Quarantine Changed Us

Chapter 18

"So what assignment did Ms. Bustier give you"? Alix asked. "Egyptian gods" Chloe groaned.

"Don't worry, Egyptian history is my specialty" Alix said. "But don't listen to Jalil, he didn't know the gods when he was akumatized". Chloe laughed. "That must've made you mad".

"You bet" Alix laughed and they walked down the stairs.

"Hey Alix"! Jalil ran over to them.

"Hey bro, you remember Chloe" Alix gestured to the blonde beside her.

"Yes of course" He held out his hand. "Hello, Miss Bourgeois". Chloe shook his hand. "Please, just call me Chloe" She said.

Jalil blinked at her and turned to Alix. "What are you guys doing here"? He asked. "I live here, stupid" Alix snickered along with Chloe.

"Forget it, I'm leaving" Jalil started to walk away. "Wait, I need help with history" Chloe said.

Jalil whipped around so fast he almost knocked his glasses off. "That I can do, what's it about"? "Egyptian gods" Chloe showed him the sheet. "Great, that's my speciality".

Chloe smirked at Alix, who looked about ready to give up on life. Jalil gestured for the two girls to follow him. "What's the first question"?

Chloe looked at the paper. "What was Horus the god of"?

"He is the god of flying" Jalil answered. "No he's not" Alix said. "Then what is he the god of"? Jalil rolled his eyes.

"Just because hes a falcon doesn't mean he could fly, actually both Horus' eyes represent different things, his left, the moon, represents healing and his right, the sun, represents power and quintessence" Alix stopped. "But you would know all of that, right"?

She smirked at her older brother, who just got schooled. "yes, I was just testing you" Jalil said genuinely.

Chloe looked between the both of them. "So, what do I write"? "My answer" Alix told her. Chloe quickly wrote it down before she forgot.

"Say bye to Jalil, he's leaving" Alix waved sarcastically. "No wait, one more question, I'll answer correct this time"! He begged.

Alix nodded to Chloe and she read the next question. "Who is Sekhmet"?

Jalil grinned. "Goddess of strength, I know this well". Alix burst out laughing. "You should know, Hawkmoth isn't a very good historian" she laughed.

"Don't tell me I got it wrong"!? Jalil groaned.

Chloe felt awkward. "Is this what it feels like to have a sibling"? She thought.

"Chloe, listen to the right answer, Sekhmet was the goddess of war and destruction but also represented healing and medicine" Alix said while smirking at Jalil.

"Ok now I'm leaving, but you're giving me a history lesson later" he said as he walked away. "Can't wait"! Alix yelled and turned to Chloe.

Chloe stood with an awkward look on her face. "I'm so sorry my brother is an idiot" Alix said.

"Not even going to comment" Chloe held her hands up.

"Come on, just because you're nice Chloe doesn't mean we can't get nice and sarcastic Chloe" Alix teased. "I don't know, I don't think it suits me anymore" she said.

"Is it now, ridiculous, utterly ridiculous"? Alix snickered.

"Sorry it's not cool for you, short stack" Chloe snapped back.

"Really"!? Alix gasped. "Those are some fighting words, I'll have to hit you". Chloe backed away jokingly. "Oh no, I'm going to die"!

They burst out laughing and a couple ran out of the area. "You scared them too much" Alix said between laughs.

"That was definitely all you" Chloe chuckled.
———
Alix and Chloe spent the rest of the afternoon, working on Chloe's homework. "Finally done"! Chloe held it up in success.

"Might have been done faster if Ms. Bustier didn't insist on making you study pretty much every single god" Alix groaned.

"But you knew everything I needed, you're really smart" Chloe praised her.

"Thanks Chlo, I'm sure you'll get better as you continue studying" Alix said. Chloe's smiled dropped. "I'm not so sure, I mean, I'm not that smart" she said.

"I think you are, you're a superhero"! Alix said, but then cursed herself out in her head.

"But I didn't do anything important" Chloe sighed, oblivious to Alix saying she IS a superhero. "Of course you do" Alix scoffed. "You help Ladybug come up with super hard plans and how to use her own lucky charm".

"But..." Chloe started again. "No, I refuse to listen to your objections, you are smart and you'll get a miraculous again, trust me" Alix smiled, laying a hand on top of her own.

Chloe blushed while smiling at her. Alix studied the blondes face and noticed her blush.

"Does Chloe...like me"? She thought, her own blush forming on her cheeks. Alix leaned closer to Chloe, who moved closer as well.

They were now centimetres away from their lips touching when they heard keys jingling.

The two of them backed away and pretended to be just finishing the homework. "Hey dad" Alix greeted Alim as he walked in the door.

"Hey sweetie, hello Chloe" he smiled. "Hi, Mr. Kubdel" Chloe said. "When are you headed home"? Alim asked.

"Anytime now" Chloe looked at her phone and saw a text message.

"Yep, leaving right now". She stood and Alix walked her to the door. "Bye Allykins" Chloe waved. "Bye Chloe" Alix waved back.

And with that, Chloe left. The unspoken words were still in both their minds as well as the near kiss. Alix closed the door and leaned back against it.

"Stressful day"? Alim wondered. "Something like that" Alix lied. "I'll be right back" Alix half ran to her room.

She fell onto her bed with a smile. Even though they hadn't kissed or said anything, Alix now knew that Chloe liked her back.
———
Chloe was quiet the whole ride home.

She couldn't stop thinking about the kiss she almost shared with Alix. But what made her smile the most was that Alix was the one who leaned in first.

"She likes me back"! Chloe wished they could've actually kissed.
———
Alix wished she could say she liked family dinners. But she didn't, she much rather eat whatever and sit watching tv.

"Sooo, what was up with you and Chloe today"? Jalil asked with a grin. "Jalil"! Alim scolded.

"I couldn't figure out who your ice cream matched but now I finally know" Jalil said, ignoring his dad. Alix sighed.

"Yes, its Chloe, now shut up about it".

"Alix, be nice" Her dad said. "Can I be excused"? Alix asked. Alim sighed and nodded, letting her go. Alix left to her room.

Her phone buzzed from the bed with a message from Chloe.
—
Parisprincess- I need to see you, come to the hotel

Skaterqueen- I can't sneak out though and I doubt my dad will let me sleepover at your place right now

Parisprincess- What's that supposed to mean?

Skaterqueen- Don't ask

Parisprincess- Don't you have some sort of cover plan for when you sneak out to hang with Kim and Max?

Skaterqueen- ...
Skaterqueen- I'll be there in 15
—
Skaterqueen- Nathaniel!

Tomatoartist- What?!

Skaterqueen- I need you to cover for me

Tomatoartist- Why?

Skaterqueen- I need to get away from my crazy family

Tomatoartist- Ok, just tell him you're sleeping over at my place and then go where ever it is you're going

Skaterqueen- Thanks Nath, you're the best

Tomatoartist- I know
—
Skaterqueen- On my way

Parisprincess- Great :)