"Urgh I'm late again!" Marinette chastised herself as she bolted up the steps running half an hour late for the first class of the day. Science, yay, and even better, they were having a test today, whooo! Luckily Marinette had revised, but unluckily, she had unfortunately fallen asleep without drying her hair. Unkempt waves framed her face as she ran up the steps to class. Marinette tried to make her messy hair presentable, by quickly running her fingers through it, cursing herself, for in her haste, she had failed to pick up the hair ties to put it into her usual style.

"You're late, here's your test, take a seat."

A mumbled apology and thanks was all Marinette managed to get out before almost missing her seat. Thankfully, she only received a glare from the teacher behind the desk, as she settled quickly and tried her hardest to complete as much of the test as possible.

Alya nudged her as they were asked to stop writing, bringing Marinette out of her physics induced sorrow. "How did you do girl?"

Adrien and Nino turned around in their seats to join the conversation.

"Woe is me," Marinette replied dramatically, draping her arm over her eyes. "The girl who will never pass, even if she managed to get to class on time!" She finished with an eye roll, leaning on her forearms.

"You look beautiful today Mari," Adrien commented, as his gaze wondered over her wavy tresses.

Marinette simply blushed in response, as a 'thanks Adrien' barely made it past her lips.

Alya shared a smug knowing look with Nino as Adrien continued.

"I could always help you with Physics Mari," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "We could go to the library, or you could come to mine a-after school one night."

"You know Mari," Kim came bounding down the stairs, stopping next to her. Placing his hands on her desk, he blocked Adrien's view and angled his gaze on her. "I'm no good at studying, but I could definitely help you with the Principles of Physics!"

Alya and Nino snorted, Adrien pouted while Marinette was left speechless and as red as her alter ego's suit.

"I'm sure she already knows about Newton's Law of gravity!" Alix shoved Kim in the arm, but the burley jock did not flinch.

"Next time you fall," Kim smirked at Marinette, "hopefully I'll be there to catch you!" He winked at the bluenette as Alix jostled him out of the room.

Adrien sat there for a moment, feeling perplexed about the emotions which had plagued him when Kim had very obviously hit on Marinette. Obviously he was just being protective of his 'very good friend' Marinette, but even his thoughts about seriously maiming Kim for the intrusion in their conversation, made him wonder just how much of a good friend she was. It was his job to catch her, his duty, not Kim's! Would you gladly behead someone just to get them away from a good friend? Would you normally cataclysm his ass out of this world just for being too pushy? Yes of course you would! Marinette was an amazing friend...

"Did that?" Marinette questioned, looking to the door where one of her longest friends had just disappeared.

"Yep!" Alya confirmed, with an equally dumbfounded look on her face.

The rest of their class had left by this point, the four friends also headed out of the classroom and into the hall outside. The girls walking in front, Adrien could not stop staring at the back of Marinette's head. A cool breeze whizzed past them, blowing through Marinette's hair, leaving Adrien consumed with a vanilla and lavender fragrance gracing his senses.

A daydream floated through Adrien's mind, of him and Marinette running through an open field. Eating cupcakes and giggling to each other. Adrien's eyes started to wonder down the rest of Marinette's small frame.

Nino noticed the smouldering look on his friends face and wondering eyes. Elbowing him out of his daydream, Nino whispered, "dude! You're staring!" Chuckling, Nino shook his head.

Abruptly Adrien was snatched away from his not so innocent thoughts and he had an idea. "Where are you guys going for lunch?" Adrien casually asked, adjusting his backpack on his shoulder. "My driver's broken down so looks like I'm here today." He quickly and discreetly sent a text to make sure there was not a driver waiting to collect him. He would not want them to think there was any reason in particular for him wanting to hang around... Wait, should he need an excuse to spend time with his friends?

"We're heading to the canteen, want to join us?" Alya smirked back at a Adrien, whose gaze had wondered over to an oblivious Marinette once more.

"I need to just go the library first." Marinette told her friends as they headed to the canteen. Not waiting for a response, she set off in the direction of the Library.

