This was an intense chapter to write.
Chapter 12: A Nervous Wreck
The next week was about as close to a normal life as Marinette ever got.
The Lila drama died down. Alya was still friendly with Lila, still giving her the benefit of the doubt, but there was a wariness to it too. When Lacy pointed out the class had almost excluded Marinette from an event, Alya and Nino spent the rest of the week making sure she was included in everything.
Akumas occurred almost twice a day, tiring the heroes out and forcing them to recruit allies more often than not. Alya was ecstatic to receive her miraculous again. Chat Noir was also starting to focus more, no longer bantering or flirting mid-battle as much as he used to.
"Moving my mouth takes too much energy," he complained one night after a four-akuma day, when Ladybug brought up his unnatural quietness.
Thankfully, Hawkmoth missed a day, and Marinette was able to catch up on sleep and her commissions (but not homework, which was still stressing her out). That night, she dreamed she was being eaten by piles of homework, while her parents scolded her for bad time management skills.
That morning, she overslept and barely made it to class in time.
The first thing Marinette noticed was how empty the class was.
"Where is everyone?" Marinette asked, sitting next to Nino.
"Akuma attack." Nino showed her his phone screen, which was streaming the Ladyblog. "Blocked half of the classes path to school. Been out there for about half an hour - still no sign of Ladybug."
"What?" How did she miss an akuma for that long?
"Don't worry, everyone's said in the group chat that they're safe," Mylene commented. "Well, at least I think so. It looks like Lacy might have fallen asleep mid text, and Adrien's didn't make much more sense."
"Alya's trying to film as much as she can," Nino added, his face tense. "I just hope she doesn't get too close."
"I hope Ladybug shows up soon," Alix complained from across the room. "I miss everyone. No offense to current company, or anything."
"I, uh, have to go- check on something-" Marinette muttered. "Be right back!"
She darted out the door, ramming into someone else as she did so.
"Juleka!" Marinette said. "I'm so sorry, I just have to - are you feeling okay?"
Juleka looked a little green, and she was grimacing, but she shook her head. "Just nerves."
"Oh, right, the modeling contest!" Marinette remembered. "When do results come out?"
"Today at lunch," Juleka whispered. She grimaced again.
"Here, why don't I take you down to the nurse?" Marinette said. "Maybe she knows some way to keep you calm before the results come out. It's not like we have class anyways - not with the akuma keeping half the school at home!"
"Thank you Marinette," Juleka said.
"Oh no you don't, Squabbie," Elisabeth said. "No falling back asleep on my watch."
Lacy blinked her eyes back open, noticing the footage on the TV screen hasn't changed much since before she closed her eyes.
"I'm not," Lacy argued. "I'm just bored."
She let her eyes flicker close again, wishing her parents would let her fall back asleep. The akuma rampaging down her street didn't look very close to being beaten, and if she could get a few more minutes of sleep...
The apartment shook violently, causing Lacy's stomach to jolt. So much for sleep.
"Looks like I'll have to cancel my next appointment too," her dad commented from where he was sitting at the dinner table.
Elisabeth frowned and checked her watch. "This one is definitely taking a while. And there's still no sign of Ladybug."
"She must live on the other side of Paris or something," Lacy figured.
"Or maybe she's just sleepy like you," Elisabeth teased, reaching from her chair to poke Lacy in the leg.
"You know, this would have been a perfect akuma for our literature test yesterday," Lacy said. "But no, he had to attack when we would have had a peaceful morning instead."
"As peaceful as class can be with Alix and Kim," her dad said, half under his breath.
Lacy chuckled. Her friends did make things interesting.
The TV screen changed suddenly, as the news reporter cheered loudly.
"- and Ladybug arrives at the scene!"
Ladybug could feel all of Paris looking at her right then.
The newscasters and videographers and bloggers following the battle all cheered when she landed, as did the civilians trapped around the akuma zone. Ladybug stayed where she landed for a moment, watching the battle raging on the street.
