A/n- He's so cute in this picture!! Ahhhh!!😍💕

P.s., I finally finished my last exam! I've officially made it through my first semester of college! Yay for me!🤗

"Maman," Marinette faked a pained groan. "I just threw up. I don't think I'll be able to go to school today."

"Awe, sweetie," she frowned. "I wonder if it something you ate?" The bluenette shook her head.

"No, I felt completely fine until this morning."

"Alright," Sabine said. "Do you want any ice chips?"

"No thank you."

"Ok, get some rest, dear. I'll be downstairs if you need anything." Marinette only nodded, waiting for her mom to get all the way down the stairs before she sat up in bed, immediately getting on her phone.

"What are you doing, Marinette?" Tikki asked in a knowing voice.

"I'm checking Twitter to see if there are anymore comments about that video. I need to see, Tikki!"

"No you don't!"

Nevertheless, she ignored the tiny ladybug. "Oh my gosh...now they're going back to the pregnant rumor since I'm not at school and since I've been skipping recently." She rolled her eyes, pretending not to be hurt, but it only made her cry again. "See? No matter what I do, they're always talking about me."

"Well maybe," Tikki flew in front of her phone with a bright smile, blocking her view from the screen. "If you got off of your phone and did not think about what other people think of you, you wouldn't be so sad-"

"You too?! You're just blaming this on me like Alya is?! Ugh!" She fell back into her bed, covering her body with the blankets. Maybe if I stay in bed all day, no one will bother me, and I won't bother anyone either, because apparently, I've become a huge problem.

Tikki sighed, dropping her head and floating towards the other side of the room. I hope this is just a phase, please let it be a phase...

**

"How many times do I have to tell you, Kim?! My paper isn't yours to wad up!" Ivan yelled. Kim only laughed, and threw the paper into the trash bin from across the room.

"He shoots, he scores!"

"Kim," Mme. Bustier walked into the room, glancing down at the trash can. "You come and pick that out of the trash and apologize to Ivan.

"Fine," the boy huffed, slumping over to the trash and picked the piece of paper up. "Here's your trash back," he snickered, giving it back to Ivan. "Sorry."

Ivan growled, balling his fists as he watched Kim walk back to his seat, a sly smirk on his face. "Everyone needs to calm down now," the teacher said.

During her lesson, Mme. Bustier glanced over at the very frequently unoccupied seat next to Alya. Of course, she had become accustomed to Marinette being late, but not missing out on a lesson entirely.

When the bell rang, she looked at Alya, Nino, and Adrien. "Can I see you three for a moment?" They all looked at each other, then nodded. "Don't worry," she laughed as they came up to her desk. "You guys aren't in trouble. I was just wondering if you know where Marinette is. She's been missing school a lot more these days. Do you know if something happened?"

Nino's throat immediately closed up, and all that he could do was shrug. "I don't know, I can ask her," Alya said, although deep down she knew the reason.

"She nodded. "Just let me know what's up, alright?" They all nodded again.

"Yes m'am."

Adrien wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her everything from the day Chloe tripped her until now. But he just couldn't make himself do it. What if it really does embarrass Marinette and what if it gets even more people talking about her? Besides, she would be mad at me if I did.

It was lunch hour, and all the students had gone either to the cafeteria or outside to eat. "Do you think Marinette will ever be at school again?" A student said.

"I don't know, beats me. She's the one who's pregnant."

"Are you serious?" Adrien groaned to his friends as he overheard the conversation. "I wish they'd stop talking about her like that."

"Same here, dude," Nino frowned. "Is there really anything we can do about it, though?"

"We could tell the teacher?"

"Well then why didn't you when we were talking to Mme. Bustier?"

"I-" The blonde stopped himself. It's true, he thought. What is this is all my fault?

"Anyways, wasn't Alya supposed to text Mari?" He looked at his girlfriend expectantly.

"I said I would, but I'm not," she answered coldly.

The DJ raised an eyebrow. "Well why not?"

"Because," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Marinette will only tell me that she's fine and that she doesn't need my help. Believe me, I've tried, but nothing works. She's too stubborn to want help. And...i just don't know what to do." Alya sniffled, feeling her eyes water. "I-I could tell somebody, but I'm afraid if I do, she'll be mad at me forever."

