I’d Rather Be Me
Mme. Bustier smiled once Lila finished giving Marinette her “sincere” apology, but everyone else just gave the sausage-haired girl a look that says, ‘Is this girl for real?’ That garbage fire was not a damn apology. That was just Rossi saying how sorry she is without any remorse for making Marinette so upset for stealing her friends away without meaning to, for being so hostile when she threatened her in the bathroom, and for telling rumors to get her in trouble.
She was sugarcoating everything and it was just pissing the other students, especially the students in the Akuma class who believed her lies off. It took months, but they finally discovered the truth and went to tell the other students… But the thing is, they already knew Lila was nothing but a serial liar and had already come up with a plan to expose her, which was in effect at the moment.
After a long rant from Signora Rossi in Italian, she figured it would be best if Lila made a public apology to the entire school at her expense. The students reveled in that idea, getting a stage for her and everything. Some of them even had popcorn.
”Now Marinette, do you have something you’d like to say to Lila?” She asked, giving the Eurasian girl an expectant look.
”… Is this bitch for real?” Aurore whispered.
”She cannot be serious,” Juleka murmured.
The students and teachers all glared at the redheaded pushover of a teacher, praying that she’s not going so low as to expect Marinette to forgive Lila of all people. Not when she’s the one who’s suffered the must.
“Yeah,” Marinette nodded. “Okay. You know what, Bustier?” She storms up to the stage and snatches the mic away from Lila. “I do have something to say to Rossi, and in addition, my classmates who believed her. Something that should’ve been said a long time ago.”
Those who weren’t in the Art Club didn’t know what was coming, but they still dreaded it. When Marinette is pissed off, no one is safe, and it serves them right for treating her like a pariah for months just because of the bull that comes out of Lila’s mouth.
Mme. Bustier smiles, glad that her star student is setting an example of forgiveness for her peers. Then she and her classmates will get along again, make peace with Lila, and-
“Nath! Cue my music!” She yelled.
… What?
When Nathaniel hooked his phone up to Juleka’s mini speaker, a familiar song blasted for everyone to hear. Those who knew the context of the song sent the Akuma class smirks that said, ‘You’re in trouble now.’
“So your best friend screwed you over
Acted nice when she not nice!
Well, I have some advice
'Cause it's happened to me twice!” She holds up two fingers for emphasis.
Here's my secret strategy!
It always works because
The world doesn't end
It just feels like it does!”
What had the students immediately cheering was when Marinette raised her middle finger, high enough for them all to see.
“So raise your right finger!
And solemnly swear!
‘Whatever they say about me…’” She shoved the obscene finger into Lila’s face.
“‘I don't care!’”
But she wasn’t done with the liar just yet. She grabbed the front of her romper and pulled her close to her face, making the Italian go pale at the sight of her nemesis’ steely look.
“I won't twist in knots to join your game
I will say, "You make me mad"!
And if you treat me bad!
I'll say, "You're bad"!” Then she shoved Lila to the floor, not caring if she was hurt and just continued to sing her heart out.
“And if I eat alone from this moment on
That's just what I'll do!
'Cause I'd rather be me, I'd rather be me!
I'd rather be me than be with you!” She sends Lila one last look before turning to Mme. Bustier, making her flinch.
“We're supposed to all be ladies
And be nurturing and care
Is that really fair?
Boys get to fight,” she holds up her fist to the teacher. “We have to share!”
Alix shouts, “TELL IT, NETTIE!”
“Here's the way that that turns out,” she jumps off the stage and storms over to where Adrien, one of Lila’s enablers, is sitting. “We always understand. How to slap someone down with our underhand!” Then she promptly slapped him across the face. And it felt good.
“So here's my right finger!” She flips him off before showing it to her teacher.
“To how girls should behave!
'Cause sometimes what's meant to break you!
Makes you brave!”
“So I will not act all innocent
I won't fake apologise!” She points to Lila before thrusting her fist into the air. “Let's just fight! And then make up, not tell these lies!”
“Let's call our damage even, clean the slate 'til it's like new!
It's a new life for me, where I'd rather be me!
I'd rather be me than be with you!” Her classmates look down in shame while Nathaniel, Alix, Juleka, and Rose encourage her to keep going.
Marinette made her way back up to the stage so she could see everyone’s faces. “I'll say, "No"!”
”NO!” Everyone who saw through Lila’s deceit shouted, getting into the song.
”I'll say, "Knock it off with your notes and your rules and your games"!
And those sycophants who follow you
I'll remember all their names!”
“And when they drag you down
Like they inevitably do!
I will not laugh along with them and
Approve their palace coup, 'cause that's not me!”
It was the Art club who led the chanting, “Mari! Mari! Mari! Mari!”
“I don't need their good opinions!
I have plenty of opinions!
Everybody has opinions but it doesn't make them true!
What's true is being me!”
They sang along, “And I'd rather be me!
I'd rather be me than be with you!”
The courtyard erupted into cheers so loud that the Akuma class could hardly hear themselves thinking about everything that’s happened ever since Lila came into the picture.
Nathaniel and Jean helped Marinette down off the stage and propped her up on their shoulders.
“So raise them high 'cause playing nice and shy is insulting my IQ!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!”
“I'd rather be me!” “I'd rather be me!”
“I'd rather be me!” “I'd rather be me!”
“I'd rather be me than be with you!” She points to each of her classmates.
“I'd rather be me!”
“I'd rather be me!” “I'd rather be me!”
“I'd rather be me!” “I'd rather be me!”
“I'd rather be me than be with… YOU!”
