I sighed in relief when the bell rang at the end of the day. Finally, I can get out of this stupid school. Why does it have to be the law that I go here when I'm set for my future anyway? I practically live alone already, even though if the police found out things would likely go much differently.

I live with my adoptive mother, Yvette, but she's never really around. She's always flying off on business trips and other work related stuff. Well, so she says. I've seen her bank records, she spends half her time in Florida down at casinos. Still, I don't complain. Frankly, I don't care that much. She sends me plenty of money to pay the bills and buy anything I want or need - not that I need it, I have my own money. But I'm definitely not complaining about it - and let's me do whatever.

I know she doesn't care about me, she mostly just wants someone to take care of the house while she's gone and wait on her on the rare occasions she stops by.

I find the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide.

As I head out, I see Alya and Marinette talking happily, but then Adrien shows up and Marinette turns into a squeaking mess, causing Alya to roll her eyes but smile at her friend's display of butterflies in her stomach.

Alya catches me watching, so I glance away. I hear her chuckle and, when I glance back, she smiles at me. I smile slightly back.

Ah, Alya. The stunning Rena Rouge. Yes, I know. I know Adrien's Chat Noir and that Marinette is Ladybug. I know Nino is Carapace, obviously I know that Chloé is the bratty Queen Bee.

No, they didn't tell me. No, they're not aware I worked it out on my own. I've spotted it, I've kept it secret. There's no reason for them to know I know, they'll only worry. Besides, if not even they know that I know, if they do find out I've known for a while for whatever reason, hopefully they'll see it as a reason to trust me more since I kept it a secret.

Anyway, it's true I quite like Alya, but for one she's dating Nino and for another she only notices me if she wants or needs something. That's the case with everyone in school, as well as with all the heroes of Paris.

Yeah, I interact with them when they're transformed. It all started when I was on my balcony and Ladybug dropped in, clearly about to fall asleep. I'd invited her to stay in the guest room so she didn't collapse on a rooftop or something. She was gone before I'd woken up the next morning, a thank you note left on the perfectly made bed. It was the only sign someone had been there aside from the two apple cores in the bin.

From that day on I'd left a coffee machine and some energy bars on the balcony - under a cover to keep them out of the rain, of course - with a sign that the heroes could take stuff as they pleased. Over time I'd seen more and more heroes stop by for some coffee to keep them going on their nightly patrols.

I ended up reworking the entire top floor so that there were some modest rooms the heroes could stay the night in and have a safe place to detransform and feed their kwamis once Chat Noir mentioned them to me after I asked him about all this stuff and why heroes had to constantly rush to the bathroom but never actually used it. (He found the talk hilarious)

So yeah, I basically run a free BnB for superheroes now. The heroes were all weary at first, but over time they've all grown accustomed to me and will often stop by for some coffee and a snack for their kwamis.

The only one that doesn't drop by regularly is Queen Bee.

She refuses to come inside, just insults me while she lets her kwami, Pollen, grab a snack so she's capable of transforming. I'll be honest, the only reason I let her stop by at all is because Pollen doesn't deserve to suffer for her chosen's attitude.

I always make a point of chatting to Pollen just to wind Chloé up. Pollen's always happy to talk and is very thankful for the help. She's nothing like her chosen. I think that's the reason why Chloé's now the only one that isn't allowed to hold on to her Miraculous all the time. Alya, Kim, Max and Nino have all been trusted to do it. Hell, even Ryuko and Viperion have been trusted! Still don't know who those two are, but I know they've been trusted with theirs.

Anyway, the superheroes only come by when they need stuff and even at school nobody comes near me unless they're paired up with me for a project or I'm the last one left without a partner. There's two results when that happens; I do all the work for them or they refuse to let me help despite me offering. There's never any working together involved.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone actively dislikes me - well, aside from Chloé, but she hates everyone equally - it's more of a case that they have their own groups and friendship circles. Why would they bother with that random kid in the corner that nobody ever notices?

When I arrive home, I notice a flash of yellow coming from the balcony. Oh, great. Just great. Chloé's shown up. I sigh and hurry upstairs, dumping my school bag on my bed as I go to the top floor.

Chloé's waiting impatiently on the balcony for me, looking furious. Pollen's helping herself to an orange slice I left out. She loves fruit.

"There you are!" Chloé hissed. "Honestly, what took you so long?!" "Not all of us can leap into rooftops to get to places, Chloé," I point out. "What do you need?"

"Sabrina was sick today so I need to see your homework," Chloé replies simply, as if that's supposed to be my job. "I'm not doing your homework for you," I roll my eyes. "Is that all? Because if you're just here to demand I do your work for you then I have to ask you to leave."

"Do you even know who I am?!" Chloé snaps. "I'm Chloé Bourgeois! Queen Bee!" "If someone is capable of using magic powers to take down super villains, that person is also fully capable of doing her own homework without demanding it from others," I shake my head, then turn to her kwami. "So, Pollen, how've you been doing?"

"Oh, I'm great, thank you!" Pollen smiled sweetly.