Marinette walks into the classroom, only to receive glares and nasty looks from half of her classmates.

Marinette: Is everything okay?

Alya makes the first move and slaps Marinette across the face.

Alya: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID! JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE JEALOUS OF LILA AND ADRIEN DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BE A BULLY!

Marinette: B-but I didn't-

Kim: YOU HAVE NO PROOF THAT SHE DID ANYTHING!

Max: YEAH THIS COULD'VE ALL BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED!

Sabrina: What reason would Lila have to lie!?

Chloe: CLOUT, JEALOUSY, FAME, OR POPULARITY! I MAY NOT BE ON THE BEST TERMS WITH DUPAIN-CHENG, BUT I'VE KNOWN HER LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW SHE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS!

Lila: Oh no! I didn't mean to u-upset a-anyone!

Alya rushes over to Lila to comfort her.

Alya: Don't worry girl! They're just jealous that you're Jagged Stone's niece and they're not!

Alex: Why would Marinette be jealous? She KNOWS Jagged, Clara, Audrey Bourgeois, Gabriel Agreste and XY! Not to mention she's never, not ONCE flexed her achievements on ANY of us!

Ivan: Yeah, that's right!

Mylene: But sometimes you don't really know if you know a person until they show their true colors!

Marinette: JUST SHUT UP!

She glares at everyone with tears in her eyes.

Marinette: You're right Mylene!

She makes her way to the back of the classroom and sits down with Chloe following behind her.

Marinette: I guess you just don't know people the way you thought you did.

Miss Bustier enters the classroom and everyone takes their seats.

Miss Bustier: Alright class! Take out your books, and open them to page 93. We'll be leaving off where we started yesterday...

Marinette tries to avoid the mean looks and nasty glares she gets from half the room.

Chloe: Dupain er- Marinette...

Marinette: You've never called me by my first name before...

Chloe: I...I wanted to say that I'm- I'm sorry.

Marinette: I'm sorry?

Chloe: Y-yes. I wanted to apologize for how I've been treating you and everyone else that is on your side...I...was jealous. I was jealous that it was so easy for you to make friends, to get people to like you, and I was jealous that you actually had a good relationship with your parents. Basically I was jealous and took it out on you and everyone else. I hope you can forgive me.

Marinette smiles warmly at Chloe.

Marinette: Of course I forgive you.

Chloe: C-cool...friends?

Marinette: No.

Chloe turns away from her with tears in her eyes making half of the class snicker.

Chloe: I-I understand...

Marinette: We can't be friends, because we're besties.

A small gasp can be heard from Alya and Alex looks at her with a smirk on her face.

Chloe: R-really?

Marinette: Yeah, why not?

Class goes by in an instant and it's now time for everyone to leave for lunch. Marinette and Chloe start walking to a table, but Marinette is pulled under the stairs by Adrien.

Marinette: A-adrien, w-what are y-you-

Adrien: I thought we agreed that you'd take the high road!

Marinette: I didn't do anything! I just walked into the classroom and I'm getting my head chopped off!

Adrien: I know, but that didn't mean you had to go and drop Alya...

Marinette: It's like she always tells me, "A gOoD rEpOrTeR aLwAyS fAcT cHeCkS!."

She laughs to herself at the memory of her used to be best friend.

Adrien: Don't you think you're being a little...I don't know...mean?

Marinette: I'm being mean? Wow! You really are a spinless coward! You're telling me that you care more about that- that- that liar, more than you care about your first friend?

Adrien: I-It's not like that at all! I-I'm just saying that It'll put people in danger if Lila were to get akumatized that's all!

Marinette: And what about me getting akumatized? What? I don't matter because I'm not a liar?

Adrien: Lila isn't a liar-

Marinette: Didn't you just say you agreed with me that she was a liar after I got let back into school?

Adrien: Well yes, but how can she be a liar when everything she says is being confirmed by father?

Marinette: I don't know! But if you can believe someone who just transferred here over someone you've known for over half the year- almost a full year! Then we just can't be friends anymore!

She starts walking to her friends, leaving Adrien standing there like a gaping fish.

Nino: What'd he want?

Marinette: Here's a hint, "lIlA iSn'T a LiAr".

Kim: That little backstabbing traitor!

Alex: Calm down dude! The last thing anyone needs is to get akumatized right now.

Ivan: She's right y'know. Getting angry won't help us right now.

Nathaniel: We've gotta keep a clear head and think.

Chloe: I-I have something to say...

Everyone turns to look at her, and she freezes. She's about to give up when she sees Marinette give her a small thumbs up.

