Chapter 35

The next day Kai had returned on his own to the Françoise Dupont school in the early morning hoping to catch his sister before class would start.

„Okay this is the perfect time for me to see all students enter into the school and spot Gerda in there," Commented Kai. „One of the girls must be Gerda for sure,"

With the time Kai spend there more students began to arrive and enter the class. From beside the school, a couple of students were arriving as well, then Kai squinted his eyes to see if he could recognize any of the students. By unluck, he wasn't able to figure who those students were and looked at the other side to see a group of boys come together. Also, no one did Kai recognize, then looked at the street to see an SUV stop in front of the school, then it drove off as it delivered a student and Kai squinted his eyes to recognize the boy from behind his head, which resembled Rollan.

„Is that Rollan?" Asked Kai himself watching the boy walk normally, then the tall boy moved his head aside as someone had yelled. Kai widened his eyes as he saw it was Rollan in different clothing, which was waiting for a brunette boy to run at the Spaniard with a great smile, then he lost his smile noticing Rollan wasn't well and the brunette placed his hand on Rollan's back to accompany him into the school.

„Hmm I wonder what's up with him" Questioned Kai himself, then encountered another car, which was colored red and from that vehicle, he saw a young girl in a uniform get out with a barrel bag making her way into the school.

„Why am I even standing on this side of the road? I look like a complete idiot," Commented Kai, then he walked across the road to get on the plot of the school, then stood around watching the students come along.

Kai watched a trio of girls come along, then he stood in front of them and raised up his hand.

„Excuse me girls," Began Kai, then the trio stepped aside avoiding him. „Hey! I'm asking you something!"

„Who the heck are you?" Asked one girl turning around to the boy, followed by the other girls, which had a snobbish look on their face.

„I'm Kai and I'm…,"

„Kai?" Asked the girl. „What kind of name is that?" Questioned the girl making the other girls laugh.

„Uh…..I'll ask someone else," Commented Kai turning his back away to the girls feeling confused about, what had just happened. „Maybe I should ask a guy,"

Kai moved along the field towards a dark-skinned boy with a red cap, then waved at him.

„Excuse me, can I ask you something?" Asked Kai making him nod.

„Sure dude," Answered Nino.

„Do you know a girl named Gerda?" Questioned Kai making Nino nod.

„Yeah there is one Gerda in my class. I don't know her last name, but she's from a youth home," Answered Nino. „You know her?"

„Yes, that's my sister," Answered Kai glad. „Where is she?"

„No idea, she's either inside there or on her way here," Responded Nino. „I'm waiting here for my bro, Adrien," Nino mentioned.

„What is bro?" Questioned Kai bewildered.

„Bro means brother. He's not really my brother, but he's like one to me, just less annoying?"

„You have annoying siblings?" Questioned Kai curious.

„A young one. A little spoiled for my taste," Commented Nino with a chuckle. „Fun fact is he wasn't an accident back then,"

„Uh okay…." Answered Kai confused at Nino's words. Nino took out his smartphone to type on it, then Kai looked up at the school again, then back to the Morrocan.

„Do you know a boy named Rollan?" Questioned Kai. „He's taller than you, has black hair, and speaks with an Hispanic accent,"

„Yes, he got in there a few minutes ago,"

„I saw him too, but do you know anything about him? Has he been somehow noticeable in a way?"

„What exactly do you mean?"

„What does he do inside the school during breaks, during school and all?"

„I know he has after-school lessons because he's in the last school year and has to be prepared for the final exam. During the breaks, he's usually together in the break with two of his class, Wayhem, and Luka. The three usually play basketball together and Rollan seems pretty good at it,"

„Does he and Gerda have anything in common? Do they get along?"

„I think they're friends in a way," Answered Nino. „Why? Is he trying to pick up on your sister?"

„I'm not sure, but I have a very bad feeling about him. He was the one, who led her into trouble, which made us all get here in the first place,"

„You were frozen as well?" Questioned Nino curious. „It was said he and Gerda were the only ones,"

„Whoever said that never found me and anyone else," Mentioned Kai. „Who found them by the way? Do you know anything?"