"Don't be too long!" Alya called after her, "you need to eat too!"


"Dude, you've barely eaten your food." Nino commented on his friends interest in pushing a cherry tomato around his plate.

"Marinette's been a while, do you think she's ok?" Adrien dropped his fork, causing a loud clatter as he sighed.

His behaviour peaked Alya's interest. Raising her eyebrow, the redhead suggested, "why don't you go and find her sunshine."

Nino looked to his girlfriend, raising an eyebrow in amusement at her not so subtle meddling. Quietly chuckling down into his lap, Nino knew his boy was oblivious. Oblivious to why he was paying her attention, oblivious to the the lovesick glances he had been shooting to the cafeteria entrance every time the door had opened. His best friend truly was simply oblivious.

Nino had noticed Marinette particularly today also. Heck! He had even spotted Alya checking her out as she had run off to the library. He could not quite put his finger on why though...

Adrien stood up, not replying to Alya's suggestion, taking his tray and discarding it in the trolley on his way out.

"Alya," Nino looked questioningly at his girlfriend, who was smirking after the blonde as he left. "What is it about-"

"It's the hair." Alya said knowingly, as she rested her chin in her palm. Nino did not get it, he scratched his cheek absentmindedly in thought. Alya picked up on her boyfriends lack of understanding, "think about it, pigtails are cute," she glanced over the rim of her glasses at Nino. He still was not understanding, she continued, "sexy bed hair is hot."

Nino's eyes widened as his mouth opened momentarily at Alya. She simply shrugged as she sipped her drink casually.

"Don't think I didn't notice you taking a second look today." Knowingly, Alya amusedly smiled at her boyfriends sheepish look with matching blush. She casually added, "I did too."


Marinette's lunch break had so far been consumed with awkward stares and encounters with students generally belonging to the male student population. The attention she was receiving baffled her. After being accosted in the library by a boy that she did not know, she made her way to the art room, where she was momentarily relieved to see Nathaniel and Marc.

Marc was his normal self with her for the most part, but the look that Nathaniel gave her, earned him an elbow to the ribs. Marc was not impressed with Nathaniel's lack of ability to stop staring, it was only when Marc also properly looked at her that she guessed something was majorly wrong.

Was there an Akuma she did not know about? An Akuma with a strange power making the male population turn into mute wide eyed statues. The mute males were not specifically the problem, it was the ones who invaded her personal space that were the problem.

Rounding the corner making her way to the canteen, Marinette ran into Max. Max was a good friend, surely she would get some sense out of him.

"Hi Max!"

"Marinette! You look positively radiant today!-"

Maybe not.

"I estimate the chances of you leaving school with several numbers by the end of the day has increased seventy-four percent overnight!" He knowingly exclaimed, pointing a finger in the air he asked, "would you like mine?"

In a very out of character fashion, Max pulled what looked like a business card out of his chest pocket. He smoothly held it out between two fingers to Marinette while pumping his eyebrows enthusiastically.

Oh dear Kwami!

"I-uh-Thanks?" Not knowing what to do in this unusual situation, Marinette hesitantly took the card from his outstretched fingers. She thought that would be the end but there was more...

"Do not hold back Marinette," he started, as Marinette began to internally cringe. "Top grades are my forte! I'm sure I can do some extra curricular activities if you should need me to!" With an uncharacteristic suave, Max bid Marinette a pleasant day and whisked off down the corridor.

"What the hell was that?"

Marinette turned round to see Chloé saying exactly what she was thinking. Dumbfounded, Marinette shook her her head aghast, unable to find words. Chloé, took this as a prompt to continue, stated in her usual scathing manner, "I make all this effort," gesturing to herself up and down, "and you wake up without combing your hair to find half the student body fawning over you! Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous."

Realising what Chloé was saying, Marinette hesitated before asking, "do you have any hair ties please?" Wincing, Marinette expected to be laughed off, but Chloé surprised her.

"Here," Chloé passed a bobble to Marinette, "I only have the one."

