Catie walked down the street to her home. It had been a long day. She knew what would come after her conversation with Lila being overheard by other students. As the day went on people were whispering and talking about the photo Catie showed Lila of the royal family in Achu. There could even be heard whispers that the photo was fake, but Catie didn't care. She had been down that road before. The big thing people started to talk about was about Lila's story about Jagged Stone, and how Catie had effectively poked several holes in her story. Some had even starting to look up some of the things Catie had mentioned.
In the corner of her eyes, Catie could tell Lila was getting frustrated and looking worried. At one time she even tried crying to get sympathy from their classmates as they had just entered the classroom before the lesson started, which she did successfully. Some of the girls in the class had approached Catie to ask her why she was so harsh to Lila. Catie had simply answered them the same thing she had told Lila earlier that day, that wasn't she entitled to her opinion? And if her opinion is based on facts and deductions, then isn't she allowed to have that opinion? The girls didn't know what to say to that. Then they tried to make Catie believe in Lila's story by telling it over and over, but Catie shut them down. Telling something over and over doesn't make it more true than the first one. She even suggested they google some of the things Catie had claimed about airport security. Alya had huffed before she moved to her seat, while the other girls looked confused and uncertain on what to do next. Marinette had to hide her face so the others wouldn't see her smirk or hear her chuckle everytime Catie shut them down.
"The seeds of doubt has been planted, now we just have to wait." Catie thought as she was nearing the crossroad. "Some things don't add up", her mind wandered to their conversation again. Lila became more annoyed the longer their conversation kept not going the direction she wanted. When others listened she tried to gain sympathy, when no one was listening she almost became angry. It was easy to poke holes in her stories, so why didn't anyone? Then there was her gut feeling that this girl was trouble. She had to talk to her dad about it.
Catie stopped at a red light and waited to cross. She was so deep in thought, that she didn't notice the approaching footsteps. Suddenly, something or someone pushed Catie out on the road in front of a car. Catie felt her right ankle dislocating as she lost her footing, and both her wrists dislocated when she tried to catch herself, and was in too much pain to even get out of the way. The driver stomped on the brakes as soon as he saw the teens fall down onto the road, and managed to stop just a few centimeters before impact.
The driver quickly exited the car and started to ask if the girl was okay. Catie smiled and tried to assure the driver that she was okay, but needed help getting up. The driver noticed something was wrong with her hands and offered to drive her to the hospital, but Catie politely declined.
"How will I explain this to dad?"
While the driver insisted on driving her to the hospital, Marinette saw the commotion and ran up to Catie.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Are you a friend of hers? Please help me convince her to go to the hospital!" The driver pleaded. Marinette looked at Catie and quickly understood why. Bruises could be seen appearing all over and she could barely stand. Drops of sweat were forming on her forehead. Probably due to the pain.
"Catie, you really need to get some help."
"No, seriously. I'm fine."
"Catherine!" A familiar voice called out.
Catie flinched and carefully turned around to see her dad running up to her. The closer he came, the more worried he looked.
"Catherine. Are you okay? I was on my way home and someone said something about a person getting hit by a car." James looked at the driver with anger.
The driver swallowed. This was no ordinary man.
"Dad. I'm fine!" Catie quickly spoke up before her father would hurt the driver. "Someone must've bumped into me a little too hard. I was distracted and fell in front of his car. But he didn't hit me! He hit the brakes and managed to stop just in front of me. He has been nagging me about going to the hospital."
"Why didn't you get out of the way?" James said and took a look over his daughter. When he saw the ankle and wrists he understood. He then turned to the girl standing next to his daughter and smiled and nudged her to take care of his daughter, before turning to the crowd that witnessed it all.
"I command you all to tell me exactly what happened. Anyone who saw it should approach and tell me, this instance." A few people exchanged looks before two people approached and told what they saw.
No one saw the figure standing in the shadows feeling terrified of what she had just done. "He really is in the military. My life is over if they come for me."
—
Catie had to stay in the hospital for a few days, as the ankle were in a more serious condition than it first seemed. She complained the whole stay and wanted nothing more than to go home. once she got home she argued with her parents to let her go to school, but she was ordered to stay at home until she could walk normally again. A week later she finally arrived at school, still with a slight limp. She did wear an ankle guard, but it was still a bit painful to walk. She refused to use crutches or a wheelchair. She felt like a cripple using those. Some students noticed her getting out of a car before limping up the stairs, but were afraid to ask. The man in the car looked angry, carefully observing every student to find the one who matched the description he got out of the civilians last week. He had made a long phone call to the school, warning them of the consequences if it happened again. To any other student. This was a serious crime, and if he was made aware of it happening again he would make sure he found the guilty one.
