[Narrator's POV]

As soon as Nino arrives at school, he checks to see if Lila is okay after her neighboring house exploding due to a gas leak.

"Lila!" He says. "Are you okay?"

"Clearly." Lila responds.

Nino scratches his head as he looks Lila up and down. "Oh, right, yeah. I see you're not missing any limbs which is good. But your house didn't burn down or anything right? How about the bunny? Is the bunny okay?!"

"My house is intact and my bunny is safe," Lila says. "He's in my bag if you want to see him."

"Aww, really? Of course I wonna see my little buddy!" Nino replies. "Wait. Why is he in your bag at school?"

"We never part." Lila says blissfully.

She opens up her bag to reveal the bunny happily snoozing inside with a load of vegetables. Nino smiles and reaches in to give it a gentle scratch on the head.

"He's like our child you know?" Nino chuckles.

"He's my child." Lila waves Nino's hand away and closes her bag.

"That's cold." Nino pouts.

Alya walks into school to see Lila and Nino smiling and chatting. Her heart sinks but she wills herself to stay strong. She tries her best to push her assumptions and fears to the back of her mind and charges head on.

"Nino!" Alya says cheerily, forcing her best smile.

Nino shudders. His now tear-brimmed eyes flicker frantically for escape, his heart racing with panic. Lila suspects he might be having some kind of nervous attack but before she can ask if he is okay, he scrambles away. She looks back and forth between him and Alya before finally settling on the latter.

"Ah, is he okay? Do you know what that was?"

Alya doesn't respond. She is stood staring at the spot where Nino once was, her shoulders hunched miserably.

"How can we talk through this if he doesn't want to speak to me? He can't even look at me...This must be killing him. I'm such a horrible girlfriend..."

"So you guys had a fight or something?" Lila concludes.

"No." Alya says grumpily as if disappointed.

"Do you wonna talk about it?" Lila asks.

"Already did." Alya sighs.

Lila frowns and raises a brow in confusion. Then, the sound of loud laughter bubbling with happiness draws their attention. Adrien is latching onto Marinette's hand and pulling her along with him as he bounds into school energetically.

"Good morning everyone!" He hollers ecstatically.

"Slow down Adrien, I'm gonna trip!" Marinette says with a laugh.

"Silly princess, you've already fallen for me~" Adrien replies smoothly.

Marinette continues to giggle, her personal vibe positively glowing. "I'm serious!"

"Then allow me to sweep you off your feet!"

Marinette squeals as Adrien literally sweeps her off her feet and lifts her into his arms bridal style. He grins at her and she bursts into laughter once more.

Marinette kicks her legs playfully. "Put me down you sly tiger!"

"Never!" Adrien beams with pride and joy as he continues his way through the courtyard carrying Marinette.

By the time Adrien reaches Lila and Alya they have both been overcome by a dreary and disgusted expression. Marinette, still being comfortably carried, slips her arms around Adrien's neck and snuggles in closer to his chest as if to secure her and her love from this miserable mood.

"What's with this atmosphere?" She asks worriedly.

"What's with your atmosphere?" Alya retorts.

"It's a miracle! Audrey really has changed," Marinette says brightly. "She has given me back my life—"

"Which she ruined in the first place." Lila interrupts pessimistically, crossing her arms. "So what, you guys are back together now?"

Marinette tilts her head with a smile to rest her cheek against Adrien's. "Of course!"

"You guys had really been getting along well without each other, I just assumed you might've...I dunno, gotten over it?" Lila says. "I mean, I know you love each other but that didn't seem to work out for you."

Adrien looks deeply offended and horrified by this thought and tightens his arms around Marinette defensively. "Wha—Of course not! Marinette is my one and only true love—my soulmate! I was torn a part without her and now that we are back together I am never letting go. Never! No matter what!"

"I see." Lila says dully.

"That's right. Even if Audrey is a wicked liar and she tries to ruin my life again, I will not let her!" Marinette adds.

