Discordant Sonata

Chapter 26: Prima Donna (Part 1 of 4)

Thank you all for your patience in waiting for this chapter. Those of you who follow my social media know of my life situation and I appreciate your support immensely. ❤️

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Music glossary
* Prima Donna: (Italian definition: "First/leading lady") the main female singer or actor in an opera or theatrical play

Glossary:
* Glacier: Ice cream vendor

**Reminder: Chat can remain transformed for two hours after using Cataclysm/Black Hole, or for 5 minutes if he uses his powers twice.**

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(Mood Music: "Indignation" - Michele McLaughlin)

Marinette peeked out from behind a bathroom stall door after transforming back, making sure the coast was clear. She wasn't sure whether Adrien had gone back to his hiding spot or whether he'd gone elsewhere after his own detransformation, so she brought out her phone to text him. Knowing his identity did have its perks, she conceded.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he'd already messaged her to let her know of his new whereabouts. Stashing her phone back into her purse, she stepped out of the restroom to rejoin him and their friends outside the school.

Halfway to the exit, she felt a brief, sharp pain on her upper arm.

"Ouch!" she yelped, then whipped around to face the source of the attack. What the hell?!

Her face soured like a lemon and she gasped. "Lila!? Did you just... pinch me?? What are we, preschoolers?!"

"Says the girl who shoved me while I was trying to save Adrien!" Lila retorted with a sneer of her own, hands placed on her hips in indignation.

Marinette pouted, rubbing the sore spot on her arm. She wanted to argue back, but Lila did have a point.

"I-I can explain! It's just that-"

"Do you really feel that threatened by me and Adrien's relationship?" Lila interrupted, crossing her arms.

Marinette held back a scoff as she frowned. "What?! Of course not!"

"Then why'd you do it? I was just trying to help," she whined. "The most important thing should be to save Adrien, right? Why should it matter who did it first?"

"I..." Marinette began with a grimace. She couldn't very well explain to Lila that she was Adrien's secret superhero girlfriend. Especially when Adrien himself wasn't aware of that fact. "I just knew he doesn't like you like that, so your kiss wouldn't have worked."

Lila bristled, then snapped back, "But it did work! Our lips touched first! That counts as a kiss! It was ME who broke the spell! You're just in denial!"

"Oh, I'm in denial?!"

"You really think he prefers you?" Lila sneered.

Marinette glowered back. There just had to be a way to get Lila off her back.

She decided to be bold and take a risk.

"Can you prove that he doesn't?"

Lila let out a condescending chuckle. "Don't you remember? Adrien himself said it before. He's in love with someone else. Someone that isn't you."