"Catie!" Marinette called and ran up to her. Catie had only managed to climb half the stairs by now. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home?"
"Marinette. Good morning. I'm fine." Catie said with a smile to mask the pain. It had hurt more than she had anticipated. "I convinced my father that I was okay now. It has been a week already and I've been through worse." She was still wearing the wrist guards as a precation, on order from her father.
"Here, let me help you." Without waiting for an answer, Marinette grabbed her arm carefully to support Catie. It still went slow, but at least Catie didn't have to worry about falling.
"Do you guys need any help?" The blonde boy from the other day came up from behind. Catie could feel how Marinette's whole body tensed up. "What happened?" he then asked when he saw the injuries.
"Of nothing really. I fell a week ago and got injured."
"You were pushed." Marinette corrected.
"Someone bumped into me."
"At least three people saw you getting pushed by someone. Actually pushing you in front of a moving car!"
"That's horrible. Who would do that?" Adrien asked as he carefully lifted Catie's other arm behind his neck. This made it so much easier to walk. She was too exhausted and in pain to protest against the help.
"I know who." Marinette said while gritting her teeth.
—
Practically everyone had taken their seats in the classroom when the door opened and in stepped Adrien and Marinette with Catie. Catie had made them let her go before they opened the classroom. She didn't want to seem like she was taking advantage of them. So she assured them she could manage from there.
When the class saw her enter after being absent for a week, limping, they quickly ran up to her to ask what happened and to offer her help. Catie declined over and over again. "It was exactly this I wanted to avoid." she thought. "Please, I'm not a damsel in distress. I don't need your help. I can manage. I'm used to this." Catie said as she began the slow climb to her seat. Once she finally sat down she put down her head to breath. "This will be a long day."
Only one in the classroom felt satisfied, but also annoyed that she was getting the attention.
Once Ms. Bustier arrived Marinette had walked up to her and asked for the 'special' accommodations for Catie as this was a 'special' occasion. Marinette didn't really know what that meant, as it was to be given as a message to the teacher from Catie. But the teacher understood and took out a tablet, handed it to Marinette who then gave it to Catie.
Catie gave out a groan, she hated using these things. But even though she didn't want to admit it, the level of pain in her writing hand made it difficult to even hold a pencil, much less to write, and she refused to ask for someone else to take notes for her even though Marinette had offered.
Some looked with understanding, but one student looked confused.
"Excuse me, Ms. Bustier? How come she gets a tablet to write on but I don't?" Lila said as she stood up, sounding annoyed.
The teacher looked at Lila and gave a smile. "That's because in the paperwork she provided it states that if it were a special occasion, meaning Catie couldn't write down notes due to injury or other, then she would need special accommodations. Simple as that. We still haven't got your papers, so we can't give you that. It's school policy.
"Oh come on, Ms. Bustier." Alya piped up. "You know Lila, and it's not like it would be everyday."
"I'm sorry, but it's school policy. No paperwork or medical records stating your needs, then no accommodations."
"It's okay, Alya. Really. I have you guys to help me when I need it." Lila made the remark to hammer down into Catie that the class were her friends and would help her anytime.
Catie only rolled her eyes at the comment, she couldn't care less.
"Let's begin today's lesson."
—
"I hate this. It hurts. I just want to be normal for once." Catie was in the bathroom talking to herself. The day seemed like it would never end. She had argued with the gym teacher, who wanted to put her on the sideline for this class but Catie insisted she could participate. The gym teacher had laughed at her. That's when she went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. "Maybe I should go to the nurses office and lay down for a bit."
"Do you need help?" A sickeningly sweet voice asked. Catie knew who it belonged to without looking up at her.
"I don't need help. I can manage, thanks." Catie gave a fake smile and began walking past Lila. She still didn't trust the girl. She didn't want to be close to her more than she had to.
"You seem like you are in pain. Are you sure?"
Catie opened the door to the bathroom and walked out. It had become easier to walk as the day passed.
"I can help you back to class."
"Leave me alone.""Let me just help you."
"I said leave me alone!" Catie raised her voice.
Several gasps could be heard from down below. The class was coming back from gym class and witnessed the back and forth.
"But I just wanted to help." Lila turned on the water works.
