A/N: A little bit later than planned, but here it is! Thanks for all the love you guys have given this story, already - especially those who've taken the time to review. It means so, so much to me. Truly.

Chapter 4: Impressions

"We did it!" Marinette enthused, twirling across her rug in a rare show of exuberance.

Despite her initial reservations (and the fact she'd literally though unintentionally tackled the guy upon first meeting), working together with Chat Noir had been incredible. Even though neither of them really knew what they were doing yet, their collaboration had come easily. Marinette wondered how much easier their combined efforts would be in the future. While she didn't exactly long for another villain to fight against, part of her felt giddy at the thought of seeing her partner again.

"We did it," the girl practically sighed as she flopped down onto her sofa.

She pictured again the black butterfly fluttering away, the swell of accomplishment that had accompanied the moment filling her once more. Chat Noir's grin played in her mind – oh, but he had seemed so cool and confident! He'd reminded her of nothing so much as an excited puppy, though, despite being a cat.

Bien joue! His voice had been warm and bright, his words making a home for themselves among her happier memories. She could almost feel the way his knuckles had fit against hers from the fist-bump they'd shared.

"Well done, Marinette!" Tikki praised her chosen, sharing the girl's enthusiasm.

"We helped that boy," Marinette said, drawing her knees up to hug them against her chest. "He doesn't seem like the type who usually hurts people, I don't think. He was just acting that way because the akuma made his bad feelings seem bigger. And... and he was being controlled, too, right?"

"That's right. Hawk Moth was using his negative emotions to manipulate him," the kwami confirmed.

The teenager laid her head atop her knees, smiling lightly at Tikki. It was a very contented expression and the little kwami felt that she wanted her new charge to look that way more often. Through their limited interaction, she felt that contentment did not often come to the girl.

On the television, the news played quietly. Marinette's attention turned to it, now. Talk of some event being held for Paris' new heroes had been the topic for some while. As she watched, however, it suddenly changed as a breaking news report aired.

"..a new wave of panic sweeps across Paris as dozens of people are being turned into stone monsters..."

A loud ringing sounded in Marinette's ears as she lifted her head. Her arms fell from around her legs, her feet slipping from the couch cushion to the floor. She gaped in mounting horror, blue eyes wide.

"Wh-what's happening?" she questioned, voice breaking on the words. "We... we stopped it!"

"Did you capture the akuma?" Tikki asked urgently, swooping in closer to the girl.

"Capture it?" Marinette vaguely recalled Tikki saying something about capturing the akuma, but at the time, the task had slipped her mind. "What does the akuma have to do with what's happening now?"

"An akuma can multiply itself. That's why it must be captured and purified," the kwami explained. "If not, then it can turn the boy from before back into Stoneheart the next time he feels negative emotions. He'll be able to control all the other transformed people. They'll be like his personal army."

Were she not safely seated, Marinette would have been certain she was falling. The ringing had started up in her head again, louder this time. It was so loud, in fact, that she pressed her hands over both ears, as though that would lessen the roar.

"Marinette?" Tikki's voice cut through the noise, prompting a response from the girl.

"So... what you're saying... is that this is all my fault," Marinette said, voice thick and eyes glistening.

"No!" the kwami denied. "No, no – don't think that way. It was your very first time! You'll go back, and you'll capture Stoneheart's akuma. You'll definitely succeed, this time! I believe in you."

"You're wrong! I'm not cut out for this, at all. I... I always do everything wrong," the girl declared. "I can't do it, Tikki. I'm an horrendous klutz – I can only make things worse. Chat Noir... Chat Noir will do better without me. I quit."

"You can't!" Tikki protested. "You're the only one who can capture the akuma and fix all the damage done by the villains. Chat Noir definitely needs you, Marinette!"

Marinette pressed her lips into a thin line, shaking her head at the kwami's words. "Well, if Chat Noir can't do it alone, then find him a new Ladybug. I can't do it. I'm sorry, Tikki." She reached up to take off the earrings.

The kwami gave a gasp, eyes widening. "No, don't-"

"Tikki?" the girl murmured, looking up when the creature's voice suddenly cut out. She was alone, now, however. Just like she'd always been before. As though the brief window in which Tikki had been there and she was someone chosen, someone important, was little more than a dream.

Replacing the earrings to their box, Marinette stared at them a moment. Her fingers lingered near the edge of the velvety cushion. Closing her eyes, she drew in a slow breath. Then, she shut the box, leaving it abandoned on the coffee table.

0o0

The night passed in fitful chunks, wherein Marinette would sleep a short while, only to start awake again feeling less rested than she had before. By the time morning arrived, there was little to be done for the dark shadows beneath her eyes, and the girl gave it up as a battle lost. At breakfast, she chased her cereal around the bowl with her spoon. She hadn't brought more than two or three bites to her mouth before allowing the rest to become irredeemably soggy.

