4: Lady WiFi

"Jolene! Jolene!" I heard someone whisper shout at me.

I slowly turned my head to the left and saw Alya and Nino under the stairs. Both were motioning for me to come over, so I did. Once I was close, they huddled next to me.

"Sooo… what's this secret meeting?" I ask as my eyes travel between them.

Alya looked around before leaning closer, "Chloé is Ladybug… and I'm going to prove it."

I blinked twice before blankly stating in my most deadpan tone, "No."

"No, what?" Alya frowns.

"First of all, I doubt that a person as self-centered as Cholé is Ladybug. Second of all, why would you think such a ludicrous idea. And last of all, why do you want to unmask Ladybug? Cholé or not." I point as I added fingers to my list, before I pointed a finger accusingly at her, "I thought you supported superheroes. Their secret identity is their most valued possession. Take that away, bad things happen to them."

If people found out that Adrien is Cat Noir… he would have locked up his loved ones because of the constant danger that Hawk Moth would most likely exploit.

A classic Villain Move 101.

"No, it won't," Alya argues. "We could show support to her and constantly encourage her. I would swear that I would be on her side and- and just appreciate what she does."

I stayed silent before exhaling loudly through my nose as I pinched the bridge of it. "You aren't going to change your mind… and nor will I," I finally said as I looked directly at her. "What did you want from me after telling me your 'theory'," I air quoted.

"I was hoping that you would help me with Chloé since you are one of the few people that can actually stand up to her," her voice hopeful, but her lips still in a frown.

I shook my head, "Sorry, Alya, but I do not want to be part of this." Then my voice became softer, "If you do this, there will be consequences. And I don't want to say 'I told you so' when you realize that Chloé is not the real Ladybug."

The silence was suffocating as Alya and I had a stare down. Poor Nino was looking between us, some drops of sweat falling down his temple.

"Fine, but I will be the one who says 'I told you so' when I prove that Cholé is Ladybug," Alya huffs before she grabs Nino and drags him away.

I looked at Alya's disappearing form before I shook my head. I just hope Alya comes to her senses, before it's too late.

The next morning, the school was abuzz at the latest gossip.

Alya got a week suspension because of Chloé Bourgeois.

And that got my blood boiling.

But I had to relax and simmer down. Going to the principal's office in a rage would get me detention or suspension.

I have to cool down before making any moves.

But that was short-lived when the monitor turned on and showed the principal, Mr. Damocles, with a girl in a WiFi-themed costume. As the girl continued talking, I realized that it was Alya.

I looked around and saw the unrecognition among my peers.

I don't know why I am able to recognize my peers when they have been akumatized so quickly. My theory is because I'm not a French native, but there is nothing to prove that. Maybe I'm just weird, or I am immune to the magic that the Akumas influences.

Whatever it is, I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse. But I knew better than to reveal Alya is Lady WiFi at the moment.

I remember how much grief some classmates in particular gave to poor Ivan…

When the transmission finished, Ms. Bustier ordered us to leave school and to read chapters four and five of the book we were assigned.

I ran like the rest of my classmates, but I spied Adrien going to the boy's restroom.

Knowing that he knows the situation, makes me feel safe already. He and Ladybug are going to save Alya.

...And I am totally going to say a big fat 'I told you so' to her. That girl is too stubborn and nosy for her own good. Look at the trouble she got into!

Didn't she learn her lesson when the Pharaoh kidnapped her a couple of days ago?!

I just need to go home and do my work. I can't upload my completed video since the WiFi tower is getting upgraded.

So I could read those books on my shelves, play my dad's guitar or sleep in once I'm finished with my homework.

Or I could go to the library and educate myself about the school and French law and rule systems. I could also call them for reference…

Before leaving my apartment to the library, I called Nino to hear what really happened. Taking notes on a spare notebook.

I was less than pleased.

Cholé, abusing her father's authority and the principal folding in so easily, got my blood boiling again.