"And I said I wanted to be left alone. Look, you don't know me so I'll tell you this. When I'm in pain, so much so that I have to take painkillers to manage the day, I don't want anyone's help. I don't want to be patronized. I just want to get through the day without anyone treating me like I need people to help me all the time. I'm not helpless." Catie turned to walk to their classroom again. Lila had a small smirk on her face as the students made their way up the stairs.
—
Catie quickly learned that Lila could cry on command when the situation called for it. This was one of those times. As Catie made her way to the classroom, Lila stood in place crying, claiming she only wanted to help. A few of the people in class ran to her side to comfort her. Catie rolled her eyes. She hoped that her explanation was enough to stop any rumors spreading about her. Marinette, Adrien and Nino ran to Caties side to ask if she was okay, but Catie gave a fake smile and assured them she was fine. Alya had walked to Lila to try and talk to her, and actually shut down Lila's attempts to talk smack about her.
"She is in pain. She did explain that she wants to get through the day." Alya said.
"But I just wanted to help. Why does she hate me?" Lila fake cried.
"I didn't hear her say that. She just wants to be left alone." Alya put a hand on Lila's back.
"She does! You've heard how other students have started to spread rumors about me." Lila kept her charade going.
"You mean the rumor about Jagged Stone? Well, she did point out that she is entitled to her own opinion. We asked her about it and she told us she was looking at the facts." Rose continued, not sure what else to say.
"I just don't understand why she won't believe me? I'm not lying!"
"We know Lila." Alya tried to comfort her.
"I just wanted to help her and be a good friend. If she doesn't like me, then how come they can help her?" Lila tried, pointing at the three who went to Catie's side.
But the scene didn't play out as Lila thought. Catie gave an obvious fake smile and turned to walk away from the trio. They stood there, looking at each other while Catie disappeared.
"It doesn't look like they were allowed either." Rose piped up.
"She really is strong." Mylene said with a hint of jealousy.
"Strong? More like stupid." Lila thought while trying to not show her disgusted face hidden in her hands. "Maybe it is because of her dad she can't ask for help." Lila then said while wiping her dry tears.
"Well, I do know he is strict. But I doubt he would stop her from asking for help." Alya said, surprised at that comment. She knew Catie enough that she wouldn't talk about him too much.
"You know him?" Lila became genuinely curious.
"No. Only what she told me. Apparently she got into trouble for being too close to the sentimonster the other day."
"That's weird? Given that he is in the military, shouldn't he appreciate her doing something?" Lila said, tilting her head at Alya.
"He's in the military?" Mylene asked.
"You didn't know?"
"She never told me." Mylene answered while thinking.
"Me neither." Rose chimed in.
Alya shook her head also.
"She didn't tell anyone?" Lila thought. "They should feel betrayed from this."
"We should get back to class." Alya then said as they all started walking towards their classroom.
—
Catie sat down in her seat at the back, with the tablet put to the side. Instead she went for pencil and paper, and was going to push through the lesson taking notes the right way. She hated using a tablet, it made her feel worthless.
"Are you really okay taking notes like that?" Marinette interrupted Catie's thoughts with a concerned but teasing smile.
"I want to. I hate using that thing." Catie pointed to the tablet with a disgusted face.
Marinette giggled while taking a seat next to her. "I know a few people who should learn from you." She glanced at the door when the others entered the classroom.
Catie couldn't care less. She stayed focused on trying to hold the pencil without wincing every time she tried to write. In frustration she slammed down the pencil on the table, holding in the scream of pain that wanted to escape when she did. She then pulled the tablet closer, disappointed in herself.
Coincidentally, when she slammed the pencil down, Lila had just walked through the door. She figured she could use this opportunity and 'jumped' at the sound and acted scared. Though no one seemed to even notice her reaction as they became too focused on the actual sound. When they saw Catie, they understood and kept on walking.
Lila thought she should do something, but was interrupted by the teacher walking in to start the lesson.
—
Ms. Bustier clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "Everyone. Listen. I have some important information." She waited until the classroom was settled before she continued.
"I just came from a meeting with the principal. Earlier this week he got a call from a very concerned parent about their child sustaining injuries outside of school hours. As you are aware, when the school day is over everyone has their own responsibility to get themselves home safe and sound. And with the akumas attacking you are all more than well informed about this. However, if another student voluntarily causes harm to another student, then we can not stay silent."
Catie knew then that it was her father who had called, and carefully placed her head on the table so as to not draw any attention to herself. Marinette noticed though and placed a hand on her shoulder without a word.
"We have been made aware of the incident and will launch an investigation. This is serious. Please, take care of each other."
