5. Flashback: Part 1 (No bee puns yay)

The limo pulled up outside the school in Paris. It was the start of a new term now, and all of the students were beginning to arrive after their summers of fun and frivolity. There were many turning up for the first time, among them a short, plumpish girl with some of her mini dreadlocks highlighted, a red haired boy who carried a notepad everything with him...

And one of the passengers in the posh vehicle that had just parked, a Miss Chloe Bourgeios, accompanied by her father, the mayor, and of course, the chauffer. Her young face was sullen, her arms folded in anger, as her male parent desperately pleaded with her to get out.

"Listen, sweetheart. I know it's been a tough few weeks for all of us, but the simple truth is, I can't leave you at home all day on your own. Our servants have to have time off too, you know, and I don't think babysitting is part of their contract..."

"Well, why not just do what you did before, and let a private tutor teach me?" Chloe continued to look out of the window, at the slowly gathering crowd that was ogling the expensive motor. "Anything, but hanging around these ragamuffins. I might catch something, and it'll be all your fault.

Andre was not entirely unsympathetic to his daughter's plea. "I know darling, and if I had my way you wouldn't set one foot in this place. But, remember what your counseller said, about mingling with new people to help you overcome your loss. And I can't think of any better place to do that than public school, as disagreeable as it sounds..."

What the mayor didn't tell his daughter is that, like with most things he did, there was an ulterior motive. The election was coming up again soon, and his opponent, despite his dark past, was closing in on the opinion polls. Sending his child to a mainstream school would hopefully prove how 'humble' he was, and give his approval ratings a boost. That was the plan, anyway.

"Please Daddy, I don't want to go..." Chloe unexpectedly flung herself at her father, knocking the very important papers he was studying for the meeting that afternoon out of his hands in the process. "I mean, just look at the state of some of these people! There's even one boy out there with some sort of cap on back to front! Who does that?!"

Andre did not return his daughter's hug, in fact the predicament was leaving him distinctly flustered. Unsure of what to say next to placate his teary offspring, he resorted to his tried-and-tested method of relying on someone else's help to retrieve matters.

"Jeeves!" He yelled at his driver. "Could you come to the back please, and sort this out."

Straightaway, the loyal servant put down the saucy tabloid he was reading, got out of the limo and moved to open the compartment where Chloe and her father were located. Quickly assessing the situation, he hastily grabbed hold of the squirming girl to wrench her off the mayor, to deposit her unceremoniously on the pavement...

"I'm sorry I had to do that, sweetie..." Andre stated apologetically, as he frantically went to retrieve his notes which were now scattered everywhere. "But you know I can't deal with you when you're in the middle of your little mood swings. I'll have the car pick you up after class, so you won't have to spend any more time here than necessary. And remember, if anyone asks, tell them the mayor is your father. Hopefully, they'll tell their friends what a down-to-earth guy I am! Cheer up, it'll all be over before you know it. I love you. Goodbye."

With that parting statement, 'Jeeves' slammed the limo door, before he himself got in the driver's side, and began to pull the car away. Unable to contain her anger at being manhandled in such a rough manner, as well as feeling like her father simply wasn't listening to her wishes, she pursued the vehicle as it left the pavement, screaming while doing so.

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" Came the clarion call of the heiress, but her tantrum didn't prevent it from speeding off, leaving Chloe alone and broken-hearted outside her new place of education.

Well, not quite alone, as a number of the students who'd gathered earlier to ogle at the new posh motor in the neighbourhood were now in fits of giggles at seeing the pampered 'princess' being forcibly removed from it in such a way, and her subsequent meltdown.

Hearing the obnoxious chuckling behind her, a still-mad Chloe spun around to face them, anger and resentment still written all over her face, and now further exacerbated by what she saw as the unprovoked mocking of her lessers.

