Marinette was so glad that it was dark in the building. She really didn't want to see Louise's reaction to Adrien holding her hand.

"Adrien, who is that?" Chloe yelled over the music, inching closer to the pair. Her face appeared out of the darkness and Marinette could see her signature icy blue eyes. They widened in surprise.

"Well, sheesh! It's about time you came," Chloe complained. She then coughed, remembering how she was trying to change for the better. And that she needed Marinette's help carrying out her plan.

Adrien laughed and pulled his hand away from Marinette's, telling Chloe the story of how he found her lost and dazed in the darkness of the alley.

And in that moment, the lights snapped on without warning, temporarily blinding everyone. The "party hour" had just ended. Grunts of discomfort erupted from the groups of bowlers as an apologetic voice came over the intercom.

"Sorry," the voice blared, which obviously came from the scrawny boy behind the front desk.

Marinette glanced up at Louise, who was texting on her phone. The longer she looked at Louise, the more jealous she got. The model had sun kissed skin, a crop top that exposed her perfectly toned body, and long flowing brown hair.

No wonder Adrien was in love with her.

"You can bowl first," Louise said, looking up, and Marinette quickly shifted her gaze to the wall just behind Louise.

"Okay," she squeaked, quickly slipping on her bowling shoes and then struggling to pick up a bowling ball. It was incredibly heavy and she was already exhausted from running around.

She grunted as she lifted it up.

Adrien hurried over and grabbed the ball. "Here, let me help you."

"I got it, thanks," Marinette stated, tugging the ball away, her fingers barely brushing his helping hand.

It broke her heart to deny his help, but Louise was shooting darts into Marinette with her eyes.

"Good luck," Chloe yelled, holding up her phone to record any embarrassing moments.

Louise smiled, clapping her hands together. "Yeah, good luck!"

Marinette stepped up to the line. She closed her eyes and breathed out. Firmly gripping the ball in her right hand, she swung her arm back, and unleashed her fury, letting the momentum do the work.

The ball soared down the lane at lightening speed, and in an instant, connected with the pins with a thunderous crash.

They were all knocked over.

"Yes!" Adrien screamed, jumping up and down.

Marinette blinked. Did she really just get a strike?!

"Not bad," Chloe nodded, half smirking.

Adrien raced over to Marinette, holding up his hand for a high five. Marinette slapped his hand with hers triumphantly, cheering.

Louise walked over and nodded, her arms crossed. An impressed smirk played on her lips. "Way to go, Mari. You're awesome at bowling."

Marinette shrugged, smiling graciously. "Um, thanks, I guess? That's honestly the first time I've ever gotten a strike!"

"Beginners luck?" Louise questioned, tilting her head.

"Uh, yeah! I mean, no!" Marinette laughed.

Before Louise could say anything more, Chloe stepped in between them, ending the painfully awkward conversation.

"Lets go celebrate your strike with a game of air hockey?" she asked, winking.

"Okay?" Marinette asked, furrowing her brows.

Chloe turned around and started walking towards the arcade section of the bowling alley. Once there, she stopped in front of a claw machine, her smile melting into a serious frown.

"What's wrong? I thought we were playing air hockey?" Marinette asked, genuinely confused.

"Fun's over," Chloe stated, crossing her arms. "It's time to carry out the plan."

Marinette widened her eyes, remembering what she was really there for. "Oh. Yeah..."

"So?" Chloe pressed, tapping her feet. "Are we doing this or what?"

Marinette gulped. The plan involved isolating Louise and Chloe so her real side would be revealed. Marinette had to distract Adrien while this was occurring. Then, they needed to show Adrien the video of Louise.

Her stomach churned. "Actually, I don't know if I want to do this anymore."

Chloe widened her eyes, her mouth simultaneously dropping open. "Marinette!"

"I'm sorry!" Marinette whimpered. "I've just been having fun... sorta..."

"Oh, give me a break! That's just because you got a strike!" Chloe complained, swatting at the air. "I knew you would bail on me."

