Marinette's POV

It was like the switch off happened yesterday. I first noticed it when I saw Kagami hanging around Adrien. I was no longer envious of their relationship, but instead happy that Adrien found someone that he could get along with, someone that seemed to help him. At least that's how it looked from my Point of view.

Adrien had changed as well, and I noticed it pretty fast. He was no longer the happy boy that stayed that way despite his father. Now he was the guy who kept a hard act up, only really hanging around his friend and occasional girlfriend.

Alya noticed the change in me as well. I would no longer became flustered when just walking near my long lasting crush, and would instead walk with the normal smile that was on my face, trying to appear to the world that everything was fine.

I didn't know if Adrien noticed the change in me, but knowing him, I don't think he did. He was sometimes oblivious, which was something I knew very well from observing him. It was one of his faults, but I personally found it adorable.

Now my life was just being a normal ladybug. Chat still had a girlfriend, so I didn't want to get in his way.

"So girl, like- how did you do it?" Alya asked, setting her stuff down at the lunch table. Nino was sitting on her right, putting his head phones in to probably stay away from this conversation. Adrien was going to his car located in front of the school to get his lunch.

"I told you Alya, I just turned them off." I shrugged, glancing down at my Mac and cheese with some macaroons to finish afterwards. "Want one?" I asked, lifting one of them towards her.

Being the best friend that I had been for the past two years, she gladly took it. "There's just no way you woke up and said 'I'm done liking him' when you were obsessing over him like a week ago!" She whisper yelled.

"I don't think I was obsessing over him." I said, scratching the back of my neck. I knew I had an obsession, but I would never want to admit it.

Alya looked at me with that 'look' and then bit into her macaroon. "This is new." She smiled. "Well is there anyone else in mind?" She asked.

I shook my head no while bringing the fork full of Mac and cheese to my mouth. "I'm not getting back into the love game for a while." I said proudly, taking my phone out to look over the latest news.

"Hey guys!" Adrien said, plopping down next to Nino, which was across from me. I smiled back while popping another piece of Mac and cheese in my mouth.

"Hey Adrien." Alya said in a weird manner. It seemed like she was up to something, but I decided to not say anything about it.

I swallowed my food and then spoke up again, "what do you have for lunch?" I asked quickly, trying to keep the tables conversation going.

"I've just got some steak and potatoes, nothing special." He smiled back. Normally, my face would be full of red, and my mind would be hay wire. It was a relief to just relax for once.

"That sounds good," i felt eyes on me, making me look around, I quickly saw Nathaniel staring directly at me from the table across from ours. He had this weird smirk on his face, and then he got up from his table and walked over towards us.

"Hey Marinette." Nathaniel said, pushing Adrien over a bit and sitting down at the table. Nino took his ear phones out confused over the situation that was happening. I was confused as well.

The last time I've had a good long full conversation with Nathaniel was when he admitted he had a crush on me, to where I rejected him softly and told him that we should remain friends. This happened two years ago. He had no hard feelings after that, but I would sometimes see the subtle looks he would give me.

"Ummm... did you need something Nathaniel?" Adrien asked with a small annoyed tone to his voice, he scooted over towards Nino uncomfortably.

"I've noticed somethings changed about you." He said out of no where. I stared at him urging him to go on. "I think you'd be ready to go on a date with me. I mean, I've changed since then to." He shrugged.

Adrien's eyes were wide open, then they became a small harsh glare, Nino just looked confused. The guys in our friend group were overly protective. Some times it got to the point where we would have to tell them off. Alya was smiling like she always was, telling me she wanted me to say something.

"Uh-Uh..." I felt my cheeks heat up. "W-what?" I asked again.

"You and Me, date this Friday." He repeated. I remained quiet, not wanting to reject him and cause an Akuma attack to happen. I glanced towards Adrien to see his eyes slightly darken as he looked towards Nathaniel. It looked like he was thinking the same thing, he didn't want an Akuma attack to happen as well.

