I was early to school, and that is a very rare thing. I couldn't sleep. My conversation had been playing on a continuous loop over and over in my head. My mind was too alert, too crowded. And, I was tired, but seemed more focused on the world around me. Nothing looked the same. Everything was different. I thought of people differently. There could be no good guys except me and maybe Chat Noir. Maybe. Whoever he is. He could so easily be an akuma who has gained my trust and will stab me in the back when the time is right. Gabriel Agreste could be using Adrien to test me. Give me something I would fight for so he could use it against me. I need to calm down, stop questioning everything. This is what Hawk Moth wants. He wants in my head, to over power me. I can't give him that victory. He's watching. He's always watching, listening. he always is. 

"Girl, what are you doing here so early, and what are you glaring at? You're freaking me out," Alya says, plopping down in her seat beside me. 

"Oh, I set two alarms today," I lie, breaking out of my thoughts. I clutch my backpack to my chest, the book inside, resting my chin on top. 

Chloe and Sabrina come through the door, Chloe babbling about nonsense. "Oh, look. Marinette Dupain- Cheng actually made it to school on time today. And the world didn't explode?" she laughs, her pale pink lips curled into her signature smirk. 

I don't respond, focused too much on the problems ahead. How am I supposed to figure out Hawk Moth's plan? If I show up as Ladybug, I'd be suspected. I can't do that, which means it's up to Marinette to save Paris. Is she up for it? I sure hope so. 

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien says, with a slight wave, him and Nino sitting down in front of us.

"Hey," I say dryly, my mind too crowded to fully register that Adrien is talking to me. I have to tell him. He's gonna think I'm completely insane. 'Hey Love-of-my-life, did you know your father is the evil maniac that is always trying to destroy Paris? Surprise!' He's gonna hate me. He'll never talk to me again.  

He stares at me skeptically, taking his seat, but he doesn't say anything. I burry my head in my bag, wanting to crawl under the table. I do catch him peaking at me from the very corner of his eye a few minutes into class, probably wondering what happened to the usual happy-go-lucky Marinette he knows. But, I'm too over whelmed for that right now.

"Marinette!" a sudden voice calls. 

I look up at Mrs. Bustier, everyone in the room staring at me. Huh?" I ask, startled. 

"I asked you what the answer to the literature prompt is," she tells me annoyed. 

"Oh, uh, right...." I stutter, riffling through my papers in my folder.

She sighs, rolling her eyes at me. "Would anyone else like to answer the question, since Marinette is too preoccupied with other things to pay attention in class?" Several hands shoot up, and class continues on.

"What is wrong with you today? You are definitely not Marinette," Alya whispers, nudging me. 

"Sorry. I just have way too much on my mind."

"No sweat. Just remember, I'm always here if you wanna talk about it."

"Thanks Alya!" I say, hugging her.

***

I awkwardly wait for Adrien to come down the stairs at the end of the day. I told Alya I was lending a book to him over the weekend. She of course, got  all excited before giving me a well needed pep-talk before telling me she would be at my house in two hours to hear all the details. Probably mainly wanting to get on to me for chickening out again. But, this time is different. I can't back out. Paris depends on it. I can't stutter or act weird. He is in danger. and, it's up to me to save him. Just act like I'm talking to Alya, or even Chat Noir. Someone I'm comfortable with. 

My eyes catch movement on the stairs. I peek out from under them, recognizing the familiar orange converse. He's with Nino. I watch as they wave goodbye, Nino walking to the front steps. Adrien stares down at his phone, scrolling with his thumb, a bored expression on his face. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and come out of hiding. I clutch my backpack straps, glancing at Tikki in my coin purse for reassurance. She nods encouragingly at me. 

I clear my throat, stopping behind him. "Um, hey A- Adrien." I begin, offering a nervous smile. No backing out. No backing out. 

He glances up at me, smiling. "Oh, hey, Marinette. Are you ok today?" he asks, genuinely concerned about me. I internally scream. 

"M-Me? Uh, ye-yeah! Pft, I'm fine." I curl my toes from inside my flats, tapping my fingers on my backpack straps. 

"Did you need something?" he asks, the awkwardness growing. 

"Oh, yes!" I say, peeling my eyes away from his gorgeous ones. I pull my bag off my shoulders, revealing the miraculous book. 

"My father's book!" he exclaims, obviously relieved to see it. "Where did you find it?" he asks, wide eyed. 

"Lila stole it and then threw it away at the park," I say sheepishly.He furrows his brows as to how I know all that, unless I was following him.... Which I was. Great. So, now he thinks I'm a stalker too. He reaches for it, but I draw away from him. He looks down at me skeptically. "I can't give it back to you."

"What? Why not?" he asks, alarmed. I hug the book to my chest, dreading what I have to do next. I say a silent prayer for myself that he will listen to me and that I wont ruin any chances I ever had of being with him. "Marinette? Why not?" he asks again. I must have taken too long to answer. 

"Because...." He arches up a confused eyebrow. "Because your father is Hawk Moth," I answer, finally allowing the words to slide out. 

He stares back at me bewildered. "What?" he scoffs.

"Your father is Hawk Moth," I repeat, my voice more even the second time around. 

"This isn't funny Marinette. I know my father isn't the most caring person in the world, but you shouldn't be spreading rumors like that. It's not nice, and it's not good for his business.," he tells me, turning around. 

I'm taken aback. He thinks I'm trying to start rumors? I close my mouth, and stare at the ground. I've hurt his feelings. He thinks I'm insulting his father. I look back up to him. "I'm telling the truth. You have to trust me! You're in danger!" I wail. 

He walks away, and I scurry after him, trying to keep up with his speed walking. "Just because you believe something. doesn't make it true," he tells me. 

"I swear it's the truth!" 

"Marinette, I think you are mixing your nightmares with reality," he adds, shuffling down the front steps, leaving me at the top. 

"Then prove me wrong," I say when he's half way to his car, desperate now. He turns around slowly, to look back at me. "Wouldn't you like to at least make sure? to completely rule it out as a possibility?" 

He scrunches his nose, releasing a sigh begrudgingly. "Alright."