The akuma was large - maybe twice the height of Chat Noir with a thick build - and had chains attached to her hands. She wore all black, with a form-fitting leather jacket and black leggings, and had long, black hair that trailed behind her in a braid.
She raised her fist and slammed the chain down at Chat Noir. Chat Noir dodged effortlessly, and tremors shook were the chains landed.
Ladybug scanned the akuma again, not seeing a clear item that could hold the akuma. She would have to get closer.
She wrapped her yo-yo around a building and flew past the battle, landing next to Chat Noir.
"Sorry I'm late," Ladybug said.
"You're right on time," Chat Noir replied.
The akuma struck again, and Ladybug and Chat Noir bounded out of the way.
"Her name is Nervewrecker," Chat Noir reported. "I think she's one of the models participating in the contest that announces today. Her main powers are the chains and her heightened strength. Wherever the chains hit, powerful tremors follow."
Ladybug nodded. She had observed as much.
Nervewrecker struck again, forcing the two superheroes to dodge in opposite directions. Ladybug landed next to an apartment building, but Nervewrecker was already swinging her chains again. Ladybug bolted out of the way, and the chains swung into the apartment building. The tremors destroyed what little of the building wasn't affected by the original swing.
"We need to get her away from the civilians," Ladybug called.
Chat Noir landed next to her. "Exactly what I was thinking. The stadium?"
"You read my mind."
Moving together, Ladybug and Chat Noir launched themselves up onto the nearest rooftops. Ladybug swung her yo-yo to the nearest high point, Chat Noir extended his baton, and they soared towards the stadium.
They landed several blocks over, and Ladybug paused to check that Nervewrecker was following them.
"Looks like she's right behind us," Ladybug said. "Let's go."
Ladybug and Chat Noir bounded over another few blocks, landing only a few streets from the stadium. They paused, giving the akuma time to catch up with them.
"Any idea of where the akuma is?" Ladybug asked.
Chat Noir shook his head. "I was hoping you'd see something."
The ground shook, edging Ladybug and Chat Noir to continue on.
They landed on the edge of the stadium, and both jumped down into the center of the field.
"So she was akumatized from nerves from the contest, right?" Ladybug asked.
"From what I can gather," Chat Noir confirmed.
"Most akumas who are akumatized from nerves have some kind of a fidget or something related to the cause of the nerves as the akumatized object," Ladybug observed. "Like a bracelet they play with if they're nervous, or a letter or something they received from the contest."
"I didn't see anything like that," Chat Noir said.
"Me neither," Ladybug agreed. "But keep your eyes open."
Nervewrecker landed in the stadium with a boom.
"Hand over your miraculous," she commanded, flicking one of her chains. "And then leave me in peace."
"Hey, you're the one disturbing the peace," Ladybug argued.
Nervewrecker scowled, and raised a hand to strike.
Ladybug and Chat Noir dodged opposite ways.
"I don't see how this is helping with your nerves," Chat Noir commented.
"Oh, it's helping a lot," Nervewrecker replied. "I was shaking in anticipation, but now the whole world will." She struck again, forcing Chat Noir to dodge.
Ladybug watched, scanning Nervewrecker in search for the akumatized object.
Her attacks were one after the other, but as Ladybug watched, her right-handed attacks were more accurate than her left. And stronger.
"Chat Noir! Cataclysm the chains on her right hand!"
Chat Noir nodded briefly that he understood, before using his staff to launch himself over another swipe from Nervewrecker.
"Cataclysm!"
His hand brushed against Nervewrecker's right hand, and the chains turned to dust. She roared, trying to knock Chat Noir away, but he was already behind her.
Chat Noir landed in a roll and came up next to Ladybug.
"I think I saw a ring on her hand," Chat Noir commented.
Ladybug scowled. Rings were always hard to destroy.
"We're going to need something to break it without having to remove it from her hand," Ladybug commented. "Lucky Charm!"
A screwdriver fell in her hands.
"Looks like your Lucky charm might be from Ikea this time," Chat Noir commented.
