Saturday (4)

'Today is the day of the gala, you excited?' Chloe asked Marinette. 

'Yeah, I can't wait. We won't have classes, so we can have lunch together before the gala,' Marinette answered. 

'Any news about Hawkmoth's arrest?' Lizzie asked. 

'He was arrested yesterday, and is heading back to Paris to be detained. It happened quite fast to be honest,' Marinette updated Lizzie. Friday was pretty uneventful except for the arrest of Gabriel. Adrien, who was warned of it, was sad, but he couldn't say he didn't expect it. 

'How's Adrien doing?' Lizzie asked. 

'Adrikins is fine, he said that he must, he's already failed Ladybug so much.' Chloe still uses the old nickname, but it doesn't hold the same meaning as before. 

'I'm glad, he admitted that it was his fault, so he should be happy now,' Marinette replied. 

'What about Lila and Alya? The two of them should be getting arrested, right?' 

'They should, especially Lila, but I wanted to tell them a few things, so I told the police to arrest them during the gala,' Marinette answered with a sigh. Things were moving fast and soon, all of this will be in the past. 

'This past month just went by so fast, but so many things changed,' Chloe said. 

'Is our reminiscing time over cause we have a party to prepare for!' Lizzie said as all of them started preparing their things before the gala. 

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'Damian said we can go in a limo, all of us,' Marinette said, lowering her phone to tell the others. 

'A good future-boyfriend knows how to treat his future-girlfriend and her friends, right?' Chloe asked causing Marinette to blush once again. Her face turning red as her heart beat faster. 

'Okay, that's enough,' Marinette said with a sheepish smile, she doesn't wanna confirm anything before it happens. 

'Then, you can tell us about MDC and how it's doing,' Lizzie replied as she sat down next to Marinette on her bed. 

'Oh MDC is doing great, I'm getting an official store ready in the mall where we got attacked by the Riddler, cause what's a better place? Y'know?' 

'Weird choice, but accepted.' Lizzie backed up until she was leaning against the wall. 

'Lorenzo has actually been helping me, he says that he wants to work with me at MDC.' 

'That's great, does this mean I'll get more modelling jobs?' Chloe asked. 

'On top of the business of opening an actual store, you've got a lot of your plate,' Marinette said, flashing her signature smile at Chloe. 

'It's hard being your business partner, especially when I'm in charge of modelling and business,' Chloe answered as she smiled back. 

'Oh, Lorenzo has told me so much about Lucy and Lloyd's relationship, he is a reliable source of gossip,' Marinette said as they sat in a triangle shape to share gossip like sharing private spy information. 

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'Yo Damian, it's the gala, you gonna confess to Marinette?' Jon asked. 

'No.' 

'Why not? You're heads over heels for her, I can tell,' Marcus replied with his actor smile. 

'Like how you could immediately tell you were floored by Lizzie?' Damian said with venom in his words. 

'Don't gotta be so feisty, dude. What's up? Feeling 'bit pissy?' Marcus replied, putting his hands up in a surrendering motion. 

'I just don't want her to reject me and treat me like Adrien Agreste, y'know?' Damian asked, a bit of his poisonous mask cracking under the thought of something as devastating as that happening to him. 

'Where did the confident Damian Wayne go? Ain't no way he's panicking over the thought of confessing,' Jon asked, getting worried about Damian's shift in personality. 

'I didn't change...' Damian said, putting his cold, uncaring mask back on again. 

'Just tell her your feelings, the worst she can say is no, right?' Marcus said, getting the glares of Jon and Damian. 

'That's not encouraging,' Jon said, shaking his head, before telling Damian, 'It'll be fine, I'm sure she likes you as much as you like her.' 

'Yeah, I'll do that, tonight, when the moment is right, when she's alone,' Damian said. 

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The hours passed and the sun dipped below the horizon. The light gave in to the darkness as Marinette, Chloe and Lizzie got ready for the gala. 

'Oh my goodness, these look so good!' Lizzie exclaimed as she looked at the outfits. 

'Designed by the best, MDC,' Chloe said as Marinette smiled at the compliments. 

(Lizzie's dress, designed by my friend, she did spell Lizzie's name wrong though...) 

'I am going to die, this dress is so beautiful!' Lizzie said as she wore the dress. Marinette helped Lizzie tie her hair into a braided-crown. 

'You look so good like that,' Chloe said as she wore her dress. 

(Chloe's dress, designed by my friend, colour theme is yellow and black) 

'That is beautiful,' Lizzie said as she applied a bit of makeup that matched with her outfit. 

'What hair should I go with?' Chloe asked. 

