Chapter Text
Marinette stared blankly at her tablet, leaning her chin against her palm with a pained sigh. There wasn't much time left and she was silently thankful that she didn't have to feel the harsh glares of her classmates. She wasn't quite sure what she had done this time but she couldn't find it in her heart to care like she once did. That's how she felt these days though.
The high-pitched ringing of the bell seemed to jolt her from her somewhat peaceful hell she called her mind. She watched what had once been her friend group surround Lila with gleeful expressions. A small part of her wanted to believe they still cared for her. Yet Alyas calls had gotten less frequent, Nino's song suggestions had suddenly stopped, and Adrien. Well, she and Adrien hadn't been close, to begin with.
A soft ding rang through the classroom, gathering the unwanted attention from her classmates as she rushed to answer it. "Yes, Claude? No, the bell just rang. Of course, I have to grab my stuff." She grumbled, feeling the piercing gaze of her confused classmates. Hushed whispers erupted through the classroom, confused as to who this Claude was.
Marinette sighed softly, balancing her phone between her shoulder and ear. "Don't you DARE let him out of that car, Allegra." She sighed, making her way down the steps as she pressed her free fingers to her temple. She could feel the presence of her classmates hot on her trail.
why now? they certainly didn't care before.
A soft squeak came from her throat as she was suddenly picked up. She instinctively gripped onto the other shoulders, narrowing her eyes at the group she had admittedly been spending too much time with. "Uh, Marinette who are these people?" Alya was the first the speak up, staring at the blunette as if she'd grown two heads.
"Oh! This is Claude, the blonde is Allegra, and the guy with the green hat is Mercury." She could feel her stomach twist into knots as her classmates watched Claude and Allegra tug at her arms. "We'll have to do proper introductions later! We can't keep her ice king waiting!" Mercury sang, opening the car door, shooting Marinette's class a cheeky smirk.
Marinette sputtered staring at Allegra as she tugged the clumsy girl towards a car. "He's not my ice king!" She squeaked, looking between the trio as they wiggled their brows as she climbed into the car leaving her class in shock.
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"Who...What.." Alya could barely form words as she shifted her gaze to Nino who matched her expression.
"Who the hell is 'ice king'" The class turned their heads to match the voice only to be matched with Adrien Agreste. He looked as if he was trying to solve the puzzle within his mind only to come to dead ends. While Marinette hadn't exactly been MIA, they hadn't spoken unless it was for school.
He could feel his stomach twist into painful knots as he suddenly got the urge to vomit. Why didn't Marinette act like that with him? They were friends, right? Adrien clenched his fist around the hem of his white overshirt as his narrowed eyes followed the disappearing car.
Marinette wasn't in a relationship was she?
The thought made his heart squeeze and he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe. Part of it made sense. The coy smiles at her phone in between classes, the phone calls as she's walking into school. Everything was pointing to it and it made him sick.
"Alya has she said anything about a guy?" He whispered, shifting his gaze to who was supposed to be Marinette's best friend.
A nervous frown overtook her features. "Marinette and I haven't talked in weeks. Not after she attacked Lila in the locker room. why?" Alya admitted watching as Adrien scratched the back of his neck and he swallowed the bile that begged to be released. "It's the only thing that makes sense. With Luka away on tour and the fact, he isn't an 'ice king'"
A small voice perked up from within the crowd. "Those were Lukas friends from the prep school. Only one of them was missing" Juleka sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Marinette's been hanging with them for a couple of weeks now." She explained.
'Why didn't you tell us?'
'So she's actually over Adrien?"
'what about us?'
Juleka tilted her head with a frown. "It wasn't my business, guys. In fact, it still isn't our business." She reasoned, giving roses hand a gentle squeeze. "So she's in a relationship?" Alya asked timidly, chewing on her thumb as Juleka sighed. "I don't know. They're cozy and always next to each other but I honestly don't know." Juleka shrugged, shifting her weight from her right to her left. "She looks REALLY happy with him though!! He's usually reading but she's always laying against him in some way!" Rose gushed, letting go of Julekas's hand to cup her hands to her heart.
Alya couldn't believe it. Marinette was potentially in a relationship and hadn't told her. She had other friends. Marinette was happy.