before, "Utterly ridiculous."
Adrien smiled back. Mabey her time at her grandmothers had changed her, at least a little, for the better. "I still don't agree with you about Kagami, I think she was worth dating. But still, thanks."
"Of course," Chloe said flipping her hair back, "I am your oldest friend after all."
When they walked in Nino and Alya had already payed for a lane and the group was getting their bowling shoes on. Luka was kneeling in front of Marinette, tying one of her shoes while she did the other up on the bench. Alya and Nino and Nino were busy messing with each other. Nino saw them first as they walked up to the shoe rental counter.
"She came." He breathed, drawing the couples light flirting to a halt.
Alya glanced over his shoulder. "Doesn't seem like she's changed much." She muttered getting up, unashamedly staring at the two who had just walked in.
Chloe felt her glare. She had expected it. For now, she was prepared to ignore it.
"Shoe size?" The counter attendant asked wearily, it had been a particularly bad day.
"Don't bother," Chloe said, waving him off, "I wouldn't be caught dead in those smelly things. I brought my own." She opened her purse and produced two gleaming white bowling shoes, sparkling gold streaks running down the sides. "They were a gift from daddy," She explained as Adrien grabbed his shoes from the attendant, "The gold streaks have real gold dust inside them."
"That's great Chloe," Adrien said disinterested.
They went to go sit by the others to put their shoes on. They all stared at Chloe, unsure how to react, to treat her. Only Luka continued doing what he was doing, giving the girl a sideways glance before moving on.
He had seen her on the news before, especially after she disappeared. The news had blown the story up, the mayor daughter siding with Hawkmoth. The grainy security film of her leaping up to try and catch the akuma replayed again and again, Ladybugs confirmation of the girls involvement. The way she looked now most people wouldn't notice, but those who knew her would be able to recognize her on sight. He could feel his friends animosity toward her, only Adrien showing sign of softness. Luka sighed and stood up. He wasn't going to take sides, but it was obvious that it was up to him to break the ice.