"LAUGH ALL YOU WANT, PEASANTS! I COULD OWN THIS PITIFUL SCHOOL... AND ALL OF YOU IF I SO DESIRED! AT LEAST I HAVE A GRAND HOTEL TO RETURN TO, AND MY DADDY RUNS THIS ENTIRE CITY! WHERE DO YOU SLOBS LIVE... IN THE DUMP?! IF YOU KNEW HOW BETTER OFF I AM THAN YOU, YOU WOULDN'T BE FINDING THIS FUNNY AT ALL!"

Thinking she gave quite the brilliant impromptu speech, Chloe expected the riff-raff in front of her to be suitably cowled by her carefully chosen words to halt their obstinance, and realise their true place. In the bottom of the gutter.

Sadly, that isn't quite what happened.

Instead, the laughter intensified, the pointing got even more blatant, and there was much shaking of heads. Chloe could feel the walls closing in on her, the jeering and taunting becoming too much to handle. She felt like wrapping herself up in a cocoon there and then, away from everything, away from the world...

I wish you were here mothe...

Fortunately, there was a saving grace for the stricken child, and it was called the class bell. As soon as it rang, the other pupils stopped their harassment of the heiress, to hastily bundle through the front doors en route to their first period. It was only when Chloe knew she was all alone, she dared to remove her hands from her eyes, and further analyse what had just transpired in that litter strewn street.

Maybe I shouldn't have lost my temper the way I did, then perhaps those common types would have been suitably in awe of me to be my underlings. Daddy's right... Sometimes it's all about hiding your true feelings to get what you want from life. I'll try to remember that in the future. I bet I wouldn't be having so many difficulties if Adrien was with me...

Her train of thought was abruptly cut short when she spotted something. You see, it wasn't entirely accurate that there was no-one left outside the school. A mousy, red-headed girl with glasses seemed to be watching the heiress intently from the top of the steps, looking as though she wanted to say something, but not quite having the nerve.

Great, more personal abuse from the local riff-raff. Just what I need. Oh well, might as well get it over and done with... Chloe's internal monologue continued, as she reluctantly approached the entrance, ready to face whatever this bespectacled nerd had to say. She was just alongside the redhead, when...

"Was that your limo back there? Oh my gosh, they're so cool! I've always wanted to ride in one of them... Who are you? Are you anyone famous? Have I seen you in the magazines? Please tell me, I have to know!"

Chloe stopped in surprise for a moment, before the gushing praise from the feckless geek began to register with her, and her downcast expression soon formed itself into a wide grin. At last, one of these losers treats me with the respect for which I'm entitled to.

"Well, I'd be surprised if you hadn't. I'm Chloe Bourgeois, the daughter of the major."

"Really? Wow, all my dad does is policework. You must feel very lucky!"

"Well, I wouldn't say lucky, considering recent events... But yes, generally my lifestyle is quite acceptable."

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing in a place like this, Chloe? I thought you'd have your own teacher, or something..."

"Oh, that's a long story, and I'd be happy to explain it to you. But for now, I was wondering if you could do me a favour, Miss..."

"Sabrina."

"Okay, Sabrina. Could you carry my bag to the classroom for me, and I'll tell you everything on the way. Perhaps you could also show me where the best seats are..."

"Done, and done! It would be a pleasure to serve someone so important."

"Now, that's what I like to hear. Here are my things, let's get going..."

"Yes, Chloe!"

I have the feeling this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship.

...

A few minutes later, a cab pulled up outside the school, and a girl with blue hair in pigtails rushes out, gasping for breath, with a large box of something in her hands.

"Gee, I hope I'm not late. I wish my dad hadn't asked me to help with those last minute deliveries. The first day of term and all... Still, these pastries should help me to make new friends... I hope."

And with that, she scurried inside.

Author's note: Questions, eh? I'll answer anything ending in a '?'

MagicChild5: Dunno. She'll have to make the grade first!

KawaiiUnicorn101: Yes, I 'got it'. EVERYONE, CLEAR THE AREA!

Just Another Generic Username: Yes. Yes, I would.

That's 'bout it for now. Til next time now... :)