21: Reflekta

Ms. Bustier told us about the class picture the day before.

There wasn't enough time for me to ride out my panic within days. I had to let the panic out in less than a day.

So right after school, I went to Anansi's gym.

"Hey, Jolene!" Anansi greeted me after punching away her current opponent against the ring's rope. She then took off her gloves and climbed down on the ring to properly greet me. "So glad to see you."

I smiled at her, "Same here."

"So, what can I do for you? I know that the injuries that you had, you still have to take it a little easy. Not that I would stop you if you want to train here," She grins.

That's what I like about her. She knows that it's up to me if I want to push my limits.

"I just really want to punch something. You know, to let out the stress," I told her.

"I'll hold your bag," She nods. "Go change. You know where I'll be."

I went towards the locker room and changed into my gym clothes of dark green sport leggings, sports bra and a black tank top.

When I got out and met up with Anansi, she helped me put on the bandages on my hands. I started punching once Anansi was holding the punching bag.

After a few punches and kicks, she finally asked, "So who are you imagining hitting?"

"No one," I answered honestly, "Just trying to release my panic."

"Panic?"

"Tomorrow we are having a class picture and… I get nervous when people take pictures of me."

I didn't mind when Adrien's photographer, Vincent, took pictures of me when we went to Parc Monceau. Afterall, I was still wearing my wig and colored contacts. But now… I will be in my natural brown haired and eyed self.

I don't mind taking pictures with Adrien and Nino since I know they don't post them in public after asking them. But now it's going to be with the school. Anyone could just upload it on the internet and someone from my life before Jolene Baudelaire could recognize me…

"Hey, don't worry," Anansi says. "I'm sure things will be fine. Plus your friends are going to be with you."

And it did make me feel a little better.

They are my friends.

So I don't think they would be too surprised if I revert to my old days for just the class picture.

Later that night, Cat visited me.

"Hey," He says as he opens my window. "Is something wrong?" He asks once he sees that I'm holding my old wigs.

"Not really," I started as I looked between the blue and the silver wig, "It's more of a bother than a real problem."

Immediately he went up to me, "You know you could tell me. I was a little surprised that you didn't wait for me after fencing."

I gave him a sheepish smile, "Sorry, but I went to the gym."

He nodded, but still gave me that look that basically said 'SPILL'.

I sighed as I put my wigs back on the mannequin's heads before grabbing his hands and pulled him to my bed where we could both get comfortable.

I groaned as I leaned my head back, "It's the class picture that's bothering me."

"…And that's bothering you because…?" He trails off softly.

I sighed as I sat up straight and looked at him. He sat up straighter too and he grabbed my hand.

I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to explain how I felt but I just couldn't.

Cat squeezed my hand and didn't say anything, waiting for me to say what I wanted- needed to say.

I shuddered, "There's a lot of reasons why it's bothering me. First, I haven't taken a picture for public use without my wigs. After tomorrow, it's going to be public and it scares me.

"Not that taking pictures with you is scary," I quickly amended when I saw him look surprised. "I know that you wouldn't post them without my permission."

He relaxed, but he gave me a sheepish smile, "I've taken pictures of you when you don't notice. But I swear that I haven't shown it to anyone!"

"…Why haven't I seen them?" I asked him instead.

He chuckled nervously, "I kinda want them to be my little private photos of you. I think you look cute in all of them."

I felt my cheeks heating up, "Okay. I understand. But I still want to see them."

He nodded as he gave me a peck on the cheek.

"So, what's your other reason tomorrow is bothering you?"

This time, I felt a somber cloak around me.

"I had a twin, remember?" I told him softly. Cat immediately pulled me close and effortlessly placed me over his lap. I leaned my head against his chest, "We were identical. It's hard that every time I see a picture of me, I am reminded of her.

"That's why I want to wear a wig. She hated wearing that," I smiled sadly. She complained how itchy and heavy they felt. She didn't like wearing hats either. She hated wearing anything that was tight. She liked loose and stretchy clothing. Her usual outfit consisted of leggings and an oversized shirt that might as well be a dress on her.

