Keep the Mask, It Goes With Your Costume

~Chapter Seven: The Last Message~

Of course, after another half hour of grief, the spotted heroine did meet back with her partner at the Eiffel tower, and shared the information that Marinette had not been found. It was late, and although Cat Noir wanted to continue his search, Ladybug convinced him to call it a night.

Cat Noir was a little disappointed that Ladybug didn't seem as eager as he was to find Marinette quickly, but even superheroes need rest, so he understood, and agreed to continue the search the following day, but with the help of the city.

Yes, since Marinette was surely not home, they would publicly announce her disappearance tomorrow to receive help from police officers, citizens, and her friends.

Cat Noir went home, Ladybug went back to the Grand Paris hotel, where Chloé left her room's window open. And in the fridge there were shelves of delicious and expensive food, but although Ladybug was starving, she couldn't bring herself to eat. She sat on the bed and sighed, over thinking her situation again.

Eventually she fell asleep, deciding it has just about been the worst day of her life. But that would be an incorrect statement if she'd known what would happen next.

~

The next morning started like any other for everyone in Paris, everyone that is except Ladybug and Cat Noir of course. Ladybug decided to make the best of the horrible situation, and sleep in to avoid over thinking since she wasn't able to go to school. Cat Noir on the other hand, he was more worried than ever. In his civilian form he walked to school hoping, just barely hoping, that Marinette might just maybe show up, and sit behind him, as she always did. Just before he entered the classroom, he took one deep breath in, hoping maybe she was there. That way he may confront her about her crush on him, and they would remain close friends. He pushed open the door. But no, she wasn't there. Of course. But he wasn't surprised.

Although, he was surprised to see almost everyone in the room looking just as forlorn as himself, from Marinette's disappearance. Word had gotten out to most of them about what Marinette had texted Luka the previous night, it was clear she wasn't coming back. Adrien though, he hadn't heard about what Marinette said to Luka. In fact, he thought everyone was upset merely from the phone call Mr. Dupain made to each of them personally, and they had connected the dots to find out Marinette was missing.

It made Adrien a bit happier that everyone cared just as much about this as he did himself, but also angry that no one was taking action to find her. Adrien made eye contact with Nino, who was comforting Alya, and they faked a smile at one another, but neither spoke a word.

Then Adrien saw her sitting alone in the back of the classroom. Not only was she the only person not upset, but she was smiling down on everyone's distraught. Adrien knew she must have something to do with it. He stormed up the room right in front of her.

"You did something to her!" He screamed in Lila's face, pointing at her so everyone knew who he was talking about.

"You've got something to do with why Marinette is gone! Tell me!" He yelled even louder. Everyone in the room was in shock, no one had EVER seen Adrien upset before, let alone this upset! He couldn't bear thinking it was only because of him that Marinette disappeared, Lila had to have done something too, right?

Lila was in shock too, Adrien had never EVER confronted her in front of people before, only ever when the two of them were alone. There was something deeper going on with him.

The liar looked around and saw everyone in the room was starring, jaws wide. She knew she was lying, and she knew that Adrien knew she was lying, so she made a face at him and spoke only for all the other students to hear.

"Me!? What!? How could you Adrien! I was akumatized I don't remember anything, but I promise I would never hurt Marinette on purpose!"

This just infuriated him more.

"Quit the act Lila! Marinette is gone, probably in real life danger, and you don't even care! She never even did anything to you! Yet you insist on lying and hurting her reputation, that was one thing, but now this?!"

Lila looked around again, hoping the others wouldn't believe him.

"Adrien please, believe me, you're so important to me! I don't wanna lose your friendship!"

"We never were friends Lila." He said, so blunt without even thinking.  But the next thing he said he did think about for a moment, to make sure it would come out just right for everyone in the classroom to hear.

"I know you two have been fighting over me, and I'd like you to be aware that I would take Marinette over you any day. She's kind, caring, honest, and much better than you." He couldn't control his anger thinking about how Marinette was gone. " you-you STUPID LYING IDIOT-"

"ADRIEN!" Mrs. Buster burst through the room witnessing Adrien yelling right in Lila's face.

He snapped out of it in a moment and looked back at his teacher.

"I....I-"

"You can go to the principals office. I can't believe I just witnessed that behavior, and coming from you of all people!"

Adrien looking around at everyone, they starred at him as if he were a stranger they'd never seen before, they couldn't believe what he just did either.

Alya looked at him teary eyed, but as soon as he looked back at her she shoved her face into Nino's chest.

Adrien realized what he had done and was in the verge of crying himself. He slowly walked back down.

"l'm sorry." He said with a crack in his voice when he reached the bottom. "But Marinette is gone and no one heard from her since Lila attacked her yesterday, I jumped to conclusions. But that doesn't change the fact that she's in danger."

Everyone looked around silently at one another, just minutes ago, Marinette's disappearance was broadcasted publicly across Paris and everyone, even Ms. Buister, knew what the real last thing that anyone had heard from her was, and they all felt bad for the poor blond boy, realizing he wasn't aware.

"What?" He said, confused by everyone's looks. "What is it?"

Alya slowly opened her phone and pulled up the screenshot she received from Luka last night, almost right after Marinette had sent a message to him.

Adrien read the screen, a single message read: goodbye.

He covered his mouth and started crying, and he wasn't the only one to.

The whole room was upset now, even Chloe! Well, the whole room except Lila.

It was silent for a moment before Ms. Bustier spoke again.

"Everyone in Paris will be searching for her today, the entire school is going out. If she's in danger, we will bring her back to safety."

Adrien nodded, and everyone quietly got up out of their seats and to the school exit to join the city-wide search. Adrien hid from the group to transform into his hero self, hopefully his lady would already be out on the search.

But Adrien wasn't the only one who sneaked away from the group, no, there was another student who was just as worried but didn't show it as much.

Although Chloe always made it seem like she didn't like Marinette, truth was that she would miss Marinette a lot. Sure, Marinette could be annoying, but she really was kind. And Chloe, being the only one who knew where to find Ladybug, felt it her obligation to go ask the spotted heroine for help.

~

OMGOSH THANKS SO MUCH FOR 1K READS ILY ALL SO MUCH AND I'M SORRY IT KEEPS TAKING FOREVER FOR ME TO UPDATE NEW PARTS BUT YOU GUYS JUST MADE ME HAPPY BY GETTING ME TO 1K SO I'M GONNA GET THE NEXT PART UP THIS WEEKEND!

~Elise, your everyday Ladybug 💗🐞