The Shredder

Marinette sat at her desk next to Alya and stared at the back of Lila’s head. Actually, glared would be a more appropriate adjective. Because Nino just had to be sick today and Lila conveniently had issues seeing the board in her usual seat. So now Lila was sitting next to Adrien.

Marinette barely heard the bell ring for lunch; she was so distracted by the way Lila kept casually touching Adien’s shirt or hair. Marinette couldn’t say two words without making a fool out of herself in front of Adrien, but Lila did not share the same problem. Marinette couldn’t imagine touching his hair by casually pushing a golden strand out of his face the way Lila did. Well she could imagine it, but it made her palms feel sweaty.

Alya poked Marinette in the arm as she stood up to gather her stuff.

“Earth to Marinette, it is time for lunch.” Alya spoke slowly, mocking the spaced out look in Marinette’s eyes. Dragging her eyes away from the sickening scene in front of her, Marinette stood up and picked up her backpack.

“Shut up.” Rolling her eyes, Alya put her arm through Marinette’s and practically dragged her out of the room.

“Cheer up; at least she’s not as touchy-feely as Chloe. She hasn’t even tried to kiss him yet.” Groaning, Marinette stared up that sky.

“Did you see the way she tried to hold his hand? She’ll probably kiss him before the end of lunch.” Alya raised an eyebrow and pulled a reluctant Marinette over to their usual table.

“Have you been watching Adrien? I don’t think he likes her as much as she likes him.” Crossing her arms and staring across the courtyard as Lila walked with Adrien to another table, Marinette grumbled,

“But he’s falling for her lies just as much as everyone else.” Pulling some food out of her backpack, Alya shrugged.

“So she stretched the truth a little-”

“No, she lied. Ladybug never saved her, she isn’t best friends with Ladybug- I’ll bet she’s never even met Prince Ali or Jagged Stone!” Marinette stormed, slamming her lunch bag down on the table. She tried to look for Lila and Adrien, but they were no longer sitting at the lunch tables.

Their disappearance only meant one thing in Marinette’s mind and she managed to strangle a scream of frustration before laying her arms and head onto the table.

“She’s worse than Chloe.” Marinette muttered, barely able to believe that such a phrase would pass through her lips.

Alya stared down at her.

“Lila’s not worse than Chloe.” Turning her head to the side, Marinette muttered,

“Wanna bet?” Alya poked her the top of her head until Marinette looked up at her.

“You’re being too hard on her.”

“Am I?” Challenged Marinette and Alya thought for a moment.

“You don’t get it; you’ve never been the new kid. It can be hard and scary to try making new friends.” Staring at her best friend as if it were obvious, Marinette replied,

“But you were the new kid, and you didn’t lie.”

Alya shifted a little in her seat and stared down at her sandwich.

“That’s because you and I met really quickly- and it was easy. But I thought about it. You know, being at a new school, in a new city- I could try being someone else. Someone cooler.” Marinette put her hand on Alya’s.

“You are one of the coolest people I know.” Alya smiled,

“Thanks,” She gave Marinette a sly smile before adding, “but it would mean more if you weren’t a giant dork.”

Wrinkling her nose at her best friend, Marinette laughed and opened up her lunch.