6. Flashback Part 2

"Here we go, right by the window. Nice and airy, I hope you agree..." Sabrina was eager to impress her new higher-status friend by showing her to the best desks in the classroom.

The redhead had transported Chloe's bag all the way to the classroom, (which was heavier than it looked, being chock-a-block with more beauty products than textbooks) while the heiress had acted as a battering ram by shoving the children that were loitering in the corridors aside, to get first dibs on the in-demand seats.

Sabrina was a little startled with Chloe's determination, especially over something so trivial. It was almost as though she was used to having her own way in everything...

The blonde was equally fussy about her new chair on arrival, as she appraised it from every angle, felt the texture of the wood and even wiped it down with some kind of tissue that reeked of disinfectant.

Finally, with a half-hearted mumble of "It'll do, I suppose." Chloe sat down in the assigned area, with Sabrina following suit in taking the space next to her. Well, that was pretty odd, the glasses wearer thought, but I guess these famous types live in a different world to the rest of us. A beautiful, flawless world. I hope one day to be just like her...

Turning away from her new friend for a moment however, gave Sabrina quite a shock. For unlike her besotted adulation for the new upper-class student, the majority of the class seemed to be staring at Chloe with barely disguised distaste. What's the matter with these ungrateful people? The redhead pondered. Don't they realise we have someone akin to royalty being taught in our presence. We should be rolling out the red carpet, not treating her like some kind of infectious disease. How jealous can you get...

If one had listened closely to the hushed murmurings of discontent circulating around the room though, then they would have found out that envy wasn't the primary cause of the almost universal dislike for Chloe. Pushing her fellow classmates out of the way in the corridor, brutally insulting them all outside and acting like a pretentious little madam when it came to sitting down maybe, but not that.

Still, Sabrina convinced herself that prejudice against the better-off was indeed the explanation for their scorn, and no-one could tell her otherwise. Besides, Chloe was the first girl to ever truly pay attention to her rather than pretend she was part of the background, so she was disinclined to believe anything spread against her new friend, whatever the evidence. Her loyalty would be unquestionable from now on, lest she end up alone again...

"Hey, Sabrina was it? These chairs are a little on the uncomfortable side. I don't suppose they provide a cushion hiring service here?"

"Um, it's never really crossed my mind before, but I don't think so, Chloe..."

"Not even for people like me, who are clearly a cut above the rest?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Tch. What a shame. Oh well, that's something you'll have to take care of. Oh, and find me some sunglasses, will you? This glare is really taking a toll on my eyes..."

"O-of course, Chloe. Anything to help you get settled in."

"You know, I like you Sabrina. You're not like the rest of these numbskulls. Would you like to come to my birthday party, soon? They'll be a private zoo, the biggest bouncy castle in France, a performance from the one and only Jagged Stone..."

"REALLY?! That sounds great! And you can introduce me to all of your other friends!"

"...Well, actually, it'll mostly just be my Daddy's work colleagues and acquaintancies. But you can meet Adrien! He's nice! As long as he's not at another child's fashion shoot..."

" Oh, Chloe, it doesn't matter honest, just as long as I get to hang out with my new bestie!"

"I'm glad you feel that way, Sabrina. I think you deserve some kind of reward... I know! To show you how grateful I am, I'm now promoting you to personal assistant."

"YES! I'm so happy! I can't believe it! I... Er, what exactly does that mean Chloe, if you don't mind my asking?

"It 'means' you'll be responsible for taking care of my every little whim while I'm in this hellhole. It's a position of great honour, so you should be proud of yourself. In return for your loyalty, you can expect certain benefits to come your way, as well as being seen at the side of the most important girl in the country. Sounds like a fair deal, no?"

"It does! It does! I'm so excited."

"As you should be. Now, for your first assignment: I hear at these places, they expect you to do something called 'homework'. I'm a very busy person in the evening, and have no time to sit in front of a textbook filling in answers. If you could do mine tonight, it would mean a great deal to me..."

"Of course, Chloe. I promise to do a good job, as well. I'm nearly top of the class, you know."

