Tension Rising
Adrien was walking down the hallway, heading toward his locker. His mind was still buzzing from the previous day Lila’s sudden presence, the awkward conversation with Marinette... He was trying to process it all when a voice from behind startled him.
“Adrien!”
Before he could even react, a figure darted into his path, causing him to jump back, his heart racing.
“Marinette! You scared me!” he exclaimed, wide-eyed, taking a step back from her.
Marinette stood there, her hands awkwardly behind her back, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said, her voice a little too steady to be completely sincere. She hesitated, eyeing him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “But... I need to know something.”
Adrien blinked, still a little shaken. “Uh, sure. What’s up?”
Marinette’s eyes flicked around quickly to make sure no one else was around, then lowered her voice. “What were you and Lila talking about yesterday?”
Adrien’s face immediately went a little tense, and he quickly glanced down the hallway before turning back to Marinette. “Oh, it was nothing, really,” he said, sounding a little too casual for Marinette’s liking. “She just wanted to talk about some school stuff, that’s all.”
Marinette narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling the suspicion in her gut grow. There was something in his tone that didn’t quite sit right with her. “Really? That’s all?” she pressed, trying to keep her voice neutral but failing to hide the doubt.
Adrien seemed to shift uncomfortably. “Yeah, it was nothing important. I mean, she’s new, right? Just... getting to know the school.” He forced a small smile, but it didn’t seem entirely convincing.
Marinette wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or something else, but there was definitely something more to the situation than Adrien was letting on. Before she could ask more, the bell rang sharply, signaling the end of the passing period.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to talk later,” Adrien said, giving her a small, nervous smile before quickly turning and walking away.
Marinette stood there, still processing the conversation. Something is definitely off. Why is he being so evasive?
SCIENCE CLASS
As Marinette entered the classroom and took her seat, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the day was going to get worse. Madame Mendeleiev, their science teacher, started organizing the class for the day’s experiment.
“Alright, everyone! Time for partners. I’ve already assigned you,” she announced, causing the class to groan.
“Chloé and Sabrina,” Madame Mendeleiev called out first, and the two girls exchanged knowing smirks. “Nino and Adrien,” she continued, and Marinette’s heart dropped a little.
“Ivan and Mylène, Rose and Juleka, Alix and Nathaniel, Kim and Max...” Madame Mendeleiev continued listing partners, but Marinette wasn’t paying attention to the rest. She was too focused on what she’d just heard.
“And, finally... Lila and Marinette.”
Marinette froze. She looked up, eyes widening as she saw Lila’s smile brighten even more at the announcement. Marinette felt a knot tighten in her stomach. This wasn’t a coincidence.
Lila had orchestrated this. It was obvious now. She had somehow convinced Madame Mendeleiev to pair them together, and Marinette had no idea why.
The class was busy with their lab work, and Marinette tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Adrien and Lila’s strange behavior. She glanced at Lila, who was once again playing the perfect student, asking questions about the experiment with an enthusiasm that felt a little too rehearsed.
Then, in an instant, Lila knocked over a beaker of liquid—directly onto Marinette’s shirt.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Lila exclaimed, her voice dripping with sweetness as she feigned shock.
Marinette’s eyes flashed with fury. “Really?” she muttered under her breath, her face reddening as the liquid soaked into her shirt. This was no accident.
Lila’s expression was innocent, but Marinette could see the glint of amusement in her eyes. The anger boiled up inside of her, and without saying another word, she stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back with force.
“Marinette, where are you going?” Madame Mendeleiev asked, looking concerned.
“I’m going to clean up,” Marinette snapped, already halfway to the door. She could feel her face burning, but it wasn’t from embarrassment—it was from the anger coursing through her veins.
Lila’s innocent act didn’t fool her for a second.
BATHROOMS
Once she was safely in the girls’ bathroom, Marinette slammed the door shut behind her once she entered the bathroom, her breath heavy and fast. She gritted her teeth, trying to keep calm, but it was hard with the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She knew Lila had done this on purpose, and it sent a wave of frustration through her. A few moments later, the door creaked open, and Marinette froze. Lila stepped in, wearing a look of sweet concern that Marinette didn’t buy for a second. “Marinette, are you alright?” Lila asked, her voice thick with false sympathy. Marinette crossed her arms tightly, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t pretend this wasn’t on purpose,” she snapped. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”
Lila raised an eyebrow, her smile thin and almost amused. “What? I’m just trying to be friendly. Not my fault you’re so clumsy,” she said, the sarcasm barely hidden behind her sugary tone.
“You think I’m falling for that? You’ve been playing games since you got here, and I’m not going to let you get away with it,” Marinette fired back, her voice shaking with anger.
Lila leaned against the sink, her posture casual as if nothing had happened. “Oh, Marinette, you really think I’m that bad? Everyone else seems to think I’m great.” She said it almost teasingly, as if the opinion of the others was somehow all that mattered. “I’m sorry if you’re not as... lucky to be liked by everyone.”
Marinette gritted her teeth, but before she could respond, Lila gave her a final, almost mocking glance. “I don’t know why you’re so upset. No one else seems to have a problem with me.”
