49. Day 4 Part 6

"...Aaanndd, I'll always love you, Mylene.

"You'll forever be the girl on my sscceennee..."

Chloe closed out the final line of her collaborative 'masterpiece ' with an elevated pitch of her voice, as the rendition of the song she'd worked moderately hard on with Ivan, ably supplimented by the lanky teen's adequate guitar strumming, came to an shriekish end. Fortunately, no windows or glasses had been cracked in the duration of this performance. Now, it was up to Mylene to decide if the dedicated fruits of their labours had been worth the effort.

The dreadlocked girl had been naturally suspicious when Ivan had informed her, just before lunch, that he and the class pariah (aka Chloe) had been composing a song together to show how much he cared for his sweetheart (aka her). Being a nice girl who didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, she'd already informed him that his last few musical endevours had been as good as anything in Jagged Stone's back catalogue, a blatant falsehood Ivan wasn't taken in by.

There was also the small matter of whether this unexpected acoustic show was all just part of another one of Chloe's wicked ruses, as well as Mylene's natural suspicions of her boyfriend devising something so intimate with a single rich, blonde girl. Ivan did his best to reassure her that he'd ruminated on the situation from every concievable angle, and he was extremely confident there was no evidence of any foul play. He'd also gone to great lengths to convince her that his fidelity was for her alone, and she seemed to take him at his word... but not without a barrage of questions, first.

Regardless, Mylene still had a few doubts, despite all of Ivan's adept persuading, and she'd literally had to be frogmarched into the same drafty classroom where the tune had been developed, so she could appreciate it on it's first airing before it inevitably hit the bottom of the charts. Aside from the fact that the unlikely songwriting duo didn't want rumours to spread about their assurably unpopular collusion, Ivan in particular wasn't quite prepared yet for his softer, more sensitive side to be given a wider audience, so this covert arrangement would have to do for now.

"...S-So, what did you think, Mylene?" Ivan was the first to speak after the final string had been twanged, his trembling lips doing their best to form an optimistic half-smile.

Mylene didn't utter one word for about sixty tortuous seconds, her frantic eyes flitting between her boyfriend, and the heiress. "You wrote that, with her?" The 'her' part was pronounced with notably extra sharpness than the other four words, but more tinged with amazement than any actual animosity.

"Yeah, there wasn't anything wrong with it, was there? No hidden messages or anything?" Ivan glared across at Chloe accusingly, wondering if perhaps in his headlong rush to impress his girlfriend, he might have missed something incriminating in the lyrics.

"No, no... it was great...it's just... with her... I never knew..." Mylene's golden brown eyes suddenly fixated on Chloe, scanning her up and down, until the heiress began to feel quite uncomfortable, as if she were under surviellance. "Listen, I gotta go. They're serving my favourite at the cafeteria today... reheated leftover pasta bake with tapioca pudding. See you at our usual place. Bye for now, my love..."

And with a tender kiss on the cheek of the tall teen, Mylene made her swift departure, but her inquisitive eyes didn't leave Chloe's own for a second, even as the dreadlocked girl backed thoughtfully out of the doorway.

Chloe gulped with uneasiness as she was left acapella with Ivan, afraid of his reaction to Mylene's curious behaviour. He's gonna be so upset... she fretted, bracing herself for an explosion of bad language and pathos. It's so obvious that she thinks I fancy him. Oh why oh why did I come up with this stupid idea? Now, he'll hate me more than ever...

So it was much to the heiress's surprise when she found herself being scrutinised by Ivan, not with an expression of anger or resentment, but for the very first time, one of genuine concern. "Hey, are you alright over there?"

"No, of course, I'm not..." Chloe wailed, staring down guiltily at the floor. "Mylene thinks the two of us are having some sort of affair, I just know it. Didn't you see her giving me the once-over when she left the room? We put too much creativity into making that song as romantic as possible. Now, you guys are going to split up forever, give back each other's promise rings, cancel the movie tickets tonight, never have any adorable children together, and it's all my fault. Oh, why is it, even when I try and do something right, I screw up so badly?"

Ivan's response to Chloe's impromptu display of self-loathing was one of complete bewilderment, but all that changed a few seconds later. First of all, he smiled... then, he giggled... chuckled... before a fully-fledged belly-laugh erupted from the pits of his throat, which left the teenage boy rolling around on the floor in an uncontrolled fit of merriment and poor Chloe in a perpetual state of disorientation.

