Amazing ^

.

[Narrator's POV]

Chloe scratches her head tiredly as she walks into school. A lot happened over the weekend; Adrien and Marinette's identities were revealed, as well as hers. Although she never really cared if people know who she is, she can't help but worry about the risks with Le Paon loose in the city. A villain who can control minds...that means she could be anywhere, or anyone for that matter.

"Good morning Chloe!" Says a chipper voice.

Chloe turns to see Sabrina jogging to catch up. She wishes she could confide in her best friend, but Sabrina can't know about any of her superhero adventures or troubles...

"Are you okay? You look a little tired," Sabrina says. "Actually, I've noticed that you've been swamped lately so since I've already finished my own, I got a start on your physics assignment over the weekend!"

Chloe's face lights up as Sabrina holds out a folder of papers.

"Sabrina you're a life save—ah!"

Chloe gets interrupted when someone flicks her hard on the forehead. She pouts and rubs her head as she turns to see Nathaniel stepping up beside her.

"I hope you weren't planning on taking that." He says, raising a brow as he crosses his arms.

Chloe's eyes shift to the papers in Sabrina's hand. Nathaniel's been teaching her a lot about friendship, apparently you can't buy it, and you can't take advantage of it either.

"But she offered..." Chloe mutters sheepishly. "All that work will go to waste otherwise."

Nathaniel tisks. "Some things never change."

"Huh?" Chloe says worriedly. "No, no, no—I can do my own work!"

"Really?" Sabrina replies in surprise. "I'm proud of you, Chloe."

Chloe sighs glumly. "That doesn't make failing feel any better...I hate physics!"

Nathaniel smiles down at Chloe. "How about all three of us go to the library at break and help each other out, just to get you started off?"

Chloe's eyes sparkle with hope. "That would really help, thank you guys!"

Sabrina smiles to herself as she watches Nathaniel and Chloe delve into conversation. Unfortunately, once they make it to class the two have to part ways to take their seats.

"I'm really glad you met Nathaniel you know," Sabrina says as she and Chloe take their front row seats. "You seem really eager to change for him."

"What?" Chloe replies sharply.

"N-Not that you need to change. Of course you'll always be my best friend and I knew you had good intentions, it's just that now you're letting them show and I think that's great!" Sabrina babbles nervously.

Chloe rests her chin in her hand. "That's not what I was 'what'ing about. I was expressing my disagreement with your statement."

Sabrina gives a confused look.

"I'm not changing for Nathaniel, I'm doing it for myself!" Chloe huffs stubbornly. "I wanted to change far before I became friends with Nathan, in fact I only did so because I required his help."

Sabrina smiles, amused by the old Chloe surfacing.

"Okay, so maybe it's not just because of him that you wanted to change, but at least admit you're trying your best for him." She says. "You like making him happy and you want to see him proud."

"Whatever. I want to make you and Adrien proud too..." Chloe mumbles. She immediately blushes and turns away. "B-But mainly I want to make myself proud! I don't need anyone else's approval."

The classic Chloe self-defence of pretending not to care. Some subconscious scars never heal...

That lesson was a tough one for Chloe's concentration. It started off with subtle peeking over her shoulder but eventually unfolded to her resting her head in her hand, chewing a pencil in her agape mouth as she glares at Nathaniel. Her head is buzzing. She just can't quite get a grip on what is happening. What is she feeling? What is so damn special about that tomato head?

Nathaniel's voice ripples through Chloe's mind.

"It's obvious that you're making an effort to understand people and their emotions. It's obvious that you care."

"I...I think you're very sweet."

"You're super to me, Chlo."

Chloe growls in frustration; she can feel the heat of a blush prickling across her skin. Across the room, Nathaniel looks up and catches her eye all of a sudden. Chloe feels a pang in her chest as Nathaniel tilts his head and smiles sweetly at her. She quickly whirls round to face the front again, her pencil falling from her mouth and clattering on the desk as she does so. Sabrina looks at the pencil curiously and picks it up for Chloe, but she isn't paying attention.

"What the heck..." Chloe whispers as she clutches the fabric over her pounding heart.

"Chloe?" Sabrina speaks up, wiggling the pencil in front of Chloe's face.

Chloe flutters her eyelids as if waking up from a daze. "Oh, uh, thanks Sabrina." She says as she takes back her pencil.

Sabrina looks over her shoulder at Nathaniel and then back to Chloe. "Hey, Chloe. We're best friends right? We tell each other everything."

Chloe gulps nervously, Queen Bee surfacing in her mind. "Of course..." She lies.

"Adrien used to be all you could talk about. In fact, you blabbered on about how close you are so much it was almost as if you were trying to convince yourself more than me," Sabrina says. "But this time is different. It just seems so much more real, and I was wondering if you were going to talk about it."

"This time?" Chloe repeats.

"With Nathaniel." Sabrina clarifies.

Chloe shudders with embarrassment. "W-What on earth are you insinuating?"

Sabrina tilts her head slightly, as if the answer is obvious. "Well, this time you're genuinely in love with him aren't you?"

"What?!" Chloe exclaims, her voice unusually high-pitched.

"Chloe and Sabrina, quiet down!" Ms Bustier scolds. "You're disrupting your classmates. If I catch you two talking again, I'll move you."

Sabrina puts her head down and continues her work casually. Chloe, on the other hand, isn't so focused. She puts both elbows on the desk and rests her forehead in her hands, staring down at her paper blankly. Her mind is swirling. She's still learning how to understand and comply to other people's emotions, she's not exactly in touch with her own. Could it be that Sabrina and everyone else has a better grip on what's happening? Is she right about what Chloe is feeling? Is that why Nathaniel seems to feel so special nowadays? Surely not...

