A New Player
Marinette sat quietly at her desk, her eyes briefly flicking over the rest of the class as they buzzed with excitement. It was the first day of the new semester, and there was a palpable air of curiosity floating around the room. Lila had just arrived, an exchange student from Italy. The teacher, Madame Bustier, had already introduced her with an enthusiastic smile.
"Class, please welcome Lila! She's come all the way from Italy to study with us here in Paris! I’m sure you’ll all make her feel right at home." Madame Bustier gestured toward the girl standing at the front of the class, her posture confident as she smiled brightly at her new classmates.
Lila’s eyes sparkled, and her perfect smile seemed to light up the room. She had the kind of presence that immediately drew attention, and it wasn’t long before everyone except Marinette was smitten with her.
Marinette’s stomach stirred as Lila began to speak. Her voice was smooth, almost rehearsed. "Hi, I’m Lila. It’s so nice to finally be here in Paris! I’ve heard so much about this school, and I can’t wait to make new friends." The way Lila spoke made it sound like she was already the center of attention, and from the way her classmates reacted, Marinette could tell they were already charmed.
But something about her... wasn’t right. Marinette couldn’t place it, but there was this nagging feeling in her chest, a sense that Lila was hiding something. Everyone else was quick to shower her with compliments, marveling the exotic air that seemed to follow her wherever she went, but Marinette couldn’t shake the unease crawling under her skin.
Lila’s gaze briefly met hers across the room, and for just a split second, her smile faltered. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Marinette could feel the weight of Lila’s eyes on her, and it made her even more certain that something was off.
Was it just jealousy? Or was there something more to this new student than everyone was willing to admit?
LUNCHTIME
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter, but for Marinette, the noise was just background to the swirling thoughts in her head. She poked at her food, barely noticing the taste, her mind still caught on the strange feeling Lila had given her earlier that morning.
Alya, sitting across from her, raised an eyebrow. "Marinette, something’s up. You've barely touched your lunch, and you’ve been staring at your tray for like, five minutes. Spill it, what’s going on?"
Marinette glanced at her friends Alya, Nino, and Adrien who were all looking at her with concern. She sighed, setting her fork down. "It's... Lila," she muttered, her voice low.
Alya leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Lila? The new exchange student? What’s wrong with her?"
Marinette shook her head. "I don’t know... it’s just that she seems too perfect. Everything about her is... flawless. Her smile, the way she talks to everyone like she’s known them for years. It's almost like she's trying too hard to fit in, but it doesn't feel genuine."
Alya raised an eyebrow. "Is this about jealousy? She seems perfect, I get it. But I mean, she’s new, she’s probably just trying to make a good impression."
Marinette’s brow furrowed as she glanced at Adrien, who was picking at his sandwich but was clearly listening. "Maybe... but it’s more than that. Something’s off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but she just feels... fake."
Before Alya could respond, Adrien interrupted, his voice thoughtful. "Actually, Marinette’s right. I don’t know what it is either, but there’s something about Lila that doesn’t sit right with me, either."
Marinette blinked, surprised. "You think so too?"
Adrien nodded slowly. "Yeah. It’s like she’s always got a hidden agenda, like everything she does is intended. And it’s weird, because when I talk to her, she’s so... perfect at everything. It’s like she’s never off-guard."
Alya looked between them, then snorted lightly. "Or maybe you’re just reading too much into it. She seems harmless to me. The real question is" She paused dramatically, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Are you worried she might be too perfect? Like, is she a threat to... someone’s heart?"
Marinette flushed instantly, her face turning bright red. "What? No! That’s not-"
Before she could protest further, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Adrien?" Lila’s voice was sweet, a hint of uncertainty in her tone as she approached their table. "Could we talk for a moment? I’d really appreciate it."
Adrien looked up in surprise, and for a brief moment, Marinette felt a pang of something sharp in her chest. She couldn’t quite name it, but it didn’t feel good.
Alya watched the exchange with a knowing smile, and Nino, who had been quietly munching his food, paused mid-bite. Marinette could feel her irritation growing as Lila’s gaze briefly flicked over to her, the smallest smirk tugging at her lips before she directed her attention back to Adrien.
Adrien hesitated, glancing between Marinette and Lila. "Uh... sure, I guess."
Lila smiled brightly, as if everything was perfectly normal, and waited for him to get up. He followed her as she led him a few feet away from the table, the two of them moving toward a quieter corner of the cafeteria.
Marinette clenched her fists, trying to ignore the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She could feel the heat rising in her chest as she glanced at Alya. "What’s she doing with him?" she muttered, trying to keep her voice calm.
Alya’s smile was sly, and she leaned in close to Marinette. "You’re getting a little jealous, aren’t you?"
Marinette’s eyes widened. "What? I’m not-"
Alya raised a hand, silencing her. "Look, I get it. She’s pretty, she’s charming, and she’s clearly trying to get Adrien’s attention. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be close to him, right?" She lowered her voice slightly, glancing over at Lila and Adrien, who were still talking in the corner. "But don’t you think you’re overthinking it? I mean, you’re clearly not happy about this, and it’s not just because Lila’s perfect. It’s about Adrien.”
Marinette stared at Alya, her mouth dry. She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Nino leaned in from across the table. "Uh, guys, I hate to interrupt, but I’ve got a clear line of sight on what’s going on over there, and... well, Lila’s definitely just being ‘friendly.’"
Alya and Marinette turned to look at him, but he just shook his head. "You’re right, Marinette. There’s something off about her. But if you ask me..." He glanced down at his food. "She’s trying to make sure she’s the center of attention."