Marinette opened one bleary eye and then the other as her alarm clock shrilled loudly in her ear. How was it morning already when she had said goodbye to Cat just a few hours earlier?
A fit of coughing seized her body, and Marinette gasped for air. Great, she was sick, which meant no school, no Adrien.
"Marinette? Did I hear you cough?" Her mother opened her trapdoor and came up to her daughter's bed. "I think I'm catching the bug that going around school," she croaked. "Hold on, I'll check your temp, and bring a glass of water."
Marinette leaned into her mother's cool hand as it brushed against her forehead. She loved her mother fiercely, because though her mother had yet to know she was Ladybug, her parents treated her and Cat like their own kin.
"Mm, just as I feared, you do have a temp. I'll make you some breakfast." Marinette nodded, and lay back against the pillows. After breakfast, she did her hair and spent the morning quietly with her new magazine about Adrien.
At lunchtime, her phone buzzed.
Adrien: School is dull without your beautiful bluebell blues to brighten my day.
Marinette: Your sweet. I'm stuck in bed, sick.
Adrien: Bummer. I'll check in with you later.
Marinette felt listless, and she missed Adrien and Cat. She shot her partner a quick message hoping Cat would see it. She was sketching quietly when a knock came at her skylight after school.
Cat! Cat had come to visit, and Marinette's heart soared to see his face. "My poor princess has caught a bug-a-boo it seems. I brought your favorite." Cat handed her steaming cup of coffee.
"Did you come to keep me company?" Marinette asked hoarsely. "I did indeed, and tell you the latest puns." Marinette rolled her eyes and playfully socked his arm. "Maybe you could read to me instead?"
Cat nodded, and soon his soothing voice sent her dozing. Though Marinette didn't like being sick, it was bearable with her best friend.