I was staring at my schedule. I had just moved to Paris from America over the weekend, so I didn't really know anyone. I was attending a secondary school, whatever that means. I'm fourteen, and in tenth grade. I began walking up steps, trying to figure out where I was supposed to go. I had Ms. Bustier for first period, so I was just hoping I could find it in time. I looked at my watch and realized I had five minutes to get to class.

I spot the building, and began sprinted towards it. My shoulder bumped an older man, chinese. He had a gray beard and very little hair. He was on a cane, which fell from underneath him. I caught him, and handed him his cane.

"Are you alright, sir? I am so sorry, I am just trying-"

"You have an American accent, yet you seem to be fluent in French."

"Yes, but are you alright? My mother is a nurse, please, let me take you to my house. Would you like a cup of tea? Coffee?" He waved my suggestions off.

"I am fine, though I am sure a cup of tea would be nice. I know the perfect bakery." I nodded, and we both walked slowly to a bakery that was small, but sweet.

"May you please watch my backpack? I'll order." I helped seat him at a small table and set my bag next to him. He nodded and propped his cane up.

"Sure. May you please get me green?"

"Of course!" I walked towards the counter where a large man was awaiting. "May I please have one cup of Green Tea?"

The man's voice was kind. He began making the tea, but continued the conversation. "Sure thing, is there anything you would like? My daughter made a fresh batch of macaroons this morning, and she is an amazing baker."

"Sure, may I please have two of the beige ones?" He handed me the cup of tea and pulled out the two treats. "Thank you, how much do I owe?"

I gave him the money, and walked over to the seat across the elder man. I glanced towards my watch and realized my class began in thirty seconds, but I sat down and handed the tea and a macroon to the man, giving him as much time as he needed. He tried to give me money, but I refused to accept it. After about fifteen minutes, he was finally done, and I helped him call a cab. He thanked me for my kindness, and I shot towards the school as soon as the cab was out of sight. I ended up running into the door, but I took a step back to calm myself down. I calmly opened the door and set a late note on the teacher's desk.

"Alya? Oh, thank you! You must be Samantha." I nodded, the teacher was a tall woman, who smiled. She had light, brown hair that was put in a tight bun. I looked towards the class and saw a blond boy sitting near a darker skinned boy who had headphones slung around his neck. Behind them sat a girl with her black hair in two ponytails sitting next to a girl with her hand up. Behind her was a larger boy, a blond streak in his hair, and in the last row was a boy that was switching his eyes from the girl with ponytails in front of him, then to his paper that he was drawing on. On the left side of the classroom sat a girl with short orange hair and a blond girl who looked at me like I was something she found on the bottom of her shoe. In the second row, there was a girl with bright pink hair covered with a black hat sitting next the a girl with colorful hair. A boy with glasses and tall hair shared a row behind them with a tall jock. In the last row had a girl with titanium blond hair, cut short next to a girl with purple streaks on her long black hair. By the time I had seen them all, they were staring at me.

I held my bag tightly. I hated being in front of a crowd. "Everyone, this is Samantha, student from America. Please-"

"Does she even speak French? I bet it is broken. You, know, French?" The blond girl in the front yelled at me. The girl sitting next to the girl with the ponytails shot her a rude look.

"Shut up Chloe. She doesn't need to hear your rude comments in any language."

"Alright, class. Settle down." I was looking at the boy with shaggy red hair in the back. He was avoiding eye contact, still staring at the girl with ponytails. "We know her name, so why don't you each stand up and tell her your name and something interesting about yourself. Nino, you start."

The dark skinned guy stood up. "Hey dude-I mean dudette! I'm Nino and I am a DJ." He sat down, and the boy next to him stood up.

"I'm Adrien, and this is my first year at school." He sat down, leaving me with the question of why he had never been to school. His green eyes were locked on mine, and it made me uncomfortable. The blond girl stood up, leaning on one hip, her arms crossed.

"I am Chloe, and you better do everything I say because I am the mayor's daughter. And this is Sabrina," She pointed to the frail girl next to her. "She is my best friend."

She sat down, and the girl behind Sabrina stood up. "I'm Alix and I'm wicked with roller blades."

One by one, everyone stood up. Next was Mylene, Marinette (who baked the macroons I ate with the man), Alya (writes the Ladyblog), Ivan (In a band), Kim (won some big race thing), Max (Built a robot), Juleka (Her brother is in a band that I listen to all the time), Rose (loves pink), and the last student, and perhaps the most awkward was Nathanial, who draws comics about a superhero. I began walking towards the back, when I tripped over Chloe's bag. I was able to land on my hands and knees, but I felt my cheeks run warm.

"Haha! Look, Marinette! You have yourself a clumsy buddy!" Chloe and Sabrina began laughing while everyone ignored them. I stood up properly and pretended to not hear any of the other students ask if I was alright. I stared at the floor and sat in the very back. I bumped into Nathaniel, who covered his drawing with his arm.

