Look What You Made Me Do

Things Are Getting A Little Wild

For once Alya and Lila were leaving Marinette alone. Marinette thought when this day finally came that she would be able to enjoy it. Unfortunately that was not going to be the case. Yes Lila was busy consoling Alya over what had happened with Nino, but word had gotten around that Marinette had broken the couple up. Marinette didn't need three guesses to figure out who had spread that rumor around. So now almost the entire class seemed to hate her more than ever. Which was something Marinette hadn't thought was possible.

So far for Chloe and herself the morning had been a mix of enjoying the aquarium and avoiding their classmates whenever possible. Marinette wished she could say she wasn't surprised that everyone blamed her. She had no idea that was going to happen with Nino! And even if she had known Nino was going to break up with Alya she wouldn't have wanted it to happen like this. Something like a break up should be a private matter. Though nothing official had been said it seemed like Nino and Alya were over. Which made Marinette sad, she had been there when they had first gotten together! She was kind of responsible for the couple though that was as Ladybug. She had always thought they made a really cute couple and she knew they had been in love.

Sure it hurt when Nino turned his back on her with Alya, but she had understood. First love was a complex emotion and you didn't always make the best choices. She had several examples of that from when she had been in love with Adrien, thankfully that embarrassing chapter of her life was over. Despite what everyone else thought Marinette had absolutely no romantic interest in Adrien. Now all she wanted was for him to be free from Lila's clutches. But she wasn't really sure how to do that, though maybe if Nino was serious about wanting to reconnect she could enlist his help, after all he had always been concerned wanting Adrien to have his own life outside of the gilded cage his father had put him in. Just as she was about to turn a corner Chloe pulled her back. Marinette was confused until she heard some familiar voices.

"I just think they were such a perfect couple!" Marinette's eyes widened a bit at Rose's nearly tearful voice. She looked over at Chloe but Chloe just rolled her eyes. She was clearly done with hearing the same thing over and over.

"They were a good couple but if Nino wasn't happy they shouldn't stay together." Even Chloe was surprised at Juleka's soothing tone.

"But why all of the sudden is this all coming to the surface?" Rose asked. "It's just so strange! Marinette should have stayed out of their business. This is just so sad!"

Marinette braced herself, Juleka had a hard enough time expressing her own thoughts and often just went with the crowd because it was the easier option. Marinette didn't judge her, Luka had said she had always been like that. Marinette had no idea what it felt like to be so scared of what others thought that it would keep you silent. She thought it must be a lonely and scary way to live, so she was happy Juleka had a supportive big brother like Luka and had found love with Rose.

"Rosie I think everyone is being a little quick to judge Marinette. And maybe not for the first time." The last part was mumbled so soft Marinette almost hadn't heard. "Nino....he knows his own mind and feeling. I don't think he would break up with Alya just because someone talked him into it. I mean....no one could ever talk me into leaving you." Marinette had to admit that it was brave for Juleka to speak up for her, even if it was just between herself and Rose. She motioned that she and Chloe should leave the two alone.

"Wow who knew the wallflower had it in her." Chloe marveled when they were a safe distance away.

"That was pretty brave of Juleka to speak up." Marinette said thoughtfully, she had a warm familiar feeling in her chest. But before she could focus on it both their phones went off. It was the akuma alert.