"Gurl, I still cannot believe that you are going to spend an entire TWO WEEKS alone with THE Adrien Agreste! You've come so far," exclaimed Alya, having just run up to Marinette.
Marinette had accepted the trip to New York that Chloe's mom, Audrey Bourgeois, had offered three months ago. However, due to family commitments (demands made by the blonde), she had to stay in Paris. Conveniently, Adrien also had a modeling tour for the company Marinette was examining, so Gabriel decided to have the young designer travel with his son. Unknown to Paris, that also meant that Ladybug and Chat Noir would be out of town, hence the visits to the homes of the Miracu-temps.
"Alya! It's only because Adrien happened to be going to the same place at the same time. I don't know whether to be thankful or scared," whisper shouted Marinette, dragging her best friend away from the crowd.
"But still, you both have the same flight and are staying in the same hotel, one with a room that, pardon my Chloe, costs more than your entire apartment and everything in it. Who knows, maybe you two will share the room since even the Gabriel Agreste struggles to buy two of them," remarked Alya, winking her eyes.
The two girls took their seats in the classroom, and soon Adrien and Nino slid into the pair of seats in front of them. A piece of paper appeared on his side of the desk. He looked at the note, and then at Alya, who got back to work before Ms. Bustier turned around. Unfolding the note, it read, 'Do you think they'll get together during the trip. The obliviousness is killing me.' Nino sent the note back with 'we'll talk later' scribbled on it.
After what seemed like an eternity, the school day ended. Marinette and Adrien bid their farewells to their friends before they slipped into Adrien's car and drove to the airport to begin their way to New York. After they left, Nino and Alya decided to hang out at a nearby cafe and finish the discussion they started in class. On their way, they heard a voice call out to them.
"HEY! Wait up!" Chloe called out from the distance.
"Chloe? What do you want to do with us? Because I don't really wanna deal with your crap today," responded Alya, before she started to speed up, dragging Nino behind her.
"Wait! No. I just want to talk. I mean no harm," called out Chloe, speeding up to catch up with the couple ahead of her.
"Alya, we should let her talk, if she acts up, we leave. We have time," Nino reasoned, before motioning the two into the cafe they had just arrived at. As they sat down, Alya glared across the booth at Chloe, silencing her.
Eventually, Chloe shook off the death stare and spoke, "Look, what I'm about to say stays between us, okay. I've known I haven't been the nicest lately, and-"
"Lately!" Alya interrupted, "From what I hear from the rest of the school, you've always acted like this!"
"As I was saying," Chloe continued, "I've taken some time to reflect, as suggested by Ladybug, and I want to say that- that. Well, you know what I'm trying to say, so I don't need to say it."
"Nope! We hear it or it doesn't count," Alya responded, "Who knows, maybe the whole Queen Bee thing was good for something."
"Alya, let her take her time, I'm sure what she has to say will be interesting at least," Nino told his girlfriend.
"Yes! Okay! I'm sorry, sorta. But you saw my mom, I have bad influences in my life! You know, the ten minutes she is actually around."
"Well, jeez, when you put it that way, I feel like such a jerk. But that doesn't give you an excuse to single out Marinette, at least before she met your mother," replied Nino
"Yeah, explain that Chloe!" rebutted Alya.
"Well, I mean... I don't know! She just... She has it all! A good family, great friends," explained Chloe. "Look. I know I probably don't deserve a second chance, but I really want to change my ways. I don't want Ladybug to hate me."
Chloe put her head down on the table and cried softly. Alya and Nino turned to each other, bearing a look of confusion and shock. They never expected to see Chloe this vulnerable in their lives. And they didn't have Adrien with them to comfort her.
Nino offered his hand to the crying girl, saying, "Do you want to go home, we might not like you, but we won't abandon you here."
Chloe accepted the offer and stood up. The trio walked through the door and made their way towards the Le Grand Paris. As they were walking, Chloe made a point of staying 3 steps ahead of Alya and Nino, but the latter two couldn't decide if it was out of spite or embarrassment, as the blond had regained her composure. The cool air of the hotel met them suddenly as they opened the grand doors of the establishment. Chloe turned to face her two peers.
"Thank you," she said, "For taking that small amount of time to listen to me. I mean it. BUT, one word to ANYONE and I will have Daddy ban you both from the school! Te-he!" And with that, Chloe left the duo in the main lobby, as she went up into her penthouse.
"Wanna see if my mom has any extra food left?" suggested Alya.
"Oh, Pollen. Did I really just say that. To those two! I'm becoming soft. What will the others think? I don't want to lose my power. But I also want to be nicer, if not for me, than for Adrien. I see how he is when I act up."
"Don't worry my queen, I'm sure you'll be just fine, as long as you can make an effort. Plenty of my past holders have been in need of redemption. Give it time, my queen, and everything will turn out fine," responded the bee kwami.
"Thanks, Pollen, it's really nice to have you around here. I think I am going to turn in early tonight. Goodnight," the blond replied.
"Goodnight, my qu- Chloe"