Adrien smiles and presses his lips against Marinette's forehead.

Lila heaves a sigh. "Well, I'm happy for you I guess."

Alya rolls her eyes. "Yay, I'm so glad that you're all jumping with joy."

"Don't mind her," Lila tells Marinette. "She's just bitter because she had a fight with Nino."

Adrien gasps. "But you guys never fight!"

"I know! We haven't even had a fight yet, he's completely avoiding me!" Alya says in annoyance.

"Well I can talk to him if you want." Adrien suggests.

"No, Nino has done absolutely nothing wrong. This is a mess I made myself so I have to deal with it." Alya says with a sigh. "Please, no one else get involved. Pretend you don't even notice, hopefully that'll make it easier for him."

Before anyone can protest, the bell rings for class. Lila waves her friends goodbye as they part ways. When the other three enter their classroom, they are concerned to see Nino sitting alone in the back corner where he used to before he had met them with his headphones on and his head turned to the window. Alya lowers her head and slides into her usual seat. Marinette looks from Alya to Adrien sorrowfully.

"It's okay, you don't have to pity me." Alya says. "I know you guys want to sit together."

Marinette nods and hesitantly makes her way into the front desk with Adrien. It is then that Nathaniel comes bursting into the room.

"Guys, it's a miracle. Everyone loves Chloe!" He says excitedly. "People can't stop talking about how Chloe stood against her own mother to save the city. She's gonna make so many friends!"

"She might even get a boyfriend." Alya replies.

The colour immediately drains from Nathaniel's face. He whirls round and calls out across the room to Sabrina.

"Rina, where's Chloe?!"

Sabrina shrugs. "She's not answering any of my texts."

Nathaniel clasps his face in terror. "It's already begun. She's too cool for us now!"

"Alya, I know how you feel. I know how tempting it is to crush every ounce of love around you but you can't do it dude." Adrien says, shaking his head solemnly. "Now you've made the tomato anxious."

"Maybe he'll actually reach out to Chloe now..." Alya mumbles.

"Don't worry Nathan, Chloe could never forget you." Marinette says comfortingly.

"You think?" Nathaniel's body falls limp and slumps over Marinette's desk, his torso sprawled across the surface. "I'm nowhere near as special as her..."

Ms Bustier claps to get everyone's attention. "Alright class—Nathaniel, return to your seat—Let's start the lesson!"

.

As soon as class ends, Nino and Alya both shoot up from their seats but Nino manages to beat her out the door. He keeps his eyes locked on the ground as he sprints faster than he ever has before. Lila had been walking by to meet up with her friends when he smacks right into her.

"Ouch! What the hell? I'm carrying precious cargo here!" Lila shouts angrily, gesturing to her bunny bag.

Nino clasps Lila's hands tightly and leans in, his eyes wild. "Lila the saviour! You wag school with people in distress, don't you? Get me out of here right now!"

Lila recoils. "I was told not to get involved."

"When do you ever do what you're told? Just help me please! I bought you a bunny!!" Nino shrieks desperately.

"NINO!" Alya roars. "Stop right there!"

Nino squeals in fright as Alya leaps and bounds her way around other students and down stairs like parkour.

"Don't avoid me Nino, you're mine!"

"Jesus she's a monster! You must have really pissed her off." Lila says in awe.

Without warning Nino sprints away once more, still clinging to Lila's hand. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He screams.

"What are you doing?" Lila hollers as she gets dragged along. "This'll be the second time you've kidnapped me!"

Alya chases the two through the school courtyard and out the main entrance. "Nino let me explain—I mean, er, exaplain yourself! Can we just talk?!" She pleads as they wave down a taxi. "Don't leave me, please!"

Nino and Lila clamber into the taxi and speed off into the city. Alya collapses to the ground weakly, her eyes filled with tears.

"You may not have cheated on me but running away by the hand of another woman is just cruel..." She mutters miserably.

