Tuesday (4)

'Yes... YES! Finally, took him long enough,' Lila exclaimed as she opened a file on her phone with Lizzie's "hit-and-run".

Lila sent one text to Lizzie.

"Meet me during lunch. I'll wait for you outside of the classroom."

The plan was set in motion, Lila now holds power over Lizzie and she knew it. She is ready to play the game and win...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Lila told me to meet her during lunch,' Lizzie said, showing the others her text.

'Well, let's just see what's gonna happen, remember to record the conversation!' Marinette remembered as the bell rang to signal the start of classes.

'Alright.' Lizzie started walking to the class.

Lila walked past the group with a confident aura around her which left the others feeling odd, an unsettling feeling creeping over. Lila never had that confident aura ever, something was up her sleeve and the others knew it. Lila glanced at Lizzie, then Marinette, a grin forming on her face as she revelled in her set victory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'What do you need, Lila?' Lizzie emphasised on Lila as she walked out of the classroom alongside Lila.

'Nothing much except for a talk... with some privacy?' Lila added when she noticed that Lizzie didn't move.

'Lead the way,' Lizzie death glared at Lila, but she was unfazed as she led Lizzie to a janitor's closet.

The janitor's closet was tiny and damp. Empty buckets, mops and towels were all over the floor. The place felt claustrophobic and dark except for a tiny light that barely lit up the room.

Lila opened the door for Lizzie to enter. Lizzie stood against the wall and crossed her arms as she glared at Lizzie. She was prepared, she's recording everything and using her long brown hair to cover her earplug where she is calling the others.

'I know that you're Masquerade, no need to act, the question is, who is Ladybug?' Lila got straight to the point as she returned the glare that Lizzie was shooting at her.

Lizzie's eyes widened ever so slightly, but she rearranged her face and continued with a blank face. 'So what if I am masquerade? What can you do about it, I'm not telling you who Ladybug is.'

Lila scoffed at Lizzie's answer as she rolled her eyes. 'Then how about this?' Lila pulled out her phone and took out the hit-and-run photos.

'Th-that, how'd you get that?' Lizzie put on her acting skills and delivered quite a performance.

'Not important. What is important is that I can use this and ruin your whole career and get you in jail, so tell me who the hell Ladybug and Midnight are because I have a hunch it's the little ***** Marinette and some other person in your stupid little friend group.' Lila places her phone in her pocket as she waits for Lizzie's response.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Give me a moment.' Lizzie was pleading that Marinette would tell her what to do just like how she's been doing for the whole conversation.

'If we tell her, she might leak it and Hawkmoth will know,' Chloe's voice was barely heard from the earplug.

'But we already know who Hawkmoth is, this might speed things up, we just need to stay alert a bit until we can get Hawkmoth arrested,' Marinette said, much louder than Chloe.

'What's taking you so long? Just tell me who Ladybug and Midnight are, already!' Lila's voice grew loud as she got tired of waiting.

'I'm just thinking over my options, give me one minute,' Lizzie replied as she waited for Marinette's answer.

'Tell her our true identity, I have a plan,' Marinette said as Chloe protested in the background.

Lizzie whispered a quick, 'Alright boss.' It was enough for Marinette to hear, but not for Lila to hear.

'So?' Lila asked, growing impatient with every passing second.

'You're right, Marinette is Ladybug and Marcus is Midnight, but don't you dare leak it out or else Hawkmoth will rule the world,' Lizzie warned as she got closer to Lila.

'I can do what I want with this information,' Lila replied as she pulled out her phone again to show that she's been recording the conversation.

Lizzie put on a fake surprised face as Lila left the room, mouthing the words "Have fun."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Lila left, Lizzie sunk into the ground and rested there for a while, her skirt getting stained slightly with water. Before she stood up to head to the cafeteria.

'Where were you?' Marinette asked Lizzie as Lila walked past.

'Just the bathroom.' Lizzie faked a fake smile, straining the corners of her mouth to make it look fake.

'What's your plan?' Chloe asked Marinette as Lila walked away.

