Exchange student
This is inspired by an episode from The Nanny where the female lead got her school rival to substitute her. Let’s just say with her around, the male lead didn’t even notice other girls. It also reminds me of a Kim Possible episode where Ron got to be an exchange student to a Japanese school, and a really hot exchange student drove Kim and Monique crazy. Warning, this draft has oblivious Adrien.
Meet Sandra Breeze
She was the exchange student from America, changing places with Marinette, who would be going to China to a monk school (aka Guardian training)
When boys look at Sandra, they immediately think, “Knockout!” When girls look Sandra, they feel a hit on their self-esteem and immediately look at their own images.
The thing was, Sandra was not conservative in her dressing either. She didn’t show too much skin though. She just liked to dress in a way to show off her assets. Like her model-long legs and tiny waist.
And wherever she walked in school, boys tended to follow her around as guides. It’s like she radiates pheromones.
This was irritating to Chloe and Lila, who hated any popular rival.
But unsurprisingly, she spent a lot of time with Adrien because she sat in Marinette’s old seat.
Alya definitely wasn’t receptive to the new girl and wanted to keep Nino away. That left Adrien alone.
So imagine Chloe’s irritation when she gives Adrien his daily hug, then Sandra comes by and gives Adrien a cheek kiss, because isn’t that how the French greet each other?
And Adrien actually reciprocated that cheek kiss!
Chloe’s face was red and steaming.
And then Adrien even brought Sandra to his photoshoot, mostly because he didn’t want to be alone with Lila.
When Adrien brought Sandra over, the photographer raved over how photogenic she looked. Adrien smiled good-naturedly.
“Maybe she could model for us since Lila’s a no-show?”
Lila interrupted, pissed, “Actually I’m right here.” How could Adrien not notice her presence? Was he that blinded by Miss Exchange Student? She’s foreign too!
Photographer: But they look so much better than Adrien and Lila. I’m sorry, Miss Rossi but you are like an octopus whenever i pair you with Adrien. With Miss Sandra, they are like kindred souls. You can wait for your solo shoot, Miss Rossi.
Lila looked to Nathalie in complaint but Nathalie shrugged. Gabriel never promised joint photo shoots, just exposure.
The real kicker came whenever Lila tried to spin some grand tale. No one wanted to listen to her. They all wanted to hear Sandra’s foreign life because she was only here for a semester, while Lila would be around much longer.
At least all the girls were on Lila’s side, even if all they did was moan about how they wished Marinette would come back.
Because Lila was just not participative in their girl bonding activities of planting trees or listening to band music (Luka had privately asked Juleka not to invite Lila again because her music was like wailing violins), she could never take Marinette’s place.
All these were minor irritations to Chloe and Lila, not enough to attract akumas.
So for a whole semester, while Marinette was maturing and gaining wisdom in monk school, Lila and Chloe were going crazy over how little attention they were receiving ever since the exchange student came by. Sandra was constantly around Adrien, which irritated all his admirers and Adrienette fans.
The end of semester could not come too soon.
Sandra bid everyone a friendly farewell and thanked Adrien personally for being such a good Friend.
Alya: Omg, Adrien is contagious.
When Marinette returned, all her friends welcomed her back with open arms.
Marinette: aw, did everyone miss me?
Adrien: very much so. 2 girls in particular.
Marinette turned, expecting to find Alya and Kagami.
Imagine her surprise to be given a fierce hug by lying Lila. “Don’t you ever leave me again!” she sobbed.
Then Marinette’s hand was grabbed in a firm grip by cruel Chloe. “Come on, Dupain-Cheng, the limo is waiting for us.”
Marinette, confused: Wait, I’m riding home with you?
Adrien was beaming, oblivious to the true reason behind their friendly welcoming and choosing to see the good in them. “They finally realized how much you mean to them only when you were gone. Absence makes the heart fonder after all.”
And his face took on a wistful look. Chloe and Lila believed it was for Sandra and tugged Marinette on faster, as if by restoring her to her bakery or classroom, the world as they knew it would return to normal.
Marinette had learned to let Adrien and Kagami be happy and focus on the joys of life.
Adrien was just hoping his Lady had finally come home. She had told him she would be late in coming to the rescue because she would be in China for a while. How coincidental that Marinette would be headed there too!