After P.E., Chemistry, and World History, I was finally able to sit down for lunch. I ended up sitting right next to Alya, which was awesome. "Hey, girl! Have you heard about the superheroes?"

I nodded, excited. "Of course! Before I flew here, I did a bunch of research on Paris, and I even started my own blog, which reminds me. I love your Ladyblog! I am one of your followers."

"It's great to meet a fan!"

"You inspired me to create the Catablog. It only has one reader, but I post about everything in relation to Chat Noir." Adrien and Nino came over to sit with us, Marinette was still in line for lunch. I knew she would be joining us, just because it was clear she was best friends with Alya. The boys sat down, and I tossed my glance towards the next speaker.

"What about Chat Noir?" Adrien asked.

"I write a blog about him. The Catablog." He pulled out his phone and began typing. He held it up for me to see. "Yeah, that one."

"It's really cool!" He took his phone back and clicked a button. "There, now you have one more person reading it."

Marinette came walking over, and when she sat her tray down, she slipped. Sitting on the opposite side of Alya, I walked behind her to help Marinette stand up. "Th-thanks! Clumsy so am I! I-I mean I clumsy me so! NO! I am so clumsy!" Alya moved for her friend, and I sat next to Adrien who was across from Marinette.

"Hey, Samantha-" Alya began.

"Please, call me Sam."

"Git it, girl. May you please put your number in?" I nodded and took her phone that she had offered. I handed it back and as soon as Alya got it back, I got a text from her.

Unknown Number: Marinette likes Adrien!

Me: So she is only like that around him?

Unknown Number: Yep. Don't tell him.

I realized it was silly we were texting each other from across the table. I added her in my contacts as Alya.

Me: So, he doesn't know? How? It is obvious. If she only stutters around him.

Alya: LOL Literally everyone in our grade knows.

Adrien side-eyed my phone, but I shut it off before he could see anything. "Anyways, yeah. I just think that he is underappreciated."

"Who?" Marinette asked.

"Chat Noir." Adrien continued. "She writes a blog about him." Marinette was smiling crazily at him. I couldn't hide my smile. Alya, Nino, and I all exchanged looks.

"Hey, Nino! May I please have your number?"

"Sure, dude-I mean-"

"No, it's alright if you call me 'dude'." He smiled and he told me his phone number.

"Well if it isn't Clumsy Number One," It was Chloe, she was pointing at Marinette, then she turned her finger to me. "And Clumsy Number Two. No wonder you both are friends, you can't do anything right." I looked to the floor. I knew she was just a bully, but she represented what I left at my other school. I heard her footsteps walk away, and I felt Adrien put a hand on my shoulder.

"She's just mean. You shouldn't listen to her."

"I know, but I was bullied at my other school too."

Alya changed the subject. "Anyway, do you have a crush on Chat Noir?" Full disclosure: I almost spit out the water in my mouth.

"Not really, I just find him an interesting subject." All four of the students were staring at me. "I just mean to say that Chat Noir doesn't get as much credit as Ladybug does."

Nino nodded. "It makes sense, though. I mean, Ladybug is the one who takes care of the Akuma, and she puts everything back to normal."

I leaned forwards so I was looking straight at him, and Adrien was just staring at me. "True. I respect your opinion, and I hope you think my point is valid. They are a team, it doesn't just fall on Ladybug."

"But-"

"Even if he doesn't help as much with the end, she seems so much stronger when she is with him. Besides," I sat back and took a large bite of meatloaf, and waited until I finished my mouthful to continue. "Besides, where else would we get the puns?"

Adrien was smiling, Marinette looked shocked, Alya was raising one eyebrow in Nino's direction, who was just staring at me. "So, who do you think is better? Ladybug or Chat Noir?" Adrien crossed his arms and I could see his cheeks turn a shade red.

"I'm not sure. Chat Noir is funnier, and he has more personality," Adrien began eating his meatloaf, while the girls on the other side of the table had already finished their food, it was just us three that were still eating. "That being said, Ladybug is more serious, so she can get things done without being distracted by her partner. I think it depends. What about you?"

"I personally think Chat Noir is paw-esome," Adrien exclaimed.

Alya looked at me with suspicion. "You make a valid point." She put a smile on her face. "But I am a Ladybug supporter through and through." She had her arm around Marinette. "Who's your favorite, Mari?"

Author's Note: Has anyone actually referred to Marinette as "Mari"? I'm just checking.

"I, I don't know. I don't think Ladybug could do what she does without Chat, so I don't know."

"Nino?" Alya shot him a look.

"I-" He grabbed his head with his hands. "I don't know!"

