Monday: Adrien

Adrien stepped out of the car, thanking the Gorilla before walking up the steps to school. He sipped his coffee, still feeling tired from his trip. The trip to Berlin was a lot busier than he expected. He ended up being rushed from studio to studio each day with barely any time for himself. He was shoved back on a flight after the last shoot, arriving just before midnight. As a result, Adrien collapsed from exhaustion, waking up when Plagg nipped him. By some miracle, no akumas had attacked the city while he was away, but that was little comfort to him. Now it was Monday and he was back at last, though a bit late for class.

The courtyard was deserted, save for one girl with very familiar pigtails walking up the stairs towards Ms. Bustier's classroom. "Marinette! Wait up!"

Said girl turned around, her bluebell eyes meeting his green as a smile formed on her face. "Adrien!" She stopped for a moment to let him catch up to her, beaming at him as he rushed up the stairs. "Are you how? I mean how are you?"

Adrien smiled as her face started turning crimson. He always found it cute when Marinette got flustered. "I've been better, just got back from some photoshoots in Berlin. Are you running late too?"

Marinette looked away, "N-no, just he-here to pick up some of the homework I missed. Then I'm going back to the bakery to help my parents out some more."

Adrien frowned, "Are you still expelled?"

Marinette shook her head as she started walking up the stairs again, Adrien walking alongside her. "The school changed their mind and just suspended me for a few days due to the evidence being 'suspicious'. I'll be allowed to go back to class tomorrow."

Adrien frowned, suspicion starting to form in his mind. "I thought Lila said she would get the school to let you back in right away?"

Marinette shook her head, still not looking at him. "They never mentioned her over the phone, but if Lila told you she would do something for the good of someone else, I wouldn't count on her actually doing it. She's very good at deceiving people and sees me as a threat for standing in her way." She sighed, her shoulders sagging in despair.

Adrien shook his head, confessing quietly, "At the shoot, she said she would get you back in school because she was my friend. I'm so sorry, Marinette."

She flashed a comforting smile at him as she stopped just outside of Ms. Bustier's classroom. "It's not your fault Adrien, there was nothing you could do to make her change or actually do the right thing." As she walked into the classroom, Adrien couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt in his chest. 'It is my fault though, I'm the one who told you to take the high road and believed that Lila would do the right thing. I was wrong and you are paying for my mistake.'

Adrien followed her into the classroom and was shocked to find almost everyone glaring at Marinette. Nino sat in Marinette's spot while Lila was in Nino's seat next to Adrien's spot. Alya was talking, well, shouting, he conceded. "I can't believe you would actually do that Marinette! Stealing Adrien's phone to delete an embarrassing message is one thing, but stealing it just to keep him from talking to Lila? Where does it end with you?" Alya's tirade ended in a screech.

Marinette tried to sputter out a reply, but Lila spoke up between sniffles, "I think she snuck on the set last Thursday and got jealous when she saw me and Adrien so close. Marinette must have overheard his assistant tell Adrien that he was to go away for a shoot all weekend and wanted to make sure I couldn't talk to him. And because he didn't have his phone, I wasn't able to send him the photos of our shoot and tell him we have another today." While most people muttered in rage, Adrien noticed Alix narrow her eyes.

Adrien moved to the front of the room where Ms. Bustier was supposed to be, waving his hands to get their attention. "Guys, Marinette never had my phone. My father kept it to keep me from being distracted while I was away. Nathalie had it the whole time."

"Adrien, you don't have to lie to defend her," Alya stated bluntly. "Marinette should be capable of fighting her own battles."

"She didn't threaten you as she threatened me, did she?" Lila questioned timidly. Adrien could feel the venom hidden in her seemingly innocent question, which was clearly intended to further turn the class against Marinette. More of his classmates glared at Marinette, while Nathaniel seemed to have woken up from his morning nap, eyeing the group suspiciously. Chloe rolled her eyes and inspected her nails. Sabrina looked from Lila to Marinette as if torn between the two.

