Marinette had just taken off the last of her bandages, wincing slightly as the cool air in her bedroom hit the fresh cut on her wrist.

"Damn it," she hissed, blinking back the tears and grabbing a fresh bandage to wrap around her wrist.

She'd gotten a pretty rough beating today. Worse than usual. Lila and her herd of sheep decided to take advantage of the fact that Chloe wasn't in today and cornered her after school and let her have it because she 'Stole Lila's designs that she was going to give to MDC and he was depending on her'

She's got quite a few scars and bruises from them since Lila came back actually. The worst people were Alya and Kim. Lila would take her shots when no one was looking or when no one was around. Other than that, others would just shove her or trip her. She's had food and beverages thrown at her, assignments destroyed and so much more.

"Marinette," a small voice said, "you cannot allow this to keep on happening"

Marinette let out a sigh and turned to her kwami, "I know Tikki..."

"So why not do something about it?"

"You know I've tried Tikki, but no one but Chloe cares. The teachers do nothing. Neither does Adrien. Always rambling about 'take the high road' or 'she'll change just give it time'. Honestly Plagg, I have no clue how you out up with him for nearly four years!"

"Neither do I Bug. But Sugar cube is right. You gotta stop taking the crap that your class s giving you"

"And what do you suggest I do?" Marinette asked and she put the bandages back in her draw.

"You tell your parents about what's going on" Plagg started

"And move schools. Just like we discussed three months ago."

Marinette stiffened slightly. Telling her parents was going to be one heck of a rollercoaster. That she knows. Especially with her mother who would defiantly go on some sort of killing spree if she finds out what she's been going through for the past three years and 4 months. Then, her father would scold her endlessly for keeping this a secret. And maybe even join with the killing spree.

Moving school was a whole other story.

Chloe was actually the first one to suggest it. Pollen, Tikki and Plagg all agreed with the blonde saying that Marinette shouldn't be putting up with the torture any longer.

Chloe had told her about a school that she said would be perfect for her.

Collège Sévigné.

It was a highly prestigious school. Probably even more than the one Kagami attended.

Its programs were great, good reviews, high pass rates and they even had a fashion design class. When she did more research about the school, she didn't find anything that would put her off or disappoint her. It was the perfect school in her opinion. Chloe was right. However, there was one thing that out her off.

€56,000 a month

It was insanely expensive and there was no way she could ask her parents to sign her up for it and pay so much a month.

"€56,000 a month!? There is no way I'll get in! we don't have that kind of money!" Marinette exclaimed

"Well, technically, you do have the money from your commissions"

"Its' still a lot of money Chloe. And the money I've saved will be for university which will be more than this school. That's already a lot of money!" Marinette whined as she covered her face in distress.

Marinette took her hands away from her face and looked up at her best friend.

"Oh calm down Mari-Bug. I wouldn't suggest Collège Sévigné to you if there wasn't an alternative way for you to get in.

"How?"

"When you apply-"

"If." Marinette corrected.

Chloe rolled her eyes, " you apply, you'll say that you want to be in the fashion class right?"

Marinette just nodded

"Well, you have the perfect grades in all subjects, and you've commissioned for well-known celebrities. I know that my mother would give a personal recommendation. I bet Gabriel will too. He's seen and been impressed with your work"

"I-I'm not sure Chloe."

"Seriously Mari-Bug? You are MDC! Who wouldn't want you in their school?"

"While that may be true, no one else, besides you, my parents and my commissioners know who I am."

"Oh yeah... Well that doesn't matter. The school would be stupid to not accept you and offer you a scholarship! Seriously Mari. This is for your own good."

Marinette pursed her lips and stared at the school website. She could already see herself in that school. Wearing their uniform, being in the fashion design class, not having to deal with any bullies especially since that school has a strict no bullying policy.

"It does seem like a really nice place," Marinette admitted as she looked through the school pictures.

"And like my queen said, it's the perfect place for you to go" Pollen chirped.

"I am also in full support" said Tikki. Plagg, who had his mouth full of cheese, also agreed.

"I'll...I'll have to think about it. I don't even know if I can bring myself to ask my commissioners for such a favour. It feels like...cheating? Something that Lila would do in a heartbeat."

