Chapter 2: What Do You Want?

I am standing in front of my mirror. I know that most will not like the real me and that is okay. It is the best way to help myself and protect myself. I am wear a black shirt and a short black skirt. Black mascara, eye shadow and lip stick cover my face. Black tennis shoes with black socks. I put my blue hair up in a pony tail. The pig tails are gone. This isn't the only thing that has to change. Today, I have a appointment with a hair dresser to cut it short. I am totally different. I have to get to the hair salon before school starts. I look at my long hair one last time, then I go down stairs.

"Are you sure you want to do this Marinette? You were perfect before." My mom asks.

"I am very sure. Thanks for your concern." I say with a bit of attitude. My mom gasps and looks away. I walk out of the cafe/house and see Alya. She said that she would go with me. Her hands reaches to my pony tail, "Hey Alya, let's go."

"Hey Marinette, what is with the harsh tone?" She asks me without a second thought I start to walk away, "Oh, this is the new you. I am still with you. Trust me."

I remember Tikki telling me that and yet I don't know where she is right now. We walk into the salon and I get my hair cut into a pixie style. I look cute. Alya and I share a smile. A new look for a new me. We walk into the school and everyone looks over. Chloe is the first one to reach us.

"What the heck happened to you? And why do you look like that?" Chloe asks before Alya can warn her.

"Why do you care? You never cared before, in fact, all you did was use other for your benefit. You have to bribe your best friend to even be your friend. And maybe I want to look like this. I happen to really like it." I snap at her, with a few shoves here and there. Everyone pauses, Nino looks at Alya and she nods to him.

"Hey , Marinette. I am glad your better. At least we get to see you. And you look different, good, but different." Nino says and Alya smiles.

"Thanks." I turn and trudge across the school to my first class. Lila and Adrien are there talking. When they see me, they're faces are priceless.

"Marinette!" They both say as if I caught them in the act.

"Is that who you love? Good, you two are perfect for each other." I say and slam past them into the classroom. "Do you mind if I sit somewhere else?"

'Not a problem, Marinette. You want the front?" Our teacher, Miss Bustier, asks. I feel Adrien and Lila watching.

"No, I want to sit in the back. And the only person I will work with is Alya." I say and move to the very back. A few gasps hit my ear and I watched Alya look towards me and she nods.

"Miss. Bustier, I would like to be able to sit next Marinette." Alya announces as everyone sits down. Miss. Bustier allows it. Lila moves behind Adrien and looks toward me with a smirk. All I do is smirk back. She goes into shock. I am different, Lila. And I have been broken but I am still strong. I will not let to many people in to close.

At lunch, everyone comes over to sit with me but the only people to sit with me is Alya and Nino. Everyone looks sad ad walks of. Adrien comes over and everyone is watching. He sits down.

"I'm done. I see ya later, Alya." I say while standing. Adrien isn't going to take this though.

"Marinette, stop. What is wrong with you? You have changed. You have become secluded and insulting. I can't watch you fall down that path." He says, Alya and Nino swallow ad share a concerned look.

"Agreste, What is wrong with me is none of your business. Not that you care. Just look away because this path is the one you paved." I rudely call out, I turn to him, "Have fun with you girlfriend."

"I don't have a girlfriend. And what do you mean I paved it." I smirk with joyous hate.

"You don't have a girlfriend then what was that this morning with Lila. And you know perfectly well what I mean."

"How can I make it up to you?" He asks once he realizes what he had done. Alya has tears coming down her face.

"You can't do anything, Agreste." She says and gets up and leaves. Tears flowing onto the ground. Nino glares at Adrien and looks softly at me. We both head after her.

We all hear, "I will make them pay. I help Marinette. She needs to be happy. This is his fault." And Then Alya comes around the corner, or what I believe is Alya. She looks like a shattered mirror in human form. I turn and run to hide but Alya grabs me.

"Let me go, Alya." I scream and Adrien looks back. Shock hits his face because not once has a akumatized person ever been able to grab me. I always have been able to get away and hide. I have always been okay. For the first time, I have been held back. I need to get out. Chat Noir needs my help. Speaking of that Kitty, where is he. The one person I have been able to count on. Without Chat, I can't escape and become Ladybug.

"I am Shattered Image, not Alya." Alya/Shattered Image yells.

Adrien turns around and runs away. I realize how alone I am. Not even Chat is ever this late. But then again he might be somewhere else. Then Chat appears from above. He takes out his baton.

"Ladybug, where are you? The akumatized person is holding someone hostage." He speaks into his baton.

"Chat, help me." I call out to him. His eyes drift towards me and then I see how much he is scared of her. I recognize that look. That is the same look that Adrien had when he still here. If they share similar looks and behaviors. In fact, the same allergy then, Chat is....