Here we go, chapter 2!

It is the first day of school, and Avery refuses to wake up. Peeka jumps up and down on top of her.

Peeka: Wake up, already! You're gonna be late!

Avery: Who cares? It's the first day, all it'll be is "follow the school rules, follow the class rules, get to know you" junk.

Peeka: Still, it's important to be in school on the first day so you can get adjusted to any changes!

Avery: I'm going from 9th grade to 10th grade, not that much of a stretch.

Peeka: Fine, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but either way, you're going to school.

Avery: Yeah, sure, let's go with that.

Peeka: (impersonating Avery) Hmm, you know what'll be a great idea? I should dye my whole head green, then shave all my hair off, and get a nose ring!

Evelyn: (hears from down the hall) Avery Meredith Bourgeois, what did you just say!?

Avery: Uh, just kidding, mom! (whispers) I hope you're happy now, Peeka.

Peeka: Hey, I got you out of bed, didn't I? Come on, let's get you ready for school!

Avery: Ugh.

Avery is at the bus stop, standing behind a bush, avoiding the other kids.

Peeka: Why do you always hide behind the bush? I mean, I don't know that much about American high school customs, but I'm pretty sure they won't try to bite your head off.

Avery: Trust me, it's best to avoid contact. (bus arrives) Behold, the yellow garbage truck arrives to take out the trash. (sniffs the air) There's a full load today. (gets on the bus, hands the driver her bus pass, sits in an empty two-seater by the window, places her bag next to her, pulls out iPod, plugs in earbuds, plays "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark." She begins to sing and dance in her seat, unable to control herself.) Oh whoa, oh oh whoa, oh oh whoa, ohhh! Oh whoa, oh oh whoa, oh oh whoa, ohhh! B-B-B-Be careful making wishes in the dark, dark! Can't be sure when they've hit their mark! And besides in the mean, meantime I'm just dreaming of tearing you apart! I'm in the de-details with the devil! So now the world can never get me me on my level! I just gotta get you off the cage, I'm a young lover's rage, gonna need a spark to ignite! My songs know what you did in the dark! So light 'em up, up, up! Light 'em up, up, up! Light 'em up, up, up! I'm on fire! So light 'em up, up, up! Notices other students pointing at her and whispering, continues to sing quietly, weak and nervous. Light 'em up, up, up. Light 'em up, up, up. I'm on...fire?

Jewel: Why are you singing? And of all things, why Fall Out Boy?

Avery: I just really like this song. Got a problem?

Jewel: Uh, yeah, I'm trying to talk.

Avery: Look, I don't wanna get into something like this on the first day of school, let's just say I'm a child of music and get on with our lives.

Jewel: Was I talking to you?

Avery: You just did, so I'd say yes, you were talking to me.

Jewel: Ugh, whatever, just keep that peasant music to yourself.

Katrina boards the bus and sits next to Avery.

Katrina: Hey! Your hair! I love it! I can't believe your mom finally let you dye it!

Avery: She didn't. I dyed it while I was on vacation, it's a long story, and she let me keep it because she doesn't want me bleaching it out. It won't last forever, and if I ever do it again I'll be grounded for life, but for now it's super cool!

Katrina: So, how was your summer with you-know-who?

Avery: Exhausting, but it was tons of fun! I got sick, but you know, stuff happens.

Katrina: You planning on seeing him again sometime?

Avery: Well, you never know when he might drop by. (receives photo and text) Oh, it's from Marinette! "This is for sending Alya that picture of me and Adrien" (looks at picture of her and Hiro asleep on the beach) She took a picture of that!?

Katrina: Aww!

Avery: Shh! I don't want anyone seeing this! People might get the wrong idea, remember that kid from third grade that made out with me on the bus? Everyone thought I kissed him, he forced it upon me!

Katrina: It's ok, no one in this school even knows Hiro. Besides, everyone thinks you just made him up to get Chris to stop harassing you.

Avery: I can't believe people would think I'm so desperate for love that I would create an imaginary crush.

Katrina: Remember Red-Haired Boy? "Oh, I love him, but our love is impossible, for he goes to a different school, and I do not know his name!"

