"Mirielle, I, uh what're you doing here?" I left Adrien in my room after doing my best to convince him that I'd be fine on my own. Primping in my hallway's mirror to get my blushing under control, I opened the door to see Mirielle with mascara streaked tears the stained her white dress, wrinkled from distress and emotion.
"Where's Adrien?" Her voice was skinned from it's usual forced peppiness. When I didn't answer fast enough, she rolled her bloodshot eyes in anguish. "His car is open in your parking lot, Marinette so don't lie."
"Mi-"
"Don't 'Mi' me."
"Mireille, Adrien left with Nino awhile ago."
"I don't believe you." She snapped back.
"Mireille if you hadn't noticed there's police cars everywhere, right now isn't a good time."
She blinked twice, taking in the scene. "Is-He in trouble?"
I shrugged. "Mireille I think you should leave." My heart ached for Adrien, and seeing her brought back bad memories for both of us.
"Did.. He not tell you we got into a fight? Mari, I need you right now." She grabbed my hand that I recoiled from her slipper grip.
"No, he told me he broke up with you. Mireille, I know you sent the picture." She furrowed her eyebrows, betrayed almost.
"Who told you that? Mari, I'd never!"
"Mireille, it was easy to connect the dots. Nino said you're the one who lead him on." It was cruel, really, to kick her while she was down but she had made Adrien feel like he ruined my life, when it was her. "I think you should leave.." Before one of us gets hurt. I could almost hear her frontage snap.
"Are you happy? Now that you've gotten Adrien? You can fucking drop the act now, you aren't fooling me."
"Excuse me? The only one who had an act was when you pretended to have my back, when you told lies about me." I straighten my stance from leaning on the open door. "Mireille, you practically ruined my life because of your jealousy."
She hastily wiped her face, using her anger to fuel her actions. She relaxed slightly. "You wanna know what Adrien told me about you? When you guys hated each other?" Exposing a greasy smile she continued. "He said that you ruined his life, that he'd never love you. Mm, Yeah, remember the night at the party? Before you left?" Hurt flashed my face as I remembered Mirielle. Well Adrien's waiting for me upstairs. She took my weakness to use against me. "Oh yeah you do. Adrien will never love you, he's always hated and despised you for taking those whom he loved the most for your selfish gain."
"Stop.." I whispered, my nails breaking by scraping the door. She laughed hysterically.
"He's repulsed by you. Sickened." Spitting it out like poison.
"Shut up." My throat felt like closing, as I cringed my own disgust for myself.
"What did he say? Oh yes, big-headed, big-headed, compulsive, a whore, a bitch. The names are endless. And seeing how you still have him wrapped around your finger, it's all true."
I knew it was all lies, I knew he never meant any of it, but if he did.. I wanted to fight back but I couldn't. Why why why why, shut up shut up shut up shut up. "Shut up.." I whispered quieter than before.
"Adrien loves me, Marinette." She said flatly, full on believing it. "You're just his rebound. He's just another one of the victims you managed to fuck over."
"Shu-"
"Get out, Mirielle." A lower voice boomed from behind me. By the way Mirielle jumped back, she too didn't notice Adrien had snuck up on us for god knows how long. He slid his arms around my shoulders, hugging me from behind as he towered over the both of us.
"Ad-Adrien, baby! Look, I'm sorry let's talk-"
"Leave."
"I know you're mad but-"
"I'm livid, steaming actually. Now leave." I felt like I was having an outer body experience, only Adrien's hands kept me secure and planted. It was like she just noticed our embrace, her face contorted in disgust. "It's over, Mirielle. Forever, now leave before you piss me off more."
"Adrien, she's fooling you! We can work it out, please-"
Adrien scoffed, "Mirielle, you don't understand. It's always been Marinette. Don't ever, ever, show your face to my girlfriend ever again. Got it?"
Instead of crying, which I thought would be her first reaction, she smiled. "You'll get tired of her, everyone does. This isn't over." But I slammed the door in her face, and on her toe, before she could get anymore out. A shot of pride went through me but it was covered with doubt and sickness.
I turned myself towards his chest and squeezed every ounce of strength I had left in a hug he returned with just as much strength. "Why'd you tell her those things?" My voice came out as a squeak.
"That's the thing…" He pushed away gentle, his hand gripping my shoulders tightly. I sensed no lies or guilt. Simply pain and confusion. "I didn't."
…
"Shit, sorry did I wake you?" Marinette was laying ontop of me because the couch we shared was too small for both of us to lay side-by-side. I had my head supported by a pillow, looking down at Marinette who was sleeping soundlessly with the pattern of my breathing. She stirred when I had changed the channel on the TV when some of those 30min paid advertisement shows started playing. Since we chose to blow off school for obvious reasons, I managed to convince her strained parents to let me stay the night. If it wasn't for the fact that they knew we were best friends, still thought I was dating Mirielle, and liked the idea of Marinette sleeping with someone else just incase something happened again, I would've surely been kicked out and let to face the backlash of what I had done to Mirielle at my house.
