Marinette burst out of the coffee shop, her heart pounding as if trying to break free from her chest. The cool outside air did little to calm her rattled nerves. She weaved through the busy campus, her thoughts spinning with the shock of Adrien's true identity and the mystery of last night's visitor at the door and the girl she'd seen in the café.

Desperate for a moment of respite, she veered off the main path and found a secluded bench beneath the protective canopy of a large oak tree. The dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a mosaic of shifting shadows on the ground. With a sigh of relief, she sank onto the bench, feeling the cool, worn wood beneath her.

She closed her eyes, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she tried to regain her composure. The chatter of passing students and the distant hum of campus life seemed like a distant, muffled soundtrack to her turbulent thoughts.

Just as she began to find a sliver of calm, a cool shadow fell across her, cutting through the dappled sunlight. Marinette opened her eyes slowly to see Alix standing over her, her usually confident demeanor softened by a look of concern.

"Marinette?" Alix's voice was laced with genuine worry. "You okay?"

Marinette looked up, surprised but grateful for the unexpected company.

"I—yeah, I'm fine," Marinette said, though her voice wavered slightly. "Just needed a minute."

Marinette blinked, momentarily distracted by Alix's attire. The bright, colourful roller skates and the sporty look contrasted sharply with her own dishevelled appearance. She quickly sat up straight, creating space for Alix to join her on the bench.

"Hey, Alix," Marinette said, her voice steadier. "How's it going? How are your classes in economic science and physics?"

Alix scratched her head with a small, rueful smile. "Could be better, honestly. My brother's been putting a lot of pressure on me lately. He's always pushing me to excel, and sometimes it's a bit much."

Marinette nodded sympathetically. "I get it. Sometimes family expectations can be overwhelming. But you're doing great. I'm sure it's just a phase."

Alix's expression shifted as she leaned forward slightly, a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "By the way, did you go to the masquerade party last night? I was bummed I couldn't make it. Had to help my dad at the museum."

Marinette sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I went. It was... quite the night."

Alix pulled out her phone, tapping on the screen with practiced ease. "You've got to see this. The schools gossip blog has been blowing up with party gossip. I was reading it while helping my dad clean up."

She handed her phone to Marinette, who glanced at the screen as Alix scrolled. The blog's headline jumped out: "Little Miss Queen Bee on the Hunt for Her Prince Last Night – He Camouflaged Like a Frog to Hide from Her!"

Last night, Queen Bee certainly made a splash at the masquerade party, but not for the right reasons. After a few too many drinks, she bulldozed her way through the venue, causing quite the commotion. Her target? None other than the rumoured girlfriend of Prince Charming himself, a mysterious girl we'll call "Fencing Fiend."

Queen Bee's antics were less than graceful as she pounded on doors and barged into private moments, determined to track down her elusive Prince. The scene was nothing short of chaotic, with Queen Bee's rampage leaving a trail of awkwardness and spilled drinks in her wake. The partygoers were treated to a full display of drama as she made her futile attempts to break up what seemed to be a romantic rendezvous.

Beneath the headline was a collection of photos from the party. Alix's finger hovered over a particularly amusing shot of Chloe, eyes wide and a look of frantic determination on her face, as she seemed to be searching through the crowd. The comments below were a mix of snarky remarks and playful jabs:

"Looks like Chloe's not just a queen bee in her own mind – she's the queen of drama too!"

"Adrien dodged Chloe like a pro! Bet he's got some serious moves."

Alix continued scrolling, and Marinette's eyes widened as she saw an intimate photo of her and the Black Cat. They were caught in a candid moment, her face tilted toward him as she laughed while he whispered something in her ear. The image was surprisingly close-up, capturing the warmth and closeness of their interaction.

Marinette stared at the photo, her heart racing as she tried to piece together how such a personal moment had made it to the blog. She could feel the blush rising to her cheeks as she wondered who could have taken it and why it had ended up online.

As she lost herself in her thoughts, Alix's voice pulled her back to reality. "Hey, Marinette, are you alright? You've been awfully quiet."

Marinette blinked, coming back to the present. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, just got a bit lost in thought."

Alix gave her a reassuring smile. "No worries. I get it. Sometimes these things hit you harder than you expect."

Marinette's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, how do you know? Who told you?"

Alix looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Marinette spluttered, "I—I didn't expect anyone to know about—what?"

As Marinette's mind raced, she jumped to conclusions, assuming Alix was referring to her and Adrien's encounter. Did someone see us? How could they know? she thought frantically. Did Alya post something?

Alix's expression softened with understanding. "Oh, I heard about you and Luka. I knew you'd gone MIA for a reason and didn't want to intrude, but you know I'm always here for you, right?"

Marinette blinked, her face flushing with a mix of relief and embarrassment. Wait, Luka? She's talking about Luka? Her heart slowed as she processed Alix's words. "I—I didn't realize... I guess I've been so caught up in everything, I didn't think anyone noticed."

Alix nodded sympathetically. "We all have our moments. If you ever need to talk, or just take a break from it all, you can count on me."

Marinette managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Alix. That means a lot."

Alix and Marinette settled back on the bench, the afternoon sun casting gentle shadows around them. They both stared at the bustling campus, the activity and chatter of students a stark contrast to their quiet conversation.

Alix broke the silence with a casual tone, "So, have you heard from Rose or Juleka lately?"

