(Just in case any readers get confused, this chapter happened a few years before before the last one.)
Lila didn't stay for long, her mum needed to move again and Lila was heart broken. "But I love him mama!" She would say to her mother when she said they couldn't bring Adrien.
"You met him two weeks ago and his father would not approve, nor do I." Her mother told her as she stormed off.
Marinette wanted to befriend her after the whole Volpina incident, but she would just talk about Adrien and it annoyed Marinette quite a bit. It infuriated her when Lila tried to ask Adrien on a date but to her advance he said no.
Lila's last day was both a fantastic day and probably the worst day for Marinette. She was so happy that Lila was finally getting out of the way and the only thing stopping her and Adrien ever being together.
What made it a terrible day is, the whole class threw a party for her. There was a cake and everything, and when she cut it she turned to Adrien and said. "Oops I touched the bottom, I have to kiss the closest boy." She leaned in for a kiss but Adrien put a book in between them and sheepishly laughed.
"But only on birthdays."
Marinette hadn't been to a party yet, not if you count Adrien's. She wasn't really invited and she was there for about two minutes, then the bubbler went crazy and, well, you know the rest.
Noticing Marinette was alone at her desk Lila walked over to her and sat next to her. "Not much of a party person?" Marinette shrugged. "Well if I had stayed longer you would have definitely come to mine." Marinette looked up at that comment.
"Really?" She drooped back down. "I would have thought I wasn't cool enough?"
Lila laughed to herself. "Why would you think you aren't?"
Marinette thought back to the horrible first day here. "Well, ever since my first day here, I was known as a klutz. I always thought that maybe being the new girl people would want to know who I am, be interesting for once, but it doesn't work like that.." She felt tears sting in her eyes. "It's all about what's on the outside, how pretty you are, how skinny you are, how cool you are, how many friends you have. It's never what talents you have, how I think or what I like." Tears where rolling down her cheeks. "I've never been a cool girl, I've always been the girl standing outside the circle because no one sees me standing out, or I'm always the person that walks behind the group when the sidewalk gets narrower, or the one who never gets invited to things unless I plan it myself and I'm too anxious to say anything about it. I just accept that my purpose in life is to be the extra." She didn't care anymore she let the tears go. Litre, it seemed, after litre. She was about to wipe her tears away when she felt arms around her, embracing her in a hug.
"You know, sometimes it's ok to not be ok. And that's being human. I'm not going to say, don't worry because I know that you probably can't help it but what I will say is I'm here." She unwrapped her arms from her friend. "Also, I've seen how you look at Adrien, you look at him like he's a person not an object. That's what I didn't realise, I only see what's on the outside of him, I haven't had enough time to get to know him and I see that you have. You deserve him Marinette. So when I'm gone I want you to chase your heart." She looked over at Adrien. "I shouldn't have lied, I'm not Volpina, but I want to be like her, I want to protect a city, make the world a better place, and I don't need superpowers to do that." She gave Marinette one last hug and walked back to the crowd of people by the food table.
"She didn't ask for my number did she?" Marinette turned around and saw Adrien sitting next to her. "I heard what you said about, not being interesting..."
Marinette blushed and hoped he didn't hear the part about how she looks at him. "You are you know, I've found you interesting since the day you got here, your so kind to everyone even though you go through hard times and I admire that." He gave her a pat on the shoulder and stood up. "I know someone who could cheer you up. Wait on your balcony and 10:00 pm and I'll send them over." He walked back to the crowd leaving Marinette questioning.
Marinette was on her balcony for 15 minutes and no one showed up she turns around and began to walk back inside when she heard a thud. "Starting to doubt me, princess?" She turned and saw Chat Noir perched on the railing.
"Why are you here?" She crossed her arms and leaned on one leg.
"Ooh sassy, I like that in a girl." He smirked. "Your friend Adrien sent me here."
"You know Adrien, you know what I don't need any explanations." She sat on her chair and shivered. "Do you want to come inside?" She asked Chat.
"If it's alright with you?" He bowed to her.
"Get in you silly cat."
After an hour of just talking about Marinette Chat Noir stood up and sat next to her he looked into her eyes. "Mari? Can I please do something absolutely crazy?" He didn't even wait to hear he response. He was kissing her. It happened so fast hat he couldn't even remember how they ended up lying on the bed just making out. He was enjoying it of course but when he opened his eyes and looked at the clock on the wall, 11:15 it read, he sprung from the bed leaving Marinette alone there. "I'm sorry but I must leave, I was supposed to meet ladybug to do patrols tonight. Please forgive me princess." He opened the window and leapt out.
Marinette transformed as quickly as she could when Chat Noir left. "Did I just kiss Chat?" She kept asking herself as she leapt from building to building. "If only I never met Adrien then maybe I would love him."
She met up with Chat and he was grinning to himself. "What are you smirking about? You looked like you just made out with a princess?"
"That's a pretty close estimate actually." He looked up to his partner. "But she isn't a queen like you, m'lady" Marinette didnt know whether to be affended or not.
She was about to smart mouth him back when she saw something move a few buildings away.
"Chat, there's something over there." She gestured with her head. A few moments later something, or someone, landed In front of them, someone too familiar.
"Volpina?" They both said in unison.
"Hi guys, and no I'm not a villain." She put her hands up in defence. "I can prove it to you as well." She pointed to her necklace. "Ears down." Her appearance chafed in a matter of seconds. Her little Kwami flew and hid in her pocket.
"Lila? How did you get one?"
"I found it in my room. When I opened it this little guy appeared." Her Orange Kwami poked his head out a bit. "He told me my purpose wasn't here in Paris. I am to take my powers back home and protect Italy." Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at each other. "Don't worry I have changed now." She let her Kwami back out. "Ears up." She transformed and saluted the heroes and bounded away.
"Well..." Ladybug said breaking the awkward silence. "I should go."
"Goodbye then, be safe."