Marinette practically skipped to school, careful not to choke on the candy in her mouth. Every so often, she slowed down to help calm her shaking nerves and rapid heartbeat. Waves of excitement and anxiety overwhelmed her as she approached the school. Cautiously she pulled the lollipop out of her mouth to take a deep breath. She popped it back between her lips, just as Alya made eye contact with her from on the bench. They waved at each other and Alya motioned to the seat next to her. Marinette sat hesitantly, avoiding her friend's gaze.
"So? Tell me about the meeting!" Alya pressured, rarely leaving time for a greeting.
Marinette closed her eyes and turned her head away. It seemed more complicated than it really was because there was only one thought going through her head.
Where do I even start?
"Hello? Earth to Mari?"
On instinct, the girl decided just to tell Alya the end result and spare the details until later.
"Okay okay," Marinette groaned, taking the lollipop out and twirling the stick between her fingers.
"Starting today, I'll be moving my things into his house... and starting tomorrow.. when my parents leave... I'll be a guest at the Agreste mansion."
"AHH!" Alya screamed and hopped off the bench, only to hop back on top of Marinette to pull her into a hug. She embraced her best friend with a smile plastered on her face, one that didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon. Students stopped and stared at Marinette while they hugged. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Chloe looking at them, confused. Undoubtedly, the girl would be quite shocked to hear the news.
"Alya! You're crushing me!" Marinette giggled.
"I don't care! My best friend isn't leaving me, and my ship is sailing!" She exclaimed, not moving from her spot on top of Marinette.
"What ship?" Mari laughed as her friend nuzzled into the nape of her neck.
"Duh, you and Adr-" Alya looked up just in time to see people beginning to stop and look at the two girls. Even students up on the top floor seemed to be peering down at them. It confused them both, but it must have been because they were so loud. But Alya couldn't help it, nor could Marinette. A few days ago, there was barely any hope left that Mari would be staying in France.
"Um, Alya..." Marinette began, having noticed this too.
Alya removed herself from Marinette's arms and straightened her orange shirt before sitting rightfully back down next to her on the bench.
"Anyways, so are you excited?" She asked, trying to bring her voice down to a whisper to avoid drawing any more attention to the two of them.
"Of course! I mean, I guess..." Marinette trailed off quickly, looking down at her toes. "Not really.."
"Why not!? It's awesome! Like, you have the chance to get closer to Adrien too! You should be happy?" Alya nudged the girl with her elbow shooting a wink her way.
"Alya," Marinette beckoned her to lower her volume, which her friend was fast to notice it had gotten high again, "I don't know. Sometimes I can't even get a sentence out without stumbling over my words. I mean it's not like that anymore, really, but... still, I can already feel my shyness coming back. I should have gotten over these feelings by now."
"Aw, come on, you know I only support things that I believe in. I wouldn't have supported you and your crush for this long if there wasn't even a tiny chance of you getting together. And about the stuttering, just talk with him as much as you can. It's good practice." Alya tried to cause Marinette to crack a smile by pinching her cheeks. "Come on, sis, smile!"
Marinette pushed her hands away with a red face, suddenly becoming weary of how many eyes she felt on her, "Alya people keep staring at us-" She ushered Alya to look around.
"I thought they were just looking because we were loud, but now it seems they're actually listening to our conversa-" Marinette stopped talking when one of the older girls caught her eye whispering something to Juleka, who stands in the corner with a bothered look on her face.
"What's going on?" Alya asked as Nino approached them hurriedly. The boy was breathing heavily, his phone and bag each in one of his hands. He moved to sit next to Alya, leaning down in an attempt to make the upcoming conversation private.
"You didn't hear?!" He asked, looking around his girlfriend, and at Marinette, with a desperate expression on his face.
"Hear what?" Marinette questioned obliviously, growing anxious from the look on the usually chill boy's face.
"Someone saw you leaving the Agreste mansion with Adrien last night,"
Marinette tensed a little, wondering how people found out about that so fast. It was obviously going to happen. Adrien was famous. "A-And?"
The boy nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "T-There's been a rumor-"
"What! What rumor?" Marinette's face lit up red, and she almost dropped the lollipop she'd been holding in her mouth. Alya rolled her eyes and placed a hand on Marinette's chest to push her back.
"Relax girl. We can handle rumors." Eyeing her boyfriend, Alya smiled. "Spill this fake tea."
Nino put a finger to his lips as he leaned in to tell his two friends.
"Apparently people think you're cheating your way into being Gabriel Agreste's intern..."
Marinette's jaw dropped. "Pardon?"
