Someone that Pesters my Mind

Today was not as good as yesterday, ol' Journal ol' pal (They can't all be days of sunshine and rainbows). Chloé was enraged when she found out that Adrien was at the party without her. Not sure exactly how but she decided that I deliberately kept the information from her. Of course, I would totally do that in a heartbeat but I really was too busy to worry about keeping her from "her Adrikins."

She was still letting me have it when Adrien (sigh) and Nino came in. The demonic girl lost her fangs and claws when she saw the embodiment of perfection sit down in front of me. Chloé opened her mouth to say something but Adrien began speaking first.

"Hey Marinette! I was thinking; did I ever thank you for yesterday? I don't think I did and it's been bothering me. I had a really fun time at the bakery. I know I wasn't much help but I really enjoyed getting a chance to make something," Adrien spoke directly to me, not even noticing Chloé. He looked a little embarrassed which I thought was strange. Adrien was always so confident. My brain decided to melt and pour out my ears at the sight of his slight blush.

Chloé began making some animal like noises that were just downright scary. Her face was fire red as she turned to me with rage filled eyes. I was caught between being frightened of Chloé strangling me and scared of talking to Adrien. Nino (I love that boy) saved me from answering.

"Adrien cooking? Marinette, you're lucky he didn't set the place on fire!" he said with a laugh hitting his best friend's back. Adrien put on a pretend pout but soon joined in the mirth. It was contagious, and I started giggling with them. The only one left out was Chloé, who was still standing beside my desk when the teacher came in.

"Miss Bourgeois, whenever you're ready, I'd like to begin class," the class snickered at Miss Bustier's comment. Seeing Chloé bustle to her desk in anger gave me no satisfaction though. I could just imagine her turning into an akuma again. For some reason, I leaned toward her and whispered an apology after she had sat down. This shocked everyone, including me. Her face twisted up in a smug sneer as she turned back around at her seat. I felt a bit defeated but it was worth swallowing my pride to avoid another "Antibug" incident.

Can't believe I'm even thinking this, but I'm glad Alya's not here. She would have died if she heard me apologize to the wicked witch of the class. As if Nino read my mind, he turned around and asked where Alya was in a low tone.

"She texted me last night and said she was going to miss first period. Apparently, she stayed up late working on some new Ladybug stuff for the blog," I tried and failed to keep the pride from my voice. Alya may be tired but I knew she was thrilled about her visitor.

"Well," Nino whispered and paused, waiting for Miss Bustier to turn back around, "I'm glad she's okay but I hope she gets back soon. Can't have you apologizing for every little thing Chloé throws a fit over." I smiled at him. I knew he was really only missing Alya. They are so cute together, I could perish sometimes.

Alya came in after first period like she promised, ambushing me at the lockers. She looked exhausted but the bone crushing hug she gave me let me know it was worth it to her. I listen to her gush over Ladybug and thank me over and over. My ego was still being stroked on both of my identities when Adrien showed up out of nowhere, almost giving me another heart attack. We need to get that boy a bell, I mused.

"Good to see you, Alya! I heard you have something new going on with the Ladyblog…"He was listening to me and Nino, "and I just wanted to ask for a spoiler or two if you have time?" He seemed a bit self-conscious as he scratched the back of his neck, but I couldn't really observe much more because he casually gave me a wink which nearly killed me then and there.

"All I can say is that it's going to blow your mind. Well, maybe that's not all I can say. This stays between us, okay?" Adrien opened his mouth to reply but Alya cut him off excitedly, "Marinette got me an interview with Ladybug last night! Can you believe it? Ladybug, at MY HOUSE!"

I grabbed her arm and motioned to the busy hallway. More than a few eyes looked our way after her outburst. Alya would be furious if she was the one to leak her own story.

"Thanks, girl. Sorry, I'm just kinda super freaking excited. I stayed up most of the night editing the video and making it perfect. I have it set to post at lunch today, when the blog is most active. She even took selfies with me, Adrien. SELFIES, MARINETTE," she grabbed my shoulders and I couldn't help but laugh at her antics. Adrien left with a wave and a (heavenly) chuckle as I tried to calm Alya down again.

The video was a huge success, the most viewed in the blog's history. Alya was the only journalist to have not only one but two exclusive interviews with Paris's masked heroine. Everyone came up to ask her about it, and because Alya is Alya, she told them all that I was the one to set up the meeting, even though I told her to keep it discreet.

"Marinette," she said in that child-you-know-nothing tone of hers, "Take credit where it's due! You deserve it. I couldn't put your name on the video credits. Ladybug told me it might make you a target for Hawk Moth. Since I can't do that, the least you can let me do is let everyone here know."

"What if one of them is Hawk Moth, or related to Hawk Moth? Hmmm?" I didn't believe it, but anything was worth a try. It wasn't a good thing to have everyone was associating me with Ladybug.

"Oh yeah, you're absolutely right. Yep, Rose is totally the evil Hawk Moth. She's sure to take you hostage as soon as she gets done doodling kittens on her notebook," came her smart reply. I gave up, realizing that it was useless to argue with the hard headed girl.

JOURNAL, YOU AREN'T GONNA BELIEVE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO WRITE ON YOU. Okay, I thought I was done writing for today but I'm SOOO not.

Okay, so I just finished writing about Alya telling everyone I set up the Ladybug interview when I heard a tap on my window. It was freaking Chat Noir! He was hanging upside down by his tail from my balcony. I screamed yelled at him to stop being insane and get on my flipping balcony. The crazy cat snickered then did as I said.

