Chapter 14 - Conflicted
Marinette was having a bad day, the worst she'd had in a very long time. First, she'd found out that Peacock, her dear friend, was internally tearing herself up over her double life. Second a very expensive fabric she'd ordered had been damaged in transit and it was going to be at least a month before a replacement could be sent. Third, at school, she'd tripped over her own bag and banged her head on the step, leading to a massive headache and flushing embracement. Not to mention Chloe and Annamarie teasing her clumsiness.
And worse of all, she had then been assigned to work on a project with Chloe and Annamarie.
She tried not to groan as she made her way up to the school library during her lunch, deciding to get a head start on the project since the last time she worked with Chloe, she'd pulled the blonde's share of the work as well as her own. And she had a feeling Annamarie would be the same, if not worse.
Collecting the books she needed, apart from one that was already checked out, she headed for somewhere to sit and work. Her bad day just kept getting worse as the only spare seat was at the table where a brunette in a green dress was sat, her eyes darting between a book and a pad of paper as she wrote down notes.
Deciding just to bite the bullet, Marinette walked over and sat down across from her, not missing the quick glance the other gave her before going back to her work. Opening her own book, the dark haired girl took her notes, just waiting for the sarcastic or hypocritical comment she knew was on its way.
But not a word was said, the two working in silence for over ten minutes before Annamarie tore a piece of paper off her notes, stuck it on a page and closed the book before lifting it towards her. "Chapter 12." She said, not making eye contact. "Talks about the contrast of styles. Best I've found."
In shock, Marinette took the book and opened the page on the book mark and nodded. "Umm… thanks?" She was unable to keep her surprise out of her voice.
The other returned the nod and kept her eyes on her books, making notes. Twice more she tagged a page and slid them across the table but never once said a word. Just before the end of lunch, Chloe walked in and gagged loudly at them. "Ga! Annamarie, how can you stand being at the same table as Maritrash here?"
Annamarie looked up with a smirk and closed her book loudly, collecting her notes up. "Easy, just pretend she's an unimportant nobody with no future or purpose in life." She stood up and slid her jacket back on. "It's not hard, since she already is."
Chloe laughed as Marinette frowned at the pair, but not in frustration as would be expected. Flicking her hair back, Chloe nodded. "That's so true Annamarie."
With a smile, the dancer put her work away and walked over. "Come on, we should get to class. Oh and I've already done a lot of your work for the project Chloe, we can talk about finishing it at your place tonight."
"But…" Chloe spluttered, not liking the idea of doing her own work. "Why don't we just get Marinette to do it?"
Annamarie's face flickered before she put a smile back on. "Well, you want to pass don't you? Come on." She said, pulling her away.
Marinette felt her jaw drop a little as the two walked away, a seed of confusion in her mind as she collecting her own things and went off to class. For the rest of the day, she couldn't help but glance questioningly at Annamarie, watching her carefully. Something wasn't right and she wanted to know what.
Her questions were still unanswered at the end of the day when she headed home, distracted by the other teen and her behaviour in the library. It was… as if she had protected her from having to do Chloe's work. But… that couldn't be. Could it?
As she began to cross the road, towards the bakery, something loud rushed around the street corner with Marinette still in the middle of the road and for a moment, she feared her day was about to get even worse as she was knocked off her feet. But not by the car, that continued onwards without stopping, but by a black clad boy with cat ears and a dashing smug smile on his lips.
"Careful Princess." He said as he set her right on her feet. "Or you'll be more pancake than princess."
Rolling her eyes, Marinette pushed herself away from him but nodded kindly. "Thanks for the save."
"Just glad I was passing when I did. Could have been ugly otherwise." He said honestly, walking after her as she headed across the road, a little more carefully this time. "But, I got to ask, you look distracted. Is something the matter?"
Deciding not to lead him to her house, Marinette stopped in the park just ahead and brushed some hair over her ears. "It's complicated."
"I like complicated."
She turned and looked at him as he sat on the back of a park bench and feet on the seat. "Ok, who are you and what have you done with Chat Noir?"
"What? Now why would you say that Purr-incess?"
"Because you actually sounded sincere there."
He laughed loudly at her before giving her a wink. "Well, whatever is on your mind is clearly bothering you. Maybe I can help."
"Doubt it. But… it might help me to talk about it." She confessed, sitting on the same bench but keeping a good gap between them, gazing up at the sky. "You see, there is this girl in my class, Annamarie Tolrana. And she's been bullying me for… months now."
Adrian frowned as he slid off the back of the bench and onto the seat. "I know all about Annamarie. So, what's she done now?"
"That's the thing!" His hidden partner said turning to look at him some more. "Today, I was told we have to work together on a project so I went to the library to start work… and we ended up sat on the same table and… she never said a word to me! And when she did speak, it was to pass me a book I needed. Even had marked the page I needed. So… why… if she hates me so much…" She frowned. "Then why… help me?"
"That is odd." Chat confessed. Adrian had missed school today, due to a photo-shoot and as soon as he got free he'd transformed for a well needed escape. Luckily he'd seen Marinette and was going to say 'Hi' when the car almost knocked her over. But now, he was more interested in the school day he'd missed while also wondering who he'd been paired with for the project.