Marinette felt a fire ignite in her chest. She frowned, stepping forward. "Chloe, this needs to stop."

Chloe turned towards Marinette. "What?"

"If you have a genuine concern about Louise, please tell Adrien personally. We shouldn't be doing stuff behind his back!"

Chloe's face was beginning to turn red. "You know Marinette, I am so sick of your back and forth! Make up your mind! First you disagree, then you agree, and now you disagree again!"

Marinette kept silent.

"You know, I think it's just because you're afraid that Adrien is going to paint you as the bad guy! You're too worried about how he looks at you!"

Marinette gasped. "That is NOT true! What about you then, Chloe? What actual dirt do you have against Louise, besides the fact that she is Adrien's girlfriend?"

Footsteps erupted from outside the arcade. Fearing the worst, Marinette quickly hid behind the claw machine.

Chloe turned around and met the eyes of Louise.

"Chloe, dear!" Louise cackled.

The blonde tensed up, narrowing her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Well, Adrien went to the bathroom, and whats-her-face ran off, so I needed to find someone to talk to. And why not you, my well acquainted friend?"

"Anything you'd like to tell me?" Chloe asked, backing away with each step Louise took.

"Right. I'm glad you've heeded my warning of staying away from Adrien. I just wanted you to relay that message to Marinette. I didn't think I'd have to worry about her, but she has been getting awfully comfortable with my boyfriend lately."

"Oh, I'll make sure she knows," Chloe smirked.

"Excellent," Louise smiled. She turned on her heel and began walking away. "I don't want her to get the wrong idea before we leave for-"

Chloe widened her eyes, stepping forward. "Wait, leave for where?"

Louise smirked, looking over her shoulder. "Au revoir." She then exited the arcade.

Chloe was confused, but still ecstatic nonetheless. Marinette had heard the evil side of Louise for herself, and actually had reason to believe Chloe's stories about her.

Chloe turned to Marinette, who had slowly wiggled out of her hiding place once the coast was clear.

The blonde raised her eyebrow, smirking. "Well?"

Marinette's mouth was unhinged in shock after hearing how Louise spoke with such venom and spitefulness.

"Okay, I believe you."

Chloe threw her hands up in the air. "Thank you!"

"But now what? It's not like Adrien is going to believe you," Marinette mumbled. "And if Louise finds out you were talking to Adrien about her..."

"Exactly. That's why we need video proof. Adrien would never believe me," Chloe shrugged. Her head dropped in disappointment and silence fell among the girls.

Then her eyes widened and she smiled, as if a lightbulb had flickered on above her head. "Unless..." she swiveled around and pointed at Marinette, "You tell him!"

Marinette's mouth was agape as she pointed to herself in surprise. "Me?!"

"Yes! Adrien would believe you in an instant!" Chloe exclaimed, getting excited. She grabbed Marinette's hand and walked her out of the arcade. "In fact, I think Adrien is still here..."

"I can't," Marinette pulled her hand away defensively. She frowned. "What if he doesn't believe me?"

"He will. Marinette, he trusts you more than me and we have been friends since kindergarten. I mean, when I tried pinning the blame on you for the first Louise scheme, sorry by the way, he didn't believe me because he knew you wouldn't do something like that," Chloe said, her face softening.

"Please. I don't want Adrien to get hurt by Louise. I would rather have you break the news to him than him finding out the hard way."

Marinette was shocked, she had never seen Chloe act so sincere. She crossed her arms, deep in thought.

Chloe had a point. For whatever reason, Adrien put a lot of trust into Marinette. She loved that aspect of their friendship; he trusted her no matter what.

And she definitely did not want Adrien to get heartbroken from Louise.

Marinette flinched, holding a hand to her chest. She knew that feeling of heartbreak all too well.

"I'll do it," Marinette nodded confidently.

"Awesome!" Chloe yelled excitedly. "My Adrikins isn't going to be used by that manipulative little brat anymore!"

Marinette gulped, taking her first steps out of the arcade area. She clenched her fists in determination and began searching for Adrien amongst the crowd.

