Collège Françoise Dupont: Bustier's Classroom

Marinette walked into class only to find the seating was changed up. Lila sat in her spot, smirking as next to her Alya glared at Marinette, before turning to talk to Nino. Marinette sadly walked up the stairs to the back, receiving more dirty looks from the rest of her classmates, with surprising exception of Chloe, who gave her a cheerful smile. Did Hawkmoth steal her miraculous in her sleep? Nope, Tikki was still in her purse. She settled down in the back room, alone, occasionally catching the rest of the class glaring at her. Did they seriously believe she was capable of such horrible things? After everything she done to help all of them, every time she sacrificed for their happiness, not even counting her work as Ladybug, they turn on her just like that. Maybe she should have stayed expelled.

Adrien rushed in just before the bell, sitting down before realizing something different. First, his princess was in the back all alone, second the class seemed to be turned against her. He leaned over to Nino, " Hey, how come Mari is in the back, and why does everyone seem mad at her?"

Nino blinked at him. "Are you serious? After what she has done to Lila, she deserves it. Can you believe Marinette would be so rude, just just because she was jealous of Lila hanging out with you?" Nino's eyes widened as he realized he slipped up, but quickly relaxed as it didn't matter that Marinette had a crush on his bro. She doesn't deserve him as far as he and Alya are concerned.

Adrien on the other hand, had one of those brief moments when his IQ dropped to zero, as what always happens when he gets hints of Mari's feelings for him. He was shocked that everyone turned on her, it was even worse than what she described last night to him. He was going to defend his princess' honor, but realized class was about to start. Not a good time for a heated debate. Instead, he picked his courier bag and went up the stairs to the back row, much to the surprise of Nino.

Mari sat, doodling her sketchbook, trying to ignore the rest of the class' hostile glances, when suddenly someone sat down on her left. Adrien smiled at her and pulled out his tablet and textbook, ignoring the betrayed looks the class gave him. Mari smiled, remembering that he told her before, "As long as we know, isn't that enough?" Before anyone could say something, Ms Bustier clapped her hands for everyone's attention to start the class. Marinette felt her spirits raised now that she was no longer alone. Some how she managed to focus despite the shining sun child next to her.

At lunchtime, she packed up, noticing Lila, followed by Alya and Nino both wearing expressions of betrayal, walking toward Adrien's and her desk. Without thinking, She looked at Adrien and said or rather stammered out, "Wo-wou-would you li-like to come over to my hou-house for lunch? Like right now? Yu-you know, today?" She flushed red as her suit at her stuttering.

Adrien smiled, Mari's shyness was always so cute and adorable, plus he get to spend more time with her and hopefully see more of her confident sassy self outside of her mask. The fact that they be going to her parents bakery was also a very welcome offer. "I would love to Mari. Just the two of us?' he asked cautiously, unsure whether or not it be a good idea to invite Alya and Nino.

Marinette nodded, just as Lila cam into range to try and attach herself to Adrien, who simply stepped away from Lila, moving closer to Marinette as a result. Alya frowned at this, then coldly asked, "Will you be joining us in the cafeteria Adrien? We need to inform you on some things about certain people," glaring at Marinette at that last statement.

Adrien tried not to growl, instead smiling at her, "Sorry but Mari has invited me over for lunch and we need to get going." With that said he grabbed Mari's hand and led her away from the shocked trio and out of the classroom. As the pair walked out of the school, Adrien look at his companion, asking "Are you OK?" Mari bit her lip and nodded, as she looked like she was doing her best not to cry.

"I just can't believe that after everything we been through, Alya turned on me just like that. She doesn't even fact check what Lila is telling her. She posted so much false information on the Ladyblog, it could get taken down if someone points out all the incorrect facts." Adrien secretly wondered how it would go if Chat Noir gave an interview to a news network pointing out all the lies in Alya's posts from interviews with Lila. Wouldn't be very superhero of him so he would have to think of something else, saving that as a last resort. Mari interrupted his train of thought, "It feels like everyone has turned on me."

Adrien couldn't bare the sadness on his princess's face. He put his arm around her, cause her to squeak and tense up. "You got me, I'm never gonna leave." Marinette could only smile and blush.

In Marinette's Room

While Marinette and Adrien ate lunch in the kitchen above the bakery, Marinette stuttering less as they talked about classes and their plans for the weekend, Tikki and Plagg were discussing their chosen's relationship. "...and there is a whole file of why Marinette is Ladybug, the kid must have been at it for months."

Tikki's jaw dropped, then she glared at him, "If this is one of your jokes Plagg, I'm not gonna be happy."

Plagg grinned at her, "I'm not kidding sugar cube, he is on to something now."

"Finally, maybe soon this horrible torture can end. All we need is for him to ask her for the truth," Tikki sighed. Soon the kwamis will be able to be with each other all the time, instead of sneaking around so much.

