Thursday (4)

Another day, another issue. Why are they always hanging around Marinette? Why after I chose my side, do they decide to go against me. All I want is just the taste of popularity, to be on the popular side even if they are technically wrong. Why am I always on the bad end of the stick? Why me? Why have you chosen me? Why? WHY?  

Heavy breathing filled the room as Alya woke up from her nightmare, things weren't going according to plan. She had to do something, she needed to bring power back to Lila. A goal was set in her mind, but how? How can she give Lila the power needed to protect herself? She had to think of a plan and a way. 

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Alya sat on the hotel bed she stole as she moved her fingers in a repeating motion, her mind racing to think of a way, just one way to make the castle Marinette has built fall down. As she continued, the time ticked away, but her head couldn't bring her anywhere, all she could do was something she knew only had a 50% chance of working. 

She had to try though, right? She had to, even if it's 50%, she needs to crumble Marinette's castle. She needed to regain power, she needed the taste of power that filled her with happiness. 

'Hey Lila, do you think Marinette still likes Adrien?' Alya asked Lila as they ate the delicious hotel breakfast. 

'I'm not sure, she seems to be pretty smitten with Damian,' Lila said, poking at her meal. 

'Let's test the theory out, she may still like him, if she does, we can destroy her with it, right?' Alya asked, looking to Lila for a sign of hope. 

'Alya, I don't want to use Adrien like that, and for what, a bit of self-destruction? She's untouchable now with everyone else surrounding her,' Lila said, it felt a bit more genuine compared to every other time. 

'It's alright, Lila. Let's just do it, I'm sure Adrien will want her destruction just as much as us,' Alya said convincing Lila to go with the plan. 

The two of them went to meet with Adrien who was eating breakfast. They spoke in the hall. 'Adrien, we need your help,' Lila said, twirling her hair around her fingers. 

'What do you need help with?' Adrien asked, he really didn't want to go through with whatever plan they had. 

'We want you to make Mari jealous,' Alya answered with a demanding look. 

'Why? Do you think Marinette would even be jealous for me? She's clearly over me.' 

'If you never try, then you'll never know,' Alya said, trying her best to convince Adrien. 

Adrien looked hesitant so Lila said, 'Just do it.' 

'Alright then, what do you want me to do?' 

'Here's the plan,' Alya whispered the plan to him. 

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'Whats up blondie?' Nathaniel asked Adrien as they sat in the bus that they took to Gotham Academy. 

'Send a message to Marinette and the others, Alya and Lila want to use me to make Marinette jealous,' Adrien answered as he lowered his voice. 

'They have close to zero braincells,' Max replied as he sent the message. 

'Their plan is even dumber,' Adrien said as he rolled his eyes. It was surprising for Nathaniel because even a slightly more mature Adrien would never roll his eyes, but here he was, he may be a bit smarter now. 

'What is it?' Nathaniel asked, curious to the stupid plan that Lila and Alya have thought of. 

'Just listen.' 

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'Oh wow, that has a 5% chance of success and a 5% chance of it actually working,' Max answered after hearing the plan. 

'I know right, my exact reaction,' Adrien said as he sighed. 

'Who else knows?' Nathaniel asked. 

'Umm, just the two of you, I plan to tell Juleka about it,' Adrien answered as he counted on his fingers. 

'Alright, let's just keep this quiet, for now.' 

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'Hey Mari, let's talk,' Alya said as their class got a free period. 

'Don't call me Mari ever again,' Marinette glared at her former friend. 

'Fine, Marinette. Can we talk?' Alya said again as Marinette nodded and followed them to another place. 

'What do you need?' Marinette asked. 

'I just wanted to remind you that you're a piece of shit and nothing you do will ever be worth anything,' Alya said, throwing Marinette against the wall. 

'Alya, just shut up, we've been through this a million times,' Marinette replied, she knew this was going to happen, but she didn't think it was gonna be this extreme. 

'How dare you call her to shut up? She was your best friend,' Lila exclaimed. 

'She "was" my friend, and now I am regretting my decisions,' Marinette replied, grinning as she saw Alya look hurt. 

