The Salt Files: Additional Cases (MLB)

First Burn (Song Request)

It was a nice change compared to Bustier's class. They actually cared enough about her opinions and asked about plans to hang out ahead of time. It's not like everyone in Bustier's class was bad, just a select few. Others stood by but still believed Marinette. Juleka, Nino, Nath, Mylene, and Ivan were the most observant.

They apologized later that day for their behavior, and wanted to earn their second chances with Marinette. She agreed to forgive, but not forget.  But then an idea sparked in her.

"There is one way you guys can make it up to me." The teens looked at her, eager. "You guys can be spies. Record everything Lila lies about, and everywhere she claimed to go. Even the accusations of me hurting her, along with times and locations. That should be enough to at least spread doubt."

"I thought you weren't going to reveal her lies to the class?" Marc asked his cousin. Marinette grinned.

"I'm not. I'm going to expose Lila a more fun way: in front of the whole school."

Later that day, Adrien tried to talk to Marinette. He noticed that she had been avoiding him for awhile. He wanted to make sure she wasn't scheming anything in the dark without his knowledge. They were in this together, after all!

But when he tried to confront her, he only got the silent treatment and a cold stare.

Don't take another step in my direction
I can't be trusted around you
Don't think you can talk your way
Into my arms, into my arms

I'm burning the letters you wrote me
You can stand over there if you want
I don't know who you are
I have so much to learn
I'm re-reading your letters
And watching them burn (burn)
I'm watching them burn (burn)

"So, why did you decide to join me when it comes to taking down Lila and Adrien? I thought you two were friends?" Marinette asked one day at the park. Chloe scoffed and filed her nails.

"Apparently I was the only one who thought we were friends. And if we were, he replaced me with Lila real quick. I even tried to warn him about her, but he brushed me off and said she was just trying to fit in. I warned him because I cared about him, because I knew what someone like her could do to his reputation if she got the chance." She put down the file and looked down. "I guess our friendship was a lie, too."

"I apologize for Adrien's behavior towards you." A new voice spoke up. The girls looked up to see Kagami in front of them. When did she get there?

The fencer took in their surprised faces. "My apologies, I did not mean to scare you. I figured Marinette would be near the park today and I wanted to talk to her. Forgive me for interrupting your conversation. Please continue, I will wait." Marinette shook her head and smiled warmly.

"Nonsense, join us! We're talking about Adrien though, so warning in advance." Kagami hesitantly sat down on the other side of Marinette.

"So what brings you out here today, Ice Queen?" Chloe asked. "You don't seem like you would come out too much."

"I do not, but I had fencing practice with Adrien earlier and he confided in me about his school life. More specifically, about how Marinette wouldn't talk to him, Chloe was ignoring him, and now some of his class was wary of him. He did not know what to do or what went wrong, so he asked me for advice. When I asked about something happening recently, he mentioned a girl named Lila who I immediately knew was a liar."

"THANK YOU!" Marinette gave Kagami a tight hug. "I knew I wasn't the only one who could sense it so soon!" Kagami chuckled and pat her hand.

"He believes so strongly that she is only trying to make friends, he doesn't realize she's driving them all away. By the time he realizes his mistake, it will be too late." The girl suddenly started glaring at the ground. "Then he suddenly asked if I could convince Marinette to talk to him, which I quickly shot down. He's part of the reason why you didn't want to speak to him in the first place! I told him I would not take his side and I will not associate with him until he realizes what he did was wrong." Kagami sighed. "I regret spending so much time with him, it seems like a waste now."