Marinette checked around again as Chloe, Lizzie, Damian, Jon and Marcus leaned in to listen. 'The only way for Lila to know for sure that you,' Marinette pointed at Lizzie, 'are Masquerade is if she's working with Hawkmoth. With that recording, we have a semi-substantial proof that she's working for Hawkmoth.'

'Wait, what if she was just bluffing and not working with Hawkmoth?' Marcus asked as Marinette paused to drink some water.

'That's part of my plan, the recording is only semi-substantial as evidence, but if Hawkmoth targets us in the following week, we have enough proof for this. And Hawkmoth is not smart enough to not act fast,' Marinette continued explaining as the other's listened closely.

'And Gabriel is already in Gotham, Mari, you're a genius,' Chloe said as she pulled Marinette into a hug.

'That's what's expected of the leader,' Damian added, rather quietly. He just can't handle Marinette being so attractive at that moment.

Lizzie and Marcus exchanged a look at Damian's comment while Marinette blushed ever so slightly.

'Oh, can we go to the library today?' Chloe asked as she ate her lunch.

'I can't go, I have work,' Marcus answered as he checked his phone to make sure he had to work.

'Then, it's the five of us, that's okay, right?' Marinette asked Marcus as he nodded. He didn't really care, it's not like they were purposely leaving him out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The group arrived at a library in the city. It was a big place with a sky light built in the roof. The first floor was full of bookshelves that extended out to make a circle while the second floor had an area where public computers were placed for studying purposes and even more bookshelves. The library was well-lit with windows in most of the walls.

'This is beautiful,' Lizzie whispered as they entered the library.

'It is,' Marinette whispered as she sat at a table while taking out her laptop to start revision work. Damian sat across from Marinette after taking a book to read.

'Hey, Damian, why don't you sit next to Marinette?' Lizzie asked with a sinister grin that she didn't bother hiding.

'Why?'

'Because, I want to sit with Chloe and ask her about her powers and Chloe probably wants to sit with Jon.'

'Fine.' Damian got up and sat next to Marinette as Lizzie claimed his seat.

Lizzie asked in hushed whispers how Chloe's power works and Chloe's replies were 'I just say the magic words and touch them.' or 'How am I supposed to know?'.

Marinette sat her book down as she gently rubbed his eyes. She then took the book and walked to one of the shelves on the first floor for the Biology books.

'Hey Damian, if you wanna make a move on Marinette, now's the perfect opportunity, the book she wants to grab is a bit high up,' Lizzie whispered to Damian as he blushed really hard.

'What? N-no, I don't like her!' Damian exclaimed a bit too loudly, getting side-eyes from the other people.

'Stop being a tsundere and just go, you won't regret it if you like her, ain't forcing you though,' Lizzie replied as Damian stood up while blushing.

Damian walked over to where Marinette was grabbing her book on a higher shelf. 'Do you need help?'

'No, I think I'm fine,' Marinette said as she tried to reach a shelf that was very high up.

Marinette's short stature made it hard for her to reach the book and she was tip-toeing on the ladder, barely able to touch the book. Damian stood at the bottom just in case anything happened, but he wanted to let Marinette get the book by herself since she said she didn't need help.

Marinette wobbled ever so slightly on the top step of the ladder as she reached for the book. Two people were walking out and accidentally bumped into the ladder, causing Marinette to lose her balance as the book fell off along with her. Damian, with his training, caught Marinette and the book with his two hands as the two people started apologising profusely. 

'It's fine.' Damian replied to the two people who were apologising as Marinette tried to regain her calm. 

The two people walked away and Damian picked up the book Marinette wanted to take. 'Is this the book you want?' Marinette nodded as the two of them walked back to the others. 

'What took the two of you so long?' Chloe asked with a skeptical look. 

'I almost broke a bone,' Marinette answered as the others turned to gape at her. 

'She almost fell off the ladder, thank goodness I was there,' Damian added to clarify. 

'I didn't expect that, I only thought that she would need your help,' Lizzie added as she pointed to Damian. 