'You piece of shit, I treated you like a queen and you abandoned me,' Alya said, grabbing Marinette. 

'No, you abandoned me,' Marinette replied, rolling her eyes so far she could almost see her brain. 

'Stop trying to manipulate me!' Alya shouted. 

'Stop, all of you,' Adrien commanded in his timid voice. Yes, this was the idiotic plan of Alya, so that Adrien would save Marinette when she was most vulnerable from the bullying. 

'But Adrien,' Lila said. 

'Lila, Alya, get out of here, stop bullying Marinette,' Adrien said, his voice still timid because he really did not want to do this. 

The two girls ran away like it was scripted, oh wait, it was. 'Are you okay?' Adrien asked, noticing that Alya and Lila were still spying on them. 

'Yeah, I'm fine, thank you for this,' Marinette said, following along with Alya's plan. 

'We can start phase 2 now,' Alya told Lila as the both of them left. 

'Let's talk later, I'd like to tell you a few things,' Adrien whispered to Marinette before leaving. 

Marinette, having fulfilled her part of Alya's plan, went back to her friends with a happy feeling. 'How'd it go?' Chloe asked, scared if it went horribly.  

'Not bad, just a small bruise like usual,' Marinette said, showing her arm where she was shoved against the wall. 

'Do you wanna go to the school nurse?' Damian asked, inspecting the bruise. 

'Why not?' Marinette said, heading to the school nurse with the excuse of falling. 

'Why did you wanna lie?' Chloe asked Marinette. 

'Revenge must be served cold, it's still hot,' Marinette answered with a smirk. 

'You're right, revenge has a time,' Lizzie agreed. 

'Speaking of, the evidence of Gabriel being Hawkmoth has been processed by the police, he's definitely getting arrested sooner or later. I'll tell Adrien later,' Marinette explained as they sat in their seats in the class. 

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'It worked, now all you need to do, is show her that you have Adrien wrapped around your finger,' Alya told Lila as they regrouped with Adrien. 

'Alya, I don't have Adrien wrapped around my finger, I'm not that mean,' Lila lied as she faked an embarrassed smile. 

'Right, slip of the tongue,' Alya replied with a smile as they started their plan. 

The two of them waited until lunch to start phase two. Alya wanted to sit closer to Marinette along with Lila and Adrien. The three of them, with Adrien being forced, sat next to Marinette's group. 

'Hey Marinette,' Adrien called to her. 

'Yes?' Marinette asked, putting on her best acting face. 

'I just wanted to tell you that I'm really glad we're friends, y'know? Friends?' Adrien asked, occasionally glancing at Lila and Alya. 

'Me too, I'm truly glad we are friends,' Marinette answered. 

'Adrien~' Lila called. 

'Yes, Lila?' 

'I want you to stop talking to Marinette, you're supposed to be mine,' Lila wrapped her hands around Adrien's arm. Alya's plan was to make Marinette jealous with this, but of course, it won't work. 

'How pathetic of you to not let your boyfriend talk to others, insecure much?' Marinette asked Lila as Lila's face turned red. 

'You can't say that to her since you don't own Adrien,' Alya says, trying to save her best friend. 

'And she owns him? Controlling, much?' Marinette replied with a smirk. 

'Let's just let them talk,' Lila said as she let go of Adrien. Alya looked defeated and she was fuming. 

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'Where is he?' Marinette mumbled to herself as she finally saw Adrien running to her. 

'Sorry I'm late, the Wicked Witch of the West didn't want to let me go,' Adrien said as he went to sit on a bench opposite Marinette. They were in a gazebo in a park. There are two benches in the gazebo facing each other, one of them was occupied by Marinette, the other was occupied by Adrien. 

'It's fine, anyway, what do you wanna say?' Marinette asked. 

'I just wanted to apologize for all of the shit I've been saying, high road my ass, it's stupid, I know and I should've told you the truth.' Adrien swearing was a weird thing, being the perfect golden boy and all. He continued on, seeing that Marinette didn't respond, 'Truth is, I didn't wanna say all that, Lila made me, she forced me to say all those things so you guys can back off, so you,' he pointed at Marinette, 'can realize that I am "Lila's".' 

