A.N. I'm rewriting the chapters, I'm not proud of how some of it was written. If you have read this story before May 30 2020, I advise that you go back and read it again. You don't have to to if you don't want to.

Reviews always welcome!

Alya p.o.v- Day 0

Two girls were walking along the banks of the Siene. They wanted to take advantage of the warm weather before it got too cold. This was likely to be one of the last warm days before winter really took ahold. Alya, the bespectacled auburn-haired reporter, was talking excitedly about her blog. The other girl, Marinette, a small pigtailed bluenette, seemed to be listening intently. She nodded her head and made small sounds of agreement every so often.

Suddenly, but as if in slow motion to Alya, her companion tripped on thin air (typical Marinette) and fell into the water with a scream and a splash. Before the reporter could do anything but freeze, Marinette had already started to drift downstream, screaming for help and thrashing around in the cool water.

"Marinette!" Screamed Alya, running along the bank, back the way they had come. No matter how fast she ran the current was faster, she just couldn't keep up with her best friend. Soon Marinette was a good twenty meters ahead.

"Alya! Someone! Help!" The bluenette cried out in fear, although certainly not as loud as she could be. The only person who either heard or saw the girl was already running as fast as she could to catch up.

The banks of the Siene were oddly empty. No loving couples, groups of friends or parents with children. Just the two panicking best friends, one thrashing around in the water and one running along the bank.

"Hold on Marinette! I'm calling for help."

Pulling out her phone caused her to slow down and fall even more behind the drowning girl. Running and typing the emergency number is harder than it looks.

"Help please! My friend just fell into the Siene! I'm following behind her, but I won't be able to keep up much longer. We're heading towards the Eiffel Tower. Please send hel- oh no!"

Alya stopped suddenly and froze mid-sentence, she had just seen the one thing she was hoping wouldn't happen. In the distance Marinette had just given one last cry and went completely under the water. No matter how long Alya watched Marinette did not resurface.

"Miss? Miss? Are you still there? What's happening? I'm sending help."

"Sh-she, Marinette just went under, I can't see her anymore!" With those words Alya dropped to her knees and sobbed in defeat.

oOo

It was what seemed like hours later but in reality it was only a few minutes when Alya first heard the sirens and then felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see that it was Sabrina's father, Lieutenant Raincomprix.

"Ms Césaire? Did call the emergency department about a friend falling into the river?" He asked in a professional but kind way. All she could was sniff, nod and say, "Marinette and I were just walking along, and she… she tripped," before bursting into tears all over again.

He gave a curt nod and left so that some paramedics could take care of the distraught girl. He went over to talk to some of the other police officers about reviewing some CCTV footage from nearby businesses. He didn't want to traumatize the poor girl anymore by asking too many questions or accusing her of pushing the other girl.

As expected, a building close by had good quality footage of the girls on their stroll. After a few minutes of reviewing the tape it was concluded the Alya was being honest and that Marinette had had a dose of bad luck.

oOo

Later that night Alya laid in bed thinking over the whole ordeal. Marinette's parents had cried when they heard what had happened. Sabine had let out a heart-breaking wail before being engulfed by her husband. That was probably her second least favourite part, after watching the girl disappear. Not that she had any favourite bits anyway.

All the major events of the afternoon kept replaying in her head. The scream as she fell in, her face as she went under, lieutenant Raincomprix' hand on her shoulder, telling and retelling the story and finally informing the Dupain-Cheng couple of their lose. Alya had insisted on being present as the Lieutenant broke the news as softly as he could.

The Césaire cried into her pillow at the thought of going to school the next day. She didn't know how she would face her friend's empty seat. Or her classmates' sad smiles, as they tried to comfort her without breaking down themselves. Maybe she could have a day or so off? She didn't see her parents or teachers complaining, not after today's events.

The more she thought about it the more she agreed with herself. There was absolutely no way she was going to school the next day. It would just be an endless sea of frowns and questions. With no Marinette there would be no light and happiness. The girl had been light and happiness.

Yawning, Alya rolled over just as her phone lit up with a text from Nino.

Nino: Good nite Babe. C U 2morrow

Alya groaned, of course he didn't know yet. This was going to be tough.

Alya: Im not coming 2morrow

Alya: something happened to Marinette

Alya: unless u come over u probably wont c me for a week

Nino: what happened?

Nino: do I need 2 talk 2 Marinette?

Alya: you cant talk to her

Nino: ?

Alya: I dont want to talk about it

Alya: youll probably find out 2morrow, school

Nino: Babe, whats wrong talk 2 me.

Alya: I cant ok

Alya: just let me b

Alya: come over 2morrow, after school

Alya: we will talk then

Alya: bye

Wiping tears from her eyes, Alya couldn't bring herself to say 'good night' because if anything the night (and afternoon for that matter) was anything but good. Closing her teary eyes, she rolled back over and tried to sleep.

The last thought Alya had was of Marinette's face as she sank out of sight. She could almost swear that the bluenette had had a sympathetic and sorry expression on her face right before she was gone.