Invisible String

Chapter 2: Letters to the Future

As per usual, Marinette was late. She slid into Miss Bustier's classroom and into her seat in the second row and realized Adrien was also missing.

Sure enough, he walked in a few moments later.

"Nice of you to join us," Miss Bustier says. "As I was saying, we're starting the semester off with a short activity. A lot of you are going to be leaving soon; going off to college and entering a new stage of your life. Today we're going to write letters to our future selves, me included. On graduation day, I'll hand them out to each of you so you can see how much you've accomplished. Also, if you want, you can write a letter to one of your friends and I'll hand that to them, too."

As the teacher began handing out papers, Marinette got lost in thought. What could she possibly say? There's no telling how this semester could go. In the past few years she'd become Ladybug and then became the Guardian and Hawkmoth evolved into Shadowmoth. Her future could not have been more uncertain.

Marinette looked over at her best friend, Alya. Alya had her whole life figured out; she wanted to be a journalist. Her Ladyblog was already super successful and she would undoubtedly make an amazing reporter. Plus, she and Nino were in love. Alya was planning to move to NYC for college originally and Marinette didn't know how those plans had changed now that she was Rena Rouge (now Rena Furtive).

Obviously, Trixx couldn't leave the city, let alone the continent. She always had to be near the guardian. So Alya would have to make a choice between her superhero life and her career. And while she knows Alya loves Trixx, she loves journalism more and saving Paris daily doesn't actually make you any money.

"You should write one to Adrien," Alya whispers, leaning close to her seatmate. "That way, if you don't tell him by the end of the year, he'll still know. And don't forget to sign it this time."

This idea rattled Marinette. High school was almost over and despite years of pining, she had yet to admit her feelings to Adrien. But she still had to pass the Bac and apply to design school and fight akumatized villains.

Maybe it was time to put her feelings for Adrien away.

In a letter.

Grabbing an extra piece of paper from Miss Bustier, Marinette wrote down all her feelings. Not the weird poetic nonsense she had practiced with Cat Noir, but her true self. She kept writing and writing until she said it all. Then, she signed her name and gave it to the teacher before she lost her nerve.

At the very least, she had one less thing to worry about.

Adrien stared at the blank page before him. Of course, he was happy his father was allowing him to attend university. He was beyond excited to live on his own, but he still had no direction. He didn't even know what majors Paris II offers.

His best friend and classmate, Nino, had a lot to say. His pencil was flying across the paper. Adrien wondered what that would feel like--to be confident in your future.

Of course, he loved being Cat Noir. He wouldn't give that up for anything--if he did, he'd never see his Bugaboo again.

Then the idea hit him. He could talk to Ladybug! He'd backed off on the constant flirting since the 'Couple of the Year' incident, but she was his best friend. She always knows exactly the right thing to do. Plus, he'd decided to work on showing Ladybug the real him--not just his pun-laden Cat Noir side.

For the first time, Adrien was not happy to be at school. He just wanted to get home and go on patrol.

The day droned on. Miss Mendeleiev's science class almost put him to sleep but, finally, the bell rang. The blonde model was ready to run to his car when he was stopped by Alya.

"Hey, Marinette's applying to design school soon and she needs someone to model her designs for her portfolio. Who better than Paris' top supermodel? You in?"

"Of course. Anything for a friend like her."

"Great," she scurries off to her best friend, probably to tell her the good news.

But Adrien isn't paying attention; his mind was on his lady. He couldn't wait to see her.