Chapter Text
Marinette enters the classroom, talking happily with Ashli and Lina about her weekend. This would mark her second week at school, and so far it had been wonderful. Everyone was extremely nice, and all very passionate about what they did. Ashli had declared them best friends, and Marinette decided she was okay with that. It was far past time to move on. Though, she still felt tinges of fear in some situations.
“Did you all miss me?” Came a sudden, haughty voice. Standing in the door, with curly brown hair cascading down her back in a loose plait braid, was a tanned girl, in some very fashionable clothes. Her left leg was in a brace, but it didn’t diminish the sassy pose she stood in. Marinette feels a small sinking feeling.
“Bella! Girl, you’re back! How’s the leg?” Ashli rushed to the girl, grinning. Others gathered around her, as the ‘Bella’ girl answered all their questions, in the same haughty, proud tone. She eyed Marinette, and walked to her.
“You’re new. Who are you wearing?” The girl said, plain and simple. Marinette swallowed hard, being reminded harshly of both Chloé, before they made up, and Lila.
“Uh..” She said helplessly. Ashli came to her rescue.
“This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng! She makes most of her own clothes, right, Mari?”
Marinette nodded nervously. “Y-yeah!” She messes with the sleeves of her new, long sleeve shirt. “I didn’t make the shirt, but I embroidered it. I made the skirt and leggings, though!”
Bella eyes her. Then she smiles sharply. “Bella Allegri, of the Trash or Treasure online fashion column. I get the feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other...” She said, walking away.
Marinette didn’t know her hands were shaking until Ashli took them gently, stilling her. “Hey. It’s okay. Bella’s a bit intense, but she’s nice to people she likes. And she seems to like you so far!”
Marinette was only able to nod.
Throughout class, though, she realized things about Bella. That she seemed to pay extreme attention to everything. Marinette also noticed a clicking sound, almost always after Bella said something. And when Bella heard it, she smiled. When she didn’t, it was after she said something that Lila might say; something mean. And Bella would quickly correct herself at that time, until she heard the click again.
Marinette started to think that maybe Bella wasn’t the Lila of the class, just like Irma wasn’t like Chloé used to be. She started to think that maybe Rosenhart didn’t have a pre-Queen-Bee Chloé, or a Lila. And what a wonderful thought that was. She was able to relax halfway through class, and lean over her assignment with Hemi and Félix, so they could puzzle out the horrors of algebra together.
It was after class that Marinette asked Ms. Desrosiers what the clicking sound was. The tall woman looked conflicted.
“I’m not sure that’s my place to tell.”
Then, Marinette jumped as Bella suddenly joined them.
“No, it’s fine, Ms. Desrosiers. Everyone else knows! It’s not fair to Marinette if she doesn’t.” Bella smiles awkwardly. She was looking to the teacher almost for approval. She gets it, as Desrosiers gives her a silent nod.
“She’s right. So I’ll tell you. In the... best terms I can offer, that being crude medical, Miss Allegri has antisocial personality disorder. She does not feel sympathy. When others feel bad, she does not. However, she is attached to certain people, particularly this class, and wants them to be happy. So I and a few others, including her therapist, are teaching her to recognize when it is time to be harsh, and when it is time to be reassuring.”
Marinette started to understand. “You click when she says something something acceptable. If she doesn’t hear the click, she knows she needs to reword what she said.”
“Yep. It was kinda weird at first, because I kinda felt like a dog, but it’s actually really helpful. I get to be closer to the class, and it helps me avoid public backlash on my column. By the way, I did a review of those super cute rocker costumes you did for Kitty Section. Nothing bad, pinky promise!” She laughs, flipping her braid. “Really, I admire your style. Everyone’s so focused on being grown up these days, so it’s super to get an up and coming designer who’s willing to put some youth in her stuff.”
Marinette’s heart fluttered at the kind words. For just a second, she allowed herself to pretend that Bella was Lila, and that she was achieving her far-away dream of getting along with Lila, of Lila putting away her lies, and being a better person.
Because as much as she disliked Lila, Marinette still couldn’t help but want to help everyone she met. Even people who hurt her. And that might be impossible for Lila, but... she could dream. She let herself come back to reality, and smiled at Bella.
“That means a lot to me, Bella. Thank you... Sorry if I seemed scared of you, I just...”
“The Rossi girl, right? Ash filled me in over the weekend, while I was getting ready to go back to school. I’m... well. It sucks that that happened to you. I know if it happened to me, I’d be really upset...” Bella was obviously struggling, but Marinette was more happy to see her effort. “But listen. We’re all super close in this class, and we’re gonna do our best to make you feel at home. Ashli, she... was my first friend in this class. So I trust her to make you forget that dumb school.” Bells gave her a sheepish, lopsided smile, and Marinette returned it.
“Thanks, Bella. Maybe we can talk fashion at lunch, then? I’ve never actually met a fashion columnist who’s my age.” Marinette suggested eagerly.
“Sounds super! I’ll see you then, kay? Thanks for taking a chance on me, Marinette. It... means a lot to me.”
They walked out of class together, and Marinette just laughed lightly.
“You haven’t given me a reason not to! I’ll see you then, Bella.”
The two parted ways, a bond established between them.