Chloe: I-I wanted to apologize...for everything I've done to you all in the past. To be honest, I was angry at myself, as well my mother and father for not being there when I needed them, and I took it out on all of you. I will understand if you all don't forgive me. That's all.

There's an awkward silence throughout the group, and Chloe starts to leave before Ivan stops her.

Ivan: Wait, Chloe! We forgive you, right guys?

Nino: Yeah, dudette!

Everyone looks toward Juleka, hearing her speak at a normal volume surprising everyone.

Juleka: You...you may not have your parents, but you've got us now...

Alex: Yeah, and anyone who tries to mess with you's gotta go through me!

Chloe: Th-thanks guys! How about we all go to the hotel for lunch?

Nathaniel: I'm down.

Juleka: Sure.

Nino: Why not?

Everyone starts walking out of the school, and starts heading for Chloe's hotel.

Juleka: I feel like something is going on, but I don't know what.

Marinette: You'd be right, but we're not telling you yet.

Chloe: We'll tell you when we get to the hotel.

After a few more minutes of walking, they reach the hotel. They are all lead to Chloe's room, while Jean brings them some Burgers and fries.

Chloe: Thank you, Jean!

Jean: You are welcome mademoiselle.

Jean leaves and Marinette takes her shoes off.

Marinette: I always forget how fluffy your carpet is.

Chloe: Make yourselves at home, while we explain!

Everyone else sits Indian style on the floor and starts eating their Burgers.

Chloe: I'm just gonna cut to the chase. This entire thing is staged.

Nino spits out his chewed up Burger and it lands on Marinette's feet.

Marinette: EW!

Nino: S-sorry dudette!

Marinette: This is disgusting.

Chloe: TikTok Storytime!

Kim: I love those!

Ivan: Me too!

Chloe: Ok, so boom!

Marinette: You've been on TikTok too much.

Chloe: Maybe, but that's not important right now! So me, Mari, and Lila are all besties. Lila moved when we were little and we haven't seen her until about 2-3 months ago, but we all still kept in contact don't worry.

Marinette: So, 1 month after she came back she was all like: "Chloe! Mari! Most of the class is fake!" Me being me didn't wanna believe it. So, we came up with this full proof plan! I'm naive, Chlo's a bitch, and Lila's a liar.

Chloe: And so far the plan is going great! This was basically a test-

Marinette: -and you all passed with flying colors!

The MPS sits there with their mouths agape just looking at the two in shock.

Chloe: Are you all good?

Alex: Hey Kim it's the fist year you passed without studying!

Kim: Alex!

Chloe: Next order of business! Mari, if you will?

Marinette: First things first, can you all keep a secret?

Max: 100% Marinette!

Alex: You can trust us!

Nino: Always dudette!

Ivan: Yup!

Juleka: Totally!

She takes a deep breathe preparing for what she knows is gonna come next.

Marinette: TIKKI, SPOTS ON!

*Que the Ladybug Transformation*

Everyone goes silent just staring at her like she's gone crazy.

Marinette: Surprise...?

Chloe: MY BESTIE IS LADYBUG! OH. MY. GOSH.

Nino: You're- you're Ladybug!?

Marinette: Yeah...?

Kim: WOW!

Alex: So THAT'S why you've never been akumatized!

Max: Hold on! Marinette's never been akumatized, because she's Ladybug and she can't afford to.

Nathaniel: Yeah?

Max: Adrien is also one of the people who have never been akumatized. Which mean he's Chat Noir!

Marinette stands there while trying not to cry.

Ivan: Marinette?

Marinette: This is the worst day of my life, but I've got a little something for all of you!

She pulls the Miracle box out from under Chloe's bed.

Nino: Aren't you forgetting something dude?

Marinette looks down and notices she's still in her Ladybug costume.

Marinette: Whoops! Tikki, spots off!

Her suit disappears and Tikki start flying around the room.

Tikki: Hi Chloe!

Chloe: H-hello! Who are you?

Tikki: My name is Tikki! Hello everyone!

Juleka: She's so cute!

Marinette: Let's see...Chloe yours is the bee.

She hands Chloe her Miraculous.

Chloe: Thanks Mari...but I thought I couldn't be a hero anymore?

Marinette: If all goes according to plan we won't need heroes anymore. Nino here you go.

She tosses him the turtle Miraculous.

Nino: Thanks dudette!

Marinette: Nath you got the Fox, Max you get the Pony, Juleka the Tiger, Ivan the bull, Kim the monkey, and Alex the bunny!

