Schemes Beneath the Snow
Marinette sat cross-legged on the plush rug in Juleka’s room, admiring the soft glow of fairy lights strung across the walls. The room felt cozy and serene, perfectly reflecting Juleka’s quiet yet mysterious vibe. Rose was perched on the bed, humming a soft tune as she flipped through a magazine, while Alix leaned against the windowsill, munching on a bag of chips she’d brought along. Alya was sprawled out on a beanbag with her phone, scrolling through her social media feed, and Mylène was carefully arranging snacks on a tray she’d found in the kitchen.
“This place is so chill,” Alix said, popping another chip into her mouth. “It’s perfect for a girls’ night.”
Juleka gave a small smile from where she sat near her desk, idly sketching in her notebook. Marinette nodded in agreement. The atmosphere was peaceful, a welcome change from the chaos of school and the constant drama with Lila.
Marinette stretched her arms above her head, letting out a relaxed sigh. “Thanks for hosting us, Juleka. It’s been forever since we all got to hang out like this.”
“Yeah, seriously,” Alya added without looking up from her phone. “We needed this.”
The doorbell rang suddenly, and everyone paused.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Rose asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Juleka frowned slightly and shook her head. “No. My mom’s not home, and Luka’s out with his band. I didn’t invite anyone else.”
Marinette’s brow furrowed. “Maybe it’s your neighbor or something?”
“I’ll check,” Juleka murmured, standing up and heading for the door.
A few moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hall, and Juleka reappeared, her expression unreadable. Behind her was none other than Lila Rossi, her ever-perfect smile firmly in place.
“Hi, everyone!” Lila chirped, waving as if she were best friends with everyone in the room.
The air grew thick with tension as the group exchanged glances. Marinette’s stomach churned; she had no idea who had invited Lila, but it was clear that her presence was going to disrupt the calm evening.
“Lila,” Alya said, raising an eyebrow. “Uh, who invited you?”
Lila laughed lightly, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, Alix mentioned this little hangout to me earlier at school, and I thought it would be fun to join. I hope that’s okay!”
Alix blinked, looking genuinely surprised. “I—I don’t remember mentioning it—”
“But it’s fine, right?” Lila interrupted smoothly, her smile never faltering. “I didn’t want to miss out on the chance to spend time with all of you!”
Marinette bit her lip, her thoughts racing. She knew Lila was up to something—she always was—but calling her out in front of everyone might just make things worse.
Rose, ever the peacemaker, clapped her hands together. “Of course, it’s fine! The more, the merrier, right?” she said brightly, though her eyes flicked nervously to Marinette.
Marinette forced a smile and nodded, trying to hide her unease. “Yeah, sure,” she muttered.
“Great!” Lila said, stepping further into the room as if she owned it. “This place is so cool, Juleka. You’ve got such a unique style.”
Juleka mumbled a quiet “Thanks” and returned to her spot by the desk, avoiding eye contact.
As Lila settled in, Marinette couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. She had no idea what Lila was planning, but she knew one thing for sure—tonight was going to be anything but relaxing.
The conversation drifted naturally toward the Winter Ball as the girls lounged in Juleka’s room. Rose clapped her hands together, her excitement bubbling over.
“Oh, I can’t wait! It’s going to be so magical,” Rose gushed. “I already have so many ideas for how we can decorate! Juleka, imagine your purple fairy lights wrapped around the gym pillars—it would look so elegant!”
Juleka gave a small smile, clearly amused by Rose’s enthusiasm. “That could work,” she said quietly.
Alya leaned forward in her beanbag. “Yeah, I heard Madame Bustier say this year’s theme is ‘Enchanted Winter.’ I bet you guys will come up with something amazing. Who else is on the decorating crew again?”
Marinette tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling shyly. “It’s me, Adrien, Juleka, Rose, Mylène, Ivan, Sabrina, and… Chloe,” she said with a slight grimace.
“Chloe?” Alix snorted. “Good luck dealing with her. She’ll probably demand to sprinkle glitter over everything and call it a day.”
The room erupted in laughter, but the lighthearted mood was interrupted by Lila’s voice cutting through.
“You girls are so lucky,” Lila said with a dramatic sigh, her tone dripping with exaggerated sweetness. “Getting to decorate the gym for such an important event? It’s such a privilege! I wish I’d been chosen too.”
Marinette glanced at her friends, trying to gauge their reactions. Alya looked mildly skeptical, while Juleka avoided eye contact entirely.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Mylène said gently, clearly uncomfortable with Lila’s theatrics. “We’re just helping out. It’s a lot of work.”
“Oh, but still,” Lila continued, undeterred. “You’ll get to spend so much time with Adrien. That’s such an amazing opportunity, Marinette. I mean, decorating with him? Just imagine the memories you’ll make!”
Marinette’s cheeks turned pink, and she quickly shook her head. “It’s not like that. We’re all working together as a team.”
Lila leaned forward, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Oh, come on, Marinette. You’re being modest. Everyone knows you have a thing for Adrien,” she said, her voice sugary sweet but laced with an edge that made Marinette bristle.
Alya cleared her throat, trying to redirect the conversation. “Anyway, what kind of decorations are you thinking about, Marinette? Have you started planning yet?”
Grateful for the change of subject, Marinette nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking of using lots of icy blues and silvers, maybe some snowflake motifs. And I thought about hanging faux icicles from the ceiling to give it a real winter wonderland feel.”
“That sounds incredible!” Rose exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. “I can help make paper snowflakes!”
Lila clapped her hands together, her smile widening. “See? You’re all so talented! If only I had been given the chance to contribute. I have so many connections to amazing designers and decorators. I could’ve really elevated the whole thing, but oh well…”
The room went quiet for a moment as everyone exchanged awkward glances. Lila’s self-centered comment hung in the air, and Marinette clenched her fists, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
“Anyway,” Alix said loudly, breaking the tension, “I’m sure the ball will look great without needing any fancy designer connections.”
“Of course,” Lila said smoothly, her smile unwavering. “I’m just so happy for all of you. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.”
Marinette forced a tight-lipped smile, her patience wearing thin. Lila was clearly fishing for attention, but Marinette refused to give her the satisfaction. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Lila’s constant needling wasn’t entirely innocent. Something about her tone hinted that she had her own plans for the Winter Ball—and they probably weren’t good.