I worked up almost all night as I did a formal complaint to the guilty parties. And to make it more impactful, I sent it to my 'aunt' and 'uncle' from the US Embassy.

I just need to wait patiently for the change to happen very soon.

"Jolene!" Alya yells out from across the courtyard. I turn around just in time to brace myself from the impact of her crushing hug. "Thank you," She gushes into my ear.

"For what?" I ask nervously as I gently take her off of me. I hope that my blue wig didn't get messed up.

"For what?! You took my suspension off my record permanently! So yeah, thank you!" She gives me another crushing hug.

"We just found out from Mr. Damocles," Marinette offers from the sidelines with a smile on her face. "He told us that it was you who wrote this letter and made some compelling arguments. Also he said to tell you that he won't give in to Chloé when she threatens to call her father. Actually he said that he will bring you to his office so that you could talk with the Mayor."

I gently push Alya away at arms length and furrow my eyebrows together with a frown, "If you know that… then that means so does Chloé."

Immediately both wince.

I sighed and waved them off, "I was hoping to remain anonymous, but that was too much to ask. Especially after doing such a power move." I smirked.

"Sooo, you're not mad?" Marinette asks, confused.

"Ha!" I cackled. "I will not bow down to people like Chloé. I will not submit against tyranny or injustice. I'm American and as a wise person from my country once declared, 'give me liberty or give me death!'" I didn't realize how dramatic my voice was or how I took on a pose by placing my right fist over my heart and staring over the distance. That was until everyone in the school's court was suddenly clapping and cheering and on a particular occasion, whistling.

My bold moment made my cheeks flush so fast, I thought I would die of embarrassment right then and there.

Ground, just swallow me up already.

"Spoken like a true American," A familiar voice piped from behind. I turn around, my cheeks still in a horrible flush.

"And I couldn't be more of an outcast," I state dryly at Adrien. Nino was predictably next to him.

Adrien frowns, "You're not an outcast. We are your friends, right?" He says to the other three surround me.

Nino nods and gives me a grin.

I turn my head and see Alya nodding encouragingly and… Marinette was lost to us.

It was adorable and kind of sad to see her so enamored that she doesn't pay attention to anything when it concerns interacting with Adrien.

"Marinette, Marinette," Alya nudges her best friend and the girl smiles and grins as she places a hand shyly to the side of her face. A soft blush her cheeks and she breathes out, "I do, Adrien."

Now I don't feel so embarrassed anymore.

"Huh?" Adrien looks at Marinette confused.

Alya whispered something to her and I could see that blush intensified. "What I mean is that I do, Adrien, believe that Jolene is our friend," she amends.

Adrien, the oblivious boy that he is, just buys the excuse and doesn't think much about it. "See, Jolene? Don't you ever think of yourself as an outcast. Especially among your friends here," he smiles, and I slowly smiled softly as I looked at them.

"Thank you, guys," I said earnestly. "Let's get to class. I don't like to be late."

Adrien smiles knowingly as we all walked together.

As I sat at my desk, my stomach seemed to be filled with butterflies.

Friends, huh?

It's nice to have them again.

Adrien Omake 1

Back in the Agreste mansion, the young cat themed Parisian hero was sitting on his desk, where he was admiring a piece of paper that he laminated as soon as he could.

"Adrien, don't tell me that you have another love?" Plagg teases as he floats near him, a piece of Camembert in his paws. "And it's that Jolene girl, isn't it? The gutsy one."

Adrien laughs, "Gutsy? That's certainly a word that definitely describes her." He shook his head, "But, no, I'm not in love with her. My love is Ladybug."

Plagg rolls his eyes, "Then why are you always going back to her?" He then sits down at the top of his laptop after eating the whole cheese in one gulp.

Adrien sighs, his eyebrows furrowed together as his lips twitch to a small frown, "She has these sad eyes." He starts, remembering the first time he actually saw her.