Marinette’s eyes narrowed, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You think everyone likes you because you’re just so perfect, don’t you?" she shot back, her voice steady but full of fire. "But I see through it, Lila. You’re not fooling anyone with your act. You’ve been playing this game from the start, trying to manipulate everyone around you, and I’m not going to let you do that to me or anyone else."
Lila’s smile faltered for a split second, but then it was back in full force, almost like a mask she quickly pulled back into place. She stood taller, crossing her arms. "Really? You think I’m the one who’s playing games? Maybe you’re just a little too sensitive. But I can’t help it if I’m well-liked by everyone. Maybe it’s just something you’ll never understand."
Marinette’s heart pounded in her chest, but she wasn’t backing down. "Oh, I understand just fine," she said, stepping closer, her voice cutting through the tension in the air. "You’ve been trying to play the victim, making everyone feel sorry for you while you turn the class against anyone who gets in your way. You’re manipulative, Lila, and I’m done letting you pretend to be innocent."
Lila’s gaze darkened, but she kept her tone smooth, almost dismissive. "And what are you going to do about it, Marinette? You think anyone’s going to believe you over me? Maybe you’re just mad that no one else sees things your way." She gave a little shrug, a smirk curling at her lips. "Maybe I’m just a little better at making friends than you are."
Marinette's hands trembled with the effort it took to keep herself calm. "You know what, Lila? I don’t care if everyone else falls for your act. You’re not going to get away with hurting people just because you think you can hide behind your pretty smile and fake charm. I know what you're doing, and I’m going to make sure everyone else does too."
Lila’s expression turned colder, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You’re wasting your time, Marinette," she said, her voice low and venomous. "No one’s going to believe you over me, and you’re just going to make yourself look paranoid." She pushed herself off the sink, her smile returning, but this time, it wasn’t friendly—it was smug. "But you go ahead. Keep playing the hero. Just remember who the real villain is."
Before Marinette could respond, the door to the bathroom opened with a soft creak. Alya stepped in, looking between the two of them with wide eyes. "Uh, what’s going on in here?" she asked, her voice uncertain. "Madame Mendeleiev sent me to let you know class is starting soon, and she wants you both back."
Marinette opened her mouth to speak, but Alya cut her off with a glance. "Let’s just go, okay?" she said, her voice a little sharper than usual, as if she sensed the tension. "We can talk later."
Lila didn’t even glance at Alya; she just gave Marinette one last, lingering look—a glance full of challenge and thinly-veiled disdain—before turning and heading toward the door. "Let’s not keep Madame Mendeleiev waiting, shall we?" she called over her shoulder, her voice syrupy sweet once again.
Alya watched Lila leave, then turned to Marinette, her eyebrows furrowed. "What happened in here? You two were practically about to fight!"
Marinette shook her head, trying to steady herself, her frustration still simmering just beneath the surface. "She’s impossible, Alya. She’s trying to get under my skin, and I’m not letting her get away with it. She spilled that beaker on me on purpose. She’s been playing all of us, and I’m not going to sit back and let it happen anymore."
Alya blinked, taken aback. "Whoa, wait. You really think she did that on purpose? But… she seemed so nice. I mean, maybe she was just clumsy?"
marinette’s lips curled into a bitter smile. "You didn’t see the way she acted. She was too calm, too perfect, like she knew exactly what she was doing. It’s all part of her plan, Alya. She’s not as sweet as she seems."
Alya sighed, glancing back toward the door where Lila had left. "I get it, Marinette. But maybe you’re overreacting just a little bit? She’s new, and yeah, she might be a bit… extra, but does it really need to get to you this much?"
Marinette’s eyes narrowed, her frustration rising. "She’s been manipulating people since the moment she walked in. And now she’s trying to make me look like the bad guy."
Alya put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. "Look, I’m not saying Lila’s perfect, but don’t let her get under your skin. You’re letting her control your reactions, and you don’t want that. You’re stronger than that."
Marinette bit her lip, still fuming, but she couldn’t help feeling a little uncertain. Maybe Alya was right… but she wasn’t sure.
Alya softened her tone. "Hey, after school, why don’t you, me, Nino, and Adrien go grab some coffee? We’ll hang out, relax, and you can just… take a breather, okay? Clear your head a bit."
Marinette hesitated, still not ready to drop the issue, but Alya’s words felt comforting. "I don’t know… I don’t think I can just let this go."
Alya gave her a knowing smile. "You don’t have to let it go, but don’t let it consume you either. Take some time to chill, and we’ll talk about it more later if you want."
Marinette sighed, feeling the weight in her chest lessen a bit. "I guess… coffee does sound nice. Maybe I’m just overthinking everything."
Alya grinned, giving her a quick hug. "That’s the spirit! Let’s just have a nice, chill time with the crew, and we’ll deal with Lila later."
Marinette nodded slowly, feeling a little lighter. "Okay, I’ll try."
Alya gave her an encouraging smile as they both left the bathroom to head back to class. It wasn’t over, but for now, Marinette was willing to take a step back.