Nathaniel walks out and plops down atop the school stairs with a sigh. He notices Alya and gives her a quick glance before turning back to her in alarm.

"You're crying! Why? You never cry." Nathaniel stammers anxiously. "W-Why are you sitting out here alone? What's happened?"

"Nothing..." Alya replies shortly. "What are you here for?"

Nathaniel slowly turns back to facing his front toward the road. "I was gonna wait for Chloe."

"You her puppy or something?" Alya says.

"No, I-I'm not!" Nathaniel replies. "I just wanted to greet her and maybe congratulate her or comfort her or something—I dunno! She has the attention of so many people, it must be overwhelming. She'll need someone by her side to walk her through—"

"Through school?" Alya cuts in.

"Yes! I mean no but, but yes I guess right now we happen to be in school. My point is that she'll need...she'll need a-a friend. I dunno why she's late, okay, maybe she's scared so I wonna help guide her that's all." Nathaniel excuses. "Sue me for caring but it must be daunting having everyone staring at you and, and—"

"And talking to her? Hitting on her?" Alya teases.

Nathaniel rapidly stamps his feet on the ground in frustration as he whines. "Sto-o-op!"

Alya smiles lightly. "Alright then, I guess I'll keep you company on these steps of sadness."

.

Lila crosses her arms. "Do you have money for this cab? Because I am not paying."

Nino is chewing his nails, his knee jittering up and down nervously. "Yeah, yeah, I have my wallet just take me somewhere. Anywhere."

"Fine!" Lila groans dramatically. "You're lucky I enjoy free food so much..."

After directing the cab driver to her personal hotspot—the crepe place—Lila hops out with Nino. As soon as she enters the café, she is met with the unimpressed face of the regular server.

"Well if it isn't Volpina the super liar." The waitress taps her foot on the ground crossly. "Did ya catch that robber from the last time you were here?"

Lila shifts awkwardly. "Oh, right...shit."

Nino steps up beside Lila to challenge the waitress. "Hey, you can't talk to her that way."

The waitress glares at Nino and points a finger at Lila. "She and her other foxy friend think their slick pulling a dine and dash on us."

Nino gives Lila a side eye that reads seriously I'm trying my best here why you gotta do me like this? To which Lila responds by widening her eyes tensely as if to dare him to judge her.

Nino sighs in defeat. "Whatever she didn't pay for last time, just add it to the cost of this meal. I'm hungry man..."

"You better not have that bunny with you again." The waitress hisses, giving Lila one last nasty look before walking away.

Lila flips her a finger that causes Nino to shudder and smack her hand down.

"Just walk away, Lila," He whispers as he guides her away by the shoulders. "Walk away..."

Lila and Nino sit down at a booth and order a round of milkshakes and crepes from the grumpy waitress before diving into discussion. Nino rests his elbows on the table and interlocks his fingers as a gesture of seriousness.

"I know you took Marinette here when she and Adrien were in a bad place and somehow you managed to reunite them." He begins. "So listen, I need some major relationship advice. I have messed up bad. So bad that you might hate me after hearing this."

"Ooo sounds like trouble..." Lila leans forward, her eyes sparking with interest. "Go on."

Nino takes a deep breath and says shakily, "I...I—o-oh god...I can't—I-I—"

"Spit it out man!" Lila snaps.

The waitress places their food and drink down on the table.

"Oh thank god!" Nino gasps before grabbing his milkshake and gulping it down whilst sweating profusely.

Lila watches in horror as he chugs the whole glass and slams it back down on the table, his knuckles white from gripping it so hard. "Dude..." She says. "Are you okay?"

"No..." Nino sobs. His head falls forward and smacks down onto the table but he doesn't seem to care, he just rests limply there. "I hate myself so much..."

Lila reaches out awkwardly to try to help him but doesn't quite know how to approach his motionless corpse of a body. She considers giving him a pat on the back but quickly decides against physical contact and retracts her hand. "A-Ahh, erm, w-why? Why are you like this?"