'So, you didn't purposely cause her to fall or anything to make that happen?' Damian asked Lizzie with suspicion swimming in his tone. 

'No, of course not, she's my best friend,' Lizzie whisper-shouted with a hurt look. 

'Let's just continue with our work, no more fighting.' Marinette put her hands between Lizzie and Damian which instantly shut them up. 

Marinette pulled her headphones over her ears as she opened the Biology book to start taking notes while listening to music. Meanwhile, Damian sat next to her as he read a book about how to charm a girl. Lizzie sat opposite Marinette and was playing with Audacity on her laptop. Chloe, who was sitting next to Lizzie, is reading a love story while leaning her head on Jon's shoulder who was listening to some songs.  The group hung out like that for a few hours before Marcus finished work and joined them. 

'Liz, could you please send your Science notes to me?' Marcus said with puppy dog eyes. 

'Well, yes, but, you gotta give me English notes,' Lizzie replied as Marcus nodded and they exchanged their notes. 

'Marcus, why don't you sit here?' Marinette offered her seat to Marcus as she walked to the seat on the other side of Damian. 

'Thanks! Anyway, anything interesting happened?' Marcus asked everyone, but more specifically to Lizzie. 

'Marinette almost broke a bone, but Damian, the knight in shining armor, saved her just in time,' Lizzie said, adding her exaggeration. 

'I'm a superhero, not a knight in shining armor,' Damian said as he shot a dirty look at Lizzie. 

'Same thing, different shape.' 

'Well that is mighty interesting. Speaking of, Liz, have you checked your email yet?' Marcus quickly switched the topic. 

'No, why? I've only been putting together my notes,' Lizzie answered as she opened her emails on her laptop. 

Lizzie scrolled through her emails. Advertisements, newsletters, YouTube... That was when Lizzie saw one from a casting director. 

'Huh... Marcus, what should I do?' Lizzie turns her laptop to Marcus who was sitting opposite her. 

He quickly read through the email then replies, 'Choose whether you want it or not, do you want to be an actress?' 

'I don't know, I would love to act more, but like this? What do you think?' 

'I'd say take it, your acting skills are great and you have a lot of charm. However, if there's anything you're worrying about, spill. We can work through whatever problem together.' Marcus shoots a reassuring look towards Lizzie. 

'I'm just scared I won't do well.' Lizzie's gaze shifted to the floor, her right hand slowly moving up her left arm, an uneasy look on her face. 

'You're gonna be great, I just know it,' Marcus said as he flashed a bright smile. 

'You know what? Yeah, I'm gonna do great. Thanks Marcus,' Lizzie said as she grabbed Marcus's face and planted a kiss on him. 

'Who was the one that said lovey-dovey thing is disgusting?' Jon asked. 

'Jay, not us, it was Jay,' Lizzie answered as she spots Jay, what perfect timing. Lizzie waves Jay over to their table. 

'Woah, didn't expect to run into you guys here? Whatcha here for? Who's homework?' Jay asked as he grabs a chair to sit at the edge of the table like a king. 

'Mainly Biology, but a mix of everything. Is Lloyd not here with you?' Lizzie answers. 

'He is, upstairs, looking at romance novels with Lucy,' Jay answers as he sighs. 

'Well, why don't we move there? It's big enough for twelve,' Marcus suggested as the group went to a big table with six seats on each side against the wall. 

'Look how our group is growing in size,' Damian noted as he started reading another book. 

'Why must I be surrounded by lovebirds?' Lizzie asks, glancing to Chloe and Jon who were on her right side and at Lloyd and Lucy who were on her left. 

'Well, why don't I join you, my queen?' Marcus winked as he took the seat to the left of Lizzie. 

'Flatterer.' 

'You'd be lying if you said you didn't like it.' 

'And I'd be lying if I said that wasn't true.' 

'I know you best after all.' 

'We're surrounded by lovebirds, I'm going to rip my hair out!' Jay whisper-shouted, he's still in a library after all. 

'Love is in the air~' Marinette sang, sweetly. 

