Adrien's POV

Beep beep beep...

I roll over in my bed as I reach my hand out to turn off my alarm beeping on my phone. The morning light beams through my floor-to-ceiling windows and gently rests on my eyelids. I groan and scrunch my face up as I rub my eyes.

"Good morn' Plagg..." I grumble, still half asleep.

"Good morning to you too, Adrien!" An unfamiliar voice squeaks. "But I'm afraid I'm not Plagg!"

I smile as I slowly open my eyes. "Right. I forgot about that. My bad, Tikki."

The tiny red kwami does a flip in the air as she flies up close to my face. "It's no problem, really!"

I nod with a smile still resting on my lips. I slowly get out of my king sized bed and stretch, puffing out my chest and squeezing my eyes tightly. I release all of my tension and relax, heading towards my bathroom to start getting ready for the day.

"If you don't mind me asking," I begin, looking at myself in the mirror as I start brushing my hair, "what does milady do when she wakes up first thing in the morning?"

Tikki smiles. "Well, usually I have to wake her up, which is followed by a squeal and her dashing to get ready for school."

I choke on my toothpaste as I brush my teeth. "She's almost always late?!"

Tikki giggles.

"I can't believe it. And she has the nerve to tease me when I'm late for patrols..." I laugh.

"Anyways," Tikki continues, "after we both sprint to school, she always tries to slip back into her chair without the teacher knowing, yet every single time, the teacher catches her."

I roll my eyes as I spit into the sink. "I can't believe that! Ladybug, the super heroine of Paris, is almost always late for school? I'm sooo gonna tease her about that!"

Tikki gently smiles. "You really like her, don't you?"

I nod as I start to wash my face. "A lot."

I swear I could have heard Tikki mumble "the irony", but as soon as I asked what she said, she just shook it off.

I walk out of my bathroom and head to my closet, where I put on my daily clothes. I brush my hair to the side and continue getting ready, causally talking with Tikki on the side. We sometimes talk about school or super hero life, but the topic seems to always stick around Ladybug.

I slide my bag over my shoulders as I sigh longingly. "She's just so perfect, Tikki. Do you think she'll ever love me?"

Tikki stays silent, but with a huge smile on her face.

I give her a weird look. "Tikki?"

"Sorry, Adrien! I was just thinking, that's all. You should just tell her how you feel! I'm sure everything will work out!" She quickly chirps

I confidently nod, then start to head out of my room. I freeze right before I exit my bedroom, and point at my bag.

"Here, just stay in my bag right now!" I suggest. "Ignore the cheese crumbs, Plagg is the worst at keeping it clean."

Tikki nods and slips into my bag. I open my bedroom door and carefully walk down the marble staircase. My body guard greets me at the bottom and we walk to the car together. Once I slide into my spot and buckle up, I close the sound-proof window separating the driver from the rider, leaving me alone in the backseat so I can talk to Tikki.

"Do you think Ladybug goes to my school?" I wonder out loud, placing my chin in the palm of my hand and looking out the window.

"Even if she did, you know I couldn't tell you, Adrien," Tikki reminds me.

I sigh. "I know, but it was worth a shot."

Tikki flies out of my bag and rests on my shoulder as I look out the window.

"What will I do if I can't take the ladybug miraculous off?" I ask Tikki. "Ladybug, I mean, Lady Noir is trusting me. She's relying on me."

"I'm sure everything will work out," Tikki reassures me.

I peel my view away from the world outside and look at Tikki. "You're right. And if it doesn't, we'll just go talk to Master Fu!"

Tikki bites her lip and looks away. "About that..."

"What...?" I look at Tikki with nervous eyes.

"He's out on a secret mission with Wayzz. He sensed your problem with the miraculous and he's trying to fix it."

It feels like my heart dropped a million miles. I sink in my seat and stare straight ahead, distraught and terrified. We're on our own if this problem persists. Our only hope now is that the problem fixes itself.

"Don't worry about that now, Adrien," Tikki reassures me, interrupting my thoughts. "We're here at school now!"

I look out the window. Sure enough, we've reached the Collège Françoise Dupont. Kids are waiting on the steps for their friends, teachers stand with their arms crossed watching the scene, and students sit on picnic tables doing homework.

I give a confused look at Tikki. "How did you know that this is my school?"

Tikki's eyes grow wide.

"Lucky guess?" She quickly spits out.

I just chuckle. "You sound too much like milady sometimes."

My bodyguard opens my door and Tikki quickly hides. I get out of my car and hold my strap on my shoulder holding my bag. My bodyguard bows, and I thank him, then I walk up the school steps to greet my friends.

"Hey guys!" I cheerfully greet Marinette, Alya, and Nino.