Above them, news helicopters began to circle.
"Metal," Ladybug said. "We're going to need something large, and metal. Can you distract her for me?"
"Of course," Chat Noir replied.
Nervewrecker swung at the two superheroes, and they separated. Ladybug ran for the bleachers while Chat Noir began to taunt her.
She had to hunt for a few supplies, but eventually she found everything she needed. She quickly unscrewed several metal bleachers and attached them to each other with duct tape.
"Now, all I need is a ride," Ladybug thought. She sent her yo-yo straight up, tying it around the landing skids, and pulled herself up over the battle field.
The extra weight made the helicopter lean sideways suddenly, but Ladybug let got before it could crash.
She fell straight down, guiding her contraception to Nervewreckers hand. She let go at the last moment, watching as the several pieces of heavy metal hit the ring, cracking it. A butterfly flew out
Still in free fall, Ladybug captured the akuma. A second later, she felt something slow her stop as Chat Noir reaches out for her, his baton extended in the air.
The two dropped down the field. Ladybug finished purifying the butterfly, watching as it flew away.
"Miraculous ladybug!"
Juleka approached Adrien almost the moment he got to school, looking like a nervous wreck.
"Any word?" Juleka asked.
Adrien shook his head. "But don't worry! You're application looked amazing. I'm sure you have a good chance at winning!"
The two headed into class, Adrien taking his seat next to Nino and Juleka hers by Rose.
"I really hope Juleka gets chosen for this contest," Adrien commented. "She definitely deserves it."
"Don't worry, dude," Nino replied. "You said it yourself - she has a great chance. And even if she doesn't win, didn't you say that several of your coworkers displayed interest in working with her anyways?"
"Yeah, you're right," Adrien agreed. "I guess her nerves are infectious."
"Sounds like she's not the only one," Alya said, leaning over towards the boys' desk. "Did you see the akuma this morning?"
"Nervewrecker?" Adrien asked. "Yeah, Nathalie wouldn't let me leave until she was defeated."
"I don't blame her," Alya said. "Did you see the damage she caused?"
Nino nodded. "Nathaniel said his entire apartment building got destroyed."
Marinette arrived and slipped into the seat next to Alya.
"Any word about the contest?" She asked.
"Not yet," Alya replied. "The anticipation is lethal."
Miss Bustier walked in soon after, quickly taking attendance.
"Looks like we're just waiting on Lila and Chloe," she noted.
"Wish it was always like that," Marinette muttered.
Her wish didn't last, though, and Chloe walked in seconds later.
"Miss Bustier," Chloe greeted. "I have something I want to tell the whole class."
Marinette groaned. "This will be fun."
"Marinette," Bustier admonished. "Let's listen to what Chloe has to say."
"Thank you," Chloe said.
"Would you maybe like to wait for Lila?" Bustier suggested.
Chloe made a face. "Ugh, no, not her."
"It's not nice-"
"I'm doing this now or never," Chloe interrupted. "I don't owe Rossi anything, but-" Chloe took a deep breath, glancing at Adrien.
Adrien has no clue what was going on, but Chloe needed reassurance, so he shot her a thumbs up.
"Okay, I'm just going to say it. I'm sorry."
Marinette had never, in her life, been so shocked.
"You're apologizing?" Alya blurted. "Should we be worried about an akuma? Is someone holding you for ransom?"
"No, Cesaire." Chloe took a deep breath. "I, Chloe Bourgeois, daughter of the mayor of Paris, of my own free will under no influence from akumas or Hawkmoth, formally apologize." She released the rest of her breath. "So, yeah, I'm sorry."
"What, why?"
Alya was obviously as blown away by this as Marinette was.
"Because of you," Chloe said. "You were right, Cesaire. Ladybug believed in me, that I could change, and I had done nothing to deserve that faith. But... I want to."
Marinette stared at Chloe, sure that she would take it all back. Or that an akuma was causing this. Or anything...
Anything but this.
This didn't make any sense.
At all.