Cat then wiped the single teardrop that fell from my face and made me look at him.

"I'm sure that our friends will not mind if you wear them again for tomorrow."

I smiled at him and gave him a quick peck, but he had other plans as he held my face, dominating the kiss for the long minute that it lasted.

When we pulled apart, Cat leaned his head against mine, "I'll be here for you, remember that, okay?"

I smiled, no words needed as we laid back on my bed together and cuddled.

Just like Adrien said, no one batted an eye when I came to class wearing my silver wig and purple contacts.

Some even smiled fondly when they saw me.

It was almost our turn to take the picture and Adrien and Nino were distracting me from thinking of that.

"Dude, you don't know how much I love the new Jagged Stone album," Nino grins. "Thanks so much for the copy."

"You're one of my best friends. It's the least I could do," I smiled back.

The new Jagged Stone album was a major hit. It definitely got me a lot more revenue and I made sure that Marinette got her money's worth too.

She insisted that she didn't need it, but I convinced her and her parents that she should keep the money, at least for her college tuition.

That immediately convinced them to let Ms. Jureau's sister file against Bob Roth.

"Do you have any idea if Sea Queen will release an album with original songs?" Nino asks slyly.

I gave him a sheepishly smile, "Sea Queen is more of a composer than a lyricist. But if the opportunity comes I'm sure she will think about it."

"Awesome," He says and Adrien nods in agreement.

Before we know it Vincent calls out to our class as he finishes setting up.

"Okay! Time to flash your pearly whites," He announced as he looked at us. "You kids, sit on the front bench," He pointed to Max, Alix, Rose, Marinette and Mylène, "Quickly please, I've 16 other classes to shoot."

"Look Sabrina, they're up front in the baby seats," Chloé jeers. "Go on rugrats! Don't forget to take your thumbs out of your mouths!"

I could already feel myself getting heated up and I was so glad my cast wasn't going to hold me back from stomping at her direction. But… one look at Adrien and I remind myself that Chloé, even with all her faults, is still one of Adrien's oldest friends.

"Next row…" Vincent murmurs to himself as he observes the rest of us. He pointed at Nathaniel, Alya, me, Sabrina and Chloé, "Go sit in the rear bench."

"Wait just a minute. I should be in the middle row, right next to Adrien!"

Of course, Chloé is going to start a tantrum.

The four of us took our positions as we watched the event unfold.

"Nah," Vincent easily dismisses her. "Go stand in the back row. Behind the rest."

"How dare you put me behind the rest?! Do you know who my father is?"

Dear lord…

"Is he a photographer?"

Chloé gasped, "No… He's-"

"Bummer," Vincent interrupted, "I could really use an assistant. Now hurry up and take your place or I'll put you up front with 'the babies'."

Chloé groans as she stomps like a petulant child to her place.

Internally I was laughing at Vincent's comment. I knew why I liked him.

"Rest of you boys, stand in the middle row," Vincent orders.

"It's no big deal, Chloé. As long as we're all in the same photo right," Adrien comments once the rest of the guys are in the middle.

It was Kim, Nino, Adrien and Ivan.

In the back of my mind I knew someone was missing. But who?

"You guys are awesome. Now stop squirming and let's get this photo shot."

"Excuse me, sir. You forgot Juleka," Marinette saves the photo.

Vincent looks back and sees a lonely Juleka staring at the floor.

"Sorry, my bad," He apologized as he walked towards her, "Go stand in the middle, next to Adrien."

Juleka walked up to them and stood in between Adrien and Nino.

"You'll be right in the center," Marinette says to Juleka once she gets settled, "All eyes will be on you. No more jinxed class photos."

Just as Vincent was about to hunch close to his camera, he frowned, his eyes narrowed at us. "No. This isn't right. Something's wrong."