My first thought was He saw the interview and somehow figured out it was me. I must have let something slip. How could I be so stupid? But as soon as I opened the skylight above my bed to let him in, my fears vanished. His face held no secret knowledge (or much knowledge of any kind, for that matter), as he smugly flopped on my bed. He started to say some kind of innuendo but I just rolled my eyes and tuned him out, walking back down to my flat. Chat followed, swinging his tail.

"Nice to see you again, Princess," he drawled, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. He literally started flexing his arms in the middle of the room. Like flexing for no reason. Who even does that? I had to hold back another eye-roll. It couldn't be good for my vision to be constantly doing that.

"To what do I owe the honor, my feline friend?" I sat back down in the computer chair and went to put my journal (you) up. That was a mistake as the Chat immediately yanked it (you? I'm going to say it for now, sorry) out of my hand.

"Oh, I just came to say hello and HELLO, what's this, huh? A diary?" he jumped out of my range as I reached for it. Anxiety filled my chest but I calmed down when he made no move to open it. Chat Noir might be a tease but he respects privacy. Well, at least I know he respects Ladybug's, I thought as I tried to act cool.

"It's my journal. Notice what I said there. 'My journal.' Not 'Chat Noir's Cat Toy'," I got up and pulled it from his hand, "Haven't you ever heard? Curiosity killed the cat."

I went to put it up again and he had the nerve reach over me and take it once more. Chat did a stupid one armed back flip and sat himself on top of my desk. Completely unnecessary (albeit cool).

"And what's the rest again? Oh yeah, and 'satisfaction brought him back'," I moved toward him, concern written all over my face but he stopped me, holding up a gloved hand, "Don't worry, I won't read it without your permission. That would be purr-ty rude of me, don't you think?" Chat sat my journal (you) back in its box and gently closed the lid.

"Thank you, Chat," I said with a sigh of relief. I sank down into my desk chair and closed my eyes in as I relaxed. I felt Chat's presence to my left but I didn't open my eyes.

"Princess, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I won't mess around like that again. I swear on all nine of my lives," I opened my eyes to find him kneeling before me with a clawed hand over his heart.

"Kitty, I don't think you have nine lives anymore. Not after all the stunts you pull fighting akumas. You have like five, maybe. I'll take a few of them myself if you ever touch my journal again," I couldn't help but smile at the trouble maker as he put on the dramatics, acting like I had mortally wounded him with my words.

"Marinette, who knew you could say such things? How does something so cruel come out of something so sweet? I think you have taken one life with that sentence alone," the black clad boy flung himself on my floor and threw his arm over his masked eyes like a lady on a soap opera.

"Serves you right, alley cat. Now tell me why you decided to drop by. Not that I don't just love our little chats," I tossed in that last part just to get a rise out of him. It worked immediately. He bolted up and stared at me, opened mouth in shock. It didn't last long. Chat recovered quickly and his signature grin spread out over his face.

"Can't a prince check up on his princess without being questioned?" I shot him a look and he went on, seeing that I wasn't falling for it, "Alright, alright. I heard from a little bird that you had talked my lady into giving an interview." Ahh, so this is about Ladybug. But wait, if Chat heard about that, then that means he could go to my school! Or at least, he knows someone who goes to my school.

"Go on," I tried to play it off like it was no big deal as I swiveled around in my chair and started stacking up papers.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that I'd be happy to do an interview too," I swung back around quickly, completely floored.

"What? Why would you do that? I mean, what brought this on?"

"Well, for starters, my lady trusts this Alya so I do too. Next, it looks like fun and I feel like it. Finally, I want to do it as a favor to you, my favorite princess," he put a clawed finger under my chin as if to punctuate the last sentence. I pretended to snap at his finger with my teeth which Chat found hilarious. I was only half joking though. The way he said, 'favorite princess' irked me for some reason.

"Next time I'll bit it off. Don't want a trip to the vet, do we? Anyway, I'm sure you say that to all your princesses." Chat's laugh stopped short and his face looked confused.

"All my princesses? You are the only one, Mari. I didn't mean for you to think otherwise," his voice was serious for a change, which caught me off guard. He ended the cute moment when he jokingly remarked, "Didn't mean to make you jealous."

I scoffed but couldn't stop my smirk, "Don't flatter yourself. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Yes, I can set up an interview. Tell me what time is good for you. Alya will be ecstatic."

"How about tomorrow night around nine-ish? I have to patrol with Ladybug, but after that I'm free." He was leaning against my desk when his ring let out a beep. Looks like we need to hurry up.

"That sounds good. Do you want me to give you Alya's address?" Chat was climbing up to my bed loft as I called after him. He turned his head over his shoulder as he answered me.

"No need. Uh, I mean, I'll just ask Ladybug to show me," the black clad boy made to leave but I called out to him again.

"Oh Chat, don't tell her you came to me to set this up. Act like you just wanted to or it was Ladybug's idea. I love Alya but she doesn't understand that not everyone wants the attention that comes with dealing with superheroes. You'd be doing me another favor if you kept this low-key." Chat looked a little surprised but he nodded and grinned. He was out the sky light when I yelled at him again. Wow, I'm coming off a little clingy but I can't help it. This must be how Chat feels around Ladybug. No, I mean, not like that but whatever!

"Chat!" he stuck his head back through the trap door with a bemused expression, "I just wanted you to know that I might be your only princess but you're not my only kitty." He was about to say something in retort but his ring beeped again.

"This is not over, Princess," and with that he disappeared. I don't know about you, Journal, but I think I won this round.