To Be a Hero | MLB

28: The Girlfriend

The next day at school, I apologize to Lila for exposing her, and she forgives me. We go back to being friends—or rather, I go back to being her follower—like nothing ever happened between us. Together, we talk about Marinette behind her back, and I strangely don't feel any remorse about it.

I don't really feel anything anymore.

Now, all I want to do is survive the rest of my time in Paris and never talk to Ladybug or Chat Noir again.

After school, I look for Jaxon in the courtyard. I spot him talking with the same girl as yesterday. Well, he's not doing much talking, but he's listening pretty intently. Once I get close enough to him, the girl spots me, then kisses Jaxon on the cheek quickly before running off to talk to her friends.

Jaxon turns to me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. "Just a girl from school, huh?"

"Oh, shut up."

We head out of the building together, and Jakob practically pounces on us at the exit.

"Finally," he says. "I was starting to worry about you."

"What, you thought I couldn't walk myself home?" I ask as we begin walking. "I'm not five, you know."

"Yeah, well, where were you yesterday? Jaxon and I waited for you for over thirty minutes, and you never showed up. Next we saw you, we were at the Seine."

"I... I stayed after in history. I had some questions about my homework."

Jakob grunts, and Jaxon plugs in his earbuds. After a few moments, I yank them back out.

"So, tell me about your girlfriend."

Jaxon glares at me. "Not my girlfriend."

"Don't say that—I saw her kiss you."

Jakob turns to us, eyes wide. "Jax, you had your first kiss?"

Jaxon's brown cheeks gain a pink tinge. "It was on the cheek." He pauses for a second, then says, "And my first kiss was in Berlin."

"What? You didn't tell me this!" Jakob says.

"It wasn't any of your business. And why are you two so surprised."

"Because you're... you!" I say, and Jaxon rolls his eyes.

"Thanks."

We walk in silence for a few moments before Jaxon mutters, "Her name is Mandi. By the way. But we've only known each other four days, so... yeah."

I want things to return to normal between my brothers and me, I really do, but... they never back me up when I need support, or even try to understand what I'm going through. And if I can't trust them to do those simple things, I doubt I can trust them with anything more significant.

If Paris has taught me anything so far, it's that the only person I can ever truly rely on is myself. Not Lila, not Ladybug, not my brothers, or even my mother.

Because in the end, anyone can betray me.