Cords

Chapter 7 (Adrien POV)

It had been a day since the chemistry project, and that patrol with ladybug. It was Monday morning and the day that Chloe -or Ladybug if you will- was going to come over to my house for a few hours. Even though there was still a chance that Chloe was not Ladybug, I was kind of growing on her. Chloe didn't seem as annoying and grabby as she used to. Lately, she was more quiet, more like her supposed Ladybug persona.

Usually I carefully watched the lessons we learned in school, despite being at the top of our class. So I slacked off today and watched Chloe. She looked oddly concentrated on something today. She was looking down at her textbook and was reading carefully. Then I noticed that she had hidden her cell phone on the textbook because she remained in that position for most of the class. Luckily the teacher did not seem to notice.

Chloe hadn't seen that I was staring at her so I replayed some of my fondest childhood memories with her. She had been a lot more kind back then.

-Flashback-

"Mama, can Chloe come over and play?!" I said excitedly.

"Of course mon cheri, she's always welcome here, after all, we've known her family for generations." She answered kindly

Chloe arrived later, (we were around six years old at the time) and I met her at the doorway shyly.

"Hi Adrien! Look at the new teddy my daddy got me! It's so cute!" She exclaimed.

"That's great Chloe! I hope he wins the election, his plans as the mayor seem great." My mother said gently to young Chloe.

"H-hey Chloe, do you want to go and play in my room?" I asked nervously.

"Sure Adrien! We should play with my teddy!"

We went up to my room and sat down beside my bed. We then began to play for hours, laughing until tears came out of my eyes about immature jokes and the silly faces we could make. I was having such an amazing time with her that all my nervousness about being around her went away. So I asked the question floating around in my mind all day.

"Hey Chloe, will you be my girlfriend?" I said. "Um, you don't have to or anything, I just really like playing with you and I hope we can play more."

I stuttered on and on, and I'm sure now it was just random blubbers of more and more nervousness. Then she did something that cured it. Chloe hugged me.

"Sure Adrien, I'd like that. Promise we'll always be-" And then it cut out.

-Flashback End-

I always wondered what the end of that promise was, I guess I would never know. I guess I was so distracted with the memory, all of my surroundings had faded from my vision. Everyone was staring at me, and the teacher was waving a hand in front of my face, wearing a look of concern on her face.

"Adrien, are you alright, you were just sitting there with a crazy grin on your face for about five minutes, do you need to go home?" She asked worriedly.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry madame, I was just reminiscing about something. I'll pay attention now." I said, trying to calm her.

I stuck to my word and paid more attention, but was unable to stop thinking about Chloe. The school day went on as usual, I said hello's and goodbye's to my friends and left for my Chinese lesson.

The lesson went well, and I learned some new terms with my teacher. But I was scolded a few times for not paying attention, just like in class, because I was thinking about Chloe, and our plans to hang out.

I left my Chinese lesson at 4:30 and went to my room to get ready for my plans. I took a shower, got dressed in some nice clothing, and styled my hair a bit. I also put on a little makeup (CAUSE WHO SAID GUYS CAN'T LOOK FAB AS A CHEESE SANDWICH). Then the time finally came. The doorbell rang but it dulled in comparison to the sound of my beating heart.

I made my way downstairs and answered the door nervously.

"Hi Adrikins! Look at this new necklace my daddy gave me, it's kinda tacky but I have to wear all the jewelry at least one day if I want to keep it, so I have to bear through it." She whined.

"H-hey Chloe, do you want to go to my room and hang out.?" I asked nervously.

"Sure, I guess. Let's go." She said

We walked through the hallways and eventually, made it to my room. Sometimes my home reminded me more of a museum than a home. It was huge and really pretty, but also really cold and dull. I opened the door and gestured for her to enter first, she didn't say anything and just walked in looking down at her phone.

"So what do you want to do?" I asked whilst scratching the back of my neck.

Chloe put her phone away and walked over to me, "We should bond, just like boyfriend and girlfriend should. After all, you made me a promise remember?"'

I remember now, we made a promise to always be boyfriend and girlfriend no matter what happened.

"Ok," I said eagerly, "What's your favourite colour?"

"Yellow," She answered quickly, "It's the best."

The rest of the night went like that, me asking questions, and her talking. She seemed to talk for hours. Instead of the equal conversation we had when we were kids, it was just her. And her talking was annoying too, after a little while it was just a ringing in my ears and I was so happy when she left. When I was with my Lady, we both had so much fun and could fall into conversation easily. With Chloe, she didn't seem to care that I was there, I was just another person she could talk about herself to. Ladybug was sweet, caring, charming, and a pleasure to be around. Chloe was just a rich, snobby, narcissist.

It's all becoming so clear now, that flashback wasn't entirely truthful...

-Flashback 2.0-

"Mama, does Chloe have to come over and play with me?" I said sadly.

"Sorry mon cheri, we've known her family for generations. This is for the benefits" She answered sadly.

Chloe arrived later, (we were around six years old at the time) and I met her at the doorway shyly.

"Hi Adrien! Look at the new teddy my daddy got me! It's so cute! Much better than your weird one" She laughed.

"That's great Chloe! You guys have fun ok?" My mother said gently to young Chloe.

My mother gave me a look of "I'm sorry, just try" and left.

"H-hey Chloe, do you want to go and play in my room?" I asked nervously.

"Sure Adrien! We should play with my cool teddy!"

We went up to my room and sat down beside my bed. We then began to play for hours, every second being pure torture. I had to falsely laugh until tears came out of my eyes; she thought they were from the laughter, but I was only laughing because it was a way to cry. I was having such an horrible time with her.

"Hey Adrien, will you be my boyfriend?" She said out of no where. "I want to tell all my friends, they'll be jealous I'm dating Adrien Agreste."

I was incredibly tempted to say no and run to the bathroom, but my mother's voice echoed in my head and I pulled through.

"Yeah Chloe, you can be my girlfriend." I said reluctantly.

She squealed, "Remember, promise we'll always be together Adrien! Or else!"

-Flashback 2.0 End-

I went to my bed and sighed graciously, Chloe was gone and I was very sure she was not my Ladybug. If she was my Lady, I would have probably settled for someone else. I couldn't stand to bear the thought that someone so selfish and narcissistic could be Ladybug, it was impossible.

I'm still searching for her, the identity of my true love.