„Pretty easy, my dude's dad," Responded Nino. „The famous fashion designer Gabriel Agreste. Maybe you've seen him, maybe you don't, I tell you, he's a jerk. Be happy to not know him,"

„He's a jerk, but saved my sister?"

„Well if you don't know him well, you're not aware that he looks like a bad person, but when you meet him in person you'll see what I mean,"

„Okay, but he hasn't harmed my sister, right?"

„I don't think she has ever met him so far I know. Which is kind of weird, but she's lucky," Commented Nino. „But she has met Adrien, who is his son,"

„Is Adrien a good person?"

„He's one of the kindest dudes I have ever met," Stated Nino, then looked back at the road to see the silver-colored Sedan appear making Nino smile.

„There he is," Announced Nino, then saw his friend leave the car and open up his arms to his friend.

„Nino, good morning," Greeted Adrien putting his arms around the friend, while Kai observed them.

In the meanwhile, Rose appeared along with Gerda and Alix, which headed directly to the entrance of the court.

„Gosh looks like I wasn't the only one who had slept badly last night," Mentioned Alix making Gerda nod, which had yawned.

„I'm sorry," Apologized Gerda, then Rose stopped with her smartphone to attend a phone call.

„Continue without me, I have to attend this call," Commented Rose while Alix moved on with Gerda

„I will get myself a coffee," Mentioned Alix, then looked up at Gerda. „You're coming?"

„Yes, I will just have to see, if I got any coins with me," Commented Gerda searching in her backpack for her purse, while Alix made her way to the stairs. Gerda saw Snowflake inside her bag, which opened for her the purse and glimpsed up at the blonde.

„Are you worried about Fire King?" Questioned Snowflake making Gerda shrug her shoulders.

„So far I know, nothing happened to him last night. This is what worried me the most if he would get akumatized and…..just because of me,"

„You did the right thing, Gerda. You were honest with him. He understood you. It's just not easy to take it down," Commented Snowflake making Gerda nod, then take out a few coins and receive help from the spirit to close it.

„I'll close it again," Warned Gerda making the female nod and see Gerda pull the zipper, then took her backpack up at her bag, then made her way towards the stairs, then encountered Wayhem sitting together with Rollan on a bench and Gerda leaned on the railing to look at the two.

„Are you sure you don't want to see any pictures of Galaxy Jam?" Questioned Wayhem showing the raven-haired his smartphone. „Okay, I give up. I'm out of ideas,"
„Anything you said was, that you wanted to show me pictures and I don't think anything else had helped me out," Mentioned Rollan. „I think it's better if I'm alone,"

„Not as long as Hawk Moth is under our lovely city. He could send an akuma any time and catch you," Warned Wayhem making Gerda drop her mouth, then get closer to the two.

„Good morning," Greeted Gerda earning the looks from the two boys. „Did something happen?" Asked Gerda looking at Rollan, which looked up at the girl, then away from her.

„Hi Greta," Greeted Wayhem.

„Gerda" Corrected Gerda unamused at the boy's mistake.

„Gerda….I'm sorry…..I was trying to help Rollan smile or just feel good. I haven't figured out yet, why he's in a down mood right now. Yesterday we had just laughed about funny memes and now he's like he lost the meaning of life,"

„Maybe I can talk with him a little if he doesn't mind," Offered Gerda making Wayhem nod.

„Good, I'll be going to get down to see, if Michael's here," Announced Wayhem getting up to leave Rollan back with Gerda.

„Did something happen?" Asked Gerda making Rollan shake his head. „Then why are you sad?"

„I told someone something and I had the feeling before it would be a bad idea,"

„Was it something bad?" Questioned Gerda making Rollan shake his head.

„No, but if I knew it would have gone that way I would have just kept it for me,"

„Okay and what was it, if I may ask?" Gerda asked placing her hand on Rollan's shoulder. Before he spoke Gerda's smartphone began to ring, then Gerda looked at her backpack from where the noise came from and she looked up at Rollan, which nodded.