Adrien tried again to explain Marinette was innocent, but Ms. Bustier chose that moment to finally show up to class. "Everyone, settle down now! Adrien, welcome back. Now please take your seat. Marinette, here is your homework." She handed Marinette her homework, who simply nodded in thanks before quickly exiting the room. Taking his usual seat in the front Adrien felt his guilt grow as he saw a tear rolling down her cheek.

Lila smirked briefly when she felt no one would see it, no one but Adrien that is. She latched on to his arm. "Adrien, isn't it so great that we are sitting next to each other again?"

Adrien glared at her, "We had a deal."

Lila shrugged as Ms. Bustier turned around again. "Lila, please keep to yourself and pay attention to the lesson."

"Sorry, Ms. Bustier, you know how I can zone out sometimes." The teacher smiled understandingly, while Adrien felt sick. This is not good.

At lunchtime, it was no better. Alya and Nino dragged him over to their lunch table with no intention of hearing his side of the story, claiming he had just been lied to by Marinette. Lila joined them, invading his personal space as she went on about how great the shoot on Thursday had been and how the shoot that afternoon started after lunch and lasted the rest of the school day. Adrien quietly prayed it wasn't true, not wanting to go through another uncomfortable shoot with Lila again.

His salvation came in the form of Alix, surprisingly, who said that she needed Adrien's help for a project. Lila attempted to latch on, but Alix managed to shut her down stating she just only needed Adrien's help. While Alya and Nino comforted the 'hurt' Lila, Alix led him over to the table where Nathaniel sat alone sketching. "Nat, I got him."

Nathaniel flashed Adrien a small welcoming smile as Adrien turned to Alix. "What's going on?"

"You don't seriously believe Lila, do you?" Alix asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"No, of course not. I know my father's assistant had my phone the whole time we were in Berlin in case he tried to contact me directly." Adrien narrowed his eyes at her, asking her, "You two don't believe her either? What changed?"

Alix shook her head at him. "Hard no and everyone else wouldn't believe her if Alya didn't speak faster then she thinks. She practically set Lila up to look all honest and innocent while you were saying something that would have changed everyone's minds."

"And we've known Marinette longer than most. She would never let her emotions dictate her every action or bully anyone," Nathaniel added. "Kim and Max shouldn't be too hard to reason with, they've both known Marinette for a long time too."

Adrien shook his head, pointing out, "Max thought a napkin thrown by Marinette would pierce his glasses."

Nathaniel groaned as Alix rolled her eyes. "We just need to get him to ask Markov the probability of that actually being a possible outcome. That should wake him up and Kim will believe anything Max tells him so then we get the two of them," Alix reasoned.

"There is still Juleka and Rose, Lila promised to get Prince Ali to visit again and that got Rose hooked on. Anything Rose is enthusiastic about, Juleka is too," Nathaniel pointed out. "That goes for Ivan and Mylene as well. Lila promised to 'try' and support their protests. Alya is loyal to Lila to a fault and Nino just does everything Alya wants."

Adrien frowned, looking at the messages Nathalie had sent detailing the shoot that would take place that afternoon. He and Lila would be picked up right after lunch and brought to a closed studio where the crew would be ready for them. "So what's your plan? And what about Chloe and Sabrina?"

"We will start with Max and Kim after school figure out who to talk to next," Alix looked over at Chloe and Sabrina exiting the room, adding, "And Chloe and Sabrina haven't really been that involved, but I don't expect them to jump up and help Marinette."

Adrien opened his mouth to defend his childhood friend when his phone started buzzing. It was Nathalie, no doubt calling him to get going. Lila slithered up and linked her arm through his, pulling him towards the exit into the hallway. "Adrien, let's go! We shouldn't be late or your father will be mad!" Adrien waved goodbye to Alix and Nathaniel, who gave him twin looks of sympathy. Once in the hallway, Lila looked up at him, suspicion in her eyes. "What was the project?"

Adrien just kept looking ahead of him, not wanting to look at her. "Why do you need to know?"

"We are friends, aren't we?"

"Not when you are lying about Marinette," Adrien hissed, shaking her off and before entering the locker room. Lila scowled and followed him, retrieving her empty bag. Alya and Nino promised to do her homework since she was 'helping Adrien catch up.' Adrien hated the car ride, Lila sitting as close as she possibly could to him.

