Shadows of Deception

How Far Can I Go

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Lila sat in the first row, freshly settled from Adrien's gentle assistance moments earlier. The lingering warmth from being carried on his back hadn't faded, and neither had the attention it drew. With Adrien now seated beside her, Lila allowed a quite triumphant smile play on her lips. She adjusted herself with practiced grace, her bandage ankle propped subtly to emphasize her supposed vulnerability. The crutch leaned conspicuously nearby, the perfect prop in her carefully curated act.

Though her injury was minor—a light sprain from a misstep—it had quickly become her most powerful tool. Being carried into class had set the tone. She hadn't even needed to ask. Adrien had offered, just as she'd hoped, and the classroom had watched every moment with a mix of awe, confusion, and envy. Especially Marinette.

Lila's gaze flicked toward the back of the classroom, where Marinette now sat, half-shadowed by taller classmates. The once-vibrant girl looked smaller, more distant than before, her eyes occasionally flickering to Adrien only to retreat again with obvious restraint. Lila knew exactly what that meant. And she relished it.

Sitting this close to Adrien was like sitting next to the sun—warm, radiant, and full of opportunity. She angled her body slightly toward him, her fingers resting lightly on the edge of the shared table space, close but not too close. Just enough to imply familiarity. Enough for him to notice her presence, to grow used to it.

Adrien, for his part, remained polite and kind, but there was a certain reserved stiffness in how he carried himself now. He glanced over occasionally to check if she was comfortable, asking soft questions like, "Need anything?" or "Is your ankle alright?"—the kind of quiet care that made Lila beam. But his eyes wandered back to his notes quickly. Lila didn't mind. That part would take time.

Before she could say more, the classroom door opened, and Miss Bustier entered with her usual bright, steady energy.

"Good morning, everyone!" she greeted warmly, setting her papers down. "Before we start today's lesson, I'd like to formally welcome our new student, Lila Rossi. Lila, would you like to introduce yourself?"

Lila gave a delicate nod and stood carefully, leaning slightly on her crutch for support—just enough to elicit a wave of sympathetic glances from the students. She didn't need their pity—just their attention.

"Hi, everyone," she said sweetly, her voice soft but steady. "I'm Lila. I just moved to Paris, and I'm really excited to be here. I've already met some wonderful people"—her eyes flicked to Adrien for a split second—"and I hope to get to know all of you better."

She gave a soft, charming smile, perfectly crafted to seem both humble and radiant. The class responded in quiet admiration. A few students whispered to one another, their interest piqued.

Chloé, seated across the room, didn't bother hiding her disdain. Her eyes rolled so hard it was audible, and her arms crossed with theatrical impatience. "Ugh. Here we go," she muttered, loud enough for Sabrina to hear but quiet enough to avoid Miss Bustier's notice.

Lila heard it anyway. She didn't flinch.

Let her scowl, Lila thought. Chloé's resistance only made winning over the class sweeter. One rival at a time.

Marinette, meanwhile, watched Lila's introduction with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw. Her fingertips drummed a quiet rhythm against her notebook, a subtle but steady sign of discomfort. There was something off about the girl—too composed, too perfect, and too convenient. And Adrien... well, he was right there beside her.

Alya leaned over, whispering, "You seeing this?"

"Oh, I see it," Marinette replied under her breath, her voice tight.

While the rest of the class returned Lila's smile, Marinette and Alya remained frozen, their intuition prickling. Something didn't sit right.

Once the formalities ended, Miss Bustier began reviewing the day's agenda, guiding the class toward the lesson. But the buzz hadn't died down. Lila had planted her seed—and now, it was growing.

She leaned slightly toward Adrien. "Hey," she whispered, brushing her hand just a little closer to his on the desk. "I heard there's this beautiful park nearby... would you maybe want to walk there with me after school? I mean, only if it's not too much trouble. I'd love the company. It's hard navigating new places alone, especially like this..."

She motioned to her bandaged ankle, adding a sheepish smile.

Adrien hesitated—not because of Lila's request, but because something about it felt... planned. Still, he gave her a polite nod. "I can walk you there. Just let me know where you want to go."

Lila's heart soared. She had everything she needed now—proximity, visibility, and a direct connection to Adrien. From here, all she had to do was keep up the act.

Behind them, Marinette looked up from her sketchpad, having heard just enough to feel her stomach sink. The distance between her and Adrien had never felt so real.

And Lila? She sat with perfect poise, eyes gleaming.

The game had only just begun.

And this time Lila is making sure she wins

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