Sabine lowered Marinette onto the couch. "I'll go get you some hot tea."

Marinette lay her head down on a soft pillow and sniffled. "Thanks mom."

Sabine walked over to the kitchen and grabbed the kettle off the stove. She began filling it with water. Then she looked around for the tea bags.

"Shoot, I forgot the tea bags downstairs in the bakery. I'll go get them."

She quickly walked out of the room to fetch the bags, leaving the door wide open.

Marinette closed her eyes and exhaled. Breathe.

Meanwhile, the little akuma fluttered into the living quarters and towards the unsuspecting girl.

Tikki immediately felt the dark presence in the air and nudged Marinette.

I need to remain calm. I could get akumatized, Marinette thought.

Tikki nudged once more from within the bag. The presence grew stronger as the akuma fluttered closer.

Finally, Tikki peeked her head out of the purse and spotted the akuma fluttering right above Marinette's head.

"MARINETTE! AKUMA!" Tikki shrieked.

Marinette's eyes immediately flew open and she rolled out of the couch and onto the floor.

She quickly got to her feet, staring right at the devilish akuma. It began to flutter violently towards her, as if angered, cuing Marinette to sprint out of the room and down the stairs.

Tikki flew along with Marinette, trying to escape the akuma.

Marinette's legs were moving so fast she nearly tripped. "I can't believe I almost got akumatized!" she yelled.

"This isn't over yet!" a worried Tikki replied.

Marinette raced past her mother, who stopped and yelled. "Where are you going?!"

"For a run!" Marinette cleverly yelled back as she ran out of the bakery. She stopped in the middle of the street and glanced behind her.

The akuma was still on her tail. Those things were fast!

"Why is it still following me?!" Marinette whimpered. "I'm not sad anymore!"

"You must be, otherwise it would fly back to Hawkmoth!" Tikki replied. She then turned to her left and the kwami's big blue eyes grew even bigger.

A car laid on its horn as it came racing towards Marinette. The person driving stepped down on the brakes but it wasn't going to be enough to stop without hitting Marinette first.

Marinette looked towards the car and time slowed down. Her life flashed before her eyes.

She saw her parents first. Her dad was noticeably thinner and clean shaven. Her mom looked the same; a bright smile and hopeful eyes. They were both smiling proudly in front of the bakery. It was the day it first opened. Marinette was a little girl then.

She saw herself as a toddler. Chubby cheeks and curly raven-colored hair. A girl who aspired to change the world and make a difference. Now look at her. She was Ladybug; protector and hero of Paris.

And yet, she was about to get hit by a car. How ironic.

I'm Ladybug. These people need me.

Marinette narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. I'm not dying yet. She quickly jumped to the right, just dodging the vehicle, and barrel rolled onto the sidewalk.

Her elbow was the first thing that met contact with the pavement, and boy did it sting. She was definitely going to suffer a bruise from that.

The car finally screeched to a halt and the person inside it exited the vehicle and approached her.

It was a middle aged man, phone in left hand, who came to her side. "Oh my god! Are you alright miss?"

Marinette stood up, brushing it off like it was nothing. "I'm fine. Are you okay? You look frazzled."

"Oh, um, yes! I was just looking at a text on my phone for a split second and when I looked up I saw you!"

Marinette raised an eyebrow. Of course he was looking at his phone.

Sabine raced out from the bakery and ran up to Marinette. Tom followed closely behind.

"Sweetie! Are you alright?" Sabine asked.

Marinette quickly checked her surroundings to make sure the akuma was gone. It was.

"I'm fine," Marinette smiled, giving her mom a hug.

Tom hugged them both, kissing Marinette on the head. "What were you thinking?"

"I don't know," Marinette sighed, looking down at the ground. She realized how heartbroken she had been over Adrien. All the tears she had shed for him.

Though her heart wasn't going to heal overnight, she reminded herself that she needed to accept the fact and move on, rather than dwell on it.

Sabine kissed her head as well. "I'm so glad you're safe."

The man who had been driving the car cautiously approached the family. "Again, I'm so sorry I almost hit your daughter. Please don't call the police on me."