To Adrien's surprise, his father was at the studio inspecting things. Well, 'inspecting'. Nathalie was holding up a tablet FaceTiming his father in his office. "Adrien, Ms. Rossi, good to see you are on time," Gabriel stated in his usual monotone. "Ms. Rossi, the make-up team is waiting for you." Lila wiggled her fingers at Adrien as a crewmember led her to an area off to the side where the make-up usually set up. "Adrien, I expect you show her the same respect I expect you to give everyone else."

Adrien scowled, "Father, I don't want to do the photoshoot with her. She makes advances on me without my permission that make me feel uncomfortable. Not to mention she is a liar and turned everyone against my friend who did nothing wrong."

"She is a capable young woman who shows interest in you without foaming at the mouth and if her lies are that good, then she is intelligent as well. I see that as a perfect match. Perhaps your friend should just step aside for those who are better."

Adrien took a deep breath, doing his best not to yell as he hissed out, "You are missing the point, Father. I don't like her. I don't want to do any photoshoots with her or be around her."

"You will do as I say and follow instructions!" Gabriel snapped at him, even causing Nathalie to shudder. "Unless you want to be pulled out of school, I'd advise you to give Ms. Rossi the respect she deserves." Without another word, Gabriel hung up, leaving Adrien with balled fists. Why didn't his father listen to him? Isn't that what a parent was supposed to do?

Tuesday: Adrien

Plagg has never been more disgusted with Gabriel than the last couple of days. Adrien had been worked to the bone, barely given an ounce of free time. Then the man had the gall to encourage a relationship with Lila, the girl who turned everyone against Marinette, who is Plagg's favorite human after Adrien. That did not sit well with the kwami, but Adrien was already aware of most of the situation. The kid was already down from not being able to help Marinette and being forced into photoshoots did not improve his mental was already on his second cup of coffee that morning.

The solo photoshoot was canceled by Vincent after he declared the weather, "Not good for eating spaghetti!" This had delayed his arrival at school by half an hour. Adrien wanted to be there for Marinette on her first day back, but his father, as always, had to use his son for profits.

To his surprise, the class seating arrangement seemed to have drastically changed since yesterday. Chloe and Sabrina sat in their usual seats, but behind them was Alix and Nathaniel. At the next row were Max and Kim, with Marinette sitting in the back row. On the other side, Lila remained in Nino's seat, with Alya and Nino still behind them. Rose and Juleka moved to sit behind them, while Ivan and Mylene sat in the back row. The two sides were casting glares at each other, while Marinette sat with her head down, watching Ms. Bustier. She noticed Adrien and quickly gave him a sad smile before turning her attention back to the whiteboard.

Adrien started to move to the back when Alya grabbed his wrist and pointed at the empty seat next to Lila. "Don't make her feel like she's forgiven when she hasn't even apologized to you or Lila yet," Alya hissed, rage burning in her eyes. Nino, Rose, and Juleka nodded their heads in agreement with Alya. As he sat down, Adrien felt Alix's stare pierce his skull, and an image of Marinette giving him a look of hurt and betrayal popped into his mind. He did his best to focus on the lesson, but couldn't get the thought of Marinette out of his mind. She trusted him and he failed her again. Adrien felt like a scaredy-cat. He detested acting so cowardly.

It boiled over when Ms. Bustier started lecturing about how lies can bring society down to its knees, Alya took the opportunity to fire a shot at Marinette. "At least they didn't try to harm others or make their lives hell over petty jealousy," she hissed.

Before Ms. Bustier could silence her, Alix stood up to defend Marinette. "The liars only succeed because there are people too stupid to realize the truth staring them in the face. They rather believe what the liar has to say because Lie-la says the things they like to hear."

"How dare you accuse Lila of such a horrible thing!" exclaimed Rose. "She has been nothing but kind to all of us, but Marinette was mean to her." Juleka remained silent, simply nodding her head.

Max stood up, pushing up his glasses as he added, "I have been researching some of Lila's claims and it would seem that a lot of them can be disproved by a simple google search. And Marinette's connection to Jagged Stone grants her more than enough credibility to discredit Lila's claims ."