Marinette fidgeted with her hands, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Not really," she admitted with a sigh. "Juleka... she's been ghosting me ever since the breakup with Luka. Both of them just went completely ghost mode. I haven't heard from Juleka in ages."

Alix's brow furrowed in concern. "That's rough. And what about Rose?"

Marinette shook her head, frustration clear in her expression. "Rose is avoiding me too. I keep running into her on campus, but whenever I try to talk to her, she just... brushes me off. It's like she's purposely staying away."

Alix placed a comforting hand on Marinette's shoulder. "I'm sorry you're dealing with that, Mari. Sometimes people just need space, but it doesn't make it any easier. Maybe they're just processing things in their own way."

Marinette nodded, though her eyes were still clouded with worry. "I just wish I knew what I did wrong. I thought we were all close. It's like suddenly everything's changed, and I'm left in the dark."

Alix gave her a sympathetic smile. "If it helps, I'm sure it's not something you did. Sometimes people just need time to figure things out. Hang in there, Mari. You're a great friend, and I'm sure they'll come around."

Marinette's lips curled into a grateful smile, and she gave Alix a quick side hug. Alix reciprocated the hug warmly before brushing herself off. Marinette helped her to her feet, and Alix glanced at her watch with a slight frown.

"I've got to head to my next class," Alix said, brushing off her roller skating gear. "But text me, okay? Don't go ghost on me."

Alix smirked and winked before giving a playful wave and heading off to class.

Marinette leaned back on the bench, letting out a deep breath as she relaxed into the worn wood. The bustling campus around her seemed to blur into the background as she gathered her thoughts. With a slight wince, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone to check the time and her class schedule.

The hangover from last night was hitting her hard, and the thought of heading back to the dorm for some much-needed rest was tempting. However, as she scanned her schedule, she noticed that she had one lecture left: Product Development. It was a class she always looked forward to, especially because it was taught by Mr. Fu, her favorite teacher.

Marinette hesitated for a moment, her exhaustion battling with her dedication to her studies. But the thought of Mr. Fu's inspiring lectures and the sense of accomplishment she felt after his classes pushed her to make a decision.

With a sigh, she pocketed her phone and stood up from the bench. She shook off the lingering weariness, straightened her bag, and started walking towards her lecture hall.

Marinette entered the lecture hall and took her usual seat near the front. The room was beginning to fill with students, their chatter gradually growing louder as more people arrived. She placed her bag on the floor and pulled out her tablet, hoping to distract herself from the pounding headache that was intensifying with every passing minute.

As she scrolled through her design sketches, her focus shifted from one concept to another. She tapped through various fashion illustrations and product designs, trying to immerse herself in her work to block out the noise and discomfort.

A moment later, someone slid into the seat beside her. Marinette barely registered the movement until she felt a hand reaching over her tablet, placing a packet of painkillers and a cold, fresh bottle of water onto her desk.

She looked up to meet Adrien's striking green eyes, his gaze warm and concerned. Despite the ache in her chest, Marinette's face remained stoic and unimpressed, but the faint rose tint spreading over her fair cheeks and the bridge of her nose betrayed her true feelings.

"You look like you need these," Adrien said cheerfully, his voice carrying a hint of genuine care.

Marinette glanced at the painkillers and the bottle of water, realizing that she hadn't gotten a beverage from the coffee shop due to her hasty exit. She hesitated, torn between her pride and the undeniable relief the gesture promised.

After a moment of contemplation, she finally reached for the items, her fingers brushing against his as she did. "Thanks," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

"How's your head?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Marinette, still distracted by the ache that seemed to throb louder with each passing second, momentarily ignored the question. Instead, she looked up at him with a hint of confusion. "Since when are you in this class?" she asked, trying to mask her discomfort with curiosity. "I thought I would have noticed you here before."

Adrien shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "I was taking some of my classes online at the beginning of the semester because of my modeling commitments. But I'm here now. If I remember correctly, you were pretty absorbed in your books and probably didn't notice many classmates. Plus, you had a boyfriend, so I guess you weren't really looking for other guys."

Marinette's heart sank at his mention of her past relationship. She thought back to how consumed she was by her studies and Luka, and how little attention she paid to her surroundings. She gave a dry nod, replying, "That makes sense."

Adrien's cheerful demeanor faltered slightly. He shifted in his seat, the light in his eyes dimming a little. He could feel the shift in Marinette's mood, her cool and distant demeanor in stark contrast to the playful, engaging person he had encountered at the party. The change affected him, and a subtle shift in his own energy became apparent.

Adrien took a deep breath, preparing to say something, but before he could speak, Mr. Fu made his energetic entrance, greeting the class with his usual enthusiasm. Marinette, her mind racing and her chest pounding with unanswered questions, turned her attention to the front of the room, trying to focus on Mr. Fu's welcoming words.

She felt Adrien's gaze on her, but her thoughts were a whirlwind. Chloe banging on the door, the blog's mention of Adrien's girlfriend, his unexpected intimacy with her, and his friendly demeanor now—all these questions crowded her mind. She found it difficult to concentrate on the lecture.

Marinette glanced at the time and decided she couldn't stay any longer. To avoid further interaction with Adrien, she raised her hand and addressed Mr. Fu. "Excuse me, Mr. Fu. I have an appointment and need to leave early."

Mr. Fu nodded understandingly, and Marinette quickly gathered her things. As she made her way out of the classroom, she could feel Adrien's eyes on her, but she kept her focus ahead, determined to escape before he had the chance to approach her again.