Chloe couldn't fight back the sobs that escaped her throat as she used the heel of her palm to wipe away the tears. They didn't stop, they continued to rush down her flushed face. No one else was in the girls' locker room. She made sure of that by locking the door behind her.

No one was allowed to see her like this. Not Sabrina, not her father, not even the beloved Adrikens. It showed weakness and she couldn't afford that. They couldn't see her looking like this and they couldn't hear what she felt.

Chloe felt her throat was closing as she struggled to gasp for breath. Icy blue eyes met icy blue eyes in the mirror, and the blonde couldn't deny what she saw. Past her ruined mascara and bloodshot eyes, she saw tiredness she felt only she would ever understand.

She woke up every day regretting waking up when her feet hit the cold ground. She woke up and didn't feel like putting up with herself anymore. Chloe was struggling to pull herself together when she combed knots out of her hair and to put on her normal blue eye shadow with quivering hands.

Why did she have to be such a horrible person? It was one of the very many questions that ran through the blonde's head when she pressed her face against the cool glass of her window every morning.

Chloe was self-aware of everything she did. Every little thing that caused Alya's eyebrows together, every eye roll she earned from Marinette, the snide remarks from Alix, the chuckling of Ivan. But worst of all the pain she saw that flashed through Sabrina's eyes every day.

Sabrina was the only one that was there for her. And yet Chloe continued to treat her like trash. It wasn't like she wanted to, she knew it was wrong on every level. But she didn't know how to fix it.

Chloe's mom was never around to teach her life lessons like "never start a fight but when they throw the first punch, hit them three times as hard," or "you don't need their opinions, everyone has them, just not everyone's is valid," or even "treat others the way you want to be treated."

Heck her mom was never around to teach her simple things like why she felt cramps from her stomach and why she was bleeding down there. She had to ask Mrs. Agreste what was happening in the midst of her confusion in fear.

This cold air that surrounded her stung her exposed skin. Shivers wrecked her spine as her fingers roughly gripped her pony tail.

She never had "girl talk" about boys or "the talk" when she hooked up with them. Chloe lacked a motherly figure, someone who could be her friend but also a teacher.

"I'm becoming my mother." Chloe choked out, another cry ripping through her throat. She was pushing everyone away, she was becoming an emotionless void to the people who learned to never depend on her.

She just wanted it to all be over. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hide behind her fit of anger when what she actually wanted to do is cry her heart out.

This mask she created hurt her more than anyone else. But Chloe didn't know how to solve her problems. And there was no one she could turn to confront her feelings with.

A pathetic wail left her lips, she was no longer fighting against it. She allowed this grief, this self-pity, loneliness, and pain consume her. It finally broke the dam wall and hit her at all force.

No one will ever understand. No one will ever care to look if the meanest girl in school is okay. They'll never know that everything they say hurts me. And I have to be okay with it.

Chloe almost wanted someone to know. Someone to hear her silent, but desperate calls. She wanted someone to look her in the eyes and ask her what's wrong, and not breaking her gaze until she finally let it out.

A window slammed behind her and Chloe whipped around with wide eyes to the source. She was shocked into her spot, forgetting for a split second she looked like a tornado on drugs had gone over her.

Ladybug was standing there, gently pressing the glass closed. She sighed when it was secured and whispered: "Spots off".

A bright red light caused Chloe to squeeze her swollen her closed for a few moments. The blonde felt her mouth turn dry and flood with a bitter taste when she saw what was before her. Marinette Dupain Change standing where Ladybug was.

Oh, how she wanted to puke. Chloe's gut twisted with ice shards as she watched bluebell eyes slowly moved to her. She wanted to empty any contents in her stomach when two pairs of blue eyes met and the simple thought, why her, ran through her head.

Of course, it was her. Marinette was everything, had everything Chloe could only dream of. Two boys desperately in love with her, loving parents she could depend on, several friends that meant the world to her, and mental stability not to be crying in school.

"Oh." Was the only thing that left Marinette's lips when she realized Chloe was in the room.

Chloe could feel the tears that has slowed come rushing down her cheeks again. Her hero, the person she looked up to, she treated like a peasant every day.

"What's wrong?" Marinette asked when she saw the tear-stained cheeks and running makeup.

"Nothing." Chloe's voice cracked. "I'm fine." I'm lying.

A warm hand landed on her shoulder and the simple words "No your not" were whispered to her.

Chloe jolted back out of Marinette's gentle touch. Looking at the bluenette's expression caused something to break. Something that had been building up inside of her and refusing to be let out.

How could one simple statement caused her to feel like this? She hated it, feeling so desperate to be close to Marinette when she had been nothing but cruel to the girl.

Chloe pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as her eyes looked everywhere except the girl in front of her.

"You were crying before I arrived," Marinette stated simply.

"Yeah well no duh." Chloe hissed. She instantly regretted it, but Marinette didn't seem fazed.

"You're upset. You're crying alone." The fashion designer paused before taking a step towards Chloe. "You're allowed to talk about it. Tell me."

"I can't." The mayor's daughter whispered. Her facade was quickly slipping away as quickly as it came. Marinette couldn't be told her greatest fear, her greatest weakness.

"Why not?" Gentle, but pushing. The same tone Chloe dreamt of hearing not but two minutes ago.

Because I'm scared to face the truth. I'm scared if I tell you, word will get out that I'm having a mental break down.

