The Fox and the Ladybug

Part Four: Partners

Marinette's POV

8:02 am

I didn't sleep at all last night because of another akuma alert. Chat Noir seems like he has it all together and I can't take another day. Sometimes I wish I wasn't Ladybug. I dozed off in class while Ms. Bustier took attendance...

"Marinette? Marinette, wake up!"

"What?" I mumbled with my eyes still closed.

"Go to your partner for the project we're doing on the ancient Egyptians!" Alya said.

"Who's my partner?" I said, opening my eyes slightly.

"Lila," Alya responded sympathetically, although I knew that Alya didn't see anything wrong with Lila. For now, she actually believes the thing. I felt immediate dread when I heard Lila's name come out of her mouth.

I closed my eyes again.

After Alya practically dragged me to the table where Lila was, I also was dreading the next few weeks in history.

Lila's POV

I mentally prepared my mind to be partnered with Marinette. Although she was annoying, I couldn't show my irritation in any way. Plus, my fake cheerfulness made Marinette even angrier, and it was satisfying for me to enable her to hate me even more than she did before.

"Hi, Marinette! Let's get started, okay?" I smiled. Of course, when Marinette and I were alone, the dishonest friendliness would be in the garbage. Marinette made an eye-roll at Alya, but I guess her friend just didn't see the problem in me. Of course, that could change, which is why I have to be on my toes.

We worked on the illustrations for the poster we decided to do, but when I say "we" I mean her because she didn't trust me to do anything except write my name on the top. Fine by me, though, because that means I don't have to do anything. I spent the class time Ms. Bustier gave us to get started texting Kagami who was now on her free period. She gave me ideas for new pieces I could start on. She also told me she was bisexual with a preference for guys and had a crush on a guy named- wait, what was his name? I forgot, but she did tell me he was hopelessly in love with Marinette and into Jagged Stone. I've heard of Jagged Stone but I've never liked him because there was rumors going around that his latest album was stolen from XY.

Although, now that I think about it, it's kind of ironic that I would choose to not listen to a singer because they were dishonest, isn't it?

"Take my number," Marinette grumbled, "and meet me at the address I'm about to send you."

I figured Marinette wouldn't give me the address to her house because she didn't trust me, which she is smart to do, because I'd probably go straight for her diary and mess around with it. Although perhaps I'm giving her too much credit.

Marinette sent me the address to the park next to her house. I walked there with a bag of the spiced popcorn I make, which contains a bit of hot sauce (and salt and butter, of course). Spicy food is good food, after all. I also brought my textbooks, school computer, and pencils.

Marinette greeted her with a disappointed frown, as if she didn't want me to come here at all.

"You're going to work on the written essay, Lila. I hope you didn't expect me to let you slack off the whole time," she said.

"Sure," I said shrugging. I reminded myself to not say anything hurtful, because Marinette's phone on the recording setting was placed right next to her colored pencils. Idiot.

I wrote the first couple paragraphs of the essay while Marinette focused on perfecting the Egyptian art style. However, around 20 minutes later, Marinette looked up and her eyes widened.

"Umm, I'm going to, get some snacks from the bakery!" Marinette said, the expression on her face whispering in my ear that she wasn't going to get snacks from the bakery at all.

"Uh, okay," I said. When she left, I went to use the bathroom.

Right when I walked in, I saw her quickly close the door to the second bathroom stall and I heard her voice say, "Tikki, spots on!" A brilliant flash of pink light blinded me for a microsecond and when I could open my eyes, I saw a red hand with black spots opening the door.