Chapter One of School Secrets-"Just a Gift"
Authors' note: This is a short story of mine based on the incredible works of Thomas Astruc and Jeremy Zag, I do not own any of these characters in part or whole. I apologise for advance for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, please notify me of any and I will be happy to correct them! I hope you like my first story on this website, please feel free to review them and I shall attempt to improve my writing from your comments. Above all, enjoy the story! – ML
"Marinette!" called Sabine from downstairs, "Get up, you're going to be late for school again!"
Marinette slowly rose from her bed like a zombie from a grave, and gave out a huge yawn. "Coming mom!" she replied sleepily. 'Monday already?' she said to herself, still half asleep.
"Time really flies being Ladybug, doesn't it?" Tikki answered.
"It sure does," Marinette replied. She could smell the sweet scent of bakery from downstairs already; croissants, macaroons, pain au chocolats, they all smelt so good. Marinette quickly got changed and rushed downstairs for breakfast. "Good morning sweetie." Thomas and Sabine said happily. "Good morning dad, good morning mom." Marinette replied. She ate her breakfast in a flash, said goodbye to her parents and started running as fast as she could to school. She nearly fell over on many occasions.
"Hurry Marinette!" Tikki exclaimed, "You're going to be late!"
"I know Tikki!" Marinette replied, "If I'm late for school again, Miss Mendeleiev will surely give me a detention! That would mean getting grounded, and that would mean not getting to see Adrien, or going on outings with friends, or going to birthdays, or… ohhh no…" Marinette stopped dead in her tracks in front of the school doors, with a frustrated look on her face.
"What's the matter Marinette?" Tikki asked, confused.
" I totally forgot Tikki," Marinette answered, with a look of despair on her face, "It's Alyas' birthday! I left her present in my room when I overslept this morning! Ugh I'm such a bad friend!"
"Don't worry Marinette, you're BFFs, I'm sure she'll forgive you!" Tikki replied, "Come on, let's get to class before you're late!"
Marinette nodded in reply and they rushed off to the classroom.
Marinette flung open the door as she ran into the classroom, puffing with a red face from the run to school.
"Ew, look at that Sabrina!" Chloe rudely remarked, "Her face looks as red as Nathaniel's hair!" Sabrina laughed.
"Quiet girls!" Miss Mendeleiev said, "Marinette, you made it just in time, but remember, one more late entry, and it's an immediate detention, understood?"
Marinette nodded. "Easier said than done, being Ladybug," she thought to herself. Marinette walked over, took her seat, and turned to talk to Alya.
"Alya, happy birthday! I got you a present but I left it at home…" she soon realised Alya wasn't there. "She's never ill!" Marinette thought, "Or late, for that matter, where could she be?"
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Alya.
Ill right now, but getting better. Should be fine once schools over. I got some gossip for you, meet me at the park at 5PM? Alya xx
"That's odd, she's never usually ill." Marinette thought. "But it'll give me a chance to get her present! Plus, her gossip is always either Ladybug or Adrien related! I better see her to see what she's so excited about!" Marinette started to text her back.
Happy birthday Alya! Get well soon! I'll be at the park for 5PM! Mari xx
That school day took forever. With no Hawkmoth attacks to get away from school with, she had to sit through a full day of lectures. There were almost no bright sides to the school day, apart from getting to see Adrien all day.
Finally, after what seemed like forever the school bell rang, indicating the end of the day. Marinette went home, and later set off to meet Alya at the park, this time with the present.
It was a sunny midsummer afternoon, so the park was still fairly busy, making it hard for Marinette to spot Alya, until she finally saw her waving while sat on a park bench. Marinette walked over and gave her a hug. "Happy birthday Alya!" Marinette said, giving Alya the gift.
"Girl, you're too kind!" Alya replied, as she opened the present. It was a Ladybug patterned phone case. "Girl, you know me too well!" Alya said, smiling, as Marinette took a seat on the bench.
"What was the matter today? I missed you at school." Marinette said.
"Oh, I, erm.." Alya said hesitantly, ".. just had a bit of… hayfever.. that's all!"
Marinette raised an eyebrow, confused. "You sure? You didn't sound sure."
"No, no, I'm sure. I was.. sneezing, all morning"
"If you say so." Marinette replied, although she was still doubtful. "So, did you get anything nice for your birthday?" Marinette then said, changing the subject.
"Yeah, I got loads of stuff, but my favourite is this necklace, from my…erm… auntie." Alya answered.
'That necklace looks surprisingly familiar,' Marinette thought, 'I just can't put my finger on where I've seen it before.'
"I'm sure I've seen that necklace before," Marinette said, " Where did your Aunt get it from?"
'I – I'm not sure. It's nothing special though, I think you can get it in any average store. It's just a gift. I'll try and find you one if you want." Alya replied.
"That would be awesome, thanks!" Marinette smiled, though she was still unsure.
The pair kept chatting for a while, it turned out that the only gossip Alya had was how she thought she was getting closer to finding out the identity of Ladybug (she thought it was Rose), until Marinette had to go home.
Once Marinette had gone home, Alya was still in the park, it would be a while until her mom came to pick her up.
"That was a close one Trixx," Alya said.
"Alya! I thought I told you no one is meant to know about you having a Miraculous? And there you go, showing it to people?" Trixx answered.
"Don't sweat it Trixx, I made it seem like any other present, so that when she sees it in future, there would be no need to ask questions," Alya replied, "I hate lying to Marinette though, she's my BFF. Anyway, it's not like anyone would see it as a Miraculous anyway, it looks like any other piece of jewellery."
"Okay," Trixx said," Just don't go blaming me if you get discovered!"
Alya just smiled and started walking to her moms' car.
Meanwhile, at Marinettes' house, she was having her own problems.
"But where have I seen it before Tikki?" Marinette said, "I recognise it: it was an orange fox tail with a white tip, but I can't think where I've seen it!"
Tikki just shrugged her shoulders (she knew perfectly well what it was, and where Marinette would have seen it, but Kwamis are not meant to give away fellow Kwamis masters/mistresses identities away).
Marinette gasped when she remembered. "Tikki, that wasn't just any old necklace, that was the fox Miraculous!"
End of chapter one