CHAPTER 3

AT ADRIENS HOUSE

Adrien walked up to his father's door replaying the past moments before knocking, Nino had called him, asking if he wanted to join Marinette's small sleepover. Why did Mari invite him? Was she still mad? Did she forgive him? He was nervous but said he would ask his father if he could come. Here he was about to ask, he wanted to come but he knew his father would probably not let him.

Adrien took a deep breath and knocked, "Come in," said a muffled voice. He walked in and saw his father designing behind his touch screen.

"What do you want, Adrien? I'm very busy" said Gabriel in his cold voice.

"Well," Adrien began gaze on the floor "Um, Marinette invited me to a sleepover, and I wanted to ask permission" he said twisting his ring as an act of nervousness.

His father looked up from his designing and said "Miss Rossi came over earlier and said that Miss Marinette has been through all sorts of trouble, from threats to an expulsion" he said looking back to his work "She is a bad influence on you Adrien" he continued gaze not leaving his tablet. "You are not allowed to contact her anymore" he said ignoring his son's shocked expression.

Adrien was shocked but then his face twisted to a mad expression. He couldn't believe Lila! Lying to their friends against Marinette! Threatening her without anyone knowing! But now lying to his father so he couldn't see Marinette! He has had enough of Lila!

He cleared his throat to get his father's attention and said "Father, I don't know exactly what Lila said but this is the truth." He said giving a determined gaze at his father, (something he never thought he could do).

"Lila Rossi is nothing but a Liar. She creates mayhem against Marinette since she called her out on her lies. And that's not all." He said taking a deep breath before continuing "She has been touching me even though I asked her not to. And I can't complain or else she'll go back to bothering Marinette, but she never kept her part of the deal so I'm not keeping mine" he said angrily.

Then he softened and said "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner but I needed to help Marinette" he said "Please let me talk to her" he pleaded

His father stared at him with a stunned expression. Then it slowly curled in to a small but genuine smile. He turned back to his designs saying "Alright."

Adrien looked disappointed until he took in what his father said "Alright?" he said in disbelief.

His father smile grew as he said "Now Adrien, I knew miss Rossi was a liar" he said to his sons stunned face "But I was quite impressed by her ability to create lies to be believable by just telling what you want to hear" he continued "But after what you said about her harassing you without my knowledge, I may have to reconsider her as a model in our photoshoots."

He drawled on "As for your friend status with miss Marinette, you are allowed to remain friends if what you're telling me is true." Said Gabriel.

"It is" Adrien said nervously.

"Then you are allowed to go to her overnight interaction. But you will be picked up at nine tomorrow since you are scheduled for a photoshoot at eleven" his father reminded him.

"Thank you, Father!" Adrien said happily excusing himself to pack his things.

"Oh, and Adrien" his father called before he left "Don't be afraid to tell me when this happens. I know you wanted to help miss Marinette, but I need to know when something's wrong" he said sternly.

"Yes Father" Adrien agreed not wanting to make the same mistake twice.

Gabriel smiled after Adrien left, his son's sudden confidence hadn't gone unnoticed.

He wasn't just an empath; he knew that miss Marinette had motivated Adrien into standing up to him. If this happened a month ago, he would've probably grounded his son, however he knew he wasn't the best parent, so he allowed it.

He chuckled a bit, thinking that Adrien had reminded him of Emilie when he was mad. He stared at the painting of his wife behind him and sighed.

AT MARINETTE'S

Adrien stood in front of Marinette's house. He took a deep breath and walked in.

Marinette's parents were there, making a huge order of… Chat Noir cookies?

"Oh, Hi Adrien!" said Sabine once she saw him. "The kids are upstairs" she said.

"Oh, thank you" he replied peering at the cookies "Are those Chat Noir cookies?" He asked.

"Yes" said Sabine confirming his suspicions. "We were going to just do Ladybug, but Marinette reminded us that Paris needs a Chat Noir too" she said cheerfully before going back to work.

As Adrien climbed the stairs, he hid his smile. It was Marinette's idea? Of course, it was.

He changed his thoughts to what he was going to say to them not realizing he already walked in. he saw them chatting happily before interrupting with a nervous "Hi?" causing everyone to look in his direction.

"Hi" said Marinette. "So, what do games do you-" she started.

Adrien cut her off by say "I'm sorry."

Marinette stared at him blankly, "For what?" she asked while Alya slapped her forehead, muttering "girl, girl, girl" under her breath.

Adrien looked surprised and said "What do you mean? I wasn't a good friend to you. I let Lila lie, worrying about her when I should've focused on you" he said guiltily.

Marinette blinked before giving him a sincere smile and saying "Adrien, it's alright. I get it, you wanted to give her that second chance, (technically third, or is it fourth?) and that's okay."

Adrien looked up locking eyes with her, "So… do you forgive me?" he asked.

"Of course, I do, who wouldn't forgive you, I mean, because you're amazing. Wait, I mean because you're a great guy so of course people forgive people like...um… you" she sputtered.

He laughed a bit and said, "Thank you."

"One more thing, Agreste" Alya said standing up "If you ever hurt my girl again, I will personally kill you" she said in a cold voice.

