I wanted to thank everyone that is reading this and hope you enjoy this chapter!!

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Marinette's P.O.V

I arrived in class to see that my seat was taken by Lila which means I'm sitting in the back again. My feet trudged up the stairs to the back row. Lila faked flinched and leaned away from me a little to keep up with the act.

Rolling my eyes, the feeling of something hitting the back of my head made me pause. I turned around to find a crumbled up piece of paper on the step below.

Kim smiled, satisfied before turning back around in his seat while others snickered and whispered. I scurried the rest of the way up and took a seat while avoiding eye contact from others who stared.

"Hey, Adrien! Look, I get to sit behind you now! Isn't that great?" Lila's flirty voice made me look up at the scene below. My crush stood in front of his desk in deep thought before scanning the room until his gaze landed on me.

I immediately faced the window to pretend that I wasn't just bothered by what just happened. I fiddled around with my fingers and tried to distract myself. I had to keep a cool head to win back what Lila and Chloe stole away.

"Mind if I sit here again? You look lonely back here."

I was startled from my thoughts when Adrien was suddenly sitting next to me with a smile so bright that not even the sun could compete in such glory. My jaw slacked in shock as if about to say something until closing it back up and nodding my head shyly. I went flustered with such kindness from the blonde model. I could feel Lila's glare burning holes into my head but ignored it.

If there were an imaginary scoreboard somewhere, it would be giving me a point and both of us knew I won this round. I wasn't sure if I should feel happy or frightened with the information she knows and could twist into a whole different story with some truth to it. I had to play this carefully if I wanted to win.

"Good morning, class! Let's begin with attendance," Miss Bustier announced before reading down the list of names. After my name was passed, I looked out the window and up at the sky at some clouds hovering over Paris. I imagined mama looking down at me through the window with the biggest and warmest smile she always had.

The clouds moved by and let some of the sun's rays wash through the glass as if mama was embracing me with her warmth. I let out a content sigh and close my eyes, a peaceful smile. I felt all my worries wash away with the surrounding light engulfing me in a state of serenity.

It was amazing. I actually thought about talking to mama in my room when no one (except for Tikki, of course) was around. Would that help me grasp onto some peace of mind? Would it help with the ache that's been throbbing since her death? I perked up when hearing the bell ring and the other students gather their supplies.

"Don't forget to read pages 137-139 and fill in some notes. Marinette, can I please talk with you after class?" Miss Bustier informed.

I blinked a couple of times and nodded, almost not believing that I was actually in my own head for that long. Gathering my supplies, I stood up and went to the front of the class while everyone else left. I saw Chloe and Lila give an evil smirk and Adrien a worried one.

Once everyone was gone, Miss Bustier walked around her desk with a sad smile. I was confused at first when she knelt down in front of me and placed a hand on the side of my arm.

"I heard what happened and just wanted to let you know if there is anything you need, I'll be here. Okay?" she said, soothingly rubbing my arm. A small smile blossomed on my lips and nodded in relief that I wasn't in trouble. Miss Bustier let me go to have some lunch at home.

"Hey, Marinette," I jumped when coming face to face with the last person I expected.

"A-Alya?" I said, surprised to see my best friend standing with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. My hands tightened on my bag straps, nervously. What did she want? Why was she here? I thought she was mad at me...of course, she still does look mad.

"I want an explanation. I know you wouldn't beat anyone up even with a good reason o not but...I don't know what to believe anymore. You're always disappearing at the oddest times and showing up late to school," Alya said, frustrated and annoyed that she couldn't figure out what's going on. That's just Alya for you, always jumping to conclusions.

I nervously bit down on my lip and wondered if I should tell her about my mom or not (not the reason why I disappear or show up late). Lila wasn't dumb and had Chloe to help her, so there could be someone watching us right now.

It was either explain everything to my best friend, see if she believes me and have Lila tell another tall tale or don't say anything at all and wait until the right moment. I sighed knowing the answer and didn't like it one bit, but it was for a good reason.

"I-I can't tell you," I said, backing away afraid that she would lose it. I bumped into someone behind me and lost my balance, something gooey dumped all over me. I opened my eyes to see red paint covering me head to toe.

"Marinette!" Nathaniel exclaimed, annoyed before walking off and taking an empty red bucket of paint. A familiar cackle came and snapping of pictures, I knew it was Chloe. A crowd began to gather as I sat with red paint dripping down my clothes and hair.

