The picture was blurry, but one thing was clear.
Ladybug was a high-school girl with black hair and small purse.
Chloe and Nathan had released their video to the news, but withheld the picture for further investigation. Remembering Alya's Ladyblog segment that concluded Ladybug went to their highschool, the pair began to create a list of black-haired girls in the school.
Now they sat on Chloe's bed, planning their next move.
"I say we get alibis from Marinette and Juleka first." Nathan drew a star by both of their names. "Once they can prove they were somewhere else, we'll check them off the list."
"But Ladybug has been seen at the same time as these two." Chloe argued.
"True, but it is good to double-check."
"I guess you're right." Chloe agreed.
Nathan noticed that Chloe was being strangely agreeable. Her voice had lost the pompous arrogance he knew so well. It had a softness he hadn't heard before, but still rang with authority.
"Really?"
"Yeah, that's what I said, right?" Chloe tilted her head in confusion, giving him a strange look.
Nathan nodded and began to write down more names. "Who do you think it is, Chloe?"
"I have no idea." Chloe yawned. "I'm tired." She swayed and lay down, her head falling on the pillow. Chloe's eyes slid closed, and her breathing slowed.
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
When no snarky reply came, Nathan concluded she was truly asleep and silently left the room. He turned the light off and locked the door on the way out.
Chloe woke up by herself. She panicked when she found the lights off and couldn't find Nathan.
Chloe: nathan where r u?
Nathan: my house
Chloe: ?
Nathan: u fell asleep when we were working so I decided to leave
Nathan: i think u needed the sleep
Chloe: oh sry
Nathan: np
Chloe: y dont we finish working over txt
Nathan: ok
Chloe: what r we going 2 do when we find out who Ladybug is
Nathan: idk
Chloe: it would be the news story of a lifetime
Nathan: i know we would be famous
Chloe: aren't we already
Nathan: i guess so
Nathan: my parents want me sry g2g
Chloe: bye
Nathan: bye
Marinette had an autograph ready to give to Chloe the following day. "We will probably never be friends, but maybe she'll just leave me alone after this."
She set her bag down at her desk and carefully approached Chloe. Cautious as ever, she tentatively tapped Chloe's shoulder. As soon as Chloe saw who it was, her eyebrows furrowed in suspicion.
"Um, hi Chloe," Marinette cleared her throat awkwardly, "I've noticed that we have a lot of trouble getting along, and I was hoping to agree on a truce with this, uh, peace-offering." She handed the autograph to Chloe.
Chloe snatched it out of her hands and gasped. "Is this real!?" She gaped at it, then looked at Marinette, realized what she was doing, and quickly regained her composure.
"I mean, your 'peace-offering' is appreciated, but I still hate your guts." Chloe flipped her hair and sat down. "What are you still standing here for? Take a picture, it'll last longer."
"Of course, Chloe." Marinette groaned.
Adrien turned around and gave her a thumbs-up, mouthing the words 'good job' and making the whole ordeal worthwhile.
Alya nudged her after Adrien turned back to the front of the room, giving her a sly smile.
"Shut up, Alya," Marinette bit back her smile.
"I totally saw you flirting at my party, by the way," Alya snickered.
"That was not flirting!" Marinette whispered back.
"Marinette and Adrien sitting in a tree..." Alya sang quietly under her breath.
"Again, shut up, Alya!" Marinette hissed, despite the smile that rested on her face from the idea of her and Adrien together.
Marinette felt something nudge her foot. She turned away from Alya to pick up a folded piece of paper. After unfolding it, she saw that it was from Chloe.
Hi, Marinette. If you were able to get me Ladybug's autograph, that means you know her. Please answer the following questions if you wish the truce to continue.
When is Ladybug's birthday?
Does Ladybug have a boyfriend?
What is Ladybug's favorite color?
What are Ladybug's real initials?
Any other information you know about Ladybug's personal life, please write below.
Marinette took a deep breath and tried to play it off like Ladybug was a very secretive friend. I don't know, I don't think so, red, and I don't know.
In the space below Chloe's final request, Marinette began to write an explanation.
Chloe, Ladybug is very secretive about her real life. When we do talk, she never discloses any personal information that could give any clues as to who she is. I am very sorry I cannot be of more help.
-Marinette
Marinette gave Chloe the note after class, not wanting to get in trouble. She waited as Chloe read it, bracing herself for verbal blows.
"Well, I guess I couldn't expect much from you," Chloe ripped up the note and threw it away. "Thanks, I guess, for trying." Her tone was condescending, but her words contained none of the abrasive insults Marinette had been expecting. Chloe crossed her arms and stalked off, leaving Marinette to wonder what had just happened.