"Marinette clearly does not want to do that Nathaniel, sorry buddy." Adrien said, scooting back over and pushing him slightly. It looked like he was trying to kick him out, but gently.

"But I-." Nathaniel suddenly reached over the table before Adrien grabbed his arm roughly.

"I told you already Nathaniel, she DOESN'T want you." He said a bit more loudly, causing a scene. Nathaniel's face turned a deep red before he snatched his arm away roughly.

"What ever." He said before he walked away. I glared at Nathaniel's head before looking back up towards Adrien. His eyes had softened slightly as he looked back down towards me.

"You alright, Marinette?" He asked quickly, coming towards my side of the table and picking up my arm.

"I'm fine Adrien, Nathaniel didn't even touch me." I said softly before gently pulling my hand out of his grip. He let my hand go before looking at me again. "I said I'm fine, promise." I smiled.

If I was being honest, the situation was unexpected, but I have had worse as Ladybug. So that didn't really scare me.

Alya turned to look at Adrien before the most embarrassing words left her mouth, "down boy," she said to him, and then turned to me. "YOU SURE YOUR OKAY GIRL?" she practically yelled. I chuckled before nodding my head.

"I promise I'm fine."

***

After the incident at lunch, we had gone to class and got done with the rest of the day. I was surprised there was no Akuma attack, especially since Nathaniel had gotten so mad, but maybe he was able to cool down right after.

I picked up my bag to walk back to my house when I was stopped by Adrien. I looked up towards him and smiled, wondering what he needed. "Did you need something?" I asked him.

"Can I walk you home?" He asked with a serious look. I looked down to his hand that was encasing my wrist tightly but was gentle at the same time.

"My house is right across the street, I think I'll be

fine." I said, putting my bag around my shoulder with the other hand. My bag was now lopsided and uncomfortably sitting on one side of my back. "Um Adrien, you can let go of my hand now." I said.

He quickly let go before putting his hand behind his neck.

"Besides, don't you have fencing practice with your girlfriend, Kagami?" I asked. He looked up for a second like he was remembering something, and then nodded his head. "She wouldn't want you being late now would she?" I asked him in a joking manner.

In reality, I was being serious, Kagami held high expectations for Adrien. Yes, she was supportive, but she was more straightforward with her words rather then comforting. I think it's because she hasn't been around people for long.

Adrien had brought it up a couple times, but I like reminding him how lucky he is to have the Kagami as a girlfriend. I mean she is so pretty, and they had a lot in common.

"I know but..." he said softly while scratching the back of his neck. I sighed, shaking my head while giving out a small giggle.

"Hey, we always have ladybug and cat noir right?" I asked. He nodded his head slowly. "I have faith in them. And I don't think Nathaniel would be able to pull what he did two years ago." I put my hand on his shoulder giving it a small tap. "Now go get ready for you fencing practice!" I practically yelled.

He smiled softly before turning around and walking out of the classroom. I packed the rest of my things and walked out of the classroom as well and headed home.

***

"What Nathaniel did today was very unexpected." Tikki said next to me, I was finishing some fashion designs for my next fashion project. The main subject being a dress for ladybug.

"I know Tikki." I said dimly, wondering what else I should do. Normally, I would be planning my next steps to get closer to Adrien, but now that that crush was thrown away I found my self having so much more time to myself.

Being Ladybug has its stresses, but I was and would always be glad to have Chat noir by my side.

"You've got to watch out for yourself more, people in this world are crazy." She shook her head while landing herself on the side of my shoulder. The small kwami smiled at me before giving me a small hug. "Thank goodness Adrien was there to protect you."

I nodded my head while reaching to get out my phone. "I thought Nathaniel had changed, but it's clear he's remained the same." I said as I looked at my messages. I didn't expect there to be 30+ messages laid on my phone screen. A lot were from Adrien while there was also a huge long one from Kagami.

I chose to look at Kagami's first, wondering what my old crushes girlfriend needed.

