3: Copycat

I was minding my own business, listening to Cage the Elephant 'Ain't No Rest for the Wicked' as I grabbed my things from my locker. When I closed it, Adrien was leaning on the next locker, making me jump and let out a small yelp of surprise, "Adrien?!"

Said boy looked sheepish, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"I believe you," I state as I pause my music and pull out my headphones. "Soooo…. do you need something?"

"I saw you talking with Cat Noir the other day-" he starts, making my hands unbelievably clammy. What is he doing?! Asking me about this?! I know he didn't see. He is freaking Cat Noir! "-And I wanted to know what you think about him."

"You're not curious about what he talked to me about?" My mouth retorted before I could stop and think.

What the hell, girl?! Why did you say that and instead answer! It was an easy and straightforward question!

"Oh yeah, I am curious, but I thought you would like that conversation to stay private. Just between the two of you," Adrien amends with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh, well, I'm glad you respect privacy," My golden colored contacts didn't meet his eyes as I tucked a piece of grass green wig hair behind my ear. I took a deep breath and gave him a wry smile, "I have to admit that Cat Noir knows how to make a girl smile."

Adrien's eyes widened and I couldn't help but compare them to his alter ego. They both have the same shade of green that reminds me of pure untainted nature. "He made you smile?"

I nodded, "He said something that made me feel… needed. Even for a little while. And I'm grateful for that."

"That was cool of him," Adrien smiles, but it was removed in a second, "You should smile more. You look nice."

I playfully roll my eyes, "I reserve my smile for very special occasions."

"I never knew smiling would cost you that much," he jests back.

I know that he was teasing, joking back with me, but for that brief second after he said it, my face just went back to its depressed state that has been like that for almost two years.

The change and recovery was only for a few seconds, but with much guilt and horror, Adrien saw it. I saw how worried he became as his hands went to hover over me, but I quickly changed the subject and gave him a fake smile, "Let's head back to class. I don't like being late."

Thankfully he took the change with grace and the both of us went back to class together. I waved as I walked past him as he sat in the front with Nino while I sat in the back all by myself.

Class was dismissed when Adrien walked right up to me, "Hey, Jolene?"

"Hmm?" I reply automatically as I organize my stuff.

"Are you by any chance going to the unveiling of the new Ladybug and Cat Noir statue?"

I froze as I looked up at him, "It's today?"

"Yeah," Adrien chuckles. "So are you going?"

"I would like to, but I don't know where it's going to be." I said quickly.

"I can text you the address if you'd like," he offers as he pulls out his phone.

Oh man, I'll have to take his number. And I can't say I didn't bring my phone. It's right in front of me! "Oh, that's cool, thank you."

And so we exchanged numbers.

"Are you going?" Damnit mouth! Why'd you say that?!

"I would love to, but I have fencing in five minutes and by the time the unveiling finishes, so would class." Adrien shrugs.

He's good at making logical excuses.

"Then I guess I'll take pictures for you and send it. If you want to, that is." I swear I'm awfully chatty today aren't I? I should just stick with one coffee cup for breakfast and not three.

"That's cool, thanks Jolene," he waves as he walks away.

I didn't plan on going… but Adrien/Cat would expect me to go.

I could make up a logical-

A text message entered my phone at the sound of Kim Possible's iconic ringtone. It's from Adrien… and it has the place and time where the statue is going to be unveiled.

Sighing loudly I just accepted the fact that I'm going. Better to backtrack to my apartment and drop some stuff before going there.

...Maybe I could talk with the sculptor? I do like to talk with other artists and compare art styles and what inspires them.

Probably not going to happen.

But a girl can dream.

Changing wigs would be too much, so instead of having it down, I wore it up in a high ponytail with a monarch butterfly clip on the left side to decorate it.

I put on more eye drops since my eyes started to get irritated before leaving and locking my apartment.

The unveiling was a fifteen minute walk and I would be five minutes early once I arrived.

All is good.

Putting my headphones on, I clicked on my Throwback Playlist and the first song that got shuffled is The Beatles' 'Eleanor Rigby'. I softly lip sync with the lyrics as I started to walk.

When I arrived, I was surprised that there's a small number of people. Smaller than I thought it would be. There's about ten people, including me, the mayor, and the sculptor.

I thought a huge crowd would be here, but I guess more will come later.

Alya isn't here yet, so I think more people will come soon. She wouldn't miss this. Especially to put it in her Ladyblog.

