In the Morning

Chapter Two: The Next Day

*M:POV*

"Tikki, I feel horrible," I say to my kwami who I feel land on my hand that I have laying across my eyes. Images of Chat Noir's face from last night burn against my eye lids. "I feel like I hurt him really badly. My heart hurts for him." I move my hand and open my eyes to brush away tear before it has time to fall.

"Well Marinette, maybe that means you actually really do love Chat Noir." Tikki offered, her sweet voice soothing my over worked emotions slightly.

"But-" I bite my lip to stop my words. "Adrien…" I look to all of my pictures of my favorite model all around my room. "It wouldn't be fair to both of them. I can't love two different people at the same time."

"I know, but, what one do you feel can actually be something? Because Marinette, I know you love Adrien but does he feel the same way for you? Do you want to take the chance of missing something great with Chat Noir for a chance that nothing will come from Adrien?" Tikki paused, she must have noticed the hurt look on my face, "Marinette," she sighed "I'm not saying Adrien doesn't like you, I'm just saying be sure to weigh everything."

"I-" I pause my words again as I think over everything Tikki said. 'What one do I think can be something true?' "Tikki, I think I need to make things right with Chat, but I can't give up on Adrien. We actually can be together. Chat Noir and I can't. We don't even know who the other is, and we never can know, right?" I sit up and pull my knees to my chest, "And Adrien, he is so wonderful. I can't give up on the chance I could still have, if I can stop making an idiot of myself. It's my fault nothing has happened between us, so I need to change that!" I smile at my small friend, knowing what I want to do.

"Well then make something happen! I know you can do it! I really do feel like you two have more in common than you think." She smiled brightly back at me. I can't help but wonder what she meant with that last part though.

"Yeah, that's what I'll try…" My mid fades to thoughts of Chat, my kitty that I hurt. "I do need to make things right with Chat Noir though." I add.

My mom's voice cares up the stairs to my room, "Hurry Marinette you're going to be late!" I glace to my clock and let out a strangled scream as I dash out of my bed and get ready for school.

*A:POV*

"Man kid, you don't look so good." Plagg's comment makes my dry emotions sting dully because I know it's true without even looking in a mirror. "Sorry," he floats to my shoulder and lands, "Don't you have a photo shoot today?"

I walk to my bathroom and look at myself in the large mirror on the wall. 'I look like complete and total trash,' my thoughts tell me. My eyes are red and swollen, there are dark circles under them, because I didn't sleep at all. I tired but couldn't. Thoughts of My Lady with some other guy running around Paris made sleep impossible. I look to my hair, it looks so disgustingly dirty. It must be from toughing it so much and not showering last night. My stomach growls loudly, I see Plagg jump at the sound. 'There is no way I can eat right now… I can't keep it down.'

"Adrien," Nathalie's voice calls to me along with a knock on my door. I look to my closet and grab a pair of jeans, a plain black shirt and a grey zip up hoodie. I don't feel like being bright today. The brightest part of my outfit today is my orange sneakers. I push my hair back out of my eyes and look at myself in my computer screen. I hardly even look like Adrien Agreste today. That's okay I guess, I don't feel like him today either.

I open my bedroom door and start to the front door of my home, I catch Nathalie's expression as I walk towards her. I stuff my hands in my pockets after pulling my hood up, "Cancel my photo shoots for today, I'll do them tomorrow." I say as I pass her and go through the door, ignoring the food in her hand. I sit down in the car and wait to leave. As we drive I think how my own voice sounded so foreign to my ears. Plagg looks at me from the hidden pocket in my hoodie, I make sure all my clothes have a place for him. His little green eyes look hurt too. I hope my pain isn't harming him. I know I said I'd be there for My Lady in the morning but she isn't here. She doesn't have to know that I lied and I am still like this.

The car stops in front of the school and I get out. I start to walk toward the school, looking at the ground only a few feet in front of me as I walk. I hear a girl's panicked scream before I feel the impact of a body crashing with mine and taking me to the ground.

*M:POV*

'Crap, crap, crap, crap, I totally just run into someone! This is what you get for running late!' my thoughts scream at me, scolding me. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," I mutter repeatedly as I sit up, feeling the hand this person had wrapped around my waist slide of as I move.

"It's all good, no new damage." I hear the voice, dry and cold. I stare at the person trying to figure out who they are. I am still gazing at his face when he turns to face me.

Adrien. I feel my face flush instantly, darker than it already was, "I'm so sorry Adrien!"

"It's okay Marinette." His voice hits my ears again and it snaps me out of my 'Adrien daze'. I look to his face and take in his features. His eyes red, bags under them, his hair unruly and dirty, I also don't recognize his outfit, I don't even see his dad's logo anywhere. I gasp softly when your eyes meet. His normally bright green eyes are gone. They are instead a dull and careless green. "Adrien? Are you okay?" I keep my voice soft like I am talking to a scared animal.

"Yeah, well, no. But I'll be okay. Thanks for asking Marinette." He touches my shoulder and walks away as the warning bell sounds.

I don't move, even knowing full well I am for sure going to be late. "Tikki," She pops her head out from my bag, "I wonder if something with his father… I've never ever seen him look like that. So torn apart."

The last bell rings and I start to move to the classroom. My thoughts still pondering for Adrien. I don't catch all of Tikki's response, losing it in the sound of my quickly moving feet, but I think it was something like "I'm sure you know the reason." I'm pretty sure I just miss heard her though.

Classes went by in a blur. It was mostly me staring at the back of Adrien's head trying to figure out how I could help. Adrien didn't seem to care at all what people thought about his appearance today. Chloe's reaction was apparently the worst. I wasn't here to see it because I was still outside dazed but Alya filled me in. She said when Adrien walked in Chloe didn't notice him at all until he went to sit down. She turned to him and said in a disgusted tone, "Ah, you can't sit there you gross piece of an attempt at my Adrikens." When he turned to face her she apparently all but fell out of her chair. Of course, she tried to cover her remark but Adrien had just put his hand up to silence her. Alya said the look on Chloe's face was priceless.

When I had walked into class we made brief eye contact but his quickly flicked away.

"Marinette? Earth to Marinette?" Alya snapping in front of my eyes pulled from my remembering.

"Huh? Yeah, what?" I look at her, sitting on the bench beside me in the park close to my house.

"You haven't heard a word I've said have you?" She didn't wait for my reply, "Thinking about Adrien?"

I sigh, "Yeah, sorry Alya. I didn't mean to space out. I just can't stop thinking about what could have made him look so upset and hurt."

"I don't know girl, my bet is on his dad, that's what Nino thinks too."

My eyes widen, "He didn't even tell Nino?"

"Nuh uh," Alya shook her head.

I groan and frown, looking to the dirt under my flats, 'Why do I feel like I am hurting too?'

"Marinette! Look!" My friend exclaims as she points to the sky, I follow her finger and look. I see a man flying while laughing evilly, "I've got to go! Ladybug is sure to be there! I can't miss her!" And with that she was gone.

'Ladybug. Yeah, she'll be there.' I stand and make my way out of others' view, "Tikki, spots on!"

Thank you all so much for reading! I really didn't plan on writing more than that first chapter but after hearing a few people wanted me to write more I tried and then I couldn't stop! So I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know the characters are a bit OOC but I wanted it that way. They probably will be OOC for a good portion of this fic. Thank you so much for reading! Drop me a review on what you think! [: I'll have chapter three up soon!

Xx. Joy