Marinette's POV

Needless to say the next morning was hard to face. When my alarm went off I just wanted to bury my head in the blankets and go back to sleep. Maybe that would make my overly complicated life disappear. Urrg, overly complicated? When did my sentences get overly complicated.

Sighing I rolled over, and groggily climbed down my ladder and down the stairs, pulling out the breakfast cereal I liked and pouring it into a bowl with milk. I slowly finished, briefly saying hello to my parents when they greeted me and walking up the stairs and back into my room and flying into a panicked rush when I saw the time.

I ran down the stairs and out the door arriving at school just as the last bell rang. Mlle. Bustier was already standing in front of the class, she just raised one eyebrow at me, her tired eyes cutting through my enough so that I walked to my desk with my head down.

I sat down and looked to the front however my eyes soon zoomed in on a familiar blond head of hair. I groaned and sunk into my seat, banging my head audibly on the desk. Alya shot me a curious glance, and I ignored it.

Why did things have to be so complicated?

My feelings were so confused, did he like me? Did I like him? I think that I do love him. Knowing that he was Chat Noir did not change a thing. First things first however, he needed to know I am Ladybug. I groaned internally at that thought.

Despite the fact that i didn't really want to tell him, I knew it was unfair that I knew he's identity and he didn't know mine? Maybe I could tell him how I felt, that way all the balls were in his court. I smiled painfully, at least if I did it, it would be over, no more awkward stuttering.

No more stuttering, that would be nice. My small smile grew into a full blown one. Out of the corner of my eye i could see Alya looking at me confused, but i didn't care. I was full of new found confidence and i was going to own it.

When the bell rang for lunch, I told Alya I needed to go to the bathroom and after locking the stall and making sure no one else was in there to over hear, I briefly told Tikki of my plan.

"I'm going to confess to Adrien!" I squealed softly.

"Everything?" Tikki asked, everything meaning Ladybug and the crush.

"Everything." I responded, and Tikki gave a happy squeal in response, zooming around and looking estatic for me.

I heard the toilet door open and a person walk in. I smiled and ushered Tikki into her purse, before flushing the toilet and washing my hands.

I walked out to the tree Alya and I usually sat under to see her already chowing down on her lunch. Her eyes flicked up to me and she smiled around her mouthful.

I made my way over and sat beside her, fidgeting anxiously. finally it became too much for Alya.

"Girl, what is it with you, you've been fidgeting all day!" I stilled my fidgeting.

"I'm going to confess to Adrien!" Alya gaped at me like a fish for a moment before emitting a loud whooping noise that made the students nearby look over curiously. Not seeming to notice, Alya dive tackled me into a hug knocking me back onto the soft grass.

Laughing with her I hugged her back. Her comforting arms around me helping to still the nerves that had gathered into a quivering bundle in my gut.

We pulled apart and Alya continued eating, I however, was far too nervous to eat.

"So, you just going to walk up there and tell him?" I chewed on my bottom lip, deliberating.

"No," I decided, "I'll ask to speak with him privately."

Alya raised an eyebrow, waiting until she swallowed until she spoke.

"How are you even going to get this out without stuttering?"

Suddenly my plan crumbled into ashes around me, worst case serious running through my head.

"Alya," I wailed sinking into her lap, "what if he doesn't understand me! What if he thinks I'm harassing him and he calls the police on me! What if he laughs and tells everyone what a fool I am!" Alya cooed and fussed over me, stroking my hair and giving me a pep talk.

"You can do it Mari, I know you can, just go over there and tell him like it is."

I pulled away from Alya looking at her with my confidence restored.

"Your right, it'll be fine. Besides, Adrien would never laugh at me, he's to nice."

Alya agreed and we sat in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly Alya squealed and hit my arm repeatedly motioning behind me. I turned around to see Nino and Adrien laughing at something together, the sunshine shining off of Adrien's golden hair.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up. Alya nodded at me in support, giving me a thumbs up.

"You got this girl."

I marched over to where they stood, wringing my hands together nervously as they turned their attention towards me.

"Hey Nette," Nino said, smiling at me.

"Hi Nino," I responded hesitantly.

"So what did you want to talk about, you looked like a man on a mission marching over here." He laughed and I giggled nervously.

"Yeah, well actually, I was wondering if I could talk to Adrien... alone," I clarified after a moment of silence. After a moment of looking between Adrien and I suspiciously he shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay, I see how it is Nette," he said, narrowing his eyes jokingly, "I'll go talk to Alya then, at least she appreciates me." He walked off and after standing still watching him for a moment I grabbed Adrien by the hand, (mentally giving myself a pat on the back for actually touching him) and dragged him off into a more secluded space.

He followed looking slightly dazed and confused, but came along willingly none the less.

Adrien's POV

I followed Marinette slightly confused as she led me off away from all the people, finally stopping and turning toward me when the appeared to be no one around.

She appeared to be psyching her self up for something, and finally after taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth.

"I need to tell you something important." she stated, wringing her hands together nervously and biting on her bottom lip. She shifted her feet side to side and adjusted her bag. What ever she wanted to tell me it was obviously something she was apprehensive about saying.

