"Don't be amused, it's just the news. We are outside the Mayor's hotel, where Chloe Bourgeois is currently staying and has not left since she assisted the supervillain known as Hawkmoth. Despite the accusations against his daughter, the Mayor has refused to comment on the situation. Back to you, Tom."

Alya

Alya was fed up. Marinette was never going to be capable of speaking to Adrien it seemed and Adrien was never going to see her friends feeling due to his legendary obliviousness. So she was going to give up on that hopeless battle. Adrienette was a sinking ship and it was time to jump on a liferaft. Luka had been forward of his feelings for Marinette, so Lukanette didn't need assistance to happen.

But now Alya was bored, no akuma attacks and not helping Marinette get Adrien's attention meant she didn't have much to do. And with summer starting there would be no homework or class. Then she would have nothing to do. Sure she had her boyfriend to keep her busy but there was only so much of Nino one could handle before it was too much. If she got a job, she wouldn't be able to rush over to any akuma attacks for footage and even an interview if the heroes had time. That would get her fired and she could not afford a bad reference. But would she do then?

The answer came in the form of her new friend: Lila Rossi.

The girls were chatting it up at lunch when she caught Lila glancing at Adrien as he walked in talking to Nino. The model said something with an apologetic look on his face, before leaving the cafeteria. "So you like Adrien?"

Lila panicked, but then realized Alya didn't see her scowl at Adrien. No, she did not like Adrien. Like Maribrat, he knew she was lying about everything and wouldn't fall in line. She tried to pull the gold digger moves on him but Ladybug shut that down hard. Ever since Adrien had been doing his best to avoid her, though he never tried to expose her as Marinette did. But in Alya's eyes, Adrien was an angel who could do no wrong. "Yeah, but who doesn't. I won't even have a chance because Marinette likes him and I don't want to hurt her. She is making it so hard to be her friend and even though she has that nice guitar boy on her, she wants Adrien. So I want to support her and stand aside.

Alya: TRIGGERED!

"Hell no. Marinette can suck this one up and settle for Luka. We gotta get you and Adrien together!"

"Oh, I'm not sure, what if Marinette gets akumatized?" She intended to sour Alya's opinion of Maribrat, not fire her up to set her up with the only other person who knows her real self.

Alya only heard this: Marinette plus negative emotions equals akuma. Akuma equals footage/interviews. This would be just a be a bonus to helping Lila fulfill her dreams with Adrien.

"Nah, we got heroes for that so we don't need to worry about her." As far as Alya was concerned, Marinette could suck it up and settle for Luka.

Nino had heard only the last bit as he approached them. "Hey, dudettes. Worry about who?"

"Marinette. We are going to set up Lila and Adrien."

"That's going to be hard, the dude is super busy all the time because of his dad."

"We can find a way to get him outside." Alya started jumping up and down as she had an idea. "Marinette has his schedule down pat, we just need to check it and see where he will be or when he has time off."

"And Marinette is okay with this then?"

"Well, not yet but she has to learn to suck it up."

"Okay, but there is another issue: Adrien has a crush on Ladybug."

Alya laughs while Lila cringes inside, praying for someone to stop them. "Seriously, I can get over Adrien. Especially for Ladybug."

"No, she will date Chat Noir. That is a fact. Now to find Marinette and convince her to help us."

"She's sick, remember? She wrote her exams at home under teacher supervision yesterday." Alya groaned. That would make things difficult.

Lila tried once again to shut down Alya's hype train, not knowing Alya's hype train lacks two things: Morals and brakes. "Please, we don't need to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm okay with moving on to someone else. Like maybe Kim?"

But Alya didn't care, she had a mission and was ready no matter the cost. Pulling out her phone she called Marinette. "Hey, Alya!"

"Hey, Mari. We got to talk. I have been thinking that maybe you should give up on Adrien and date Luka. Then you can help us set Lila up with Adrien and everyone can be happy." She paused waiting for a response. There was nothing but silence for a solid five minutes. "Girl you there?" The call suddenly ended without Marinette saying a word. "What the heck was that?"

"Maybe her phone was broken? The microphone might have not have been working right," Nino reasoned. "Or she dropped it and can't reach it and the battery died."

"Or she is just jealous and can't get over herself. It's okay, we don't need her to help us. We can do this on our own. To scheming, we go! To the whiteboard of planning!"