"I feel so filthy...I hate it." Nino weeps.

"Nino," Lila picks up a fork from the table and prods him. "Nino would you just tell me what happened."

Nino exhales slowly before confessing, "I cheated on Alya."

Lila drops her fork in shock, the metal clatter ringing throughout the empty café. Nino slowly lifts his head to look at her with remorse. He reads the disbelief on her face and gives her a small nod to confirm the truth of his statement.

"You—You—What? No! No, no, that's not right—You can't have. I-I mean, you're you!" Lila stammers.

"I know it's not right! My lips touched the lips of another woman who is not my girlfriend!" Nino stresses.

Lila goes quiet once more. The picture of a perfect couple has been obliterated right before her eyes, she can't help feeling depressed. She lowers her eyes and stares blankly at her favourite food, which suddenly doesn't seem so appetising.

"Listening to other people's problems totally ruins my appetite...Now I'm gonna start associating this place with sadness. Why do I keep bringing trouble here?" Lila mutters to herself. "First it was Marinette and her stupid Adrien problems, then it was Rena Rouge's mess, and now this."

"Did you s-say...Rena...?" Nino trails off, looking as though he might pass out.

"Oh, yeah, hard to believe that I had crepes with a superhero huh." Lila says. "I'm not a huge fan of that pompous posse, especially Ladybug, but Rena Rouge is actually alright."

Nino shakes his head slowly, his mind swirling with panic. His heartrate has picked up and his breathing has gone shallow. The very mention of that name makes him feel vile and unsettled.

Nino gets up from his seat so abruptly that the table rattles. "I-I have to go." He says hastily.

"What? Nino?!" Lila watches in confusion as Nino storms out of the café. "Wait!" She gets up from her seat to chase him but the waitress steps into her path.

"Where do you think you're going?" The waitress shoves a bill into Lila's hands.

Lila's pupils shrink in dread. "Oh f*ck."

.

"You think Lila likes Nino? Is that why you're so high strung today?" Nathaniel questions.

"Not exactly..." Alya answers vaguely.

Nathaniel's phone rings. He picks it up to see Lila calling, earning a sharp gasp from Alya, and answers.

"Hello?"

"Nathaniel! Thank god you picked up. I tried Marinette and Adrien first but they are probably too busy staring into each other's eyes to answer."

Alya shakes Nathaniel's shoulder aggressively. "Ask her what she's doing with my boyfriend!"

"What are you doing with Alya's boyfriend?" Nathaniel echoes.

"Hating his guts. He totally just abandoned me without paying for our food! Listen, I'm seriously stuck so I need you to come get me."

"Oh man, I-I can't Lila, I'm sorry. I gotta stay and wait for Chloe." Nathaniel says. "I am so sorry—"

"Argh, I thought you were the nice one!"

Nathaniel's phone beeps, indicating that Lila had hung up on him. "Looks like she's not with Nino. She says he just left her or something." He tells Alya as he puts his phone away.

"Maybe he realised his mistake and he's come running back to me!" Alya says hopefully.

Just then, Alya's phone chimes with a notification. She opens it up to see a text from Nino that makes her heart stop.

Babe: Alya, we have to break up. I cheated on you. I'm so sorry to say this over text, just another reason why I don't deserve you...

Alya quickly dials Nino but it goes straight to voicemail. "W-What? Is his phone off? I need to talk to you Nino! Come on, come on, why aren't you picking up? I need to tell him I—" Alya suddenly sprints off. "I have to go!" She turns the corner and hides behind a large dumpster before opening up her bag. "I have to find Nino and explain the truth to him. Fast."

Trixx floats out lazily, munching on a cluster of grapes. "I think I'm supposed to advice against that. Your identity is a secret and stuff."

"Trixx, tail out!" Alya orders.