„You can attend it without any problem,"

„It is quick, I promise," Announced the blonde taking out her smartphone to see her friend Rose was calling and she attended it. „Hey Rose, what's up?"

„Can you come down here? Juleka is being bullied,"

„Okay I'm coming down," Said Gerda putting her smartphone back, then return her eyes to the Spaniard. „I'll be right back,"

On the outside, Rose returned to the stairs, where a girl around Juleka's size stood in front of her holding behind her back a pink book.

„Give it back to me!" Ordered Juleka a little quiet, making the other girl snort.

„What did ya say? I couldn't hear you" Commented the girl, then Juleka tried to take away the book from the girl, while the second friend grabbed it laughing, then looked into it.

„Give it back to me!" Shouted Juleka louder, which called the attention of a few students in the near and looked at the trio.

„Oh look at those pictures here," Commented the girl, that took away the picture. „What kind of nail designs are those supposed to be? They look horrendous," Commented the girl, making Juleka blush out of shame. „Who puts bats on it?"

„Juleka wait!" Shouted Rose, then Juleka looked back to see Rose come along with Gerda and stop beside the tall girl.

„What's going on?" Asked Gerda, then Juleka pointed at the diary, the girls had in their hands. „Hey! Give Juleka back her book;" Asked Gerda getting closer to the girls, which backed away from the Norwegian.

„We're just giving her constructive criticism. That's nothing to worry about," Commented the second girl looking at the images, then began to laugh at another picture. „What is this supposed to be? One single, green-colored plait? That's so unoriginal,"

Gerda grabbed the book to push it away, then the girls began to help the friend avoid Gerda from obtaining the book, then Rose joined Gerda by helping her and a third girl from the rival group joined slapping Gerda on her hand making her shriek in surprise at the girls deed.

„Ops…..did it hurt?" Asked the girl in a fake worried tune, making Gerda frown and a couple of students around them began to chant.

„Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

„We better go," Suggested Rose then placed her hand on Juleka's arm. „Let's get out of here Jule," Offered Rose, then Gerda looked at the girl that slapped her having her fingernails painted and fixed with artificial nails, which were colored dark-red, then Gerda had an idea, then grabbed the girl by the hand to break one of her nails making her cry.

„Ahh!" Screamed the girl. „Are you out of your mind?!" Asked the girl annoyed at Gerda's deed.

„Oh I'm so sorry, I just wanted to take a better look at it," Commented Gerda ironic, making Rose smile and Gerda whispered at the friend. „You didn't tell me you could break them so easy,"

„You're going to pay for that!" Shouted the girl jumping against Gerda, which grabbed her by the hands trying to defend herself and all went around the two to chant.

„Oh oh," Commented Rose stepping back along with Juleka, which ran aside the group, while Rose stood back watching Gerda getting pulled on her one bang, making her cry.

„Hey! Stop that!" Ordered Gerda, then a second girl decided to harm Gerda by pulling her from the other side, making Rose drop her mouth, then she jumped against the girl trying to push her away.

„Help!" Shouted Rose, then watched the third girl drop her book and try to come between the girls to place her hand on Gerda's head picking up the wreath.

„Hands off!" Ordered Gerda kicking with her one feet at the girl, then she heard a familiar voice yell and the third girl screamed as she saw a young, raven-haired boy with outdated clothing jump against the group, landing on a brunette girl taking her down, while head bumping with Gerda.

„Hey!" Commented Gerda, then Rose tripped with the other girl over the Norwegian girl and looked at the boy, which had helped them out.

„I finally found you, Gerda!" Announced Kai happy looking at Gerda, which was passing her hand in front of the forehead, then looked at Kai and passed her fists over the eyes.

„K…..Kai?" Gerda spoke, then Kai nodded and Gerda leaned her hand on his face to make sure she wasn't imagining things and smiled as she saw it was really her brother. „Kai!" Gerda cried embracing her younger brother, while a few students exchanged looks with each other not understanding, what was going on.