Lila seethed in fury. She was going to have to play along and hope Adrien wants to keep his friends happy.

Marinette

Marinette was also seething in fury. The pressures of being the new guardian already were pressing her to her limits. When she fell ill, she surprisingly relaxed. And with Hawkmoth taking a break lately, no attacks since Miracle Queen. The event still haunted her dreams. Fu leaving without his memories. The miracle box changing as she became its owner. All her back up heroes exposed. Finding the gramophone Fu had left for her, which now sits on her desk in the corner of the room, now housing her miracle box.

But then Alya dares tell her who to date? And tell her she needs to help Lila? What changed her mind all the sudden. A butterfly landed on her phone, infecting it. "Princess Justice, we finally meet again."

"No."

"What?"

"No. Leave me alone. I'm too sick to deal with your bullshit."

"But I haven't made my offer yet."

"I don't feel like getting out of bed to steal jewelry for you. Why do you even want them?" Tikki was watching in awe as Marinette refused Hawkmoth's temptation.

"I want to bring someone back from the dead. Someone close to my heart. The miraculous can grant me that."

"Then go get therapy or find a rebound. Why don't you just join Tinder?" Hawkmoth screamed at her before recalling his akuma, it turns white as it flew away. Marinette sighed in relief as Tikki flew over.

"That was close."

"I know Tikki. Ugh, what is Alya thinking? I'm not in love with Luka. I literally just turned him down yesterday. And setting Lila up with Adrien? Nope. We are going to shut her down once and for all."

"What about what Adrien said about taking the high road? He won't approve."

"We got one card to play still: I didn't tell him that she threatened me."

Tikki smiled, knowing that Adrien was Chat Noir and cared for Marinette more than even he does. "That's brilliant Marinette! There is no way he won't help you once he knows that!"

"We need to gather as many celebrities we can. Specifically the ones she claims to have a close relationship with. I have a meeting with Jagged Stone next week for his new album cover and outfits for his tour."

"You can also reach out to Thomas Astruc, Lila said something to Nino about him. Once Adrien is on board he can call him."

"Nice thinking Tikki. But first, I need to get better. Any chance I can get help from a lucky charm?"

"You remember Bubbler?"

"Fine, I'll get better the slow way. But with Lila not messing with my social life, maybe I can relax more."

Adrien

For once he was glad to have a photoshoot on a school day. He missed Marinette and her cheerfulness, even if she seemed uncomfortable around him. In Marinette's absence, Lila had taken the seat behind him, which only soured his mood more. All morning, she went on about how she was going to hang out with celebrities and attend events over the summer. The obvious lies made him sick while his classmates swooned. At least now he was spared from it, with the bonus that he could have the rest of the afternoon off as long as the shoot went well. And he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his free time.

After putting out his best, never missing a beat with his photographer, he was finished in record time. As he went to grab his bookbag, one of his fellow models, Jac, ran over, "Hey, where you off to?"

"A friend of mine is sick, so I'm paying her a visit."

"She single?"

"Yes." Adrien wasn't sure how he felt about his questioning.

"So can I have her number?"

"No, it's not mine to give." Adrien was getting a really bad feeling now, hostility in his tone.

"Fine. Just asking." Jac backed off, his assistant calling him over. But he looked over his shoulder, seeing Adrien leaving the park and entering the nearby bakery. The poster child of the Agreste brand won't stop him from getting what he wants. No one ever did.

Alya

Even as Ms. Bustier lectured, Alya was making notes, but not for the class. She was planning out dates for Lila and Adrien that they could squeeze the model into without him squirming out somehow. Many of them required preparation, but convincing the other girls shouldn't be a problem at all.

She passed notes around the classroom, calling for a meeting immediately after school

Lila, on the other hand, was still pissed. Alya was refusing to back down on her plans, leaving Lila in a pickle. What if Alya managed to get Adrien to take her is a social event where she would be forced to face her so-called celebrity friends. She wouldn't be able to stop them stating they don't know her at all. If the Ladybogger was there, then her illusions will be shattered. That meant she was going to have to be careful all summer long. Why couldn't everyone just fall in line around here?

Adrien

Going to the Dupain-Cheng bakery was always a double treat: the fresh baked goods and the extremely kind owners. Adrien was convinced they were trying to stuff him full at times, offering him free pastries when he visited. "Hi Mrs. Cheng, Mr. Dupain."

