1: The Bubbler

I felt very uncomfortable and a healthy amount of nervousness.

And I had a right to be.

An akumatized Nino forced all of us into Adrien's mansion and just party. Though I am not sure if my classmates know that the Bubbler is Nino.

I figured it out based on his voice and well, the way he talks.

The party is for Adrien and it's his birthday, which I didn't know until today. Though it would have been nice to have been formally invited and well, not have Nino, erm, the Bubbler, make all the adults disappear into the clouds in bubbles.

So what did I do?

Well, I sneaked off and tried to make myself feel less… uncomfortable.

The traditional-ist part of me feels very guilty for not getting Adrien something for his special day.

So I did something impromptu.

A drawing using the pen and paper found on an empty desk.

I didn't know Adrien that much so there wasn't much to work with so I did what I thought he would like: some portraits.

I would have very much preferred a pencil, but it seems that is all the desk could offer. Though I was happy there were black, blue, red and green ink pens.

So while everyone was outside, I was sitting on the rolling chair, drawing as best as I could without making too many noticeable mistakes.

I didn't realize that I was really into it until Alya's voice made me jump. "Jolene? What are you doing here?"

I placed a hand over my speeding heart, "Alya! ...Marinette? I-I-" I clear my throat, "I was making a gift for Adrien. I felt guilty for not bringing one, so this is the best that I could do." Using the end of the pen, I tap it against the almost finished drawing.

"Oh wow, that's cool," Alya says as she takes a closer look. "I love how you did the different styles." I drew Adrien in different poses and in different forms, such as him placing his hand behind his head anime style, his hand in a peace sign and winking as he was in Chibi form, holding on his backpack straps as he was whistling in Adventure Time style, Adrien in a Musketeer uniform from a Disney movie I saw a long time ago with a rapier in his hand. And finally, the main image. It was bigger than the others, it's a realistic face portrait of him in his usual smiling and happy self.

"I don't know him that well so I did something generic, and I know that he does fencing so that's why I added that. I just hope he doesn't completely hate it," I shrug.

"I think Adrien will like it," Marinette says sweetly. "You put your best effort in it. I know he'll appreciate it." It's adorable to see how obvious she was about having a crush on said boy. I hope she confesses soon or else someone else will beat her to the finish line and that would be tragic.

"Thanks for the encouragement," I smiled, before I asked them, "So why are you guys here?"

Marinette immediately blushes and Alya smirked, "My friend here sent Adrien a birthday gift earlier, but the genius forgot to sign it."

I giggled, making my poor classmate blush harder.

"So you guys are trying to find it?" I ask knowingly.

They both nod.

"...I can help you, just tell me what it looks like?" I offered hesitantly.

"It's a light blue wrapping in a thin rectangular box with a pink ribbon," Marinette informs. "Have you seen it?"

Stopping the lazy waving of the pen between my fingers, I knew that I had seen it before. I rolled back from the desk and in one of the open compartments there it was. I pulled it out, and I could literally see the stars in Marinette's eyes.

I gave it to her and she quickly pulled it close to her chest, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"No problem, Marinette," I smiled easily. My eyes went to the sticky notes and the extra pens. "There's equipment you can use," I point out.

Marinette somehow still stumbles within the foot of distance and makes the pens all fall to the floor.

I hear her groan in defeat as she bends down to pick it up, Alya helping her.

I simply put the pen holder back in place and the sticky notes close so she didn't have to reach for them.

Who knows what would happen if she went after those?

Silently, we went back to doing our own things.

Marinette didn't take long so she quickly left after she and Alya gave some more words of encouragement.

When they left, I took that moment to rotate my right wrist and wiggle my fingers.

My amber colored contacts started to feel a little dry so I opened my small cross shoulder black purse and pulled out my eye drops. Blinking to eliminate the dryness, I sighed and went back to work only to groan as midnight blue strands of wig hair went in front of me.

Going through my purse, I saw my compact mirror and took a look for myself.

The dragonfly clip got loose again. It was a quick fix as I pin my hair to the side to keep it out of my eyes.