"Marinette," Nathalie addressed her, drawing the girl's gaze.

"I'm fine," Marinette murmured. "Just not hungry this morning." She rose out of her seat, grabbing up her phone from where it had waited on the table beside her before heading back towards her room. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, the device vibrated in her hand. Blinking at the idea that anyone would be texting her so early in the morning, she peered down at the little screen curiously.

Chloé: Come to your back door.

The brunette frowned. Why? she texted back.

Chloé: Just do it!

Brows furrowing, Marinette moved around the foot of the staircase and down the corridor which led towards the back of the mansion. As she rounded the final corner, she could see a figure standing on the doorstep, although the rippling of the obscured glass made it impossible for her to determine who. She had her suspicions.

Hesitating but a moment, she opened the door. "Chloé!" she exclaimed. The blonde gave her a smug look. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"Shouldn't you?" Chloé parroted back.

"I'm not allowed," Marinette said with a small frown. "Maman won't let me."

Chloé rolled her eyes. "Well, you didn't actually think she would just let you," she said a bit condescendingly. "That's why you tried to sneak out in the first place. You did at least try, didn't you?" The other girl narrowed her eyes a bit suspiciously.

"Of course I did! I promised! Nathalie and Gorilla caught me before I could make it inside," the model explained. "It's no use. The same thing would just happen again."

The blonde gave a derisive huff. "It certainly will with that attitude. Honestly, Mari – you give up too easily on the things you want. Why do you think I came to pick you up, today?"

Marinette blinked at her friend. Then, she leaned out the door a bit to see around the blonde. "You brought your car," she murmured, a hesitant smile tugging at her lips. "A car would be faster than walking..."

"Exactly," Chloé said with an arrogant tilt of her head. "Now, are you coming, or not?" To most, Chloé would only have appeared demanding in that moment, but Marinette had known the girl since they were children. She could see the glimmer of hope and uncertainty in those sky blue eyes. It made her feel a surge of affection for her only friend.

"Three minutes!" she exclaimed, keeping her voice soft. "Let me get my bag." Quietly closing the door, Marinette dashed for the nearest staircase, taking the stairs as quickly as she could without tripping over her own feet.

Rushing into her room, she made a beeline for the shoulder bag that was still packed from the previous day. She double-checked to make sure she had everything she thought she might need for a real class in a real school, then hoisted the bag to her shoulder. As she turned back towards the door, her gaze caught on the small jewel box holding the ladybug earrings. Marinette deliberated for all of half a minute before impulsively snatching it up with one hand even as she grabbed her purse with the other. Stuffing the earrings into the handbag, she rushed from the room and back the way she had come, half-tripping down the stairs as she went.

As she pulled open the door where Chloé was still waiting, a voice called to her from behind. "Marinette!" Nathalie's tone was a bit severe, causing her charge to freeze in her steps.

"Mari!" Chloé snapped. The blonde grabbed her and pulled her out the door, causing her to let out a startled squeak. "Come on!"

She kept a firm hold on Marinette's wrist as she half-dragged her to the waiting car. It was a good thing that she did, too, as the brunette kept looking back over her shoulder. Nathalie looked so disappointed. Here she was, causing trouble for the woman all over again. It made her feel guilty.

"Marinette! Are you coming or not?" Chloé urged, tugging on her arm to get her attention. Marinette looked at her uncertainly. She wanted to go to school. More than anything, she wanted to go to school and meet new people and make new friends. Chloé always made it sound so fun and wonderful and lively. Marinette wanted to experience that for herself, but at the same time...

"Marinette, do not do this," Nathalie told her sternly, drawing the girl's attention back to herself. "Your mother-"

The woman knew that was the wrong thing to say the moment the word crossed her lips. Almost instantly, Marinette's expression had gone from uncertainty to that bull-headed determination she always exhibited when she felt she was being denied something unreasonably.

"She'll have to drag me out herself!" Marinette declared willfully. Whirling about, she climbed quickly into the Bourgeois car, her spoiled little friend shooting the woman an unseemly smirk before getting in behind her.

Nathalie sighed, pulling out her phone and hitting one of the speed dials. "Ready the car," she said, even though she'd already decided that her charge had won this battle. An effort had to at least be made, however, otherwise, Madame Cheng would be furious. Not that she wouldn't be, anyway. "We have to get to the school."

"I'm so glad you came!" Chloé told Marinette earnestly, holding the girl's hand between both of her own.

Marinette gave a small smile. "We're still not there, yet, Chlo," she pointed out.

"You're such a pessimist. Do you really think that by the time Nathalie and the Gorilla get your car ready that they'll be able to get to the school in time to stop you from going inside?" The blonde gave a scoff. "Perhaps if the Gorilla ran, but we both know he isn't going to do that."