It was the second day of class, when he really had a good look at her. She was wearing her silver wig, the long hair draped to the sides, framing her fair face, her violet contacts staring absently to the front of the room. But even with those contacts, he could see that sadness and loneliness she was trying to cover up.

"I know how it feels. I just want her not to be so sad anymore."

He remembers the moment when she gave him the drawing. That it helped him overcome his nervousness in talking to her.

He thought that maybe she didn't want to be bothered and she wouldn't want to talk with him. She was so distant in class, almost like a ghost.

But reading her letter and hearing more things from his friends, he realized that she simply needed someone to help her interact.

Jolene is a nice girl with a good heart, but a girl who has trouble going out of her way to socialize and make friends.

"I'm just hoping that what I have been doing is helping her somehow. She still looks sad, but I've finally seen her smile and laugh."

Plagg was strangely quiet as he looked at his master.

And Adrien took notice of it, "What is it Plagg?"

"Kwamis can feel the auras, emotions, of humans so that we could feel a sort of understanding with them, but mainly to understand our masters. If they want to.

"Jolene's aura is interesting."

Curious and attentive, the blond asks, "What do you mean?"

"When we first got physically close to her, I felt this depressing emotion that makes you feel very lazy, like you don't have energy, but somehow you force yourself to continue. That same sadness still surrounds her, but not as much as before. However, I doubt it will ever go anytime soon. Or ever actually."

"What do you mean that it might not ever go away?" He didn't realize that he whispered and leaned closer.

"I've been around for a very long time so I've encountered many types of masters. But this sadness is very similar when someone loses something very precious to them. It most likely means that someone Jolene loved died some time ago."

"Died? Who?"

"I don't know," The kwami of destruction shrugs. "I can only feel her emotions, not see her past. I'm not some oracle."

Adrien sighed, rather disappointed, "I guess that clears up one question. Even though I didn't get the whole answer."

"If it's any consolation," Plagg quips, getting his attention once again, "The emotions under all that are quite positive."

"Let me guess, gutsy?"

Plagg nods, "She is brave. I could feel that she is somehow always nervous or scared, yet she pushes through and you and nobody else seems to notice except when it's very obvious.

"Then there that selfless, caring part of her. It's all soft and cozy where even I would like to share my precious Camembert with her." His face scrunched up in disgust.

"And finally, the last thing that I could tell is almost overpowering her sadness is her passion."

"Passion? Like she loves someone?" Adrien asks, his eyebrow furrowed together.

"Nah, not really. Her passion and your love for Ladybug are very different," Plagg crosses his arms in an 'x' in front of him. Then he put one paw under his chin, thinking of his next words. "She is passionate about… things. Yeah, things. Like this morning, how she was talking about liberty and all that, she was very passionate about it."

Adrien snaps his fingers, "Oh, you mean how she wants justice for everyone?"

"Yeah, that. And- and it's very overpowering when she draws." He adds as he points his paw at the miraculous holder.

"She did mention that it was one of the things that she was good at. Which is very true." Adrien's eyes went back to the drawing that he still couldn't believe was just made in less than a day and used with simple office supplies found in his father's assistant's desk.

To make that and still look amazing… it shows that she has talent, he thought with a fond smile on his face.

"I get it, she's passionate about the things she believes in or in things that she loves to do."

"Sure," Plagg shrugs as he floated again. "I'm going to take a cat nap. This conversation really did toll on me," he yawns as he rubs one eye and goes somewhere else to rest.

Meanwhile, Adrien just shakes his head exasperatedly as he returns to gaze at the thing that caused this whole ordeal.

He turned the page over and admired the beautiful calligraphy that he has only seen in fancy invitations.

His mind now set, he opened a new tab on his computer and searched through articles on how to cheer up people.

A certain wig wearer on his mind.

AN: Thank you so much, Amethyst-Phoenix2003, redhoodfan, Totomaru, and devilhuntermistress for favorited/following this story. I really appreciate all of you.