Chloe

Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. First Adrien starts sitting with Maribrat, then he transfers schools with her. She tried to transfer as well, but the school wouldn't accept her, not feeling threatened by her father. Now he won't even reply to her messages or even see her. Why was she being punished? It was Maribrat and Lila's problem, not hers.

She looked across the rooftop terrace at her Bee signal. Even Ladybug, the one who gave her a shot at redemption, had abandoned her. Deemed her unworthy. All because of Maribrat. What made her so special? She was just a baker's daughter, a peasant. A text was on her phone from Alya, requesting a meeting. She was very clear in the message 'DO NOT TELL LILA'. Chloe wondered for a second what that meant, but then she realized she didn't care. Sabrina can go attend and report back the important details.

As she dropped in a lounge chair, the door to the hotel opened, her butler Jean coming out. "Miss Chloe, your mother Audrey Bourgeois as arrived in Paris and requests your presence downstairs." His message delivered, the butler simply stood there holding the door open. Chloe sighed then headed downstairs. Her mother was in the living room, anger on her face.

"Why did I get a call from Gabriel Agreste saying you attempted the destruction of one his future designer's sketchbook?" Chloe gasped. It has been a week since they destroyed the sketchbook and she figured they were in the clear after detentions during lunch hours. Alya and Nino got grounded briefly, but she never heard anything from her father. "Do you have any idea how valuable a sketchbook belonging to someone as talented as Ms. Dupain-Cheng? It is nearly priceless and you attempted to shred it?" The anger on her mother's face was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen. "Your credit cards are being canceled and your privileges revoked. You have to work a job here at the hotel after school is out, perhaps a receptionist."

Chloe could not believe what she was hearing, "Daddy!"

"No, your father won't let you get out of this! Its time you learn respect for other people."

Chloe fumed turning around and stomping off, "Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" She stormed off to her room and slammed the door. What did she even mean by attempted? They destroyed Marinette's sketchbook. Right?

Lol, nope.

Alya and Nino

As the class started showing up, Alya prepared everything she had collected against Lila. They were all very invested in her so convincing them would take a lot of effort and patience. Nathaniel was the last to arrive, with Lila at his side. Nino quickly intercepted the pair, "Nat, we said don't tell Lila."

"Why can't she come? What did she do wrong?"

Lila pulled out the waterworks perfectly, "I don't know why everyone is picking on me." She had Nathaniel wrapped around her finger.

Nino hesitated, taking in Nathaniel's glare. "We just wanted to plan a surprise party for you, but know you know it is going to happen. We want to keep the details secret, so it is still somewhat of a surprise."

She smiled, "Oh a surprise for me? OK!" Lila turned around, but she knew something was off. Did Nino think the Queen of Lies couldn't tell when she was being lied to?

Nino guided Nathaniel over to the group, only missing Chloe. "We gathered you all to discuss something very important, Lila."

Everyone looked confused, except for Nathaniel who eagerly nodded, "A surprise right?"

Alya looked at Nino who shrugged at her, "Well sort of. We have learned a lot about Lila that we didn't know about before. She has lied to all of us, just as Marinette has said." Everyone gasped, except for Rose and Juleka, nodding as if they already knew. "She lied about traveling, about celebrities and Marinette."

"What do you mean?" Nathaniel looked betrayed, giving Nino a hurt look.

"I mean that she has lied to all of us one way or another. Here is the evidence, just take a moment and look at it." She and Nino pulled out their tablets, passing them around the group. One by one then class became miserable, every line a nail in the coffin.

"So she doesn't know Prince Ali?"

"Or Jagged Stone?"

"Or a manga publisher?"

"And never ran a charity?"

"Or left Paris since her first day at school?"

Kim suddenly grew furious when he read the last point. "She lied to your little siblings! That is too low." His hands balled into fists. The rest of the class nodded their heads, every single one angered. The illusion that Lila had put in place has been shattered. No one was under her spell.

"Wait, that means we betrayed Marinette!" Alya nodded.

"Will she ever forgive us?"

Juleka finally spoke up, "Luka told me that she doesn't think she will ever be able to forgive us. We hurt her pretty badly."

Everyone grew silent. Alix finally spoke up, "What will we do about Lila? She needs to pay for all the damage she has done. We destroyed Marinette's greatest possession for her, now she needs to pay for it." She cracked her knuckles loudly, hinting at what she had in mind for the now exposed liar.

"No physical violence, no sense getting arrested for it." Alix groaned, clearly disappointed. "We need to make her learn a lesson that she can't just lie her way out of things."

"What if we confront her in class?"

Nino shook his head, "She is too tricky for that. She might be able to convince the school that we are ganging up on her and bullying her. Then we would be in trouble and she would be on to us, ruining our chance to teach her a lesson."

