Miraculous Ladybug x La Volpe: Loyalty is Hard To Find

Chapter 1: Fake Friends

Marinette POV

"I said we're not dating, Chloe!" Tommaso complained.

"But, there was a picture of you and Roxanne kissing. Surely you two are a thing?" Chloe replied.

"What about you and Adrien?" Luka asked.

Chloe shook her head.

"He's like a younger brother to me. I realised that his heart is somewhere else." She said.

It has been a month ever since I was freed from Hawkmoth's control. Apart from the usual thieves in the night, nothing drastic has happened. I was in the classroom with Luka, Tommaso, Chloe and Roxanne, gossiping. I spent some time ignoring my former friends, due to them siding with Lila until her reveal. I haven't heard from her ever since, not that I was complaining.

"Marinette?" Alya asked. I looked over at her and my former friends, except Adrien, who was absent again.

"What do you want now, Alya? I told you I'm done." I sighed.

"I know. But can we at least be friends again? Or at least  be on speaking terms?" She asked.

"Yeah, dudette. We've been friends ever since we were kids. You can't just hate us forever." Nino added.

"Newsflash, dude. You stabbed her in the back and sided with Lila, despite the crap she's been spouting out of her mouth." Tom said bitterly.

"You even bullied her, lowered her self esteem. I'm surprised you guys didn't get suspended along with Lie-la." Roxanne added.

"I don't see how this is your problem. Butt out." Ivan growled.

"Make us, dung eater!" Tom retorted.

"Enough." I said. They stared at me.

"Alya, Nino. Everyone. You guys are right. I shouldn't be mad at you forever. So, I'm willing to forgive you." I said.

"Cosa! Are you serious, Marinette!?" Tom cried.

"After everything they did to you?" Chloe added.

"However, I don't intend on being your friend anymore." I added.

"What!? Why!?" Mylene gasped.

"Why? Because you used me as your errand girl and as your verbal punching bag. Alya, you didn't pay me when I babysat your twin sisters. Nino, I helped you with one of your remixes and you didn't mention me once. Ivan, you wouldn't have been Mylene's boyfriend if I didn't help you. The rest, well you already know." I said.

"Friends don't pay each other during favours. You should know that." Alya replied with a scowl.

"Your mother did. On your behalf." I said, crossing my arms.

"I thought you guys were cool. I thought you guys are the type of people who'll back you your friends. But I was wrong. You guys are fakes" Tom said.

"Friends don't stab each other in the back." Roxanne added.

"Nor do they treat each other like shit." Chloe included.

"Nor do they believe every rumour they hear." Luka added, looking at his twin sister.

"Friends don't abandon each other for the next big thing. If they did, then they don't deserve to be called a friend." I said.

Alya and my former friends stared at me as if they each got shot by a bullet. We just stared at each other, waiting for one of us to make the first move. Suddenly, Mrs Bustier entered the classroom and saw us.

"Is everything alright back there?" She called with a concerned tone.

"Let's go guys. We've wasted enough time with Mari-trash and her posse." Alya said bitterly and left the classroom, followed by the group of former friends. Juleka looked back at Luka, who gave her a disappointed look, and then followed Rose.

"What just happened?" Mrs Bustier asked.

"Have you ever severed a bond between a group of former friends and when they apologise for their actions, asking you for forgiveness, and you say no?" Tommaso asked.

"Once. That was a long time ago. Why do you ask?" Our teacher asked.

"Let's just say that they put us on the hate list." I said with a sad sigh. Luka placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You did the right thing, Melody." He said.

"I hope it doesn't come back to bite us." I replied.

"You, me and everyone else." Roxanne added.