Sabine smiled from behind the counter, greeting him while Tom simply nodded before turning his attention back to his baking. "Hello dear. Aren't you supposed to be at school right?"

"I had a photoshoot in the park that finished early and I figured I would stop by and pay Marinette a visit if that is ok with you?"

Sabine beamed, "Of course it is ok with me dear, just let me see if she is awake." She quickly headed up the stairs. "Marinette, Adrien is here to see you."

Marinette panicked, her face flushed red. "What? Why? How? No, no, no. Not now I am a mess!" Tikki tilted her head at her chosen, the look on her face clearly stating 'When are you not?' before hiding in case.

Sabine laughed as she went back down into the bakery, "She is awake in her room. You can go see her up there. Oh, here. Take these too." She handed the boy a plate of cookies.

Adrien smiled, thanking her as he headed into the Dupain-Cheng household. Pausing at the trapdoor, he hesitated before knocking. "Hey, Mari? It's Adrien, can I come in?" A loud shriek of surprise came through the hatch, followed by a quiet "Come in." He looked around, noticing the photos of him on the walls and a familiar gramophone before seeing Marinette on her lounge chair. "Hey Mari, how are you feeling?"

"I, I, I'm better getting. I mean better I get! I am getting better." She seemed freaked out a bit, her face bright red.

'Must be because of the photos,' he thought to himself. They weren't there when he was there to play video games before, clearly taken down before he arrived at that time. "You don't have to be embarrassed about the photos, Marinette. I know you're a fan of my father's brand."

Marinette's internal temperature rises, "Yeah, that's why I have the photos." 'Relax and be chill. Not too chill, just a relaxed chill.' "So what brings you here?"

"I had a photo shoot that ended early, and I needed to ask you for a favor."

"Which is?"

"Like you, I already did the final exams, so I don't need to go to school for the last week. But my father doesn't know about it quite yet so my schedule is clear. So I was wondering if you wanted to hang out next week maybe?"

Marinette swooned inside, Adrien Agreste wanted to spend a whole week hanging out with her. "Sure but I have a meeting on Wednesday with Jagged Stone to show him my design for new album's cover. I'm also showing him my sketches for his tour outfits he requested."

Adrien stared at her wide-eyed, "Jagged Stone is releasing a new album? Awesome!"

"Oops, spoilers. Don't tell anyone bit yeah. No one else knows yet. He left me a copy of it to help channel my 'inner Jagged' for the design work. If you want to you can listen to it." Her stutter was long gone now, but a hint of nervousness could be still heard in her voice.

'Is she really that embarrassed about the photos?'

God. Adrien, we are forcing you to see a doctor.

'Who are you?'

Tom Astuc's replacement. Now shut up and hang out with your 'friend'.

"That would be awesome! So are you free for the other days?"

"Yeah, mostly. I need to spend some time shopping for fabric and making the outfits he likes. If you want to, you can come fabric shopping with me."

His face lit up, "Sure! I'll bring my wallet." He winked at her. 'Why am I winking like this?'

"No no no! I can pay for it." He pouted, clearly disappointed. "Fine, you can pay for some. But you can explain to your father why you are assisting a rival fashion designer."

"I doubt he will care or take the time to notice. He is out of town and I have a mostly clear schedule."

Marinette tilted her head, "Why are you so eager not to be at school all of the sudden? You were fighting tooth and nail to get out of homeschooling and now you have plans to hide away with me. Not that I don't mind," she added.

Adrien's expression seemed downcast. "Lila," he spat. "She has been brutal all week, talking about her celebrity connections. She just promised Nino to talk to Astruc about getting him on the team for the next Ladybug movie. Oh and told Alya that she would talk to Nadja Chamack about getting her a part-time job as a junior reporter. And to see if she could get everyone a ticket to Jagged Stone's concert."

"Wow seriously?"

"Yeah, and it gets worse. She also claimed that Jagged asked her to design his outfits."

"Perfect, then I can ask Jagged to clarify in interviews that I designed them and disclaim any connections to Lila. The dominos will fall from there." Marinette rubbed hers together, eager for some freshly baked justice.

"But what about taking the high road?"

Marinette suddenly dropped her gaze, looking at her feet as she fiddled with one of her pencils. "There something that happened that I didn't tell you."