'Half-up half-down,' Marinette said, helping Chloe tie her hair. 

(Yes, that is me, don't dox me, please) 

'Now it's your turn, Mari,' Lizzie said, sending Marinette into a closet to change. 

(Marinette's dress, designed by my friend, colour theme is red and black and white) 

Lizzie helps Marinette tie her hair into a braided bun as Chloe helped apply Marinette's makeup. After an hour of preparing, they could hear the doorbell ring, the boys having arrived. 

(I went to Pinterest to find the outfits for the boys) 

(Marcus's outfit, also, the art is so pretty, credit to original artist) 

Marcus picked this red outfit to match Lizzie's. He knocks on Marinette's room's door. 'Are you guys in there?' he asked from the other side of the door. 

'Wait, Marinette's not done yet,' Lizzie said as she peeked her head through the door. 

'We'll wait on the couch,' Marcus said as he sat down at the couch. 

Lizzie went back into the room and finished helping Marinette get ready along with Chloe. After a while the three girls were ready. 

'Shall we?' Marcus asked Lizzie as she left, holding out his hand for her to hold. 

'We shall,' Lizzie answered as she held his hand before whispering to him, 'You look very charming. 

'I can say the same for you,' Marcus whispered back as Chloe left the room. 

'Chloe, you look so beautiful...' Jon practically gawked at his partner for the gala. 

'And you look amazing,' Chloe said as she took in Jon's outfit. 

(Jon's outfit, without the umbrella... unless you want it. But this is so beautiful, and the outfit is so pretty! The artist is so talented) 

'Thank you,' Jon smiled at Chloe as Marinette exited her bedroom. 

Marcus, Lizzie, Jon and Chloe all looked at Damian's reaction which was expressionless, but blushing. They turned to look at Marinette who was blushing really hard. 

(Damian's outfit. Pinterest is now my best friend) 

'Y-you look really good,' Marinette said as Damian nodded lightly. 

Marcus and Jon looked at Damian with an encouraging look while Lizzie and Chloe looked at Marinette with an equally encouraging look. 

'Since the two of you have no partners, be each other's partner, how does that sound?' Lizzie asked, pushing Marinette towards Damian as Damian nodded and held out his arm for Marinette to hold. 

'We gotta go now, can't be late for a gala because two of our friends are clearly in love with each other, but don't know how to communicate about it,' Chloe said, causing Marinette and Damian's already pink faces to turn even pinker. 

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The group headed downstairs to the limo that was waiting for them. 

'Isn't this a bit extravagant?' Lizzie asked as she approached the limo. 

'We're going to a gala, hosted by Bruce Wayne, it'd be weird if you don't appear in a limo,' Damian answered. 

'Alright, cause this is pretty sweet,' Lizzie said as she got into the limo after Marinette and Damian did. 

'Limos are probably really expensive,' Marinette said. 

'It's not like we're broke or anything,' Chloe said as she and Jon entered the limo. 

'But the two of you kept your rich identities a secret.' Lizzie pointed at Marinette and Chloe. 

'I guess, it'd be weird if we just suddenly bought a limo out of nowhere, right?' Chloe said. 

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The drive went on until they reached the place the gala was being held at. As the six of them filed out of the limo, walking in through the event hall's doors, they could feel Lila's eyes on them at their outfits. The six of them took a seat at one of the empty tables in the hall, talking amongst themselves as Adrien approached them. 

'Hey, you guys look amazing,' Adrien said, 'I escaped Lila for a bit, but the others couldn't.' 

(I thank Pinterest once again for Adrien's outfit (it was originally supposed to be Jon's, but I wanted him to match with Chloe)) 

'It's nice of you to join us,' Marinette said, smiling at him. 

'I'll lure Lila out later tonight, like you guys said, for the plan,' Adrien said, a serious expression dawning on his face. 

'Have you tried the food yet? It is to die for,' Lizzie asked as she stuffed the banquet in her mouth, chewing on it rapidly. 

'I'll be going now, Lila's probably searching for me,' Adrien answered as he stood up and headed to the other end of the hall. 

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Just before the events of the gala started, Marinette wanted to get revenge on Lila, and the other people who wronged her. After a quick phone call, she headed outside. 

Adrien told Lila when he got the signal from Marinette, 'Let's go outside, I wanna tell you something, privately.' 

'Really? What would be so important?' Lila asked, putting on her cheery voice. 

'It's a secret, can't be spoiling the surprise, right?' Adrien put on his model boy smile. 

'I guess.' 

