Of Spiders and Ladybugs

Prologue

Marinette

If there was any feeling worse than losing a friendship, it was the realisation that your friendship meant nothing to your 'friends'… that you meant nothing to the people you had once cherished with all your heart and I was experiencing that a lot lately.

I don't want to believe it even when all of this is happening right in front of my eyes, as if not acknowledging it would make it all go away or praying that it's just miscommunication from my part, hoping from the bottom of my heart that they did not forget about me so quickly.

Maybe I was just overthinking it, just like Alya said I was doing, when I asked her why the gang did not invite me to a girl's night over at Mylene's. Lila and even Ondine and Aurore from Miss Mendeleiev's classes were there but I didn't even get a single text from them.

My eyes flicked over to a new notification from Alya's Ladyblog app. I clicked it open, seeing yet another photo of her and my other friends hanging out in Parc Monceau. I read the caption. Enjoying nature with all my best gals.

My eyes zoomed on the word 'all'.

I scrolled down. Other pictures with her and rest of the gang. None of them had me in it but coincidentally all of them had Lila in the front and centre.

These can't all be coincidences. Were they cutting me off from the group?

This can't be right.

No, they do love me.

I had spoken to Mylene last night only to design some posters for her campaigns, Juleka last Saturday to update the costume designs for Kitty Section, Alya a few days ago when she asked me to babysit her sisters the coming Sunday, Rose last week to design a princess costume for her…. Wait, all the times they talked to me were about stuff they needed from me… 'tiny' discounts on their commissions or 'little' favours to help them babysit their younger siblings so that they can enjoy their free time, ironically without me.

This is wrong… so wrong.

Why are they doing this to me?

But they are good people… good friends. What changed that they are avoiding me like the plague?

The answer came instantly…Lila.

But this can't be all her doing, can it? Why would they let her poison their minds about me when they have known me since years? Not Alya, we only met this year, but we were practically inseparable since the first day of class.

I don't even want to think about it but all this has been eating me up from the inside. Every time I look at their faces, I feel awkward. I feel like an imposter. I want to be angry at them but how can I, when they won't even acknowledge that they have done something wrong. And when I mention something, it is so easily brushed off as me being overly sensitive.

This is … I don't know why but this is tearing me apart.

I was there for them whenever they needed me. How can they … Why are they… But they are good people. Why are they…

Every time I am thinking about this, I keep having the same repetitive thoughts. Why did they do this to me? Have I not been a good friend, always putting them first, standing up for them against Chloe's bullying, going above and beyond as the class president to make their school life as comfortable for them as it can be, bringing them free treats from the bakery during lunchtime…the list went on and on.

But when was the last time they had even asked her how she was doing?

I had forgiven them for not believing me when Lila lies… for not standing up for me when Lila got me expelled… but now they make me feel invisible almost every other day… as if I don't exist and that hurts so much in so many different ways.

I don't want to go to class tomorrow, smile at them, pretend everything is okay, while knowing what they really think about me… knowing they don't consider me as their friend, just a means to an end.

It hurts so much.

I feel as if I am on the wrong. I want to be wrong about them.

I know they are good friends. They have supported me through my often-obsessive crush on Adrien, even encouraged it on various occasions but why all of a sudden, cut me off from their lives.

I really want to pin all the blame on Lila but if I had been in their place, I wouldn't have treated them this way.

And one person doing that under her influence was still believable but so many people all together treating me this way… It makes me feel so small… so worthless and so very insignificant. I just want to curl up in my blankets and cry.

I look at Tikki munching on her cookies, totally oblivious to all the thoughts in my mind. She is sweet, but kwamis don't pick up on emotions like the way humans can.

I have given so much for my friends and for Paris and what has the city given me in return?

Some websites and news networks starting a smear campaign on me, coincidentally just days after I announced my chinese ancestry on an interview with Nadia Chamack.

And that's not including the whole debacle that happened when my mom became akumatised over a ticket inspector arresting her without evidence and assuming she was at fault just because she was Asian and the police force opening fire on them in the middle of an akuma attack just because they pointed out the facts. The whole incident had got international coverage and due to public pressure, the mayor was forced to fire the ticket inspector and demote Officer Raincomprix to desk duty.

But that didn't solve the problem.

Everywhere I go, I see Parisians look at me differently after they learnt I have Chinese roots.

It felt as if walls were closing up on me from all sides. My friends ignoring me and believing a liar over me. My city showing that racism was still prevalent in 2022.

The only people who truly loves me and sees me for who I really am, seems to be my parents and for now, that has to be enough.

I wonder what Adrien would think about all this? I guess he would have supported me through all this. After all, he was the only other person aware of Lila's schemes. I miss him so much. He had moved to London to live with his aunt after his dad mysteriously disappeared after an impromptu trip to China.

And I miss Chat Noir so much, I can't put it into words. He was my best friend. Master Fu said he gave up his miraculous because he had to move out of Paris all of a sudden. He didn't have time to say his goodbyes and Master Fu wasn't able to reveal his identity due to the mysterious magic that keeps their identities secret and apparently even the Guardian wasn't immune to it. I just hope he is doing okay, wherever he is.

Maybe that's why all this with Alya and others hurt so much. I have already lost my best friend, my partner, without even getting a chance to say goodbye and that hurts so much. And all this with Lila and the others are just adding to the hurt.

Maybe the only good thing about all this is that Hawkmoth has disappeared around the same time Chat left and that's a blessing. I don't know how I would have reacted seeing someone wearing Chat's ring.

I wish I could talk to him now. He would have known the perfect thing to say to me, that would cheer me up.

So many things have changed so much the last few months. Adrien, Chat Noir, Hawkmoth … all of them had become a part of my daily routine the past year and just like that, they were now gone. Alya and the girls… they had been my support system and now they were giving me the cold shoulder.

My eyes wondered over to a white card on my desk. It was Audrey Bourgeois, who was still determined to sign me up as an intern under her fashion label. I hadn't considered it before… being away from my family, friends, Adrien and Chat but now, Paris doesn't actually need Ladybug anymore. My friends have all but forgotten about me and both Adrien and Chat have left.

I smiled at Tikki, who gave me an impish grin before diving into my cookie jar.

I looked at the card, took my phone and dialled the number. Maybe it was a bit impulsive but I really needed to get out from here.

"Mrs Audrey, I have changed my mind. I am ready to go to New York with you."

Tikki dropped the cookie she was nibbling. Audrey gasped.

I winced but didn't hesitate.

"That's unexpected. I guess I was right after all. You are the future, Marinette and under my guidance, you are going to be the most exceptional fashion designer ever!" The reply came swiftly, Audrey's voice pulsating with glee and unfiltered excitement.

So much had changed over the last few months. I guess one more wouldn't hurt.

Hope you guys liked this and please review. It's my first time writing in the first person and also, it was kind of hard for me to write Alya and others being hurtful towards Marinette because I really adore them but there's a reason for that, which will be revealed as the story progresses. Adrien will eventually show up too. Let me know in the reviews which version of Spiderman you would like for Marinette to meet.