'Oh, wow, I... I don't know what to say.' 

'You don't need to say anything, Marinette. I just want you to know this and also, you are not alone against Lila. A lot of people aren't on Lila's side anymore, it's a good thing for you,' Adrien said. 

'Who?' 

'Me, obviously, Juleka, Nathaniel, Max, which you know already, Nino and Kim, if there's anyone else, then I don't know. But we are all on your side,' Adrien explained in a rushed tone. 

'Thank you,' Marinette answered as she smiled at him. 

'I'm just so sorry for being a piece of shit, I was just so horrible, and I didn't wanna go against Lila, because, strangely enough, she has a hold over my father.' 

'Hawkmoth?' Marinette blurted out as she quickly covered her mouth. 

'Wha- What? Hawkmoth?' 

'Nothing, never mind, you heard nothing,' Marinette said, flailing around. 

'No, what you said is probably true, Ladybug,' Adrien replied with a smirk. 

'What?' 

'I have suspicions that my father was Hawkmoth, white butterflies would be in the house sometimes, which looked a lot like the deakumatized akuma,' Adrien explained. 

'Why didn't you tell anyone?' 

'Cause he was my father, if I tried to tell anyone, he'd surely kill me before I can say it.' 

'Well, I got evidence that he is Hawkmoth, and we're currently trying to get your father arrested,' Marinette explained with a smile, so that Adrien might not feel as bad. 

'That's good.' 

'How did you know I was Ladybug?' 

'Your outfit alteration, that design, I remember seeing it in one of your sketchbooks during class, it's a pretty look. I never approached you after that cause I was scared that Lila might do something to you. I also pretended to not know you were Ladybug to avoid Lila or my father using that against you.' 

'Thank you.' 

'Marinette, can we be friends, again? Like back then, I don't wanna get in between your relationship with Damian, I know he's the one you like and I don't wanna intrude on that, I just want to be your friend,' Adrien said, his eyes were softer, he looked slightly hopeful, he prayed for a second chance, just one last chance. 

'Of course, I would love to be your friend, Adrien Agreste,' Marinette replied with a smile. She stood up to shake his hand formally. 

'Thank you, Marinette.' 

'Thank you for trying to change, even though not every thing was your fault,' Marinette replied, smiling. 

The two of them split up and Marinette was satisfied with everything. 

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'Mari, whatcha doin?' Lizzie asked, peeking into Marinette's room with Chloe behind her. 

'I'm adding some flourish to our gala dresses, they look really good,' Marinette answered as Lizzie and Chloe entered her room. 

'Wow, this place is a mess,' Chloe said as she looked around. Piles of clothes were on the floor, sketches were laid on Marinette's desk and many fell on the floor, her bed was a mess and everything was cluttered and messy. 

'I never got around to cleaning it,' Marinette said, as she turned around to look at her room. 

'I'll help clean, but you need to tell us what happened with Adrien,' Lizzie replied. 

'He apologized for what he did and he swore a lot, for him at least,' Marinette explained as she continued adding details to her dress. 

'The perfect boy swearing? What did he say?' Chloe asked. 

'Mainly "shit" and "ass". He was sincere about the apology and told me that there's other people on my team in this battle against Lila.' 

'Well that's nice, ain't it?' Lizzie asked. 

'Yeah, I just can't wait to end this all, and I have a feeling it's coming very, very soon,' Marinette sighed as she finished the final touches on her dress. 

'It will end, as soon as the weekend's over, and when that times come, you can be happy with Damian,' Chloe said as Marinette's face turned bright pink. 

'Haha, true,' Lizzie laughed as Marinette tried to calm herself down. 

'Only if he accepts,' Marinette said. 

'When he accepts,' Chloe corrected Marinette with a smile. 

'Yeah, yeah, now get out, I need to finish this in peace,' Marinette said, pushing Chloe and Lizzie out. 

'Alright!' Lizzie shouted as she left. 

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Imma end this chapter here, been working on it since last month. Hope you guys enjoyed. Thanks for #5 in Alyasalt and also for over 40k views. I can't wait to get back on the grind. Saturday (4) is coming soon and it's gonna be very long. That's all, bye!