SLOWLY FALLING FOR YOU (α∂яιєηєттє)

Chap. 18

Marinette's P. O. V

Back at the hangout-

"I WAS TALKING TO HIM!"

I stopped talking to Adrien and faced Lila, confusion and shock filling my face. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard, but at the same time, I wondered why Lila had looked and sounded so mad. Why did it matter that I was now talking to Adrien? Why did she have to shout out those words and catch everyone's attention?

"Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. It's just that, I was still in the middle of asking him my questions and you just pulled him over to ask him about cats!" Right there and then, I wasn't sure if Lila meant her apology at all. There was something written all over her face, something I didn't quite understand. That something had showed up ever since Adrien had offered her an Euro to buy her lunch. Was it perhaps. . .?

"I'm sorry, Lila." Although I said that, I wasn't sure if I meant it either. Did I have to apologize? Was it really my fault that Adrien chose to reply to my questions?

"No, I should be the one apologizing. That was so rude of me." Lila spoke in a squeaky voice. She then stood up from her seat, excusing herself, and she started walking away. I started asking myself whether I should follow her or just stay in my seat. I could see from the corner of my eyes that Adrien was looking over at me, as if he wanted to ask whether I was okay, yet didn't know how to. Finally not being able to take it due to how embarrassed I was, I stood up and started following Lila.

Maybe I had felt guilt and that was why I followed Lila, or maybe it was because I considered her as my bestest friend. I wasn't so sure, but one thing for sure, I wanted to know the reason why she had seemed so mad. Lila had always been telling me to stay true to her, to tell her whatever troubles me, whatever I have in mind, or whatever secrets I have, and every single time, I always kept to my words of never lying to her. But ever since she and Adrien got on good terms, I started to realize that there was something she was keeping from me. Whenever I was alone with Adrien, and she would show up and see us together, she would look mad at first, but then try to cover it up with a smile.

Could it be possible that she may have. . . that she may have possibly liked Adrien as more than a friend? I don't know why, but just thinking that made me sick to my stomach. It didn't make sense to me at first, but now things were starting to clear up. Lila had a crush on Adrien and was always mad whenever I was together with him. She. . . she was mad at me!

I entered the ladies bathroom, where Lila stood in front of the sink, washing her hands. She looked up once she heard me come in, and she immediately changed her calm face into a more upset one. She muttered my name, showing she was still a bit upset with me. I stood by the door, wishing she'd quit staring at me and just give me answers. But that didn't happen. Instead, Lila bent over towards the sink again and splattered her face with water.

"Why were you so mad?"

"Why do you care?!"

"Why shouldn't I care?!" I snapped. I'd never yelled at Lila, though sometimes she made me mad. I'd always been calm whenever I was around her, especially with the fact that she was having a tough time with her father and my parents told me to be easy on her. I had always listened to my parents, did whatever Lila wanted just at long as it was okay, helped her whenever she needed help. She never got along with people she met so I was her only friend. Then I had introduced her to my other friends, and she didn't seem to mind them a bit. When she had complained to me that Alya had made fun of her scar and called her an unwanted child after Alya told me that Lila had faked her scar, I got mad, and I had taken Lila's side. I had to admit that I took some time, trying to figure out whether Alya was right or not. I had asked myself, why would Lila fake a scar to fool me? Then I had also asked myself, why would Alya lie to me?! Later on when I got too confused, I decided to forget about it.