That's exactly how I feel, Adrien thought.

"Adrikins!" An obnoxious voice interrupted. He rolled his eyes, not even trying to look happy at this point.

"What do you want, Chloe?"

"What did you think about that video I posted on Twitter yesterday? Are you still wanting to take Marinette to the dance after that? I mean, if I were you, I wouldn't, because who wants a whore?" That was it. Adrien suddenly slammed his fists on the table, standing up to face her. The other students in the cafeteria all turned to look.

"You know what, Chloe? Yes, yes I am still taking her to the dance! What is your problem?! Who cares if Marinette likes me? Who cares?!!!!" He repeated louder. "She's not a whore just because she has a crush on someone! And what you've done to her doesn't make her any less of a person! I am so sick and tired of you hurting people, especially Marinette! And until you stop hurting her, I'm not speaking to you again!" He turned around, grabbed his things, and stormed out of the lunchroom.

Chloe, looking at her best friend walking away, felt her own eyes tear up. The students began staring at her, either laughing or whispering something. The embarrassment was indescribable. "Fine then, Adrien!" She shouted at him. "If you wanna go out with a whore, go ahead! It'll be your mess to deal with!" If you wanna ditch your best friend for someone as nice and perfect as her, go ahead. It'll be my mess to deal with.

**

Adrien wanted to punch something. Anything. When did Chloe become so mean? She wasn't always this way. He remembered when they were just little toddlers. Chloe was the only one who'd play with him when he was lonely. It took away the pain he felt from his mother's death. They'd play, they'd sing, dance, draw, go outside, go to fancy dinners together, etc. She was so nice, up until her mother left. That's when she started talking down to everyone, slowly shutting herself off from the world. All he wanted was his best friend back. Was it too much to ask?

Then again, he seemed to be losing everybody these days. Alya was acting strange and not as chatty as usual. Then there was Marinette, who looked so broken all the time. And then...Ladybug. Yes, she had never been open with her feelings before, but when she cried on the Eiffel Tower the other night...that was something else. She did not look like herself at all. Even her posture was out of character. He missed his bugaboo. He missed everyone. And then there was Nino...

Seeing as he was the only one that seemed to still be there, he texted him.

Adrien: Hey Nino, wanna hang out?

Nino: Dude, I can't. I'm over at Alya's and she's in she's in tears. She's upset about something she said to Marinette the other day. I'll get back with you soon, ok?

Adrien sighed.

A: Ok.

**

"A-And then I blamed it on her..." Alya sobbed as Nino held her in his arms. "I'm probably the reason she hasn't been at school today or any day."

"No you're not, babe," he reassured. "I'm sure that Chloe's the main reason, here."

"Yeah, b-but...I'm her best friend. I supposed to build her up, not bring her down. I'm such a screwup..." she sobbed even louder.

"Alya, please, I don't like seeing you cry," he frowned, running his fingers through her hair. Just then, a small black butterfly entered the room without either noticing. It few into Alya's glasses, and she immediately sat up, staring at the wall.

Nino screamed when he saw a butterfly silhouette over her eyes. "Alya, fight it!" He yelled. She didn't even try.

"Guilt-Trip," Hawkmoth's dark voice came in. "You have felt guilty for hurting your best friend for too long. It's time that others start feeling the guilt too. All I need in return is Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculous. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, Hawkmoth," she sneered.

"Uh...A-Alya?" Nino slowly backed away. "Are...you still in there? It's me, Nino!"

"It's not Alya anymore. It's Guilt-Trip. And you will feel guilty for everything bad you've ever done!" She shot a ball of light out from her hands, hitting him in the chest.

"Oh my gosh..." he gasped. "I need to tell Adrien how sorry I am for accidentally breaking one of his Ladybug action figures without telling him! Oh! And I need to tell my mom that I'm sorry for anyways lying to her about my homework..." He ran out of the house.

Guilt-Trip laughed evilly, and the purple butterfly appeared on her face once again. "Now go cause some more commotion outside. Ladybug and Chat Noir will be here shortly."

**

Marinette," Tikki whispered, lightly shaking the sleeping teen in her bed. "Marinette!" She raised her voice.

"Mph," she groaned, turning over.

"I'm so sorry for this, Marinette..." she said. "But GET UP, THERE'S AN AKUMA!"

