"Alya?" Marinette was surprised, it's been several weeks since they saw each other.

"What the fuck, Marinette?! You've ignored my calls for so long!" Alya had a sudden outburst, "I've wanted to talk to you, ask if you're okay, or even help you! Why did you do this to me, Mari? Why?"

A tear was falling down Marinette's cheek. "I'm so sorry, Alya...I'm terribly sorry...I locked everyone out of my life, but believe me, I'm trying to get better! I've been thinking about going to school, too! Please forgive me..."

"It's too late for that now, Marinette." Alya turned her back and headed for the door, "oh, I thought you should know: Nathaneäl sits by me now." And with that, she slammed the trapdoor behind her on her way out.

"Did that just happen?" Marinette asked herself, since Tikki flew off somewhere. "Did I just lose my best friend..." She pressed her back against her wall.

"No way I'm going back to school now..." She slid down onto her wooden floor and hugged her knees, crying into them.

"I heard everything." Marinette ignored the voice, knowing if was Chat.

Chat walked in front of her and sat on his knees. He placed a hand in her arm. "It's alright, Mari..."

Then, Chat's brain sprouted an idea, and he chuckled. "But hey, I know what will cheer you up a bit." Marinette shyly looked up a bit, with swelled eyes from crying.

"It's Wednesday, right? How about we go downstairs and play some video games if your mothers out?" Chat's suggestion made Marinette crook a smile.

"She's out, so we can play together." Marinette nodded.

"Alright, let's go." Chat smiled, holding out his hand for her to take. As soon as she took it, they walked downstairs with intertwined hands.

Once they got to the downstairs, Chat sat down.Marinette turned on the Nintendo Wii and put in her favourite video game, and then joined Chat on the sofa.

"What's the game?" The boy in the cat suit asked.

"Super Smash Bro's Brawl. Also, I'm a pro - not to brag or anything." Marinette wiggled her eyebrows while she sat back.

"Old school, I like it. Fight me, Purrincess." Chat chuckled, and the game began.

Marinette played Pitt, whilst Chat played Ike. They put the settings onto stock instead of time, so they each had 5 lives each.

"HA! I put you down to 4 lives! How do you feel now?" Marinette cheered, smiling gracefully.

"As did I." Chat smirked, causing Marinette to purse her lips.

Mari groaned, "I've only just begun."

And 10 minutes later, after fighting and fighting and using the super powers they got given in the game, there was a clear winner.

"REKT! HAHAH! HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?" The winner cheered and whoop'd around the room.

"Whatever!" Chat crossed his arms and huffed, mad that he had lost. And after all that training I do at home, too!

Marinette calmed down, and descended back onto the sofa. "I said I was thinking about returning to school, but now - I don't know..."

"I'll protect you."

"You'll what?"

"I'll protect you. I may not go to your school," Chat lied to her, "But I'll protect you- somehow. If anything happens, just go outside the building and scream my name. I'll be sure to hear you!"

This brought tears to Mari's eyes, "Really? Y-You'll...Protect me?"

"You're sad about that? I just wanted to make you happy..." Marinette giggled at Chat's words.

"These are happy tears for once!" The atmosphere was happy for the first time in weeks for Marinette, but that all came to a halt.

Chat looked at the clock, "Shit- sorry Princess, but I gotta go on patrol. Ladybug doesn't come around much often, so I'm in charge of patrol. See ya later!" And with that, he jumped out of her window.

"Shit. Patrol. Where the hell is Tikki?"

~~~~~~~~~~
oh hey this chapter is longer than usual I think idk
but I thought of a plan
spoiler alert: it includes Lila ;)))) take a guess
anyways I'll probably update tomorrow or l8er boi boi