Alya let out a laugh. "Oh my god, who came up with that? Do you know how many times this poor girl's been accused of cheating? And it all turned out to be completely untrue. Remember the hat?"
Marinette nodded with a solemn expression, but Nino wasn't feeling the calmness in the air. He was acting like this rumor was something they couldn't handle. The boy let out a breath of difficulty as if the upcoming words were venom in his mouth. "B-by sleeping with his son."
Marinette's heart plummeted into the pit of her stomach, and for a split second, everything seemed to start spinning around her.
It didn't seem impossible that something like that would go around... this was high school, no doubt. But the last time something like this was talked about, it was regarding the seniors. And it wasn't even a rumor- it was true! Plus, some people took pride in that stuff! But... Marinette... she was nothing like the people that actually did those things. The cheaters, liars, and... whores.
Cheating was one thing, but bringing sex into this? How could this be happening to Marinette? What did she do to deserve the lies spread about her? Who could have started such a ridiculous rumor?
"They. Said. What." Alya spoke the words that Marinette was probably thinking in her head, giving the girl time to find a response. But barely any. Her best friend, from next to her, already began cracking her knuckles and flexing her fingers. Nino gritted his teeth and put his hand on Alya's in an attempt to console her.
"Babe, listen... we'll figure it out..."
"How dare they..."
The words being spoken... were becoming distant. Marinette's head was filled with so much shock, confusion, and hate right now. She couldn't even see straight.
It wasn't a mystery who started it; it was practically obvious. It could only be one person. Marinette stood up from the bench, dodging Alya's reach. She dashed over to Chloe, who was still standing in the same place as she was before. For some odd reason, Marinette felt the need to make sure no teachers or Adrien were in sight before she let the blonde have it. She stood up straight and pursed her lips, yet for some reason, she still felt smaller than Chloe in every way.
Alya sat in the background, preparing herself in case something went wrong.
"Chloe!" The girl flipped her head in Marinette's direction. "How could you say those things?!"
She scoffed before placing her hands on her hips. "Really? What did I do this time?" She asked sarcastically.
"You're spreading lies about me!" Marinette cried out, trying to avoid getting herself choked up. She didn't even have the strength to call Chloe out on specifics.
"Pfft," She looked at her nails, "I didn't spread anything. The only thing being spread is your legs."
What the hell!?
Marinette practically choked on her breath as she felt a rush of dizziness. She was so... angry! How could Chloe do that to her? There was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to punch the blonde girl flat in the face. But being Marinette, she didn't have the courage nor the heart to commit such a deed. If the roles were reversed, Marinette was almost sure Chloe would attack her right then and there in front of everyone.
But that's just it. Marinette wasn't Chloe.
Her face felt hot, her vision was blurry, and her knees weak. At this point, Marinette couldn't tell whether she was angrier or more hurt. She placed her hand on her chest and held it there, hoping that the warm touch of her own hand could calm herself down.
"That's n-not true. And you know it."
"Surely, it is. Someone outright saw you walk out of his house. Why else would Gabriel, the man who never leaves his house, allow someone like you to live there!? You're hiding something, and it's obvious... You have some nerve trying to lie about it now. Ridiculous. And people call me a slut-"
"C-Chloe! You know that's not true!" Marinette shouted, her voice cracking. By now, students had surrounded the fighting girls and watched them intently. Tears were brimming in Marinette's deep blue eyes. Chloe took a deep breath, with an expression of both concern and annoyance, and pulled out her phone in an instant. With a few slides of her finger, she turned and faced the phone in Marinette's direction.
The moments leading up to it weren't long enough.
The picture showed a somewhat distraught look on Adrien's face as Marinette turned away. Even though it didn't prove anything about what happened inside, people took the examination on Adrien's face to be anger. Marinette knew that he wasn't angry. She knew him enough to know that in that picture, he was merely upset about something. She didn't have time to think about it now.
Sliding it, another picture appeared of Adrien as he led Marinette out the gates, his hand hovering behind her back. It seemed polite and friendly in Marinette'e eyes but still made her flush intently. She didn't even want to know what crazy thoughts came up from that photo.
Chloe's screen faded to black, and she put her phone back in her pocket. Mari knew she wasn't solely the one that saw those photos, nor were the people behind her the only ones either. Certainly, they had circulated the school by now. It was so silent in the courtyard; if you were listening hard enough, you could hear a pin drop.
