A Snap in Time

Chapter 16 (Marinette)

"Have you ever had an outer body experience?"

"What? Like you see in sci-fi films?"

"Yeah, kinda," Marinette walked alongside Alya into the classroom, taking their seats on their normal second row.

"I can't say I have, why? Have you?"

Marinette wasn't sure how much to tell her friend, after all, Marinette was hiding enough from Alya that an additional item wouldn't seem much. But she needed a friend at the moment? She needed someone to talk to.

"I think so, like just now at the bakery, I felt like I was in a different time and place."

Alya looked at Marinette, scrunching her eyebrows before suddenly breaking into laughter.

"M, you need to get more sleep. Stop chatting with Luka late into the night and get some shut eye. You're not going to be good for anything at this rate."

Marinette attempted to laugh with her friend but it came out dry and harsh. As far as she could see she had two options here; laugh it off and ignore it, or tell Alya she was having serious identity issues. With her hair, clothing and relationship change, her life suddenly got flipped-turned upside down, and not like Will Smith in the Fresh Prince.

"Yeah maybe I should." She sat on her seat silently, pulling out her items for the day. Tablet, notepad, pencils, post it notes ...

"So what do you think about your 'uncle' reappearing?"

Marinette's quiet resolve was interrupted by the nasally voice of Chloé Bourgeois.

"He was an evil man, Mon Cherie, I'm sure he deserved it."

Marinette couldn't help the scrunch of her face as she listened to Felix talk with Chloé. His uncle's body had just been found, and there was seriously not a hint of emotion there. How was he even at collège today?

"Did you hear what he was wearing? Eww!" Chloé clicked her fingers summoning Sabrina to place a cushion on her chair.

"It truly was hideous," Felix continued, helping Chloé into the desk before walking to the other side and inserting himself next to her. "Fashion icon? Please! The only thing that man was fashionable for was 'It's a Small World." The two started laughing and Marinette found herself getting tense. How could they be so cold?

"Girl, you're grinding your teeth! What is wrong with you today?"

"Nothing," Marinette managed to let out between her clenched teeth.

She tuned herself out of Felix and Chloé's conversation before she said or did something she regretted. Luka had told her she needed to work on her temper; a calm mind made a calm body, but at the moment as the two entitled babies in front of her rambled on, she wanted nothing more than to pick up her tablet and throw it at them. Maybe she'd transform first to add an extra punch.

"What about baby Adrikins? Do you think they'll find him? After all, wasn't it your uncle who had abducted him from your aunt?"

Now that was interesting, Marinette thought. That wasn't something herself, or she guessed, anybody knew. Adrien had been a tiny infant, only a matter of weeks old when Gabriel made the headlines. Only presumptions were made regarding the young son of the designer.

"I told you, he's pure evil! The only sadness here is that they found him alive."

A prang of something shot through Marinette's veins and she jumped on her seat, kneeing the table in the process. "Ouch!" She squealed, gaining the attention of her class mates, including Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

"Oh look, Spazanette has gone and hurt herself again! Tell me Mari, were you ogling at my boyfriend? We all know you have his posters up in your bedroom." Chloé burst out laughing, crossed her ankle over her foot and leaned one arm onto the back of the chair. "You know, for someone so loser-ish, I'm surprised you have that older guy fawning over you. The guy could do so much better. He's hot and you're not."

Marinette looked down at her table, hands clenched on her knees chanting to herself. Don't not retaliate, do not retaliate.

"But then again he can't talk normally can he? Let the wind play this violin. It'll tell you how much I love you. You're made for each other." Chloé laughed, Felix and Sabina joining in. Considering Chloé was class President her supporters only consisted of those two minions.

Chloé's laugh went through Marinette and she wasn't sure who or why she was angry, she just knew that she was. Chloé had always pushed her buttons but this was the first time she felt like she could retaliate, that she could put the girl in her place. But she wouldn't do it. Luka would not be happy with Ladybug being so forthright and aggressive.

"I tell you what Marinette," Felix said, looking over towards the raven haired girl, "how about you go back to whatever hole you climbed from and -"

"Don't you dare speak to her like that!" The voice sounding around the room was unfamiliar as the class's attention was pulled to the bottom of the tiered seating.

Conversations halted, and all eyes turned to the newcomer. Marinette could only see the back of his head as he stalked over to Felix, the former currently facing off with the blonde who was now standing.

"And who are you? Her father?"

"If I was you'd better be a quick runner, because I would take you down."

As the exchange continued, Marinette's heart was beating out of her chest. No one had stood up for her like this before.

"Big words coming from a new guy. What are you going to do? Bruce Lee me into next week?" Felix laughed and went to sit down.

The class watched in slow motion as the new dark haired student grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and punched him squarely in the face. Felix hit the floor as the boy shook off his hand. The force he'd connected with Felix's face with was sure to leave bruises on both bodies. Marinette heard a muttered ...

"I've always wanted to do that," as the boy made his way to their side of the room, the image of Chloé caring for her boyfriend on the floor out of her Peripheral vision.

"That was awesome, man. Here sit with us." Nino waved the new boy over, giving him the free seat in front of Marinette. He smiled and turned to the girls. "This is Alya and Marinette."

Alya was greeted first with a quick handshake, then green eyes met Marinette's. She felt her eyes roll as a whispered voice entered her mind ...

Always.