„It's that weirdo again," Commented a girl, then packed him under his arms and pulled him against the floor shrieking Gerda.

„Hey!" Shouted Gerda watching Kai being helped up gently by Adrien and Nino, which looked at the situation. „Apologize to him," Ordered Gerda making the girls laugh.

„First you have to apologize to Antoinette for breaking her fingernail," Ordered the brunette girl, earning a nod from the darker-haired girl.

„I warned you to leave my friend in peace and you didn't. Don't be surprised about the consequences," Stated Gerda. „And now you have dared to hurt my brother,"

„If you really thought all this nonsense for this stupid book was worth it, here take it!" Exclaimed the first girl kicking the book against Gerda's feet, making her frown.

„I'm not going to take it that way," Commented Gerda making the girl frown.

„I just gave it back to you, do you really want this to end the bad way?" Asked the girl approaching Gerda to glare into her eyes, while Gerda did the same up at the girl. „Are you really going that way?" Asked the tall girl.

„Afraid to lose your nails?" Asked Gerda making the students around them chant.

„Oh…..."

The tall girl turned red from anger, then upstairs appeared Rollan along with Wayhem to spot the scene and Rollan got down to get between the girls.

„What's going on?" Asked Rollan looking at Gerda and the opponent, which recognized the Spaniard.

„I've seen you somewhere," Commented the girl, then beside her the shorter friend leaned herself on the shoulder.

„That's the basketballer Anna and the others have talked about,"

„Really?" Asked the girl surprised, then Rollan held his hand between the two girls to move them away from each other.

„Come on, there's no need to fight for," Commented Rollan seeing Gerda look down at the book, which he picked up and found on the front Juleka's name on it. „What were you all doing with Juleka's book?" Asked Rollan watching all girls look at each other and the third girl jumped at Rollan.

„That girl there stole my best friend her book and made fun of her artworks. We wanted to take it back but she broke Angela's nail!" Cried the girl, which was notably faking it.

"I'm...Antoin..." Corrected the friend before getting shushed.

Rollan noticed their behavior, then handed the book out to Gerda.

„She's not Juleka!" Complained the girl making Rollan nod.

„I know and neither are you three. Juleka is Luka's younger sister, which is right there," Stated Rollan looking at the side to see Luka come along with Juleka and stop to see, what was up.

„But she broke Antoinette's nail! She deserves punishment," Hissed the girl raising a fist at Gerda, which looked at Rollan gazing at her neutrally.

„What nail?" Asked Rollan watching Antoinette hold out her hand at him for him to analyze it. „I didn't know you had nail implants" Commented Rollan making the entire crowd laugh at Rollan's comment, which made him wide his eyes bewildered about his words. „Did I say something wrong?" Asked Rollan seeing the girl with a red face. The girl moved her hand to aim at Rollan but was stopped by Gerda, which pressed it hard making the girl squeak.

„Let my friend in peace!" Ordered Gerda making Rollan drop his mouth in surprise to see the girl protect him. Antoinette growled, then removed her hand, followed by Gerda loosing it and Antoinette passed by Gerda with a growl hitting her own elbow on Gerda's rudely making her way up at the court followed by the two girls, which looked back at the newbie.

„Wow I can't believe we're out of this," Commented Rose. „You were great, Gerda. I knew I could count on you,"

„That's what friends are for," Commented Gerda seeing Rose get into her arms for a hug, then look at Rollan, which was being talked to by Luka, Juleka, and a few other students, which were amazed by his roast.

Gerda smiled at seeing Rollan confused about the teens, then Luka whispered to him making him drop his mouth as he realized, what was up and smiled. Gerda approached the group, then nudged the boy on the arm to obtain his attention.

„Thanks for showing up," Said Gerda making Rollan nod, then Gerda made her way out of the group to see Kai stand along with Adrien and Nino, which were looking at the crowd.