Everyone takes their Miraculous, puts it on, and starts interacting with their kwamis.

Chloe: Marr, Lila says she's on her way. She had to make up a family emergency.

Marinette: Ok! Tell her everyone knows about the plan!

Chloe: Ok.

She waits a few seconds before she gets a reply.

Chloe: She said it's cool and for everyone else to keep it on the down low.

Everyone: We swear!

Everyone starts chatting with one another until Lila gets to the hotel.

Chole: Lila!

Lila: Hey guys!

Marinette: I can tell by that look on your face that you've got something planned, so spill!

Lila: I know this is sudden, but...NEW OUTFITS!

Chloe: YES! YES! YES!

She runs to her closet and starts rummaging for some clothes for everyone.

Juleka: By the way Mari is Ladybug.

Lila: WHAT!? OMG I'VE GOTTA TELL KACEY!

Chloe: Ohh~

Max: I don't think we have a Kacey in our class.

Lila: We met these 3 boys 2 years ago- total playboys. Kacey has his eyes set on Marr.

Marinette: Which is not happening!

Chloe: You say that now~

Lila: Jason has eyes for Chloe.

Chloe: Not happening!

Marinette: "You say that now~"

Chloe: Don't use my words against me!

Marinette: And Luke is crazy about Lila.

Lila: As if!

Chloe: He so is!

Lila: I'm telling Kacey, you're Ladybug!

Marinette: You wouldn't...

Lila holds up her phone with the text already typed out.

Chloe: Do it! Do it!

Marinette: Please don't!? I'll give you macaroons!

Lila: I do love your macaroons...

She ponders over the thought for a minute and comes to her final consensus.

Lila: Nope!

She sends the message to Kacey and Marinette starts to panic.

Chloe: Girl you are evil!

Nathaniel: Do you think you should've done that? I mean what if not people then you intend to find out...y'know...find out?

Lila: It'll be fine Nath! It's Kacey. What can he do?

Marinette: OMG HE'S BLOWING UP MY PHONE!

Her phone continues going off with over a dozen Insta DMs from Kacey.

Tikki: Don't you think you should answer those Marinette?

Marinette: I can't do that!

Alix: Why not? It's not like you like him right?

They all smirk at her and her face goes red.

Marinette: N-no!

Nino: Then answer him back Mari! Don't leave the man hanging!

Stompp: Y'know Marinette, some may say that the longer you avoid someone, the stronger your attraction to them will be.

Marinette: That won't happen...right?

Kim: You never know! It could.

Ivan: But it also couldn't.

Her phone continues to go off with messages.

Chloe: You wanna step out for a video call?

Marinette: I can't do that either! We've only ever done voice calls for the last 2 years!

Max: And this is the perfect opportunity to get to video call him now!

Juleka: He's right.

She leaves the room and opens her DMs to reads through the messages.

Bluebell💙 has sent an attachment

Playboy🙄🤡 has sent an attachment

She closes her phone and goes back to Chloe's room.

Chloe: How'd it go?

Lila: Did he flirt with you the whole time?

Marinette: Something like that...

Nino: What'd you do Mari?

Alix: She probably confessed her undying love~

They all share a laugh and Marinette starts turning red in the face.

Marinette: That's not what happened!

Ivan: It couldn't have gone that bad...?

Kim: Why did that sound like a question man?

Ivan: It was.

Marinette: I wouldn't say it went "bad"...

Lila: Girl let me see!

She hands Lila her phone and she starts scrolling through the texts.

Lila: You agreed to an Ice Cream date!?

Chloe: What were you thinking!?

Wayzz: I think everyone deserves to be given a chance.

Lila: But he's a player! He played 4 girls at ONCE for a DARE!

Max: That most likely didn't end well.

Lila: Oh, it went very well for him! He made 500 bucks that day!

Juleka: No way!

Tikki: I think you should give him a chance Marinette! Maybe he really has changed!

Marinette: Maybe I could-

She slaps herself before she can finish her sentence.

Marinette: What am I thinking!? I CAN'T be falling for Kacey Arcs! It's Kacey! The biggest player out of the 3 of them! What's wrong with me!?

Nathaniel: We've gotta get back to school.

They all groan and grab their bags to go to their next class.

Chloe: Don't forget Marr, we have to tell Luka and Kagami too.

Marinette: After school. We're all meeting here right?

Chloe: Can't. All the rooms are booked and I'm getting mine renovated.

Lila: We...could all meet at my house?

Everyone looks at eachother and agrees to meet at Lila's after school.