"Oh really? Well, in that case Sabrina, someone as smart as you won't mind doing it for the rest of the week. I might even turn it into a regular thing, if you impress me. Thanks!"

"... Yes, Chloe. After all, what are friends for?"

...

This was it. Miss Bourgeois's big moment.

The teacher had arrived, greeted all the new and returning students, scanned the area for any start-of-term booby traps that might be in the vicinity, before starting to read from the registry.

Now everyone would hear her full name being announced, realise she was the daughter of the mayor of their fair city, and give her the worship she deserved.

No more being laughed or sneered at. No more whispered comments behind her back. No more menacing looks wherever she turned.

They'd have to love her now.

All of the loser A's had been introduced, now it was time for the B's.

Tony Basil? PRESENT!

Claude Beaumont ? PRESENT!

Chloe Bou...

"Hi, everyone! Sorry I'm late!"

What? Who was that? Who dared to interrupt my special moment? What imbecile spoke out of turn, when I was about to be unveiled to everyone?

The door had been flung open abruptly, and in half-fell, half-stepped a sheepish looking blue haired girl, with her messy hair set in twin pigtails. She was carrying a large, flat box which she almost dropped in the midst of her clumsiness, and as she adjusted herself before moving gingerly into the classroom, Chloe felt her eyes burn a hole in the back of her head.

That scruffy idiot. She's ruined my chance to make a big impression on my first day. Now all the attention is going to be focused on her. Still, at least she'll get in trouble for being late. I'm gonna enjoy this...

Indeed, the teacher looked on disapprovingly as the new girl moved towards her desk, obviously to recite some kind of explanation. " I'm really sorry I'm late, Miss. I was caught up helping my dad with his work, because one of our employees phoned in sick. Here, he asked me to give this to you as means of an apology."

And, from the folds of her jacket, she produced the rosiest, reddest apple that any of the class had ever seen. Ugh, thought Chloe, rolling her eyes. What a goodie-two-shoes. I hope the teacher sees through her blatant attempt at avoiding punishment.

That did seem to be the case, initially. "Young lady, if you think you can..."

"The name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, if you please, Miss."

"Thank you, Marinette. As I was saying, if you think you can get off scot-free for being tardy just because you bought me this admittedly delicious looking piece of fruit, you've got another thing co... *sniff, sniff*. Wait just a second... In that box you're carrying, are those..."

"Freshly baked eclairs with creamy filling, yes. My family owns a bakery you see, and they thought it would be nice if we shared some of our produce with all of my new classmates . I found out how many students there are in the class beforehand, so there's enough for all. Everyone, dig in!"

The teacher seemed caught in two minds, either to adhere to school protocol which insisted that no snacks be bought in from home , or obey the tantalising aroma that threatened to overcome her senses by allowing the treats to be passed around.

In the end, temptation won.

"Oh, okay. This this once, because it's the first day of term. Go ahead Marinette, hand them out. Just as long as I get to have first choice. Chocolate icing for me, if you'd be so kind." She decided, with a wink.

The pigtailed girl let out a huge smile of gratitude and relief upon hearing this, but was quickly swamped a few seconds later by hungry children, each one rushing over to grab one of the homemade pastries for themselves, and groaning with pleasure as they bit into them.

"Mmm. Marinette, these are delicious!"

"Marinette, you're the best!"

"Marinette, can I be your friend?"

All around the classroom, praise rang out for this funny looking girl and her baking, while Chloe began to turn redder and redder with pure, undiluted rage. She even had to shoot her new personal assistant a dirty look, so she wouldn't join the mindless masses in taking her eclair off of this weirdo.

The endless fawning Marinette was getting, that was supposed to be for her .

The undeserved popularity Marinette was receiving, that was meant to be for her.

And, it didn't even look as though she was going to see the consequences for being late. If Chloe didn't know any better, she'd think that this Marinette had planned for this from the beginning. To overshadow her, and charm everyone else by bribery.