Tom looked the man up and down. He then sighed and smiled. "It's alright. Just go."

"Thank you!" the man said graciously. He quickly got into his car and drove away.

Sabine lifted Marinette's arm and inspected all the bruises she had acquired from jumping out of the way.

"Look at these bruises," Sabine gasped. She looked Marinette directly in the eyes. "Do you wanna go to the hospital to make sure nothing is broken?"

Marinette laughed and reassured her mother. "Mom, I'm fine. They're just bruises."

"Alright..." Sabine mumbled. "Let's get back inside then. You've had one heck of a day."

"Believe me, I know," Marinette nodded, walking back into the house with her parents. Tikki cautiously floated in behind.

*

The next day at school, Marinette wasn't prepared to see Adrien and Louise together at all. But she had to get through it somehow.

She met up with Alya outside their next class.

"Hey," the brunette said warily. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Marinette smiled. "Never better."

She had to keep a positive attitude so an akuma wouldn't be sent after her again.

"I wasn't going to tell you, but, I heard Louise transferred from a preppy private school to this one," Alya whispered. "Let's hope she isn't in our classes."

Marinette flinched. She almost wanted to cry. Almost. But she held it together and plastered a fake smile on her face.

"Great."

Adrien then brushed past, looking over at Marinette.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile. His eyes then traveled down to the very visible bruises on her arm. His smile faded.

Marinette noticed where he was looking and quickly pulled her sleeve over the bruise.

"Are you alright? Were those bruises?" he quickly asked.

"No," Marinette said immediately. She pinched her mouth shut when she noticed Louise walking up from behind him.

"Are you sure? If there's something going on and you need help..."

Louise peered up from behind Adrien and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. She began biting his ear, and this successfully whisked his attention away from Marinette. She mentally vomited at the sight.

Adrien laughed, pulling away from her. He was ticklish, Marinette observed. How adorable.

"Hey Lou," Adrien grinned.

Marinette could see it in his eyes. They were full of genuine love for this girl Louise.

"Hi baby," Lousie cooed. She glanced over at Marinette, her burning blue eyes overpowering the soft blue tone of Marinette's instantly.

"Is this the friend you've talked so much to me about?" she asked, tilting her head. "Marinette?"

Marinette gulped. Why did Louise say her name with such acidity? Did she think Marinette was her competition? Oh, please. Adrien was too blind for that.

"Yeah, this is Marinette," Adrien smiled. "She's one of my best friends."

Marinette felt a little glimmer of hope. At least she was his best friend. That had to count for something?

Adrien gestured to Louise. "Mari, this is my girlfriend."

"Hi," Marinette greeted respectfully.

"Hello there. Adrien talks a lot about you," Louise said. "I'm a little jealous."

Marinette gulped. He.. talks a lot about me?

"O-oh," Marinette stuttered, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

"Oh, Louise, it's not like that," Adrien laughed. (A/N: wait for it, wait for it....)

"She's just a friend." (A/N: BOOM! there it is. I had to 😂)

Marinette tried to mask her disappointment in that phrase with a hearty smile and a nod.

Louise breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew. I thought I had competition for a minute there."

Marinette shrugged. "I don't think I could compete with you." She meant every word.

Louise laughed. Hard. Almost to the point of crying. She gently punched Marinette on the shoulder. "You are so funny!"

Marinette remained neutral, unsure of how her statement was funny. It was only the truth.

"No but you should see me in the morning," Louise chuckled. She kissed Adrien on the cheek. "This one makes me feel beautiful 24/7."

"Because you are," Adrien smiled.

They both got all mushy gushy again, cuing Marinette to want to vomit. But, she had to admit. If she was dating Adrien she would be just as mushy gushy as Louise is to him.

"We gotta get to class," Alya chimed in. "Stuff to do."

"Right," Louise said. "Nice meeting you Marinette."

Marinette grinned superficially. "You too."

The pair left the two lovebirds alone and entered their class. Needless to say, Marinette wasn't taking the whole 'accepting' part very well.