"H-Hang on just a second..." She had to raise her voice over the hysterics of the convulsing Ivan, who'd already knocked over a few chairs in his unrestrained mirth. "I've just ruined all your future prospects for marriage and kids with the girl of your dreams, and you're acting as though you've won the lottery. Are you feeling alright, Ivan? Would you like me to get the nurse?"

"You really don't get it, do you?" Ivan continued to grin from ear to ear as he sat upright, wiping a few tears of revelry from his flushed cheeks. "That's not the reason for her odd mood, at all. I can tell you right now, she knows I'm not your type, and she also realises that you wouldn't go for me if I was the last person around..."

"Why, what's wrong with me?" Chloe raised an eyebrow at Ivan's less-than-flattering proclamation. "And why wouldn't I 'go for you'? I mean, there's nothing the matter with you, Ivan. Except for your hair, your height, your taste in mus... oh."

"Exactly, I didn't mean it to be rude, just like you're not trying to be now..." Ivan had now managed to regain some semblance of control, and was standing up once more. "It's just we're so different in many ways, it would be like a bug going out with a cat... or something. Even 'opposites attract' has it's limits, I think..."

"Well, what was with the funny looks she was giving me, as she left?" Chloe was now more perplexed than ever, as she glanced back to the entrance where Mylene had stood just moments earlier. "She acted like I had two heads, four arms and bad breath. She didn't even say if she liked our song, or not..."

"Oh believe me, she loved it..." Ivan now regarded Chloe with legitimate appreciation, an unfamiliar sentiment that she found somewhat weird. "For a start, she didn't try to run away during the opening chords, which is always a plus. Also... the smooch she gave me afterwards was the most passionate she's been since our first date. I think the main reason she seemed so out of it is much simpler... you."

"Moi?" A clearly outraged Chloe clapped her hand to her chest, almost as if she'd been accused of some terrible crime. "But, I didn't do anything bad. I did my best to help you with that tune. I haven't insulted, belittled, been nasty to anyone all morning. Why, even after Alix poured that bucket of sludge over my head, I was able to... oops."

Fortunately, Ivan hadn't managed to deduce Chloe's almost-unveiling of her 'secret' friendship with the tomboy, and continued to explain his position. "Exactly! That's the reason why I'm so confused, too. You're acting so out-of-character, it's like you're a totally different person... which is a compliment, by the way. I can't believe you went so far to help us both, especially after what I heard went down between you and Alya's mother yesterday. I thought you'd be all mad and stuff, and plotting to get your revenge, but instead you're being all helpful, and nice..."

"Oh, right..." Chloe began to understand what the teenage boy was getting at, and it was like having a one-hundred ton weight lifted off her mind. "I guess that would come as a bit of a shock, after the way I've lived... well, most of my life. I just hope that if I carry on behaving better, more people will accept me the way I am now, and today will be the norm instead of just an aberration. I've got lots of humble pie to eat, and a heck of a lot of making up to do, but I intend to convince each and every one of you that the old Chloe is no more, no matter how long it takes. And that includes in my soon-to-be future role as a superh... damn..."

Even though Ivan was known as one of the sweetest guys around, no-one could accuse him of being a quick thinker, so once again Chloe's little faux pas went unpunished. "You know what? I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I'm actually starting to believe you. It might be me feeling happy at getting my girlfriend to love me even more, but I think I'm gonna give you a chance. There's just one thing I have to know... what did happen with Alya's mother, if I'm not to believe that you had anything to do with her sacking? If you tell me the truth now, I might be able to persuade some of the others to go easy on you, seeing as most of them won't even give you the time of day at the moment..."

Chloe rolled her eyes at Ivan's slightly tactless honesty, and also at the fact that it seemed she'd have to regale everyone of the sorry saga at the depths of which her father would sink to assert his control over her once more. It would have to be the condensed version though, since she was beginning to feel distinct hunger pangs, not for whatever mush on the menu for today's culinary extravaganza...

But the suddenly mourish tasting nougat in her bag.

...

"...And that's when he informed me Mrs Cesaire would have lots of 'time off' from now on, and he sacked her I'd say, a few minutes later..." Chloe finished off her unique retelling of events of the previous day, not to Ivan, but to an enraptured Adrien in the first of their 'strategy' meetings over the lunch table.

"Wow, I knew the mayor could be a bit cruel..." Adrien shook his head in stupefaction, before taking a large bite out of his cheese sandwich. "But I never thought he'd be that heartless. You'd think he'd be happy his daughter was trying to improve herself, make new friends... but it turns out his feelings are almost the reverse.I just can't wrap my head around it..."