Lunchroom

Alya was shocked as Adrien pulled Marinette out of the classroom, holding her hand tightly. A week ago she would be overjoyed, taking pictures and teasing Marinette. "He doesn't know the real her." She looked at Lila, a look of confusion on her face, mirroring Nino's expression. Lila continued, "He doesn't realize she only wants him to use him to get into his father's company and set up her career. Or that she only likes him for his wealth." Alya frowned, bad as Marinette was these days, she always seemed to be head over heels in love with Adrien, not his connections. But if it was true, she would have warn Adrien before it was too late.

"How do you know that for sure?" the reporter questioned.

Lila smiled, "I heard her talking to her purse how soon she would have him and his connections, once she got rid of me" Alya and Nino looked shocked, not expecting this. "And now he is hanging out with her more."

"What I don't understand is why is he now showing an interest," questioned Alya, "he never seemed to notice her, but now its sharing seats and going for lunch together. What's with him?" Lila secretly scowled inside, knowing that Adrien knows the truth, that she is a liar. Not that she can't vent that info to these fools. A couple lies and they turn on their best friend. Hawkmoth has assigned her to make Mari-brat broken to the point where she won't resist a akuma.

"Maybe he is just being nice," Lila suggested, "maybe he wants to give her another chance?"

"She had her chance, but she crossed the line when she stole from you. Marinette is no friend of ours now. We just have to tell Adrien the truth, every detail. When I'm done, he will see her as just a stalker and a gold digger." Nino's jaw dropped at his girlfriend, he was angry too, but this seemed too far. Then again Marinette also went too far.

Lila smiled, even if Adrien didn't believe her, there was no way he wouldn't be creeped out by Marinette's stalker habits.

Later after lunch: Locker-room

Adrien opened his locker, only to have someone push it shut. Alya stared him down, "I not here to argue, I'm just here to make sure you won't get hurt by Marinette's intentions with you."

Adrien was baffled, "what intentions?"

Alya sighed, "She stalks you, as part of a huge crush. She have pictures of you modeling cover her walls, her desktop background is a collage of you, and she even has your schedule down to the second hanging in her room. Oh, and she stole your phone to delete a voicemail, stalked you when you are with other girls, and for a while, tried to sabotage you and Kagami, though they became friends and Kagami seems to ship you two harder then me. Maybe I should give her a reality check next," Alya said, distracted by her train of thought.

Adrien's brain broke. This meant she doesn't dislike or hate him. He could hear Plagg cackling in his shirt, clearly because the kwami had figured the reason behind his classmate's stuttering already, but decided not to tell him. "Mari... has... a... crush... on.." Which would mean if Mari was Ladybug, then Ladybug has a crush on him. Her crush on him would also explain why she acted so weird when he pretended to be a statue and tried to kiss him.

"Yep," Alya, quite fed up with Adrien and his obliviousness, "Big fat stalker crush on you since the second day of school. At least I though that's what it was, but now thanks to Lila, I know the truth." Adrien shook his head and gave her a confused look. "She told me Marinette only is chasing you to get into your father's company for her fashion career. You see, she is acting in love just to trick you and use your connections."

Adrien frowned, "Lila said that? You don't have any proof?"

"What proof do you need? Lila said that she heard Marinette talking to he purse about how she is gonna use you. You don't seriously believe that she is a liar like Marinette keeps ranting about?"

"Hate to break it to ya Alya, but I caught Lila lying to me before, I'm surprised you haven't caught onto her tricks."

Alya's face burned red with fury, "Are you saying I'm not a good journalist Agreste?"

Adrien stepped back, shocked at her sudden anger, "No, I just can't see why you would turn your back on your best friend just like that because a new girl says things you like to hear."

Alya glared at Adrien, her hands curling into fists. "Someday, your gonna regret taking Marinette's side, Agreste!" With that she stalked away towards Lila, who gave Adrien a smile he knew was fake. He turned around, his mind still reeling from the shock that Mari, who may be aka Ladybug, had a crush so large she could barely function around him.

Alya stalked out the locker room, walking past Lila to head outside, pure rage in her face.

Agreste Mansion

Gabriel Agreste sat in his office, sketching his next masterpiece, when his captive kwami started shaking uncontrollably. "There seems to be a new candidate to take Ladybug and Cat Noir's miraculous for me today." He strode to the secret entrance his lair. Arriving in a dark room filled with butterfly's with a single large window. "Nooroo, dark wings rise!" A dark flash and he was now Hawkmoth, terror of Paris. The window opened as he caught a white butterfly, infusing his evil power in it, transforming it into an akuma. "Betrayed and angered by a friends lack of faith in her. Go my akuma, and evilize her!"