Marinette snuggled closer to the edge of my side, right by where the couch's back board was. She had her fist to her mouth, her thumb nail lightly touching her lips as she slept at ease. I grinned at how my legs dripped over the couch and she was snuggled, small as possible, to my side. "No, no… You didn't." Her finger brushed my lip as she smiled up at me. I tensed my shoulders to draw her closer to them, where I used them to kiss her forehead. When I was tucking her in more with the fleece blanket she mumbled something against my shirt.
"What?"
"Do you think she'll.. Become an akuma?" Goosebumps formed from the way she twirled patterns with her finger on my shirt.
"For the seventh time, both Plagg and Tikki already told us she still wasn't qualified enough for Hawk Moth to take over. Obviously, she wasn't that upset on this outcome." I felt her head bob in a nod.
"It's weird.. I mean with everything that's happened you'd think she would.. You know."
"Yeah.. Maybe I wasn't her main goal, or objective." We've racked our brains over it a million times. Mirielle was obviously not the kind of person we both thought she was, god knows what she'd do next.
Marinette balled the clothing of my shirt into her fist. "So, is she just determined to ruin my life?"
I unclenched it and then entwined my fingers with her. "No, it can't be. If that was the cause, she would most definitely be possessed by an akuma now that she saw you had everything working out for you. No.. She has other things in mind… And whatever they are, I'll protect you no matter what. You can bet on that."
She kissed my knuckles. "Right back at ya'."
…
"So Mirielle and you are D-O-N-E?" Nino had to close his mouth to keep his milk from dripping.
"Yep, but it wasn't really a clean split so… Don't do anything stupid, Neen." Adrien waved his fork at his best friend across the lunch table. Nino threw his hands up in defense.
"God! Stop, I won't! I swear My eye throbs whenever you think of me." Nino rubbed the hollow skin under his right eye with contempt. Adrien mustered his most innocent and loving smile that made Nino roll his eyes. After taking a gracious bite full of his pizza, he spoke in a sloppy manner. "Back on the market then, reminds me of old times."
"Yep, so if you have anyone in mind for me..." Adrien winked at his friend the same time Adrien brushed his leg on mine for reassurance. We decided it would be best to keep it between us, only after we had found out we were "together." Although he never really asked me to be his girlfriend. I stuck my thumb in my water bottle's cap, my thoughts wandering elsewhere.
"How's things going at home, Mar?"
I leaned on my elbow, taking a deep sigh. "They finally believed my parents, so now I have an officer that follows me everywhere. Between having a strict curfew and people watching my every move, just dandy."
Nino's lip tugged to the side in a cringing smirk. "Tough, no leads?"
At that Adrien's eyes penetrated me with sheer curiosity. The only evidence they managed to catch was a tall man in a dark trench coat disappearing in the alley diagonal from our house. But Adrien always knew that, he's been my side 24/7. Driving my to school, home, the limited places I was allowed to go, and even going as far as going to my parents and the officers to guarantee my safety. While they laughed at him, I simply beamed in embarrassment and love. I shook my head, no need to tell Nino everything that could be leaked. "Nope." I tossed a fruit snack in my mouth but Adrien caught it with ease before I could savor the orange gummy flavor. He chewed it dramatically and with a mischievous smile. He was so damn cute I couldn't help but break my irritated glare to hit him on the head. He simply bent his head and torso in my direction to shoulder bump me, also an excuse to move his chair close to mine. Nino simply stared in disgust and bewilderment.
"It's so weird."
"Hmm?" Adrien stole another gummy from my packet before giving Nino a look of acknowledgement.
"Seeing you too… Be nice and not… Assholes." Nino sat back in his seat with his arms crossed.
"No, no, he's still an asshole." I shot daggers at Adrien from the corner of my eye, creating a barrier between my gummies and him with my arm.
"But I'm your asshole." Adrien accused. Nino simply groaned.
"Am I third wheeling? I feel like I'm third wheeling." Adrien tapped his friend's hat that fell into his eyes.
"Sorry Neen, I'll give you attention, okay? We'll make Marinette the third wheel." He basically cooed at his best friend, slinging an arm around his shoulder.
"As much as I want to see you guys flirt," I stood up from the plastic disgrace of chairs our school provided, flashing my phone's screen of my mom's contact for Adrien's reassurance. "I have to go take this."
"Alright, but you'll miss out on some Adre-ino action!" Called Nino as he returned Adrien's pose by looping his arm around his shoulders.
I sent then a cringeful look, pretending to puke, "Yeah, no." I said shortly before speed walking to the girls bathroom as the phone was about to go to voicemail.
