"Well, I... um."
"Uh, does she even speak?" the blond girl from yesterday—Chloé, I remember—says. "Not that I care about any of this, but..."
Everyone ignores her and turns back to face me.
I want to keep the only friend I've made so far in Paris, but... I'm not sure if the cost will be worth the reward. Lying in front of everyone... I just don't know if I can carry around that kind of guilt.
"Tori, it's okay. Just tell us if Lila told you anything about this note," Marinette says calmly.
I sneak a glance at Lila's practiced patient expression and realize that if she's truly my friend, she shouldn't cut me off for telling the truth.
And... we've only known each other for a day, anyway.
"Lila sent it," I mutter, and Marinette turns to Lila, a smile lighting up her face.
"I knew it!"
Lila's eyes fill with fake tears as she glances between Marinette, our disbelieving classmates, and me. "I-I can't believe... None of you believe me?"
We all shake our heads, and Lila turns and runs to the bathroom, sobbing.
But now, I don't just see her as misguided. I see her as what she really is: A liar.
"Thank you," Marinette tells me as everyone around us starts toward our classroom, gossiping about Lila's note. "I know that must have been difficult, but... thank you for telling the truth."
I nod, realizing that if Lila was the liar in this situation... "You never did anything to Lila, did you? She's the one who has it out for you."
Marinette nods earnestly. "Ever since she arrived to Françoise Dupont, and I confronted her about her lies, she's been targeting me. But I just... I don't let her get to me." A shadow crosses her face. "Well, I try, at least."
"Marinette! Tori! Time for class," Miss Bustier calls.
We tell her we're coming, then head up the staircase leading to our classroom. We pass Adrien and Nino on the way, and Marinette waves awkwardly at Adrien. He distracts her enough that she doesn't watch where she's going and crashes into the doorframe—a sight painful enough to make me cringe. I start to guide her into the classroom and away from the embarrassing encounter, but Marinette rushes inside and slides into her seat next to Alya, letting her head fall onto her desk. I smile as Alya pats Marinette on the back, then take my place at the back of the room, beside Lila's empty seat.
I let myself grin for a moment, proud of myself for deciding to tell the truth. Even if it cost me my only friendship here, now I know that I can start over and maybe even make some real friends, not ones who lie to get me on their side.
So, as Miss Bustier tells us to open our books to chapter eleven, I open to a new chapter in my mind.
Chapter Two of Parisian life, I think, here I come.
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To Be a Hero | MLB
FanfictionWhen Tori Moreau-Stewart arrives in Paris, all she expects to do is practice her French, visit the Eiffel Tower, and maybe taste some macarons. What she doesn't expect are two superheroes flying around and saving the city almost every day. Even less...
