(A/N) This is my first try at doing something like this. I'm not really sure how this story will turn out or if anyone will like it but I'm putting it on the internet regardless. The story takes place three months after Miracle Queen and yeah, I hope you enjoy. Also, I'm bad at summaries.
Chapter 1: Life Goes On
Marinette was freaking out as she ran as fast as her legs would take her.
She was late to class again. Which wasn't anything new but today she couldn't afford to be late. It was the first day of school and Marinette was determined to start the year off on the right foot. She rushed passed her parents, making a beeline straight for the school, without giving them the chance to even say 'Goodbye.'
"I can't be late to class on the first day." she said frantically to no one in particular as she hurried down the street. "Calm down, Marinette." Tikki said as she poked her head out of Marinette's purse.
"You almost ran over your parents just now."
"I know Tikki, but I really can't be late today of all days." She said as she checked the clock on her cell phone.
7:58 a.m.
She grimaced as she did her best to pick up the pace. 'I just can't be late to school on the first day of the year.' She thought to herself as she rounded yet another block. Ms. Mendeleiev would give her detention for sure, which would totally suck!
Shaking the thought from her head, as she blazed pass the entrance to the school, in an attempt to compose herself mentally.
She was going to make it on time she told herself as Ms. Mendeleiev's door came into view. Then terror flooded Marinette's body as she realized what was going on in front of her.
The door started to close on the teen's face as the bell rung. Signaling the she was, in fact, late.
"NO WAIT! I'M HEREE!" Marinette shouted as she dove through the narrowing opening. Performing a perfect faceplant in the middle of the class.
"So nice of you to join us Miss. Dupain-Cheng." Said Ms. Mendeleiev as she finished closing the classroom door. "I see your habit of showing up fashionably late has persisted for yet another school year."
Realizing that the entire class just witnessed her make an absolute fool of herself, Marinette immediately stood up and turned beet-red. "I-I'm so sorry Ms. Mendeleiev I'll-"
"'I'll try to get to class earlier next time.' I know, Marinette. You're the same as always. Just take your seat so that I can begin class." Ms. Mendeleiev said as she turned towards the chalkboard in the front of the class.
"Would you look at that everyone Dupain-Cheng is as late as ever. Though if I dressed the way she did I wouldn't show up to class on time either." Chloe snickered as Marinette made her way to her desk.
"Piss off Miracle Queen." Marinette fired back with a clear venomous undertone. "Why don't you go play dress up in New York with your mommy? I guarantee you'd make everyone else in Paris a lot happier." Marinette thought what she said was a bit harsh, but she didn't care.
It was way too early to be dealing with Chloe and her shit.
"No one talks to me like that Dupain-Cheng, not even my parents." Chloe said angerly as she stood up ready to get in the other girl's face.
"Obviously someone should." Marinette said as she stopped her walk of shame to her desk. "Who knows it might even humble you a bit because I think I speak for everyone when I say that you're not nearly pretty enough for that attitude of yours."
Chloe was about to shoot back when Ms. Mendeleiev interrupted the both of them.
"Stop it both of you." Ms. Mendeleiev said with complete seriousness in her voice. "Not another word out of either of you or I'll give you both four hours of detention."
Chloe started to open her mouth to say something, but Ms. Mendeleiev cut her off. "And no Chloe I don't care that your father is the mayor. You'll be punished all the same if you disrupt my class again." The teacher said as she turned back to her chalkboard to begin the lesson for the day.
An enraged Chloe sat back down to vent her frustration to Sabrina as Marinette continued to make her way to her seat next to Alya.
"Great, what a wonderful start to the year." Marinette grumbled to herself as slumped down into the chair next to her best friend. Still red from embarrassment.
"Way to go Marinette." Alya whispered into the tardy girl's ear. "You made it before the door closed this time and you put princess over there in her place!" The girl said in a teasing manner that caused the brunette to turn even redder.
"Shut up Alya!" embarrassed girl said in a hiss as quietly as she could. "I didn't sleep well last night ok." Which was the truth.
Ever since she became the Guardian of Miracle Box three months ago Marinette hasn't slept well at all.
