𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐹𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝒹𝓈 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒰𝓈 *Slow Updates*

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kagami and Marinette have a heart-to-heart

word count: 852

"Seems I'm not the only one with a vendetta, " Kagami frowned, her brows furrowed with contained anger. "She's been tormenting you as much as she has I."

Marinette sat stiffly across from the raven-haired beauty. It had been revealed Kagami knew all along what Lila was up to, even knowing the rotten girl took her phone. As the two exchanged similar stories of Lila, it had been brought up to expose her.

Kagami wasn't offended when Marinette gave a dry snort. Lila was as rich as Chloe and probably was born with a silver shovel in her mouth, from the way she kept magically pulling money out of her ass. She walked around the school, believing it hers. She saw her peers as objects, not people.

"It won't work, " Marinette hung her head, her bangs hiding her eyes. "The last time I tried, I ended up expelled."

"Then how? I won't yield to her foolish antics. Do you really believe Lila can get away with this? She's hurt so many of your friends and classmates. What about Alya? And Adrien? Both of them have negative views about Rossi. And that girl, Juleka?"

Marinette stayed silent, soaking in every word the girl spoke. She's right, and Marinette knew that. Kagami didn't know how frustrating it was, to have everyone tear away from her and shun her after telling false allegations. To have everyone just. . .stop. Her heart's been broken and ripped to more shreds than glue could patch. It wasn't just because of a mean girl throwing a tantrum over a boy she liked and couldn't have because he was already taken, it was everything.

That nasty green monster growled from her back. Its claws dug so deep into her shoulders, there was phantom agony.

"That day of Juleka's party, do you remember?" Kagami interrupted the silence.

"How could I not? You practically threatened to break Lila's bones." Marinette couldn't help but snicker.

Kagami piqued a small, amused smile. "Yes, that too. But, that's not what I'm referring to. I. . .I know what it's like to tuck away because of someone's bad decisions. It's one of the reasons I moved to Paris. Lila Rossi isn't going to take my place here; it's either her or me. I choose her."

Marinette was in awe by the declaration. She knew Kagami was fierce, but this? She was far greater than 'fierce'. She appeared powerful, willful, and full of immense determination.

"I knew it from the moment I met eyes with her. . .I'm a threat, and she wants me gone. It's why she's treating you lower than dirt."

"What do I have that she doesn't?" Marinette asked, and a wave of anxiety flushing through her.

"Well, for one, you're generous, " Kagami says, causing Marinette to still. "You put others before minding yourself, you're creative, beautiful, kind-hearted. You've brought yourself up into a league she couldn't possibly ever dream of being a part of."

"You know, Kagami. . ." Marinette trailed off, her eyes growing hot. "I thought I hated you. . .because when you came around, I was also aiming for Adrien."

"I know, " Kagami says softly. "I'm sorry."

She wasn't angry. Not at all. Having a crush snap their head in a direction and never snapping back, it was. . .harrowing. She truly felt for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. They were kindred souls, somewhat, anyhow.

"I thought my life was over when he chose you, " Marinette's shoulders slumped, allowing the emotions she'd bottled for so long to seep out. "I was beyond myself. . .and I just want to apologize for the grief I put on you or Adrien."

"Well, we're being technical, I should be the one apologizing to you. I strode in one day and managed to steal the heart of the greatest heartthrob, and I hadn't realized at the time, I was hurting a lot of girls, especially you."

There was a long pause in the small room, a comfortable silence if you will. The two girls content with their confessions and apologies. It seemed almost right to have had that moment of peace before they spoke again.

"And that boy you seemed to be enamored with, Lucas, I think his name is?" Kagami began slyly.

"It's Luka, actually, " Marinette chuckled lightly. "And I'm not sure what we are. We're just friends."

"Didn't look that way at the party. He loves you."

"N-no way!" Marinette recoiled back, her entire body heating up at the thought of Luka actually liking her more than a friend way. "We. . .we aren't like that! No way! We aren't! I mean, he's good looking and sweet and incredibly kind, but-"

"And it sounds like you've got it bad too." The Japanese descent grins, propping her chin into her palm. "Good looking, sweet, and kind? Definitely a crush~"

"N-not at all!" Marinette sputtered out, embarrassed. "Besides I. . .I really don't deserve him."

"I think I've heard that before, " Kagami sniggered behind her hand. "Sounds like you've got a bad case of denial."

"I do NOT!"