Archive of Our Own ^beta

 Chloé threw herself onto the bed, exhausted after a busy day. Tasks, essays, and appointments piled up, pressuring her. However, there was the help of her companion, and, even reluctant to admit it, Chloé knew how important that redhead presence was in her life. The routine was becoming tedious. She longed for a new adventure, something to break the monotony. Despite not being a communicative or adventurous teenager, Chloé enjoyed having fun but avoided crowded places. She couldn't stand the smell of alcohol or the crowded environment. Even though she was seen as egocentric and selfish, she knew her own worth. Not just anyone deserved her friendship. In her entire life, only two people were close to her: Sabrina, her best friend, always helpful and loyal, and Adrien, her childhood friend, with whom she had grown up. Her social skills weren't the best, but she tried, even though her efforts weren't always recognized.

The knocks on the door interrupted her reverie.

"Who is it?" she asked sleepily.

"Miss Chloé, your father asked me to inform you that your dance class is scheduled for now. Will you accompany me?" The butler entered the room, awaiting the blonde's response, who maintained a displeased expression.

"Jean Lahiffe, is this really necessary? I'm dead!" she complained, the weariness evident in her voice.

"I'm afraid so, Miss Chloé. I'm in the limousine awaiting you, Miss." he replied, discreetly leaving.

Chloé sighed, dragging herself out of bed. She quickly put on her usual ballet attire and picked up a handwritten paper from her desk. In the car, the usual route unfolded slowly. She rested her chin in her hands, bored, watching the sky as her eyes scanned the streets. She thought about how her life had changed since high school. Things were no longer the same; different people, new environments, new realities. The "losers" who were once her classmates had graduated with her, following different paths: universities, their own businesses, even starting families. Everyone had their own realities and dreams, while she was there, not knowing what the future held for her. Would she be able to graduate in Law and follow in her father's footsteps? Would she make new friends? Would she meet someone interesting? The doubt was cruel.

The car moved slowly due to traffic, and Chloé was increasingly stressed by the delay. The incessant honking of the drivers only aggravated her anxiety.

"I'm so late! I can't believe this! I hate these losers!" she muttered, frustrated. "If it takes any longer, I'm going to go crazy!" Without another option, she decided to act. The paper she was carrying was the last one of the term, and if she arrived a minute late, it wouldn't be accepted. Desperate, she opened the back door of the car, which was stopped at a red light, and ran towards the university.

On the way, she bumped into a tall man. Her eyes briefly stopped on him, noticing the guitar in his hands. Although she didn't have time to observe his face, something about his blue hair seemed familiar, and even in her haste, she couldn't help but notice how attractive he was.

Chloé arrived at the university euphoric but on time. The class proceeded normally: steps and more steps, jumps, pliés, and warm-ups. After class, she walked calmly through the corridors, returning from the restroom, her attention focused on her cell phone. The last few weeks had been lonely; Sabrina was traveling with her family, and Adrien, her best friend, seemed to be increasingly distant, his thoughts focused on Marinette, now his girlfriend. Chloé's irritation grew, reflected in her annoyed expression.

In the distance, a man ran hurriedly, appearing to be in a great rush. Chloé, distracted, ended up colliding with him, dropping her phone on the floor.

"Can't you see where you're going?!" she shouted, reprimanding him, but he just smiled calmly, without losing his good humor.

"Sorry, I didn't see you. Next time, I promise to ask your name before bumping into you!" he joked. The blonde, however, kept her eyes on the ground, mentally insulting him.

He helped her up, embarrassed by the awkwardness. Chloé looked up, meeting the man's blue eyes, who was still smiling. She was mesmerized for a few seconds before quickly composing herself. He apologized again, but she couldn't deny the impact of that smile.

"There won't be a next time. Pay more attention!" she shrugged, walking away quickly, but as she walked away, she glanced back, curious.

"My name is Luka. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Mystery!" he shouted in the distance, waving goodbye.

She looked confused, with a sullen frown, as she continued on her way.

---

Stress was inevitable on her face. Pencils were thrown aside as Chloé rested her face on the desk, surrounded by handwritten papers. University was giving her no respite. She lifted her face with difficulty, slowly swiveling in her chair as she thought of strategies to avoid going to university to submit the essay.

Huffing with dissatisfaction, she put on her slippers and went to the closet, choosing some clothes and getting dressed. Whether she wanted to or not, she would have to go to university, otherwise, she would fail, and that was definitely not an option. The weather in Paris was not good that afternoon; it was cold, with signs of a storm. All she didn't need was rain, but unfortunately, her requests were not answered. The rain caught her completely, soaking her through. She cursed the sky with every puddle she stepped in.

"I can't believe Dad decided to go out with the limousine today of all days! Now I'm here, completely dirty and wet. If anyone sees me like this, my reputation is ruined!" she muttered, trying to hide from people.