Chloe let out a frustrated sigh as if the words to come were to be known by now. "Everybody knows you're not what you seem, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. It's written on your face... in your actions. Maybe Adrien doesn't like you like that at all. For all I know, perhaps he was kicking you out of the mansion for trying to entice him at that time. I'm not sure what happened. I'm not sure what strings you pulled. But I'm fine with that. Yet, whoever spread the rumor is one hell of a person to be telling everybody the truth about you. You can't hide behind this false persona any longer, Marinette. You, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are a lying, attention-seeking, whore!"
A few students words could be heard from behind her.
Did she got knocked up?
Is she really cheating?
Why would Adrien do the deed with her?
The words rang through Marinette's head like wildfire. Pushing the outside comments away, she raised her voice as if to keep herself from hearing any more. "Y-You're a liar... They're lying, Chloe! You're being misled!"
The more she tried to plead, the harder Chloe resisted. "There's more proof than that. It just piles up. Acting all innocent when you sure as hell be the one that flirts with the whole 11th-grade class. I feel bad for both Adrien and the other guy."
Marinette processed everything as quick as she could. Promptly, Alya and Nino had run into the front of the group of bystanders, though Mari couldn't imagine why now of all times they did. Alya was about to strike Chloe upside the head, while Mari could feel her own frustration collide with that of her supporting friends. The very few she still had, like the ones she thought she had could be seen hidden in the crowd if they weren't the ones talking about it upstairs. She could hear even more footsteps rushing behind her as parted her lips to ask one more question.
"Two guys?" She croaked, not sure what answer to expect.
Sabrina laughed out loud from beside Chloe, as if she, specifically, was waiting for this moment. The blonde girl flipped her ponytail, and purposely raised her voice.
"I hope Juleka doesn't mind you screwing her brother."
That was the final hit. And it was hard and hurt like a gunshot to the chest. Everybody surrounding Marinette gasped. Adrien is one thing...
But Luka Couffaine? They were just friends! She had hung out with him before, went ice skating with him and skateboarding. She even sang while he played guitar- but never did she get that close to him, or even really think about it for that matter. That boy has always been a good person. So kind and gentle. He never pressured Marinette for any kind of relationship. He knew his boundaries, and he knew Marinette was in love with someone else. What could Chloe possibly be talking about? Who could've seen her with Luka?
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Flashback
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It was on September 15th. Marinette walked down the street, holding the blue fleece in her hands. She slowly nodded her head up and down, humming to herself. It was light out, but a few clouds could be seen overhead. She was sure she'd get home before the storm started- as it still looked pretty far away. Her feet clonked against the wooden deck as she approached the familiar boat. Juleka could be seen sitting on the edge, her feet dangling near the water. Marinette approached her friend with a smile, happy to see the girl was out and about.
"Hey, Juleka!"
"Oh, hey, Marinette! What's up?" The girl tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I just brought something over for Luka."
"Oh, okay." Juleka looked back down at the water with pursed lips, before pulling out a small book from her back pocket. Marinette climbed onto the ship's deck and looked back at her friend for a second. She seemed so deep into the book already that Marinette didn't want to bother her any further. Slowly, she made her way to the door, and she whistled as she opened it. From inside Marinette's purse, Tikki made a tiny remark.
"Keep your options open!" Her voice spoke, shocking Marinette for a second at how sudden she heard it.
"Tikki, we've talked about this," She whispered, "Luka and I are just friends."
"I know," Tikki said, trying to hide her relief. The kwami wanted to make sure Marinette was happy, and she could tell Luka made her that way. Tikki knew that Adrien and Marinette were meant to be together eventually, but there was always going to be ups and downs in any future relationship. If that meant dating other people beforehand, Tikki didn't entirely mind. In fact, she believed that having a relationship with someone else might open Marinette's eyes to how she feels around that person doesn't quite match up to how she feels with Adrien. Maybe that could speed their relationship along! But still, the kwami her boundaries, and she knew that she really shouldn't have any say in it.
They should come to their senses together eventually.
Tikki was happy to see Marinette so focused and well balanced. The girl was able to keep her friends, school life, dream, and her superhero career adequately handled. Even if it had nothing to do with being Ladybug, it was good for a young adult to have all her priorities in order.
Marinette approached Luka's room and knocked on the door softly. She heard some moving around from inside before the door swiftly opened. Luka answered, his blue highlighted hair covered one of his eyes. He wore a think tube top and board shorts. It looked as if he had planned to stay in all day, and for a second Marinette wondered if she should have called before showing up.
"Should I have texted?" Mari asked, eyeing his outfit.
"Nah, it's just a lazy day," Luka responded and shook his bangs out of his face, before moving to allow Marinette to enter. She gladly accepted as they greeted each other.
"So how've you been?" She asked cheerfully, sitting on the chair across from the boy's bed. Luka put his hands in his pockets before sitting down in his desk chair a few feet away.