"We need to convince the school and her parents that she has lied to them. Once they know the truth, we got her caught red-handed. The others nodded. "I will take the email to Principal Damocles so he is aware and can give me something to show Lila's mother.

In a nearby apartment, Lila glared at the class, her lies have been exposed by their expressions. Time for another vacation from school. She went to work forging a note from her mother to give to the Principal, permitting herself to miss school. Though the class' plan was unknown to her, she would be able to counter it from the safety of distance. And know that she could be Volpina when she wanted, she can make her lies visible. Nothing will bring her down.

Except for the hammer of justice.

Marinette and Adrien

The couple was finally able to get some free time together. Sitting at a cafe with fruity drinks, they chatted about their new classes and more importantly, their new ship. "I am telling you it is almost just like us. She can't stay near him and he thinks it is because she hates him."

Adrien laughed, "I bet those two would be dancing around each just as long too. At least they are not in a love square like us!"

Marinette shook her head, "Not if we nudge them in the right direction."

"We what?"

"You seriously think we will let them suffer?" Marinette gave him a horrified look, "Did you not hear me tell you about their little evening together. This is true love and we are gonna help it happen."

"Okay, easy up. What is your plan?"

"You have the afternoon off right?" He nodded making her smiled wider. "Perfect, so does Luka and Kagami. I figured we do a little group thing like bowling. You and I disappear for a moment and force them to be alone. Hopefully, they will sort out their feelings and double dates will be an actual thing."

He wiggled his eyebrows, "And where will we be, Bugaboo? In a closet?"

Marinette smirked, his flirtations didn't faze her as much now. He was a dork and she knew it. "Eager kitty aren't you? Is it mating season?" His jaw dropped. He will never get used to Marinette flirting and punning at the same time. She just laughed at his shock, "If anyone is gonna be in a closet, it's those two. But we will save that, in case they fail horrible at all our other attempts."

Adrien nodded, still flushed from her comment. "So I take it neither of them is gonna know the other is coming?"

She shook her head, "Luka will know but Kagami won't know because she has issues."

"So did you," he smirked at her.

"Yeah well, that's because someone decided the only way to offer an umbrella is as romantically as possible, pouring his soul out for all to see. I know you are sheltered, but seriously? No wonder you have so many fangirls if that is how you talked to every girl you meet."

He gave her a hurt look, "I was trying to apologize to an amazing girl who thought I was a horrible person."

"It is a miracle that you an innocent angel despite only having Chloe for a friend."

"Don't you mean miraculous?" He grinned as she groaned.

"Ugh, I keep forgetting that the perfect guy of my dreams is a dork who loves puns." She turned her attention back to the plan. "Just remember, don't tell either its a date, they don't know that and she might get scared off." He nodded, pulling out his phone to called up Kagami while Marinette called Luka.

"Hey Kagami, are you busy this afternoon? Marinette and I are going bowling and are wondering if you want to come?"

"Is Luka going?" The hesitation could be heard even over the phone, startling Adrien. He had never heard her sound nervous. She was always made of steel, never backing down.

"I don't know, probably not." It wasn't completely a lie, he didn't know for sure if Luka was coming or not.

"Okay then, where are you going?" He gave her the name of the place, confirming the meet-up time. "Okay, I will meet you there."

He put his phone away smiling at Marinette, "I didn't even have to mention him and she brought him up."

Marinette grinned, "Good, she is thinking about him then, we just need Luka to arrive just after her then so she can't bail out last minute." She then raised the phone back to her ear, "Yeah Kagami is coming too. It's just the four of us." She listened for a brief moment, "yeah that is ok if you come a little late. We won't mind at all." Adrien smiled at the look of achievement on her face. "Okay, cya later." She did a little victory dance, "Step one complete, let's go."

"To scout out closets to hide?"

"Kitty." He heard the hidden threat in her tone.

"I'll shut up now."

Gabriel

He grinned as he hung up the phone. Audrey Bourgeois did exactly what he hoped she would, punishing Chloe and enraging her more. Her anger would make her an excellent Akuma victim but he had another purpose in mind. With Chloe's anger stroked again, she was one step closer to his side. He pulled out the burner phone, time for Volpina's first assignment.

Luka

He was excited. He was soon going to see Kagami along with Marinette and Adrien. Hopefully, she will stay and not run away again. He showered and got dressed, cleaning himself up nicely. Should he get flowers or was that too much? He didn't want to scare her away again. Sighing he decided just to relax and trust Marinette.

Kagami

Even over the phone, she could tell Adrien was full of shit. Luka was going to be there but she was sure Marinette and Adrien were not going to try anything or leave her alone with him somehow. Kagami groaned that was exactly what they were going to do. Maybe it was for the best though.

To be continued...