A/n- Welcome to the longest chapter (so far) in this book, and one of the saddest ones :(

Marinette finished writing in her diary for the day and ended up falling asleep next to it on her desk. In what felt like just two seconds later, her alarm went off. "Ahhh!" She nearly fell out of her chair.

"Good morning!" Tikki giggled.

"Morning..." she yawned, stretching her arms and turning around in her chair towards her dresser. "How long did I sleep?"

"Hmm...probably seven hours?"

"It felt more like seven seconds," she groaned.

"Well, maybeif someone wasn't writing in their diary all night long..."

"I had to, Tikki," she giggled. "After Adrien asked me to the dance yesterday-oh my gosh..." now Marinette was fully awake. "Adrien asked me to the dance yesterday! Please tell me this isn't a dream!!"

"It wasn't a dream, Marinette," The Kwami smiled. "He really asked you."

"Oh, thank goodness," the bluenette sighed in relief. "Oh no! How am I supposed to talk to him at school today?!"

"Just relax, Marinette. Be yourself."

"But myself is a stammering mess around him!"

"Well, he likes you anyways, doesn't he?"

"...I guess so? I really doubt it, though," she frowned.

"Just enjoy your day!" Tikki exclaimed. "And hey, look on the bright side. Even if he is just asking you as a friend, you won't be the third wheel with Nino and Alya!" Marinette laughed.

"You're right. I never want to third wheel again..."

**

"So...you're taking Marinette to the dance, huh?" Nino wiggled his eyebrows at his friend.

"Dude," Adrien flushed. "It's only as a friend. Besides, with you and Alya clinging to each other, she'd get bored."

"Uh-huh, and that's the only reason..."

"It is!"

"Keep telling yourself that, Agreste." Just then, the girls entered the classroom. Alya was wearing an orange off-the-shoulder shirt with capris jeans and brown heels. Nino couldn't help but whistle. "My girlfriend sure looks gorgeous today."

Alya just rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to me wearing things like this all the time, Romeo."

The first thing that Adrien noticed was how Marinette was dressed. She wore a light pink button-up blouse with dark blue jeans and her usual flats. "She looks so cute."

"Whoa, dude," Nino smirked.

Crap. "Did...I just say that out loud?"

"Yep. And I hope you were talking about Marinette."

"Of course I was. When did Alya get here?"

"Oh jeez, bro," the DJ shook his head. "You've got it bad."

"I do not! She's my friend, Nino. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Oh, it's definitely something more." Before the model could object, Mme. Bustier came in.

"Good morning, class! Today, we are finally going to start presentations on our paper we wrote last weekend after lunch. But first, please turn your books to page 394..."

A/n- *Sarcastically* What a random page number, right? xD

Not paying attention, Chloe leaned in to whisper to Sabrina. "Don't forget about our plan."

**

"So is your dress finished for the dance yet?" Alya asked Marinette as they sat outside with their lunchboxes waiting for Nino and Adrien, who were getting lunch from the cafeteria.

"Almost," The bluenette replied with a smile. "I just need to get the straps sewn to the bodice."

"Nice. Can't wait to see it."

"I hope it's something worth seeing. I started making it before I knew I was going with Adrien!"

"Calm down, girl," the reporter laughed. "Your outfits are always cute. Besides, at this rate, Adrien would like anything you wore."

"Really?" She blushed.

"Really."

"Hello ladies," Nino winked at his girlfriend and sat to her left, while Adrien sat to Marinette's right.

Alya raised an eyebrow. "Why are you extra flirty today? Do you want something?"

"Pffft, no!" She gave him a look. "...Maybe you could give me the answers to the algebra homework I missed yesterday?"

"Fine." She unzipped her backpack. "Here you go." She handed him the paper from her red folder. She got a weird stare from her boyfriend. "What? All you had to do was ask. Do you think I'd kill you or something?"

"Uh...yeah. Sometimes you do."

Alya leaned towards her friend. "Only once a month." They both giggled.

