Hidden ~ Miraculous Ladybug AU

Chapter 27

1 month into the school year.

Marinette's POV

I entered the Ballet classroom with my friends as I did everyday. We changed as usual and got to stretching.

The past month had been so amazing. The weirdest thing was that boys would always come up to me and talk, not like come up to me and push me to the side or say mean things, but like, ask for my number.

Crazy right? I've learned how to turn them down by now though, and I've found myself with a new crush. None other than Adrien Agreste. Somehow the blonde haired model, who is 100% out of my league, has caught my heart.

We're good friends now, and I've managed to control myself and can actually talk to him now like a normal person, more or less. Chloe and her gang haven't let up on me, in fact it's gotten worse. What can you do though?

"Arghhh. I'm so sore!" Alya complained. Around a week or two into the school year, she along with my other friends had began getting super tired and sore in the mornings and nobody will tell me why. It's the weirdest thing.

"Why?" I asked again, knowing I wouldn't get a straight answer.
"Oh! We were...um, we were out last night." Tikki smiled at me. I rolled my eyes,
"I don't understand why you won't tell me." I sighed, lowering myself into a split.

"Are we still doing that thing tonight, Tikki?" I don't remember exactly why we started, but for a while, Tikki has been teaching me how to breakdance. She's surprisingly good and I think I've improved quite a bit as well.

"Yeah. Oh! Plagg and the others are here!" She changed the subject. I groaned again and sighed, continuing to loosen up. Alix shot me an apologetic look and continued her stretches as well.

"You'll see soon, Marinette. I'm sure of it." She smiled at me as the boys sat down.
"See what?" Nino asked, taking his place beside Alya. 

Everyone knew about whatever mystery activity was going on at night except me. I'm beginning to wonder if they all hate me, and won't invite me to some really fun, cool place because they can't stand hanging around me.

That's it! They all hate me, but they won't say it to my face. I knew Chloe was right.

"The thing, Nino." Alya nudged him.
"Ooh. That thing. Gotcha." He smiled and shrunk under my glare. I shook my head,
"You guys are impossible."

"Hello, class! Today we're starting a new project!" Tonia announced. Everyone got up and gravitated to our two teachers. My group did the same and got to the front, not without me falling on my face over Chloe's foot though. Alya shoved her back, but was pulled away before anything else could happen.

"It's a partner project and you have to pair with someone of the opposite gender. You get to choose any song you'd like, and make a story out of it. We're giving you a week to work on this, and you're encouraged to work on this out of class." Ethan told us all.

"You're gonna perform it at the end of the week in front of the class." Tonia clapped her hands, "Go on and pair up. Practice begins now. Don't forget to practice the other piece you all have. You will be assessed on that in two days." The room erupted in conversation as everyone scrambled to find a partner. I, as boring Marinette, was left partnerless.
Great.

I thought sadly as I looked through the crowd. Chloe was hanging on Adrien's neck, trying to get him to pair up with her, I was so involved in pity for him and jealousy I didn't notice Nathaniel coming up next to me.
"Hey, Marinette. Wanna be partners?"

Adrien's POV

As soon as Miss Tonia said we'd choose our partners, I glanced around nervously in search of one. Chloe would quickly attach herself to me if I couldn't find someone else, anyone else.

But, I was too slow, she had her arms snaked around my neck faster than I anticipated.
"Adrikins! Let's be partners!" She smiled sweetly at me. I laughed nervously and tried to pry her off,
"Oh, um I actually already have a partner." I lied.
Great going, Agreste!

Chloe's face turned dark,
"Who is she?" She asked through grit teeth.
"Um...." I looked around but all my friends seemed to be paired off. Expect Marinette. She was talking to Nathaniel, arms crossed and a look sadness and panic written across her face.

We were pretty good friends by now and I'm sure she'd be as happy to get out of her situation as I would to get out of mine.
"Marinette!" Chloe narrowed her eyes and detached herself.

"You're partnered with that piece of trash?" She asked incredulously. Marinette had heard my claim and was looking at me with wide eyes, Nathaniel glaring into my soul.

"She's not trash, Chloe. And I am partnered with Marinette. Right?" I smiled at the ravenette hopefully. Her eyes darted back and forth before landing on her ex boyfriend,

"Right! Yes, we are totally partners." She smiled, rushing over and grabbing my hand, "Let's go! We've got things to do!" She laughed nervously and lead me away from Chloe, who was throwing a loud temper tantrum.

"Whew. Thanks for getting me out of that." Marinette sighed happily once we were far away.
"No problem. I really didn't want to be partners with Chloe." I shivered.

She seemed to notice she was still holding my hand, something I didn't really mind strangely, but she pulled it away and wrapped her arms around herself.

"I understand if you wanna go find someone else to partner with. I'm sure I'll find someone." She laughed awkwardly and looked into the crowd. Her raven hair was pulled into a high bun, her bangs framed her face perfectly, and she was admittedly a very pretty girl.

"What? No! I actually want to be partners with you, Mari. If you wanna find someone else though, that's ok." Marinette jumped at my statement. It always bothered me to know someone as cool as Marinette could think so lowly about themselves. I never truly understood why.

"R-really? We-Well then I'd love t-to be your p-partner." Her face turned slightly pink and she looked away.
"Cool! Let's get started then!" I smiled warmly at her in an attempt to calm her nerves. It worked, or at least it seemed to, and we began mapping out our plan.