"Alya" Marinette moaned.

Adrien only gulped and said "Yes ma'am"

"So, what are you going to be for the masquerade ball?" Nino said trying to lighten the mood.

"I haven't thought of it yet" Adrien sitting down beside his best bud.

"Well, I'm going as Carapace, what are you going as Nino?" Alya asked realizing that Nino hasn't decided on a costume.

He gave her mischievous smile and said "Well, if my girlfriend is going as my superhero identity I might as well go as hers" he said playfully while Alya gave a small blush.

"What about you Mari?" Adrien asked.

"Oh, she's going to be-" Alya began.

Marinette cut her off by saying "At home!"

Adrien looked in surprise "What? Why?" he asked in confusion while Alya and Nino gave her a bewildered look.

"Um, because, well, I got a bad feeling about it for some reason" she said shyly, eyes darting around the room.

Adrien's shock wore off and he smiled and said "Oh Marinette, don't worry about it, you'll have a mask on so people can't recognize you" he said trying to comfort her.

"Please come" Adrien pleaded.

Marinette squirmed still not sure. Then she glanced at her purse which had Tikki in it. Tikki just gave her a small nod and a smile. Marinette looked back up, took a deep breath, and said "Alright, but I won't tell you, my costume!" she said playfully.

Adrien pretended to look hurt before saying, "Well, I'm an honest friend so I will say I'm going as… a ladybug" he said, eyes shining while Marinette blushed. Their besties gave each other a look and facepalmed.

Just then Adrien's phone rang. He looked at his pocket and excused himself to go to Marinette's balcony.

There was a small silence until Tikki flew out to ask for a cookie.

Alya looked at Tikki eyes widening "I'll have to get used to that" she said.

"Yup, since you have your own kwami" said Trixx flying out of her bookbag.

Alya panicked and said "Trixx! Stay hidden!" she said in a loud whisper.

Trixx just shrugged and said, "I need a jerky refill." Before flying back into her bookbag.

"Behind my notebook" Alya replied. "Why don't you show Alya your costume?" said Tikki before she flew back into Marinette's purse.

"Well," Marinette started slowly turning to Nino.

Alya looked at Nino as well and they both blinked.

Nino took the hint and went up to the balcony as well.

Alya turned to Marinette and said, "Well no boys here, you can faint now" she teased while Marinette blushed.

"What are you talking about?" she asked innocently, (or at least tried).

Alya rolled her eyes at her and said "GIRL! Adrien just said he's going as Ladybug, namely YOU!" she practically screamed.

Marinette blinked, then the conversation started coming back to her and all she managed was a "Um."

Alya facepalmed before changing the topic to what her dress will look like.

"Oh, I have lots of ideas!" she said grabbing her sketchbook.

"Can you open your blog to the time Carapace saved you?" Marinette asked.

"Sure, but I didn't get a clear picture" she said sighing.

"Its fine, the video will help, and I think I know someone who can help us" she said crawling to a trunk under her chaise.

"Who is-" Alya began before a bright green light appeared in front of her and faded into a turtlelike creature.

"Hi, I think we've met before. I'm Wayzz" he said with a smile.

"Oh, I remember you, your Nino's kwami" she said smiling

Wayzz paused before turning to Marinette. "Does she know your Ladybug?" he asked.

"Um, well… yes" she hung her head "I wasn't careful in transforming" she said in a small voice.

Wayzz looked at her and said "Don't worry about it, Ladybug, but" he paused turning to Alya "You cannot get akumatised" he said gravely "Luckily" he continued "Ladybug, has already said that you are allowed to keep Trixx for a bit, she can help control your emotions" he finished smiling.

"So, does that mean Nino should keep you?" Alya asked curiously.

"Well," Wayzz paused turning to Marinette.

"That would be up to Ladybug" he said.

Marinette thought about it, then said "Nino can keep Wayzz as long as Alya has Trixx" she announced.

Alya looked excited before turning it into a scared look "But what if we get akumatised and we tell Hawkmoth your identity?" she asked terrified over the thought.

"Well, if he knows me in civilian form, he might think you were joking since I'm clumsy as Marinette" she said shrugging "I mean, isn't that why you didn't think I was Ladybug?" she looked at Alya expectantly.

Alya thought for a minute before saying "I'll admit your clumsiness threw me off but," she held up her hand to stop Marinette from interrupting "I never took you off the list because… Lila may have fooled me, but for Ladybug's identity? I would need proof." She said adjusting her glasses.

"So, I'll tell Nino about Wayzz" she said walking towards the stairs to the balcony.

"Okay! I'll design your dress with Wayzz" Marinette called.

Alya gave her a thumbs up before running up the steps. She was excited to tell Nino about Wayzz, However, when she got there, she saw him and Adrien talking with a small, black catlike creature who had just noticed and pointed to her. The boys saw her and froze.

They stared in silence before Alya managed to say "Explanation, NOW."

Cliffhanger! Aren't I evil? Sorry for not updating in while, I had yet again, writer's block. So annoying. I'll try to move faster but I'm writing a Powerpuff story at the same time so it might take a while. For now, Vivisong out!