"Course it's not working. I'm in the wrong spot."

Vincent started to move Ivan around, several times. But Vincent still wasn't convinced.

"Excuse me, do we have a problem?" Mr. Damocles asks.

Vincent sighs, "It doesn't matter where I put him, it throws the picture out of whack."

"My spot is unacceptable!" Chloé cries as she pushes her way to be between Juleka and Adrien, but I'm glad at seeing the resistance Juleka is putting on.

"That's right Juleka. Don't let her push you out of the way," Marinette cheers.

"Miss Bourgeois, behave yourself," Miss Bustier chided.

"Nobody asked you, loudmouth," Chloé quietly sneered at Marinette.

"This isn't gym class, Chlo," Adrien replies.

Vincent then did one last change.

The back row remains the same. The middle row was Nino, Adrien, Juleka, Kim and Ivan. And the front row is Max, Marinette, Mylène, Alix and Rose.

"There, perfect!"

"No, it isn't. It's not perfect at all. I'm totally not next to Adrien!"

Adrien gave me a side glance with a soft and tired frown on his face. The most that I could do was offer my own tired smile back at him.

"Please, Chloé. We still have 16 classes to photograph. Go ahead, Vincent," Mr. Damocles finally put his foot down.

Vincent nodded and hunch towards his camera.

"Say spaghetti," He says.

"Spaghetti!" We all called out.

Vincent groans, "I don't believe this! I'm sorry, I have to fetch another battery. Nobody move!" He walked away.

I looked at the sky absently as I started to mentally plan out what I needed to do for the music video. I'm done with both, already did the first clean up, and just need to do a second clean up and finalize any other details for the background.

"Flash your best smiles," Vincent announces, bringing me back to the present. "It's the last time we're doing this."

When I looked to see Adrien, I noticed that Chloé took Juleka's place.

"Wait!" Marinette and I said at the same time and that was when Vincent took the picture.

"We need to retake it," Marinette insisted to Mr. Damocles.

"Why is that?" Mr. Damocles frowns.

"Because Juleka isn't there."

"Julie-who?"

"Juleka, the tall one with the purple streaks."

"Yeah, where'd she go?"

And as soon as my classmates realized that we had left a friend behind, Chloé had to do her own thing.

"Mr. Damocles, aren't we supposed to be heading to lunch?" Chloé interrupts. "And aren't you paying the photographer by the hour?"

…That sneaky weasel.

"Why, yes, no time to re-take it," Mr. Damocles waved us off. "Class, move along. Hurry up."

"Okay, lunch break," Vincent restates.

We all walked away from the benches.

Adrien and Nino were waiting for me and we all went towards our lockers to grab our lunch.

"Why the long face?" Nino asks as he approaches me.

"It still feels wrong that Juleka didn't take the picture with us," I start as I take off my wig and put it back safely in my locker. No need to take it with me when the picture is done and over.

"Yeah, it does suck," Adrien says with a soft frown. "That face tells me that you are thinking about doing something about it, aren't you?"

I smiled wryly at him, "You know me so well."

"What is it?" Nino asks excitedly.

"Well," I started as I whispered the plan to them. They looked excited and I was glad that they both were on board. Not that it surprised me, after all they are one of the most caring people that I know. And I'm lucky and proud to call them my best friends.

"I'm going to look for Vincent. Meet you in the usual place," Adrien said as he went ahead.

Nino and I grabbed our lunches and went towards the bench that was near the stairs.

The momentary peace didn't last for long. Hawkmoth had a way of knowing negative emotions and Chloé is an expert on bringing that out on even the good people.

Juleka became akumatized and now is going by Reflekta.

"Watch out!" Nino got in front of me as he got hit by Reflekta's ray.

"Nino!" I pulled him away as he was transformed into a Reflekta clone. But he quickly tripped and I tried to pull him up again, but I had to duck as Reflekta almost hit me with her Reflek-Ray, but she hit the student behind me.