The DJ's face then fell flat. "Oh...I know what you two are giggling about."

"Doubt it."

"I know your language. Whenever you whisper to each other and giggle, it means you're making fun of someone and you don't want them to know."

The bluenette and ombré glanced at each other, both laughing again. "Nope, not even close."

"Ok," Alya said. "Back to what I was saying before my dear boyfriend interrupted me...Marinette, everyone's going to love your dress for the Spring dance."

"Alya!" The bluenette exclaimed, light pink tinting her cheeks.

"What? It's true. Right, Adrien?" She glanced at the model.

"What?! Uh...y-yeah, definitely." His face felt hot as he imagined the girl next to him in a dress.

"Exactly. See?" Alya winked at her best friend. Marinette squeaked in response, burying her face in her hands.

**

Sabrina had managed to convince Marinette's parents yet again to let her go up to her room. "Hmm...what would Chloe want?" She wondered out loud. Probably not that diary again since it clamped down last time...

She looked through her closet, finding only clothes. She looked on her bed and found nothing interesting either. But when she got to her desktop, she did find something. Her diary. Wide open. Must've forgotten to close it. And it wasn't in the clamping box either. A smirk appeared on her face. Fancy dress, here I come.

She peered over at the page it was turned on. The entry date was yesterday, so it was brand new. It read:

Dear Diary...

Sabrina slowly ripped the entry out, folding it in her backpack, and headed back downstairs. "Did you find what you were looking for, Sabrina?" Her mother asked kindly. She almost felt bad for what she was about to do. Maybe if it wasn't for the new dress she was getting, she would not have gone through with Chloe's plan.

"Yeah, it was just my notebook. Thank you Mrs. Cheng!" She smiled sweetly.

"It was no problem. Come by our bakery soon!"

"Thank you!" She waved, heading out the door. She let out a sigh of relief when she was finally out. Now it's time to put the plan into action.

**

It was after lunch, and the classroom was buzzing. "Alright, class!" Mme. Bustier clapped three times. "It's time to start our presentations! Who wants to go first?"

"I'll go!" Alya raised her hand excitedly.

"I'm glad you're eager, come right on up then," she smiled. Alyas paper had been about what she had discovered about Ladybug and Chat Noir over the past year, and what being a hero meant to her.

Whenever she was done, Nino went. His paper was about the evolution of music and how it contributed to different cultures at different times. After him, Adrien went, speaking about what freedom meant to him. This gave Marinette the courage to go next.

"So my paper was about love," she began with a smile. She heard Chloe make a fake barf noise, but she ignored it. "Well, it's more like a poem, actually." The bluenette took a deep breath, and began reading.

A/n- This is actually a poem by me, so...yeah ^^

"Painfully beautiful
Like a rose bush with thorns.
It ruined my innocence;
Now I am reborn.

Falling quickly
Like the autumn leaves.
Harsh and bitter
Like the winter breeze.

Turbulent as the ocean;
Calm as the shore.
Unlike any feeling
Known before.

Blooming like a flower
In the spring.
Soft as the feather
Of a bird's wing.

Open when it's new;
Closed when it's used.
And it rusts if it's left alone
By someone like you."

When she was finished, everyone clapped. Some even cried, including Mme. Bustier. "That was so lovely and creative, Marinette! Thank you." The bluenette smiled proudly as she took her seat. She could see Chloe balling her fists from the corner of her eye.

"Girl, that was incredible!" Alya said. "I got goosebumps!"

"Me too," Adrien joined in with a smile. "That was amazing." Her face lit up and she blushed.

"Th-thank you...it was nothing."

"Are you kidding?" He smiled. "That was probably one of the best poems I've ever heard."

"Well, thanks again," she giggled nervously.

"Alright everybody," Mme. Bustier raised her voice a bit. "I need to run a quick errand. To save time, you all can continue to present while I'm gone. I will be back shortly." She grabbed her clipboard and headed out the door.