Lila followed Adrien out of the event hall. The warm room giving way to the cold outdoors, the bright lights making silhouettes in the dark night of outside. Lila's mind raced, thinking of what Adrien could possibly want to tell her and how to react to it. 

However, Adrien didn't really care, he just walked in front of Lila, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Adrien was pretty happy about how things ended up, being able to live without being forced to do something, the thought alone made a small smile appear on his lips before he reached the place that Marinette asked him to meet at. 

'Lila,' Marinette said, pushing herself off the wall she was leaning on to face Lila. 

'Marinette? What are you doing here?' Lila asked, looking between Marinette and Adrien. Adrien just gave her a shrug. 

'Your crimes have already been found, we have proof of everything, the police will be coming soon to arrest you and bring you back to Paris,' Marinette answered, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 

'Adrien, tell her I didn't do anything,' Lila said, a panicked look dawned on her features. 

'But you did do those things,' Adrien replied with a cold look on his face. 

'Adrien, what did your father say?' 

'Lila,' Adrien said, taking a step towards Lila, 'My father's secret is already out. He didn't come to the gala because he was arrested for being Hawkmoth.' 

'W- WHAT?' Lila's shriek could be heard from Paris. 

'Lila or whatever your name is, I won, there's no escape,' Marinette said with a smirk. 

'You...' 

'What? Cat got your tongue?' Marinette answered with a smirk, 'Just so you know, the charges against you include assault on one account, aiding and abetting, voluntary manslaughter and more.' 

'Voluntary manslaughter?' 

'Alison, you killed her and then faked her suicide. The police did an investigation and they found some evidence that would prove useful in court, it was unfortunate they didn't find it earlier. Since you killed her in America, I'm pretty sure American laws would be enacted, and your crimes in Paris.'  

'Wait, Alison? Me? Kill her? You must have hit your head, I didn't,' Lila said, jabbing a finger at Marinette. 

'Actually, evidence suggests otherwise, the court will say for sure. The evidence suggests you went to her house, threatened her with the "suicide letter", then the both of you get mad, argue, you accidentally hit her with the murder weapon, you tie her up, fake her suicide,' Marinette said, pushing Lila's finger away as her face paled. 

'So, what if I did? I'll just get a lawyer,' Lila said, her face turning dark. 

'You literally said that in front of me and Adrien, and also the rest of our classmates. You really need to be more careful, I could have a recording device on me.' 

'What? Classmates?' Lila asked, looking around and that's when the rest of the Akuma class came out, along with Damian and Jon. 

Alya, who was being restrained by Lizzie, looked angry, pissed. Rose looked like she was about to burst into tears. The others that believed Lila were looking away, at the floor or just something else. 

'Marinette! How could you not tell us about Lila's crimes? I would've abandoned her and become your best friend, like old times,' Alya said with a smile. 

'Are you serious?' Lila and Marinette said at the exact same time which caused them to glare at each other. Lila was being held by Adrien, to avoid her running away and becoming someone else... again. 

'What's wrong?' 

'You literally abandoned me for Lila just because of some lies,' Marinette said, 'Sometimes, I think you're even worse than Lila. You're fake, you only side on the one who's more powerful just so you can have that power for yourself. You've also known about Lila's lies and that the things she does against me are wrong, yet you continue to heed her advice. Why? Because you are manipulating her, by making her feel powerful, you are making yourself more powerful.' 

'W-What? No, I was merely... spying on Lila for you. All this time I rooted for you and I wanted to find evidence against Lila.' 

'What? Are you serious? This is your lie?' Marinette shook her head, 'Just so you know, you're also getting charged with assault and some other things.' 

'WHAT? YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME!' 

'Tell that to the judge,' Marinette said as the police approached and arrested Lila, Alya and the other people who were involved. 

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The group of six and those that didn't get arrested went back into the event hall to continue the gala. They spent their time talking until Bruce Wayne made his announcement about his business doing well, the whole point of the gala. 

After that, classical music was being played by a live group and people were dancing on the dance floor in the middle of the room. 

'Do you want a dance?' Marcus asked Lizzie as he bowed down while holding out his hand. 

'Yes, please,' Lizzie said, curtsying as she held his hand, heading to the dance floor with him. Before that, she winked at Marinette, encouraging her to confess. 

'Chloe?' Jon asked, doing the same to invite Chloe to the dance floor which she gladly accepted. 

'So... uh... it's just us now,' Marinette said. 

'It is, you and me.' Damian tried his best to smile, but it did look a bit wonky. 

'So... I have something to say,' Marinette said, trying to calm her beating heart. 

'What is it?' 