"Good, good. How about you?"
"I'm doing well. My parents have been working extra hard lately, but they have been giving me a break."
"Ah, you deserve it." Luka agreed.
"So what's going on with you?"
Luka hesitated for a second before answering. "I've been working on a new song. Wanna hear it?"
Marinette nodded quickly, "I'd love too."
She was always happy to hear Luka's music. He was incredibly talented, and it amazed her how gifted he was with instruments. The boy smirked before picking up his guitar. Quickly, he pulled the straps over his shoulders and put his fingers on the correct chords.
"Ready?"
Marinette gave him a thumbs up, feeling a tinge of awkwardness in the air. Luka began to play a soft melody that got faster as the song went on. This fingers worked diligently as he strummed. Marinette couldn't help but blush from her shyness. Every time he sang, it was to her, and she listened intently. They stared at each other as he began to sing the lyrics to his new song. The tune was catchy, and the words in the song rhymed like a poem. It seemed to be about a boy caring genuinely about a girl, as it talked about feeling different around her and wanting to be there for her whenever he can. It was quite beautiful, and Marinette was enjoying it. Until one of the lyrics stuck out to her.
Her eyes like the ocean blue, her smile just as gorgeous too.
Marinette hadn't noticed until he locked eyes with her that it was about her. She flushed and looked down, not sure how to react. If he really did write this song for her, does that mean there's something he wasn't telling her? She knew there used to be some chemistry a year or two ago, but that point they hadn't hung out in a while, and when they did, it was only friendly...
Did he really like her that way? For a second, Marinette seemed to forget how to react. Nobody had really had a crush on Marinette before unless you count Nathaniel- at least none she was aware of. Of course, there were plenty that had crushes on Ladybug... and if though Ladybug was still technically her, it was not at the same time.
Luka stood up as he continued to play flawlessly. He sat closer and across from Marinette on the bed, and she smiled up at him with tinted cheeks.
Slowly as he came to a stop, she looked up at him and cleared her throat. The girl clapped her hands and beamed.
"It was great! Great melody and the words went perfectly along. What inspired you to write something like this?" By the time the words left her mouth, she couldn't take them back.
Luka laughed out loud like it was evident before placing his guitar at the foot of his bed and turning to look at the shy girl in front of him.
"You, of course."
"Oh... Was it about me? That's-"
Luka grimaced out of fear. "Too much?"
"No, it's sweet," Marinette reassured, not sure what else to say. She looked down at the fleece on her lap, and her eyes lit up. She held it up for him- a blue coat with a snake symbol on the back. One she made entirely by hand.
"I made this for you."
Crap... Do I sound flirty?
Marinette could never tell. Every time Tikki said she seemed to be that way, Mari used to reassure her that flirting was way different then it was when the last Ladybug alive. But maybe her kwami really did know what flirting was like presently. She probably caught on based on how Alya acts around Nino, as Marinette sometimes can be like that with her other guy friends without realizing.
Luka's eyes lit up as he took the clothing from the girl's hands. "Wow, thanks! I remember you saying you were working on something for me. This is great."
Marinette scratched the back of her head, embarrassed and stood up as he pulled it over his head. She met his gaze as he looked up at her from the same spot on the bed.
"You have quite a talent, Marinette." He complimented.
"Thanks, Luka." She smiled. For a second, when his eyes crossed hers, she could feel something at the pit of her stomach telling her to be ready for whatever was going to happen next. Though, she still wasn't prepared, even with that gut feeling.
As they walked to the door, Marinette grinned as he spun in his new coat. He really did seem to like it, and it made her happy.
"Glad you like it!" Marinette said, gleefully.
"I like anything you make me, really."
Was that considered a flirt? Or was he just being friendly... Marinette could tell he was sucking up to her a little bit, but she wasn't quite sure why. Slowly her hand found it's way to the doorknob and she flashed him a smile on her way out.
"I'll see you-"
"Wait-" Luka said, backing up a few steps and snatching a paper from his desk. He came back over and handed it to her with a shy expression.
"What's this?" She asked, taking the paper from him to skim the words.
"The lyrics. To the song, I just sang you. I thought you'd like to have them, since they are, about you after all.'
"Oh," Marinette's eyes scanned the sheet and smiled at some of the more flattering words. "Thank you, Luka. You're sweet."
When she looked up at him, he was closer to her than he had initially been before. Their eyes met, both a gorgeous shade of blue. She felt her cheeks heat up as he leaned forward. Immediately, Marinette was aware of what he was trying to do.