Kagami: I heard what happened with Nathaniel today. Adrien has been talking nonstop about it, and to be honest it's been a rollercoaster at practice. It's become annoying. He was so distracted it was disappointing. To be honest I hope you're okay, wouldn't want anything to happen to the girl MY BOYFRIEND cares so dearly about. I know his feelings for me are true.

When I was done reading the message, I felt confusion take over me. Why did she sound so not-Kagami like in the message. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to the girl my boyfriend cares so dearly about?" I questioned aloud.

Tikki shrugged while glancing at the message. I began to speak up again, "This message sounds so... well... toxic." I said.

Marinette:

Thanks for the message, I really appreciate it!

And everything's fine

There's nothing to worry about!

Truthfully, I didn't know what to respond with. All I knew was to respond. "Kagami has nothing to worry about, after all, we're just friends." I said to Tikki.

"What every you say Marinette." She said back. I looked at her wearily before I heard a knock on my top window. Knowing that it was the hourly cat that was probably on patrol made me chuckle.

"Tikki hide!" I whisper yelled. She did as she was told and hid somewhere around the room. I got up to my bed and opened the small window. It was cold outside as we were just getting out of the winter months, but I knew Chat was fine since he had his suit on.

When I saw the black cat boy's bright green eyes hit mine I smiled brightly. I didn't know why he was here. "Didn't I tell you no more late night chats." I said quickly while enveloping him in a hug. I saw his face become a bright pink before he slid into the window.

"Well I was trying to patrol around when I heard that a teenage girl had a problem at school today." He said. "Apparently the guy that helped her had been trying to get into contact with her, but she's been ignoring his poor messages."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "That boy is anything but poor." She giggled while grabbing her phone, "and look, I hadn't been on my phone till just a few seconds ago, before you knocked on my window."

"Sure Princess." He said while sitting on my bed. I sat on my desk glancing at the messages that were sent to me.

"How did you even know about the incident at school? Or the guy sending me messages?" I asked as I pulled down Adrien's name on my phone. The words I saw next made me worry.

Adrien:

You ok?

Marinette?

Just wanted to check in on you?

Why aren't you answering?

Marinette are you okay?

I'm calling the heroes to come and get you.

Please be okay.

My heart squeezed as I read them, and I felt my grip on my phone tighten. "I didn't know he sent all of these." I sighed.

"That guy was freaking out when he called me down during patrol. You must be one lucky girl to have a guy worry like a worry wart over you. Now thinking back to it, it was pretty punny." He joked.

"I just told him I was fine, besides, now I have to fix a problem with his girlfriend." I sighed while leaning back on my chair.

"His girlfriend?" He questioned. "Like Milady and I?" He asked.

"Ladybug isn't yours Chat noir, and don't you have a girlfriend as well?" I laughed. He nodded his head while glancing at my phone.

"What's the problem with the girlfriend?" He asked, getting up from my bed and jumping down to the floor. He looked so serious now.

"She just basically expressed how she was wondering if I was okay, but then stated how she didn't like that her boyfriend was worrying about another girl- or... I don't know. That's how I took it." I breathed, "maybe it's just a thing that says to stay away from her man or something. I understand it though."

"What do you mean?" Chat asked.

"Well I guess if my boyfriend was worried about another girl, it would make me a bit jealous, I'll admit. But I wouldn't say anything to the other girl, I would just talk to my boyfriend." I shrugged, putting my phone down. "This just means that I'll have to stay away from Adrien which is fine, we're just friends anyway." I smiled.

"Well what if Adrien doesn't want that?" He asked.

"Adrien? He probably wouldn't notice. I mean he's a model, has a girlfriend, fences, and still goes to school. I'm just a spec compared to his whole life." I told him, but more to myself. It was the hard truth that I would just bare with.

"Well if this Adrien guy cares so much about you, I doubt your just a spec." He said.

"Okay, promise you won't say anything." I said quickly, ready to get this off of my chest. He nodded his head while acting like he was sipping his mouth up and throwing away the key. "I used to like him."