"Yeah, mom?"
"Hey Mar, just checking up on you. Everything okay?"
"Yes, With all the police officers and surveillance, its hard not to be." My voice was edged in irritation. Because of all this, I hadn't been able to transform. Adrien was left to carry my weight which he did for everything.
"Its for your safety, hey you're friends with LadyBug, right?"
I froze, my hand midway to my face as I primped absentmindedly in the bathroom mirror. "Errr.. More like acquaintances?"
"Shoot.. Do you think Alya could contact her?"
Hell no. "Erm, why do you want with LadyBug?"
"I thought she could also keep an eye on you." I heard the rustling of plastic bags, she was probably shopping. I could see her now fumbling with her car keys, her head to her shoulder talking with the phone, dropping everything in the process.
"Mom, between all the camera and police watching my every move I think I'm safe enough. And LadyBug wouldn't abandon all of Paris just for me." I heard her close the car door.
"I guess you're right. I bought ingredients chicken Parmesan tonight, should I make it before I leave?"
"No, it's fine, I'll make it for Adrien and me." I twirled the end of my side braid with a finger, eager to end the call.
"Okay, that sounds good!" Her voice chimed with relief seeing I won't be alone in the quiet house. I heard the car's engine. "Alright, I'll see you when later tonight. Call me if you need anything at all okay? I love you, so much, Marinette."
Smiling fondly, I looked in the mirror to pinpoint the characteristics I got from her. "I love you more, mom. Drive safe." I jumped back upon hearing one of the bathroom stall's door open with a creak. Alix hesitantly poked her head out from the stall. I lowered my head, gripping the edges of the sink, shaking it in mild frustration. Not because she just heard me but that I'd have to deal with her timid betrayal. She didn't have to stick to Alya's side, she knew I was innocent from the beginning but still abandoned me. They all did.
"Um, Marinette?" I whipped my head around to give her my fakest smile.
"Yes?"
"Umm," Totally ignorant to my forced tone, "The police officers.. Aren't they hear because you're.." She tried to think of a word that was more polite than probably the ones used in the rumors about me. "A delinquent?"
My eyes widen in disbelief. "A delinquent! Mirielle sure is getting crafty."
"...What's the real reason?" She stepped closer to me with her head bowed in shameful interest.
"Does it matter?" Nothing would change the damage done. How people looked at me, how they avoided me like the plague, how they surrounded Alya with understanding and manipulation, and comforted Mirielle with generosity and superiority. Yes, Mirielle was the one with everyone wrapped around her finger.
"Look it, I know we aren't close anymore but-"
"No, we're not. Infact it was you who told everyone you weren't my friend." I had a luck for conveniently hearing or accidentally walking in on wrong timings. Alix had said this to Alya, assuring that she was to be trusted. By using me. I was like an escape goat for these people, I had a knack for it. Alix looked sick with guilt when finally she spoke. Rolling my head I surrendered to a girl who knew me her whole life, who I knew her whole life. I cursed my soft spot for her. "I'm not a criminal, and frankly I'm hurt that you believed in those rumors out of them all. My family is being threatened, the police are their for safety reasons, okay? Not because They're waiting to take me away at any moment."
"..I'm so sorry.." She said after a while. At this I rolled my eyes. I was done with half assed feelings, with the pity and so called sympathy. I was the most talked about person in school, or well, one behind Adrien, and between being backstabber, whore, easy, slut, despicable, and now a criminal, I had no time whether to care about people who will just turn their backs from me in an instant. Without giving her an acknowledgement or reassurance, I stocked out of the bathroom almost colliding with Adrien.
"Woah there Lovebug, what's the rush?" I quickly took a step away from him after he caught the force's impact. His hands still lingered on my hips from where he braced me, though I pried them to hold his hands in fear of onlookers using the suggestive pose against us. Just like with Nino.
"Yeah," I glanced back right when Alix came speeding out, still bowing her head. Adrien raised an eyebrow at the scene but I simply shrugged. The bell rang before he could verbally question it and Nino came slinging his arms over the both of our shoulders.
"You guys ditch me to hold hands?" My head bobbed under his weight as Adrien was too tall to balance it with me. I shot him a glare of annoyance, just as Alya and Mirielle along with other girls I recognized from sticking notes into my locker, passed by. Mireille glued her eyes to her destination right in front of her, determined to not look hurt or annoyed by us but Alya simply bored her eyes into mine without emotion.
...
Very short, short chapter. It's actually incomplete, but I've been so busy I thought I'd give you this much. Excuse the mistakes, I was in the rush and yeah.. Once I de-stress from life and my clubs that are taking all my thoughts and free time, I'll finish it and add more. Thank you for understanding! Send me more reviews, I love to read what you think! You guys make me laugh, I love it.