Lila tried really hard not to show the panic that was rapidly building up. She had been so careful, so no one should have seen anything, right? "Her father was rather demanding. Maybe he managed to get something out of those people… Perhaps I should just let her be. It's not worth the risk."
"Also, since this is a really serious matter involving harm, the parent Mr. Damocles spoke to made it very clear that if any student would be seriously injured again, there would be police involved. And it goes for everyone. I don't want to hear about anyone else causing injury to someone else." Ms. Bustier continued. She spoke in a tone none in the class had heard for a very long time. Their kind teacher spoke with concern, worry and determination. This really was a serious issue.
Most of the kids were confused. Two knew exactly what was being referred to, two others had a suspicion.
"Now, let's continue with the lesson."
—
The next day was easier for Catie. Her hands healed up pretty well since she refrained from any physical activity. She walked somewhat normally into school grounds, but once she entered she noticed people looking at her and whispering. "Great. What now?"
A few of her classmates started walking towards her with a look that Catie had a hard time to identify. Concern? No, curiosity.
"Ehm…" The short girl started but quickly retracted.
Alya rolled her eyes before placing an arm around Caties' neck and looking straight into her eyes.
"You have something you want to tell us?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"What is going on?" She thought before asking a simple question, "What?"
"You forgot to mention something about yourself when you introduced yourself." Alya said with playfulness.
"Like what?" Catie really had no idea what the brown haired girl was referring to.
"You forgot to mention what your parents do."
Catie mentally facepalmed. "Here we go again."
"Look. I didn't want to tell you what my dad does, because I want you to like me for me. Not because of what my dad does. Or be terrified of it."
"Why would we be terrified?" Alya kept pressing on. "Sabrinas' dad is a policeofficer, and Max's mom is an astronaut."
"Your dad really is in the military? That's awesome!" Rose sang in enjoyment.
"Seriously? I thought you would be scared and refuse to talk to me." Catie said as she carefully and respectfully removed Alyas arm. "But wait… Who told you?"
"Why does it matter?" Rose asked.
"Because I only told two people. One I felt could keep a secret, and the other because I wanted to see the reaction." Catie figured out quickly it had to be the other. She really doubted Marinette would just blab about someone else's secrets.
"Hey!" Marinette could be heard running to the group of girls. She leaned her hands against her knees when she reached them. It was clear she had been running. "I actually made it in time today." She looked proud.
"Hey everyone." Another girl walked up to the group. "What a nice morning this is. Isn't it?"
"Good morning, Lila." Everyone said in choir, everyone except Marinette and Catie.
"What are you talking about?" Lila said, faking a smile.
"We were just about to find out who told everyone about my dad." Catie said and looked straight into Lila's eyes. "I told two people. And to both of them I made sure to tell them it was not something I didn't want to be known."
"I'm so sorry." Lila quickly said. "It just slipped when I was upset yesterday from how you yelled at me."
"Isn't that a little exaggeration? I raised my voice, but never yelled. That's the difference. Do you often exaggerate and put words into people's mouths?" Catie crossed her arms. The cat was out of the bag, so she began questioning like her father had taught her. Maybe she could even plant a few seeds?
"Catie!" Alya barked. "Lila is not a bad person."
"I was talking to her." Catie looked at Alya when she said this, but quickly turned to Lila again. Alya knew the look that Catie gave her meant to stay quiet, so she did. Lila however began looking at the other girls for support, but Catie made it very clear that she wouldn't allow others to speak for her. Marinette had a blast behind Catie. She had to cover her mouth to muffle the laughter.
"I'm sorry. I guess I am exaggerating a bit. I can't help it. I guess it is because of my condition." Real tears began forming in Lilas eyes. She felt threatened and was panicking. She needed to do something, or this girl would destroy everything.
"What condition?"
"Well, I do have a condition that makes me lie and exaggerate a lot. I can't help it or control it."
Catie noticed that the crowd that had gathered didn't know of this based on their reactions. Not even Alya and the other girls in their class it seemed. "Now for the nail."
"Oh, so you mean you are a pathological liar? That is the only 'lying condition' that I know of." Catie raised her eyebrows. Now they were getting somewhere.
"Uh… I…"
The school bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Lila was literally saved by the bell, as Catie and Marinette turned around and walked to their classroom.
Lila was terrified, for real. Now that the new girl had said that, would the others follow? Would she lose her hold over the students? She noticed the confusion in her entourage as they shifted their gaze between Catie and Lila.
The worst part was, she could do nothing about it. The loser Marinette was an easy target. But Catie? No. It was not worth it.
—