From Superhero to Cinderella

Chapter 8

Marinette tried to keep the dread from her voice as she answered, "Yes."

"What are you doing in the shower!?" Chloe demanded.

"Uh...taking a shower," Marinette said.

"Well, hurry up!! My mom is not happy with you," Chloe snapped. Marinette blinked.

What did I do? she wondered. Despite not wanting to face Chloe or her stepmom, Marinette took the fastest shower she had ever taken in her life. She had left her room unguarded and did not want Chloe getting into her stuff.

After getting out of the shower and getting dressed, Marinette headed downstairs. She walked into what she thought was an overly dramatic scene. Audrey was sitting on the couch, sobs wrenching out of her. Marinette could tell they were mostly fake. Chloe was sitting on the couch next to her mother, holding her hand and patting it. Sabrina was sitting next to Chloe, probably ready to do whatever Chloe asked. Chloe handed her mother a tissue. Audrey took it and dabbed at her eyes, smearing her already smeared mascara.

"Dupain-Cheng! My mother has had nothing to eat. Make her something," Chloe demanded. Marinette's mouth dropped open and she gaped at Chloe.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"You heard me. Make my mom some food," Chloe snapped.

"I'm not a maid," Marinette said. Chloe stood up quickly, looking enraged.

"My mom's husband just died. She needs something to eat," she shouted. Audrey started to bawl even more and Chloe sat back down, patting her mom's hand in comfort. Marinette stared at them, dumbfounded.

"Sure, her husband just died, but my dad just died. I knew him a lot better than any of you. I miss him and I wish you would try to understand instead of bossing me around!" Marinette suddenly shouted, her eyes glistening with tears. Chloe looked like she was about to say something else, but her mom put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright, Casserole," she said through her tears. "I can just order something for the three of us. Marinette won't be allowed to eat it." Audrey glared at Marinette with watery eyes. Marinette, who had had enough, left the room and went back to hers, ready to stay up there all day.

No, I'll just stay in my room the rest of my life, she thought. She entered the trapdoor and froze at what she saw. Lila, she thought in horror. Lila smiled at Marinette innocently, although Marinette's sketchbook was in her hand.

"Hey Marinette, I just thought I'd look at your designs. I hope you don't mind," Lila said. Marinette snatched her sketchbook from Lila and pointed to the trapdoor.

"Get out," she ordered, not in the mood to deal with Chloe's new BFF. Lila looked shocked.

"Why, Marinette, you seem upset. Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Get out of my room!" Marinette shouted. Lila's eyes widened in pretend fear and she left the room. Marinette closed and locked the door before climbing up to her bed. She pulled the blanket over herself and grabbed her giant cat pillow, burying her face in it and pretending it was Cat Noir. Her phone chimed, but she ignored it, wanting to just cry. She felt Tikki settle on one of her hands, and was comforted knowing that the little kwami was there for her.

***

Adrien sighed as he played the piano. He was playing a new song, but his heart wasn't in it. Some of the notes sounded off and Adrien wasn't paying attention all the way, but he didn't care. All he could think about was Ladybug. She had seemed a little happier when she left, but he wished she didn't have to leave. Again he felt the frustration of not knowing her identity. If he did know her identity, he would have come up with whatever excuse he needed to leave his mansion and go see her. Adrien's fingers slipped once again and he hit a deep note. It matched his mood. He heard the door open and saw Nathalie enter, a frown on her face.