Chat Noir raised his right hand and backhanded Ladybug's right cheek. The sting of the slap was nullified by the sharpness of his ring. Ladybug hardly budged, mostly out of pure terror, and out of disorientation from the throbbing in her face. A ring-shaped mark decorated her cheek. Chat Noir didn't know his own strength, he didn't mean to hit that hard.

"Ladybug, I'm sorry, but you need to snap out of it. Learn to be responsible regardless of how you are feeling. That was the most reckless, naive, and dangerous thing you've ever done. What were you thinking? What would you have done, if you hadn't been so lucky?"

A tear rolled down Ladybug's face. Chat Noir softened, he wanted to take it back, and stroke her hair instead.

Ladybug's breathy voice trembled, "I-I was jealous."

"Jealousy has often been what gets you into trouble, you should always stop to think before letting your emotions get the best of you. But why were you jealous?" Chat Noir shifted his boots to look more into Ladybug's lowered eyes.

She looked outraged at his last question, "Because you trusted her over me!"

The villain they had just defeated had the ability to appear to be a special woman in a man's life, who was in the back of his mind but not currently present. She also made women blind with jealousy and gave them an indescribable hatred. Chat Noir seemed fooled by her, speaking kindly to her and looking fondly. She told him where the akumanized victim was, a clear trap. But he didn't see that.

"Chat Noir, you aren't really listening to the akuma?" She had said.

"She's not the akuma, look at her, she looks fine."

"She doesn't look fine, she's hideous!"

"Ladybug! That was harsh. She's not hideous, she's adorable and sweet."

And that was how it had started. Chat hung his head, it was true, he had been fooled again. But he couldn't help it, she looked just like Marin- "I… Have to go."

Ladybug hiccuped, "Me too…"

Chat Noir sprung away. Ladybug stood still for a moment, but she knew she had to hurry. School was about to start in 5 minutes.

Ladybug landed behind a bush near her school and detransformed. Marinette whimpered at the replay of Chat Noir in her mind. She shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to calm her breathing.

Marinette and Adrien started up the stairs together. They were always arriving to school at similar times.

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien shot a Hollywood smile at her. She felt a little better. Still, he seemed a little off.

Alya looked up from her phone, her jaw dropped, "What happened to you?! There's like… a ring print on your face. You totally look like someone socked you!"

Marinette felt around her jaw until her finger sensed a dent like braille, "Oh! No… no one punched me." Well… it wasn't a lie.

Alya took a closer look at Marinette, "You know something, Marinette, that ring looks really familiar."

Oh no, how was she going to explain Chat Noir hitting her?

"It looks just like Adrien's ring…" Alya's eyes widened upon hearing her own words.

Adrien's?! She couldn't tell Alya the truth, but she didn't want her jumping to conclusions about Adrien… speak of the devil.

"Adrien Agreste, you get your butt over here," Alya's eyes looked dead empty, Marinette felt afraid, "Stay right here. I'm gonna go speak to Mrs. Bustier, we're skipping today." Alya stormed to the classroom, and God knows what excuse she used for the three of them, but she returned with three passes.

Adrien didn't notice how upset Marinette was until she sniffled loudly. Her puffy, bloodshot eyes - had she been crying? - pulling almost forcibly away.

Adrien rested his hand on Marinette's shoulder, "What's wrong Marinette?-"

Alya marched up and plucked Adrien's hand like it was infected, "Don't you touch her. I can't believe I let her fall for you, but I had no idea you could stoop so low." Adrien's face expressed his conflict as to whether to be hurt or surprised that Marinette had feelings for him.

"ALYA!" Marinette couldn't believe she'd just straight up tell him like that.

Alya ignored Marinette's protest and drove her finger into Adrien's chest, We have a lot to talk about. First of all, I don't know how long you two have been dating for you to be breaking up or whatever is going on, without telling me, but you have no right to strike my girl! I'll hear you out, but don't think forgiveness will come easy, and Nino's gonna know about this too… you don't deserve sympathy."

"What?! I didn't hit Marinette!" Never…

"Don't act like I didn't notice that you and Marinette came in at the same time, and how ticked off you seemed coming in."

Marinette felt her face heat up and her eyelids become soaked again. Why was this happening? And now Adrien was being dragged into it. How could this get any worse?

Alya grabbed Marinette's chin and forced her face sideways, revealing the ring shaped imprint under her eye, "I know what your ring looks like, Adrien."

Adrien's lip twitched. It did look like his ring. He didn't hit Marinette… but he did hit Ladybug. It couldn't be, "I need to talk to Marinette alone."

"No way in hell! You really think I'm going to leave you alone with her? To do what? Yell at her for telling? She didn't tell… it's just fucking obvious," Alya pushed Marinette behind her.

Adrien's voice cracked, "But-" he stepped forward.

Alya grabbed his collar and lifted her hand, "YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT I WANNA DO?! IT WOULD SERVE YOU RIGHT!"

Marinette jumped on Alya's shoulders, desperately pulling on her arm, "Alya, no! This is just a misunderstanding. Please."

Adrien backed away, shaking uncontrollably. Not out of fear, but in disbelief. Please, let this be a coincidence.