Marinette dully noted that Alya's mouth was wide open.
"Thank you, Chloe," Bustier said. "That was well said, and I'm sure everyone accepts your apology."
That brought Marinette back to the present.
Did she accept Chloe's apology?
"We appreciate the sentiment, Chloe," Marinette finally said. "But actions speak louder than words."
Marinette thought back to the past week, trying to remember if she noticed any changes with Chloe since she had this supposed revelation.
And... nothing.
She hadn't noticed Chloe at all.
No akumas, no fusses, no big arguments, no nothing. Chloe hadn't terrorized anyone, spilled coffee on anyone's artwork, made fun of anything. In the morning, she gave a compliment - a real compliment - and kept to herself during the rest of the exercise.
She wasn't quiet, by any means, but her comments, while interruptive, hadn't been mean. No one had run out of room crying because of Chloe. Chloe hadn't run down Ladybug, demanding her miraculous or a photo.
Nothing.
"I think you've made an effort," Marinette finally decided.
"Yeah!" Alix agreed. "No akumas in the school for a whole week!"
"And you complimented my project yesterday," Rose added.
Most of the class nodded along, muttering about small things here and there. Alya was the only one not agreeing, but she still hadn't moved from the shock stage.
"I'm really proud of you, Chloe!" Adrien added.
Chloe blinked twice, turning a little red. "Th-Thanks. That means a lot."
Alya's mouth was still wide open as Chloe sat down, and Marinette leaned over it closed it for her.
Alya turned to Marinette. "Did that really happen?"
Marinette nodded. "I think it did."
"Oh, and another thing," Chloe said. "I heard from a very reliable source that the winner of the modeling contest is a student at our school."
"Did you hear that, Juleka?" Rose asked.
"Now, there's a lot of people in this school who applied, but," Chloe continued. "I think you have a good chance, Couffaine."
"There's definitely an akuma somewhere," Alya grumbled.
Marinette chuckled.
Adrien turned back to them. "This is actually a lot like how she was when we were younger. I knew she could still be nice."
"But she needed a good friend to push her along," Marinette said. "What you and Alya said to her - it must have finally hit her that she needed to change."
"And Ladybug, of course," Alya added.
"Ladybug inspires all of us to be better," Adrien agreed.
"Well said, dude," Nino added.
Marinette felt herself redden at the compliments, and hoped no one would wonder why.
Her good mood was ruined instantly when Lila entered, looking overly pleased with herself.
"You look happy, girl," Alya noted.
"I am," Lila confirmed, sitting next to Adrien. "All thanks to Adrien here."
Adrien looked very baffled.
"Adrien's such a good friend," Mylene commented. "I'm sure whatever he did for you was really nice!"
Marinette was sure that whatever he supposedly did, Adrien actually had no part in.
"Oh it was!" Lila agreed.
"What was it?" Rose questioned.
"Oh, I shouldn't tell," Lila said. "After all, it's not confirmed or anything. Not yet."
Marinette's stomach lurched. There was no way she had managed that, was there?
Adrien still looked completely baffled. Across the room, Marinette saw Lacy chewing her lip nervously.
Not good not good not good not g-
"Tell us!" Kim replied. "The anticipation is killing us."
"Okay, fine, fine." Lila flipped her hair back over her shoulder. "He promised he'd help me win that big modeling contest!"
The whole room went dead.
This time, it was Nino's turn to look completely baffled. Alya gave Lila a look Marinette couldn't parse, Chloe huffed, and Lacy hid her face in her hands.
"W-What?" Rose asked.
"Since when did you want to be a model?" Alix questioned.
Ivan shot Adrien a glare, and Adrien, for his part, looked pissed.
"No I didn't," Adrien ground out. "Lie about yourself all you want, but don't drag me into this."
"Lila that's great," Bustier said, completely oblivious. "And Adrien, that was sweet of you!"
"Yeah," Ivan snarled.
"I didn't," Adrien repeated.
"Oh, and he's so humble about it too," Lila continued.
