Warped Reality

Chapter Eleven

Marinette

She laid her head in her arms, waiting not so patiently for the class to start. She needed something, anything to distract her from how utterly alone she was. How horrible this place was. She heard someone sit down in front of her, and she looked up to see the back of Alya's head. Maybe talking with her would make it a little better. Maybe she could be friends with her here too.

"Alya?"

The blogger turned around in her seat, already sporting a scowl filled with hatred. Marinette swallowed, sinking lower into her seat.

"I... I was wondering... what kind of product do you put in your hair? It looks really pretty."

Wow, that was dumb. Way to go Marinette. Alya's eyes narrowed, and Marinette wanted to sink even lower, immediately regretting her decision. She should have just left Alya alone.

"I don't put anything in it. Why?" Her tone was cold, and Marinette tore her gaze from her once best friend's eyes down to her desk.

"Why do you hate me so much?"

"Seriously? As if you don't know."

She didn't. She didn't understand why they weren't friends here.

"Refresh my memory?"

"You and your boyfriend locked me and Nino in the school basement during an acuma attack! No one found us until like one am that night because our parents made them search the school!"

And suddenly she remembered. It had been Nathaniel's idea, and she had gone along with it because she thought they'd make a good couple.  She hadn't meant to leave them down there.

"I'm sorry."

Alya's features softened, but she didn't say anything, turning around. Adrien came in with a grimace, Lila hot on his tail. Both of their exs were insane.

"Just one more time. I'll even do that thing you like." She purred, leaning over the desk as he sat down.

Marinette watched Adrien's cheeks flush a deep maroon, and she quickly turned away. She much preferred Kagami over this whore. Kagami at least had the decency not to flaunt it in her face. She found herself wondering about what was happening back home.

Had anyone noticed her absence? Or had another Marinette taken her place? Did home even exist anymore? Was this the world she was doomed to live in?

It was beyond fixing. She wouldn't stay here. No matter what, she was going to get back home. Her gaze drifted over to Chloe, who surprisingly seemed to be the quiet type. She was wearing a purse at her side, and she wondered if that was where Tiki was. Could she steal the bag? Would that be a good idea?

"Get out of my face. Please." Adrien ground the words out, and Lila frowned, tears collecting in her eyes.

Though Marinette felt no pity for the girl. In her opinion, Lila deserved it. She deserved to cry. Karma was well overdue for that girl.

"My love?"

She jumped at his voice, the fear from last night crawling back up into her throat, shutting off all air flow. Nathaniel knelt next to her desk, placing a single red rose in front of her.

"I need to apologize for last night. I wasn't... I wasn't thinking straight." He whispered, and each breath that spilt across her skin made her shiver.

And not the good kind, the terrified kind. She couldn't bring herself to look in his direction, as if her entire body had been filled with sand. She just couldn't move.