"Looks like you need a ride?" Adrien said, laughing, and motioning for the blonde to approach.

"How can you joke in these circumstances? Look at me!" she reprimanded herself for being in such a deplorable state. "Totally ridiculous!" she put her hand to her face.

Adrien laughed at Chloé's annoyed expression.

"Where were you going in this rain?!" he asked, confused.

"Don't you understand anything?! I'm surrounded by idiots!" she rolled her eyes. "Agreste University, did you forget the assignment?"

"Of course not! Marinette did me the favor of handing mine in with hers. She's wonderful!" Chloé's disgusted face was priceless.

"Really, there are things you have to see to believe!" she laughed mockingly. "You've really lowered your standards, Adrien. Glad I didn't pick that up from you. On the contrary, I only associate with people from high society!" she showed off.

"Don't talk like that! And besides, never say never! One day you'll like someone who will enchant you, but for now, you still have a lot to learn about humility. You haven't changed at all," he reprimanded her.

Adrien's words stayed in her head for a long time: "You haven't changed at all!" She wondered if there was something wrong with her and why people despised her so much. It was a terrible reality, but deep down, Chloé knew it was killing her inside.

A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Adrien said goodbye and left. She walked through the empty corridors, entering a room where a lady, already in her fifties, with gray hair and tall, with a kind face, was waiting. Chloé waited behind two boys in line. Distracted, she looked for something to focus her attention on until, in the distance, on the other side of the corridor, she saw again those blue hairs she had bumped into days before.

Luka was chatting animatedly with a girl, almost forgetting the world around him.

"Him again?!" she thought, restless. "Does he study at this university? I hope he doesn't see me! I was embarrassed enough that day."

But Luka saw her, and his mischievous smile widened as he recognized her. He approached, but Chloé, trying to maintain her arrogant posture, pretended not to notice him.

"Hi! You again, I'm surprised to see you..." Luka began to speak, but was interrupted by Chloé's icy stare.

"Who are you?" she retorted sarcastically.

"Don't you remember me? My name is Luka."

"No! And why are you still talking to me? Go mix with people like you, failures!" she looked away, trying to hide the slight hesitation in her voice.

Luka stood still for a moment, surprised and disappointed. Chloé saw him walk away, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she had acted correctly. But she quickly dismissed those thoughts.

"I did the right thing. People like him deserve to be with their own kind!" she muttered, rolling her eyes.

She watched the boy walk away silently, trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing, although nothing in her mind confirmed it.

The rain increased in Paris, accompanied by thunder that echoed in the sky.

After handing in her work, Chloé walked to the stairs of the university exit as the rain fell heavily. The thunder sent shivers down her spine.

"And now? I'm stuck here... I can't believe this!" she sat on the stairs, bitterly regretting not bringing a decent umbrella, just when she needed it most. "What do I do now?"

An umbrella was placed over her head, making her take her hands away from her face and look up in confusion.

"Keep it," Luka said dryly, looking away and handing the umbrella to the blonde.

"Luka?"

Bright flashes crossed the skies that night, the lightning echoing in the background, in harmony with the raindrops falling on the City of Light.

Luka looked at Chloé, frustrated and embarrassed. Although he was annoyed, his principles prevented him from acting otherwise. Chloé was static, speechless. This was not an expected attitude, especially for her. He held out his hand to help her up. Hesitantly, she accepted, looking at him incredulously.

The two sheltered under the umbrella, staring at the ground as the rain intensified.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Luka asked, glancing sideways at her. "I know it can be difficult to talk to strangers, but we can try, if you want."

"What do you want me to say? Thank you for the umbrella or thank you for the shove?" Chloé retorted sarcastically.

The brunette laughed, trying to keep the conversation light. But before he could answer, Chloé interrupted him.

"Look, I don't know what led you to do this... But if it's some plan to win over the mayor's daughter and get rewards, you're very mistaken if you think I'd be interested in people like you," she frowned, disapprovingly.

Luka raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath, surprised by what he had just heard.

He had heard rumors about Chloé, from the wrongdoings she committed in Paris to the atrocities she practiced against others. Still, he didn't like to jump to conclusions without really knowing someone. And, impressively, he saw something good in her, perhaps a person hurt by life's events and wrong choices.

"Don't rush to conclusions, I don't know you very well either. But I don't need much to see that you don't play this character very well." Chloé looked at him confused.

"Character? Do you think this is some kind of jo..." she began to speak, but was interrupted.

"I don't think anything. But I'm not foolish enough to believe that you're really like this. I don't know you well enough for that, but I see something good in you. Anyway, let's go, I'll take you home. You're not going alone at this time of night."

The words disappeared from her mouth. Chloé wanted to respond, justify her actions, perhaps. But she said nothing. Only silence accompanied them on the way back home. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to face him, uneasy with what she knew to be true.

