Chapter 1: The Call

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Marinette's POV...

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I dragged myself through the bakery's door, the bell ringing above me.

"How was school, sweetie?" Maman asked as she handed a customer, Ms. Loretta, a chocolate croissant. Ms. Loretta thanked Maman and left, waving to me as the door closed behind her.

"It was fine, Maman. I have lots of homework, so I better go start it," I spoke as I kissed Maman's cheek. Papa emerged from the kitchen in the back, his apron covered in flour and his hands holding sourdough.

"All right, sweetheart. Wouldn't want my daughter failing," Papa spoke. I smiled and nodded, heading upstairs.

I dropped my backpack to the floor as I reached my bedroom. Tikki flew from my purse.

"Ready?" I spoke. Tikki giggled and nodded, shooting me a wink.

"Spots on!"

In less than a second I was out in the city, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, keeping an eye out for the black cat.

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I landed on a rooftop. I was getting ready to pull out my yo-yo and call Cat Noir, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me from doing so. I grabbed the person's wrist and threw them over my shoulder, only to realize who it was. I sighed and used my yo-yo, wrapping it around Cat Noir's body and pulling him back to the rooftop before letting him go.

He fell with a THUD! landing on the rooftop. He looked up at me with his signature smirk. He shoot me a wink as he stood.

"Nice to see you too, M'Lady. But I think a kiss would be better next time," He spoke. I rolled my eyes.

"In your dreams, Alley Cat," With that I jumped off the rooftop, heading to patrol Paris.

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I jumped in through my trapdoor right as my transformation wore off. I landed on my bed as Tikki flew out of my earrings and landed in the palms of my hands. I gave her a macaroon before climbing off my bed and heading to my desk.

I sat at my desk, a blank look on my face as I stared at my maths homework I had just pulled out. It was almost just as confusing as love.

Oh, love...

I sighed in awe and pushed myself away from my desk, staring up at the ceiling as I daydreamed. About Adrien, of course. What else?

About his blonde shiny hair.. his emerald eyes... his so soft-looking lips- okay! Back to maths!

Before I could even pick up my pencil, I was picking up her phone because Alya was calling.

"Alya?" I spoke into the phone.

"Marinette, you won't believe what I just heard!" Alya practically squealed into the phone. I had to pull the phone away from my ear just a little to get my hearing back before pressing it back to my ear again.

"Wha-,"

"Adrien was talking about you, girl!" Alya cut me off. I nearly dropped her phone. Adrien? Talking about me? This was like a dream come true! But... what if it was something bad about me? What if he was making fun of something I did? Like when I tripped in front of the whole class yesterday? Or the time I spilled water all over my shirt? Or-

Oops... I am taking wayyy too long to respond.

"Girl?" Alya spoke into the phone. "Don't tell me you fainted!"

"No, no, no!" I nervously giggled. "I didn't! But what did he say about me? Did he say something to you? Or-,"

"Girl, girl, girl!" Alya laughed. I could envision her shaking her head at her through the phone at me. "I couldn't hear everything he said. He was talking to Chloé. And... he didn't look too happy."

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" I gasped. "What if Chloé said I did something terrible and Adrien believed her and now he hates me! This is a disaster, a disaster, a disaster!"

"Relax, Marinette!" Alya yelled over my panicked gasps and chants. "I don't think that's the case. Chloé herself looked surprised that Adrien was mad. If she was planning something she would've been fake crying or smirking. Not surprised."

I let out a breath of relief.

"You're positive, Alya?" I breathed out. I could feel how hot my face was. If Alya was here to see it, I'd be even redder from her teasing.

"I'm 110% positive, Marinette. Just breathe. Anyways, I gotta go. I'm gonna see if Nino knows what happened. I'll talk to you later," She spoke before the call ended.

I was left in silence of my own thoughts eating my mind. It was gonna kill me if I don't find out what Adrien had said about me. But I couldn't just go up to him and ask about a conversation I wasn't even around to know exists! My thoughts drifted. I was just glad to be at the point in my life.

Without Hawk Moth still big. Without Gabriel Agreste still big.

I could remember how Adrien didn't show at school for at least a week. Maybe even a month or longer. How I had heard from Nino how The Gorilla, aka his giant bodyguard, took over the role as his father figure, even talking now. How Emilie came back...

Yes, Emilie Agreste came back. But she agreed to have Gabriel in jail. The thought of having her husband cause pain and sorrow to others just to bring her back disappointed her deeply. That wasn't the same person she had married.

Emilie was hospitalized for a few weeks. Adrien somehow didn't know. But after being in something that was like a mummy's tomb, technically in a coma, you probably would need to get some fluids back into your body.

After that, Adrien was himself again. Of course, not the exact same. Who could be? But... he did come back to school. And now he's even able to hang out more and more outside of school!

I was debating on calling or texting Adrien. But there was no way I could even fathom the idea of doing so. I would have to wait until tomorrow to do something; anything at all.

Maybe Alya would have a plan?