'I hate this, love is sickening.' Jay pouted as he walked away to grab some other books. 

'Look what happened,' Marinette turned to the others at the table. 

'It's normal, but we should tone down on the,' Lucy gestured with her hand, 'a little bit.' 

'Alright, do we wait?' Lizzie asked as Lucy nodded. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Is everyone meeting at the library without inviting us?' Lizzie asked as she spots Rebecca and Vanessa. 

'Well that would be ridiculous, utterly ridiculous,' Chloe said as Rebecca and Vanessa spotted them. 

'Who knew all of you would be here? Can we sit here?' Rebecca asked as she gestured to a seat. 

'Yeah, of course,' Marinette said before Rebecca and Vanessa took the seats next to Jay on the opposite end of the table from Marinette and Damian. 

'Next up, we have Lorenzo joining this ever-growing study group,' Lizzie joked just as Lorenzo walked through the door, 'Kill me.' 

'You invited your brother here?' Lloyd asked Lucy, surprised. 

'I didn't invite him, he came to study, on his own, but he's probably gonna join us, I'm calling it,' Lucy said as Lorenzo ran into Marcus who was grabbing a book. Marcus said somethings to Lorenzo which he nodded to. Then, the two of them started walking in the direction of the study group. 

'Ok, I guess he is coming here,' Lloyd said as Lorenzo sat down opposite Lizzie, next to Marinette, the only spot remaining. 

'Welcome, it's the study group we didn't know we were gonna be part of,' Marinette replied in her usual cheerful tone as he sat down. 

'Thank you for having me,' Lorenzo said. 

'Well, who has done the Math homework? Cause I want to see it for reference,' Lizzie asked as Rebecca showed Lizzie her book. 

'That's the homework.' 

'Thanks.' 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Oh my, that was a lot of studying, I finally finished my Chemistry report, it took forever!' Marinette said as she lay on the sofa at their apartment. 

'Oh yeah, I spent most of the time writing the essay for English,' Chloe replied as she sat down in the big armchair while drinking some juice. 

'I'm gonna go to my room and check out the script,' Lizzie said as she entered her room. 

'Hey Mari?' 

'Yeah, Chlo?' 

'Do you like Damian?' 

'No... Maybe...' 

'Are you sure?' 

'Fine, I like him. But I'm scared to tell him, he's so popular, he probably has way better people to pick than me, he probably doesn't even think I'm all that great and I am probably not even close to his level, plus if I confessed and he rejects, things will be so awkward, so I won't do it, but of course I like him, he's cool, he's saved me and his smile is super sweet, he may seem cold, but he's so nice on the inside, he's just scared to show it, and I don't think I can help him much, I mean-' Marinette rambled, speaking faster and faster. 

'STOP! Marinette, stop for a moment,' Chloe interrupted. 

'Sorry, I was rambling, wasn't I?'

'The fact that you think he won't like you is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Anyone who doesn't love you is an idiot, just look at Adrien, he missed his chance on a wonderful person like you.' Chloe held Marinette's arm to calm her down. 

'Well, I mean, I'm way~ out of his league,' Marinette replied as she looked away. 

'You always look away when you're lying, you know that you can totally get him if you tried, but you're too scared. Are you gonna let him go?' Chloe asked with a determined look in her eyes. 

'I- I don't want to, I don't want to let him go, I love him so much,' Marinette answered, tears stinging her eyes as she thought of a future where Damian is with someone else. 

'Then get him, I'm sure you'd be able to get him!' Chloe encouraged Marinette. 

'What if I confess on Saturday during the gala?' Marinette asked. 

'Mari, this is your confession, you pick how you want to do it. I'm just here to make sure you realise your feelings and that you can do it,' Chloe answered as she sighed, knowing her plan worked. 

'Thanks Chlo,' Marinette pulled Chloe into a hug. 

'You're welcome, but not all the credit goes to me. Lizzie suggested for me to talk to you since we were friends before. Of course, I am still very amazing,' Chloe answered as she smiled. 

'Well, want something to drink, it's still early,' Marinette suggested. 

