LADY LIES

I'm an Idiot!

"Marinette do you really think it's a good idea to go to school today? I know it's just a sprain but the doctor said not to put too much pressure on it." Tikki asked me as I was getting ready.

"I'll be fine, Tikki. It's not broken or anything and it only hurts if I stand on it for too long." I grabbed my purse off my dresser and Tikki flew into it. I slowly walked down the stairs clutching the handrail like it was my only hope and left out the door.

"Plus if I skip today that means one less day of seeing Adrien." I squealed as I pictured his gorgeous face in my mind.

I slowly walked all the way to school but just before I was about to walk up the stairs to enter the building, Chloe shoved me to the ground. I didn't know if it was deliberate or if it was just an accident but she walked away as if nothing ever happened; laughing. Yep she totally did it on purpose. I clutched my hurt ankle and winced. That cetainly didn't make it feel any better.

"Marinette?" Tikki poked her head slightly out of my bag. "You okay?"

"Yeah but now it really hurts." I pushed Tikki back into my bag and tried to stand up on my own. It was very difficult. That is, it was, until someone grabbed me by the arm and lifted me to my feet.

"Thank you-" I turned around to see that it was Adrien that helped me. "Ohh A..Adrien...hi..thanks..." I blushed.

"Did you hurt your ankle?" He eyed it and bent down to take a closer look. OH MY GOSH ADRIEN IS TOUCHING MY ANKLE!!!! I CAN DIE HAPPY NOW.

"Yeah...yesterday...hurt it...whoops.." I mentally slapped myself. Why couldn't I ever talk normally around him?

"Dude, it's so swollen!" Nino contributed to the conversation. He placed a hand on Adrien's shoulder trying to look more closely.

"Marinette!!! Did you read my blog this morning? Oh..." Alya's expression turned serious once she caught sight of the main attraction of the day. Me. "What happened!?!" She was quick to panic but I honestly just wanted to go inside and sit down.

"I just fell no big deal." I started climbing up the stairs. I thought I saw Adrien eyeing me a few times. At least I'm pretty sure he was! I wonder what day the wedding should be on?

"Come back to reality." Ayla nudged me knowing exactly what I was thinking.

I took my usual seat behind Adrien and was so thankful for the invention of chairs. I should've stayed home but if I did Adrien wouldn't have touched my ankle!! I melt at the memory of it. I'm so lucky to get to stare at the back of his head in class; it's beautiful.

"So you just fell?" Ayla pushed me for the full story. What was I supposed to tell her? Well when I was fighting an evil villan yesterday, I sprained my ankle dodging out of the way. I already lied to Cat Noir I didn't want to lie to anyone else. Although lying was an everyday occurrence for me.

"You know I'm a klutz, Alya. I just fell on it wrong at some point yesterday. Do you expect me to remember all of my falls?" I joked and she seemed to accept my answer. Good.

"Glad you're okay though." Nino joined the conversation. I wished Adrien would but he seemed distracted. I wonder what's bothering him?

......

I spent most of the day staring at Adrien behind his back and thanking God for allowing me to be born to witness it. I love that boy!

"You sure it's alright for you to walk home alone? I can come with but..." Alya trailed off.

"But you need to help your mom." I smiled to her. "I'm pretty sure I can manage on my own." I nudged her playfully and she walked in the opposite direction from me.

By this time my ankle just wanted to be elevated and rested. I didn't want to walk anymore. That fall this morning really did something to it. I sat down on a bench in the park to rest for a bit.

"Marinette?" Tikki flew up and hid in my hair. "At this rate if Hawk Moth releases another Akuma then you won't be able to stop it."

"You don't think I know that?" I asked exasperated.

"Marinette?" A voice made me flinch and Tikki burrowed further into my hair to hide.

"Ad..Adrien...hi." I waved my hand at him. "What...are you doing here?" I stuttered.

"I have a photo shoot today in the park." He pointed behind him to the fountain where a photographer was setting up equipment."If you needed someone to help you get home you could've asked me you know." He sat down beside me. "Don't lie and say it's fine because it's clearly hurting you." He stared at my ankle which seemed to be getting more swollen by the minute.

"Yeah well..." I blushed and smiled. "I don't like people to worry. Plus you have to work today so...." Nice save. Go me!

"Eh, I think I can make them wait a bit." Adrien helped me to my feet and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Let's get you home."

He's touching me! Breathe Marinette breathe...I'll never wash this shirt again! Tikki smoothy flew back into my purse when Adrien wasn't looking.

"So..." He paused figuring out how to word his next question. "How did you hurt yourself again."

"Umm I fell." Why was he asking me this question. I hate lying to people especially him.

"Really? Because I thought you were attacked by an Akuma yesterday."

I stopped walking and my blood ran cold. He knew. He knew I was Ladybug. My crush knew my secret. What was he going to think of me?

"Um how did you ...."

"Cat Noir told me you got hurt yesterday." He finished quickly not making eye contact.

Phew. He doesn't actually know. Thank goodness. I almost forgot that Cat Noir was one of Adrien's friends.

"Oh, yeah, I did." I searched my brain to find an excuse. "It was embarrassing getting hurt like that so I lied and said I fell down. Plus it wasn't a big deal or anything." I finished. Good job me that sounded good.

"It's okay to let people worry about you every once in awhile." Adrien said as we reached my family's bakery.

"Thank you for walking me." I stopped, that sounded like I was a pet. "I mean thanks for taking me home." I blushed. I always acted like in idiot in front of Adrien.

"It was no problem." He smiled before walking back to the park.

"We actually had a conversation!" I squealed.

"Yes you did." Tikki giggled. "You didn't freeze up near as much as you usually do."

"I know! And he was worried about me...he must be in love with me!"

"Let's not jump to conclusions. This is the first time you've ever talked to him without sounding insane. Let's take things slow."