Chapter 4

"Adrikins! 3" Chloe lurched foreward, overly excited forcing herself in between me and Adrien.

"Where have you been? I was waiting outside the school for you but you never showed up."

Adrien rubbed the back of his head absent mindedly before replying.

"I was in the library, hanging out with Nino, Alya, and Marinette. We're headed over to that new cafe, would you like to join us."

Chloe paused to give me a dirty look but then instantly continued grinning up at Adrien, "I would love to go with you guys."

great, that's just swell.

I almost reached into my bag to grab my phone so I could send Alya an emergency S.O.S. text but my hand stopped cold when I remembered that Alya was ma at me.

I looked at Chloe who had her arm draped over Adrien's shoulder,she was practically salivating all over him. I considered bailing, telling Adrien that I couldn't go with him to the cafe, I had no interest in watching Chloe attach herself to Adrien's side for the better part of an hour and I have even less of an interest in spending social time with Chloe, but I couldn't think of a good enough reason to give Adrien for bailing on him and I also have a sneaking suspicion that if I try to get more than two words out, I'll end up reduced to a melted stuttering mess.

I sighed and moved into step with them, I might as well make the most of it.

"Adrien, I'm having a party this weekend and you simply must come to it."

"Oh, yeah, it's your birthday isn't it?"

Chloe flipped her hair and batted her eyelashes flirtatiously, "I am surprised you remembered Adrien. You really are a dear friend."

Adrien smiled at her and I melted. "Your father used to do the craziest things for your birthday, I was always so jealous."

Chloe returned his smile but then looked away and let her face drop.

"Yes, he's really the best, isn't he."

I looked around feeling awkward in the middle of the conversation, this felt like an often discussed topic between the two of them, something personal. I could feel my face turning red as I grew jealous of Chloe.

As if hearing my thoughts, Adrien jumped to include me.

"Would it be cool if Marinette came?"

Chloe was stabbing with her eyes giving me a fake smile that had death behind it, "Of course Marinette can come."

I smiled back at her but I received the message loud and clear, I would not go anywhere near that party.

"So, Adrien." Chloe said, changing the subject. "What were you four doing in the library, anything interesting?"

"Alya had another idea on how to discover Ladybug's identity, we were helping her out."

I winced slightly when Adrien said the word "helping" as if we were any help to her at all. Chloe snorted and rolled her eyes.

"As if Alya could ever figure it out. I have gotten my daddy to pay for the best private detectives money can buy, if anyone is ging to figure anything out, it's them."

Adrien turned towards Cloe looking interested and I sighed, it seems like everyone was trying to unmask me these days.

"Have they found anything out?" Adrien asked.

"No, nothing useful, yet. They have their theories of course but they haven't uncovered anything imprtant yet."

I let out a small breath and I smiled slightly. If Chloe's trained detectives could not discover my identity, then maybe Alya didn't have a chance.

"what would you do if you discovered her secret identity?" Adrien asked and I perked up looking toward her for an answer, what did she want from me?

"Well isn't it obvious?I could finally prove that Ladybug is my best friend,that nobody knows more about Ladybug then I do, I could call her and hang out."

"She's a pretty busy superhero Chloe, I doubt she has time for hanging out, or friends."

Adrien sounded bitter and just rolled my eyes, Adrien's right, I don't even have enough time for the friends I have now.

When we finally made it to the small cafe Adrien had led us to, we took a booth and I sat across from Adrien while Chloe slid into the booth right next to him. Leaning over his shoulder to read his menu even though she had a menu right in front of her.

i gritted my teeth, unsure about how long I could stomach seeing them together like that, Chloe always said that they were dating, but I always figured that she was just being Chloe, but the more her arm shamelessly rested on his, the more she flirted openly with him, the more I was losing my patience.

I ordered a cup of tea and a muffin and as it sat in front of me I stared at it, wondering if I had the nerve to choke it down while watching them.

"How was Italy Adrien?"

"Boring, the trip took too long."