"Chloé Bourgeois!" Reflekta yells as she skips and continues to transform students, "Where are you?!"

It didn't surprise me she was going after her. To be honest, I don't blame her.

"My beautiful body," Nino whimpers as I help him up. Only to help him steady him as he tried to walk, "These are torture devices."

"Then you better appreciate girls more when they wear them all day," I told him wryly as I helped him get towards a classroom where more students were trying to hide.

However, I had to move back when I sensed a Reflex-Ray coming towards me.

"You!" Reflekta says as she spotted me, "You still need to look like me!"

I simply ran as fast as my legs could towards the janitor's closet and locked myself in. I covered my mouth and nose as I heard her footsteps getting closer. I didn't breathe as I saw shadows under the door.

My heart was beating so loud, I was afraid she would hear it. But she just kept walking.

Quietly, I took a deep breath and simply sat down and waited for Cat and Ladybug to save the day.

I brought my knees close to my chest. When I touched my face, my fingers met my tears.

My hands are shaking.

"Be quiet, Perla," I hushed my twin as I covered her mouth and nose. "They'll hear us."

She looked overwhelmed and I knew what I was doing wasn't helping either. But I was scared too.

We need to be quiet. They didn't notice us yet.

Perla bit and scratched me, but I bit my own lip, drawing blood to stop from screaming from the pain she was causing me.

I was physically stronger than my sister. I'm years ahead of her when it comes to fitness. So it was easy to just hold her down. But this is my twin. She can be difficult when she has an episode.

She was struggling a lot and bit me down hard enough to force me to let her go. She was making unsensible noises as she crawled away and started to run.

The men saw her and they started to run towards her.

So I did the only thing I thought would help.

I made the bushes move and barked muy best big dog impression, and played an audio of police sirens from the phone where I was previously recording a video.

That stopped many from chasing after her and instead went back to their trucks and drove the opposite direction.

Ladybugs swarmed my vision and soon I got a call from Cat.

"Where are you?"

I whispered, "In school."

"What's wrong?"

I tried to smile, not that he would see, but tears were forming in my eyes as my body was starting to shake, "I- I can't tell you."

"I'm heading back right now. Don't you worry," He replied and before I could tell him anything else he hung up.

I allowed myself to let out one sob before wiping my tears with the bottom of my shirt. Then I stood up and got out of the janitor's closet and ran towards the restroom to wash my face. I don't want the rest of my friends to see that I was crying.

I wasn't the victim today. I wasn't even transformed into a Reflekta Clone. I don't have a reason to start crying now.

I looked down at my hands to see that they were still shaking.

I took a deep breath and I felt a little better. My chest wasn't tight and my eyes stopped burning. I turn on the faucet and let the cool water splash on my face again.

There.

I'm better now.

Adrien and Nino found me in the library.

Nino looked confused when Adrien pulled me in a fierce hug. I didn't waste time hugging him just as strong.

"Um, what's wrong?" Nino asked, when I broke the hug.

Adrien gave me a hard stare, but I only tapped his shoulder and gave him a small smile.

"I got scared," I told them. "It was for a moment, but I pulled myself together. I'm just glad everything is back to normal again."

Nino grinned in agreement and got in between us so he could wrap his arms around our shoulders. "So am I, Jolene." He shudders, "I'm never going to make fun of people walking in heels again."

"Ditto," Adrien says.

Nino and I looked at him with wide eyes.

"Whaaat? You too!" Nino exclaimed as he broke away from his shoulder hug to point at Adrien.

Adrien smiled sheepishly, "Yeah. Now I know why the ladies will not run in heels."

I wanted to ask more about if he tried to be his hero self and if he could still use Plagg's powers, but I will not get the chance.

I got sight of Vincent.

"Adrien, did you get the chance to talk to Vincent?"

It didn't surprise me that Marinette had the same idea.

She has a kind heart.

"I'm glad that we could convince Vincent to take us the pictures," Marinette said to me as our friends met up at the park. "Great minds think alike, don't they?" She giggles.

