HBBIC (Head Bitches & Bastard In Charge)

Learn Your Place

"I'm sure some of you are wondering why we've returned," Marinette stated, grabbing the students' attention, "I suppose I should start from the beginning. We never actually disbanded. We've been lying in wait, observing you all, waiting for the right moment to strike. It would seem as though some people I once considered friends have turned traitor, and now they have massive targets painted on their backs."

Seeing her classmates cringe at the mention of them, she smirked, "I've given them many chances to redeem themselves, but they still chose to believe the words of a fox with a silver tongue. Something I cannot allow. Along with them are two people I used to look for to bring justice. Instead, they follow a favoritism method where the rich and powerful students get away with murder while those below them are punished." She noticed the class sending Chloé glares but she she sneered right back at them. 'There you go, Queenie.'

Marinette continued, "Step out of line, and there will be severe repercussions. And that's not a threat, it is a promise. I'm sure most of you remember what happened last year. Step out of line, we will make your lives a living hell." She gave a faint smile, "But, we're not completely heartless. Those who shall not be named have a month to retract the lies, fess up to their wrongdoings, and actually do their jobs. If they do this before or by the end of the month, all is forgiven. If not, hell hath no fury like a Primary. 'Till then, you'll find that your school and daily lives will be quite... Difficult. That will be all," and at the snap of her fingers, the students dispersed and headed to their classes.

The students whispered amongst themselves. Alya was glaring daggers at Marinette the whole time through her speech. She couldn't believe this girl! Threatening them when they haven't done anything wrong! Well, she didn't care what she did, if she wants to act like this, fine. Once she realizes that Lila is innocent and she's doing all of this for nothing, she and Nathaniel will be crawling on their knees begging for forgiveness. Chloé? She couldn't care less about.

—

Three days have passed, and The Primaries were the talk of the school. Some of the students and a few teachers pitied Mme. Bustier's class, but many thought that they had it coming. They honestly thought they didn't see when someone pushed Marinette to the floor, "accidentally" spilled drinks on her sketchbook, wrote profanities on Chloé's locker, or tear pages out of Nathaniel's sketchbook when he wasn't looking? And all because of some serial liar. No one wanted to be associated with that class or their teacher in any way. If they were, The Primaries would probably come after them next. They weren't taking any chances.

And Marinette kept her promise. Her classmates weren't having the best time at school. No more free commissions, much to their outrage, Lila now needed a doctor's note to get out of a certain project and an excuse note from her mother for her many absences, and Alya could no longer risk her safety to go track down Akumas. She should be thanking Marinette for that; why are some views on a tabloid blog more valuable than her life?

Then their seating arrangements changed in every classroom. No more could they sit with friends or significant others. Teachers followed the new seating arrangements for the Akuma class and it worked out well. None of them, with the acception of Lila going on and on about her tinnitus, were disrupting class or calling out an answer instead of raising their hands, so no one except the class saw a problem with this.

But Caline Bustier still just had to be her lenient self. She tried to coax Marinette into doing commissions for free again by saying,

"Money is important, but your friends do need your help."

'We're almost young adults, they need to learn how to do things for themselves.'

When Lila moaned about how she couldn't work on a group project due to a sprained wrist, she let us slide and Lila's only job was to be the speaker.

"Lila's mother is busy, she doesn't have the time to write notes." 'Okay, but you can still call get a doctor's note.'

No Akumas showed up, but Marinette was certain that Bustier was not dumb enough to let Alya go and get footage for her blog.

Then she allowed her class to sit where they wanted instead of following The Primaries' rules. No one paid attention, and everyone interrupted every five minutes. When they brought this to her attention, she spoke in that sugary sweet voice of her's,

"It's wonderful that their other classes are going along much smoother, but students just need some time to be with the people they're close to." This earned them some bold smirks for their peers.

All they could think was, 'Isn't that what lunch breaks, after school clubs, and weekends are for?' They decided to let this slide. For now.

—

As the chauffeur drove them to Chloé's hotel, Marinette scrolled through the texts Lila has been sending her

Lila:
Just give up!

Lila:
This is honestly just pathetic.

Lila:
Can't wait to see what you pull tomorrow

Chloé leaned over and took a look at the phone screen before letting out an annoyed groan, "I keep telling you, get a new number. And how did that bitch get yours anyway?"

Marinette rolled her eyes, "Two things. One: I keep telling you, if anything incriminating is sent, I can use it against them."

Nathaniel nodded, "She has a point, Chlo."

Marinette continued, "And two: Alya gave her my number so we could, 'talk it out.' Blah, blah, blah, shoot me."

Chloé flicked her ponytail, "Whatever. So, what are we gonna do about Bustier?" She asked

"Well obviously she isn't going to listen to her model student," she said in a mocking tone before gagging, "And even with our status she'll do anything to make the others comfortable. We need someone who can intimidate her, make her listen, lay down the rules."

"So, Damocles is out," Nathaniel muttered, loud enough to elicit a cackle from Chloé.

Marinette smiled at her friends' antics, "Well, it doesn't have to necessarily be someone in a position of authority higher than her, just someone who can drill the rules right into her head. And if she doesn't listen, to teach that woman a lesson."

Chloé lips curled into a devious smirk, "You mean someone like Laney?"

Nathaniel groaned, "Her? Chloé, we already had her help us out last year." He turns to Marinette who had the same smirk on her face, "Mari, come on!"

With a shrug of her shoulders, she responded, "Well, she's very persuasive." then muttered, "In her own way." Off Nathaniel's unimpressed look, she continues, "Well who else has a teaching license? Plus, she worked so well last time."

"Yeah, she did," Nathaniel said, nodding. With a sigh of defeat, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, "Alright, I'll text her."

Chloé smiled, "Great. Then maybe while she's at it, she can do something to Damocles. I'm thinking setting fire to his office?"

"Chloé," Marinette rests her hand on the blonde's shoulder, "we talked about this, arson can't solve every problem."

"Ugh! Fine. You're no fun," she pouted.

"Hey, maybe less of that and more deciding what to do for our project," Nathaniel brought up as he texted on his phone.

Marinette groaned at the mention of the project everyone (Except Lila) was working on. At least Bustier put the three of them in a group together, probably so her 'good students' aren't exposed to any negativity coming from her 'problem students'. "Right, we have to do a presentation on one memorable historical figure from the United States."

"How about Benedict Arnold?" Nathaniel suggested, "Maybe they'll learn what happens when you become a traitor."

"Yep. You get hung," Chloé stated bluntly.

Marinette furrowed her brow in confusion, "No, John André was hung," she corrected.

"I know."