Avery: I was 11, get over it!

Katrina: So, what's new with you? I'm learning to play the violin.

Avery: Ah, thinking of joining band?

Katrina: Yep! What are you gonna do this year?

Avery: I'm definitely doing chorus again, and that new tech club looks cool.

Katrina: Uh, no offense, but since when do you know how to work a computer? I mean, your philosophy has always been "if it doesn't work, bang your head on the keyboard!"

Avery: I was hanging around a bunch of SFIT students, I learned a thing or two about coding.

Katrina: Nice! I always thought it would be cool to have a techie in my life!

The bus arrives at school. The scene changes to College Francoise Dupont. Marinette enters her classroom and sits down.

Marinette: Wow, so far no one from last year's class is here, not even...

Chloe and Sabrina enter.

Chloe: I told you, Sabrina, you can borrow my new bracelet after you do whatever homework they give us tomorrow. Well, if it isn't Marinette?

Marinette: Hi Chloe.

Chloe: Where's Adrien? Aren't you usually all over him?

Marinette: He's not here yet, and I'm not all over him, just because we're a couple doesn't mean he's my whole life.

Chloe: Well, Sabrina and I were going to sit there, so you'd better move!

Marinette: Not gonna work this time.

Chloe: Really? Hm, something's different about you. I'm not sure what, but I'm gonna find out.

Marinette: Ok, good luck with that.

Defeated, Chloe and Sabrina sit at a different desk. The rest of the class files into the room and sits down, followed by Mr. Haprele.

Mr. Haprele: Good morning students, my name is Mr. Haprele. This is my first year as a full-time teacher, so I decided to start off the year with a special group project! Now, I already picked out the groups. (lists groups of five students)

Sabrina: (under her breath) She'd better let me borrow two bracelets for this.

Chloe: What was that?

Sabrina: Nothing.

Mr. Haprele: Aurore Beaureal, Chloe Bourgeois, Mireille Caquet, Jean Duparc, and Sabrina Raincomprix will be group 3. And finally, group 4 will be Adrien Agreste, Juleka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Nathaniel Kurtzberg, and Rose Lavillant.

Marinette: Whew! I didn't end up with Chloe again!

Aurore: You're really lucky, I'm stuck with her.

Marinette: I feel so sorry for you. Weren't you a finalist on that KIDZ+ Weather Girl contest?

Aurore: Yeah, that was me.

Marinette: Wow, that's so cool! If I was in a contest with 5,000 other girls, I would've been eliminated immediately, very impressive!

Aurore: Thanks. I guess I'd better go with my group.

Marinette: Good luck. (walks to group)

Juleka: So, what's this project even about?

Adrien: I have no idea.

Mr. Haprele: This project will be about getting to know your classmates, ask questions, get information, learn more about each other, at the end of the week, you will present what you learned for the class.

Marinette: Who wants to start?

Silence.

Marinette: Ok, this shouldn't be too awkward, I mean, we already know each other from previous years, now we just need to get more into the details.

More silence.

Marinette: Fine, I'll start. So, I love designing, sewing, sometimes I help my parents in the bakery, I've always wanted to be a fashion designer, I actually designed Jagged Stone's new album cover, and, I guess someone else can take over, because I'm not good with this sort of thing.

Adrien: Well, I like fencing, I play the piano, I love video games, I used to model, I'd better leave it at that.

Silence.

Rose steps out of the group.

Rose: Well, I like scrapbooking, basically any crafts, oh, and the color pink, and Prince Ali is just amazing!

Marinette: Ok, off to a good start. Who's next? Nathaniel?

Nathaniel: Oh. I...guess I'm into art and drawing, that sort of thing.

Marinette: Juleka?

Juleka: Um, I'm kind of interested in cosmetology.

Silence.

Juleka: You know, hair and makeup?

Adrien: Oh, ok!

Juleka: And I like to watch horror movies.

Marinette: Alright, did everyone write all that down?

They all nod. Outside, something darts past the window in a flash of different colors.

Adrien: What was that?

Rose: What was what?

