Marinette still smiled brilliantly. She hadn’t lost her excited energy since she walked into the class that morning and wouldn’t tell anyone what was going on. She just said it was a surprise. And all her friends in the class knew that there was nothing like a Marinette surprise. And Marinette was practically vibrating in her seat, so it had to be a good one, right?
Alya spent most of the morning poking and prodding her bestie for the scoop. Kim promised Marinette unlimited piggyback rides if only told him. (Something to lord over Alix’s head.) Max offered to update her website design. Everyone offered different bribes to Marinette just so the Bluenette would let them in on the secret. But she wouldn’t budge, not even Adrien giving her his most charming smile and big puppy dog eyes affected her. Or Bustier trying to force the Bluenette to be a better role model by not keeping secrets. She had barely been able to maintain control of the class since the day began, and Marinette came, not that she had much success most other days.
Lila raged inwardly at the attention the brat was getting. No matter what she did, loudly whimpering over the sprain in her wrist, or how many tales she told about the many celebrities she knew, it would garner the class’s attention for a few minutes before their focus would be back on Marinette. It wasn’t fair.
The lunch came and went. The kids came back to class enthusiastically, thinking of what surprise Marinette could have for them. Then they noticed that their favorite Bluenette, their everyday Ladybug had yet to arrive. She wasn’t just a few minutes late after the bell. But nearly an hour. Alya pulled out her phone, pointedly ignoring Bustier, who meekly asked her to put it away, and called her best friend. “GIRL, where are you? What do you mean you got an excuse? Is this about the surprise? Seriously?” The class listened eagerly. “Wait! I’ll put you on speaker,” Alya said. “Okay, we’re all ears!”
Marinette had finally cracked, mostly because she couldn’t hold it in anymore. This had been the best day ever, and she knew her friends would be thrilled too. “My cousins back in town. We went out for lunch. We’re at school now and headed to class now. They can’t wait to see you all again! See you in five.” And with that, she happily hung up the phone. Unaware of the havoc she just unleashed.
The class sat in silence. No one moving. No one was making a sound. Not even Lila was curious about why her morons were acting so strangely. Slowly horrified looks appeared on the students’ faces.
“RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” Kim screamed, picked up Max in his arms, and shot for the door. And just like that, everyone was running, pushing and shoving to making their escape. Some went for the door. Some went for the window. Crawling over each other in a heated battle to get out before…. They came.
After Kim (and Max) escaped, Bustier blocked the rest from leaving. She attempted to calm her students, standing in front of the door, refusing to budge. “I know we’re all excited for our visitor, but there’s no need for such a ruckus. Everyone should return to their seats, and we’ll greet them in an orderly manner.”
Everyone paused what they were doing and just looked at their teacher. It was the first time Bustier got a mass “Are you stupid” look. And then went back to what they were doing.
The kinder kids in class, Nathaniel and Adrien, begged their teacher to move away from the door. They were running out of time. Alix cursed her out. Chloe threatened to have her fired.
“No,” Bustier crossed her arms for once refusing to give in to her students. “This is ridiculous. I am your teacher. I demand that you list-” She didn’t get the chance to finish her sentence because she hadn’t seen the punch coming.
Sabrina, the small, glasses-wearing redhead, coldcocked the teacher, earning surprised looks from everyone in the class, apart from Chloe, who snorted at them, “What you thought I only kept her around because she did my homework?”
Sabrina stepped over her teacher’s fallen body, swung opened the door, “Come with me if you want to live,” Sabrina yelled and led the charge of fleeing students.
Alya hadn’t hesitated to jump out of the window. She didn’t care if she got hurt or hit her head and ended up in a coma. It was better than the alternative as far as she was concerned. She loved Marinette with all her heart, but she couldn’t do it. Not again. Never again. When Alya landed outside, she booked it. However, she didn’t head home. (Marinette would look for her there). Instead, she fled with no direction mind. She never thought about the friends she left behind. (She could make new ones.). She only spared a thought for her boyfriend. Nino was strong. He’d make it, she thought. And if not…. Luka was cute. Nino would want her to move on.
Rose, with a strength no one realized she was capable up, stacked a few desks together, and climbed out of the vents. Then came back when she realized Juleka never followed but was on the floor balled up on the floor having a panic attack. She refused to leave her best friend behind and tried to get the Goth to snap out of it before it was too late. Eventually, after a well-earned slap from Rose, the two fled through the vents rather than risk running into Marinette in the hall.
Rose was a good friend. Unlike Nino, who blatantly pushed Adrien off his chair and onto the floor, jumped over his friend and fled out of the classroom, all while yelling, “Sorry, every man for themselves, bro.” Adrien had pouted but quickly followed his friend and the others out the door.
Mylene gave her boyfriend a solemn look. She had hurt her foot just last week and couldn’t walk with crutches. They both knew there was no way she could get out time, “Go,” She ordered Ivan. “Save yourself.”
“I won’t leave you behind,” Ivan shook his head, tears burning in his eyes. “Together or not at all.” He promised and used helped her up and allowed her to lean on them as they slowly made their escape.
Eventually, only Lila and a knocked out Bustier remained in the classroom. Lila was stunned at what she had seen. She looked around the classroom before finally exclaiming, “What. The. Fuck.” However, Lila only allowed herself that moment of surprise before she chose to wisely vacate through the window. She didn’t know what was wrong, but she wasn’t stupid enough to stick around to try and find out. Lila would ask questions after she ran for her life.
Marinette arrived at the classroom seconds later with a bright smile on her face that quickly turned into a frown, “Why does this always happen?” Her cousin(s?) shrugged.