My friends always wait for me outside Collège Françoise Dupont on the steps leading to the school. The sky is a bright blue, and the temperature is cool, which makes it the perfect weather to talk outside.

"What's up?" Alya greets, with her arm around Marinette's shoulder.

"H-Hi, Adrien!" Marinette stutters, closing her eyes and waving frantically.

Nino jumps right in front of my view, and I stumble backwards. "Woah, dude! Sick earrings!"

"Earrings?!" Alya shouts, dropping Marinette and running up to me.

My cheeks heat up, embarrassed from all the attention. Alya grabs my chin and forcefully turns my head to the side, facing my ear toward her and Nino's eyes. They both awe in approval.

"I can't believe your old man let you get a piercing," Nino gasps. "I wish my folks would let me."

I awkwardly chuckle and rub the back of my head. "Actually, they've always been pierced. You know, for model shoots and stuff."

Alya twirls around on the ball of her foot and faces Marinette with a smug look, leaning on her shoulder. "Do you like Adrien's earrings, Marinette?"

"H-Hi, Adrien!" Marinette repeats, still frantically waving her hand.

I laugh. "You're funny, Marinette!"

Alya just groans and facepalms herself, then grabs Marinette's hand. "Common y'all, let's head inside!"

"I'll meet y'all in the classroom, okay?" I call out.

Nino fist bumps me and joins the girls as they walk inside.

I smile. I'm so lucky to have them as my friends. They're so nice to me. They see me as their friend, and not some teenage supermodel, the type of people I've always wanted in my life.

I check my bag, planning to talk to Tikki, but gasp when I find out she's not in her bag.

Where did she go?

Tikki's POV

"I almost blew it, Plagg! Adrien caught me and called me out when I recognized the school!" I vent to the black kwami.

Plagg just snickers, and tosses a block of cheese in his mouth. "Big deal. Adrien is one of the blindest kids out there. He'll never catch on."

We're talking inside Marinette's locker. I flew over to him and phased through the metal lock to greet him after I sensed his presence. I feel guilty though, because I snuck out of Adrien's bag just to check on Plagg. I hope he isn't worried when he finds out I left him.

Kwamis have the power to sense each other when we're nearby. I've always sensed Plagg's presence in Marinette's class room, so I knew that Chat Noir was in class with us, but I never would have guessed he would have been Marinette's school crush.

"Look, if Adrien can't recognize that Marinette, who doesn't change her hairstyle when she transforms let me point out, is Ladybug, then he's not gonna catch on to you. It's almost impossible," Plagg points out laying against a stack of books.

I groan and look away. "You're right... but I still feel guilty for leaving him..."

"Who cares?! We get to watch this train wreck go down!"

"Plagg!"

"What?!"

I sigh with a smile, flying around in the dark locker. "Just because they're in love with each other without realizing it doesn't mean their love is a train wreck."

"Are you kidding me? It's a complete mess!" Plagg snickers. "If they made a show out of their relationship, I bet it would be award-winning!"

"Plagg, that's rude!" I argue.

Plagg rolls his eyes. "Come on! By now you've at least got to know how crazy my boy is about your girl. He has Ladybug pictures in his camera roll, Ladybug as his wallpaper, Ladybug dolls..."

I giggle. "All the same with Marinette, but with Adrien instead."

"They're love is so gross, of course they're meant for each other!" Plagg teases, sticking out his purple tongue.

Suddenly light blasts us and the locker opens. Both Plagg and I stay frozen from shock.

"Tikki?!" I hear someone squeak.

My eyes adjust to the darkness and I look at who is standing in front of us.

"Marinette!" I greet with a smile. I fly up to her and press myself against her cheek, giving her a kwami sized hug.

"I've been so worried about you!" Marinette replies. "How are you? Are you okay? What's Chat Noir like when he's not transformed? Is he driving you crazy?"

"Slow down, Dupain-Cheng!" Plagg butts in. "She was fine, but not after you bombarded her with all of your questions."

Marinette rolls her eyes as she puts her hands on her hips.

"Sorry, Tikki. I'm just excited to see... you... here..." Marinette's voice trails off, and her face slowly goes pale. "Wait, if you're here, that means Chat Noir - or, I guess he's going by Mister Bug now - goes to my school!"

I look at Plagg with a panicked expression.

"Oh my god, no way. Your face totally confirms it," Marinette states, with wide eyes.

"Marinette!" Alya calls out, walking towards us. "What are you doing?"

Marinette looks back at us, glaring. "You both have some serious explaining to do when I see you two again!"

She then grabs her geometry book and slams the locker, with darkness once again swallowing us. I gulp and look at Plagg again with a nervous look.