"Believe me, I'm not surprised at all." Chloe inserted two... no, three of those little ball-shaped pieces of honey-glazed heaven into her mouth with relish. "His idea of me 'bettering myself' and mine are now very different things, and he can send me to as many psychiatrists as he likes, I'm not going to change the path I'm on now for anything."

"Wait a minute. He's sending you to a head doctor now... because you're trying to be a good person?!" Adrien couldn't quite comprehend what he was hearing, and let his forehead form into one of it's rare frowns. "I thought my father was bad, when he was trying to stop me from going to school. It turns out, I totally had it easy compared to you..."

"Believe me, I'd trade a million Gabriels for one 'Daddykins' right now, I swear..." Chloe gloomily shook her head, as she processed the true cost of her rebellion. "At least he wouldn't be quite as strict, and I'd get lots of free clothes into the bargain. Which I really need right now, seeing as he's stopped my allowance, not to mention the fact I'm grounded..."

"He'd done what... right, that's it!" Adrien was in full campaign mode as he stood up with panache, determined to right this wrong he saw unfurling in front of his eyes. "You and me are going to meet here every single day, until the entire school knows the truth. I won't have this sort of injustice going on, not when you're trying so hard to be a decent human being!"

"Jeez, take it down a notch, Adrien..." Chloe hissed with embarrassment, seeing as how the model was beginning to attract a bit of unwanted attention. "You're beginning to sound like some kind of vigilante crimefighter. I'm as deadset on getting this sorted out as you are, so there's no need for all the dramatics. Just sit down, think things through thoroughly, stop putting bits of stinky cheese in your bag..."

"H-Huh?!" Adrien flushed crimson for a minute, and pushed his holdall away from him for a moment, almost protectively. "I-I'm doing no such thing..."

"Really Adrien..." Chloe smirked, taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in his squirming. "It's not like you to fib. What are you doing, saving it for later? Shall I get you a doggy bag? Perhaps you're the one who needs to see the shrink tonight, instead of me..."

"W-Well... seeing as we'll on the subject of 'strange' behaviour..." Adrien glowered at his childhood friend, determined to get his own back. "What's with all the nougat-crunching? You've hated that stuff ever since we were kids, said it made your teeth rot. Now suddenly, it's your favourite food?. Hmm... very suspicious. Maybe we should go to that psychiatrist together. We might even be able to get a discount..."

"U-um... forget I ever said anything..." Now it was Chloe's turn to look nervous, as she quickly threw the latest treat destined for the inside of her mouth on the floor. "L-let's just pretend that neither one of us is doing anything out of the ordinary, and carry on plotting, yes?"

"Agreed!" Adrien was more than happy with those terms, and the pair of them renewed their scheming. "Now, I think the best person to convince would be Marinette seeing as though she's the class representative, but seeing as you don't want anything to do with her... "

"Damn right!" Chloe narrowed her eyes with pure hatred at the mere mention of her despised rival. "And don't you forget it, Adrien Agreste!"

"I figured as much..." Adrien let out an elongated sigh, before starting again. "Apart from you-know-who, Alya doesn't even want to look you in the eye right now, which leaves possibly the only option open to us being what you're up to at the moment, which is convincing the students one-by-one you're innocent. Then we'll try and get Mrs Cesaire back in meaningful employment. It all sounds very difficult, not to mention time-consuming, but I don't see any other optio... what are you looking at?!"

"Oh, sorry Adrien. I'm just a little distracted right now..." Chloe's intuition suddenly told her she was being watched, and she was absolutely correct. Not just by one snooper, either. Both Lila and Mylene were gazing in her direction, and she didn't like it one bit. Even if their stares were more out of curiosity than maliciousness.

"Well, get your head in the game, Chloe..." Adrien smiled encouragingly at her. "We're going to need all our combined energy to unravel this mess. First of all, I think we should..."

Meanwhile, a third secretive observant was making herself known, this one considerably older than the other two peekers. Ms. Mendeleiev lingered surreptitiously near the lunchroom door to make sure Chloe was okay after yesterday's debacle, feeling unfathomably guilty that her untrue accusations had almost led the heiress to be taken away by Social Services. Fortunately, it appeared as though the victim of her impulsiveness seemed safe and well, which settled her frayed conscience somewhat.

"Can't say the same for her nutrition choices, though..." she noted, disapproving of the blonde's meal which seemed to consist of a bag bursting with sugary snack treats. "Or that of her friend. I can smell that stinky cheese from here. Which reminds me, I need to have my sink unblocked tomorrow..."

...

Class began again after the meal just as it had started earlier that day, with all eyes on Chloe... although, with not quite as many hostile ones as before.