After a few minutes of searching and no luck, Marinette assumed he had left with Louise. She sighed, her confidence fleeting.

Then, Chloe gasped from behind her, pointing straight ahead. "There! At the front desk!"

Marinette looked in the direction of the front desk and saw Adrien conversing with the staff.

She started walking towards him, earning a supportive pat on the back from Chloe just before she left the vicinity.

Adrien turned towards her and sighed with relief. "There you are." He then took note of Chloe in the background and waved at her. "I was about to go looking for you and Chloe myself."

"Yeah. Sorry about that. It was a long game of air hockey," Marinette smiled, crossing her arms.

"Louise just left, said she had chores to do at home," Adrien said, jutting a thumb out at the exit.

Marinette grinned and replied with an, "Oh."

"So, are you and Chloe ready for another game or...?" Adrien asked playfully, pointing towards the bowling alley.

"Um, actually Adrien, could we... talk?" Marinette asked shyly.

Adrien blinked, a concerning look replacing his cheery smile. "Sure, what's up?"

"Lets, uh, go somewhere private," Marinette suggested, hesitating before she gently grabbed Adrien's hand and guided him towards the corner of the building, right next to the arcade.

Her mind was a mixture of emotions. Excitement because she was holding Adrien's hand, and despair because of how she was afraid Adrien would react to the news.

Once they were in the corner, a red flag went off above Adrien's head. He tensed up, noticing the uneasiness Marinette was giving off.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice softening significantly.

He was so close to her face right now. She wanted to pass out. But she had to remain strong, for him and for herself.

"I don't want to freak you out, but no, it isn't alright," Marinette confessed, breathing out.

"Why? What's wrong?" Adrien asked. His eyebrows furrowed and he stood tall, immediately switching his demeanor from concerned to protective. "Is someone bothering you? If anyone is bothering you, I swear-"

"No," Marinette said quickly, placing a hand on his chest. She shivered as she felt his pecs underneath, but quickly shoved that feeling away for the moment.

"I'm fine. This is about Louise," she gulped, lowering her hand.

"Louise? What about her?" Adrien asked, becoming consumed with worry.

"She..." Marinette coughed, her throat becoming extremely hoarse. "Well, she... hasn't exactly been the nicest person ever..."

Marinette facepalmed herself. Idiot.

"What are you talking about?" Adrien asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

"She said some things and they weren't nice," Marinette mumbled, staring at the ground since she was unable to keep eye contact with Adrien.

"Like what?" Adrien pressed, his voice turning into an ominous growl.

Marinette kicked at the carpet with her shoes. Finally, she breathed out, ready to unveil the truth. No going back now. "She's extremely possessive over you, Adrien. She said she doesn't want me, or anyone for that matter, getting close to you."

"Really?" Adrien replied in disbelief. "She really said that?"

"Yes," Marinette nodded, finally looking up at him and seeing the hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Adrien."

"Thanks for telling me, Marinette," Adrien nodded. "Louise and I are going to have a talk about this for sure."

Marinette's heart shattered. That wasn't the answer the selfish part of her wanted.

Adrien began walking away and the internal struggle began.

She wanted Adrien to break up with Louise. As horrible as it sounded, that is what she desired. It sounded like Adrien just wanted to talk with Louise so they could patch things up.

No. That wasn't enough for Marinette.

Adrien was so far away, but Marinette opened her mouth to speak again anyways.

"Wait!" she called out desperately.

Her heart was burning, as well as her eyes with tears. All of her memories of heartbreak came flooding back to her, consuming her better judgement.

When he didn't hear her, Marinette was practically begging now. Begging for him to turn around. Begging for him to just forget Louise and run into her arms instead.

She snapped. The cold, hard truth was eating her alive.

"Louise is just using you!" she blurted out at the top of her lungs.

This cued Adrien to finally stop in his tracks.

Marinette immediately knew her words were a mistake. She wanted to take them back so badly.

If only she had known what it meant in terms of their friendship. And how it would never be the same afterwards.