"Hey Chloe," Lila's syrupy sweet voice said from behind, making Chloe jump.

Chloe turned around, barely managing a quick fake grin. "Hello Lila." She said through gritted teeth. She was two questions away from finishing her statistics homework. Had she not spotted Sabrina as well she wouldn't have bothered to answer at all.

Lila slid into the seat across the table, leaning forward and blinking innocently. "Soo, I've heard you've recently been hanging out with Luka. I think it's great that you're feeling comfortable enough after moving back to start making friends again." She leaned back, tilting her head a bit as if a thought had just occurred to her. "Actually, come to think of it isn't Luka Marinette's boyfriend? Does that mean you two have become friends as well?"

"Of course not." Chloe snapped, a rather large bit more sharply than she meant too.

Lila put a hand to her mouth, as if gasping in surprise. "I'm so sorry Chloe! I didn't mean to assume anything. I'm just worried about you as a former classmate. No worries though, I'll be sure not to tell anyone."

"Tell anyone what?"

"That you're seeing Luka behind Marinette's back."

Chloe stood up, slamming her hands down on the table between then. She smiled down at Lila angerly, unconcealed rage simmering around her. "Ah, excuse me?"

"Oh no! Was I wrong? I just thought that since you're not good friends with Marinette that she might not like the fact that you are making friends with Luka. Oh dear, I didn't mean to imply-"

"Imply," Chloe spat interrupting her, "oh no, you didn't mean to imply anything. You just stated it outright. Funny, it almost sounds like you hope I'm making Luka cheat."

"Don't be silly," Lila laughed lightly, resting her chin on her hands while gazing calmly up at her hot-headed opponent, "I'm only trying to help you avoid making enemy's. I know how hard it is for you to make friends after all. Sabrina's told me all about it."

Chloe balled her fists, casting her burning gaze on her old friend. Sabrina shrank back, looking unsure whether to make eye contact or not. Though the girls look had changed drastically over the years, it seemed that her personality was more or less the same. Chloe found that it came as both a relief and shame, the tension in her fists fading. She turned back to Lila.

"Thanks for worrying, but I don't need your help make friends," She grabbed her bag, shoving her homework inside, "The fact that you think I do is ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous."

Lila's eye's narrowed as she watched Chole sashay away, cheerful expression making way for a calculating neutral. She hadn't been expecting Chloe to return, and had been even more surprised when Gabriel Agreste has asked her to keep an eye on the brat.

Something was going one with him, that Mr. Agreste. She had been "spying" for him for years and knew his habits, something was off. He was cracking. When was the last time he had asked her about the people close to Adrien specifically? And now he wanted her to get grasp on that poser Chloe? A menacing smile slipped its way onto her face for a split second. Whatever was going on with him had potential to be great leverage, if she could only figure out what it was.

"Sabrina," she said, practiced sugar coating her words, "would you be a dear and remind me when my next meeting with Mr. Agreste is?"

"Of course Lila," Sabrina said cheerfully, turning her eyes away from where her old friend had disappeared, "let's see, you and a new intern have been called to have lunch at the Agreste estate on Friday to talk about his new project."

Lila's words sharpened involuntarily, "New intern?" She asked. Sabrina looked at her shocked. Lila quickly regrouped. "I mean, I didn't know that Mr. Agreste had hired a new intern. It's such a difficult position to get after all. I thought I was the only one. Do you know who it is? I can't wait to start working with someone, there's just so much to do I couldn't possibly do it all on my own."

"I'm sorry Lila, I don't think they mentioned who the new intern was."

"Oh well," Lila said lightly, standing up, "I guess I'll just have to wait till Friday to meet them."


Luka rethought his decision to ask Marinette about what was going on. Dark circles dragged under her eyes, her mind continuously drifting off mid-sentence. They were sitting in the park next to Marinette's house, watching the first stars of dusk appear and chatting without meaning. The air was still but cold, fogged breath hanging in front of them with every word spoken. From what he could tell, Marinette needed this moment. Badley.

"I start the internship Friday," She was saying, "officially at least. They already have had me doing a few odd jobs here and there to prepare me for the transition to their work schedule."

"That's great," Luka said putting his arm around her and giving a soft squeeze, "you deserve it. Just don't work yourself too hard, you've been really worn out recently."

"Thanks Luka," she said softly, leaning against him.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the street laps flickering on one by one.

Marinette looked up at her blue haired musician, pressing her lips together. She wouldn't have the time to ask him about it again for a while. She took a deep breath and said,

"Alix sent me a text the other day, you and Chloe were hanging out?"

For a moment it felt like Luka stiffened, but it was so quick in passing Marinette was sure she had imagined it. He looked down at her, calm eyes unwavering. "We were, for a bit. Since then she sometimes comes by to listen, I think there's something in my melody she needs to hear."

Marinette continued to look up at him, a wavering smile shaking on her lips. "I see. I wonder why-" Some how she couldn't finish the question.

Luka laughed softly, cupping her chin lightly with his fingers. "Are you jealous?"

Marinette's face burned, cheeks reddened by more than the chill in the air. His long hair lightly tapped her face as she closed her eyes and their lips met, their chilled features warmed by the others heat.


Authors Note :

Hey y'all! Guess who's laptop started going crazy for no reason last week. (It was mine). I am a bit behind on my writing because of it. Thanks for sticking with me though, I keep saying this but it really means a ton that you all read and enjoy this work. Things are starting to build up to what I think will be some really exciting events and developments. Thank you so much for reading!