"Alright. Well, we have three minutes until lunch is over, so we should hurry up. Boys," I took a dramatic pause. "Let's eat." With that, I shoved all my food in my mouth, mashed potatoes, carrots and meatloaf. Nino basically did the same, and Adrien just laughed at us.

I walked to chemistry, and I sat down in the seat given to me by the teacher. I looked at my partner and realized I had Nathaniel.

"Hey, Nathaniel. How are you?"

"I'm good." He was shy, and barely looked at me. "So it says we have to add this clear stuff with this blue liquid." He walked me through the experiment, based on the paper hand-out. As we were walking out, I was staring at my feet when I felt something grab my arm. Surprised, I turned to see Nathaniel holding my arm.

"What's wrong?" He looked nervous.

"Would you like to meet up in the library today to catch you up?" I nodded.

"Sure." I was afraid to ask anyone, so I felt relieved to hear someone else ask me. Nathaniel spoke so quietly, I had to strain my ears to hear him. I went to my next class, excited to have someone catch me up. I am one of those students that loves school and enjoys learning things.

I met him in the library where we began with Chemistry, which I got easily. The more we talked and the more he quizzed me, the more energetic Nathaniel became. We took a small break after about half an hour, and he was able to show me some of his drawings.

"You are really talented." I turned the page and saw a picture of Nathaniel as a hero holding Marinette. The immature side of me smiled.

"What picture are you-" He looked at his book, and took it from me, his face a bright red.

"I know you have a crush on her, and that isn't something to be ashamed of." He looked up at me from the table. "You can't change the way you feel about a person." I smiled, which he did as well.

"You are a good person, and you are really fluent in your French."

"Well, I've been learning for ten years."

He lifted his head so he could actually see me. "That is some serious commitment."

I shrugged. "Do you want me to teach you some English?" He looked amazed.

"Sure!"

"Here, this is my number," I wrote it on the back of a receipt I had in my pocket and handed it to him. "Okay, now we really should get back to History. I should be good in Parisian History, but I need a bit of help in math and World History."

"Why are you taking both at once?"

"I just wanted to. I'm an over achiever." He nodded, and for the next hour or so, he quizzed me on my math, and suggested I go to Adrien for Physics.

"He is a wizard in physics, everyone knows him and goes to him for help. Maybe because of his father."

"Who's his father?" Nathaniel gave me a look of surprise.

"Wha-are you sure you were as close as America?" He smiled, and looked at him, dumbfounded. "Wait, you're serious? He is a model, and his father is Gabriel Agreste." When I shrugged my shoulders, indicating I still wasn't catching on, he smiled widely. "Gabriel is a famous fashion designer, and he wouldn't let Adrien go to school until this year." He seemed less than enthused when he spoke about Adrien coming to school.

"Do-do you not like him?"

"Wh-what? N-yes." His shoulders sank.

"Is it because you like Marinette?" He avoided eye contact. I looked down at my book. "I won't tease you or anything, mainly because, like I said. Nobody can control their emotions, well not completely. They can hide them, but that isn't healthy." He looked at me through his long hair. "So if I can accept your crush, don't you think you should respect hers?" Nathaniel remained silent.

"If you truly care for her, then you should want her to be happy, no matter who makes her feel that way." I felt a rock sink in my stomach. I should learn to follow my own advice. "I'm not saying you should give up all hope, just don't hate Adrien for something he can't control." I looked at my watch, 5:49. I gathered my items, which startled Nathaniel. "I am so sorry, I have to go! My mother is going to be home in, oh nevermind." I yelled to him as I ran out the door, "See you tomorrow!"

When I got home at 6:12, so my mom was at home. I ran inside and I saw my mom pacing around the apartment. "Where have you been?" She was furious. Her dark pink hair was hanging off her shoulders. "I have been calling your cell phone for twenty minutes!"

"Mama, I-" She cut me off.

"No! You have that phone for emergencies! My day has been hard enough without you giving me such a fright!" I looked down. She always did this. "What are you supposed to do right afterschool?"

I mumbled. "Turn my phone on."

"What did you say?" I was in the doorway, still. She looked so afraid and upset, but when she was upset and yelling, I had to watch what I said very carefully to not say the wrong thing.

"T-turn my phone on." I spoke just a bit louder, loud enough so she could hear me, but not loud enough. I lost all confidence when she was emotional.

"Use your words!" I tightened my grip on my backpack, using the pressure to calm myself down.

I spoke to her through a wall of teeth. "Turn my phone on. But-"

"What were you doing afterschool?" Her brown eyes were switching from my right eye to my left eye.

"I was catching up, I-"

"Stop lying to me, Samantha!" My hands were hurting from holding my bag straps so tightly.

"I'm not lying!" I screamed at her. She looked insulted and began walking towards me in a huff. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't-" She was close to me, and out of impulse, I darted out the open door that led to the staircase. I was skipping every few step, slipping and tumbling down the last five or so. My entire body hurt, and I was shaking.