...I could have told Adrien that I would have seen it in the Ladyblog!

...I need to think faster in the future.

...And I need to stop daydreaming with lyrics.

I jumped, turning around to hit the person with the heel of my palm for touching me from behind. I stopped mid-action when I saw it was just Alya… who had a worried expression.

I took off my headphones and raised my hands in front of me in surrender, "I'm sorry. You… caught by surprise."

"No worries," she brushes off easily and I slowly relaxed as I placed my hands in the pockets of my hoodie. "Are you taking martial arts?"

"...Is it that noticeable?" I whispered as I cautiously looked around.

"Well, to me, anyways," Alya says easily. "My big sister is a professional MMA fighter. So I caught on to a few things. You were going to hit my collarbone or my throat, weren't you?" She accuses, but there was a smile on her lips.

As lighthearted her accusation was, it made my hands clammy. I chuckled nervously, "Yeah… sorry. I used to take self-defense back in America." And for a good reason. "But I haven't had a chance to join a studio here." I would like to continue to learn. I only know the basics, but my instructor advised me that as long as I am fit, I should just run and yell for help after slowing or incapacitating my attacker.

I'm petite, as someone told me recently. And the best thing for me to do is to hit hard and run fast. That is if I only know the basics.

My instructor would have taught me more, but I had to move… and I never had the energy to look for another self defense studio.

"I think my sister could help you with that," Alya starts, getting me back to focus. "Why don't I give you mine and her number and I'm sure you can find a studio in no time."

"Really? You would do that for me?" My voice is close to a whisper.

"Sure girl, you've helped me a lot of times remember?"

"...I did?"

Alya laughs, "You are so clueless. Like Marinette."

"Should I be insulted?" I asked dryly.

"Oh no. Definitely not. It's more… like a cute trait. Makes you both really sweet people."

My cheeks flushed, "If you put it that way… thank you."

"You both are adorable," Alya grins.

We exchanged numbers and just a second later, Cat Noir made his appearance. The shouts of people made me realize that a couple of dozen more people had joined.

I really need to stop daydreaming.

I turned around to see that I was right in front of everyone, having a direct and perfect view of the statues. And also of Cat Noir.

When we made direct eye contact, he smirked, winked and waved at me.

And I waved back with a dry expression as I fondly shook my head at his theatrics.

He still had the smug smirk before he removed it to wave at his other fans.

"What was that?" Alya nudges, her eyes glinting suspiciously.

"What?"

"Jolene," she starts as she puts her phone in one hand while the other is on my shoulder, making me face her. "Cat Noir just winked and smirked directly at you. He hasn't done it with anyone else in the crowd." To emphasize, she motioned to the hero who was waving casually at the crowd.

Dammit Cat!

"Oh that… I don't know," I lied quickly.

Alya, of course, didn't believe me. "Then does that mean that our hero has a crush on you?" She asks smugly as her phone is pointed at me.

Immediately I frowned as I moved out of the camera's direction, but Alya still kept pointing it at me, no matter where I was moving. "Alya, stop."

I don't know if it was my dangerous low tone or the way I was frowning or that a teardrop escaped my eye, or a combination of the three, but Alya did as I requested.

Her teasing smile was gone and instead her lips twitched downward, her eyes searching mine. I looked away as I wiped my tear away with a finger. "Thank you. I don't like to be recorded without my explicit permission."

"Oh, sorry," she says, making me look back at her. She did look apologetic, so I nodded in acceptance.

"And to tell you the truth, Cat and I only had one conversation together. It was to thank me for saving his life from Timebreaker," I state quietly as I look away from her and instead pay attention to the ground.

It was silent for a few seconds before she said softly, "I… didn't expect that answer."

"I didn't expect it to happen," I offered as I sighed loudly before making direct eye contact, "Truce?"

Alya grinned, "Truce." I gave a soft smile back. "But don't expect me to drop it. I'll question you about it, but this time, just between the two of us. And no cameras."

"I can live with that," I said dryly and soon the Mayor made his short speech and I took out my own phone and took pictures when the unveiling part actually happened.

I stayed a bit later as the crowd started to disappear so I could take closer shots. And Alya thought of the same thing, though she quickly went towards Cat, who was just about to leave.

But then, we made eye contact again and he pounced towards me. Stopping barely a foot away. "Hey, little lady. Glad to see you with a new style."

I shook my head fondly, "Hello."

