Chapter Text
It was hot, humid, and hazy, even though it was early. Chloé muffled a yawn with her hand as she slowly made her way towards the place where Lila had told her to be. Just before entering the park, she slipped a hand into her purse and switched on the recorder.
Naturally, Lila hadn’t arrived yet. Chloé sat down on the edge of the fountain and sighed. She was so conflicted and confused over Adrien and Marinette that talking to Lila, adding more complications, was the last thing that she wanted to be doing right now.
Adrien hadn’t said much after kissing her last night. Chloé had been too shocked to protest as he gathered Plagg and Trixx and departed with them. She might have had a minor meltdown after he was gone. What the heck were Marinette and Adrien even doing?!
The two of them were perfect for each other. Ladybug and Chat Noir. Yin and yang. Two sides of one coin. And Marinette and Adrien were just as perfectly matched.
So why were they dragging Chloé into it?!
She shook her head slowly and looked up at the sound of footsteps. Lila was walking into the park, heading right for Chloé. Chloé stood, pushing all thoughts of Adrien and Marinette to the back of her mind.
“Good, you’re here,” Lila said as she neared.
“Good morning to you too,” Chloé said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She had to admit that Lila had picked a decent location. It was so early, there weren’t even any kids around yet.
Lila brushed that off with a wave of her hand. “I’ve decided it’s time to let you in on my plan,” she said. “Just know that I have the power to ruin you if you decide to betray me.”
“Noted,” Chloé said, wondering how Lila would react to knowing that Marinette had kissed her just last night.
Hell, forget Marinette. How would Lila react to knowing that Adrien had kissed Chloé just last night? Chloé had a sudden vision of Lila trying to straight up murder her, and supressed a shudder inwardly.
“You remember that I managed to get Marinette expelled once,” Lila said.
“Yeah, I remember,” Chloé said. She had always wondered why Lila had suddenly changed her tune and admitted to lying about everything.
“Well, we’re going to make that happen again.” There was a gleam of triumph in Lila’s eyes. “Because you are going to sneak into the school and steal everything that all of teachers have prepared for the upcoming year, including the answers to le bac. And you’re going to leave Marinette’s bracelet behind somewhere to incriminate her.”
Chloé struggled to hide her shock as Lila spoke. She stared at Lila for a long moment, realizing that Lila was being completely serious about that. Not only would that get Marinette expelled, but it was possible that Marinette might face criminal charge for both the theft and for breaking into the school.
It would definitely ruin Marinette’s life.
“But – buy why would Marinette do that?” Chloé asked finally.
Lila rolled her eyes. “For money, obviously! Marinette is always whining about how she doesn’t have enough money to support her hobbies. She never shuts up about some fabric or whatever she wanted to buy but couldn’t afford. People will totally believe that Marinette stoles the answers to everything to sell.”
Chloé opened her mouth and then closed it. Before Lila came to town, no one would have believed that. But now? Chloé couldn’t honestly say that Lila wasn’t right. People probably would believe that, especially if it came from Lila. All Lila would need to do is drop that rumor in the right ears, and it would take off like wildfire.
“It’s the perfect plan,” Lila went on with a smug smirk. She was clearly very pleased with herself for coming up with it.
“But why do I have to be the one to sneak in?” Chloé said. “There’s no way I’m doing that alone. You could call the police when I’m in there.”
Lila studied her for a moment before smirking again. “You’re smarter than you look, Bourgeois.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Chloé said, and turned to go. She wasn’t surprised when Lila grabbed her arm again to stop her. It was very clear that Lila did not like people walking away before she was finished with them.
“Fine. We’ll go in together,” Lila said, squeezing Chloé’s arm hard, though not as hard as she had before. “I guess I should be there anyway to make sure that you actually take what needs to be taken. But make no mistake, you’re just as complicit in this as I am.” Her eyes bored into Chloé’s. “And if we get caught, just so we’re clear, I’m going to blame everything on you.”
“I’d expect no less,” Chloé said honestly. “When do you plan to do it?”
“Before the end of the month. I don’t want another school year ruined by Marinette. This year is going to be all about me and Adrien.” Lila’s eyes sparkled. “I have a few more things to look into. I’ll be in touch.”
She released Chloé’s arm and strode away with her arm held high. Chloé rubbed at her arm and watched Lila go, trying to push down the sickening feelings Lila’s close presence had invoked. She didn’t feel better until Lila had turned the corner and was out of view.
The very last thing Chloé expected to happen next was for Marinette to spring out of the bushes surrounding the fountain, cell phone in hand and an equally smug smirk on her face as she announced triumphantly, “I got every word of that on video.”