"Lila, just shut up," Marinette said.
"I'm very confused," Nino stated.
Bustier glanced around the classroom, beginning to deduce that something was amiss. Lila's eyes were growing wide as she realized the class wasn't responding as she hoped.
Marinette opened her mouth to say something - explain why Lila was lying, without putting Juleka on the spot - but before she could speak, Juleka darted out of the classroom.
Marinette only hesitated a moment before following behind her.
One of the first things Marinette had learned about Juleka was that she had a favorite bathroom. Usually, when Juleka was upset, she would hide in the bathroom until either Marinette or Rose would talk her down.
This time, Juleka barely made it to the stairs, and Marinette knew it was bad.
Marinette stopped right behind her, and so did the two students who had also followed her out of the room.
Adrien let out an uncharacteristic curse, startling Juleka a little.
"That definitely wasn't cool of her," Rose agreed. She moved towards Juleka and sat next to her.
Marinette sat down on the other side of Juleka, and Adrien sat behind her.
Juleka's face was blank, and she was mindlessly fidgeting with the mirror on her bracelet.
"I promise I didn't do anything she said," Adrien clarified.
"You don't have to lie to me," Juleka whispered. "If I was cut out to be a model, then you should have just said so."
"You are!" Adrien argued.
"Lila's a liar," Marinette stated. "She has been lying ever since she got to this school."
"Why did I think I had a chance?" Juleka's voice broke, and she sniffled.
"Because you do," Adrien said. "Everyone I talked to said you do."
Marinette put a reassuring hand on Adrien's knee. I don't think she's listening to us.
Adrien sighed, and Marinette could see resignation on his face.
Rose leaned up against Juleka, and Juleka leaned her head against Rose's.
"Even if you don't win the contest, you're still a good model," Rose whispered. "And a good person. You're spiraling right now. Whatever you're thinking isn't true."
Juleka nodded.
"Just breathe," Rose whispered.
Marinette watched them for a moment, before standing up. She gestured for Adrien to follow her.
"I'm going to text Luka," Marinette whispered. She quickly sent off a text, and Luka replied almost instantly.
"He's on his way." Marinette looked up, noticing that Adrien wasn't watching her. He was glaring off into open air.
"You okay?" Marinette asked.
"Yeah," Adrien replied. He turned back to her and smiled his model smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Adrien's phone dinged, and he dug it out of his pockets.
"Results from the contest," Adrien said. Marinette watched as his face scrunched up in anger.
Adrien scowled and stood there for a moment, his breathing getting heavier, staring at his phone.
Then he moved, quick as lightning, and lodged his phone towards the other end of the school.
Marinette felt her stomach drop. "Lila won."
Adrien didn't move. "Lila won."
Rage pulsed through her veins, and Marinette cursed and rammed her fist into the closest wall.
"How?" Marinette growled. "How does she keep pulling this stuff off?"
Marinette turned to Adrien, who had straightened himself up. He clenched unclenches his fists, still not looking at Marinette.
"This sucks," he breathed. "She doesn't even want it, she just wants to be able to brag about it."
Marinette walked up to the railing and leaned on it, letting her anger and... and tiredness wash through her.
"I'm sick of this," Marinette replied. "I'm sick of her."
Adrien shook his head. "I'm an idiot. I can't believe I thought ignoring her would make her go away."
"It's not like anything I did helped," Marinette said.
"At least you tried," Adrien argued. "You did everything you could to help, but I thought that the best way to help was to do nothing, say nothing, like it'd all blow over like some tabloid."
Marinette stood there for a second, closing her eyes and just feeling the anger, the helplessness. Like a wave.
And for a moment, she could feel Adrien's too. One of his friends was hurt, too, and he felt anger. He felt helpless.
It was like they were in sync.
"She's going down," Marinette decided, turning away from the railing and marching back to the classroom, Adrien on her heels. She swung open the door, a little more forceful than necessary, and walked inside.
To a classroom that had already dissolved into chaos.
Until next Wednesday!
