HIATUS//Becoming Lila Rossi

Chapter 30: Chatter in the Courtyard

As the sleek black chauffeur-driven car pulled away from the school's car park, the late afternoon sun bathed the scene in a warm, golden hue. The courtyard, usually a place of bustling activity, now seemed quieter as students began to disperse, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected departure of Adrien and Lila.

Chloé Bourgeois, who had been watching from a distance with increasing agitation, was the first to break the silence. Her normally pristine appearance was marred by the frustrated scowl that twisted her features.

"Did you see that?" Chloé's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. "Adrien actually took Lila out in his car. This is so unfair!"

Sabrina, who had been standing next to Chloé, looked at her with a mix of sympathy and confusion. Her brows furrowed as she processed the situation. "Chloé, calm down. It's not that big of a deal, is it?"

Chloé's face was flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief. She crossed her arms and glared at the empty sidewalk where the car had been waiting, as if willing it to return. "Not that big of a deal? Adrien and I were supposed to have something special, and now he's spending time with Lila? It's just so... unfair! I mean, we were supposed to hang out more. I don't understand why he's so interested in her all of a sudden."

Sabrina's expression softened, though she still looked puzzled. "I guess it's possible he just wanted to be friendly. It's not like he's dating anyone right now."

Chloé's eyes narrowed. "Friendly? Adrien doesn't just invite anyone over to his house. He's clearly interested in her for some reason. And look at her—she's got this angelic aura about her that makes it impossible to compete."

Sabrina shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. "Maybe he's just trying to be nice. You know how he is—always looking out for others."

Chloé snorted. "Nice? It's not just about being nice. It's about making me look like a fool. He's letting Lila into his life and into his circle, and it's like I'm being pushed aside. I'm not going to stand for this. I need to figure out what's going on before this gets any worse."

Sabrina looked at Chloé with a mix of concern and uncertainty. "What are you going to do?"

Chloé's eyes glinted with a new resolve. "I'm going to find out exactly what Lila's game is. If she's trying to steal Adrien from me, she's got another thing coming. I won't let her or anyone else get in my way."

Nearby, Kim and Alix, who had been engaged in an animated conversation about their latest school project, noticed the commotion and drifted closer. The sudden departure of the sleek black car had caught their attention, and they couldn't help but be intrigued by the unfolding scene.

"Wow, I didn't expect that," said Kim, his voice tinged with disbelief as he glanced over at the now-empty parking spot where the car had been. "Are Adrien and Lila really going out together? They seemed pretty cozy. I thought they were just friends."

Alix, her eyes wide as she replayed the scene in her mind, nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it definitely looked like they were heading somewhere special. I mean, Adrien was holding her bag for her. That's not something you do for just anyone. It seemed pretty intimate."

Kim tilted his head, considering Alix's observation. "True. And the way they were interacting, it did seem like there was more to it. I wouldn't have guessed they were so close. Do you think they're on a date or something?"

Alix's face brightened with an amused smile. "It's possible. They looked really comfortable with each other. Adrien's always been kind, but this was different. It was like they were already very familiar with each other."