„Kai," Spoke Gerda, then Kai run into her arms again.

„I'm sorry about what happened back at Orm's house. I was just angry about our lives and people idolizing us as heroes. Mostly cause we promised each other to shut up about it and Rollan came along to question us about it,"

„I'm sorry I had broken the promise, but here you don't have to worry about our past again. Almost no one knows about our legend and we can after we finished school go on with our own life…... Well, I still have two years in front of me, you have more and Rollan has only this year if he makes it through,"

„Where do you live now? In an orphanage?"

„It's called a youth home, but it's practically the same, but less terrifying as at St. Peters," Explained Gerda. „Now that you're here. How did you get out of the lake? I assumed you were gone for good,"

„Orm somehow stood back as someone saved you and he came back with a friend to help me and the rest out. He stood back with Arrog in the kingdom, which now was under the name of the Björgman family and Alfida came with me here to look for you. It was a bumpy ride for us two, but we made it here,"

„Must have been. I barely remember how I got here. I think I was in a coma or something," Mentioned Gerda, then the school bell rang and Gerda looked up at the building. „Oh, I have to go. Have you a place to stay?"

„Not really," Answered Kai making Gerda nod.

„I will send a text to the youth home to warn them about you. Hopefully, they can let you stay with us," Suggested Gerda making Kai nod.

„Yes please and maybe for Alfida too. She's now an orphan as well, after what happened,"

„Sure don't worry, we'll see each other at 5," Said Gerda. „Or if you're here around the midday this works as well,"

„Good I hope I find Alfida until midday," Said Kai making Gerda nod and ran upstairs to the schoolhouse.

At the next break, the students hang out together at the break and Rollan was dribbling the ball away from Wayhem, which was the opponent in the match and Rollan jumped up throwing the ball into the basket to score for his team.

„Rollan man, you're on fire!" Commented Kim watching Rollan rib his hands together, then Kim passed his hand over Rollan's hair. „That coffee you spoke about this morning is really making you go higher than high,"

„Gracias," Responded Rollan. „I really needed to let steam out of myself,"

„School can be annoying sometimes I know….or well, some teachers," Commented Kim making Rollan chuckle.

„I wish that was the issue," Commented Rollan, then leaned his back on the pole to look at the students hanging inside the court.

Kim picked up the ball, then looked at Rollan, which was glancing at the students in the surroundings.

„What's up?" Questioned Kim.

„Have you ever had this issue that you liked a girl, but she doesn't return her feelings for you?" Asked Rollan making Kim nod, then press the ball against Rollan.

„I passed through that phase boy. Trust me, maybe this girl you like isn't the one for you, no matter what your heart tells you," Commented Kim walking forward making Rollan furrow his eyebrows curious at Kim's comment.

„You had experience?" Asked Rollan making Kim nod.

„I had bought Chloé my first crush an earring and she humiliated me with an embarrassing picture of me on Facestargram. It took me a little while to understand she's not the girl worth waiting for,"

„Hmm the girl I had a crush on doesn't sound like that girl….Well when I told her how I felt she was kind and told me why I couldn't be with her,"

„That's painful as well, but at least she was honest with you and not using you or treating you like garbage. That's something you shouldn't let someone do to you, mostly if it's a girl you like,"

„There I agree," Commented Rollan, then moved further to the middle of the field and sees Alix walk along with Marc Anciel, which were carrying together a box. Rollan looked at Marc, then remembered he was one of Nathaniel Kurtzberg's friends and moved towards the duo.

„Hey, can I ask you two something?" Asked Rollan making Marc sigh, while Alix nodded.

„Sure…..oh hey I heard about your roast. That was a classic," Complimented Alix making Rollan nod.

„Gracias…..uhm your redheaded friend…..Nathaniel, right?" Asked Rollan making the two nod. „I haven't seen him for a little while. Is he okay?"