Oh my god! He's gonna kiss me!
Marinette did and didn't want to move at the same time. Thoughts went through her head like rapid fire. Half of her wanted to let it happen, but the other half didn't! She wanted to have her first kiss (as Marinette) poorly, and she'd love to have it with Luka. But the way she feels with him is way more friendly than the way she feels with Adrien. What if he tells someone and Adrien thinks they're dating? Or worse, she embarrasses herself and totally does it wrong? Did she really want to do this? She really didn't feel prepared. Marinette's heart thumped as he got close enough for her to feel his breath against her skin. Their mouths were inches away. Just a little further, and his lips would be on hers.
Tikki could make out what was happening. Per her own judgment, she wished Marinette would stop it, as she was led to believe it was rude to kiss someone without asking. But as she had said earlier, perhaps being with someone else was just what Marinette needed. Besides, the kwami knew how much Marinette wanted it. She's almost 17 and was yet to have her first kiss, not counting when she had kissed Chat Noir as Ladybug.
Abruptly, Marinette pulled away before her and Luka's lips had a chance to meet, and Tikki let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. What had the kwami been thinking? Of course, Marinette shouldn't kiss Luka. Not like this!
Marinette cleared her throat, causing the two of them to turn red at the incredibly awkward moment. She took a few steps back and struggled to meet his eyes. She wasn't quite sure what to say, and it was apparent Luka felt the same, as he too avoided looking at her right away.
"Sorry, I got carried away." He apologized. It made Marinette feel even worse that this boy didn't stutter. He made awkward moments feel even more uncomfortable for her when he acted like it didn't bother him when it very much bothered her.
"N-No, it's o-okay... Luka.."
The boy seemed to look guilty for making Marinette so nervous, and he let out another apology under his breath. He peered down at her, and Marinette felt she owed him some sort of explanation for pulling away.
He probably feels like a dick right now.
"Luka, I...I can't.."
"I know. You don't have to explain yourself, Mari." He grinned knowingly at her, as it was apparent she still had feelings for someone else. And by the look of it, they may never honestly go away.
"There's-I mean... I still don't know what I want.." She said, hinting to her complicated romantic feelings. He nodded once more before walking to the door and opening it for her. Marinette thanked him and took a step out the door. To Tikki, it was apparent that the boy just wanted a chance, as he'd probably been pining after her for years.
"Bye."
"Bye, Luka"
When the door shut, the frazzled girl let out a panicked breath and began to regret her choice.
I should have kissed him! I was so close to having my first kiss with a fantastic guy! Why didn't I-
But she shouldn't have to question herself because she was right not to kiss Luka. Why would you kiss a boy when the moments leading up to it you're thinking about a completely different person?
✩｡*•. .•*｡✩
End Flashback
✩｡*•. .•*｡✩
Slowly, shaking, Marinette turned her head in her best friend's direction. Alya pleaded with her through the look in her eyes.
Please let me beat her up. It said.
Marinette shook her head before her eyes met the one person she didn't want to see. Now she understood why Alya and Nino had approached the crowd... She turned her head to make eye contact with the one and only, Adrien Agreste. His hair was glistening from the massive amount of hairspray he had used for his photoshoot that morning. He looked into the black-haired girl's eyes, having most likely heard everything that Chloe had said.
He heard the lies.
Marinette shoved the lollipop in her mouth roughly and turned to walk away.
"Having fun with that lollipop? But, you wouldn't want to tire out your tongue too much, would you?"
Haha! How far can you go?
Show us!
At those last comments, Marinette hardly cared who they even came from this. She ran off, shoving the group of people out of her way. She could feel Adrien's eyes on her... everybody's eyes. Her small sobs could be heard throughout the courtyard as they got smaller and smaller. Eventually, she disappeared entirely from sight. From inside her purse, Tikki had heard everything. Even the little kwami didn't know what to say or how to react. Never in her long life had she felt so bad for her holder. She bobbed up and down as Marinette ran.
Ran away from the crowd.
And the person she'd loved for three long years.
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
A/N: Hey, boo! Merry Christmas! Sorry for not updating in so long! It's been so hectic here. Trust me, and I'll work on more updates this winter break. Also, this has not been edited yet by my editor, since she isn't around right now. So, be prepared for any minor changes, such as word choice and errors. I may also add in more detail later, but you never know, so always revisit my previous chapters. Anyway, this chapter was incredibly crazy and essential, so please give me all of your thoughts! I really need them to make this story better! Happy New Year!
Song Choice: Rumors By R3H4B And Sofia Carson
Quite the rumors we've got here.
Word Count: 4825
Bug Out!