"Hey, Mari! Have you heard about Golden Lens and Silver Ink, the two reporters out to get Ladybug?" Alya showed her the video that had been released.
"What?!" Marinette began to panic.
"They even got a picture of her after she de-transformed!" Alya squealed. "I would so love to be in league with these guys."
Marinette suddenly felt very faint. How could she have been so reckless? "Do they know who she is?"
"No, they say that the picture doesn't show exactly who she is, only that it gives them some clues." Alya tapped her screen. "Golden Lens and Silver Ink are so cool, though."
"I'm sure they are," Marinette was beginning to freak out. "I have to go, Alya. See you tomorrow!"
When Marinette got home, she flopped on her bed. "Oh, Tikki! What am I going to do?"
Tikki flew out to comfort her. "Don't worry, Marinette. You've just got to be a little more careful about de-transforming. They only have a blurry picture."
Marinette gave Tikki a small smile. "You're right, Tikki. I promise I'll make sure I'm out of sight before I turn back into me again. I'm glad I have you for advice."
"Sure thing, Marinette!" Tikki returned her smile brightly.
"Another thing, Tikki. Both Adrien and Chloe think that I'm best friends with Ladybug! I can't keep answering their questions without raising suspicion!" Marinette took one of her pictures of Adrien off the wall and held it to her chest. "I love talking to Adrien, but I hate lying to him about Ladybug."
"I don't think you have to worry about Chloe." Tikki assured her. "She's under the impression that you and Ladybug aren't that close.
But Adrien,"
Tikki flew up and took the picture of him away from her. "I think it'd be wrong to push him away, but you can't keep using Ladybug as an excuse to talk to him. Maybe you could invite him out for smoothies tomorrow, and start something completely away from Ladybug."
"What if he keeps asking?" Marinette helped her kwami hang the picture back on the wall.
Tikki thought about this for a moment. "I don't think he will. He's not that type of person."
"You're the smartest kwami ever, Tikki." Marinette sat down at her computer. "I just hope I can do this."
"Tell Alya!" Tikki struggled to bring Marinette her phone. "Its always good to have your friends behind you."
Marinette: alya! guess what!
Alya: what
Marinette: i'm going 2 invite someone out 2 get smoothies 2morrow
Alya: is this someone a model ;)
Marinette: maybe... :)
Alya: is this model named adrien agreste ;)
Marinette: yes i'm really nervous tho
Alya: don't worry u got this!
Marinette: you'll have my back the whole time, right?
Alya: of course! u can do this!
Marinette: thanks :)
Alya: np :)
Marinette plugged her phone in to charge. "Thanks again, Tikki. I don't know what I'd do without you and Alya behind me."
Tikki smiled and flew in circles around Marinette. "You've just got to believe in yourself."
Chloe was happy she had Ladybug's autograph, but thoroughly disappointed Marinette was not much help.
The list of black-haired girls at her school was overwhelmingly long, and Chloe felt like they would never find Ladybug. She wanted to text Nathan, but was afraid of coming across as lonely and desperate.
She tried distracting herself. Chloe bought an expensive necklace online, chatted with Sabrina over the phone, and ordered ridiculously expensive room-service.
Nothing really seemed to work. She really wanted to talk more about Ladybug with Nathan. Chloe hated the idea of needing somebody else. She liked to be independent, strong, and adored.
Lately it seemed that she was depending on others, she had grown weak, and she was doing all the adoring.
Unable to stand being left alone with her thoughts, she sent a text to Nathan.
Chloe: tv
Nathan: ?
Chloe: the code, remember?
Nathan: floor
Chloe: y werent u at school 2day
Nathan: sick
Chloe: marinette knows ladybug
Nathan: really?
Chloe: she gave me ladybugs autograph but avoided all my questions
Chloe: what r we going 2 do when we find out who ladybug is?
Nathan: about that
Chloe: ?
Nathan: I don't think this is a good idea
Chloe: what?
Nathan: exposing ladybugs identity could compromise her safety
Chloe: but we're so close
Nathan: its been fun and we got our 15 secs of fame but
Nathan: i just don't think we should follow through
Chloe: u begged to be on this project. i was kind enough to let u work w/me and now ur telling me u want 2 quit!? u r being so selfish! i can do this by myself but i thought u actually wanted to do this.
Nathan: i'm being selfish? r u kidding me? who humiliated me in front of the whole class by announcing i had a crush on marinette? who constantly reminded me that this was your idea, not mine, the entire time we worked on this, insulting me and belittling me along the way?! r u kidding me?! who actually wants to ruin a superhero's career for their own self-benefit? take a look in the mirror chloe and let this be your wake-up call. You don't deserve to be famous, you only care about yourself. dont ever talk to me again.
Nathan turned his phone off and threw it across the room, trying to convince himself that his revenge was worth it.