4. Forgiveness

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"Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future."

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Marinette's POV

A week has passed since the first day of school and I successfully avoided Adrians attempts to become friends again. I've been keeping to myself this entire time I've only talked to Alya, Nino, and Chloe, a few of my old friends have been asking some questions and of course I answered. Chat Noir would come everyday but I kept my distance and used the same old excuse that I was tired.

Today was finally the day I was able to turn into Ladybug and patrol the city like old times. I decided to dress like old ladybug just in case HawkMoth spots me, I don't want him to know we've became more powerful.

"Tikki spots on!," I smiled and she quickly transforms me.

"Aren't you nervous?," I heard Tikki.

"Of course, Chat Noir and I didn't really end off on a good note," I mumbled.

"I've only met him as Marinette and he seems to not be that quite understanding," I sighed.

"I think I can understand him though, you left him without knowing you were coming back."

"Yeah I know," I whispered and swing my yo-yo before pulling myself on a roof and look around the streets of Paris.

"It feels so good to be home and feel this free," I sighed and let the air hit my face.

"It feels so good," Tikki laughed lightly.

I jump on another roof and see a man crying on a bench, I frown, even though it's good that they can let their emotions run without any consequences.

"At least they can cry their heart out right?," Tikki mumbled.

"Yeah."

I lay down and look up at the moon.

"I missed this," I smiled and closed my eyes.

"Are you sure you didn't miss me bugaboo?," I quickly open my eyes being met with Chat Noir.

"Chat...," I whispered.

"Don't mind me just being your daily hero and what not, scootch over," shocked at his not so sudden appearance I scoot over and watch him lay next to me.

"2 years right?," he asked.

I stayed quiet feeling tears start to sting my eyes.

"A year and a half," I whispered.

"That's crazy how were you-," I feel tears slide down my cheeks.

I hurt Chat and I made it about myself, I should've told him how long, but I didn't even know myself, I wish I didn't hurt him.

"Hey hey hey! No crying M' Lady let's stay Pawitive," Chat Noir laughed at his cat pun.

I smile lightly and dry my tears away.

"I'm sorry Chat," I sighed and sat up.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you everything that's going on with my life but I wish you understand me now," I look down at him "I did this so I can become stronger mentally and physically and I am, I'm pretty happy with who I've become as myself."

He looked at me and sat up, he smiled lightly "I'm sorry for being unreasonable, I should've listened instead of letting my emotions take a hold of me," Chat sighed.

"I think we both went wrong a year ago," he chuckled.

"Truce?," I laughed lightly.

"Nah," he stood up and started walking away.

My heart stops and I stand up quickly.

"Pound it?," he turned around and smiled.

I can feel myself start to cry and I fist bump him "pound it."

He wipes my tears away and pulls me into his arms, I hug him back and pull away before standing over the edge of the building.

"How have you been?"

"Eh missed my partner, but overall pretty okay I guess."

"How about the city?"

"Well like you source predicted HawkMoth has not come out of hiding for a while since you left."

"That good let's just make sure we are ready for anything especially since I'm back, he has eyes everywhere."

"Do you think he's gotten stronger?"

"I mean no doubt about it, he's been in hiding for a year now, meaning we have to train more," I look around and get closer to him and whisper "did you find out about your powers upgrading?"

"Yeah I just knew I shouldn't show it off until HawkMoth makes an appearance," he whispered back.

"Good choice," I patted his back.

Since I've left Tikki has also gotten stronger meaning I can stay as Ladybug for more than 7 hours, as long as she sleeps for at least 30 minutes and eats 7 macaroons for each hour she used her powers.

"How long can you stay as Chat Noir?," I asked.

"6, Plagg is a bit lazy," Chat laughed lightly.

"How about you?"

"7"

"So where did you go off-," I give him look for him to not even ask because I wasn't going to tell him.

"Right privacy, I'm working on it," he laughed.

"It's alright, but anyways it's pretty late let's call this a night see you tomorrow?," I smiled.

"Of course," I wave off before I start heading home.

The next day

I hear my alarm go off and I quickly get up before getting ready for a morning run before school, i decided that since I'll be heading to school for the gym that I'll just wear what I'm wearing since I'm to lazy to change and go back home. I get dressed into some black tights, tennis, and a sweater, I pick up my hair in two pony tails and grab my headphones as well as my bag before heading to a school and putting Tikki in my locker with a bit of food and her phone to keep her from getting bored when she woke up.

I started on my cardio of course and ran around the track and then headed off to do some weights, then of course practice some of my moves my instructor, from China, sent me yesterday afternoon. After everything I went into the girls locker room and took a quick shower before getting back into the same clothes I came in.

I open my locker seeing Tikki already eating her breakfast macaroon and watching some vampire show she has been obsessing over.

"You look dead," Tikki laughed.

"Very funny but I feel absolutely refreshed," I smiled.

"Will you be eating breakfast today?"

"Probably stop by a store and pick up a protein bar and some coffee," I shrugged.