"Which is pointless! She has a crush on Adrien and is jealous about how much time he spends with Lila now! Anything she says now is going to be based on that!" Alya threw back.

Marinette's eyes widened, shocked that Alya revealed her secret to everyone. Adrien finally had enough and stood up to face Alya. "That wasn't your secret to tell Alya!" Everyone stared at him in shock, no one noticing as Lila snuck out of the room.

"Dude, are you seriously standing up for Marinette? Not cool dude!" Nino glared at him, obviously convinced by Alya to stick with Lila.

"Because he doesn't blindly follow someone who won't even do basic research!" spat Alix, earning a glare from Alya but Nino hesitated as if thinking it over. "You and Marinette have known each other longer than everyone else here, even longer than Adrien and Chloe, and you seriously think she is capable of this?"

Alya turned her gaze from Alix back to Adrien, "Pick a freaking side, Agreste. The facts are out in plain sight. Marinette has changed and if anyone can get her to stop, it's you. Maybe rejection will give her enough of a reality check to wake up."

"That's rich coming from you, Alya," Nathaniel spoke up, the normally quiet artist startling the others with his anger. "who abandoned your best friend that was there for you since she met you, helping you without asking for anything in return."

"EVERYONE! THAT'S ENOUGH!" The students glanced at the front of the room, and a red-faced Ms. Bustier took a deep breath. "Sit down now!" The students complied, surprised at her appearance, still casting glares at each other. "Everyone will remain here for after school detention, this is unacceptable!"

Alix stood up red faced, exclaiming, "But they are the ones being unreasonable!"

"Says the one defending a liar," Alya shot back at her.

Chloe snickered, "You all are so utterly ridiculous. One day you adore Dupain-Cheng, the next day you hate her!"

Rose stood up and yelled, "SHUT UP CHLOE! YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN MARINETTE!" The class burst back into the argument, Ms. Bustier's pleas were lost in the shouting. Adrien looked back and saw Marinette overlooking the chaos, despair in her eyes.

A swarm of red butterflies poured in through the open door seeking victims as the students began bickering again. The arguments turned into screams as the class tried to avoid the butterflies, but they were way too worked up with negative emotions. Adrien ducked and started crawling for the door as everyone else was hit, dark energy turning students into villains. He saw Marinette rushing down the steps with a book over her head protectively as he reached the exit.. Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him as they rushed out the door. Behind them, he could see the red outlines on their faces, no doubt Hawkmoth delivering his recruitment speech.

Adrien turned to Marinette, pointing down the walkway towards the stairs. "You have to get to safety! I can draw them away from you!"

Marinette's bluebell eyes glared at him in defiance as she grabbed his hand again and pulled him with her. "Not without you! You don't stand a chance against them alone. We need to get out of here and let Ladybug and Chat Noir do their job." Adrien hissed quietly in frustration when she turned her gaze away. Why won't she just go somewhere safe to hide so he could transform and help Ladybug stop the akumatized villains? Reluctantly, he let Marinette lead him out the school and down an alley. He would just have to wait until she gave him a chance to slip away, hoping his Lady could hold out before he was able to join her.

Scarlet Moth

On the roof of the school stood Scarlet Moth, victory once again at his fingertips. He wasn't able to akumatize the Dupain-Cheng girl, but he would make sure she was found and turned, ensuring his victory. He grinned evilly as he felt the power of all the akumas he currently had under his control. His new Catalyst grinned at his side, willingly helping him with his evil plan at last. "My loyal akumas, find Adrien Agreste and secure him some place where he will be out of the way. Then find Ladybug and Chat Noir and bring me their miraculous. Take out their precious backup heroes, wherever they may be! Today is the day the world will kneel to me!"

Catalyst cackled beside him, eager to finally repay Ladybug for embarrassing her in front of Adrien. After Hawkmoth had made his wish, both the ladybug miraculous and Adrien will be hers while Marinette will be made to serve her every wish. And Lila will make sure Marinette never forgets that she won just as she had threatened she would by reminding her about it everyday.