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“I promise I have a good reason.” The girl with sausage hair lowered the spray paint can she held, holding up her other hand in a gesture of supplication.
Théo’s gaze darted from the girl to the Ladybug statue he’d sculpted--which was covered in orange streaks--and back again. He folded his arms, glaring at the coward who’d dared to deface his work in the middle of the night. “You’d better.”
“You see,” the stranger said, waggling the can under his nose, “Ladybug asked me to do this.”
Théo sucked a breath over his teeth. Ladybug had asked this girl to hurt him so? “That’s a lie…”
But was it? The girl was so wide-eyed and harmless looking. If Théo didn’t know any better, he’d think she was kind of pretty, too.
“I swear it’s true.” The girl dropped the paint can onto the ground with a clatter and gripped his lapels in both hands. Théo was helpless, caught in her grip as she dragged him down to her level. “Ladybug asked me because she can’t stand this statue. She says it exploits her. I’m a superhero, too, so she tells me these things.”
A nagging sensation at the back of Théo’s brain told him this girl was telling the truth. He’d always known that Ladybug didn’t like the statue--why else would she not show up to its reveal?--so what the girl was saying checked out.
Théo trembled in the girl’s grasp. “You said you’re a superhero? Who are you?”
The girl smiled at him, soft and oh! so beautiful. “I’m a descendant of a fox hero.” She released Théo with one hand, holding onto him with the other, and showed off her foxtail necklace. “My name is Lila. Lila Rossi.”
Lila… Théo thought. What a pretty name.
“Oh.” Théo swallowed hard. “I’m Théo Barbot.”
“Théo,” she purred, and Théo melted on the spot. Her hand moved to his cheek, and he was startled by how soft and warm her fingers were. “Would you like to get coffee together, Théo?”
Putty in her hands, Théo nodded.
***
Coffee was just the start of Théo and Lila’s whirlwind romance. He found himself sculpting his new muse at every opportunity; Lila was a genius when it came to striking creative poses and holding them.
When he wasn’t sculpting, they were out on the town, enjoying dinner and movies and beaches, as well as Paris’ premier clothing and jewelry stores. His bank account was empty but his heart was full.
And Théo knew she loved him. She showed it every day, in the way her eyes would light up when he walked into the room, or in the way she’d hold his hand, or in the way she praised his sculptures of her.
Théo had no cause to doubt her love for him.
Until he heard her talking to one of her friends.
“And you wouldn’t believe the amount of money he’s spent on me,” Lila said into the phone outside the restaurant she’d agreed to meet Théo at. She was turned away from him, so he hid behind a tree to hear her extol his praises. “I know. He’s really good to me.”
Lila paused, appearing to listen to the person on the other end of the line. She turned to face his hiding spot, and her lips twisted into a smirk Théo could only describe as evil. “Yup. He’s easy to fool.”
Easy to fool? Théo blinked at her. What does she mean by that?
Lila chuckled, her eyes glittering with malevolence. “Oh, totally. Théo’s not the brightest crayon in the box.”
Théo covered his mouth with his hand to keep his gasp from giving him away. His eyes bulged and his heart dropped into his stomach.
Then Lila tilted her head, appearing thoughtful. “Hey, that’s not cool. Théo is an excellent partner.” As Lila lowered her voice, Théo strained his ears to listen. “I may have started out lying to him, Angel, but I truly do feel… I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve never felt this way before.”
Lila had lied to him? About what? Théo couldn’t imagine what she’d lied about; she seemed like the most honest person he’d ever met.
But then uncomfortable truths started trickling into his brain. Like how she’d claimed to visit Achu but knew nothing about the country. Or how she’d mentioned that Jagged Stone himself had written a song about her, but never offered to play it for Théo. Or how she’d said she was best friends with Ladybug, when Ladybug had never visited them.
Théo was floored. Lila had lied. She’d lied about everything.
“No,” she said into the phone. “I like Théo. A lot. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
Théo turned away from her, leaning his head on the tree. He clutched his chest, his heart threatening to pound out of his ribcage.
Lila… still likes me? Théo thought, tears pricking his eyes. Do I still like her?
“I… I don’t know.” Lila sounded so unsure in that moment, so unlike the confident girl he’d fallen in love with. “I…” Her voice dropped to a whisper, and Théo’s ears perked. “I think I love him.”
Théo decided then and there that he could love the girl despite their relationship being built on a scaffolding of falsehoods. He didn’t need to know whether she was telling the truth to appreciate her good sides; in fact, her fooling him for so long just showed how clever she really was.
He stepped out from behind the tree, tears evaporated and smile plastered in place. “Hi, Lila! Sorry I’m late.”
Lila beamed at him. “See you later, Angel, my date’s here.” She hung up the phone and pocketed it, offering her arm to Théo. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” Théo raised her hand to his lips and brushed them against her wrist. “Let’s go.”