"Get back here. NOW!" I was terrified, and in pain. I pushed through and ran into the street, going to the bakery. It was closed. I looked around me, and saw a large mansion with the same logo I saw on Adrien's shoes. I ran over to the large building and rang the doorbell. A small camera stuck out from the protective gate.

"Who is it?"

"Sam! I-I have to speak to Adrien!" My back hurt, and my legs felt like they were about to give in, but I stood strong.

"Come in." The female voice said, and after the camera went away, the gates opened. I half limped-half ran to the stairs. I slipped on the top stair, so I fell on my back one more. I struggled getting up, but managed. I remembered my bag of chips I had in my backpack. Well, those are useless. A woman with red edges opened the door.

"He is in his bedroom upstairs."

I looked at the mountain of stairs and forced a smile. "Thank you." I slowly walked up. About halfway up, I put my hand out and saw it was shaking more than I felt. I pushed myself to the door, and I knocked. I heard Adrien say something, then the door opened. He looked at me with concern.

"Sam? Are you alright? You're shaking."

"No dip, Sherlock. May I please sit down?" I looked towards his bed. He nodded, and I ran to the bed, tripping over my own feet. I landed face-first on the sheets. And I felt my body relax.

"What's going on?"

"Mhmmumhmmhhmm."

"What?" I lifted my head, so my voice was actually clear.

"My mom yelled at me. I ran away and crushed my chips." I sat up. "Not to mention I fell down the stairs."

"Oh."

I looked to him and held up two fingers. "Twice."

"Are you alright?" He came to sit next to me.

"Just 'peachy'. I tried going to Marinette's parent's bakery, but it was closed."

"Yeah, it closes at six on Mondays." Adrien was looking nervously at the pillow next to me.

"What's under the pillow?"

"Uh, what?" He snapped out of his trance and began rubbing the back of his neck. "I-uh, don't know what you are talking about." He was avoiding eye contact. I got right up in his face.

"Adrien, you suck at lying." I sat back, leaning on my hands.

He responded with a nervous laugh. "I'm not lying, I-"

"May I please look?" He looked speechless. "I don't want to be rude and look without your permission," He blinked dumbly. "After all, you don't even know me that well, and I just barged into your house like a maniac." He looked embarassed, but leaned across me, reaching for the pillow. He took a deep breath.

"So, you know Ladybug?" I gave him a dramatic nod. He looked scared. "I-I have a crush on her and-" I burst out laughing. Whenever I'm in severe pain, I have nearly no control over my actions.

"That's all?" My eyes were shut from my laughing. "Ahah! I am pretty sure nearly every boy who has a poster of her under his pillow has some kind of crush on-" I opened my eyes and stopped laughing. He looked ashamed.

Why is everyone in my class crushing on someone? What is in their water?

"Yo-"I pointed to the red and black magazine sticking out from behind the pillow. "Oh." His entire face turned red.

"I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Na-one of my friends. You can't control your emotions, there is nothing you can do about it, blah, blah, blah." Yep, I actually said, "blah, blah, blah," to a famous model. But I didn't see him as a model, just an unhappy boy stuck in a life he didn't choose, just wanting a few friends, and less admirers. I put my arm on Adrien's shoulder. "Listen, just be smart. And-" My phone began ringing. I took my arm off and looked at it.

"Your mom?" I nodded. He smiled at me, and I realized why Marinette liked him: He was kind, caring, generous, and warm-spirited. "Trust me, I have run away from my dad before, and it never ends well. I think you should at least tell her where you are, so she doesn't-" His bedroom door burst open. My mother walked through the door that a tall man had opened for her, a frown on his face, glasses on his nose.

"Samantha!" Her heart sounded broken. "You can't just leave like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack! And you snuck off to see a boy?"

"No, I-" I stood up.

"Save it. We are going home to talk about this."

"But-"

"Get out." I walked out the door, my head facing the ground. I felt something land on my backpack.

"Karmaranease," I heard a male voice in my head and I stopped walking. "My name is Hawk Moth. You are misunderstood, people think you lie, are you ready to make them get what they deserve?"

"Yes."

"Excellent. I just need you to pick up two little things for me, and as long as I get the Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous, you will be able to keep your powers. Do we have a deal?"

"Yes, Hawk Moth." With that, I blacked out, and I had no control over what was going on. It was like watching a horror movie through a television. I had those moments where I wanted to scream, tell myself to calm down. But after I thought that one thought, I knew the superheroes of Paris would come rescue me from the akuma in my backpack.

Note from the Author:

So, since she has no recollection of the events AFTER she is saved, I will be writing the next part through Adrien's point of view. I will also do a not-very-good drawing of what she looks like as Sam, and what she looks like as Karmanease.