'I... I really, really like you...' Marinette paused to give time for Damian to process, 'I just wanted to confess to you, so that you'd know... You may seem really cold, but you've done a lot of nice things for me and I'm really grateful. I just wanted to tell you my feelings.' 

'Do you know why I did those nice things for you?' Damian pushed a strand of Marinette hair behind her ear gently. 

'It's cause you have a soft spot, in there,' Marinette pointed at his heart. 

'A soft spot for you because... I like you too, a lot, for some reason, you always make me blush, and nervous. I've liked you since the first day we met.' 

'For that long?!' 

'Yeah, it was a stupid love at first sight thing. But after hanging out with you more, I realised that it's not that bad, my gut was right all along,' Damian said with a smile that didn't look as wonky. 

'How about we dance?' Marinette suggested, but before Damian could answer, Marinette pulled him onto the dance floor and started dancing with him. 

'A-Are you sure?' Damian asked, getting flustered again. 

'Yeah, like, let's talk, like this... while dancing. Are we like dating or something?' Marinette asked. 

'Of course, we like each other, right?' 

'Tell that to Adrien and he'd say you're just a friend,' Marinette answered with a smile. 

'He's dumb because he gave up on the opportunity to have you, but I also would like to thank him, for giving you to me,' Damian said as he twirled Marinette around on the dance floor. 

'That's sweet.' Marinette was red as a tomato. 

'T-thanks.' Realisation dawned on Damian about what he just said and he mentally kicked himself for being so cringey. 

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'Soooooo, Mari, what happened?' Lizzie asked, raising her eyebrows. The group was resting, with the boys by the drinks stand, and the girls at the table. 

'I confessed... and he said he liked me back and now we're dating.' 

'Did you kiss?' Chloe asked, inching forward because of her eagerness. 

'N-No! We want to take it slow, so we just danced...' Marinette said, her face turning pink again as she thought about the dance, her proximity to him. 

'That's boring, nothing more?' Chloe asked as Marinette shook her head. 

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'You seriously had a pretty girl say they liked you and you didn't kiss her?' Marcus asked Damian, visibly disappointed. 

'I'm not like you.' 

'Just saying, me and Lizzie kissed in the storage room at the gym after confessing,' Marcus shrugged. 

'You're probably used to kissing girls, actor boy,' Jon said, flicking Marcus's head. 

'Maybe that's why...' Marcus trailed off. 

'Anyway, we're dating now, happy?' Damian asked. 

'Very happy, we knew you guys liked each other, it was obvious,' Jon said, giving him an encouraging smile. 

'Was it that obvious?' 

'You were always staring at her, blushing when she talked to you,' Marcus said, listing off the things Damian did. 

'And she was also blushing and really nervous around you,' Jon added, making Damian blush. 

'This is what we mean,' Marcus said, gesturing to Damian's red face. 

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

As the gala came to an end, the group decided to head to the girls' apartment to hand out. After changing into some more comfortable clothes, the group sat around the coffee table in the living room. 

'Imagine if one of us breaks up, how awkward it would be,' Chloe said, leaning on Jon's shoulder. 

'Don't jinx it, Chlo,' Marinette replied. 

'Fine, touch wood,' Chloe said as she touched the wooden coffee table. 

'Uno last card,' Marcus said, placing down a blue reverse. 

'Someone needs to plus two him,' Lizzie said as she placed down a blue one. 

'Can we make a plus two chain? Marinette asked and the others nodded. So Marinette put down a plus two, then Damian, then Chloe, then Jon, forcing Marcus to draw eight cards. 

'Nice,' Lizzie said as she put down a yellow three. 

'Uno, I win,' Marinette said, putting four colours of nines down. 

'WHAT?' 

'It's a tactic I use to win, save the cards that have different colours, same numbers, and people won't suspect anything,' Marinette stated, in a matter of fact tone. 

'That's smart,' Lizzie said, making a mental note of the strategy, as Damian gently patted Marinette's head. 

'I can't tell if this is awkward or not...' Chloe noted, knowing she was leaning on Jon. 

'Let's play 21,' Lizzie said, getting poker cards to play with. 

'Alright.' 

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

By the time they were done playing, it was already 3 am. Not wanting to go back home, the three boys slept in Chloe's room while the girls slept in Marinette's room. 

The silence of the night fills the apartment as everyone fell asleep. The moon being the only source of light in the relatively big apartment. Light snores could be heard as they descended deeper into their sleep. 

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I expected this chapter to be much longer, but it's not... Whatever. I hope you guys enjoyed, sorry for the long break, I was having major writer's block and was dealing with some issues. There will still be at least one more chapter after this. The ten years later high school reunion.