Running back

Problems in paradise

The car pulled up in front of the bakery. I was excited for dinner with the Dupain-Cheng's, it had been a long time since I'd had a good home cooked meal.

I grabbed my bags and waved bye to Nath. "Thanks for driving me around tomato head!", I said, snickering at the old nickname.

"Any time fluffy tail", he replied. The car pulled out and I watched it drive off into the distance.

I was then attacked from behind by none other than Alya Césaire. Or should I say future Lahiffe?

"Alix! Why didn't you come visit! We all missed you!", Alya complained.

Meanwhile I'm trying not to the fall on my face onto the tar. "I wanted to come but....", I trailed off.

It had been two months since the accident and it still felt like it had just happened. "Stuff happened", I said.

Then Alya let go so I could turn around and give her a real hug.

"The girl group hasn't been the same without you yanno?", Alya spoke softly, almost as if it was a secret.

I smiled, tightening the hug. Tears threatened to fall. She let go so I could see what my old friend looked like.

She still has her same ombré hair but instead of being loosely curled she has it up in a high pony. Her outfit consisted of a white tank top since it was pretty hot tonight, her usual plaid but long sleeved was tied around her waist, over her jean shorts. She had similar shoes on her feet with the same black and white theme as she normally wore.

She also had her usual glasses and a gold chain of a necklace that went under her shirt, one I knew was her miraculous.

"So Alya, what's it like being a miraculous holder?", I decided to ask straight up just to stay away from the annoying confusion.

She stopped walking towards the door and turned to me. A look of confusion I'd never seen on Alya's face, she always knew everything, heck she was the first person to know who Ladybug was.

"What are you talking about Alix?", she asked, although her lying was unnecessary.

"I know who you are Alya, or should I say Rena Rouge?" I said confidently. I smirked walking inside, ignoring Alya's plea's to stop.

I walked into the Dupain-Cheng's dining room, breathing in the heavenly smell.

But in the middle of my serenity Marinette, Adrien, and Nino, met me with a bone crushing hug.

I automatically tensed and was ready to attack until I realized it was just them.

After a brief welcome back the five of us along with Sabine and Tom all sat at the rather large table.

We all immediately dug into the spaghetti and meatballs Sabine had made. Man had I missed her cooking.

"So Alix tell us about New York! How's your father and brother?", Tom asked.

I automatically spit the water I was drinking back into my cup.

Crap.

They weren't supposed to ask about them yet, not on my first day back.

Alya and Sabine were asking me if I was alright while Marinette was trying to get me to let go of the cup I was holding.

Adrien, Nino, and Tom seemed at a loss of what to do. But I didn't pay attention to any of them.

My mind wandered, my eyes blurring, my mind focusing more on what I was thinking then what I was seeing.

Their faces flashed through my memory.

The pain.

The blood.

The screams.

It never would have happened, if not for me.

———————

I was sitting in my apartment when the call came. I would normally avoid a call from Max those days, especially after he got together with Sabrina.

But something told me to pick up, see what my old friend had to say. I picked up my phone, hitting the green 'accept' button.

I held the phone up to my ear. "Hello?", I said.

"Kim! Good, you answered! I just got the best news from Nino that I can assure is 100% accurate", Max exclaimed, seemingly excited about something.

"What is it? The game is on in three minutes so you'd better make it fast!", I snapped. I could feel Max's hesitation from the other side of the phone.

"Alix Kubdel is back in town", he said. My eyes widened, the woods echoing over and over.

Alix Kubdel is back in town.

Alix Kubdel is back in town.

Alix Kubdel is back in town.

"Kim? Ya still there?", Max asked, sounding worried. I stood up, groaning a little since I was stiff.

"Where is she now?", I asked, slipping on my shoes.

"She's at Marinette's", he said. Then the line went dead.

I groaned. "Why did it have to be Marinette's?", I said to myself.

I wasn't exactly on the best terms with her at the moment. She had come over one night, said she wanted to help me.

I told her I didn't want it, that I didn't need her help. Truth was I needed it. I had needed her help, I was just to stubborn to admit it.

Now that I really think this whole thing through, why would someone like Alix Kubdel want to see me anyways?

I'm nothing like she remembers.

I'm not the jock, prankster, and fun guy she remembers.

Knowing Alix she's probably still exactly the same, the same short, fiery girl that I met in 2nd grade.

She was always the tough one, it was easy to be tough and silly with her around.

It was funny, even when she switched schools in fourth grade, I'd still bike to her house on Fridays and we'd go to the park to race.

When I learned we were going to the same high school, I was so excited. Alix didn't seem to have the same enthusiasm, she more ignored me, but I didn't mind.

As long as she accepted my bets and dares, that was enough.

But when she moved away.... everyone changed.

So instead of just one thing being different, everything was different.

I drifted apart from everyone.

After awhile, Max and Marinette and even Nathaniel tried to reach out to me. But I pushed them away, I didn't want to get close to anyone, not anymore.

Just in case they would go away..... and never come back.

—————————

It was dark, cold, and peaceful. The ground and walls where littered with white butterflies.

"Ahh I've seen this emotion before, it's a brilliant mixture of loneliness, guilt, and pain", the mystery woman said.

A butterfly landed on her palm and she set her opposite hand over top, filling up the poor butterfly with the miraculous's power.

"Fly away my little akuma, and help this unfortunate boy", she laughed.

The akuma flew off into the city, on route for Kim's apartment.

Preparing for its victim.

++++++++++++
Omgh you guys I had literally no inspiration today wow

I love your comments!

See you next chapter!