Marinette Dupain-Cheng sat in the back of the classroom, her icy bluebell eyes scanning the room with a predator's precision. There was no mistaking the shift in the air whenever she was around—students who dared to glance her way quickly averted their eyes, a mix of fear and awe in their expressions. A small, knowing smirk danced on her petal-pink lips, soft yet dangerous, as if she held the world in her perfectly manicured hands. Gone was the timid girl who once let herself be stepped on. Now, Marinette was a force of nature, a queen ruling over her domain with an iron will disguised in charm and grace. Her presence alone commanded respect, and the class had finally learned to fear her. Forget Chloe. Forget Lila. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was the new queen bee, and her sting was unforgettable.
She leaned back in her chair, her chin resting lazily on her hand, and twirled a strand of her mid-torso-length hair around her finger. She’d abandoned the signature pigtails months ago—her friend Ava wore them better anyway—and now she relished the freedom of her new look. No more strain at the back of her head, no more innocent façade. Marinette had stepped into her power, and she wore it like a crown. Her outfit, as always, was on point: a soft pink Sosana top paired with a pristine white skirt, white tights, and matching pink Mary Jane heels. She radiated a polished elegance, yet there was something undeniably intimidating about her—like a rose in full bloom, beautiful to admire but with thorns sharp enough to draw blood. *But as commanding as her presence was, Marinette wasn’t alone in her reign. She was simply biding her time, waiting for the rest of her inner circle to arrive. Ava, Sabrina, and Adrien—her squad, her trusted lieutenants—were the other cornerstones of her power. Together, they ruled the school with an air of effortless dominance that no one could rival.
The class sat in tense silence, like sheep awaiting the arrival of wolves. **

Marinette: "..." Marinette rested her chin on her hand.