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Marinette's P.O.V
I took in a deep breath, filling my lungs in with fresh air. Today was going to be a good day! I could feel it within my bones! I held the straps of my pink book bag and headed towards school with a broad smile on my face. The sky was a little cloudy but didn't stop the rays of sunshine from breaking through the fluffy white curtain.
I walked onto the school grounds and was met by the sight of Sabrina following Chloe like a lost puppy. I shake my head and roll my eyes, old habits die hard I suppose. While Chloe talked on her cell phone, Sabrina looked over in my direction and smiled, waving over at me.
I waved back before walking up the stairs, entering the school.
"Girl!"
I turned my attention towards the noise when arms suddenly wrapped around my back. I stumbled back until we both fell to the ground. I squeaked in surprise and grunted when my back collided with the floor. Alya quickly got off of me and stood, offering a sheepish hand.
"Sorry!" she apologized, "I'm just so happy to see you coming back to school!"
I laughed, taking her hand as she helped me back to my feet.
"I'm glad to be back too. It's been a while," I replied as we both started to walk towards the locker room. It had been a week since my akumatization. I was able to stay home and recuperate mentally from all the trauma.
Alya visited me every day after school to deliver and catch up on any homework I missed (also talk about a lot of stuff unrelated to physics or math equations). Our broken friendship had been healed back together and even stronger than before.
Chat Noir visited every night and hung out from snuggling up to watch a movie or kick his butt at video games. For some reason though, he was really good at playing cards like some sort of card shark. Sabrina had stopped in at some point during the week after a patrol to talk and see Tikki.
Yet, the weirdest thing that happened that whole week was when Alya came with a box full of "get well" cards made by the whole class (except for Lila of course). Even Chloe made a card too, it being not too hard to miss with the whole card bedazzled in gold glitter, real gems, and curvy white words inside.
That same night, Chat brought some expensive chocolate and fabric. It was very sweet of him but I was still complaining about the cost of the items (even if I did reluctantly accept the gifts).
Alya grabbed her phone out from her jean's pocket and began to type on it as she said, "I have to catch you up on what's been going on this past week!"
I had to guide my best friend around obstacles and open the locker room door for her when she suddenly shoved her phone in my face. On the screen, the Ladyblog was pulled up and a picture was presented. There was Sabrina dressed up as Ladybug and swinging through Paris late at night.
"There is a new Ladybug! Who do you think it is? What happened to the original? Do you think this girl stole Ladybug's miraculous or blackmailed her? Or maybe, Ladybug is hurt?" Alya rambled on with many questions and theories. I giggled while I opened my locker to exchange books.
Suddenly, the phone was shoved in my face again. This time, it was a social media page with a picture of Lila in a hospital room laying on a bed and a short sentence saying "Recovering quickly thanks to the new Ladybug."
I scolded at the picture, my good mood diminishing slightly.
"Don't get mad too fast, girl," Alya said before switching to Chloe's account to reveal the same video that got me into trouble the first time but it was longer. The redhead played the video until it arrived with Lila and Chloe talking while Sabrina was taking off her wig. Then the video was cut off.
"Yesterday, Chloe was ranting to Sabrina about how Lila lied to her. So as revenge, she sent the rest of the video on all her social media accounts," Alya explained, "Which means everyone saw it and Lila later posted about "taking a long trip." In other words and my theory, homeschooling until the news blows over or was expelled."
My frown soon turned into one of shock before morphing a second later into pure happiness and excitement.
"Really!?" I shouted in disbelief and smiled widely, "That's the best news I've heard since…well, you know!" Alya winced at that but continued to grin nonetheless. This was not a time to be sad! This was a time to celebrate! At least, until Lila returned to school. I happily shut my locker, feeling even more ready for the day.
"Hey, Marinette and Alya!"
I jumped back about three feet, screaming and holding my hand over my heart. Adrien and Alya gave each other a glance before looking back at me, chuckling.
"Sorry, Mari," Adrien apologized, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. I lowered my hand back to my side and took a moment to look at my two friends. A soft smile returned to my lips before I walked back over to two.
"It's alright," I replied, "In fact, I should be thanking you."
Alya's jaw was dropped so low that it could've touched the ground. My redheaded friend was in complete shock. Adrien's eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Thank me? For what?" he asked, looking at Alya as if she had the answers but was even more confused with her reaction, "Alya, are you alright?"
"I wanted to thank you for staying by my side and believing in me when no one else did," I explained, genuinely thankful for everything that was Adrien Agreste. Adrien, at some point in my explanation, returned his attention back to me. His facial features seemed to soften and his body relaxed, touched by my words.
"It was no problem at all. I'd do anything to protect my friends," he replied. I felt my heart warm and stepped closer to the model, enveloping him around his torso. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, taking in his warmth. I breathed in the faint familiar smell of his cologne.
It took only a second before I felt his arms wrap around me, returning the hug and encasing me like a blanket. I felt his chin rest on the top of my head as he held me close. I felt all the world's problems melt away and body relax from the weighted stress from the last couple of weeks.
Things were finally returning back to normal…well, my kind of normal. Yet, I've changed within these past few weeks. I've grown stronger, seen new lights down different tunnels I never knew existed, defeated one of my enemies and learned to hold on to what I still have.
I'm very thankful for everything and everyone that I have in my life.
