Ladybug's fake identity

Chapter 7: Confession

The next day, Adrien climbed out of his car, threw his bag on his shoulder and thanked his bodyguard as usual. He watched after the car as it drove away until it turned around the corner, out of his sight. He then walked towards the school and passed through the entrance, greeting his friends with his usual smile. The bell rang and he entered his classroom, where a specific girl was already waiting for him.

"Hi Adrien!" she waved at him with her usual bright smile, sitting next to her best friend.

He stiffened. Play cool, play cool, he repeated to himself, suddenly very self-conscious.

"H-Hi Lyssa!" he stuttered and waved back with a movement that felt somewhat awkward, as if it was the first time that he did that.

At least he wasn't goofily smiling at her like some lovedrunk weirdo. He noticed Nino's strange stare. Oh god, he was. He quickly sat down and hid his face behind his hands, blushing out of embarrassment. He had started his day so casually! Why did it have to change? Since he concluded that Lyssa really was his Lady, he couldn't act normally around her, no matter how much he tried. Why? Talking with her, even trying to flirt, just came naturally to him as Chat Noir, but without the masks, it seemed impossible.

She had already rejected his hero self countless of times, telling him that there was someone else. But there didn't seem to be anyone in Lyssa's life, which made him believe that, whatever it was, something happened before she changed schools. That is why he thought that, maybe, he might still have a chance. It was obvious that she didn't want to be anything else than partners with him as a hero. But what about Adrien? He had to try it.

Class started and, as time went on, he could feel a stare burning in his back. He slightly turned around to see who it was and met Lyssa's eyes, who simply smiled. His heartbeat increased rapidly and dropped down as fast as it accelerated when he focused back on the class.

But Miss Bustier's speech was soon interrupted by someone slamming the door open. The always-late Marinette ran in and closed it behind her, trying to be discreet — which obviously failed. She didn't realize that everyone was silently staring at her, too busy calming down her panting.

"Marinette?" the teacher called. "If you're going to be late, at least try not to interrupt the class."

"Yes! I'm sorry miss!" the poor girl apologized and swiftly went up to her seat next to Alya.

And the class went on. Adrien leaned backwards, glancing up at the late student.

"Trouble waking up?" he asked.
"Yeah." she giggled with an awkward smile and an embarrassed blush.

*

Marinette walked out of class, talking happily with Alya, Adrien and Nino. As usual, the reporter was telling some story of Ladybug with an amazed smile, now including her 'civilian self Lyssa' in her epic stories.

"It's really a shame that I can't share everything on the blog now that I know her identity. I should find proof to share, but it's not like she left any behind her."

"Ladybug wouldn't want you to share her identity, it'd be dangerous for her. There's a reason why she wears a mask, it's not just aesthetic." Marinette countered.

"Argh! I know! But I'm just so proud to have resolved this mystery by myself!"

She didn't, her friend thought bitterly but didn't dare to say it out loud. On his side, Adrien found it almost too easy to discover her identity. Was it the reason why she changed schools? He decided not to think too much about it. All that mattered to him was that he had finally found her.