School seemed to drag on endlessly and to be honest, Chloe wasn't complaining.
She took every minute away from the hotel, where Thomas was staying basically all the time, with gratitude.
As a result she strayed from insulting anyone, making fun of anyone or talking badly behind people's backs like she normally would do. On normal days, she didn't have any appreciation for the kind of safe haven a closed classroom could have. It was calming to know that nothing could hurt her here. The worst possible thing to happen at school right now would be surprise test.
Unfortunately, the unusual behaviour didn't go unnoticed with her peers. Especially a particular girl with short red hair and glasses who was always on her heel.
''Hey, um, Chloe, are you okay? You're so quiet today. It's totally not like you... You haven't even thought of giving me your homework to work on yet.'', Sabrina's voice said, with an insecure tone and a twinge of what appeared to be ... worry?
But Chloe wasn't able to hear that out of her voice. All she heard was an accusation of something being wrong. And she couldn't risk her finding out. She couldn't risk anyone finding out. Surely they would make fun of her, judge her... Or worst case scenario, word would get out to Thomas that she showed signs of something being not okay at home since he was there. He would surely freak out - or to word it better, he would get incredibly mad and make her life a living hell, more so than he already did.
So she did the only thing she was able to do, she took advantage of a perfected skill of hers - building walls around her, shutting people out, degrading them. It was a defense mechanism and the only way she knew to protect herself from getting hurt. She didn't think of what it did to others in the process. It happened automatically by now. She used it almost daily. With every single person she came across. Except maybe her father, her butler and of course Adrien. But even with him, she started noticing that she used it on him. Sabrina however was easiest to do it to, since she was easy to manipulate and she listened to every word she said without second doubts. Just like right now.
''Oh my god, Sabrina, everything is fine. You're being ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Just shut up. Do you even listen to what you're saying?'', Chloe snapped, very well aware that it was an overreaction.
Sabrina instantly bit her lip, nodding hastily and lowering her head in shame. Chloe felt a twitch of a bad feeling inside her stomach. A bad conscious. But she knew it would seem more suspicious if she apologized now. She never did that, so no one expected it from her, no one thought she was capable of doing it. She couldn't do that now.
''God, Chloe, do you have to be such a brat all the time? All Sabrina did was ask a nice and mindful question and you shut her down like that! It's not how you should treat a friend. That's totally uncool.'', a female voice rang through the room. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. An angry Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
Great, as if Chloe didn't have enough on her plate already.
''What's your deal, Dupain-Cheng?'', Chloe said with raised eyebrows and crossed arms.
She gasped for air in frustration. ''What's my deal? What is your deal?''
Marinette had her cheeks filled with air, she looked to be about angry enough to have steam coming out of her ears if it were only possible.
''That's such a stupid question. Just like the one Sabrina asked a few minutes ago. I'm surrounded by idiots.''; Chloe sneered.
''Don't you think that's enough now, Chloe?''; Adrien chimed in.
''What do you mean, Adrikins?''
''Marinette is right, you know. You're wrong for behaving like that. Sabrina doesn't deserve to be treated like that, neither does Marinette or anyone else.''
In the back, the dark haired girl was silently squealing about the fact that Adrien Agreste, her longtime die-hard crush, was defending her.
Chloe scoffed. Even though deep down she wished he was actually defending her. And more than anything right now, she wished to be able to tell him everything that was going on. To be able to explain why she was who she was and did what she did. He would definitely understand. But she couldn't do that now, could she?
''I think I'm not hearing that right, Adrikins. Because it sounds like you're standing on her side when you should be standing on mine. That can't be right.'', Chloe said.
''It is, Chloe. I can't deal with you anymore. How you treat people. How you put yourself above others. I told you once I was done with it, you were able to trick me then and convince me you could change. But I see now that that's not possible. You can't change. And I can't go on like this. I can't be friends with someone like that! I-''
His rant was disturbed by the door of the classroom opening. Miss Bustier stepped in, in a quick pace, panting slightly.
''I'm so sorry class, for being so incredibly late. I got totally caught up in something. I hope you didn't get too bored. I-, she interruped herself when she took a first glance at the situation, taking place in front of her. Adrien and Chloe standing in front of each other, as if taking part in a ring fight and the others in a half circle around them, watching and listening, some of them even having their hands in mid-air to cheer Adrien on for finally standing up and speaking out against Chloe. ''Seems like you weren't. Oh well, then. But now please sit down. I'd like not to lose more time, okay?''
One by one everyone gathered on their seats. Chloe was the last one standing.
''Miss Bourgeois? Please. Take your seat.''
The blonde blinked a few times and then walked to her table. Everything from then on seemed to be going in slow motion for the entirety of the day.
Adrien basically just ended their friendship. He was done... done with her. Without him, she was alone, completely and utterly alone. She had officially no one left to rely on, to put in a good word for her and her ruthless behaviour, to spend time with for real. She had lost the only person who truly meant something to her. And it was her own damn fault.
So, like I promised, this chapter is longer than the last ones! :)
I hope you like my story. If you do, please remember to give me some feedback. I would be really happy about that!