Word Count: 2007
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Next day at school.

"So you're in punishment and going to have more classes after school?" You nod to Alya, who's sitting in the front seat, next to Marinette.

"How boring! We won't be able to go out together for a month! And when it's over, it'll be the same, as these classes will take your time." Alya grumbles, crossing her arms.

"Thanks Alya, you're cheering me up a lot. Either way, you can go out with your boyfriend, or Marinette." You smile weakly. Alya rubs her chin, thoughtfully.

"If only Marinette was dating Adrien, we could've a triple date." Alya laughs at the color change on Marinette's face.

"What do you mean triple date? Are you also dating?" Marinette asks Alya, then looks at you.

"Of course not. Alya just thinks I like Nathaniel." You looked away.

"Don't you like?" Marinette asks in a playful tone, making Alya smirks. You shake your head ignoring the girls' fit of laughter.

You rest your chin on your hand and watch the students arrive while Alya and Marinette talk.

Until a girl with brown hair and green eyes came into the classroom holding Adrien's arm.

"Who's that girl next to Adrien?" You ask. Alya and Marinette look at the girl, and they both have different reactions.

"Lila..." You hear Marinette growl.

When the other students see Lila, they run to greet her.

"Oh my friends, how I missed you, it was all so lonely in America." Lila said smiling, Adrien took the opportunity to try to break free from her squeeze.

"Lila studied with us before you came in, but she had to leave because of her mother's work. She's cool." Alya explained to you. Marinette shakes her head and turns to look you.

"Don't be fooled by that kind look, (Y / n). She is a liar, totally fake." Alya shakes her head at Marinette's statement.

"Marinette, do you have any evidence to accuse her like that?" Alya asked seriously. Marinette looks away.

You look back at Lila and smile at the scene.

"Marinette, you don't have to be jealous of her. Look at poor Adrien." They look back at Lila and laugh at Adrien's failed attempts to break free of her. While Lila told stories of her trip to everyone, keeping him close.

"Help me, Nino." Adrien whispers to his friend ahead.

"Okay folks! I know you miss Lila, but I need to teach now. You can talk at break." The teacher's voice dismisses the students back to their places, including Adrien relieved.

"Lila, there's an empty seat next to (Y / n). You can sit there." The teacher gestures to the seat next to you.

"You know, teacher, I've a hearing problem in my left ear. Can I sit in the front? Maybe next to my friend Adrien." Lila smile.

"WHAT??!" Marinette says getting up from her chair, everyone looks at her in surprise.

"I mean, you can sit in my seat, Lila, I'm going back." Marinette begins to gather her things.

"No, it's okay Marinette. I go back, take my place Lila, it's more in the front." says Adrien, getting up quickly.

"No! Thank you both, but you don't have to. My problem is not that serious." Lila forces a smile and hurries to sit beside you. Marinette sits back in relief.  Adrien sits back dejectedly.

Marinette is right

She's a lier.

The teacher asks if she was sure of this, she nods.

You look at her out of the corner of your eye, she gives Marinette an indifferent look.

At break, everyone came together to hear Lila's stories. Just Marinette and you weren't interested in that. You two stayed in the canteen, snacking together.

"Tell me Marinette, why don't you just ask Adrien for a date." You ask by biting off a piece of your sandwich.

"Do you think it's so easy? I can't just invite him. What if he says no?" She say, with a hand resting on her chin.

"You think too much, Marinette, whatever it is, let it happen. If you remain like this, you'll never know or you'll lose him to another girl." She looks at you thoughtfully.

"When you talk like that it seems so easy. But when he's around, I don't know, I mess up it all." She sighed looking away. You put a hand on her shoulder and when she turns to look at you, you give her a comforting smile.

"Alright Marinette, this is normal.  When the time comes you'll build up courage, just try to seize the opportunities." You end with a wink, she smiles.

You turn your attention to your sandwich.

"You always know what to say, (Y / n).  I wanted to be born with that abiliity too." You almost choke on the bread before you burst out laughing. Marinette watches you confused until your attack stops.

"Always know what to say? That was a good one." You finally said, shaking your head as you finish your sandwich.

"Why not?" She asked.

"It works like this, when it comes to friends, I know how to give advice. But when it's me, I can't help myself." Marinette laughs.
You two were so distracted talking that you didn't even notice when Adrien approached.

"Hi girls, can I sit with you two?" Adrien asked drawing your attention.

"Of c-course you can!" Marinette does her best to stay calm while he smiles and sits across from you two.

"Didn't you want to hear your friend Lila's stories?" You ask by biting off a piece of your apple, giving Marinette's thigh a little nudge to her get into the subject.

"No, she exaggerates a little. I prefer the company of truly sincere people."
He said calmly as he starts eating his lunch. Marinette smiles with slightly pink cheeks.