Juleka: I didn't see anything.

Rose: I've gotta go to the bathroom.

Juleka: So do I. We'll meet up with you guys in the library after class to work on the project.

They exit. Adrien walks back to his table and trips. The Peacock Miraculous falls out of his bag. Nathaniel picks it up.

Nathaniel: What's this?

Adrien: Uh, nothing! Can I have it back?

Nathaniel hands it back to him.

Marinette looks out the window in horror.

Marinette: Adrien? Can I talk to you for a second?

Adrien walks over.

Marinette: Look.

Outside the window, Hiro and Baymax are fighting Butterfly and Volpina.

Adrien: Are those the girls you were telling me about?

Marinette: Yeah, but why are they fighting?

Adrien: I don't know, but we've gotta break it up!

Nathaniel: Woah! Did you two see what's going on outside?

Marinette: Yeah, it's super cool, let's go take a closer look!

The three walk outside.

Nathaniel: Wow, looks like I have more material for my comics.

Adrien: Stay right here, ok? We need to do something.

Nathaniel: You don't have to tell me twice, this is awesome!

Marinette and Adrien hide behind the building.

Track 02: Spots On

Marinette: Tikki, Spots On! (transforms into Ladybug)

Track 03: Claws Out

Adrien: Plagg, Claws Out! (transforms into Cat Noir)

Ladybug: EVERYBODY STOP!

Hiro: Ladybug? What are you doing here? I'm trying to take down these bad guys!

Cat Noir: They aren't bad guys, they're on our side!

Ladybug: How did you get here, anyway?

Hiro: Well I just...

A portal opens behind them. Tadashi, wearing his armor, (an orange suit with a hoverboard) and Apidae emerge.

Nathaniel: Wow! This just keeps getting better!

Tadashi: Well, look who used the portal when I specifically told him not to, then picked a fight with two Miraculous holders?

Hiro: You couldn't wait to scold me about this? People are watching! And if it's so dangerous, why'd you bring Apidae?

Tadashi: She saw you guys on a live-stream.

Alya waves at them from the sidelines, recording everything on her phone.

Alya: Well, this is awkward, I guess I'll just turn this off! (turns off camera)

Butterfly: Wait, so let me get this straight, you guys aren't evil?

Hiro: Nope.

Baymax: I am a healthcare companion.

Tadashi: No way.

Apidae: I thought you were at first!

Everyone glares at her.

Apidae: And...I'll shut up now.

Volpina: Well, I guess we can all get back to our lives now.

Nathaniel: Wait! I just finished this sketch of all of you! What do you think?

Ladybug: Wow!

Cat Noir: Nice!

Nathaniel: Thanks, I'm a huge fan of you two, and I'm sure you all are just as amazing!

Volpina: I sure hope so, we never actually saved anyone yet. So far all we've done is get chased by cops and flying robots.

Apidae: Your big chance will come soon, I mean, I still never fought a real supervillain one-on-one, but my day will come too! Until then, I'm basically just a police officer with a slingshot. And wings, but I can only use them in emergencies.

Cat Noir: What about that one time...?

Apidae: Not the point.

Butterfly: I'd better go, I have something really important to do.

Volpina: Me too, see you around!

Ladybug: If you need training or anything, you can come to us!

Butterfly: Thanks, but today really isn't a good day for that.

They exit.

Nathaniel: Wow! Well, I have to go work on a school project, bye! (exits)

Ladybug: The school project!

Cat Noir: It's ok, we aren't that late, let's transform back and get to the library.

Apidae: I guess I should get back to school. Yawn. I wish I could stay here with you. Your school is way better than mine.

Ladybug: What class are you in at your school now?

Apidae: Lunch, why?

Cat Noir: Maybe you could come in the library with us for a few minutes, you know, take a break from your everyday life.

Apidae: That's not a bad idea, let's go!

Tadashi: Hurry back, I left Fred in charge of the portal back at home because some knucklehead decided to go to Paris without telling me!

Hiro: I was bored, and the portal seemed perfectly stable, so, I figured, why not?

Finally done with this chapter, this sure took forever!