"Marinette is the definition of clumsy and ridiculous," Chloe joked, cackling before walking off with Sabrina in tow. I looked down in shame with a frown and dully stared at the ground.

A hesitant hand came into my vision, and I looked up to see Alya, avoiding from looking in my direction. I took a hold of her hand, and she helped me up before facing me.

She grew closer until whispering into my ear, "I don't know what's going on with you lately but something is up, and I will figure it out whether you like it or not.

This does not make us friends yet, or maybe never if it's something bad, but know you better have a very good reason why you can't tell me." Alya turned and walked away, leaving me stunned on the spot. I finally relaxed realizing how stiff my muscles had become.

"I hope you figure out the truth too before your head is filled with more lies," I spoke under my breath, talking to myself before turning and walking home. I had just enough time to change clothes and rinse the red paint out of my hair.

Adrien's P.O.V

"Dude, seriously. Why are you still hanging out with Marinette?" Nino asked, surveying me for an explanation. I was about to take a bite from the salad to stall and make up a lie when hearing my phone buzz.

Reaching into my pocket, I heard Nino's ringtone go off too. I saw that there was a message from Chloe sent to everyone and opened it curious what she sent. My eyes widened and guilt churned in my stomach.

There on the screen bestowed a picture of Marinette sitting on the ground and covered in what looked like red paint.

Yet, what really caught my attention was the lifelessness and sadness etched on her face like she was giving up. Her once bubbly self was fading away into something else that was the opposite of the optimistic girl I knew.

"Uh, I need to go. My father just texted me," I lied, quickly grabbing my bag and escaping Nino before he could stop me. He knew very well that it was a message sent out to everyone and that only Natalie texts me information from my father. I felt bad for just leaving my best friend, but my other friend needed me more right now.

I was pretty much the only one that knew about Marinette's predicament, at least Chat Noir does but Adrien knows about Lila's lies. I knew very well that Lila pulled off a pretty good fib to get all of Marinette's friends to hate her except for me. Lila had a bone to pick with me for doing something so irrational to my friend, it crossed the line.

My eyes spotted the bluenette walking out of the school. I followed quickly behind, calling out to her, but she seemed to be in deep thought with a lowered head than the typical high and confident one.

It bothered me to see my upbeat friend so down and so...so not like her to have a frown on her face. I was also worried that an akuma would come, that's another reason why I visited her. Oddly, there hasn't been one. What was Hawkmoth planning?

"Marinette," I said, finally caught up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped in fright and tripped, but I was able to steady her before falling. Marinette twisted around in surprise when seeing me.

"A-Adrien," she stuttered, face turning its same rosy color. It was hard to talk to her when Adrien, because she seemed to always be on the edge.

I assumed that it was because my father is her favorite fashion designer but wasn't leaning too much with that idea anymore. I couldn't figure it the reason behind the baker's daughter's nervousness but played it off normal as if not noticing. She is my friend after all and needs someone during this time of need.

"What happened to you?" I asked, guilt pinching deep in my chest.

"O-Oh this?" Marinette said, gesturing to the red paint, "It's just another Marinette mishap."

She laughed nervously and scratched the back of her neck. For a moment, I saw the quarrel forming as that rosy glow faded into despair before going back to being an uneasy wreck. I knew she was lying and hated that there was nothing to do but dumbly play along.

"Okay," I replied, feeling awful that there was nothing that I could do at the moment. Maybe, Chat Noir could leak some info from the stubborn girl. Marinette looked over, face paling making me more suspicious. I was about to look over my shoulder when Mari suddenly waved goodbye and sped home. I sighed and went back into school, determined to figure out what is going on with my friend.

Later that night...

After giving Plagg some Camembert, I transformed and leaped out the window to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery. I was a little worried that I would find Marinette crying again like every other time but this time, was different. Peeking through the skylight, I could see the bluenette in her night wear and scrubbing a white towel behind her ear, probably getting the red paint out still.

I knocked on the glass and waited to be let into her room. After a while of waiting, I assumed she didn't hear the knocking and was about to try again until pausing.

"...I don't know what to do, Tikki. Tomorrow is the funeral and I don't have anyone to go with besides my dad, but he'll be too busy with everything and everyone. Alya and everyone else pretty much hates my guts except for Adrien for some odd reason, but you know I couldn't ask him. Maybe, it's because he knows that Lila and Chloe are lying but...wait, where did you go?" Marinette rambled.