"Wanna stay here while I go grab food?," I asked.

"Yeah this episode is literally insane!," she turned her attention back on the screen, I laughed lightly and ran out the locker room.

By the time I reach the checkout and the worker is scanning my items is when I realized I forgot my wallet in my bag with Tikki.

"Uhm- excuse me look I'm sorry I forgot my wallet but I swear if you just give me about 7 minutes I'll come back to pay-," I get cut off from someone holding a card out to the cashier.

"Here I'll pay for that and this," the person points to my food and places snack on the counter and I turn to see Adrian smiling down at me. Today he was wearing a white turtleneck under a oversized black hoodie with black jeans and some white vans.

"No don't worry about it I'll just quickly come back-."

"Ma'am please we are very busy," the cashier looked at me.

"I'll pay you back once we get back at school," I sighed.

"No worries it's okay," he smiled at me and passed his card to the worker before we walked out.

"Is this all you got?," Adrian pulls out my two things before handing it to me.

"Yeah."

"Is this gonna be your meal right now?"

"Yes."

"Here," Adrian handed me a bag of gummies "I know it's not good to eat that as breakfast but that is literally all I have," he shrugged laughing as he showed his bag filled with candies.

I laugh lightly and nod "thank you," I accepted the candy.

"Would you like to walk together to school?"

"Do I have a choice?," I giggled.

"Nope not really."

"It's fine."

I start drinking down my veggie shake and ate my protein bar pretty quick and toss my trash in a nearby can and recycle my bottle. I turn to see Adrian struggling to open one of his gummy bags "need help?," I asked.

"Nope I got this," I watch him struggle before he hands me the bag and I open it easily, he shyly thanks me and begins to eat his gummies.

"So how was the first week back?," he asked with his mouth full.

"Pretty tiring, adjusting to the sleep schedule didn't work out for about two week which really left a tool on me today," he nods for me to continue. "School work, messaging everyone back and my friends back in China, my instructor sending me new moves and techniques to practice on."

"Sounds tough, while I just modeled and worked out," Adrian stuffs another hand of gummies in his mouth.

"I mean modeling is tough," I said.

"True when you have a lousy father always trying to make you perfect in every photo," my eyes widen at Adrians sudden comment about his father, I knew they weren't close but I guess since I've been gone their relationship has completely fell apart.

"But I'm caught up on school I'm only stressing about 3 things," he sighed.

"Mmm," I mumbled, I know I should ask but talking to him this much is going against Kagami's wishes and Tikki's.

We reach the school and once again there stood Kagami in front of the school looking as perfect as ever in her school uniform.

"I'll give you your money in class," I mumbled before starting to run past Kagami.

"Marinette! Hey!," I turn to see Kagami waving at me.

"Sorry running late," I lied before heading to the locker room and catching Tikki engulfed in the series.

I look around the room and notice no one is here.

"Will you be going to class or sticking here?," I asked her.

"Just head to class without me this is getting to good to stop now," Tikki didn't look at me.

I laughed and grabbed my school supplies as well as my wallet before heading to class.

I sit in my seat next to Adrian who seemed like his mood turned sour.

Of course I wanted to ask him what's wrong but I remind myself that I can't get to close, I grab the money I owe him and slide it to him.

"Thank you," I whispered and he looks at me with a sad expression and smiles softly.

"No worries."

"Adrian are you okay-."

"Marinette your famous!," I look up seeing Alya squealing.

"What?," I asked.

"You are going viral," my eyes widen at the bizarre thought of me going viral.

"You are joking right?," I wiped my eyes.

"I'm notttt," Alya pouted.

"Look," she flips her phone to me as I see a video of my martial art competition a few months ago.

I look down at the article.

"You are a legend in the martial arts world-."

"No I know that but I didn't think I would go viral over a video of me beating up a opponent," I mumbled.

"You beat a 6'3 muscle man with just a few moves, are you kidding? And not only that you are just 17 AND you look like a complete babe!," Alya started to yell.

"You beat a guy my size?! Remind me not to get on your bad side," Adrian entered our conversation laughing.

"Calm down it's just one article don't make this a big deal, keep it on the low," I mumbled and rubbed my head.

"You know Alya wouldn't be able to do that," Adrian chuckled.

"Maybe she did," I mumbled.

"About that....," Alya started to laugh nervously.

"Alya nooooo," I sighed.

"I love you, but I wanted to show everyone how cool my best friend was so I posted it on my lady blog once I read it about it!," Alya tried to explain.

"Why didn't I get the notification?," Adrian looked at his phone complexed.

"Back in China you were famous no wonder you gained so many followers once you opened up social media!," Alya slapped her head like it was common sense.

"I know! When I went on her account she had almost as most as mine and I freaked out!," Adrian started talking to Alya.

"Have you seen her videos?," he shakes his head quickly.

"Okay-," I smash my head against the table and grumble.

I just wanted to keep a low profile here.

Why

Why

Whyyyyyy??