The rain intensified with each step they both took, synchronized. The sounds of thunder echoed through the skies, making Chloé's body shiver completely. Even trying to disguise it, it was something she had no control over and terrified her completely, since her childhood.

Luka noticed the evident fear in the blonde's eyes.

"Come to my place, it's nearby, at least until the rain stops," Luka said, as an attempt to alleviate the fear that was present for her.

Chloé hesitated, glancing sideways at Luka. She wasn't used to accepting help, much less from someone like him, who had dared to challenge her earlier. However, the relentless storm and the lack of alternatives forced her to reconsider. The idea of staying alone at the university, soaked, was not at all appealing.

Chloé crossed her arms, pondering for a moment. Her haughty nature prevented her from yielding easily, but the situation was truly uncomfortable.

"This is ridiculous!" she muttered, more to herself. "But... I suppose I have no other choice." Her eyes narrowed, fixing on Luka's. "But know that I'm not doing this because I want to. I simply have no other option. Don't go thinking we're becoming friends or anything like that."

Luka simply nodded, avoiding confronting her. He knew it was useless to argue. Instead, he offered her the umbrella, but Chloé ignored it, maintaining a distant walk.

They walked in silence through the torrential rain. Chloé kept her eyes fixed on the ground, avoiding puddles and mud, while Luka held the umbrella firmly over both of them, despite the insistent wind.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a small building, not far from the university. Luka opened the door with a quick gesture, inviting Chloé in. She looked at the modest interior of the apartment, clearly different from the luxury she was used to. However, something in the simplicity of the place made her relax a little.

"You live... here?" she asked, with a mixture of surprise and disdain.

"Yes. It's not as spacious as what you must be used to, but it's cozy." Luka replied, closing the door behind them.

Chloé looked around, noticing the small details that revealed Luka's personality: a guitar leaning against the corner, some pictures on the wall, and books scattered on a coffee table. It wasn't an extravagant place, but there was a certain welcoming charm.

"You play?" she asked, pointing to the guitar, trying to hide her discomfort.

Luka smiled, relaxing a little as he realized she was starting to interact more naturally.

"Yes, since I was 15. It's more than a hobby, it's a passion." He approached the guitar, gently running his hand over the strings, as if it were an old friend. "And you? Do you have any passions?"

Chloé rolled her eyes, crossing her arms again.

"I'm not much for hobbies. I don't have time for such... trivialities," she replied dryly.

Luka shrugged, unfazed by the cold response. He was beginning to understand that this was Chloé's way of maintaining a safe distance, avoiding getting close to people.

"I see," he said, picking up a towel and holding it out to her. "Here, you can dry yourself a bit."

She took the towel reluctantly but couldn't help but murmur an almost inaudible thank you. While she dried herself, Luka decided to change the subject, keeping his tone casual.

"So... you study Law, right?" he asked, trying to start a lighter conversation.

"Law, exactly," Chloé replied, with a hint of pride in her voice. "My father is the mayor of Paris. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps." She picked up the teacup, holding it between her hands to warm her fingers.

Luka watched her for a moment, his expression gentle. "Is that what you want to do with your life?"

Chloé frowned at Luka's question, observing him with a look that was a mixture of disdain and curiosity.

"Of course," she replied with a tone of pride. "I don't understand how anyone could question such a respectable career choice. My father has always expected me to follow in his footsteps, and I have no reason to deviate from that path."

Luka smiled slightly, nodding as he picked up a teacup for himself.

"That's admirable. It's always good to have a clear goal, especially when it comes from a family with such a distinguished career." He took a sip of his tea, looking at her with a curious glint in his eyes. "And how are you finding the course so far?"

Chloé gave a mocking smile, as if the question were almost offensive.

"Well, to be honest, it's a bit more work than I expected. But that doesn't surprise me. I've always had to fight to prove my worth, and now is no different." She hesitated for a moment before adding, in a slightly softer tone, "Still, I believe I'll manage."

Luka observed the subtle change in her expression, recognizing a trace of vulnerability behind the facade of confidence.

"I can imagine," he said with an understanding tone. "In the end, what matters is how dedicated you are to what you do. And, from what I see, you don't seem like someone who gives up easily."

Chloé raised an eyebrow, surprised by Luka's perception. She settled down a little more, trying to appear indifferent, but his observation made her reflect for a brief moment.

"And you?" she asked, trying to change the subject. "Music must be quite different from Law. What made you choose it?"

Luka smiled, appreciating the change of topic.

"Since I was young, music has always been an important part of my life. It's a form of expression that I really love." He picked up the guitar and held it carefully. "For me, music isn't just a career; it's a passion. And even if it's not as traditional as pursuing a career in Law, I feel it's what makes me happy."

Chloé watched Luka with an expression of hidden interest, a mixture of respect and surprise at his honesty.

"So, you really believe you can make music a career?" she questioned, trying to hide the skepticism that was beginning to give way to genuine curiosity.

Luka smiled encouragingly, noticing her slight interest.