Trixx rolls her eyes as she gets sucked into Alya's necklace. A burst of orange light flashes from behind the dumpster and out jumps Rena Rouge. The sprints through the city, strained with desperation. Heart pounding and legs burning. Tears fly from her eyes and trail behind her. She searches the ground twice before taking to the skyline, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, scaling every building and checking every inch inside. But Nino is nowhere to be found...

Her breathing sharp and shallow and her face hot and flushed from both crying and running for so long, her bones and muscles aching and trembling from exhaustion, Rena Rouge finally plops down atop a tall building. She curls her knees into her chest and gently rocks herself as she screams and wails and cries her heart out.

[Nino's POV]

I've been sulking around as Carapace, trying to distract myself from the troubles of Nino but it's not really working...

All of a sudden, I hear an awful cry. I follow the sound of miserable howling to find Rena Rouge sitting alone on a rooftop crying like a baby. It's astounding, almost terrifying. She's always so strong and fiery, I've never seen her shed a single tear and here she is mourning like it's the end of the world.

I take a step forward instinctively, wishing to comfort her, but then I remember...and I back off uneasily. I...don't want to be anywhere near that woman, but...she's my teammate. She was my friend before she was my worst nightmare of a mistress. I can't help feeling sorry for her. Feeling...like I want to care for her. She looks heartbroken. Absolutely shattered. Why? What's happened? Who's hurt her?

"R-Rena..." I speak up, shifting uncomfortably at the mention of her name. "Are you okay?"

Rena Rouge flinches in fright. She hiccups and sniffs as she tries to quickly calm herself and wipe her tears away.

"Sh-Shelly...is that you?" Rena whimpers.

"Yeah...it's me." I answer.

She won't face me. I should go to her. I should sit by her side and extend an arm around her. But I can't. I can't. That's not my girlfriend. Who am I kidding? I don't even have a girlfriend anymore...

My foot slowly shifts forward. One hesitant step at a time and soon I am standing beside Rena Rouge. I avert my eyes as I sit down next to her. I don't like seeing her so vulnerable, it makes me feel weird things.

I clear my throat. "What's wrong?"

"I—I....I really messed up!" Rena Rouge says. "I'm such a horrible person! I hurt him so much....I hate myself."

I smile weakly. "You sound just like me..."

"W-What?" Rena says groggily.

"Never mind," I reply. "Tell me what happened."

I make the mistake of facing Rena Rouge. Her nose and lips are especially red and shiny, and her eyes are shimmering with tears, which sparkle in the sunlight as they trickle down her flushed cheeks. Her lashes are thick and wet and glistening with tiny droplets. She looks sorrowful and guilty yet at the same time so painfully innocent. Less like a fox and more like a helpless bunny.

"I w-was distressed and I-I did something bad in the heat of the moment a-and hurt someone...someone that I really care about...I w-wasn't acting like a hero at all. I really confused and upset an innocent, wonderful person. I completely ruined his life..." Rena Rouge says. "I want to fix everything but I didn't even get the chance."

My breathing slows as I listen to her. Could she be talking about...me? She's seriously distraught over what happened...maybe I shouldn't have yelled at her so harshly. I mean, she not only cares about what she did, she cares about—about me.

"Is this person by any chance that guy you mentioned once...The—The one that you," I gulp anxiously. "L-Love?"

Rena Rouge screws her eyes shut, a new rush of tears rolling down her face, and nods. My heart lurches.

"I love h-him—I love him so much!" Rena cries. "But I did something so stupid and hurt him. I hurt him so badly! He doesn't deserve this!"

My head is spinning. All this time Rena Rouge has been genuinely in love with me? She wasn't just messing with me at all??

"Rena, Rena no, listen, I'm sure you didn't do anything too bad. I mean, you're in love with this guy right? S-So you wouldn't intentionally ruin his life." I ramble. "This is probably just a huge misunderstanding."

God, why did I have to go off and blame it all on her? It was just an honest mistake and I totally crushed her! How could I do this to her...

