Tell me the Truth

Chapter 1

Marinette

My life use to be amazing. I had a bunch of friends, and I could walk around the halls at school without looking over my shoulder. The only main thing I had to worry about was Chloé getting people akumatized. Now. Now I have to worry about my whole class.
At school, I walk down the halls glancing over my shoulders for Lila or any of my classmates. I have four people I can trust at that school, Chloé, Alix, Kim, and Kagami. When Lila came into the picture, she lied her way into our lives and turned people over known since kindergarten, into monsters and haters. Adrien turned into his father. An abusive asshole, that manipulates people into doing what he wants. Just. Like. Lila.

Today is an ordinary day. I walked to school, Lila told a lie, I was on the receiving end of a punch to the gut. After pulling myself together, I walked to class and waited for my friends to get there.
"Marinette! Did you get the email?!" Chloé, my best friend, exclaimed in excitement as she entered the classroom. Confused, I tilted my head to the side and shook my head no. "Check it! No wait! I'll tell you! I'm too excited!" Giggling a little, I waited for her to tell me the news. "We're going to Gotham!" Smiling, I jumped up and hugged her. "You did it!"
"No way, we did it! Is Gami going as well?" I asked as I reclaimed my seat and Chloé sat next to me.
"I believe so, but we should double check when we get released. I think Luka will be chaperoning too.....how have you been?"
And just like that the feeling of normalcy disappeared, and dread pooled in my stomach.
"I've been better. Got punched this morning, so nothing new. Mama and papa want me to run the bakery, while they go on vacation. Again, nothing new. But! Now I don't have to, I'm going to Gotham. I'm excited to get away from Paris. I applied to Gotham University, I'm hoping they will accept me so I can escape this hell hole."
Chloé gasped. "You've been hanging out with Alix and Kim too much! You know better then to use potty language." But she sighed and her demeanor changed entirely. It was darker and more guarded. "But I agree. I applied there too. I'm hoping that with some help from a certain team, Gotham will become a better place."

The sad smile that graced her features, made me feel awful. It's been five years. Five! And we only caught Hawkmoth a week ago. The city was still celebrating, and Emily was getting care from the best doctors in Paris. Adrien hasn't been to school since they found her, but then again he's getting investigated as well. I was pulled from my thoughts as the class and Miss. Bustier walked in.
She explained about the contest my friends and I entered for the class, how we won an all expenses trip to Gotham. And when we will be leaving.
"You are dismissed. Please be here at 6:00 sharp tonight, or we are leaving without you." She said before everyone filed out of the classroom.
"Chloé and I are going to my place to pack, then heading to hers. Let's meet there, that way we make it on time." I said to my group of friends. "Chloé and I will get Kagami from her place on our way. For some reason her mom trusts me, sooooo-"
After saying goodbye, we walked to the bakery and headed to my room.

After packing and repacking three times, I was set for the trip. Since it's a seven and a half hour trip I changed into a pair of back sweatpants that closed around my ankle, a baggy, off the shoulder, grey tee shirt, with a black tank top. I decided to wear slip ons instead of my flats.
After picking Kagami up, we went to Chloé's hotel, where everyone else was waiting. We settled in and passed the time with Uno and Villanice. Villanice is a game where you play the villains of Disney movies, you try to complete your evil scheme.
"We gotta go!!!" Kim exclaimed as he grabbed his suitcase and raced out the door. Alix, Kagami, Chloé, and I hot on his tail.