'Sure, pick something for me,' Chloe said as she settled on the couch, getting ready to watch something on the television. 

'Here,' Marinette handed Chloe her drink before sitting down next to her. The two of them started watching some show. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Woah, what are you guys watching?' Lizzie asked as she left her room to refill her drink. 

'Some show, how's the script?' Marinette asked Lizzie while playing the movie in the background. 

'It's a great script, the story is fantastic and I got a huge supporting role, if everything goes well, my popularity would really sky-rocket.' Lizzie grinned from ear to ear, her excitement was genuine. 

'That's great, Liz!' Marinette exclaimed. 

'Let's just hope things can continue being peaceful like this.' 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Yes Hawkmoth, Ladybug is Marinette. Yes, she's studying at Gotham Academy. Yes, she'll leave on Sunday. Yes, how many times do I have to say it?' Lila said on her phone. Hawkmoth or Gabriel was on the other end, listening to all the information Lila has. 

'Will it be possible for me to attack them at school tomorrow?' Hawkmoth asked from the other side of the phone. 

'How am I supposed to know? You're the big evil dude with the big evil plan,' Lila mocked Hawkmoth. 

'Whatever, just stay away or something, I won't hurt you per the contract.' 

'Whatever, just get rid of them per the contract.' 

'Yes.' The phone beeped as the call ended. Lila placed the phone down as she grinned from ear to ear, her revenge was coming and it was sweet. She could taste it, revenge for Marinette being better and trying to expose Lila. How can she have that happen to her? No way a lowly girl like Marinette can get all the attention without lying or being mean. No way. 

'Hey Lila,' Alya said as she entered the hotel room that they share. 

'Hello Alya, is there anything you want to say?' Lila asked as she turned in her chair to face Alya. 

'Yeah, you said before I left that Marinette bullied you again, right?' Alya replied as she sat down opposite Lila. 

'Oh yes, I was so hurt when she did that, I thought coming here would make her change, even slightly, you know?' Lila's crocodile tears flowed down her cheeks as she gently wiped them away, forming tear tracks on her face. 

'Oh, Lila, you shouldn't trust that witch, she would never. However, I was thinking that maybe we can give her a taste of her own medicine, how does that sound?' Alya replied as she smiled at Lila. 

'How?' 

'Let us bully her back, it's just karma, right?' Alya asked, stretching her face to smile at Lila. 

'A-are you sure? It might not be a good idea,' Lila answered as she put on a fake concerned face, but inside, she was celebrating, tomorrow would be hell for Marinette. 

'You know what she did to you, stop thinking it's bad, it's just karma,' Alya replied, a bit of frustration stirring in her voice for a split second before returning to normal, she needs to pick a side. 

'Oh, alright then.' 

'I'm going to tell the others and see who's in.' 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

'Who's texting so late at night?' Chloe asked as she and Marinette both pulled out their phones. 

'It's Nathaniel with the burner phone. Oh no...' Marinette trailed off. 

'Marinette, things won't happen like that again, it'll be fine,' Chloe said after she finished reading the text. 

"Alya and the others are planning to bully Marinette, the plan is very bad. They'll do this behind the school." 

The two girls heard the door burst open as Lizzie entered from her room. 'This... What are we gonna do?' Lizzie asked, gesturing to the message. 

'Stay by Marinette the whole day, don't let her go behind the school,' Chloe said. Marinette was sitting there, her breathing picking up as the seconds ticked past, her hands in the position that held her phone, but unmoving. 

'Marinette, it's gonna be fine, we're here for you this time. I will make sure they get sent to hell if they dare mess with you,' Lizzie said as she pulled Marinette into a hug which Chloe joined in. 

'Alright, but if anything happens, I hope you guys will visit me,' Marinette said after a while, smiling through tears. 

'Don't- Don't say that Mari,' Chloe hugged Marinette again. But all emotion had left Marinette and all she could do was smile. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next chapter's gonna be juicy and amazing. Hope you guys enjoyed! Thank you for reading, your support means everything to me!