Published: 16322; Tuesday; 19:50; 171029; Sunday; 19:13; Edited

🐞

"Happy birthday, Adrien!" Chloe purred, clinging to his arm and trying to kiss him but only managed to kiss his cheek as he turned his head away. She pouted but smiled, fake sweetness that he was used to seeing on a daily basis."Did you get my present? I had it delivered just for you."

"Uh, no," he pried her off and took a step away from her. She huffed, obviously upset."I'm sure it'll be in my room if you delivered it, I'll check when I get home. Thanks Chloe." He walked away before she could say anything and to Nino who was waiting.

"So what did the she-devil say this time?" He joked, making Adrien crack a smile. Nino held out a small box, smiling, "Happy birthday, dude."

"Thanks, Nino," he smiled, placing the present in his bag.

"Get out of the way, dorks!" Chloe's screech made them stop and turn around, quicker than the other students, seeing a girl with midnight blue hair being pushed to ground, Alya, he recognized as Nino's friend (and crush), helping the girl back up as soon as the shock was wiped from her face.

Alya glared at Chloe, "We weren't in your way in the first place, you shoved Marinette down and putting the blame on us!"

Adrien raised a brow, it sounds like something Chloe would do, and he witnessed it. His eyes trailed down to the girl with her hair in two, low pigtails. She was picking her stuff quickly, eyes downcast so he couldn't see their color, and stood up, pulling on Alya's sleeve, motioning that they should go.

"Don't lie! I would never do that, how dare you accuse me, loser!" Chloe sneered, crossing her arms.

Marinette snapped her head towards Chloe, narrowing her eyes. She stood in front of Alya and pointed a finger at Chloe, "Now, I can handle you shoving me and your jabbing insults, but you have no right to call my best friend a liar when she's obviously telling the truth. You're the liar, Chloe!"

Chloe was livid but soon smirked, "There's no proof, I'm going to tell the principal that you're accusing me."

"I'm sure--"

"Someone saw?" Chloe laughed, "Nobody saw anything."

"I did," he spoke before he even realized, loud enough for the everyone (they had drawn a crowd of students, though small and scattered among themselves) to hear him, the three girls' eyes widened. "Chloe, that isn't okay."

"Adrien?!" Chloe shrieked in disbelief, and Adrien looked away from his childhood 'friend' to the girl, Marinette, she had pushed down.

He was met with startling blue eyes that were wide as they met his, he smiled at the girl gently. "Are you okay?"

Her gaze shifted to her feet, and she nodded, blush on her cheeks.

"Adrien, what are you doing?!" Chloe pulled on his hand, but he snatched it away, sending her a glare.

"You shouldn't bully anyone, Chloe. It's not right." He stomped off, dragging Nino along. He really hated that Chloe was his only friend other than Nino, but he can't stand by and let her put others down like that. Not anymore.

Hopefully he'd get to read Ladybug's letter, that would make him feel better.

But he never got a letter that day.

🐞✉️🐞

Happy Birthday Adrien!

Although your birthday was yesterday.

Sorry about that. Chloe had Sabrina on the look-out for any girls with letters and presents coming near your locker, so I wasn't able to get my other letter to you.

That makes you seventeen, right? If you're seventeen, then you're older than me by a few months.

Also, I made you a scarf, I personally dropped it off at your house (while you were at a photo shoot). No offense, but your mailbox is weird...

Anyways, I hope you like it!

By the way...

Thank you.

Lots of love,
Ladybug

🐞✉️🐞

Adrien smiled, setting the letter down and lifting the scarf from the unwrapped and opened box, it was a baby blue color, on both ends of the scarf had a design of some sorts, and made of nice fabric. It was handmade, he could tell, and it was something he would treasure forever.

He looked at the last two words on the letter, not knowing why she was thanking him but shrugged it off, placing the scarf around his neck.

He didn't even remember the heartbroken feeling of his father giving him another pen, the same one like ever year, because now he was fine and he felt warm.

'No, thank you.'

✉️