The day I found True Love / Lukanette

Chapter 2

*RING* 

The school bell rang and the entire class got up from their seats extremely quietly, which was unusual for their class but after the whole Lila incident, it seemed like they all knew what they were gonna do.

Confront Marinette.

Marinette was about to go to Alya when her heart dropped. Alya glanced at Marinette's direction, bickered to Nino while looking at her hooked her arm around his, and walked away.

M-my own best friend..... I can't believe this. What did I do wrong?"  Marinette thought. Just because she was against Lila, just because she knew Lila's antics, her best friend betrayed her!

"Alya- wait!" Marinette exclaims. She knew Alya could hear her, but chose to ignore. 

"Fine.. be that way" Marinette muttered as she stomped off. She didn't make a big deal about this because she knew Alya would come to her senses sooner or later. 

Marinette silently walks to the school grounds, all alone. She replayed everything that happened in her mind. Chloe's remarks, Lila's reply, Marinette's comeback, and the dirty glares her entire class gave. Nobody was there for her when she needs it. But again, she knew she shouldn't make a big deal about it. They'll all forgive her later. They have to. 

Marinette sat down on a bench and watched as her classmates gathered around, discussing something. She had no one to be with.

Alas! She realized that Chloe is probably hanging alone too! 

She hated Chloe with a passion but maybe things could change?

She looks around for a blondie in a high ponytail wearing her signature yellow colors.

There! Sitting on the stairs on her phone while Sabrina was fanning her with.. a paper bag? Whatever. 

"Erm... Chloe!" Marinette says as she ran up to her. She tripped along the way. 

"Ouch..." Marinette says as she stares at her grazed elbows. Sabrina gets up and grabs Marinette's hand, pulling her up. Marinette then scratches her head in a nervous matter and quietly thanks Sabrina. She turns her attention towards Chloe and finally speaks.

"Um, Chloe! I just wanna say that although we had a rough start... since we were like 6.. and we hated each other, blah blah blah, we could get off on a new-" 

"Enough Dupain-Cheng!" Chloe yells, cutting Marinette off from her well-rehearsed speech. "Just because we agree on Ms. Lie-la, doesn't mean we're gonna be friends."

Marinette felt her blood boil, but she says calm. She knew she had to be patient with Chloe.

"Umm.. yes I know. I just wanted to tell you that it was brave of you to say that!" Marinette assures, shaking her hands. 

"O-oh. You think I'm brave?" Marinette could hear a hint of kindness in Chloe's voice. But then Chloe went back to her usual Chloe behavior and quickly adds, "It's not like I already know that-! It's just, thank you?" 

Marinette was taken aback by what she said. Never in her life has she heard Chloe Bourgeois say thank you.

Chloe then continues.

"Also, another thanks to you for standing up for me there. Someone needed to give that pig a reality check." Chloe says.

"Of course- honestly the amount of lies that girl can produce is unbelievable," Marinette says, chuckling.

"You know what Dupain-Cheng? You're not so bad after all." Chloe smiles. Marinette returns the smile, and sits down beside Chloe and Sabrina on the stairs, chatting. 

After around 10 minutes, the rest of the class slowly walks up to them, unhappy. 

"Alright Dupain-Cheng, I think they're here to "talk" to us." Chloe whispers. "If you want I can call my daddy to send us a private jet so we can leave before they talk?" 

Marinette's eyes widened. "Damn, so this is rich girl life? " Marinette thought. 

Kim in the lead, he walks up to the stairs, an angry frown on his face.

"Marinette." He says, arms crossed, coughing.

"Yeah?" Marinette replies.

Kim then scratches his head and glances at the rest of his class-mates, who give him a brief nod. Even Adrien.

"We don't know what's up with you whenever Lila's here, but we don't approve." Kim says. Marinette could tell by his voice that he was trying to sound angry, but it clearly wasn't working out for him. Kim isn't the type of guy to be serious about things. He looks at Alya, signaling her to take control of the situation.

Alya walks up.

"Marinette. I have been with you during your hard times, your sad times, and your happiest times.  But I for one never thought you were a bully. Like you needa for real calm the f*ck down when you with Lila." Alya scolds her.

Marinette's eyes widened. Never has she heard Alya swear. Especially not at her.

"Alya... I- What? H-how am I bullying her?" Marinette stammers. She thought she gained confidence after hanging out with Chloe but her usual quirky and clumsiness was coming back.

"You really want us to recall all the encounters? Ok first when you got her akumatized!" That earned a gasp from everyone.

"Yeah and the time you blamed her for her hearing problem and made her sit in the back of the class!" Nino adds.

"And when you threw a napkin at her because you didn't believe her wrist was broken!" Rose exclaims, Juleka murmuring something in the back.

Adrien then steps up. Marinette gulps, afraid for what he was gonna say.

"And what you did today Marinette.... I admit I also thought she lied about somethings, but she really promised to get better, and I'm going to believe her this time. I'm sorry Marinette. She may have lied about a lot of things, but you have picked way more fights with her than anyone. Even Chloe." Adrien says, his green eyes piercing into her heart like a dagger.

Even once he turned his eyes away and walked back, she still felt the pain.

"A-adrien... I-"

"And you Chloe. We aren't gonna confront you or try to explain to you anything because Lila was speaking facts. You really are a bratty daddy's girl. No matter how hard we try to tell you something, you're never gonna listen!" Mylene says. 

It's true, Chloe was a bully, but even I winced at those words, feeling for Chloe.

Chloe flinched from what Mylene said, and stood up. 

She motioned Sabrina to get up and they both walke away.

Chloe are you seriously leaving me here with them?! Marinette thinks.

Marinette stares at her classmates and was about to say something when Alya cut her off.

"Marinette! And don't even think about tryna explain yourself for your actions! Coz let's all be real here, this is all because of your stupid jealousy!" Alya says.

"W-what?" Marinette asks confused.

"You're just mad she gets to hang out with-" Alya stops for a second, thinking if she really should expose her best friend. Juleka suddenly makes eye contact with Marinette, eyes full of pity and sorrow. 

Alya clears her throat and continues. "Y-you're just mad shes hanging out with Adrien!" The whole class mutters in agreement, nodding their heads. It's no surprise that the entire class knew about her little crush (which was actually a massive crush), but Adrien didn't know!

Adrien looked taken aback, and Marinette's eyes widened. A huge bubbly feeling arose in her chest, rising up to her throat. that was her signal to leave, before she starts crying infront of everyone. She stands up, eyes looking down on the ground. She walks away, but not before a single tear drop fell from her eyes, no doubt her friends noticed that. If she could even call them her "friends". Right before she left, she managed to make eye contact with Adrien. He tried to figure out the expression on her face but it was- well... emotionless.