When the Phoenix Falls (Adrien Agreste)

Chapter 8: Evillustrator Part 1

"Nathaniel! What are you drawing?" The loud voice of Ms. Mendeleiev snapped Colette out of her thoughts and she realised that she had been absentmindedly sketching a picture of a flower in the margin of her notebook.

Nathaniel stuttered incoherently for a few moments, trying to form a suitable response, but Ms Mendeleiev continued before he could get a word in in his defence. "And these artistic endeavours are clearly why you are failing science."

"I'm sorry." Nathaniel sounded genuinely guilty and Colette winced as Ms Mendeleiev continued to shout at him, it had always been clear to her that some of her classmates just didn't enjoy the sciences and their brains didn't work in a way that made them easy or interesting to learn, she couldn't understand why the teachers insisted on punishing students for things they simply struggled to understand.

"You go march yourself down to the principals office and show him that chicken-scratch. Then you'll be really sorry."

As Nathaniel walked past Colette's desk, she saw how utterly miserable he looked and patted him reassuringly on the shoulder as he made his way towards the front. Though there was nothing she could really do to help him, she hoped that the gesture would bring him some sort of comfort. Any help that her kindness had brought him was offset a moment later though as he tripped over Myléne's bag and went crashing to the floor, sketchbook being thrown out of his hands as he fell.

Ms Mendileiev walked forward and picked Nathaniel up by the collar, setting the boy on his feet, but the damage was already done. Chloé was holding his sketchbook open on the most recent page as she displayed it to her best friend.

"Ooh, look Sabrina. It's him, as a superhero and look who he's saving - it's Marinette. He is so totally crushing on you, Marinette." Colette stood from her seat and made her way along the aisle until she was next to the girl.

"That's personal, Chloé. Give it back, now." There was a dangerous glint in her eyes that very rarely appeared, but Chloé had hurt one of her friends and she wasn't about to let it go without a fight.

Chloé hesitated for a moment before deciding to ignore her words and waving the sketchbook around in the air once more. Nathaniel darted forward and grabbed the book, making Colette wince as she heard the sound of a page tearing. "Give me that."

"Enough!" Ms Mendeleiev's voice cut through their conversation and Colette turned to face the woman, worried about what was about to transpire. "Nathaniel, go!"

Nathaniel ran out of the room with his sketchbooks in his hands, Colette watching worriedly after him, she knew that he was in danger of an Akuma attack if he was left alone and she wasn't about to risk that if it was possible to avoid such an unpleasant situation.

"Ms Mendeleiev, may I go to the bathroom? It's urgent." Colette knew that it was a pathetic excuse to get out of class, but she was willing to try anything to let her go after her classmate.

"No! You haven't got long until the end of class, you can manage." Ms Mendeleiev's answer did not give any room for objection and Colette knew what she had to do. "Now, go back to your seat!"

In all fairness, Colette did return to her seat, she just didn't do so for quite the same reason as Ms Mendeleiev had instructed her to do so. Picking up her satchel, she strode out of the class, ignoring the screeching of the teacher's voice that followed her down the corridor as she ran to catch up with Nathaniel. She knew that she was bound to end up in a lot of trouble thanks to her actions, but she would deal with that later, once she knew that Nathaniel was alright.

"Nathaniel!" She called out as she ran, hoping that she would reach him in time. "Are you okay?"

"Colette?" He seemed surprised by the sound of her voice and turned on the spot, accidentally dropping his pencil as he did so. He leant down to get it and Colette froze as she saw the small purple butterfly flit through the air and towards the object, quickly turning it the same dark shade. Nathaniel immediately stood upright, pencil in hand and the shape of the butterfly appearing on his face as Hawkmoth spoke to him.