Chloe laughed, "funny, that's the same thing I would say about your absence. How could you have hated Italy? I absolutely love Italy this time of year."

Adrien smiled at her, and I looked at her in shock, having just realized that this was the longest I've ever heard Chloe hold a conversation without complimenting herself or mocking someone else. Although she was unabashedly hitting on Adrien, it was nice.

"Do you like Italy, Marinette?" Adrien asked

I froze again my mind running away with me, sure, I liked anything that Arien liked.

my mind told my mouth to say yes but all that came out was

"su- well, I couldn't- I haven't- it has weather."

I wanted to slap myself in the face, I couldn't even speak coherently.

Chloe chortled and leaned over to me. "Yeah- uh- um... you are just too adorable Marinette."

she leaned over to Adrien, "She probably has never even been to Italy, her parents being bakers and all."

I could feel my face flushing red and I shook my head. I couldn't do this anymore, I wouldn't sit here and be humiliated by Chloe in front of Adrien but I also refused to let Chloe win and give her what she wants, to be alone with Adrien. No, she would have to fight me if she wanted to be alone with him.

I leaned in closer towards Chloe giving a fake laugh, "that's true." I said cheerfully while glaring at her behind a thin, tight smile.

Adrien looked between us, looking visually uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'm sure the bakery makes it hard for you and your parents to take many vacations."

I slowly looked away from Chloe an towards Adrien witch was a big mistake because he sent me into another fit of stutters an half answers.

"You and your family must spend a lot of time together."

I nodded, tactfully trying to avoid speaking. Family dinners, family game night, always baking together and trying out new recipes, I loved my parents.

Chloe started filing her nails with a nail file that seemed to appear out of thin air, "That's cute Marinette, I myself would never admit to hanging out with my parents, desperate for a friend much? But considering your circumstances, I guess you have no other choice but to help out in the bakery."

My fists curled up into balls and I had the urge to leap across the table an strangle Chloe. I stood suddenly barely thinking about what I was doing. I took a step toward Chloe, ready to smack that smug look off of her face, there is one thing that I would not be shamed over, and that is my parents. I shot a quick glance to Adrien and realized that I was going crazy, I breathed deeply and plastered on a fake smile and turned to Adrien.

"I- uh- leaving... to go." I slapped my palm to my forehead cursing myself silently before trying again. "I better leave."

I turned instantly and walked towards the exit only looking one split second to see Chloe smirking after me an Adrien waving softly.

I smiled and quickly waved back before exiting the cafe. I groaned loudly as soon as I was a good distance away and Tikki floated up and tucked herself into my pocket.

"You did it Marinette! You went on a date with Adrien!"

I laughed slightly, some date.

"Chloe was there."

"So? You shouldn't let her bother you so much Marinette."

I petted Tikki lightly and shook my head, "you're right, next time I'll try blocking out her annoying voice."

Tikki floated up and looked me in the eyes. "I'm serious Marinette, you can't let her effect her like you do, I'm worried about you, what if you were to attract an Akuma?"

I smiled lightly, "Well then you'd have to find another Ladybug real quick."

"Marinette!"

"I'm just kidding Tikki." I said, chuckling at her outraged tone. "Chloe, doesn't bother me, not that much. I've been around her too much, I think I've become immune to her upsetting personality."

Tikki settled down back in my pocket, "Let's hope so."

"Don't get too comfortable." I told her, "We have patrol tonight, maybe Cat Noir will show up and I can apologize for what I said yesterday."

"What do you plan on saying to him?" she asked.

"I don't know but I'll think of something to say. I've got a feeling that I'm going to have to say a lot of apologies in the near future."

"Do you mean Alya?"

"Who else would I mean?"

"You did the right thing Marinette, you can't let her find out who you are."

"That's what I keep telling myself but it doesn't make me feel any better."

"She'll forgive you." Tikki said reassuringly.

I shook my head and turned down an abandoned alley.

"Let's hope so. Tikki, transform me!"