"Hey! Don't you ever compare yourself to that rat. You would be asking them to give you a personal recommendation for a good reason. It's t like you're asking them for money. Just a few words" Chloe scolded

Marinette raised her hands up in defence, "ok, ok. Sorry. But really, I-"

"I know. Actually, I have an idea"

"Which is?" Marinette questioned

"That is for me to know, and for you to find out" Chloe winked

"I suppose I-"

She paused when she heard her phone ring and she grabbed it from her desk. It was Jagged who was calling. What for? Marinette was about to find out.

"Hey Uncle Jagged" Marinette greeted

"Hey! How's may favourite niece doin'?"

Marinette giggled, "I'm your only niece. But um...I'm alright"

"Alright? Is that all?" he sounded rather confused and that only confused Marinette.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I thought that you would be happy with the news!"

Marinette became even more confused, "what news are you talking about. I haven't heard or been told any good news"

She heard her uncle huff of the other line, "I see. Well, check your email and you'll know what I'm on about. congratulations!"

And with that, the rock star hung up on her.

"I will never fully understand that man..." Marinette mumbled

"What was Jagged talking about?" asked Tikki

"No idea. I am about to find out actually" Marinette replied as she logged into her computer and pulled up her email inbox.

When she did, the first thing that caught her attention was an email from Collège Sévigné.

"What?"

She opened it and her eyes became as wide as saucers as she read the email.

Marinette almost fainted out of her chair.

"W-W-When did this happen? Never even sent an application! A-And a package? They don't even know my size!"

"Calm down bug. Why don't you look at the attachment of the recommendations at the bottom." Plagg suggested

Marinette nodded and looked through them. She had recommendations from Jagged - was the longest-, Clara Nightingale, Audrey Bourgeois and Gabriel Agreste!

"This had to be Chloe," Marinette finally realised, "this was the plan she was on about. I don't know whether to be mad or ecstatic"

"Defiantly the latter. They accepted you!" Tikki cheered

"Now you just gotta break the news to your parents." said Plagg

"Yeah. I also need to explain why I want to move," she sighed, "this is gonna be a long conversation."

A few minutes later, Marinette went downstairs only to see her parents sat in the living room looking down at her mother's iPad and when they heard her footsteps, the par looked up at her.

"When did you apply for a new school sweetheart?" Tom asked first.

Marinette let out a small sigh and went to sit on the sofa opposite them, "technically, I didn't. Chloe did for me. 'm not sure of the exact time she did it. But it was something I was contemplating three months ago."

"You were thinking about moving schools? Why?" Sabine asked. She was happy and confused. Happy, because Marinette got a scholarship into such a prestigious school, but confused because this seemed rather sudden and it was never mentioned to her or Tom.

"Well, that's why I came down here. It's about time that I told you the truth about what's been going on"

"We're listening" they both said

What felt like an hour, was really only 23 minutes. It took 10 for Marinette to explain without interruption, another ten for Sabine and Tom to go off, and another three to calm them down lest they attract an akuma.

"I...I cannot believe this. Why did you not tell us about how bad the bullying was?" Sabine, who was surprisingly the first one to calm down, asked.

Marinette hated the hurt look in both her parents' eyes. It made her feel guilty for hiding nearly four years of torment from them up until now.

"I-I'm sorry mama. I was...I was scared that if I told you, you'd report it. The school never did anything when I did and if Lila found out, she'd make my life worse than it already is. The only reason 've coped so far is because of Chloe. If it wasn't for her, I don't know where I'd be"

Both pf her parents looked at each other for a while, their silent communication telling Marinette that they were obviously struggling to take in all this information at once and so suddenly. She couldn't blame them. She's probably did the same if her child told her such news.

"To be honest...we should also be sorry dear." said Sabine

"Huh? Why?" Marinette asked

"Because we didn't notice how much pain you were in. as your parents, we should notice these things. But we failed"

Marinette got up and hugged her parents when she saw the tears in her mother's eyes.

"No, no mama. You never failed at all. Please don't feel guilty!"

Sabine sniffed and wiped her tears away, "I promise that we will do better either way Mari. We'll start of by allowing you to attend this school next week. I must say, Chloe is very clever. Doing all of this behind your back. I had no idea she had our emails or anything."

Marinette giggled and pulled away from her parents, "Chloe has her way of doing things and knows people who can get her information on anything or anyone"

"Perks of being the mayor's daughter huh?" Tom chuckled.

The other two ladies laughed along with him. With the mood finally lifted, the family of three began to talk about what would happen next and preparations for next week as that's when Marinette will start her enrolment at Collège Sévigné.