Beyond the Borders

ch.17 - liar's emergence

‼️: (Some very slight language use!)

♥

Marinette's POV:

In the sun-dappled school courtyard, filled with the murmurs of students going about their day, I couldn't help but reflect on how smoothly my life had been flowing.

The balance between my normal existence as Marinette and my secret identity as Ladybug had settled into an effortless rhythm, and my connection with Luka had surprisingly grown steadily stronger.

Alya and I chatted animatedly, the hum of school life fading into the background. Suddenly, my gaze shifted towards the approaching figure of Wave. An unfamiliar sense of exhaustion hung around her.

Her usually vibrant eyes were clouded with fatigue, a stark contrast to the organized routine she had maintained since arriving in Paris.

As she reached us, Wave offered a feeble wave while rubbing her eye, her voice barely a whisper. "Hey..." Her appearance sent a surge of concern through me and Alya.

"Wave, are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "I just didn't get enough sleep tonight."

Alya and I exchanged worried glances. Wave had always seemed so composed and in control, and seeing her so depleted was unsettling.

"What's wrong?" Alya pressed gently. "Something keeping you up?"

Wave sighed, shoulders slumping while shaking her head in response. "No, I just couldn't get enough rest. That's all."

My mind raced with questions, but I knew that now wasn't the exactly right time to pry. Wave needed privacy and space to process whatever had transpired.

"Okay," I said softly. "If you need anything, let us know."

Wave gave us a tired, but grateful smile. "Yeah, thanks, girls. I really appreciate it."

As we stood there with our smiles still lingering on our faces, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping in. The eery, high-pitched voice from the distance was unmistakable, but it wasn't Chloe this time. Instead, it was the last person I wanted to see: Lila Rossi.

My heart sank as I noticed Lila's hand resting seductively on Adrien's chest, her fingers gently rubbing against him. Adrien's expression was a mix of discomfort and annoyance, and I could see the struggle in his eyes as he fought the urge to push her away.

I couldn't help but think, "If only he could hit her, I'd be so happy."

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by Wave's innocent and curious inquiry. "Who's that?" she asked, tilting her head in bewilderment. I took a deep breath and replied, "That's just Lila, a former student that half of the school hates."

Wave's curiosity piqued in as she asked, "Why?"

I sighed knowing that the truth is complicated. "Well, Lila's always been a pain in the ass. She's manipulative and deceitful, and she's caused a lot of trouble for people, including Adrien."

Wave's eyes widen slightly in surprise, and I could see the gears turning in her head as she tried to process the information. "Oh, I see."

"Wave, you're too pure for this world," I sighed with a small smile before being serious again. "Lila's a master manipulator. Anything she tells you, take it with a bucket of salt."

Alya then leaned in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, and watch out for her lies. They're so outrageous that even a five-year-old would be able to see right through them... if it weren't for the fact that she's so persuasive."

Wave raised an eyebrow, her expression both conveying curiosity and skepticism. "I'll keep an eye out," she said.

I knew that this was just the beginning of a conversation that would reveal complexities of our school's social dynamics, but for now, I was just glad that Lila wasn't getting in the way. Yet...

♥

Amidst the hum of the classroom, my attention is wandered sporadically towards Lila, who sat with her arms folded and a smug expression plastered on her lips. That damn ugly sight sent a surge of defiance through my veins.

I mean, in all seriousness, I don't even understand why Lila even held such a disdainful attitude towards me, but either way, I'm equally determined to return it in full measure if it happily entertains her.

If there is one thing that I've yearned for, it's Lila's permanent departure from Paris. Not through any cruel means or any sort of malicious intent, but simply ensuring that she had no place in our lives. Okay. Maybe I'm being a little too critical.

As my gaze is drifted back down towards my assignment, a flicker of concern coursed. Wave seemed to be visibly struggling with the work and I couldn't deny it was rather concerning since she had mentioned her sleepless night the previous day. And before I could offer her some assistance, however, Adrien intervened.

"Hey, Marinette," he asked, "can we switch seats? I think I might be able to assist Wave better."

Without hesitation, I smiled and nodded, gathering my belongings. As I made my way to the empty seat, I realized that I was seated next to Chloe. Great just great.

I give Adrien a firm glare that clearly said, 'seriously?' Adrien nervously smiled and shrugged, mouthing an apology before proceeding to help Wave. I sigh and shake my head, going back to work.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, Chloe spoke, "Well, well, well," she drawled. "If it isn't baker girl. What are you doing sitting next to me?"

I keep my eyes narrowed, my voice still calm and firm. "Working on my assignment, Chloe," I replied coolly. "I'm sure you're here to do the same." Chloe scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh please," she said. "As if you could possibly understand anything in this class. I bet you're just sitting here, hoping that Adrien will come to your rescue."

Gee, no wonder why she calls herself the Queen Bee. Remind me, why did I give her the bee miraculous again?

My lips tightened. "Actually, Chloe," I said, my voice laced with a hint of a challenge. "I'm perfectly capable of understanding the material. And as for Adrien, I don't need him or anyone to help me." Chloe raised an eyebrow and smirked dismissively, but I ignored her, focusing on my own thoughts instead.