Marinette sighed and looked back at the sky. "And it gets odder."
"How?"
"Well… it turns out she was doing the work for the other girl in our group, Chloe? I'm sure you've met her."
"Too many times."
"Well, the last time I was in her group, she made me do all the work and I was expecting it again. But then Annamarie turns around and says she's done most of Chloe's work for her! I mean, they could both easily make me do it all. But… I just don't understand why."
Chat frowned and leant forward, thinking. "Nor do I. I mean, I've heard all about the pranks and names and things Annamarie has done."
"I know how bad she can be more than you." Marinette laughed dryly. "I'm the one she does them to. But now I can't help but think there is… something else going on. I mean, Annamarie is… well she's strange. I didn't see it before but she can be such a bully whenever there are others around and yet… it's like she's… scared of something."
"Scared?" The cat picked up on.
"I don't know what of but… yes. Scared is the only word I can think of. She has these little… flickers." She waved her hand sharply in the air to demonstrate her point. "They are so fast I don't think she even knows she's doing it. But her smile vanishes and she sinks. Like… the weight of the world is on her. I only started seeing them today but thinking about it, they have been happening a lot, when she thinks no one else can see her. It just doesn't make sense to me. And I don't even know why I care."
"That's because you're that kind of person, Marinette." The hero said calmly beside her, his voice gentle. "You can't help but care about the people around you. Even people who don't care about you back. That's what makes you so… wonderful."
An odd unexpected blush covered her cheeks and she looked away. "Maybe."
"I mean it, Marinette." He said, leaning towards her slightly. "You're an amazing girl. Don't ever change." He stared at her for a bit then pulled away. "But maybe you're right about Annamarie. I spoke to her once and I remember… she said she's not what everyone thought she was."
"Then… what is she?"
"I don't know." He confessed, looking at the sky. "Maybe she doesn't either."
While his conversation with Marinette had been short, it had also been oddly meaningful and he had been surprised by how she showed Chat how honest and caring she could be. He already knew she could be, as class rep and as a person she'd shown it but to care about someone she should hate was a pleasing surprising.
It made him smile to think she might care about Adrian in the same way.
So, out of her concern and his own, he decided to stop by the dancer's home that night, perching on the lamppost right outside her window and looking in. The room was dark and the wind was making the curtains flutter from the open window, not a sound or movement coming from within.
Guessing she was out at Chloe's, he sighed. He'd hoped to talk to her before school, maybe find out what was wrong with her.
"Hey! Fur ball!"
Jumping at the call, he lost his balance on the post and fell to the ground below, landing flat on his back with a groan. He looked up to see who had called him just as Royal Peacock landed beside him with a frown on her face. "Oh, hey Feathers. What can I do for you?" He chuckled, standing up and brushing himself down.
"Well you can start by telling me why you are lurking around outside this apartment." She said, barely holding back an angry snap from her voice.
"Lurking?" He repeated, hurt in his gaze. "I'm not lurking anywhere."
"Really?" She said, folding her arms and glaring at him. "Then why are you here?"
"Well, I take it you know whose house this is?"
"Annamarie Tolrana's. Why? What's that got to do with it?"
"I was hoping to speak with her."
Peacock took a moment to think then tipped her head to the side a little. "Why?"
"A friend of mine, one of her classmates, is worried about her." He confessed. "And to be honest, so am I."
She blinked, arms dropping to her sides. "Why?"
Chat looked up at the building behind him. "She's been acting strange."
"Have I-you any idea why?" Peacock said quickly to cover her mistake.
"No." Chat sighed, having missed her slip up. "Just… I don't know… she hasn't been herself recently."
"Maybe she's got something on her mind." The teen suggested with a shrug. "She's a teenager after all."
"Maybe. But I just wanted to talk to her myself, maybe find out what's going on. And… maybe help."
Peacock felt something snap inside her and she became remarkably angry all of a sudden. "Well, she's clearly not here so why don't you quit hanging around like some leather clad pervert." She barked at him, moving towards him and giving him a shove in the other direction. "Go on! Scat cat before I summon up some dogs for you to play with!" She even opened her fan in preparation.
Catching on that she was clearly in a bad mood, Chat frowned at her. "Hey, Peacock, are you alright? Is something wron…"
"I'm FINE!" She shouted before pressing the button on her fan and flying off, too fast for a very confused Chat to follow her.
The bird flew away from her home and back to one of her favourite perches on the Eifel Tower, hiding in the shadows of the beams, curling up on herself and trying not to cry.
Was it that obvious? Were her classmates really… pitying her? Seeing how conflicted she was?
She'd transformed to escape Annamarie's problems but now they found her even when she was Peacock.
A/N: Hey Everyone! Sorry its been so long. I have got the MOTHER of all stinking colds at the moment which has lead to a bit of a chest infection. I'm on the mend now, thank goodness, so finally decided to publish chapter 14 for you all.
Hope you enjoy it, PLEASE review and I will see you all later! Byeeeee!