"Ahhhh!" Marinette screamed, nearly falling off the bed. "What the heck, Tikki?! I didn't know Kwami's could scream that loud!"

"Well," The tiny ladybug shrugged.

"And you said there's an akuma?"

A nod.

"Spots on!"

Ladybug was out the door and up on the balcony. She carefully scanned the area, looking for any sign of a villain, when she spotted a girl in a bright, all yellow suit skipping around and throwing random balls of light at people. ...Ok?

When she jumped off her balcony, she slipped behind a building to get a closer look at her. Hmm...she looks strangely familiar... the villain turned around, revealing the face of her best friend. Marinette gasped. Alya?!

She watched as the akuma hit someone. They seemed to go from calm to...guilty? "I feel so bad for calling brother a loser the other day! I need to go apologize!" The citizen ran off. Yep, Hawkmoth is definitely out of ideas. But what would Alya have to feel guilty about?

"Ladybug, Chat Noir..." she said in an evil singsong voice. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

"Alya!" Ladybug yelled, getting her attention. "Stop this!"

"I'm not Alya anymore, Ladybug! I'm Guilt-Trip, and I will make you feel guilty for ever fighting me because I will have your miraculous by the end of the battle!"

"Oh yeah?" Chat Noir dropped in with his baton, standing next to his lady. "Ladybug and I will not feel guilty about anything once we're through with you." She flinched at his words. Once we're through with her, I have to go back to being Marinette. The girl who feels guilty about every single thing she does.

"Ladybug!" Her partner called, interrupting her thoughts. "Watch out!!!!" He pushed her out of the way of the akuma's light beam, landing on top of her, protecting her. "You've gotta be more careful," he breathed, helping her up.

She immediately took her hand out of his after she was up "I am careful," she snapped. "And I don't need you to protect me all the time." Whoa, where did that come from? Chat thought, watching Ladybug throw her yo-yo towards a building, moving herself across to meet the villain.

"Why don't you just give up now, Ladybug?" The akuma mocked as she tried hitting her and the heroine blocked every shot with her yo-yo. "It's not like you could ever beat me on your own. Heck," she laughed. "You won't be able to with your useless sidekick either."

Ladybug gritted her teeth. He's not a sidekick! She wanted to say out loud, but since she was akumatized, it wouldn't make a difference. Ladybug was suddenly throw to the ground after her yo-yo had failed to block one of her light beams the right way. It still blocked it from hitting her, but it bounced off so hard that it knocked her over. She was now laying on her back.

"Wow..." Alya-or, the villain slowly walked up to her. "You call yourself a hero after that, Ladybug? You're so pathetic. It's sad that you actually believe Paris looks up to you. They'd be fine without you." Under the mask, Marinette's eyes widened. Why were those words so familiar?

"You're so ugly and pathetic. It's really sad that you think he actually likes you." Chloe's words entered her mind. And suddenly, she was back in the bathroom, laying in the same position as she was now. Except this time she wasn't Marinette. Ladybug had seemed to become useless now too. Why did I have to be so distracted? Why can't you just focus, Marinette?! Focus for once in your life!!!!

Suddenly, she heard the clanking sound of Chat Noir's baton as he blocked her from another shot. She forced herself back up, calling out her lucky charm.

A/n- Yo, I have no idea what to put, so I'm just gonna skip this whole part😂

"Miraculous Ladybug!" She threw the object into the air, turning everything back to normal. People began waking up, wondering what they were doing; the people they were apologizing to looking angry.

"Pound it!" Big heroes fist-bumped.

Ladybug bent down to help her friend up. "...Alya? Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." the spectacled girl breathed out, exasperated.

"What happened?" She asked kindly.

"I...I said something to someone and I feel like I only made their lives worse," she confessed.

Marinette's mouth hung slightly open, knowing exactly what she was referring to. This isn't your fault, Alya. This is why I didn't want you involved. It will only cause you more pain!

Frowning, the heroine got her yo-yo prepared to go, when her partner stopped her. "Ladybug." His voice sounded more firm than usual. "Are you ok? You've almost gotten hurt multiple times."

"Yeah," she breathed out tiredly. "I'm fine." Then left.

"What's happening to her?" He whispered to himself.