Marinette pushed open the roof doors and took a few steps onto the roof, towards the beckoning railing, hand reaching down to remove her shoes, when she heard it.

The squeak of flesh on metal.

Her head turns towards the railing on the left side of the roof.

Mylene.

"Hey, don't do it, please."

Marinette's hands moved to her mouth as she gasped, shocked she spoke, let alone spoke loud enough for Mylene to hear her. Mylene's head turned as well.

"Oh... Marinette. Hello."

She spoke with little energy, the light in her eyes dim, but there. Her hands tightened on the rusty rail, preparing to move. Whether away or towards the roof floor, Marinette didn't want to take the chance.

Carefully, she stepped toward Mylene.

"Mylene, please. Listen to me."

She took another step. For the first time in a long time, the bravery of Ladybug was returning to her. With every movement. She felt determined, no, convinced, that she can help Mylene, that she can save her.

"You need to step down, and move towards me."

Mylene stopped moving, and connected eyes with Marinette.

"Why? Is there still something in my pockets you want, class thief?" She mocked. Marinette paused, clearly hurt, before speaking again.

"I don't want your pockets, I want you safe, on the ground, with me."

Mylene scoffed, tears in her vulnerable eyes. Marinette's eyes flashed with sympathy.

She really didn't want Mylene to fall. She would do almost anything for her not to fall. However, the motivation is... confusing. Marinette wants Mylene to be safe, she wants her to be alive and well! But she's also angry.

Angry at Mylene, for being the one to fall – instead of her. Lunch would be over soon, her chance would be missed. She could have saved herself from experiencing another day in this horrid life and yet Mylene just had to be there instead! Why couldn't it be her?

Marinette shook her head, trying to clear her mind, to no avail. Meanwhile, Mylene was still struggling to stay away from Marinette.

"Stop with your mind games! I'm sure you'd love for me to fall, wouldn't you?!"

"How could you say something like that Mylene? Please, this isn't you! Tell me what's going on?"

"Never! I bet you wish you'd never come up here – now you think it's your responsibility to-"

"I WISH I WAS THERE INSTEAD OF YOU!"

Marinette gasped in shock, upset she'd told Mylene of her plans. But now she'd told her, she'd continue, in hopes Mylene would listen to her if she told her everything.

"I came up here with plans to jump off the roof. I wish the roles were reversed, or better yet, you were back in school and I could be alone with the moment of feeling the rust beneath my fingertips, breathing in the crisp air for the final time, the tense crushing heart beats as the last finger lets go of the railing..." She shook her head to start focusing again on the situation. "But that's not important. Please – tell me what's going on."

Mylene finally realised Marinette was serious. She gently sighed, and told Marinette her woes.

"You've probably heard it all before. I really thought that he might be the one..."

"Ivan?" Marinette whispered. Mylene nodded.

"... but then he told me he was done."

A few tears slid down her cheeks as she looked up from the ground to see Marinette's reaction, which was not what she expected. Marinette was pissed.

"Okay, sure you and Ivan breaking up must be hard, I did think you two were a perfect couple. But you know what? There are plenty more guys, you can always rebound with someone else. You still have friends, family and heck, you and Ivan might get back together, what separated you could just be a misunderstanding, I know a lot of those."

"But-"

"For God's sake, please? Are you serious – I just can't believe, that for some stupid reason you got here before me?! Are you upset, cause you can't have what you wanted? You're lucky that you've never gotten robbed of anything!"

Mylene gasped, taken aback by Marinette's words. She looked down towards the ground several feel below her, then back towards Marinette, who was again carefully walking towards her.

She smiled.

"You're right, Marinette."

She took Marinette's outstretched hand, and together, got Mylene down from the railing. As soon as her feet touched the ground, her sobs got more apparent. Mylene fell to her knees and gripped the railing bars tight with her fists.

"I'm so sorry! I – I wasn't thinking!"

Marinette rubbed her back.

"Don't worry, you're still here, you're still standing."

Mylene wiped her eyes. She unravelled a red braid from her hair, and wound it around Marinette's wrist. Once it was secure, she smiled at Marinette.

"I'm feeling better, thank you for listening-"

Suddenly the doors burst open. Chloe and the rest of the class, except for Adrien, came out onto the rooftop.

"See, what did I tell you? Marinette is trying to push Mylene off the rooftop!"

"What? She wasn't-"

Mylene got cut off by Ivan darting forward and hugging her.

"Mylene, I'm so sorry, it was a big misunderstanding that my anger and frustration stopped me from explaining to you. I was so scared when Chloe told us what Marinette was planning, I realised how dumb I was. Please take me back?"

Before letting her cut in, he kissed her. Mylene went to grab his top, to pull him closer, when she hesitated, glancing at Marinette, knowing that she still needed to explain what had happened. But confessing she was thinking of jumping, because of Ivan – who is right in front of her...?

Mylene and Marinette locked eyes. Seeming to understand entirely, Marinette nodded, and gestured to Mylene to continue with Ivan, who went right ahead and pulled Ivan closer.

As the crowd cheered for them both, Marinette stealthily waded through the crowd, past the roof doors and into the corridor, as the bell rang for the next class.

And so,

The girl with braided hair then disappeared.

As the class left to go to class, Chat Noir jumped down from the roof of a nearby house, having witnessed the whole scene, Tikki in tow.

"What just happened?" Adrien muttered under his breath. "Was Marinette...

"... telling the truth – all along?"

Okay, second part complete! I might focus on Adrien for next chapter, or I might continue on with the second verse, but either way, expect a new update soon! I'm really enjoying writing these things, haha, even if the topic is dark. To be honest I seem to only write fics with dark tones, I don't have many ideas for stories with no dark aspects at all, it removes the conflict.

Anyway, aside from the rambling, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Expect a new one soon!

But for now...

Peachy out! :)