You Can't Save Me (Ongoing Updates)

The Tiniest Cracks

Monday's, the bane of Marinette's existence. It was always so hard to get back into the groove of the school week after a relaxing weekend. Because of this fact Marinette, as usual, was running late. She barreled forward at full speed crashing into her best friend, the well-known blogger, Alya.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! You know how Mondays are for me! I didn't mean to crash into you!"

"It's Fine girl, I was looking for you anyways. Did you see what Ladybug did last night!?!?"
Alya was practically shaking the bluenette back and forth with anticipation.
"Yeah, she defeated another akumatized victim." Marinette sighed, annoyed to hear about her superhero persona being gushed over once again. She knew she should be super grateful that her presence had such a strong impact but it got tiring to hear about every day. She was glad she was chosen to be a hero but it was draining to think that only that side of her brought this out in people, a sense of justice.
Every day was like this, it would always be like this a cycle that the bluenette couldn't seem to escape. This truth is the only thing that stayed at the forefront of her mind as they made their way into class and took their seats. It wasn't until Adrien walked into the room that she snapped away from her thoughts. Adrien seemed so majestic even with Nino just inches behind him as they chatted about... ladybug. Marinette pressed her head against the desk and sighed. Ladybug, ladybug, ladybug! That's all she ever heard, Her friends looked at her, at first concerned but quickly brushed it off as Marinette not getting enough sleep.

"Hey, Alya!" Both boys said

"Hey!" She smiled at them, Marinette felt a pang in her chest. Did they just pretend she wasn't here? That's not possible, they probably just assumed she was resting and didn't want to bother her. She quickly shook off the thought as her teacher entered the classroom and began to introduce today's lesson plan. It wasn't anything too complicated, just studying the origins of common folktales. The girl felt herself detach from the class and stared out the window, not that anyone noticed she wasn't paying attention.

The day had passed rather quickly and Marinette was walking home alone. Alya, Nino, and Adrien all went to some cafe together and they invited the bluenette, but she declined at said she had too much work to do to even think about going anywhere. Almost as a punishment for turning them down, they stopped answering her calls or texts when she could clearly see that they had been read.

'Why are they ignoring me? Did I do something wrong? Do they not want me around?' The girl couldn't help but jump to all the worst conclusions as they bounced around her head. It wasn't like the possibility was none existent but was it logical enough to base a claim?

Marinette began to mentally deteriorate when Tikki flew from her pillow on the Blunette's bed. "Marinette you need to calm down. They probably are planning busy or something, there's always the possibility their phones died! They're your friends!" She tried to make her feel better and Marinette let a weak smile grace her lips.
"All their phones dying at the same time? I highly doubt it... but maybe you're right. Maybe they and to a movie afterward and they turned their phones off."

Trying to get her mind off the troubling thoughts the girl opened up Instagram and scrolled through her feed. Picture after picture from each of her friends popping up on their accounts just moments earlier of the three of them at the cafe, having fun and smiling. Maybe they didn't need her, how often did she hang out with them anyway? Being Ladybug took up most if not all of her free time.

Suddenly the bluenette's phone beeped. She dragged down the notifications screen and read over the popup. It was a text from Nathaniel, a number she hadn't seen pop up on her phone in a long time. "What could he want? He never texts me, maybe we were assigned a project in class and I missed it while zoning out?" She clicked the notification and it took her to her messages. Her eyes scanned over the screen reading the words that her classmate had sent to her.

-Hey Marinette! I know it's been a while and I don't know if my number is saved on your phone but, It's Nathaniel from school. I saw Alya, Nino, and Adrien at this cafe today and was wondering why you weren't with them. I know it's none of my business and I shouldn't stick my nose where it doesn't belong but... I approached them and they seemed hostile and annoyed that I was asking about you. If they aren't being true friends to you just let me know. I'm always here for you if you need me.-

The bluenette was truly touched that even though she hadn't talked to someone personally in a while that they could still care so deeply for her. Her friends were hostile towards Nathaniel for asking about her? But they were fine this morning, right? They had to be, why else would Alya talk to her about the feats of Ladybug? This didn't make much of any sense, was it because she declined to go out with them to the cafe? Wouldn't being hostile be a bit too much or a reaction though? She pushed the thoughts to the furthest corners of her brain and responded to the text.

Thanks! But I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. Maybe they were just on edge from the physics test today and you caught them off guard. I'll definitely let you know what's up after I talk with them again.
~Mari

She plugged in her dying phone and climbed up the ladder she used to crawl into her bed, tomorrow had to be a better day right?

{Updated March 31st 2020}