My hands gently went through the synthetic hair and felt nothing was wrong with it. I could still feel the strands tickling at the nape of my neck.

After making sure nothing else would distract me, I did the final touches of my drawings.

But I had to hold myself back from signing as in my 'professional' artist stage name in the last second.

So instead I turned the page over and was happily unsurprised that the ink didn't bleed over.

I could feel the good quality that the paper is made of.

Waving my pen back and forth, I decided that a simple, 'happy birthday' isn't personal enough.

My hand started writing my thoughts.

Happy birthday, Adrien.

I know that we haven't talked much before, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a little something from a fellow classmate.

Even though it was super cheap and literally just made a half an hour ago.

Congrats for coming to the world,

Jolene Baudelaire

After reading it a couple of times I thought I could add some more honesty.

PS: I really enjoyed doing the drawings. I hope you like them and let me know.

Giving myself a mental pat on the back, I smiled and decided to give it personally to the birthday boy.

Just as I was almost outside, I heard screams and through the tall windows I saw Ladybug fight the Bubbler.

I heard the door opening and I quickly hid under a coffee table.

It was Adrien… and a flying kitty!

What the heck?!

I didn't catch what they said, but I heard Adrien yell, "Plagg, claws out!"

I have been stunned into silence several times before. But this one… was unusual, crazy, and rather cool if I had to be honest with myself.

Once the newly transformed Adrien left the building, there was one thing that went immediately to my mind.

Adrien Agreste is Cat Noir.

And the second thought was: I can never tell anyone. Not even to Adrien.

The things that I get into…

I can't believe our heroes were captured, but the small hope in me believes that they will make it back. That they will charge back in, defeat the Bubbler, rescue Nino, and restore Paris.

They have done it before, they can do it again.

It seems that finally good will always win over evil with no or very little catastrophe.

...If it only happened to me, I wouldn't be in France.

The sound of ripping paper got my attention and I groaned at the mess that I made.

I accidentally ruined Adrien's present.

Though, I quickly had to shut up to not get the Bubbler's attention.

"Jolene, are you okay?" Rose asks softly, her big blue eyes looking worried.

"I'll be okay, thank you," I whispered back, trying to give a convincing smile. But truthfully, it felt more like a grimace.

Though Rose, the sweet girl that she is, gave a small smile back, but her eyes grew worried again as the Bubbler came closer.

"Hey! I thought I said that we are having fun!" I looked back at Rose, who was shaking with righteous fright. My eyes roam around and see that all of my remaining classmates were scared too.

I sighed as I slowly stood up, the crumpled piece of paper safely tucked in my jeans pocket.

Rose, Juleka and Alya all whisper-shout at me to hide and sit down, but I ignored them.

They all have families waiting for them. Unlike me.

"Yo, Bubbles," I stated casually.

"Bubbles?!"

"Yeah, Bubbler just sounds so grown up, so Bubbles sounds more kid-friendly, don't you think?" I shrugged as I walked towards him, with my hands in my black sleeveless zipper hoodie pockets.

The Bubbler was stunned as he didn't stop me from walking towards him, "I guess so…"

"So, Bubbles," I started as my throat suddenly felt tight. Right behind him, easily climbing the walls of the Agreste Mansion, is Cat Noir and Ladybug.

They're here!

...But now, I made myself a target.

Ladybug was making the gesture of me to be quiet.

So just winging it I yelled, "Let's play Hide-And-Seek!" Bubbles looked very confused, so before he could question it I continued, "Cover your eyes and count to twenty!"

Surprisingly enough, he obeyed as he shut his eyes and started counting. I immediately booked it out. I motioned for my classmates to follow my lead and they all scattered.

The screams of some of my classmates made me stop and look for the source. I turned my head towards the sky and gulped.

They got trapped and are now joining the adults in the sky.

But hearing Ladybug and Cat… there's hope. So instead of being a nuisance, I continued running. They were already worried about the others, I shouldn't cause them more trouble.

I didn't stop running for ten minutes before I just hunched over and grabbed my knees as I caught my breath.