"That's perfect thank you Chloé."

"Yeah, don't tell anyone." With a fleeting smile, Chloe turned on her heel flicking her hair over her shoulder, before sauntering off down the hallway.


Adrien had made it to the library, but was at a loss when he did not find Marinette. He found himself panicking, upon hearing two lads talking about the bluenette who had been there earlier. Adrien could feel the need to protect her rising in his chest. Surely this is how friends felt right? When hearing about how other people- boys in particular- found themselves enamoured by the beauty, it's only natural to want to pulverise then into dust, right? Hearing their disrespectful ideas about what they would do to his friend justified his want to catapult them down the street, right?

Leaving the library before losing his cool, Adrien ran into Marc and Nathaniel. Glad to see two good friends of his and Marinette's, he thought nothing of asking them if they had seen her. Oh boy was he wrong! Although not disrespectful or down right 'nasty' towards Marinette, the way they spoke about her only added to the blazing fire within his chest.

"Marinette came to pick up a design just a moment ago," Marc smiled shyly. "I have never noticed how her eyes captivate me before..."

Nathaniel added nervously, "I couldn't help but draw her after seeing her," he passed Adrien his sketch book, "I couldn't put her beauty into words, so I've drawn her a picture."

Adrien studied the picture for a moment. Nathaniel had talent. Capturing her big doe eyes, perfect porcelain skin and luscious wavy hair, Nathaniel had drawn the perfect anime version of Marinette. Portraying her beauty, in careful and delicate lines on paper. This version of Marinette caused Adrien's heart to beat rapidly, faster than even ladybug had ever caused. What the hell is going on?

Adrien reluctantly handed the picture back, making a mental note of it, for reasons he did not quite understand, and headed towards the canteen.

Only a few paces were taken as he almost bumped straight into Chloé.

"Adrikins!" She exclaimed happily, throwing her arms around his neck. He pulled away slightly, to which he was pleasantly surprised when she casually stepped back out of his personal space. Seeing his hurry, Chloé probed him teasingly, "looking for someone are we?" The knowing smirk plastered on her face, Adrien finally gave her his full attention.

"What? No-actually yeah. Have you seen-"

"Dupain-Cheng has just gone that way," she said pointing to the locker room, as Adrien followed the direction of her finger. He was momentarily lost again, Chloé looked on amused at him. "My god! Is hair really all it takes to get a girl noticed?"

"Huh, what," he pulled his attention back to her once more. Chloé simply laughed at his flustered state.

"I'd say you were like Max in that respect but I've seen how you are around your 'everyday Ladybug'." Shaking her head at Adrien's quizzical look at her words, Chloé rolled her eyes while continuing. "All the boys are fawning over her! I'd be quick before she takes Max up on his offer!"

"It's not like that Chlo," Adrien hesitated as he tried to fathom what exactly was going on inside him. "She's just a friend who hasn't had her dinner yet." Nervously reaching for his nape, he bashfully continued, "I just want to make sure she eats, that's all."

"If that's the case Adrikins, invite her out for dinner." She suggested with bored tone to her voice.

"What? No I-"

"And invite me and one of your hot model friends, oooooo, we can be each other's wingmen!" She insisted excitedly, "now go get her, seriously, before even Nino tries it on!" She laughed when he sent her a crooked smile over his shoulder, as he made his way towards the locker room.

Was it really that obvious? How long have I liked Marinette? No, no, she's just a really good friend, I love Ladybug for crying out loud.

'Yeah sure you do,' a voice which sounded a lot like Plagg, answered his thoughts.

Do I really like Marinette?

'I think head over heels in love with pigtails is more accurate!' The voice replied again. 'Go get her kid!'

Adrien had just reached the locker room door as a smiling Lila practically skipped out.

"Oh Adrien!" She cooed, stopping dead in her tracks, "I wouldn't go in there if I was you, Marinette is in pieces and she wants to be left alone." She hooked his arm to pull him away, but he defiantly stood his ground. He did not have a good feeling about this.

