When the bell rang for lunch, students immediately filled the halls. Boys kicked and shoved each other playfully while girls roamed around in large groups, laughing obnoxiously. The formerly quiet hallways now buzzed with excitement that Marinette never cared for. She hummed along to the music from her headphones, walking down the halls with her sketchbook in her hands.
"Hey, Marinette right?" A girl with skin the color of coffee and dark orange curls approached her. "I'm Alya."
"Hi." Marinette managed to mumble, giving a tiny wave.
"Sooo, wanna hang out? You seem like a cool person. My friends and I are going to eat lunch in the cafeteria. We saved you a spot. Sorry about Chloe's awful attitude. I've seen you around a couple times before last year and I think your freckles were actually really pretty!"
Marinette forced herself to smile, but inside, her heart was racing. This was an introvert's worst nightmare! She usually preferred more peaceful areas like the library, but this was the first day of school, and the first time anybody was interested in becoming friends with her.
"Okay. Thank you."
Everything after that was a blur, and Marinette found herself sitting at a table awkwardly with Alya and two other people.
Alya smirked and put an arm around a guy in a baggy tee. "This guy over here is my best friend, Nino. We went to the same middle school, so we've known each other for quite a while. And that's Mylene." She pointed at a slightly chubby girl with poofy blonde hair. Mylene gave a small "hello!" as Marinette sat down.
"I can't believe I got Ms. Mendeleiev for Chemistry. Everyone's been talking about how awful she is and her infamous pop quizzes." Alya pointed at her list of classes. "And PE as the last class of the day sounds awful."
Their conversation took an unexpected turn when Mylene, with a glimmer of excitement, mentioned the school play. "I have Theater as the last class of the day and I'm thinking of joining the club as well. You know, they're doing 'The Little Mermaid' this year, and I was thinking of trying out for the lead role, Ariel."
Chloe couldn't resist overhearing the conversation. She approached them swiftly with Sabrina and Adrien at either side of her, with Kim not too far behind carrying her lunch tray. her heels clacking against the floor loudly. She leaned over and interrupted, putting her hand on their table to get their attention, her tone dripping with mockery. "Oh, really, Mylene? The Little Mermaid? I think they're looking for a mermaid, not a whale. Mermaids are supposed to be skinny and beautiful, like me." She ran her hands from her chest down to her hips. "Right, Adrien?"
Adrien looked stunned and horrified by Chloe's cruel remark. He hadn't expected such mean-spirited behavior from someone he considered a friend. Chloe was always, well, sour. But he'd never seen her do something like this before.
"Right, Adrien?" Chloe's voice was snappier this time.
"I, um," Adrien stuttered.
Mylene's eyes welled up with tears. She quickly got up from the table, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, and walked away, her head held low.
Alya, clearly upset by Chloe's insensitivity, shot to her feet and glared at Chloe and Adrien. "You four should be ashamed of yourselves! What the hell is wrong with you, making fun of Mylene like that? Leave her alone!"
Adrien felt a growing discomfort in his chest as he watched Mylene walk away, Alya defending her, and Chloe's unapologetic attitude.
"Look Sabrina, we've got ourselves a little do-gooder this year!" She sneered, "What are you going to do, shoot lazer beams at me with your glasses, Ms. Four-Eyes?"
Alya stood her ground, her voice carrying a mixture of anger and disappointment. "Seriously, Chloe, you can't just treat people like that. Mylene was excited about trying out for the play, and you—"
Chloe cut her off with an arrogant laugh. "Mylene should know her place. The lead role is meant for someone talented and good-looking, not... whatever she is."
Alya's eyes flashed with anger. "You are so heartless, Chloe. You think you can say whatever you want just because your father is rich."
Before Alya and Chloe's argument could escalate further, Ivan returned to the cafeteria, leading a tearful Mylene by the hand. His face was twisted with anger, and he had one demand.
"Chloe, you owe Mylene an apology right now." Ivan's voice quivered with fury.
Chloe crossed her arms, adopting her signature haughty expression. "Why should I apologize? She's the one who should apologize for seriously thinking she can be a lead in the school play. As if! And I don't owe anyone anything, Ivan."
Ivan couldn't contain his anger any longer. He clenched his fists and lunged towards Chloe, aiming for a punch. But before he could make contact, Kim intervened, blocking Ivan's path.
"Whoa, Ivan, chill out!" Kim said, trying to hold his friend back. "You can't hit a girl!"
"Bet."
Ivan, his face beet red with anger, tried to shove Kim out of the way, but his aim was off in his fury. Instead of Chloe, he ended up landing a punch squarely on Kim's jaw.
The cafeteria went silent, a couple bystanders gasped.
Kim stumbled back, clutching his face in pain, a mixture of surprise and anger on his face. The cafeteria erupted into chaos as Kim's friends rushed to his side, while Ivan, realizing what he had done, also looked shocked.
Alya, who had been trying to mediate the situation, now found herself in the middle of the brewing fight. She turned to Chloe, her voice trembling with anger. "This is all your fault! You couldn't just apologize and be a decent human being for once!"
Thankfully, Nino had enough smarts to go and fetch a teacher.
"Ivan, go to the principal's office! NOW! Kim, I'll lead you to the infirmary." The woman said curtly.