Cat smirked as he leaned on his staff, "As lovely it was to see you again, I have to go. Things to do, people to save, typical hero stuff."

"Of course," I said dryly, knowing the truth. "Go ahead."

"But before I do that," he then smoothly stands right next to me, grabs my phone, turning on the camera to take a selfie. He was prepared as he smiled into the camera while I just looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "A little something to remind you of me." He winks, giving me back my phone and quickly jumps away towards the nearest rooftop.

I merely stared at the phone in my hands.

What is he thinking?!

Alya just saw that! Aaaand now she's running towards me with a smirk on her lips. "Jolene!" She squeals as she finally stands in front of me. "Cat Noir totally hit on you!"

"He did not," I put my hands in front of me in defense. "He just wanted to say 'hi' and take a picture, that's all." I stress.

Alya gave me that look when she doesn't believe or is skeptical, "Suuuure. Whatever you say. Keep denying it."

I sighed knowing I will not change her mind. "I'm just going to take some pictures and I'm going to head back home."

"I'll see you at school tomorrow, Jolene," she waves off as she walks away.

I put my headphones back in and the song 'I Will Survive' from Gloria Gaynor greeted my ears.

I'm just going to take some more close ups, go back to the apartment and then start the homework and continue my project.

Tomorrow I can just relax and not worry. I should treat myself with an ice cream sundae or a banana split.

That sounds like a plan.

"Adrien, Nino, good morning," I greeted once I came to class.

"Hey, dudette."

"Hi, Jolene."

I licked my lips before I asked hesitantly, "Did you receive my messages?"

Adrien then looks at me sheepishly as he places his hand behind his head, "About that… I thought I lost my phone yesterday, but it turns out it was in my bag the whole time."

"Oh," I relaxed. "Glad you found it. Let me know if you did get them. If not I can always resend the pictures of the statue. I know you wanted to see it in person."

"Sure thing," he smiles. However before I could take another step he asked, "Would you like to join us to the movies after school?"

"Us?" I asked curiously.

"Me, my dude Adrien, Marinette and Alya." Nino answers. "So what do you say, you in?"

"Depends what movie we're going to see," I smirked lazily. "Personally I would like to see Abominable."

"I think the new Spider-Man movie is fun," Alya quips.

"Or Alita: Battle Angel," Nino adds.

"I think the Detective Pikachu movie looked funny," Marinette continues shyly.

"In that case count me in," I said quickly before making my way towards the back.

Good thing I brought my wallet today. I may not be eating ice cream, but seeing a movie sounds just as relaxing.

Omake 2

"Okay we have to decide," I state seriously as I face everyone. "And since Adrien is our neutral man, it will be up to him."

"Wh-What?" Adrien backs up in nervousness.

I looked directly into his eyes, "You will pick a number between one and four, and from that number, that is the number we will choose for our movie." Then I looked back at the group. "Objections?"

"It is random, so it's pretty much fair," Alya shrugs.

Nino nods in agreement and I just wait for Marinette. "Yeah, it was a pretty smart move, Jolene."

"Good that we all agree," I nod. Then I take my headphones and show them to Adrien. "Now put these on and turn around. I will let you know when we are ready."

Adrien takes them and puts them on and does what I told him.

I took out my phone and activated the headphones' Bluetooth.

Quickly pressing the play button and raising the volume, Adrien jumped in surprise, but otherwise stayed silent.

I turn towards my group, "Okay, so Alya, you're one, Marinette you're two, and Nino you're four."

"Huh? Why?" Nino asks.

"Ladies first and because it just popped randomly into my head." I retort. "So does anyone have any questions?"

They all shook their heads.

Then I paused the music and touched Adrien's shoulder.

He turned around and pulled the headphones down. "What song was that? It was pretty good." He asks quickly.

"It's…" I looked down at my screen and it was- "Centuries from Fall Out Boy." I informed him with a smirk. "I'll text it to you later."

"I will hold you on that," he smiles.

"Now, what's the number that you have chosen?" I asked.

Adrien was silent as he looked at the four of us. Then he closed his eyes and held out three fingers, "Three."

"Who was three?" I ask them absently.

"...You are?" Marinette says.

"Oh, oh! Yay!" I cheered. "Abominable it is!" I smiled as I made my way forward to the ticket booth.

Let's just say that I cried several times during the movie. And it was embarrassing that Adrien caught my moments of weakness.

But he was a good sport and he simply offered me more popcorn.

It was a good day, after all.