In fact, so steamed up was Chloe, she didn't even see the blue-haired girl in question approach her and Sabrina from the side, her box now almost empty, save for two leftover eclairs: A yellow one, and a pink one.

"Um..." Marinette gave a half wave to the heiress, who now had noticed the junior baker and was staring at her with an unreadable expression. "I noticed you two didn't come forward for your pastry. You must have been waiting to avoid the crush... Very wise! It does mean there's not many choices left, but I assure you, each one is delicious, regardless of the colour..."

"No." Chloe stated flatly, her eyes narrowing to slits, as if talking for her only friend too.

"No?" Marinette raised an eyebrow, then looked at the remaining eclairs. Surely there was nothing wrong with...

"No, We don't want any of your filthy peasant food." Chloe spat, with tranquil fury. " We'll probably end up vomiting in the toilet all day if we touch that stuff. What does someone your age know about baking, anyway? At home , I have professional chefs that make everything for me. Why would I need your gross offerings? Take them away, and never ask me again. YUCK!"

Upon hearing this unseemly outburst, most of the class stopped chewing to react with horror, and even Sabrina glanced at her new bestie in shock.

Marinette however, just looked mildly anxious, and went to move away. But before she did, something clicked in her mind, and she plucked up the courage to turn back to say something.

"It's fine if you don't want one, you don't have to be rude about it. And, just for the record, it wasn't just me who made these cakes, my mother helped me."

Having said her piece, Marinette took a step forward to leave...

Only to find there was an outstretched leg there, which she tripped over...

She landed right on her front, the two remaining eclairs smearing on her blazer...

What a mess.

The leg of course, belonged to Chloe, who'd reacted instinctively to a word Marinette had used in her last sentence...

A word which bought back so many unpleasant memories, she hoped she'd never hear it again... And now this pathetic little upstart had not only completely upstaged her first day, but had triggered her as well.

This couldn't all just be coincidence. Chloe was sure now it was all a plan, brilliantly concieved and executed, at the highest level.

It was official. She hated her. She hated Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

And soon, Little Miss Baker would discover just how dangerous an enemy she'd made on that fateful day.

...

"Don't you think you were being a little paranoid?" Zzubo chimed in at this interval, a look of concern apparent in her orange eyes.

"Of course not!" Chloe insisted. "That girl has had it in for me from the beginning! Getting me in trouble, when I hadn't done anything wrong! Stealing what is rightfully mine, from potential friends to even my precious Adrien! And she wins time after time, with that stupid smile of hers and that butter-wouldn't-melt look on her face! She's nothing but a fraud, Zzubo! A lying, cheating, fraud! How else do you explain everything?"

"Hmm... I can think of a few good reasons..." The bee creature paused for thought. "Most of them concerning your attitude, behaviour, the things you say to others..."

"Shut up, you don't know anything!" Chloe was clearly starting to regret divulging her secrets to the kwami.

"Oh really?" Zzubo fluttered closer to Chloe, to look directly at her. "I think I know what really upset you that day, which caused your ill-feeling to surface against Marinette from the very beginning. She mentioned someone, didn't she? Someone who you miss very much. Perhaps we ought to talk more about them..."

"NO!" Chloe's attempted slap almost caught the kwami by surprise, but she flew out of range just in time . "I-I haven't even told you what happened next, yet. Basically, Marinette had to go home to change her clothes, the class hated me more than before, though who knows why, and the teacher wanted to punish me, but unable to prove that the trip was more than an accident, I escaped with a warning. It wouldn't have mattered, anyway. My Daddy would have got me off, if the worst came to the worst..."

"Yes, I hear he does a lot of that..." Zzubo shook her head in disgust. "Maybe if you'd seen some more discipline in your life, you wouldn't be so..."

"DON'T INTERRUPT!" Chloe hissed. "So anyway, there I was. All alone, with my only friend some nerdy clinger I couldn't shake if I tried. Somehow, I survived the rest of the day, with all the nasty comments and glances that came my way. It was pretty awful, but when Marinette returned in the afternoon, and just before hometime, that's when the real fun began..."