"You don't understand. There is no going back. I'm not his girlfriend!" Rena Rouge says, gesturing to herself. "But I kissed him! I threw myself at him without evening stopping to think about who I am."

"There's nothing wrong with kissing the guy you like. O-Okay, maybe you should have asked for consent first—but you didn't know he had a girlfriend!" I say nervously.

What am I going on about? I was revolted by Rena's actions just a minute ago!

Rena Rouge clasps her hands over her face. "I hate myself!"

I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. I gently take her hands and pull them away from her face, lowering my head slightly to meet her eye.

"Rena, please....don't hate yourself. This is nobody's fault, I'm sure. In fact, I'm sure that if that guy didn't have a girlfriend he would have loved getting kissed by you."

Rena's eyelids flutter. "Really?"

My thoughts escape me as I fall deeply into her sweet hazel eyes. "Really..." I say softly.

[Alya's POV]

I feel all warm and hazy gazing into Carapace's eyes. His deep brown eyes, tender and caring...

"But, he can't even look me in the eye...like this..." I whisper.

Carapace places a hand on the side of my face and gently wipes away a tear with his thumb. "I'm sure you're wrong."

He feels so safe and loving...I want to be closer. My body lingers in subconsciously, my eyes trailing down to his lips, when all of a sudden I'm struck with a realisation.

Carapace has a girlfriend.

My head falls to the side and rests on Carapace's shoulder. There is no way I am making the same mistake again. What am I even doing? I have a boyfriend! Well, not anymore...But I'm still in love with him! I love Nino. I'm just sad and clingy right now, that's all.

[Nino's POV]

My heart is racing. C-Can she hear it? God I hope she can't hear it. Ahh why am I so hot and flustered right now? This is not happening. Wait, what exactly is happening? I can't believe I just said that. That—That if I didn't have Alya...No! Never! W-Well, I guess I don't have her right now, b-but I'm still in love with her! I-I would never...I would never want Rena Rouge to kiss me. What was I saying? And what was she doing? Was that just my imagination or was she about to kiss me? No, no, no, it couldn't be my imagination because there is absolutely no thoughts of us kissing in my mind. But wait, that means she really was gonna--!!!

I gulp and look down at Rena Rouge, who is leaning into my chest with her head nuzzled into the crook of my neck. I can feel her lips ever so slightly grazing against me...and the heat of her breath...it's giving me shivers.

Rena Rouge sighs and snuggles in closer. "Thank you, Carapace...I feel a little better now."

I slowly place my arms around Rena and lean my head against hers. "That's okay. I, uh, actually feel a little bit better too...."

"Why's that? Something happen?" Rena Rouge asks.

"Yeah, I....I had to break up with my girlfriend today." I answer, my voice dropping sadly.

"O-Oh..." Rena Rouge suddenly pushes a part from me. "Oh!"

"Oh?" I repeat quizzically.

"Oh, s-sorry, I'm sorry to hear that." Rena Rouge says, looking away awkwardly.

[Alya's POV]

Am I seriously blushing right now? What's wrong with me? It's just so much more awkward having an intimate embrace now that I know Carapace doesn't have a girlfriend. The only reason I held back...

My eyes linger back to Carapace's lips but I quickly catch myself and shake my head. No. Just, no.

"Actually...I think I should talk it out with my girlfriend." Carapace says. "This has sort of enlightened me I guess."

"That sounds good." I reply.

Carapace definitely has more initiative than Nino in that sense. If he won't answer my calls then maybe I should just drop the bomb over text. That sounds a bit risky though...

"Your girlfriend is lucky." I say with a sigh.

Carapace scratches the back of his neck with a weak smile. "Really? I wouldn't think so..."

"Are you kidding?" I smile fondly and give him a light punch on the shoulder. "Don't sell yourself short like that!"

For a second I swear I see Carapace blush but then my attention is drawn elsewhere.

"Carapace, Rena Rouge!"

We turn around to see Queen Bee approaching. She looks kind of serious, has something happened?