"You're probably right," the brunette conceded.

Chloé tossed her head. "I'm always right," she declared.

"I wouldn't go that far," her friend said quietly, earning an incredulous gape.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I am surprised at you," she stated facetiously. "Absolutely surprised." She finally let her hands fall away from Marinette's as she leaned back into the seat and folded her arms over her chest.

"Thank, Chlo," Marinette murmured softly. Chloé gave her own soft smile in response.

0o0

"She came! She really came, today!" Rose exclaimed excitedly, rushing into the classroom with Juleka not far behind her. The petite blonde cupped her face with both hands. "She's even prettier in person! Do you think she'll want to be friends?" She directed this question at Juleka, who only smiled a bit indulgently. Rose was a fan of anything pretty or cute.

"Who came today?" Kim asked from his seat, voicing the question that had popped into most everyone's minds.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng! She's here! Oh, dear... she'll be here any minute. Do you think we should greet her, o-or introduce ourselves later?" Rose turned questioning eyes to her best friend.

"I think we should sit down," Juleka stated pragmatically. "We wouldn't want to scare her."

"That's right! What if she's shy?"

"More like, what if she a spoiled snob?" Alix scoffed. "Even if she wasn't a model, she's still friends with Chloé." Several of the others murmured or nodded in agreement and Rose looked a bit saddened by this prospect as Juleka herded her to their seats.

"Dude, can you imagine having two Chloés in this class?" Nino said to Adrien. "And both of them right behind us. Totally uncool."

"Maybe she's nice," Adrien said doubtfully.

His best friend gave an indelicate snort. "And maybe we're Paris' new superheroes."

Adrien burst into a sudden, violent coughing fit, and Nino pounded him on the back with a look of concern. It seemed a bit odd, as he hadn't said anything all that outlandish, but Adrien was a bit strange at times, anyway. It was part of what made them such good friends – they both had their weird moments.

"You all right, bro?" Nino asked when Adrien finally stopped.

"Yeah," Adrien replied, clearing his throat a bit and smiling sheepishly. He scratched the back of his head with one hand. "Just choked on some spit." Before Nino could comment one way or the other, the object of their conversation walked into the room with Chloé and Sabrina.

"It's only inevitable that you'd have to sit next to stupid people," the brunette was saying. She slowed to a stop as she looked up to find several pairs of eyes on her. Blinking a bit, the girl started to say something else, but Adrien beat her to the punch.

"Well," the boy drawled, feeling a burst of irritation not so much for himself but for his friends, "I suppose we'll try not to let our stupidity be too catching. We are pretty dumb, though, so you may just wanna keep your distance."

"What? N- I didn..."

He watched her eyes widen as she stammered, almost like she was confused, before something sparked in their depths and her expression blanked. Marinette lifted her chin, a faint blush staining her cheeks. No doubt due to being caught acting like such a bigot, Adrien thought a bit uncharitably. She started to take a half-step backwards, only to start when a hand pressed against her shoulder blade.

"Watch it," Alya said mildly, passing behind the three girls. Marinette shot her only a brief look before diverting her gaze.

"See?" Chloé leaned in to whisper to her, Sabrina nodding in earnest agreement. "What did I tell you?" She patted the brunette's shoulder a bit patronizingly before gesturing to the empty desk behind Adrien and Nino. "Our seats are right there. I saved you a place right next to me."

"But what about Sabrina?" Marinette asked quietly, glancing at the redhead.

"Oh, I have a seat over here in the front," Sabrina said brightly. (Alya slouched a bit lower in her seat at this.)

"Oh," the model said, seeming to hesitate. "Okay." She turned to take the steps leading up past Nino, only for the toe of her shoe to catch on the first stair and send her sprawling. A rash of tittering laughs spread throughout the class.

"Mari!"

"Dude, you okay?" Nino asked, turning in his seat and offering a hand without much forethought.

The color in Marinette's cheeks had spread so that the tips of her ears and half of her face was red. Gritting her teeth, she brushed off the proffered hand and pushed herself back to her feet. "I'm fine," she bit out.

Nino shrugged. If she was going to be like that, she was certainly welcome to it.

Making it the rest of the way to the seat, Marinette set her bag down and sat down stiffly, shoulders squared and chin still up. One would think her little tumble would put a little humility in her, but apparently spoiled rich fashion models had tough hides. Granted, Chloé had a rather thick skin, herself, so maybe it came as no surprise that a friend of hers would be equally unabashed.

Adrien rested his chin in one palm as the final bell rang and the rest of the class took their seats. It was just their luck, he thought a bit glumly as Mlle. Bustier started off the lesson with role call. Two Chloés – and both of them right behind them.

To be continued...

A/N: Don't forget to tell me what you think! Reviews give me live. Hugs, Melly