"No Lila!" He almost growled at her, pulling his arm out of her grasp. "I'm going to see Marinette, and if I find out you have had anything to do with this, you will wish you had never come to Paris." Knowing what Lila is like, Adrien was not even trying to play nice anymore

"I would never!" She feigned shock and hurt, clutching her hands in front of her chest, "why would you think that of me?" She sorrowfully asked.

"Because I know you." His growl still present, he dropped his voice low as he leaned in closer. "I told you to stay away from the people I care about, and Marinette is at the top of that list."

Lila did not need to feign hurt this time, as his words cut into the bully like a double edge sword. Composing herself, Lila schooled her face to show concern, "we're friends Adrien, I wouldn't hurt her I swear."

Before he could reply, Lila quickly made her escape towards the cafeteria. Adrien watched her disappear with narrowed eyes. Of all the people he wanted to cataclysm today, she was on top of that list.

Once she had left his sight, Adrien pushed open the door to the locker room, and his heart was suddenly in his throat.


Marinette made her way to the locker room so she could do something with the magnet for male attention. Stepping in to the seemingly empty room, she made her way to the mirror, and placed her bag at her feet.

Rummaging through, she was looking for her brush which she could have sworn was in there somewhere. Failing to find it, Marinette resided herself to finger combing her hair up into a messy bun atop of her head, unaware of olive eyes watching her.

"Marinette," a sickly sweet familiar voice came from behind her.

Readjusting her focus on the mirror, Marinette's eyes met Lila's

"Li-Lila." Marinette stuttered before letting out a breath she did not know she was holding. "Everything ok?" She asked apprehensively, not breaking eye contact. Although nothing had happened of late, Marinette really could not trust the lying brunette.

Lila sauntered over to come right behind Marinette, causing a cold shiver to sweep down her spine. Marinette was very aware of her hands still toying with her hair, and she was even more aware of Lila's breath now grazing the skin at her nape.

"I don't know what it is about you today," she pointedly looked at Marinette's reflection, "but you've captured the attention of every boy you've come across. Why is that?" Lila asked with cunning aloofness.

"Uh-Lila?" Marinette looked at her, slightly grimacing at her in the mirror as Lila got closer to Marinette's back, "can you move please?"

"Why, so you can go and grab Adrien's attention too?" Lila sneered quietly into her ear.

"N-no, Lila I just want t-to go and get my lunch, th-that's all." Marinette stuttered uncomfortably. Bringing her hands down she meandered her way out of the restrictive position.

Lila leaned on the wall with one hand, sandwiching Marinette against the wall once more. The last time this happened, Lila threatened Marinette, but there was much more malice in her tone this time. Hate was burning behind the brunette's eyes, much more so than ever before. "I told you before, and I'll tell you again. I can take everyone away from you, so do not get in my way!"

Marinette took a shaky breath as she nodded at Lila's words.

"Good." Was all the brunette said as she happily waltzed out of the locker room, completely changing her demeanour. It was scary how easily she flitted between heinous bitch, and butter-wouldn't-melt angel.

Marinette slumped down against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest. Not wanting to cry, she was just sick of things finally starting to go well, for them to be dragged down by some jealous person with a problem of their own.

Marinette knew she was strong, she was Ladybug for crying out loud! Lila was not going to get to her. Adrien was his own person, and was perfectly capable of making his own decisions. Maybe it was time for her to move on with her own life, leave the boys where they are, and focus on loving herself.

"Hey, Mari, are you ok?"

Dam it! There he is with those soft, caring, deep emerald eyes, and beautiful, blonde, luscious hair...so much for leaving the boys where they are! Maybe give him one more chance, just one more...promise.


So, I lost my device that Ive been writing on, and picked up my tablet which I replaced at the beginning of lockdown. Seen this already written and thought I'd post it and see what you think? Can't quite remember where I was going with it in all honesty, but...

Let me know in the comments, if you think it should be left how it is or expanded on.

Thank you for reading!

Lady Rhi X