.

When the bell for lunch rings, Alya, Nino, Marinette and Adrien couldn't be more eager to get out of class. Each of them are beaming with broad smiles, hearty laughter and happy chattering. It's always fun spending time with their tight-knit little group.

Chloe lets out a long, exaggerated breath that sounded like something in between a sigh and a groan. Whatever it was, it captured Alya's attention. Alya frowns slightly as she surveys Chloe, or rather, Queen Bee...

"Look. You may have the others fooled but not me. I know that people don't change, especially people like you."

That's what she had spat in Chloe's face only a few weeks ago. It's no wonder that Chloe isn't radiating obnoxious confidence anymore. She must have been having a really tough time...especially with Alya's constant rejection and put-downs. In reality, Chloe has changed. She has been spending all of her time and effort helping other people, including Alya. But Chloe isn't the only one that has changed, Alya has too.

Alya sucks in a breath and approaches Chloe. "Hey Chloe!" She greets casually.

Chloe turns her attention to Alya, her eyes glinting with a sort of surprise. "Alya...hi."

"Would you...like to come sit with us?" Alya asks slowly, gesturing to her friends across the room.

Chloe's eyes widen with astonishment. She stares up at Alya for a moment, the girl who has despised her since they met, finally extending a friendly hand. Then, she shifts her gaze to the people standing around at their desks. Nino, Marinette...and Adrien. People she so desperately wants to know and love. Chloe was so pained and saddened when her oldest friend, Adrien, had moved on without her. She was left behind with no friends or family...completely alone. So, she wanted to prove her worth to everyone one person at a time. And now, finally, all of her work has paid off. Finally, she is being accepted— liked even. Finally, she could belong. This is everything she ever wanted...

But...

Chloe looks back at Sabrina and Nathaniel, who are waiting aside.

"Sorry Alya, I'm studying with Nathan and Sabrina this break. Maybe some other time?" She says.

"Oh, sure. Don't worry about it." Alya replies.

Alya gives Chloe a small wave before leaving the classroom with her friends. Nathaniel stares at Chloe in awe. He'd never actually considered the idea of Chloe wanting to spend time with him, let only preferring that option. He's just...well, him. Chloe turns to face her friends as if nothing had happened, but Nathaniel steps forward to speak.

"Chloe," He says. "You're not going to go sit with them? I-I thought you wanted to be included in Adrien's group, even Alya wants to be your friend now. I mean...isn't that the only reason you started talking to me? Why...?"

Chloe flicks Nathaniel on the forehead as he had done to her previously. He flinches and blinks at her in confusion.

Chloe places a hand on her hip and smiles softly. "It's great to make new friends and all but I've already got everything I've ever wanted. You and Sabrina have always been there for me; you have no idea how much that means to me. I-It might be small, but...I've already got my own family."

Nathaniel's heart flutters.

"O-Oh..." He stutters, a red blush blooming across his cheeks. Nathaniel runs a hand through his hair and scratches the back of his head nervously. "W-Wow, Chlo..."

Sabrina grins cheekily. "Speechless, Nathaniel? Chloe just confessed her feelings to you and you have nothing to say?"

Nathaniel's face burns brighter than his hair. "W-Well, I just—"

"Don't word it like that, Sabrina, I was talking to you too you know. Gosh this is why I never talk about my feelings, it's so humiliating!" Chloe turns on her heel and starts pacing out of the room before anyone can see her flustered. "L-Let's just go!"

Chloe stares at the ground intensely as she walks, repeating her words over and over in her head. That's the first time she has admitted how much everyone means to her out loud...how embarrassing. Who calls their school friends their family—Honestly! Clingy much...how pathetically humiliating. Nathaniel was probably lost for words because he thinks she is totally weird.

Chloe heaves a sigh as she reaches the library entry. She turns to the two red-heads still making their way up the stairs, her gaze settling on Nathaniel.

A family with Nathaniel, huh?... Her mind wonders.

Chloe tenses up at the thought. Just what on earth is her brain implying? She said Nathaniel was like family, not that she wanted to start one with him!

Chloe screams internally.

As if, as if, as if!

Nathaniel is just the little, geeky art kid. He's not the dashing man who will steal Chloe's heart. Although, she never realised how tall he is, and he has pretty good fashion too...

Chloe's eyes travel up Nathaniel's figure slowly as she takes in each and every little detail that she had never cared to notice before, like how his hands and arms are slightly toned from drawing all the time, and how his long, silky fringe seems to bounce with every step he takes...Has Nathaniel always looked this good?

Chloe snaps herself from her daze. So what if she admits Nathaniel is a little charming in his own way. He is still just the shy and timid boy...who is also always kind, amazingly talented and creative, and very sweet. The one selflessly cares for Chloe and supports her and believes in her...He might not be a courageous Casanova, but he would make a loving husband.

Chloe's heart melts and her cheeks grow warm. When Nathaniel reaches the top of the stairs, he flashes Chloe a cute smile before continuing on into the library. But that split second causes Chloe's brain to fry. Her body gets so hot she swears she is steaming.

"Chloe, you gonna go in?" Sabrina questions as she reaches the library as well. "Woah...are you feeling okay? You look really flushed."

"S-Sabrina, it's true! What do I do? Y-You were right, I...I..." Chloe whines fearfully. "I'm in serious trouble!"