„He went to Germany a few days ago for his grandmother's funeral," Answered Marc. „She was Nostalgica, the one, that passed away hours before Ladybug was akumatized,"

„Oh, I didn't know. I thought he was sick or something,"

„No, no. He left Monday morning I think. He should return on Friday," Commented Marc making Rollan think about the evening he saw Lady Frost along with the redhead.

„Weird. I thought I had seen him yesterday at the Seine near the Eiffel tower," Mentioned Rollan making Alix shrug her shoulders.

„Maybe he's got a doppelganger or that guy you saw resembles Nathaniel a lot. Adrien has a cousin that looks just like him. He even pulled a stupid joke on us and assumed it was funny," Commented Alix making Rollan nod, then watched per coincidence Adrien walk along with Nino together looking at the Morrocan's smartphone, then Alix noticed him as well and whistled to call their attention.

„Hey Adrien! Come up here!" Ordered Alix watching the duo approach the trio. „Have you got a picture of your cousin so Rollan can see your similarities?"

„I could search him on Facestargram," Suggested Adrien logging into his account to look for his cousin.

„What's the topic? Has Rollan a Siamese twin or something?" Asked Nino making Rollan look amazed at the dark-skinned boy.

„He mentioned, that he saw Nathaniel yesterday, but that doesn't make any sense, cause he's been in Germany since Monday,"

„Oh and he knows that?" Asked Adrien a little tensed making Marc shake his head.

„Just knows it right now," Commented Marc making Adrien mumble under his breath a negative word.

„Crap,"

„I maybe could be wrong and have assumed that the redhead from yesterday was him. I'm sorry I bothered you two," Commented Rollan while Adrien felt nervous believing Rollan had found out he was lied to.

„Maybe it was a doppelganger, who knows?" Adrien made up faking a smile and Rollan shrugged his shoulder.

„Hey mi mano. Let's finish this match?" Offered Kim looking at the Spaniard, which nodded and returned to the field along with the Vietnamese boy.

Kai and Alfida sat together at the park near the school eating breakfast together.

„If you don't mind, I bought a bigger piece of bread and now we have ten euros. I hope it will be enough until we know we can stay at Gerda's youth home," Alfida mentioned.

„It will work out. According to Gerda the youth home is better than the orphanage…..but it also has rules,"

„I know, don't worry. I will behave," Responded Alfida. „Well, I try,"

„I'm serious Alfida. This is our chance to a better life. I know we won't ever get adopted by someone, but at least we can focus on our future. I know, that's what our parents would have wanted,"

„Yes, they would," Answered Alfida taking a bite of her bread. „Have you learned anything new about Gerda?"

„Nothing yet. I think she was defending there a friend from three mean girls when I was around. I saw Rollan as well, but he wasn't around her at that time, just came in the end as one of the mean girls wanted to take care of her after I got punched,"
„They hurt you?" Asked Alfida surprised making Kai nod.

„Don't worry, I'm fine. They gave up in the end as they figured out Rollan was on Gerda's side," Mentioned Kai making Alfida laugh.

„Oh I'd like to meet these girls. Must be fun," Mentioned the former pirate girl.

„I told Gerda you were here as well and Orm stood back with the trolls, because of the Björgmans. If she makes it to the lunch break we can see her together and talk,"

„That would be cool"; Commented Alfida watching Kai finish his bread slice, then Alfida placed her hand on the boy's leg, then watched Kai look up at her. „Are you going to tell her what happened between us?"

„Right when we see her again?" Questioned Kai making Alfida shrug her shoulders.

„We can wait a little if you want to,"

„I know she's going to be glad, that we're both…..you know deeply interested in each other. Now as we're all together and after what we experienced together we grew closer….she's your best friend as well. She's sure happy to have you closer to her as a family member,"

„Sure, she will be proud as well when her little brother asks his crush out to be her girlfriend someday," Joked Alfida making Kai turn red at her words.

„Hehe, yeah she will," Commented Kai. „The day will come, I promise," Kai announced proud, making Alfida chuckle and lean her head on Kai's shoulder making him open his mouth at her sudden tenderness, then smiled and grabbed Alfida's hand.