"You're owner might be blind, but mine isn't" I quietly reply.

"One, she isn't your owner anymore, she's mine," Plagg snickers. "And two, you're gonna look at her dead in the eyes and tell me that she isn't blind?! Her crush is Chat Noir and she has no clue!"

I just sigh and shake my head.

Marinette's POV

Class starts right as I slip into my seat next to Alya.

"Where'd your earrings go? You always wear them. They're like, your signature piece of jewelry," Alya notices.

I nervously giggle. "I-I, uh, lost them! Y-Yeah! You know me, I would even lose my head if it wasn't attached to me!"

Alya looks at me with disbelief, and points at my hand. "So, you traded your earrings for Adrien's ring?"

My face goes bright red. "Adrien's ring?! N-No, I-"

"What about my ring?" I hear Adrien interrupt, suddenly very serious.

I look forward and Adrien stares at me with an intense look in his eyes, like he's on edge. I nervously giggle close my eyes, feeling blush grow on my ears and cheeks.

"Wait, don't tell me you actually lost your ring..." Alya says in disbelief.

Adrien's silence is a good enough answer for her.

"Oh my god you totally did!" She leans over to my ear and cups her hand around her mouth. "You two are totally meant for each other; you both can't seem to stop losing stuff, you both are late, you both seem to disappear all the time..."

I nervously look at her. Alya looks happy, but then her face drops and goes white.

"Wait. Don't tell me..." She whispers, backing away from me. "This could only mean one thing... I... I can't believe my own best friend is..."

I feel my heart pound against my chest. This is it, Marinette, say your prayers.

"... having a secret relationship with Adrien Agreste behind my back!"

I gasp and playfully punch her shoulder. She just laughs.

"Quiet down Alya and Marinette! Class is starting!" The teacher announces. "Adrien, will you please pass out these papers?"

Adrien nods and stands up, grabbing the papers and placing them in his arms. He passes the papers out, looking curiously at me as he does, and the class falls silent.

I look at Alya. She gives me a slight wave accompanied by a smile and I return it, but we quickly get back to work. I pull out my geometry book that I fetched from my locker, and the events that just happened hit me like a ton of bricks.

Both Plagg and Tikki were in my locker. I currently have Plagg because of the cat miraculous, so I don't find that surprising, but when I saw Tikki I felt my heart drop. Only Mister Bug has Tikki right now. The only logical explanation for Tikki being at school if I don't have the Ladybug miraculous is that Mister Bug is in my classroom.

"Pst, girl!" I hear Alya whisper-yell, cupping her hand. "What are you doing?! You're just staring straight ahead at Adrien!"

"Sorry, something was on my mind," I reply, quickly shaking my head and brushing my thoughts aside.

Alya gives me a smug look, then shakes her head and gets back to work.

Time flies by. I bite on the eraser at the top of my pencil. I hear the clock silently tick above the classroom. Dust floats in sunbeams from the window. Pencils scribble and erasers erase as students quietly work on their assignments. No matter how hard I try and think about something else, I can't help but think about how Mister Bug most likely goes to my school.

"Okay students, please turn in your tests!" I hear the teacher call out. My classmates one by one stand up and turn in their test.

I look down at my paper in front of me with my eyes wide open and fear settles in my heart. There was a test. A test! And I didn't even put my name at the top, much less complete it. I pick up my paper shaking and stare at the blank sheet.

"Just tell them you're Lady Noir and I bet they'll let you do whatever you want," I hear Plagg whisper from my purse.

"Good to know that you're the one who gives Chat Noir all of his bad ideas," I whisper back, rolling my eyes. "I just wish there was a distraction so I didn't have to turn this in!"

Suddenly, a big crash is heard from outside the class. The class freezes and everyone looks towards the windows looking out into the school's courtyard. I jump up and look outside, which is followed by a gasp. 

"An akuma..." I mutter to Plagg.

Plagg quietly snickers. "Looks like your wish was granted."

Wow, this was a long chapter! I always aim for 2,000 words but it ended up being around 2,700 words. If the chapters are too long, make sure to tell me :)

Anyways, I have no clue what I want this akuma to be. I was gonna do Ikari Gozen because that's the episode after Reflektdoll, but I thought it would be too confusing to introduce Kagami into the story (this early, at least).

If you have any akuma ideas, comment them! I'm going to use someone's akuma idea and credit them at the top of the chapter :) (Include a character name, motive, and power. They don't have to be in the show.)

one more thing: if you find a typo in my story, please tell me!! dm me a screenshot and send it to my instagram [chats_lady]

Anyways, don't forget to vote for this chapter! See you in the next one!