Chapter 3

"Marinette! Marinette, wake up!" Marinette jolted from her sleep, awoken by Tikki's voice. She looked at her clock, she was going to be late if she didn't hurry up. The cold made it harder for her to want to leave her warm bed but she couldn't remain cozy any longer.

She walked to the bathroom, brushing her teeth still half asleep before noticing that there was still a long scar on her cheek, it hadn't felt painful but when she pressed her fingers against it she winced. It was still red, and oddly shaped resembling a hook, it thankfully didn't seem very deep but Marinette knew she couldn't show up at school with a scar in the same shape and place as Ladybug's.

"What am I gonna do Tikki?" she asked her kwami as she walked back into her room, "I can't show up to school like this".

"Just wear some concealer Marinette, I'm sure it can cover it up", the kwami said as Marinette changed.

"Good idea, what would I do without you," she looked in a drawer and pulled out her concealer, quickly applying and blending. She applied blush on her cheeks to make the concealer seem more natural.

"There, I can just say I wanted to wear makeup if someone asks" she told Tikki as she applied mascara as well, she looked at her phone only to see there were only five minutes left before the school bell rang. She let out a groan before grabbing her coat, and her bag then dashing off to school.

Fifteen minutes later, a panting Marinette ran through the gates of Collège Françoise Dupont, stopping for a second to recover her breath before trying to go into her classroom as quietly as possible. Her entry however, did not go unnoticed and she received a scolding from Miss Bustier before being allowed to take her seat next to Alya.

"Make up?" Alya asked, as her best friend started pulling out her book, Marinette knew ALya wouldn't just buy her 'wanting to wear makeup'..

"Oh yeah, I got a minor breakout so I wanted to cover up" Marinette whispered, a nervous smile on her face hoping her friend would believe her lie. She looked down and saw Adrien looking back at her, he quickly looked away. She instinctively tried covering her face with her hair.

"Remember to read chapters seven through ten of The Giver tonight and write a brief summary for each chapter for homework", Miss Bustier said, as the class began packing up their books, "You're now excused for lunch".

"I'm going to get lunch with Nino wanna tag along?" Alya asked Marinette as they got up to walk towards the door, it had begun drizzling outside.

"Oh no it's okay, I think I'm going to go back home" she touched her cheek and felt the long thin scar on her cheek, she pulled her phone out attempting to gaze at her reflection.

"Ok then girl, I'll see you after lunch then," Alya waved goodbye and took Nino's hand before walking out the door.

Marinette walked out the door, the rain was soft but quickly growing harder and the cool air instantly hit her as she stepped outside the warm classroom. She hadn't brought an umbrella so she began jogging towards the gate, as she reached it she noticed Adrien standing under the small ledge that protected him from the rain, the blonde had forgotten his umbrella as well. By the time she reached the blonde her hair and face were covered with rain droplets.

"Forget your umbrella?" Adrien asked, as the girl reached his side slightly panting.

"Y-yeah! Not a big deal though, just a drizzle," she said smiling. She instinctively wiped the rain from her cheek, a red mark appearing as she did so. Marinette looked at her sleeve, noticing that there was now concealer smudged on it, she felt panic as she saw it.

"Marinette…" Adrien began, before he could even finish his hand had reached over to her cheek, he used his thumb to touch the scar on her cheek and his eyes widened as it clicked in his head.

"Marinette, there's a scar on your cheek," he said, Marinette's panic spread as she slapped his hand away. She touched her own cheek, pulling her phone out to see her reflection. The concealer had almost disappeared, the scratch was visible.

"Marinette, that's Ladybug's sca…" Adrien began, he took a step closer.

"I HAVE TO GO" Marinette yelled as she ran off, a hand on her cheek as she did so. She ran towards her house not worrying about the rain, terrified that she had possibly blown her cover. She felt panic spread through her as she ran to her house.

Adrien waited in the classroom, looking down at his watch phone ever so often. His stomach felt like it was on fire, he hadn't even touched the lunch Natalie had brought him. Was Marinette really Ladybug? The scar on her face was identical there was no doubt about it. He had noticed Marinette's face in the morning, he thought it was unusual for her to wear makeup but had tossed it away as a coincidence.

He had never seen Marinette and Ladybug together. It would explain the way Marinette always conveniently disappeared when an akuma attacked. It would also explain how Marinette was always at the scene in many of the attacks in the school. It was all adding up in his mind. He needed to confront Marinette.

Slowly students started to return to the classroom but even after the bell rang Marinette didn't show up. An hour passed, then two and before he knew it school was over and Marinette never came back. Adrien had no choice but to leave, he still had to follow his schedule after all. As he approached the gate, he realized that he had left the book they were meant to read for homework, he had been so enveloped in his own thoughts he had been careless when packing up.

As he neared the classroom he heard voices, as he focused he identified it as Alya and Nino. Curious if Alya may know why Marintte had left he decided to eavesdrop before walking into the classroom.

"Did Adrien say anything about his little impromptu date with Marinette?" Alya asked Nino.

"Not really, I forgot to ask him about it" Nino replied, Adrien inched closer wondering why they were talking about him and Marinette.

"Marinette didn't mention it either, I couldn't even prod her about it since she disappeared after lunch. I feel like if something had happened she would tell me, Adrien has been her crush for like what, 2 years!?" Adrien could hear the sass in her voice, his heart pounded. Marinette had a crush on him?! If she was Ladybug then that would mean she had a crush on him all along.

"Maybe she's over him, I mean Adrien is my best bud and all but he doesn't even acknowledge her" Nino said, Adrien felt his heart sink, this was all happening too quickly.

"Mmm, actually you may have a point. She's been acting weird, I'll have to go get the scoop from her later, I was planning to go drop off the homework," she told Nino. Adrien decided this was a good opportunity to go in and get his book.

"Hi guys," Adrien said as he walked into the classroom, startling the pair, "I forgot my book so I came back to get it," he explained trying to act as innocent as he could.

"Oh, is it this one?" Alya asked as she pulled a book from under a desk, she seemed nervous but Adrien pretended not to notice.

"Yes, thank you. Well I have to get going but I'll see you guys Monday" he smiled widely and waved goodbye as he left.

He reached his limousine, Natalie was waiting with pursed lips upset by his tardiness but no comment was made as he entered the limo. When he finally arrived at home he had his piano lesson, his mind was flooded with Marinette and Ladybug and he counted the minutes until he could go up to his room.

When he was finally alone he was overwhelmed by his excitement and curiosity. Was Marinette actually Ladybug?

"Plagg, do you think Marinette could be Ladybug?"he asked the black kwami who had been silent until now, Adrien had already decided the answer but he wondered what the kwami would say.

"I don't know kid, but you should calm down. Eat some camembert" he offered a slice of his cheese while simultaneously propping one into his mouth.

"This isn't time for that Plagg! Marinette is Ladybug! Worst of all there's the possibility Marinette liked me and I blew it!" Adrien flung himself on his bed, he wanted to know.

"Wait… if Marinette liked me then is that the boy Ladybug was talking about?!" Adrien began connecting the dots.

"I can't wait until Monday! Plagg, claws out"