My curiosity spiked and wanted her to continue. There was something going on that makes me want to know more. Who is Tikki? Why couldn't she ask me to go to her mother's funeral with her? What were Lila and Chloe up too that made everyone including her best friend turn on her?

I knocked, not wanting to wait and bombard Marinette with questions. A gasp came from inside before some thumping noises came and soon, the skylight opened. I crawled inside onto the bed before closing it shut.

"Hey, Chat Noir," Mari greeted then climbed back down the latter. I followed behind and as soon as I turned, there was a plate of macaroons shoved into my face. I blinked then smiled, taking a sweet from the plate and eating it while also being handed a cup of hot chocolate. I took a sip from the steaming beverage and sat on the chaise next to Marinette.

"What's the special occasion?" I asked, hoping not to cause any trouble with what I heard earlier.

"This is a thank you for taking up your time to help me. I felt bad for wasting your time and thought you should get something from me as a thank you gift so I made macaroons," Marinette explained, cheerfully.

"Purr-incess, you never waste a minute of my day. I'm glad to help cheer up a friend with my claw-inspiringpuns and jokes. I bet you think I have awe-meow-sing humor, don't you think?" I said. She blandly blinked before throwing a macaroon at my face.

"That was awful," she said then laughed at the face I was making.

"Don't you mean-"

"No-"

"-paw-ful," I said and laughed, another sweet thrown at my face.

"Purr-icess, you are wasting paw-cious food."

"That's because you are using horrible cat puns," she complained, a hint of amusement sparking in her eyes.

"So, how has your day been?" I asked, plopping another sweet in my mouth. Marinette nursed her drink and looked down watching the marshmallows swirling in the cup.

"Same old, boring school so the usual. How about you?" she said, shrugging and avoiding the problem that was easy to see. That's when I saw some red paint still stuck behind her neck. At least I have a good excuse to ask about something I'm not even supposed to know as Chat.

"You have something red stuck to the back of your neck," I pointed out. She tensed and instinctually raised her hand to rub where the paint was.

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, "Is it paint?"

Blue eyes looked up at me with a half-hearted smile when nodding a little, then she stood up.

"Y-Yeah, I slipped and had a can of p-paint in my h-hands. It dump-poured all over m-me and took quite a c-couple of showers before I could g-get most of it o-off," she stuttered, lying to my face. I sighed, not forcing her to say what really happened and stood up myself.

Instead, I went over to the sink and grabbed a wash rag stained with little bit of red paint. I dampened it then walked back over to the confused girl eyeing the rag.

"Can you turn around, please?" I asked. Marinette seemed to look guarded all the sudden before obliging. She moved her pigtails out of the way and bent her head down to give me a good view of the paint splatter on her neck. I began to wash it off as we both let the silence fill the air, until I broke it.

"Mari, what really happened?" I asked, softly. The stubborn girl didn't say anything. I stopped, checking if I got it all then moved around to stand in front of her. Marinette hugged herself as a way of defense and comfort for the situation that I put her in.

"Look, I'm sorry if this is none of my business. You don't need to tell me anything but just know that I am here for you when you need a friend," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder which made her look up slightly. I smiled a little, and she returned it with a weak one before stepping forward to rest her head on my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on the top of her head. Marinette just needed a friend right now more than anything. I'm willing to fill that role if it means getting that bright and cheery smile back. No interrogating or demanding, just patience. She will tell me when she is ready. I'll be there for her.

"You want to go make cookies and croissants?" Mari asked, leaning back and looking up with a sparkle in her bluebell eyes and bright, adorable smile. This caught me of guard for a moment before I stepped back and sheepishly scratched the back of my neck.

"What about your dad, Princess? Also, I don't even know how to bake," I warned.

"My parents..." she immediately paused and frowned before correcting herself, "-he is busy with other things at the moment so he isn't home right now."

I raised my eyebrow. Busy? Busy with what that he is avoiding his own daughter?

"With what?" I asked. The glow she had earlier dimmed down into a blank and empty look that I hated seeing. She hugged herself once again, getting defensive and head low to stare down at the wooden floor. I would have missed what she said if it wasn't for my enhanced hearing.

"My mother's funeral...it's tomorrow..."

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