How could she? She was suddenly thrusted into a position of incredible responsibility that she really and truly wasn't read ready. And all because she had gotten to careless about going to see Master Fu in her time of need.
'I'm sorry Master Fu.' Marinette thought to herself as she placed her head on her desk in an attempt to conserve as much energy as possible.
"Didn't sleep well?" Alya said with genuine confusion in her voice. "How could you not? Paris hasn't this much peace since before Ladybug and Chat Noir first showed up." Which was true.
Hawk Moth and Mayura seem to have forgotten that they are super villains because there hasn't been an akuma attack since the Miracle Queen incident three months ago. Which Marinette personally didn't mind. Although she desperately wanted to get back both the Peacock and the Butterfly miraculous, she did very much enjoy the break from her super heroine alter ego.
It was simply one less thing on her list of many responsibilities she had to worry about.
"Yeah, ever since little Mrs. Sunshine over there teamed up with Hawk Moth, no one else has been akumatized." Marinette said as she glanced at the blonde-headed Chloe who was too busy gossiping with Sabrina to pay attention. "Isn't it amazing?"
"Not for my blog it isn't." Alya said in a hushed tone. "No akumas means no Paris in danger. No Paris in danger means no Ladybug and Chat Noir. No Ladybug and Chat Noir means no Ladyblog." The ombre haired girl protested.
Marinette completely forgot about Alya and her blog. It was just one of those things that completely slipped her mind.
With Hawk Moth going off the grid for months on end she hasn't had a reason to be Ladybug. Chat Noir had taken to doing their shared patrols alone after she became the Guardian of Miracle Box. She tried to protest but he had insisted that she needed to be around the Miracle Box as much as possible.
It's been months since she last had contact with him, but she assumed that he was still doing the nightly patrols by himself. She felt bad about leaving the responsibility of watching over Paris completely in his hands, but he was right. She must be with the Miracle Box as much as possible to ensure that Hawk Moth (or Chloe for that matter) wouldn't get his hands on it and be too powerful to stop.
"Well don't give up just yet Alya." Marinette said in as cheerful a tone as her tired self could muster. "Rumor as it that Chat Noir is bouncing around Paris at night looking for any signs of Hawk Moth."
"Yeah, I've heard that too. The only problem is he's only been spotted around town at 3:00 a.m. and Nora won't let me out that late. I mean seriously how any I am going get a scoop for my blog if I can't do my diligence as a journalist?" The reporter said in a huff.
"Do worry girl. I bet Ladybug and Chat Noir will show up sometime soon so you can get the scoop you crave." Marinette said in a reassuring tone.
"Speaking of scoops, are you going to do it today?" Alya asked with no clear context but the brunette knew all too well what she was talking about.
She was going to break up with Luka today.
"I had planned on it." Marinette said as she began to get a bit sad and nervous about today. She really like Luka as a person, but her heart truly wasn't in it and she didn't want to lead him with her feelings being what they were.
"I knew you hadn't forgot about you know who after all." Said Alya as she winked at her friend causing her to blush slightly.
"Its not like that!" Marinette protested a little bit louder than she wanted to prompting Ms. Mendeleiev to turn around and glare at the teenager before continuing with the lesson.
"Oh really?" Alya whispered to her.
"Really." Marinette replied back matching her volume.
And it was true. Marinette's feelings for Adrien have definitely subsided a lot in the last three months. Which Marinette was happy about.
Hopefully that meant she could have a normal conversation with the blonde that sat in front of her without stumbling over her words like the klutz she was.
"Marinette and Alya." Ms. Mendeleiev said without turning from the chalkboard. "I don't permit chatter in my class while I'm trying to teach. Though, you two could talk all you want in detention this afternoon. Would you both like that?" She asked in a dry tone.
"No ma'am." Both girls pipped up in unison.
"Then I suggest you two continue your conversation outside my class. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am." They chanted as Ms. Mendeleiev preceded with the lesson.
The two girls gave each other a knowing nod before turning to face their teacher.
They'd talk more after school.