The haunted heiress though, was too caught up in digesting everything else going on in her turbulent life to notice the mixed reaction from her fellow pupils. There was her appointment tonight with the physician... Lila's strange demeanor... her obtuse feelings towards Adrien... the ongoing saga with a certain parental figure... and whether to upload the later footage of her smashing Sabrina's 'friendship' bracelet online.

As soon as everyone was seated, and Miss Bustier announced an unscheduled geography test for that afternoon (cue the groans) it was now time to pick the next lucky recipitant of Chloe's company. The heiress abruptly snapped out of her thoughts, determined not to miss the big draw this time, no matter how cluttered her mind might be.

Only on this occasion, something else was destined to catch her unawares, and it came in the shape of a small, tentative voice located at the back of the room. "P-Please Miss... can I ask you something..."

Everyone present spun around in surprise, and there was little, chubby Mylene, looking hesitant suddenly at all the undesired attention, but a clear expression of conviction on her rounded face.

"...Yes Mylene, what is it?" Miss Bustier was as startled as anyone at this intervention from one of the school's most notorious wallflowers, and she waited with patience and intrigue to see what the query was.

"I-I was just wondering... i-if it's not too much trouble..." The dreadlocked girl began twiddling her thumbs, before finally managing to squeeze the next few words. "I-If I could go next with Chloe, please."

Miss Bustier looked somewhat flummoxed at this unanticipated proposal. "I did say, things would be done entirely by chance..." the teacher noted, about to reluctantly turn down the dreadlocked girl's request.

"Oh please Miss, you know I don't ask for very much. I'll never put my hand up in class again, if you do me this one small favour..." Mylene said almost pleadingly, with her hands clasped in front of her desk.

Miss Bustier smiled at the endearing desperation of her student, and replied. "How can I possibly resist such a humble requisition? Just do me one thing in return, Mylene... instead of putting your hand up less, I'd like you to do it more. You're one of our best students, and if you only showed more of the spirit you've just demonstrated right now, you'd be right at the top of the class, alongside Sabrina and Max. As it is, I say you've earned the privilege to jump the queue to be Chloe's next 'guest', if you so wish..."

Mylene seemed ecstatic at her aspiration being granted. "Oh, thank you Miss... thank you. I'll try and be braver from now on, you have my word on it..." She then shot Chloe the kind of positive, pure smile that she only saved for her best friends.

Despite Mylene's visible friendly demeanor though, Chloe couldn't help but feel cautious at the girl's unprecedented willingness to come forward, out of all of her wary former 'companions' so far. Just what is she up to, the heiress mused quietly, while continuing to go through every possible scenario in her head.

The answer came in the form of one of the many questions fired at Mylene in the aftermath of her volunteering, as the rest of the class's fascination arrived in the form of a barrage of rapid-fire inquiries.

"Why are you doing this?" A clearly bemused Juleka asked.

"Because I feel like it." Came the blunt reply.

"B-But... I thought you hated her. Don't you remember, when she turned you into a monster because of her teasing?" Marinette wanted to know more.

" Yes, I do. But my reasons are my own." Mylene's response was a little evasive.

"What are you going to do with her, anyway?" Ivan put his hand on her shoulder, while stroking her colourful hair.

"Why, we're going swimming, my darling. It's going to be fun, I just know it." She said, with a slight wink.

Swimming? B-But... I haven't even bought a costume with me. Phew. A feeling of relief began to sweep over Chloe, before she remembered what happened the last time someone misplaced their kit. Wait, they'll just lend me a spare from lost-and-found. There's always one there. Double drat.

Then, an even greater concern appeared in her head. It wasn't the fact she could only do the doggy paddle... that had been sufficient to earn her fifty metre certificate before, after all. It wasn't even the fact that she might mess her hair up... not only was she trying to be less of a narcissistic diva these days, but it was already pretty straight after she'd washed it in the school bathroom earlier.

No, her big problem could be summed up in just two awful words...

Happy Feet?

No, she loved penguins.

Hairy Feet?

Yep.

...

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I want to dedicate this chapter... to everyone on this site this right now.

Thank you for spending your time reading what I'm putting so much effort into.

Thank you for supporting such a great show.

Thank you for encouraging me that I'm not an idiot for writing fanfiction for a cartoon as a young adult, as my parents and one-ex friend would have me believe.

Thank you for all the lovely comments and PM's that are inspiring me to put my troubles behind me while I'm writing, to do more of what I love.

Basically... just thank you.

More soon... :D xx