Adrien and I pulled away from each other. Before we were able to get too far, I stepped up onto my tippy-toes and placed my hand on his cheek. I quickly leaned in and placed a peck on his other cheek. I found this to be an appropriate way as a final goodbye and let go of my silly crush on him. He'll always and only see me as a close friend.
I was alright with that.
I found someone else I truly love.
Giving Adrien one more smile, I walked away and dragged a gaping Alya out of the locker room. She began to make incoherent noises and wildly flailing her arms, trying to figure out what just happened. I laughed the whole time we made our way towards the classroom.
Adrien was left in the locker room, frozen and face turning a rosy pink.
"You better not have taken any pictures," I warned. Alya was able to calm down and smirked as she began to type away at her phone.
"I am neither confirming nor denying it," she mused, trying to hide a grin. I pursed my lips before glancing down at the device in her hand. I smirked and quickly snatched her phone.
"I guess, I'll have to take a look to find out then," I said before running away.
"Hey! You better not pull a Marinette while my baby is in your hands!" Alya yelled, chasing me down. I laughed and headed straight for the classroom. Once I stood outside the door and hand clutched the door handle, Alya began to yell, "Stop, Marinette!"
"Go Marinette!" I teasingly shouted back and opened the door in victory, entering the room.
I immediately paused when noticing the classroom was decorated and there was food on the front row desks. All my classmates and teacher looked over at me in surprise as very one was doing something. Yet, the thing that caught my attention was the banner. Nino was standing on a ladder and in the middle of tying one end of it but was frozen at the moment as if he was caught stealing cookies from a jar. On the banner, it wrote, "We are sorry, Marinette." It was also littered with stickers and pink glitter around the letters.
Someone entered the room behind me, breathing heavily. I could only assume it was Alya since she was chasing me but I didn't care at the moment.
"Yo, Tiger Lily!" Alix whined, "You were supposed to keep Lotus from coming here until we gave you the signal!"
"I tried to stop her, Violet but she didn't listen," Alya replied, defensively. I wasn't listening at the moment, still looking around and drinking in the scene in front of me.
"Uh…surprise?" Kim awkwardly spoke, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck and smiling nervously. Max nudged him in the side and gave him a look of disapproval.
"Did…" I paused, still in complete disbelief at what's happening. I soon continued to ask "Did you guys do all of this…for me?" Some nodded their heads while others spoke out their agreements. Rose, however, ran up to me and hugged me.
"Of course, we did! You deserve it for everything we put you through! It's the least we could've done! You've been through so much and we acted like real trolls! Although, none of this wouldn't have been possible if Alya hadn't suggested this," Rose said before releasing me. I was astonished and looked back at my friend, who gave a soft smile. I walked over to Alya and gave her a big hug. There were a few more people who joined in the hug.
"Guys, thank you so much but you didn't have to throw me a party. I was never mad at any of you. It wasn't your fault that you were deceived and lied too," I said.
"Oh, believe me, Mari. You deserve a whole lot more than what you think," Alya quietly spoke into my ear. I rested my chin on my best friend's shoulder and opened my eyes to meet emerald green. Adrien stood at the doorway smiling at us and I smiled back.
"Alright, enough gushy stuff! Let's eat food!" Alix chirped, separating from the group hug and heading over to the buffet, "I bet I can eat more hot dogs than Kim without throwing up!"
"You're on, shorty!" Kim challenged.
"I am not short! I am fun-sized!" she replied, staking hot dogs on a plate.
"Kim! Alix!" Miss Bustier sternly said, stopping the two from their competition. The group hug had separated and everyone quietly giggled at the two for getting into trouble. I turned away from the commotion and spotted Chloe at the far back, glaring at her phone screen and scrolling through it.
"I'll be right back," I told Alya, grabbing a plate and filling it with macaroons. I climbed the stairs towards the last row and sat in the empty seat next to Chloe. I set the plate down on the desk before looking over at the blonde girl, who still staring at her phone and not batting me a glance.
"Chloe-"
"Whatever you are selling, Dupain-Cheng, I'm not buying it. So, go enjoy your little pity party. You won't have to deal with me today, nor do I want to deal with you. So, consider this your first and last warning before I make up my mind, "Chloe huffed, cutting me off and still not looking up from her phone, "But don't think tomorrow, I won't hesitate. A queen has to keep a reputation to lowly peasants such as yourself."
"I just wanted to say thank you," I said, making Chloe stop aggressively scrolling her phone and look at me. She raised her perfectly trimmed eyebrow, asking, "What for?"
"For posting that video and exposing the truth about Lila," I said before standing up and taking a pink macaroon, "Also, I wouldn't put it past you to continue to do what you do best even if I know you can be better. Anyways, enjoy the party."
I slipped the cookie into my mouth and began to head back to the front to be with my friends.
I glanced back at the blonde to see her eat a macaroon and continue to scroll through her phone.
Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, I continued down the stairs. I grabbed a new plate and filled it with food before joining my friends at Alya and I's shared desk.
"So," Nino began with a full mouth, "What did you and your highness talk about?" Alya glared at her boyfriend and I chuckled. Adrien looked at me curiously, wondering the same thing while eating a strawberry.
"Oh, you know, girl stuff," I answered, shrugging.
"Woah, Mari! Adrien isn't ready to know about "girl stuff" quite yet," Nino said, making Adrien and I choke on our food. Alya smacked Nino on the back of his head as he laughed.
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