"It's alright Marinette," I said trying to sooth her frayed nerves, "What ever it is you can tell me."

Instead of setting her at ease like I had hoped it would she seemed to become more nervous, her eyes darting around, almost looking for a way to escape.

"I-I," she started and broke of, taking a moment to gather herself before continuing. The dark green of the bush behind her made her silhouette stand out.

"I've liked you for a long time." She said slowly gauging my reaction before continuing, but I was just confused, what was she trying to say to me? I felt my eyebrows draw together.

"Ever since that day with the umbrella, I've liked you, but I could never tell you how I felt because whenever I was near you I became nervous and I stuttered." Her words were coming out faster as she continued, all the while it was slowly starting to dawn on me.

"Now you're probably wondering why I've gained the sudden courage to tell you, but I'm not sure how to tell you anymore." she said, her words ending in a rush with her eyes down cast.

My eyebrows smoothed out, she had a crush on me. It was like a puzzle clicked into place inside my head. It sure did explain a lot of things. I cleared my throat. I needed to let her down gently, it wasn't her fault I was in love with someone else. Besides, someone like Marinette should have her pick of the boys. She was beautiful and talented and kind. No, it would not be fair to her to lead her on like I had been, albeit unintentionally.

"Marinette," I said gently watching as her eyes snapped up to me, a feeling of melancholy seizing me. I knew I would be breaking her heart, there was no way around that, but she would be better for it in the long run.

"Listen, I like someone else, I'm sorry." She looked up at me, her expression seeming guarded.

"Who?" I looked at her like she'd grown a second head.

"Why do you want to know?" I said defensively and a little harsher than intended.

"Just for future reference," she said slowly, and I flinched at her answer. She wanted to know what she had to do to be better.

"Marinette there is nothing wrong with you, I really do think you are a great person, in different circumstances, I probably would have liked you back, but comparing yourself to someone else isn't going to help you." the way it came out of my mouth was almost condescending.

Marinette looked slightly frustrated. She sighed through her nose and held her hands up in a placating gesture.

"I don't want to know for that reason. I am just curious." she said.

I hesitated before answering, not knowing if my answer would do more harm than good, before finally deciding that if she really wanted to know, than I guess there was no harm in telling her.

"Ladybug." I whispered, so softly that she couldn't hear.

"Ladybug," I repeated again, this time louder, "Ladybug is who I am in love with." Instead of looking crestfallen like l'd expected her too, a huge grin split across her face.

"This is great!" she said.

"Great?" I questioned.

"Yes, because you see, that was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about!"

I raised on eyebrow, what?

"You see," she rambled on her voice gushing in the manner of one excited to tell someone something.

"I am Ladybug."

My face fell into a frown.

"Marinette, I know you like me but there's no reason to lie." she stared at me dumbstruck, but I continued on.

"I don't think ladybug would appreciate you telling others that you are her. Marinette, I know you upset but there really was not reason for this."

She looked at me, and the dumbstruck expression turned into one of concentrated fury and self loathing that it made me hate myself for opening my mouth.

"Of course," she said curtly, "Of course I knew things were too good to be true." I looked at her in shock but she continued ignoring me.

"It's alright Adrien, I know Ladybug hates liars. I won't ever lie ever again, not to anyone. Maybe if I had told the truth we wouldn't be in this predicament now, would we? After all, lies by omission are still lies aren't they?"

She turned and started walking off, and when she paused at the end of the clearing looking back over her shoulder with tears in her eyes, I regretted everything. She opened her mouth seemingly wanting to say something and then she shook her head and walked off with her head bowed.

Alya's POV

Marinette was late to class. That in itself wasn't a worry, but the fact that Adrien had come in and had no idea where Marinette was caused concern.

When she finally came in, her eyes were red and puffy, her face flushed. Mlle. Bustier took one look at her and immediately told the class to continue on with the activity for a moment without her. Taking Marinette aside they had a quick hushed conversation, which though short had Marinette break down half way through. After Mlle. Bustier said something to Marinette and after nodding her head in agreement, Marinette hefted her bag higher on her shoulder. She then walked out of the classroom, to presumably go home.

There was only one thing that could have caused this, and it must have been bad to get this reaction out of her.

I turned a furious glare on the back of Adrien's head. Abandoning the work that we were supposed to be doing, I focused all of my energy on burning a hole into the back of his head.

It must of worked because soon the little hairs on his neck started standing on end.

After the bells rang symbolizing the end of the day, I marched up to him and slammed my fist down on the desk.

"What did you do?"

He flinched and it gave me a twisted sort of pleasure.

"I- I don't know."

I growled and even Nino seemed taken back by it.

"Well, i hope you're happy now. That girls gone through enough in the past few days as it is, and thanks to you, she's probably going to get akumaized, again and if she does. Well, i hope the first person she comes after is you."

With that I stormed off to search for Marinette. My auburn hair flying past my shoulders and the shocked gazes of my classmates bouncing off my back.

Adrien's POV

What had I done?