Principal Damocles' office was a place none of the students wanted to find themselves in, but it was precisely where Chloe, Sabrina, Adrien, Alya, Nino, Mylene, and Marinette ended up after the cafeteria incident. Kim also joined them after a couple minutes of waiting, a large ice pack resting on the swollen left portion of his face.
The stern-looking principal peered at them over his desk, his brows furrowed in disappointment. "I cannot believe the behavior I am hearing about today. Fighting in the cafeteria, insults, and bullying? This is not the standard we hold at François Dupont High School, especially not for upperclassmen."
Chloe, with her usual arrogance, crossed her arms and huffed. "It's not our fault that Ivan can't control his temper, Principal Damocles."
Principal Damocles fixed her with a stern look. "It's also not your place to provoke others, Miss Bourgeois. And Mr. Agreste, I expected better from you as a new student."
Adrien looked abashed, his previous discomfort having morphed into deep regret.
Principal Damocles continued, addressing the others. "Ivan, resorting to physical violence is never the answer. This is not the way we handle conflicts here."
Alya, Nino, and Marinette exchanged glances, Alya already preparing to defend Mylene's honor. She spoke up, "Principal Damocles, it was Chloe and her friends who—"
Chloe interrupted, "Oh, please! Alya, don't try to act like the hero here. Mylene should learn her place."
Principal Damocles sighed deeply. "Enough. I have no tolerance for this kind of behavior in my school. Chloe, Sabrina, Adrien, Ivan, and Alya, you will all face appropriate consequences."
"I didn't even do anything!" Alya protested, "Chloe called Mylene a whale because of her physical appearance! That has to count as harassment! I never physically hurt Chloe in any way, I just told her that her behavior was wrong."
Principal Damocles narrowed his eyes, "Is this true, Chloe?"
Chloe, feeling the mounting pressure from Principal Damocles' stern gaze, hesitated for a moment. Then, with a roll of her eyes, she waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, whatever. It was just a joke. She needs to learn to take one."
Alya's eyes widened with disbelief at Chloe's blatant disregard for the seriousness of the situation.
Principal Damocles shook his head disapprovingly. "Miss Bourgeois, there is a difference between harmless banter and cruelty. Your behavior has been consistently problematic, and I cannot allow this to continue." He turned his attention to Ivan. "Mr. Bruel, violence is not an acceptable way to resolve conflicts. You will also face consequences for your actions."
Ivan didn't look up at him.
Principal Damocles then looked at Alya. "Miss Cesaire, while your intentions may have been noble, engaging in an argument in a volatile situation was not the best course of action. You could have chosen a more productive way to address the issue."
Alya frowned, but she nodded in acknowledgment of her part in the incident.
The principal continued, addressing Adrien and Sabrina. "You two will also receive warnings for your involvement, as this incident should serve as a reminder to choose your company wisely."
Sabrina nodded silently, while Adrien fumed. He did nothing! How had Chloe managed to mess up his first day at school so badly? Gabriel was going to have his head on a stick as soon as he got home!
Finally, Principal Damocles addressed Mylene, who had been quietly crying throughout the ordeal.
"Mylene, I am deeply sorry that you were subjected to such hurtful comments. This should never have happened. Please know that the school will ensure your safety and well-being."
Mylene sniffled but managed a small, thankful smile.
"Now," Principal Damocles concluded, "I hope this incident serves as a lesson for all of you. I expect better behavior from my students, and I hope you will all take this opportunity to reflect on your actions."
Chloe, ever resourceful, pulled out her phone and dialed her father's number. Her expression remained defiant as she waited for the call to connect.
Ivan, still fuming from the incident, watched with growing frustration as Chloe seemed to be escaping the consequences of her actions.
When her father answered, Chloe wasted no time. "Daddy, you won't believe what happened at school today. I was unfairly accused of something I didn't do, and Principal Damocles is being completely unreasonable. I need you to come down here right now and sort this out."
Ivan's anger flared as he overheard Chloe's conversation. He couldn't believe she was trying to manipulate the situation by calling her father. It only fueled his frustration.
Principal Damocles had warned Chloe about her behavior, but her family's influence in the school often seemed to grant her special treatment. Ivan clenched his fists, his resentment growing.
Chloe hung up and turned to the group, wearing a smug expression. "My father will be here soon, and he'll straighten this mess out. You should all be thankful that I'm so forgiving."
"Principal Damocles, I think we need to consider that this whole thing got blown out of proportion. Chloe was just making a joke, and Ivan, well, he lost his temper. None of us wanted a fight." Kim finally spoke up.
Ivan, unable to contain his anger any longer, snapped, "You're unbelievable, Kim! I can't believe you're defending a bully!"
"Maybe I would be less defensive if you didn't punch me earlier. When I get mad at people I don't hit them, unlike you." Kim shot back
"Fine, Kim, if you're so buddy-buddy with these jerks, maybe you should join their little club."
Both boys were now directly facing one another. Kim took a step forward. "Maybe I will. Chloe never hurt anyone!"
"You're wrong." Ivan's eyes flashed with anger. Before anyone could react, Ivan stormed out of the principal's office, leaving the others in a state of shock.
Mr. Damocles sighed. "I'll send someone after him."
Suddenly, a load, bellowing roar shook the ground.
