A Step at a Time

‘Chloe, can I talk to you, privately?’ Adrien asked after Chloe’s usual exuberant morning greeting. Sabrina nodded to Chloe before moving to wait by the stairs to the upper gallery of the school.

Adrien glanced around the courtyard before pulling Chloe to an unoccupied bench. 

‘What is it, Adrikins?’ Chloe batted her eyelashes and puckered her lips as she waited for his response.

Adrien took a deep breath. ‘I wanted to talk to you about your behaviour. Particularly in regards to Marinette.’

Chloe blinked as she said, ‘whatever do you mean?’

Bracing himself, Adrien explained, ‘I mean I’d like you to stop being mean. To her, to everyone. Do you realise you have no real friends here? Even Sabrina is more of a sycophant.’

‘You’re mistaken, Adri-honey. Everybody loves me,’ she waved her hand dismissively.

‘No, they don’t. Listen, Chloe, if you don’t learn to be nicer to people, then I don’t think we can be friends anymore.’ Adrien shook his head as he looked at her sadly, regretful that it had come to this. He stood up and left, leaving Chloe on the bench as she struggled to hold back tears.

Chloe remained unusually quiet throughout the morning, and Adrien hoped she was thinking about what he’d said. Marinette and Alya were also quiet, the result of a dispute after Friday’s events. 

In the library after lunch, Adrien found Lila sequestered among the shelves at the back of the room, sitting on the floor and playing with her phone.

‘Hey. Mind if I have a word, Lila?’ he asked as he scratched the back of his neck.

Lila looked up at him with a charming smile.’You’re welcome to talk with me any time,’ she replied as she patted a spot on the floor next to her.

Nodding, Adrien muttered his thanks before sitting at a right angle to her.

‘What did you want to talk about?’ she asked with a coy smile and a tilt of her head.

Adrien took a deep breath. ‘You were pretty nasty to Marinette last week. I think you should apologise to her,’ he said as he looked her in the eye. 

She had gone completely still, then her eyebrows drew down in a sharp V. 

‘Why should I?’

‘Because the things you said were cruel. You deliberately humiliated her, unprovoked. Sorry, but I can’t be friends with a person like that.’ Adrien was quickly getting frustrated.

Lila’s face shifted into a pitying expression. ‘Oh, Adrien,’ she crooned, ‘you have no idea, do you?’

He slumped as he felt a headache coming on. ‘About what?’ he asked.

‘Rumour has it that Marinette wallpapered her bedroom with pictures of you. Even the ceiling. That’s super creepy. How well do you even know her? I bet she’s just some gross, fan girl stalker.’

‘Naturally, I’d just trust your opinion since you’re such an expert on all things Marinette,’ Adrien responded with heavy sarcasm.

Lila shrugged one shoulder. ‘Go and ask Sabrina or Mylene, then, they’ve been in her room. Better yet, talk to Alya, she’s only enabled Marinette since the beginning.’ Lila looked at Adrien with apparent concern and said, ‘I’m only trying to protect you.’

Adrien pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes shut tight. ‘Listen, I’m going to tell you what I told Chloe. Your horrible attitude isn’t winning you any friends. In fact, most people can’t stand to be around you. I suggest you stop being so mean to people, because I will not be associated with you until you learn to be a better person.’ With a headache searing his forehead, Adrien got to his feet and left Lila, fuming, behind him.

That evening, Adrien fell face first across his bed and lay there with his nose squished into his face and legs dangling off the side. His knees began to ache almost immediately.

The rest of the school day had been as quiet as the morning, but with extra awkwardness. Adding to Adrien’s headache, Caline had come for dinner again, bringing the discomfort from the classroom with her. That wasn’t fair to Caline, but Adrien felt marginally better once he was excused.

‘You did good, Kid,’ Plagg praised him as he floated over to sit on the back of Adrien’s head. ‘I’m proud of you. You told those harpies exactly what they needed to hear. Gotta say, I didn’t think you had it in ya.’

Adrien didn’t respond. He was saddened that his relationship with Chloe had become so strained. He also berated himself for losing his temper with Lila - just because he didn’t know her as well or as long as he had known Chloe was no excuse for treating her like that. He was going to have to apologise. Plus, he still hadn’t managed to talk to Marinette.

Adrien kicked off his shoes and turned off the light. They could be tomorrow’s problems.