I smiled with her, ignoring the little stab of guilt on my gut. "I'm just glad that we could show Juleka that she isn't cursed."

Marinette smiled and nodded in response, "Uh-huh!"

She went towards Alya and the rest of the girls who were excitedly talking among themselves.

I just watched them a little more, witnessing just how their friendship is so amazingly peaceful.

"Why don't you join them?" Adrien whispers to me as he stands next to me. The girls were smirking as they watched Marinette blush as she looked in Adrien's direction.

I gave him a wry smile and spoke in Japanese, "I think we should talk later."

Adrien's eyes worried and whispered. "Is something wrong?"

I gave him a sad smile, "You'll know soon."

Adrien frowned softly and was about to touch me, but I subtly shook my head and he put his hand down.

It hurt to refuse his well intended affections, but the girls were watching. We have to keep it a secret.

I looked back at Marinette, her eyes looking so love-struck.

Yeah, I'm not ready to lose friends over a boy, even though I love this boy with all my heart.

But what breaks my heart is that I would choose this boy over them if they made me choose. Adrien means the world to me.

Omake 10

Jolene has been a good friend to all of us. And I care about her a lot.

That girl is one of the most selfless, caring and bravest people I've met. She went against Chloé and Mayor Bourgeois!

She definitely has her secrets, but I respect her wishes of privacy. There were so many times that I wish I could just strap her down to a chair and ask her everything she does with Cat Noir.

I totally believe Cat cares about Jolene as more than a friend. I don't buy the excuse Jolene gave us Valentine's Day.

She definitely wrote that poem for Cat.

And so I've been silently watching her from a distance. But no such luck. I think they would be an amazingly cute couple.

But recently I've noticed something.

Something that sets off my protective-BFF senses. Usually it involves Chloé trying her little tricks on Adrien. But instead of Chloé… it's Jolene.

At first, I ignored it.

Afterall Jolene had just come out at the hospital and Adrien was sitting right between Marinette and her.

Adrien could have chosen any of the two girls to wrap his arm around, but he chose Jolene.

It was a little sad to see Marinette's disappointed face when she saw them like that, but she convinced me that it was because they were best friends. Jolene trusts Adrien a lot. She had no doubt that if Nino was there, he would have done the same.

However, I saw little moments between those two that made me think that maybe it wasn't a best friend's affection.

When I saw their hands intertwined at The Mime's movie premier.

Or how Adrien quickly wanted to participate in the video game competition after Mr. Damocles announced that Jolene and Max were going to participate together. I could be reading a little too much between the lines, but it reminded me a lot of Marinette wanting to be with Adrien. But this occasion Adrien didn't want Jolene to be paired up with Max.

I asked Nino if there's anything between them and he laughed and brushed me off.

"My boy Adrien and Jolene? Nah!" He chuckles. "They are just really good friends," Then he frowns, "Look, don't say this, but I think they have a more special connection because unlike us… we haven't lost our parents.

"Adrien may have just lost his mom, but Jolene lost both of her folks," He sighs again as he fixes his cap. "I can't imagine what they've been through, so I understand why they are closer to each other. You know the whole thing about sharing experiences makes people connect more than others that don't."

And with that, all the warning alarms about Jolene were turned off.

How could I forget that? Nino has a point.

…But still, I'm going to keep a closer eye on her.

Afterall, I see the way she looks at him. And it's not that different from Marinette's lovey-dovey.

But what worries me more is that Adrien also shares that look when he looks at Jolene when she isn't looking at him.

AN: Thank you guys for reading. As always, thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I want to thank starrat and Shadowing for reviewing. You guys are seriously amazing and it makes me happy to see your reviews.

And I also want to thank FalloutPlayer1998, PrincessTwilightOwl, Anutanuta, Panda-Mia and BLINIX for following/favorited this story. It means a lot to know that people want to know what happens next. It keeps me motivated.