Hey guys, I know this is short but I tried to get it done as soon as possible after I got back from holidays to make up for the time with out and update. Anyway I really do suggest you go and check out Flicka7's entry as hers is pretty good. Anyway, onto chapter 4!

Identity Isn't everything

Chapter 4

As I lay in bed, I thought of my conversation with Chat. Never before had I seen him so down, and disappointed. In my stupid ignorant mind, I had let myself believe that he would always be this confident. It wasn't until that night that I realised how much we needed each other. It was the same for me I guess. I had never let him see how insecure I was until that night; was being the key word. After Chats words, I felt so much more confident, but less confident on my feelings for Adrien.

"Marinette! Time to get up!" I groaned and slid out of bed, mumbling about how I had only got an hour of sleep.

"Morning Tikki," I exclaimed, as the energetic little Kwami stuck her head out of my purse.

"You seem confident this morning Marinette." All a could do is smile down at Tikki as we both shared a private chuckle.

"You were right Tikki, talking to him did make me feel better."

"See! I told you!" Tikki flew up into the palms of my hand and I held her up to my face.

"You're always right Tikki, I should never have doubted you." I smirked at her as she continued her self-righteous spiel.

"What's in the past we can't change Marinette, but you can change how you feel about it," she went on, oblivious to my indulging her. Smiling, I shook my head. I guess thousands of years of knowledge can come in handy, no matter what.

"Yeah. Too bad I didn't get any work done on my dress." I looked over at my discarded box of fabric and the list I had made. "Maybe I can get these things on the way back from school."

"I'm sure you can, now let's go before school starts!" Noticing the tone in Tikki's voice, I checked my watch and saw I had five minutes to get to school.

"Oh! Tikki you're right!" I quickly ran down the stairs, making sure Tikki was safely zipped up inside my purse. "Bye Mum! See you later Dad!" I didn't have time to stop as I shouted my goodbyes, already out the door and halfway down the street before I heard Mum shout after me, telling me to have a good day at school. I only had the time to wave quickly, before I continued to race down the street, getting closer and closer to the school. Just as the bell rang, I sprinted through the door and slid into my seat.

"Hey girl, where you been?" Alya whispered, nudging me in the side.

"I slept in, I was up late last night."

"Doing your dress?"

"No… I was… talking to a friend." I blushed a little, as I remembered my conversation with Chat. At that time, I was so glad that Alya couldn't read minds. I mind wandered back to the memories of last night. His comforting arms around me, his sad face as he talked about his father, the way he talked about me…

"And who was this friend," Alya smirked, already her mind was set. She thought it was some boy I assumed.

"One of Dad's friend's kids," I lied, forcing a smile onto my face. Alya just smiled, unconvinced but decided to drop it and turned back to face the teacher, who had just come in. 'Let her think what she wants,' I thought to myself, not really paying attention to the lesson as my mind began to wander. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realise that Adrien was missing until it was almost lunch break.

"Have you heard that Adrien was banned from school!" Of course it was Chloé's high-pitched voice that I could hear. Not just me too, I noticed others began looking in her direction. "Now he can only come on Mondays! How unfair is that? Now I only get to see my Adrikins once a week!" I pulled a disgusted face at the name she chose to call him. I knew I didn't quite feel for Adrien the same way as I did before, but I still knew he hated that name.

"It's none of your business Chloé!" I heard Nino's defensive shout. "Adrien was better friends with everyone in this class than he ever was with you."

"Ugh! How dare you!" Chloé screeched. "Adrien is mine! And all of you are worthless; every, single, ONE OF YOU!" That's when I lost it. I jumped up from my seat and ran up to Chloé.

"You stop insulting my friends," I growled, my voice shaking with anger. "And Nino is right, Adrien is not friends with you, and never will be!" And that was when Chloé lost it.

"YOU ARE WRONG MARINETTE! YOU AND ALL YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS DON'T DESERVE TO EVEN BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS MY ADRIEN. YOU ARE ALL WIMPS AND COWARDS; I MEAN WHY IS IT THIS CLASS THAT ALWAYS GETS AKUMATISED HEY? YOUR LITTLE FOOLISH MIND CAN'T ANSWER THAT ONE CAN IT?" Already I could see some people running off, some crying. This was not good.

"Everyone! Wait!"

"It's no good Marinette, she's right." Even Alya had been persuaded? How had this happened?

"Alya! Wait!" I gasped as I saw a hoard of purple butterflies, flying over the school. This was definitely not good. Not good at all.

Ô-Ô

I was just sitting in my room, humming to myself, as I thought of the previous night. What if Ladybug really did like me that way? I still remembered Ladybug's blue eyes and her pretty lips as it quirked awkwardly into a smile when I heard screams, lots of screams, coming from the direction of the school.

"Plagg! What is happening out there?" I asked, hoping that Nino and the others were okay.

"Sounds like an akuma attack to me," Plagg drawled, but he made no move to transform me, he just sat there eating his cheese.

"Then what are you waiting for!" I huffed, annoyed. "Claws out!" I didn't waste a second, as soon as I was transformed, I opened my window and ran towards the school, where I already saw Ladybug stumble out.

"There's… too… many…" she panted, as she swung her yo-yo weakly. I noticed that there was some blood dripping down her leg and her face was bright red.

"What happened to you M'Lady!" I said, fear for her causing bile to rise in my throat, noticing that the cut on her leg had gone through her magical suit. I had thought nothing could go through them but apparently I was wrong.

"It's an akuma attack… but the whole tenth grade class has been akumatised." My eyes widened at the revelation. I knew we couldn't face them… Not yet. It was too dangerous.

"Can you run?" I tilted my head towards her leg.

"No, not really," she said with a slight shake of her head.

"Looks like I'll have to carry you." I didn't wait for an answer before I swept her off her feet and started running towards our safe haven.

"Chat! What are you doing!" she said, struggling to be free of my arms. I was slightly upset that she didn't want me to carry her, but I knew it was because of the people we were leaving behind.

"We can't fight all of them yet, especially when you're like this."

"But what about all those people?" She said, struggling to look over my shoulder.

"They will be fine, and anyone who gets hurt will just go back to normal after we catch the akuma right?" I felt her sigh resignedly as she finally relaxed into my arms.

"I guess so," she mumbled.

"Off we go then," I said as I tried to ignore the screams from behind me. I bet it was Chloé that caused this.