Eight Hours Later.
Marinette had just barely made it through the first day of school without passing out. She was so tired she could go to sleep right there on the school sidewalk. She wanted nothing more than to go home and pass out on her bed until it was time for dinner, but she knew if she left now Alya would be pissed about not being able to finish their conversation from this morning.
"Hey, Marinette!" Speak of the devil.
Marinette slowly turned to greet her friend who had way too much energy considering that they just spent almost nine hours in school.
"So, girl." Alya said as she walked up to next to her best friend and slung an arm around her shoulder. "When are you going to tell him?" She asked with all of the curiousness of a newborn kitten.
"Straightforward as always Alya." The girl replied with a wave of anguish washing over her face. She was not ready to deal with this today. Especially since she was so tired that she couldn't remember how she made it out of the school just now.
"That wasn't an answer."
"I don't know Alya." Which was true. She didn't know when she'd see him again and if she'd even have it in her to have that conversation with him.
"Marinette." Alya said softly as she turned to stare into the short girl's eyes. "You'll have to tell him sooner or later. It's not fair to either of you to keep that sort of thing to yourself."
"I know Alya but I'm so tired right now that I don't even want think about this. Plus, I don't know when I'll be able to see him."
Alya glanced up then looked back down and said slowly "I think I know." As she turned her friend so that she was facing the direction that she was looking.
Suddenly Marinette wasn't tired anymore as all of her blood rushed violently to her face.
There he was. Luka.
He was still on his bike when he spotted her and waved. He was no doubt here to see his girlfriend and catch up on how her first day back at school went.
'This is an utter nightmare!' Marinette thought to herself as panic began to settle unto her features as she froze in place.
A swarm of thoughts clouded her head as she suddenly became unsure of her decision until Alya put both hands on her shoulders.
"Girl, you need to tell him how you feel. For both of yours' sake."
"If he truly cares about you, he'll understand."
"You're right, Alya." The young girl said as she made her way toward him. "Its for both of our sakes."
"Hey, Marinette how was your day?" Luka asked excitedly but before she could respond his face twisted into a frown. "What wrong Mari, the tune of your heart is sad and conflicted. Is everything ok?" He asked, concern clear on his face.
"Luka, we need to-" but before she could finish her sentence he interjected.
"You want to break up, don't you?" Marinette stared wide eyed for a second before she worked up the nerve to respond.
"How did you know?" She asked timidly.
"It's the tune of your heart." He said sadly.
Marinette hated this. She didn't want to hurt Luka, but she had to get this off her chest. So that they could both move on and find happiness elsewhere.
"Are you still hung up on Adrien? Is that why?" The hurt was clear as day in his voice and it broke Marinette's heart to hear it.
"No." She responded quickly. "I don't have those feelings for him anymore."
He pursed his lips together as he stared at her for a couple of seconds. Which to Marinette felt like an eternity. "Then what is it?" He asked almost desperately.
"I just don't feel like my whole heart is in this relationship. I thought it would be and genuinely hoped it was, but it isn't." She said softly.
Luka looked her up and down one good time and said, "I understand Marinette and I hope you find what you're looking for." as he prepared to pedal away.
"Luka wait I-" but before she could get the words out, he stopped her.
"Marinette please don't. For both our sakes." He said a little bit harsher than he had intended as him pedaled away and left her standing there alone.
Tears began to flood her eyes when she felt someone come up and hug her from behind. "Come on girl." The older girl said sweetly. "I'll walk you home."
Marinette slowly wiped the tears from her eyes as she nodded, thankful to have a friend like Alya in her time of need.
The girls had made it half to the Dupain-Cheng bakery when the sound of an oppressively loud guitar shattered all of the windows of the street they were on.
"Marinette!" A familiar voice called out from behind. She turned around only for all of the color to be drained from her face as she realized what was going on. Before her very eyes was an akumatized Luka. The sight alone caused her heart to ache.
"My sweet Marinette! I'll change the tune of your heart one way or another!"
End of Chapter
If you made it this far then I hope you truly enjoyed it. Any and all feedback is appreciated. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go pass out.