Chloe didn't say anything as she focused on the floor, it suddenly became interesting.

"Is it because of how you treat everyone? Because of how far you go to get attention and to 'fit in'?"

The blonde's breath caught her throat painfully. Had it been that obvious? Did everyone know she felt that way? Was that why they acted the way they did? Millions of thoughts rushed through her head before Marinette pulled her out of them.

"I've known you since elementary," Marinette stated as she leaned against the tiled wall. "I've seen your face when you think no one is watching. The expression that twists on it when you see two people being really good friends. I don't miss it, Chloe. I understand." She reached out to rest a hand on hers, but Chloe pulled away before that was possible.

"You understand?" Chloe snarled. Bringing her hands up to her hair. She was hysterical, eyes wide with disbelief. "You, Marinette Dupain-Change understand what it's like to be hated by everyone, even your own mother? To wake up every morning and wishing that you just never woke up? Wishing you didn't have to go to extreme measures to hide your true emotions?" A hollow laugh left her lips. "I believe you understand nothing."

Silence lapsed between them and Chloe's breaths finally slowed. It had to be said and Chloe forced herself to believe it.

"You have so much to do," Marinette spoke finally, her expression was thoughtful. "You have to refrain yourself from eating "unhealthy" food to keep your waist slim and you have to wake up early to do your makeup so that they approve of you. You throw away your common sense, you give off a confident facade because they will never like you any other way."

Why did this feel like a slap to the face? Chloe rubbed her arms as she turned her head. It was true, it was all true. Just as her mind was on the brink of dangerous thoughts, Marinette continued.

"You just don't understand that you don't have to try so hard." Marinette pushed herself off the wall to stand in front of Chloe. They were the same height, their eyes at the same level comfortably.

Chloe's lip worked its way between her lips.

"You don't get that nobody else matters but you. Your mental health comes before anybody else. You're supposed to make sure you're content with yourself before anything else. Look."

Marinette turned them both so that their reflections were looking back in the full-length mirrors.

"When you look at yourself, what do you see?" Marinette asked, slightly behind the blonde.

Chloe sucked in a breath and forced her eyes to meet the glass.

"I see a wreck. I see a girl who's done enough to not deserve love for the next fifteen lives." Her lip trembled as she breathed the words. The person she saw, the person who so helplessly stared back was not who she wanted to be.

Marinette's eyes glazed over as she thought, and Chloe feared she was spot on with her description. So much that the fashion designer couldn't think of a valid argument as to why she was wrong.

"You see," Marinette murmured. Icy blue eyes looked at the figure behind her in the mirror. "I don't see that. Hear me out." She said just as Chloe began to open her mouth.

Snapping it shut, the blonde desperately clung to her every word.

"I see a strong teenage girl who cares too much, a woman who has been fighting her battles on her own for too long. Someone who made mistakes and feels bad for them, a human who does all the wrong things for the right reasons. I see Chloe Bourgeois. One of the prettiest girls in Paris and mentally strong people I know."

Sobs escaped Chloe's throat and Marinette opened her arms. The blonde didn't spare a second in finding comfort in something rather than her pillow.

"You don't have to buy all of the trending clothes just because everyone else is. You don't have to push your limits for anybody. You don't need to change one single thing for them. You'll change when you're ready for you to, not for society." After saying that, Marinette fell silent and allowed Chloe to cry her heart out.

Chloe clung on for dear life, her fingers clutching the grey fabric on the others back. This is what proper affection felt like? A hug without it being for the paper or for popularity?

After what seemed like hours, Chloe pulled away, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. Marinette handed her a makeup wipe from her purse.

The mayor's daughter spent a decent amount of time getting rid of every black and blue smudge and smear from her face.

"You can always come to talk to me if you need." The blunette declared as she grabbed her bag, ready to leave. Chloe nodded, still dazed about the conversation.

"Tomorrow when you come to school, I only ask for two things," Marinette said at the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

"Anything," Chloe responded, eyebrows going up in surprise. The fact that Marinette had to ask after all of this.

"I want you to show up in your comfortable clothes, with no makeup on. I want to see you speak without your rude filter and just be yourself without worrying."

Chloe could do that. She would do it. Not only for Marinette, but also for this strange new confidence that was growing inside her. Like she could change the world for the greater good.

"And the second thing?"

A smile spread across the bluenette's lips as she turned the knob and pulled open the door.

"I do plead you keep the whole Ladybug thing to yourself. You see, it would ruin my reputation."

"And if anyone asks where you disappeared off too suddenly?" Chloe asked. Marinette's smile grew wider.

"You tell them I was talking to my new best friend."

A/N: This is a one shot based off of a song called "Try" by Calbie Caillat. It's in the media if you want to listen to the song. I don't own anything except the plot. I came up with this by accident, my hand slipped and next thing I knew I had nearly two thousand words written for a one shot when I should be working on other stories (whoops.)

This was a product of a random, stray thought that some how worked its way onto my profile. I hope you enjoyed. If you somehow really did enjoy and want to read another one of my stories then check out "Happier|| A Lukanette Story". It's on this profile.

If you feel the same way Chloe did in this, please find someone to talk to! You really do matter, that's what this was meant to prove. It doesn't matter if you feel like you don't deserve being treated nicely. Because you do. You can even speak to me if you'd like, just PM me. I'm willing to listen if you need!