Miraculous Ladybug: Season Six | Part One

Chapter Forty-One: Representative

  The air is becoming dry and colder as the days go by. "How does time fly so quickly, Tikki? They've finally counted the representative votes!" Marinette exclaims biting her finger tips as she continues to pace the room. Tikki watches her from the lawn chair in worry, "I'm sure everything will be okay, Marinette!" She cheers floating over to hug her cheek. Marinette places her hand on Tikki, "Thanks, but after Friday's fiasco I can kiss that student council seat goodbye." She responds pulling away from Tikki to turn to her school bag. She swings it onto her shoulder and opens her purse for Tikki to join her.

  Marinette walks up the stairs that leads into the student lobby. Alya and Nino waves towards her with a little too much excitement. Marinette grimaces walking over to them. Alya raises her eyebrow, "Now why do you look so sad now, girl?" Alya inquires crossing her arms. Marinette shrugs, "I'm sure this isn't going the way you initially planned," she mutters looking down at her phone. "What time will the results be announced anyway?" She adds glancing back up at them both.
  Nino shrugs, "I've heard after lunch and before lunch so it's going to be a surprise for all of us," he chuckles watching Alya glare at him. Marinette sighs, "Alright, so I have to go through most of my classes worried if the whole student body hates me for being seen with Adrien Agreste!" She groans covering her eyes.
  Alya and Nino aren't watching Marinette anymore, but behind her. Nino waves awkwardly at the unexpected appearance of everyone's now least favorite celebrity.
  Adrien stands behind Marinette, embarrassed. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were as wide as saucers.
  Marinette slowly turns, "A-Adrien! Heyyyy!" She stated awkwardly almost in a singsong tone. Adrien sighs biting the inside of his cheek, watching Alya and Nino pretend to not pay attention. "I get it, I'd be ashamed too." He mutters looking back down at Marinette.
  Marinette swallows as she shakes her head furiously, "That's not what I meant!" She laughs awkwardly placing her hands in front of her. Adrien glares at her for a moment recalling Ladybug saying the same thing the night before. "I meant it's more annoying that people care enough about our personal lives that would change their whole opinions on me, you get me?" She explains frantically worried she lost him to her insensitivity.
  His gaze softened as he nods, "I guess that makes more sense," he chuckles as the bell goes off releasing them from their free time. Marinette stands with him as everyone floods around them, "I'm sorry you're in this position, Adrien." She whispers watching him reach down for her hand to guide her through the sea of students to their first class. "It's not your fault and it never will be your fault!" He smiles pulling her into the fashion wing of the school. She blushes as a large lump forms in her throat. It is my fault.

As the day went on, there was hardly any announcement about the election let alone the results. Mr. Damocles mentioned they would hold an assembly announcing the results after lunch which would cut into the students fourth block of the day.
Marinette sat in her class, advanced composition, which lands before lunch. She sits next to Adrien kicking her feet back and forth nervously. He looks over at her concerned, "Marinette, are you okay?" He whispers as the teacher begins writing rhetorical devices onto the whiteboard. Marinette looks up at Adrien biting the inside of her cheek. "Yeah, I'm just peachy!" She whispers passive aggressively looking away to her notes immediately as if she were in a trance.
  Adrien frowns looking away writing in his own notebook, not entirely focused on the conversation happening in the class but instead Marinette. Could it be me? He begins to wonder completely losing focus zoning out on to the white board.
  Marinette glances over at him as she continues to write the devices. What is the point of labeling these... a synecdoche is just a complicated way to say metaphor.

  The class is dismissed to lunch and Marinette begins to pack her belongings continuing to glance at Adrien. He was staring down at his notes without making an effort to pack. Marinette raises her eyebrow once she realizes and reaches over to his arm, "Are you feeling okay, Adrien?" She inquires softly as their classmates begin to flood the room little by little. He looks back at her blankly sending a gentle nod. "I'm sorry, Marinette. I know I'm ruining your image by the day and it's probably not helping the election. I know how much that means to you." He explains bluntly looking away to put his notes away.
  Marinette blinks slowly at him, "Adrien- I don't care if I win or lose today, if I win that tells me people looks beyond your fathers influence. If I lose I know how shallow our classmates can be." She assures standing from the desk looking down at him. He looks up at her frowning before returning a gentle nod in acknowledgment. He stands from his seat and swings his bag across his shoulder.