Aurore wanted answers. She didn’t understand why Alya had started to harass and bully her with Lila. Sure, her and Alya had never been very close, but she never thought Alya would stoop as low as she did. After everything that happened, Lila was expelled and Alya was suspended. Aurore was left to wonder why Alya had become so mean to her.
——————–
But Aurore wouldn’t have to wonder for much longer. Alya’s suspension had finally ended and she was returning to the school today. Aurore was determined to find out why Alya had done what she did. She had to know. As Aurore arrived at school, she saw Alya had already arrived and was walking towards the stairs to the classroom. Aurore saw her opportunity and stopped Alya, racing to catch up to her.
——————–
Aurore got to Alya’s side and asked the question that had been on her mind for weeks. “Alya, why did you do that? Did I do something to you? I just want to know why?” Aurore was not expecting the response she got. Alya whipped around to face her, her face growing red with anger. “You want to know why?! Isn’t it obvious?! You stole my blog’s popularity! If it wasn’t for your stupid attempt at a blog, my blog would have still been the top Ladybug blog in Paris! It is all you fault! You should have just done what I said and took down your blog when I started messing with you! Then things wouldn’t have had to escalate, I wouldn’t have been suspended, Lila wouldn’t have been expelled, and I would still have my blog! Ladybug won’t even look at me anymore! This is all your fault!”
———————
Alya had gotten louder and louder throughout her tirade, until the whole courtyard was focused on the drama unfolding at the stairs. Marinette and her friends also saw the commotion and rushed to support Aurore and finally tell Alya what they thought of her. Marinette got between Aurore and Alya, glad to be speaking her mind. “It isn’t Aurore’s fault this happened. It’s your fault Alya!” Alya looked genuinely shocked. Like she had never considered that she may be at fault for what had happened.
——————
Juleka came to stand next to Marinette, facing the enraged reporter. “Yeah, the reason your blog lost popularity wasn’t because of Aurore’s blog, it was because you failed at the most basic responsibility of a journalist. You never checked your sources.” From the back of the growing crowd, Alix’s voice called out. “All you ever posted anymore were Lila’s lies. Why would people want to read a blog that has worse credibility than a third rate tabloid.”
—————-
Nathaniel and Marc stood by Aurore’s side, as the chaos grew around them. “And the reason you got expelled wasn’t Aurore’s fault. You were the one who harassed her. You were the one who bullied her. And you were the one who tripped her down the stairs. You are the only reason that you were suspended!” Marc nodded along with everything Nathaniel was saying, as Alya stared on in shock at what everyone was saying.
—————
Chloe decided it was time to put in her two cents. She pushed her way to the front of the crowd and stood right in front of Alya. “And it isn’t Aurore’s fault that your pathetic little blog was taken down or that Ladybug won’t talk to you. Your blog got taken down cause it was nothing but a bunch of lies! You are no journalist. No self respecting journalist would post that garbage online. And Ladybug won’t talk to you because you posted a bunch of lies about her online! Why would she speak with someone who just spreads lies and doesn’t check all the facts before spreading rumors. You are being ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
—————-
Marinette stepped forward one final time. “Alya, it isn’t fair of you to blame Aurore for everything when it is entirely your fault what happened. Sure, Lila lied to you and had a hand in everything as well, but you didn’t have to listen to her or go along with her plan. It’s about time for you to grow up and realize that your actions have consequences! Stop throwing a tantrum and realize that the only person to blame is yourself!”
—————-
Alya could hardly believe her ears. How could these people that she thought were her friends say something so mean. But the more she listened, the more she realized they were right. She really was the only one at fault for what happened. Alya felt her eyes fill with tears and she raced from the school, back to her house and cried. How could she have let her life get to this point? Everyone was right. As much as it hurt Alya to realize, it was all her fault this happened.