"You're not as clueless as I thought." You let it slip. But you only realize what you say when Marinette hides her face in her hands and Adrien looks at you confused.

Oops!

"Clueless? Why do you think that?" He asked intrigued. You try to think of some quick excuse.

"No! I didn't mean that. I think I heard Alya call me." You get up fast. Before he can say anything, you leave the canteen.

Marinette tries to stay calm when Adrien looks at her after you leave.

"Do you know why she thinks I'm clueless?" Marinette shakes her head.

"M-maybe she exchanged words, I do that all the time." Marinette forces a smile. Adrien nods but is not convinced.

✷✷✷

You sigh in relief when you step out of sight.

I'd keep what I think to myself sometimes.

I almost ruined Marinette's secret.

You walk back to the classroom to wait for the break to end. When you enter, you're surprised to see Lila coming down the stairs with a smile on her face.

What's she doing here?

"Hi, you're (Y / n), right? I'm Lila, nice to meet you." She reaches out to greet you. You look at her hand for a second and look at her again.

You had a bad feeling, in the back of her eyes you saw ulterior motives. You shake her hand forcing a smile.

"Forgot your snack?" You asked, she shakes her head.

"Yes! I must have left it at home. I'm going to the canteen to buy something." As soon as she leaves the room, you run over to your backpack and check that she hasn't hidden anything.

That's weird

You sit in your chair scratching your head. Your eyes hit Marinette's backpack.

What could she possibly have against Marinette?

You get up and check Marinette's backpack, in one of the pockets you find a necklace of green stones. It didn't belong to Marinette.

You sit back in your place, putting feet across the table, smiling at yourself while hiding the necklace in your shirt pocket.

You didn't count on me to ruin your plans.

You put your arms behind your head.

Right Lila?

When the break is over, you sit upright in the chair while students begin to enter the classroom.

You contain a smile when Lila enters the room next to the director pretending to look sad.

The teacher is the first to speak, breaking the students' curious whispers.

"Marinette come over here and bring your backpack." Everyone looks at Marinette with wide eyes. Marinette get up in surprise.

"What happened teacher?" Marinette asked, giving Lila a brief suspicious look.

"Lila said she saw you steal her necklace." The director answers next to Lila.

"Ohh!" Everyone looks at Marinette gaping.

"What are you surprised by?" Chloe said in mockery tone

"I didn't steal anything!" Marinette said indignantly.

"This is impossible, Marinette would never steal anything." Adrien defended, casting a disappointed look at Lila.

Everyone starts talking at the same time, you were silent watching everything with a smile on your face.

"Okay Marinette, you don't have to worry if you didn't steal anything." The teacher gestures for her to bring the backpack. Marinette sighs and obey.

The classroom is quiet while the teacher checks Marinette's backpack.

"There's nothing here Lila." The teacher said, Lila can't hide her nervous look.

"I said, I didn't steal anything." Marinette takes her bag and goes back to her place. You let Lila look silly for a few more seconds, until you get up and say:

"Lila, is your necklace green with little stones?" Everyone looks at you, then at Lila who just nods. Now she understood what was going on, deep down she was seething with anger.

''I found this on the floor in the hall, you must have dropped it.'' You take the necklace out of your pocket and hand it to her. ''Thank you very much (Y / n).'' She takes the necklace and holds it close to her chest, pretending to be relieved.

''Since everything is settled, I'm going to my office.'' The principal leaves the classroom.

''Lila, I just don't understand why you thought it was Marinette.'' You hold a smile as you go back to your seat, giving Marinette a wink on the way.

Everyone's looking at Lila asking the same question, only Adrien and Marinette looked at you curiously.

Lila invents that she has a rare vision problem, everyone is convinced.

''Why didn't you say it before, Lila?  For this not to happen again, you need to sit in the front.'' Teacher said worriedly.

''I insist Lila, you can take my place.'' Adrien takes his backpack and gets up. The teacher gestures for Lila to sit in his place, she thanks him and before sitting down she gives you a quick death glare.

You didn't think it would end with Adrien sitting by your side for the rest of the year.

He smiles at you when he sits next to you. You smile back, relieved that he didn't think much about what you said in the canteen.

✷✷✷

When the class ends, you say goodbye to them, and hurry to leave.  Outside, your driver is already waiting to take you to chinese classes. 

And not just him, Lila is standing right in front, probably waiting for you. You sigh and walk over to her.

''Get ready (Y / n), I'll transform your life in hell. You mess up with the  wrong person.'' Lila spits out the words with such hatred that, if the look could kill, you would be dead.

You roll your eyes and shrug your shoulders unconcerned.

''You'll end up ashamed for yourself, lying. If you really want to demote me. You'll have to be more creative, I know how to deal with cheaters like you.'' You walk past her, and go to the car without looking at her angry face anymore.

Noted...

I will prepare something really special for you, (Y / n).

You won't even know what hit you.