Now's my chance, Chloe thought, a menacing smile on her lips. "I'm going next!" The blonde promptly stood up.

"Bet it won't be good," Alex snickered.

"Hey!" She shot a glare at her, taking a seat in the teacher's chair.

"Chloe," Alya said. "Just because Mme. Bustier's gone doesn't give you the right to intrude her space."

"Will you please be quiet and respect the presenter? I don't think she'd appreciate it very much if she found out you all were talking during my speech."

"Fine," The class groaned.

"Thank you," the queen bee smiled. "Anyways," She cleared her throat. "My paper is about what happens when you leave your diary open for everyone to read."

"Huh?" Some people said, glancing at each other weirdly. Nevertheless, she continued. "I must give credit to the original author first. This is called 'Creepy Diary Entry' by Marinette Dupain-Cheng." The class gasped. Marinette felt her heart sink to her stomach. What?

"Dear Diary," she began.

       "I can't sleep tonight. Something amazing happened today. Adrien asked me to the Spring dance!! I can't believe it! I never thought he'd actually ask someone like me! Anyways, I probably need to sleep now. I've been thinking about Adrien all night."

She paused for dramatic effect. "Ooo...what exactly are you thinking about him, Marinette?" A couple of people snickered, and the bluenette sunk down in her seat.

"Sometimes, I even pretend he's lying in bed with me in his arms to help me sleep. That's probably what I'm gonna do tonight because I'm just so excited!

~Marinette."

"Wow," Chloe mocked. "You really have a wild imagine, don't you? Honestly, I think it's kind of creepy. And I feel terrible for you, Adrien. Taking a slut to the dance? Is that really who you wanna go with?"

Alya shot daggers at the blonde. "Don't listen to her, Mari!"

Meanwhile, Adrien's mouth flew open and his face was bright red. No matter how much he wanted to tell off Chloe, he couldn't get the words to come out of his mouth. Marinette thinks about me? All the time?

"I bet it's fake!" Someone yelled.

"Oh, I know for a fact it's not," she sneered. "Her mom let Sabrina right into her room and she stupidly left her diary sitting out in the open. Should've remembered to close it, huh, Maritrash?

Marinette was angry. No, furious. She wanted to knock Chloe right off of that chair and slap her so hard. But she was so embarrassed...so humiliated. Her body shook and her heart pounded aggressively. A flood of tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She did what her instincts told her. She got up from her desk and ran out of the classroom, covering her face to avoid looking at Adrien. Who knows what he's thinking now.

She didn't stop running until she made it to the restroom, slammed the stall door, and sat on the toilet seat. By then, hundreds of tears had already fallen. Just as she thought things were finally getting better, that brat had to show up and make her life worse all over again.

"Marinette," Tikki flew on her shoulder in attempt to comfort her, and nearly falling off due to the shakiness. "It's ok. Breathe, just breathe."

As she sobbed, every inhale felt like a thousands knifes in her chest, and she felt as if she could never catch her breath. "A-Adrien..." she began. "W-wasn't s-supposed to-to h-hear that! N-nobody was!"

"I know, I know..." the Kwami frowned, petting her shoulder.

"Marinette?!" The bathroom door swung open. Tikki quickly went back into her purse.

"L-leave me alone, Alya!" She yelled through the stall.

"No! I'm not leaving you alone! Open this door, girl!" It took a few moments, but Marinette was eventually able to control her breathing and opened it. When the reporter saw her friend's tear stained face, her face fell. "Oh, Mari..." she hugged her. The bluenette closed her eyes in content for a moment, then they show open again.

"Does...does Mme. Bustier know about it yet?"

"No," she shook her head. "She isn't back yet. But I'm telling her."

"No!" She cried.

"Yes, I'm telling her, and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"Do you just want to embarrass me further?!!!!" Marinette nearly screamed. "What kind of friend are you?!"