Then all of a sudden a wave of ladybugs washed over me and in front of me, the paper, in perfect conditions, appeared on the ground.

I bent down to pick it up and blue hair obstructed my vision.

I blew them away with a strong huff, before using my free hand and took off my dragonfly pins. I put them on my purse and decided to just make my way back to school.

Lunch was over and… I would be late for class.

Great. Note the heavy sarcasm.

Ms. Bustier is a genuine gem. She understood why half of the class was late, though she did make it clear that we still had homework.

Class went back to normal, and from my position from the back of the class, I saw Adrien, talking easily to Nino.

Adrien Agreste, son of the famous Gabriel Agreste. A public figure as a French model for his father's company.

And he is also Cat Noir.

I regret seeing his transformation. But there is nothing that I can do nor will I do anything about it. I have to act normal, as if I was totally ignorant about it.

But when I opened my binder, the gift I was meaning to give stared right back at me.

I wish I never wrote the extra message.

I would have used white-out, but that would be too obvious that I was not being casual.

My thoughts were taking over so much that I jumped at the sound of the bell.

Everyone was already moving while my desk was still a mess.

I looked up to see Adrien leaving and then looked back to my mess.

Making the decision, I grabbed the drawing, sprinted from the class, and what the heck?! How did he get to the bottom of the stairs so fast?!

I sat on the railing and slid down and stumbled my way towards Adrien as I yelled his name.

He stopped and turned around, Nino mimicking him.

I place my hands to the sides to gain my balance before sighing in relief.

"Hey, Jolene," Adrien smiles though he looked confused.

"Hey, dudette," Nino says in his usual chill tone.

I waved, but stopped mid-action as I saw the paper again. It got wrinkled at the corner. I sighed in defeat, "Here, this is for you." Adrien took it and I unconsciously smiled at his reaction. Nino looked next to him and he grinned.

"Dude! You drew this?"

I nod proudly, "Art is what I'm good at. And I know it isn't much, but happy birthday, Adrien." I waved back and quickly sprinted back to the classroom where Ms. Bustier was about to close.

"Jolene, I thought you forgot your things."

"Sorry, I'll pack quickly," I apologized sheepishly.

"Alright, but please hurry, I have a meeting soon," she informs.

I did as I promised and packed my things and thanked Ms. Bustier along the way.

With my backpack firmly on my back, I grab my iPhone from my purse and my Bluetooth white headphones.

The soothing voice of Freddy Mercury relaxed me all the way to my empty apartment.

Another day in Paris completed.

Another day of being alone.

Omake 1

On the fourth day of school, it was Mylène and Alix who came up to me and asked how I changed my hair color and style so quickly.

"It's not my real hair. They're wigs," I answered.

"And you change colored contacts too, that's wicked," Alix grins.

"Thank you."

"Um, why do you do it?" Mylène asked.

I was silent, coming up with a valid excuse and not the truth, "To express myself. Some people do actually dye their hair or get tattoos or piercings. I like to do this." I motioned to my face.

"Ooohhhh," they both nod in understanding.

I saw that the rest of my classmates were listening in and I'm thankful that they didn't push it. They accepted me as I am.

Even though what I said is a lie.

I don't do this to express myself.

I do it to hide.

Even though I don't need to here.

It's this irrational paranoia that compels me to disguise my face.

I don't want to be afraid anymore.

It's tiring...

AN: I know it's been... a while, but with the current situation going on, I've had some time to think more and had time for myself. Though as an essential worker, I've still been pretty of busy all this time.

I know I've been working on other fanfics, but as I re-read them over... I cringed, but that's okay. It just means that I could work on them again and make them better in some way or another.

So at this moment, I'm not going to work on my old projects, but in the new ones that I have been working for awhile now.

As a warning, I may not be consistent, but I'm trying my hardest.

I hope this brings some entertainment to those that read this.

Please stay safe and keep safe for others.

Thank you all so much for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or anything that you recognize. This goes on for the rest of the story.

I own my OC Jolene Baudelaire.