In the Morning

Chapter Six: Real or Fake?

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"I can't believe I did it! I am shaking as I talk to Plagg, "I really asked her and I kissed her! Our first kiss!" I sigh and smile in a daze.

"Yeah, yeah I'm happy for you, but really, don't you think you are going kinda fast? You are both so young and also…" He stops.

I look to my kwami, "What Plagg?" I question lifting an eyebrow.

"I have no right to say anything because I told you to focus on Marinette and not Ladybug, but, I think you are trying too hard too hard to use Marinette to forget the way you feel about Ladybug. And that isn't fair to Marinette. She really likes you for you and you should like her for her. Not because she is helping you forget your hurt." His green eyes not leaving mine the whole while he spoke.

"I'm not just using her. I really do like her…" I try to rebut but I can feel the doubt in my own heart as I say the words.

"Then you need to be one hundred percent over Ladybug before you get deeper into a relationship with Marinette. It's not like Marinette is head over heels in love with Chat Noir and is using you to get over him because he doesn't like her." He laughs slightly and then add, "She likes you because you are you."

"You're right. I'll talk to Ladybug tomorrow and that'll be that. I'll find a way past my feelings for her. I'll tell her I'm alright and I hope that she is too. Then we can just be friends and continue to be crime fighting partners. It'll be okay, I promise Plagg. I know what I'm doing." I glare darts at my kwami as he laughs at me.

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"WHAT!?" Alya screams as she grabs my shoulders.

"Yeah!" I smile confidently, "Adrien and I are dating," I pause, "and he kissed me."

"I can't believe it! It finally happened! WOW! Well now we can go on double dates for sure!" She elbows me in my side.

"I guess so!" I beam. "I can't help but wonder what Chloe's reaction will be." I whisper to my best friend as the blonde girl walks into the room and takes her seat. Of course she snobbishly flips her pony tail at me before sitting down.

"Well, there he is, I guess we are about to find out." Alya winks at me.

I look to the door and see Adrien. 'My boyfriend.' His face lights up as he smiles a brilliant white smile to me, "Good morning Adrien," I smoothly comment.

Adrien's mouth opens but I hear Chloe's voice over his, "Wow, that's a first! Marinette didn't stutter out a hello to Adrien today!" she and Sabrina laugh. "Good morning Adrikins!" She goes to pounce on him for a hug and I feel my anger spike inside of me. Before I know it, I'm on my feet and pulling him up a step to my side.

Chloe lands on Adrien's empty chair and glares up to me, "I have no reason to stutter anymore Chloe." I put my hand on my hip and I feel Adrien's arm wrap tightly around my waist. I try to control my blush.

"That's right Chloe, she doesn't need to because as of last night we are dating." Adrien finishes my statement.

Chloe's mouth is now hanging open and there are gasps and murmurs throughout the classroom, even the sound of a pencil's tip breaking is audible. Then Alya and Nino start to clap, and to my shock others join them, blush is covering my cheeks for sure now.

"That's right everyone! It happened!" Alya boomed.

Adrien, puzzled looked to me, while stepping back down to his seat. Chloe was now back in her's and pouting dramatically. I realize Adrien is confused because he really had no idea how much I liked him, and for so long. "Dude, Marinette has liked you ever since you helped her out that rainy day and loaned her your umbrella. Alya told me but I was forced to promise I wouldn't tell you. Most everyone figured it out. Except you." He laughed.

"Really!?" the surprise is in Adrien's voice and on his face.

"Y-yeah," I laugh awkwardly, "It's pretty true." I smile.

"I. Am. So. Blind." He mumbles.

"What was that?!" Rose shrieked pointing to the window. The whole class rushes over to look.

"Is that a giant watermelon rolling through the streets of Paris…?" Nino asks dully in shock.

"An akuma this early! Sweet! Got to go! The Ladyblog needs me!" Alya yells as she runs from the room.

"Alya wait!" I start to run after her, "She could get flattened! I have to stop her!" I inform everyone as I run to the exit.

"Tikke," I call to my little red friend once I am out of sight, "I think Hawkmoth is getting low on people to akumatize… He akumatized a gardener."

Tikki let out a bell like laugh, "I would have to agree Marinette!"

"Okay Tikki! Spots on!"

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"Marinette still isn't back, ah, I'm going to go look for her and Alya. I say to a few of my classmates who notice me trying to slip out of the classroom. Once I am in the hall I open my pocket for Plagg, "Plagg! Cla-"

"Aren't you actually worried about your girlfriend and her friend?" he interrupts me.

"Well, of course, but Paris needs me. Plus Alya is always around the fights and she has never gotten hurt. I'm sure they are both safe."

"Very true." Plagg nods.

"Ready now?" Plagg nods again, "Claws out!" I feel magic rush over my body and then with the add on of a tail and cat ears I am Chat Noir.

"Ladybug! Look out!" I dash over to the girl in red with black dotting her and pull her out of the path of two carrot dart.

"Thanks Chat!" My partner exclaims with a smile, "We need to get the garden rake from him!"

"Will do!" I bound off to distract the villain while Ladybug shouts for a lucky charm.

"Well, that was way too easy," I laugh as I put my hands behind my head.

"It really was. I only sprayed water on him. That was it. Then he just dropped his rake, you tossed it to me and end of story." Ladybug laughs with me.

I catch myself smiling at her, "You seem really happy today."

"Same to you," she smiles back, her eyes showing her smile. "I'm pretty happy with everything lately. Things have been going really well for me, I hope they have for you too." The last line wasn't really a question but I feel like she wanted it to be one.

"Yeah! Same here! I've actually gotten a girlfriend and she is so beautiful and she is the sweetest too! Plus, she really likes me for me. Puns and all." I say very matter of factly. I wink to my partner but freeze and change my action when I she My Lady's face.

She looks stunned and possibly hurt. 'Why did I say all that like I was bragging? I wanted to make things better! To prove that I can and have moved on. That only proved I wanted to hurt her…' I mentally face-palm myself. "Ladybug, I didn't mean to-" Her earrings beeping stops me.

"No, no, it's alright Chat Noir. I'm glad you are happy. I'm happy with who I'm with and I'm glad you are happy with who you are with. That's what matters. And that we can keep keeping Paris safe. I've got to run now." She waves over her should and yo-yo's away.

I stare after her, her words echoing in my head, 'I'm happy with who I'm with.' I bite my lip, 'I guess I asked for it. I was being rude…' Plagg beeps at me from my ring and I find cover.

"What happened to "I know what I'm doing." Adrien, you really do still want Ladybug. You know that right?"

I gulp, "I know. But no. She has someone else and so do I." I hear how cold my voice sounds. "We are both happy. Everything is great then." I fist my hand and clench my jaw.

"Then why don't you seem like it is all okay?" Plagg presses.

"Because Plagg! I'm jealous!" I yell. Breathe a harsh breath or two then look to Plagg and see his frightened green eyes looking back at me. "I-I just have to focus on Marinette. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I just don't know if I can really not think about Ladybug…"