Alya's eyes widened, and she slowly steeped away from the bluenette. "What kind of friend am I? I'm the kind of friend that knows when her best friend needs help! I'm the kind of friend that stays by her best friend's side no matter what!"

"But this is my fight, Alya!" Marinette shot back. "Not yours! You need to back off and stay out of this! I only cause you and everyone else more trouble anyways!"

"Oh, so now you're feeling sorry for yourself? You seriously think you cause problems for everyone? Well let me tell you something. You've never caused any problems for me until now. Your attitude about this whole thing is ridiculous! If you would've told someone, this whole thing would've never happened in the first place!"

"Oh yeah? Well what about the internet?!"

"Well should've stayed off of it. And being mean to Chloe right back didn't help your situation either?"

Marinette couldn't believe her ears. "So...you're saying this is my fault?"

"Maybe it is." Alya retorted, spinning around on her heel and storming out of the restroom. Then the tears came back.

Marinette hit the door, crying out in anger. "Marinette, stop!" Tikki yelled frantically.

"No!" She yelled back. She continued hitting the door until she got tired, falling against it. Tikki wondered how her owner hadn't been akumatized yet. Maybe Hawkmoth's on break? The tiny ladybug stayed by her side until she was done crying. That was when the bell that dismissed school rang.

"Let's go home," the Kwami said gently. Marinette only nodded, slowly opening the bathroom stall and keeping her head down. As if on cue, Chloe and Sabrina walked in.

"Oh, look who it is," the blonde snickered. "You really stayed in there for the rest of the class period? Disgusting." She paused. "Well, at least now you'll smell better." They both burst out in laughter.

Marinette ran faster to the door, more tears leaving her eyes. Walking through the halls wasn't any better either. It was like slow motion. Like she could hear every conversation.

"...hear what happened to Marinette?" Someone said.

"Yeah, I feel bad for her."

"Do you think she really is a slut?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"I say she is."

"She probably doesn't even know the father of her baby."

Just keep going. She told herself over and over again. You're almost there. She made it out of the school, and walked home, her head hanging low.

**

Adrien had tried to find Marinette the moment the final bell rang. He figured she was in the bathroom and Alya would tell him something, but she never did. In fact, he couldn't find either of them.

"Dude, where's your girlfriend?" He asked Nino.

He shrugged. "I don't know, man. I can text her." They waited for a few minutes, but Alya never responded. "Hey, I bet she went home by now. Maybe we could go and see how she's doing."

"Yeah," Adrien nodded. He texted his bodyguard to pick him up at the Dupain-Cheng's bakery.

*dig dong*

Sabine opened the door to reveal the two boys. "Adrien, Nino!" She smiled cheerfully. "Here to see Marinette?" They both nodded.

"I'll go get her." She turned and headed upstairs to the living room and then to the stairs to her room. "Marinette, sweetie? Two of your friends are here to see you!"

"I-I don't wanna see them. Can you tell them I'm doing homework right now?!" She called back. Sabine frowned. She knew that her daughter had come home with a tear-stained face. She asked what was wrong, and Marinette simply told her that she fell down that stairs and twisted her ankle really bad.

In reality, she had fake limped around the house and up to her room. Her mom has given her pain-killers and an ice pack, which she took but never used.

"Alright, darling. I'll let them know." She headed back downstairs. "Marinette said she's doing homework right now. Maybe you can stop by sometime later?"

"Alright," They both said, a hint of disappointment in their voices.

"I wonder if her mom knows," Nino said after they exited the bakery.

"I hope so," Adrien frowned. "Maybe Chloe Will finally get kicked out of school."

"Whoa, dude," his friend was taken aback. "I've never heard you speak like that about anyone-even Chloe. Isn't your motto to always be nice?"

"Yeah," he said. "But Chloe's gone too far this time." With that, he decided there was no more Mr. nice guy when it came to Chloe. If she was going to hurt Marinette, he wouldn't have any patience or mercy. No one hurts Marinette like that and gets treated the opposite.