"What's with the formality?" Carapace asks amusedly. "I literally can't remember the last time you actually called me Carapace instead of some dumb nickname."

"Well, I...I want to discuss something serious," Queen Bee says. "The Master of the Miraculous."

"What about him?" Questions Carapace.

"Who is he? Where is he? I want to know everything." Queen Bee says intensely. "I want to meet him."

"I'm curious too but I thought he was off limits to everyone except Ladybug." I reply.

"Nah, Cat Noir's met him too." Carapace says.

"Aren't you his heir or something? Have you met him?" I ask.

"I haven't met him personally but my kwami has told me a lot about him." Carapace answers.

Queen Bee eyes Carapace with intrigue. "Like what?"

Carapace pokes a finger onto Queen Bee's forehead and pushes her back with a frown. "Identities are our greatest weakness, Bee. I don't think I should go disclosing any details."

"Oh come on Shelly, that's no fair." I say, crossing my arms. "We're a team. You should trust us."

"Yes," Queen Bee agrees. "I think the chosen wielders of the miraculous deserve to know about our great guardian. Why don't we just pay him one little visit?"

"Don't you want to meet the man who changed your whole life?" I say.

"This random guy chose me out of the entire world to succeed him as the guardian of the miraculous—Of course I'm dying to know him!" Carapace replies. "I want to meet him, I do, but I don't think he'd appreciate the visit."

"Then we won't interact with him at all," I say. "Let's just take a peek at his face."

Queen Bee nods along eagerly. "Yes, let's go see what he looks like!"

Carapace sighs in defeat. "You guys are such bad influences..."

.

[Narrator's POV]

"Sabrina...You're a life saver!" Lila whines in relief. "I thought I was gonna have to spend the night in that café, or worse, jail!"

"It's no problem, really, I used to do the same for Chloe all the time. She was always forgetting her wallet, funny girl." Sabrina giggles.

"Dude..." Lila says. "You know she was probably just using you right?"

Sabrina's smile fades awkwardly and she clears her throat. "I know, I'm not stupid. I was just happy to help her..."

"Sorry, I know she has changed and grown to appreciate you now but man you were whipped in the worst way, following her around like you were in love with her or something." Lila chuckles.

Sabrina falls silent, lowering her eyes shamefully. Lila stops laughing instantly.

"Shit, wait, were you really—" She starts.

"Look I know she isn't perfect but Chloe is my best friend." Sabrina says shortly. "My only friend...for a long time."

Lila surveys Sabrina with concern before reluctantly letting it go.

"Well I'm not even your friend and I am all for tricking people but I'm still gonna pay you back," She says. "Or beat up Nino and make him pay you back, same dif. You did me a solid, Rina."

Sabrina lifts her head to smile at Lila. "Thanks..."

Lila clicks her tongue and shakes her head in disapproval. "No, no, I say thank you. You say you're welcome, and say it proudly with confidence bordering on arrogance as if you're rubbing it in my face."

Sabrina winces. "Y-You're welcome?"

"Yeah, sure, good enough." Lila says, patting Sabrina on the head.

Sabrina adjusts her glasses as she peers at Lila in confusion. "So, we aren't friends but you still pat my head and call me by a nickname that only Chloe and Nathaniel use on occasion?"

Lila pauses in embarrassment before quickly slapping a hand on Sabrina's face to shove her away. "Don't look at me like that! Like you're tryna calculate me...It's creepy."

"Breaking News!"

Lila and Sabrina turn to a store window where a news report is playing on the TV inside.

"The Mayor has ordered a total evacuation of the city due to a classified threat that has yet to be disclosed. All we know is that we must leave Paris immediately for the sake of our own safety."

Sabrina fumbles for her phone and dials Chloe's number but it goes straight to voice mail. "Still not picking up? This is an emergency!"

Lila snatches the phone from Sabrina and grabs onto her hand. "For once think about yourself first." She orders as she pulls Sabrina along. "We have to get out of here!"