15. Friends

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Friend

\frend\ • noun

Someone who gives you freedom to be yourself;

one of the nicest things you can have;

the best thing you can be.

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"Anthony!," I ran after him.

He just kept walking forward ignoring me.

I can feel my heart stop at his sudden actions.

"Please stop!," I begged.

"Please Anthony I'm sorry."

He turned into a corner, before I can take a step Adrian stepped in front of me.

"Marinette! Hey I've been calling you, are you alright?," Adrian touched my cheek softly.

"I'm fine," I sighed and try to push his hand away.

"Were you hurt by any chance?," he mumbled.

Adrian looked at me with eyes I've never seen, I felt my heart skip a beat at the sudden contact, but pushed the feeling away knowing I was overthinking.

"No, but I'll see you later," I mumbled before jogging away.

Not knowing where Anthony hid I opened all the doors from each classroom till I found him inside the art classroom alone. The sound of the door closing made him make eye contact with me, but before I can speak he looked away and down at his hands.

"Why?," Anthony mumbled as I sat beside him.

"Chloe was in trouble," I whispered.

"So you leave the one place that is safe for you to get hurt?"

"But I didn't get hurt," I argued.

"But you could've, and-," he paused as I hear his voice shake "-and I wouldn't be there to protect you," he sighed.

"I'm sorry," I tried to grab his hand as he pulled it away.

"Why put yourself in harms way?"

"That's pretty ironic knowing I'm in Martial arts," I joked.

Anthony looked at me, his brown eyes glazed over.

"I at least know there are boundaries when you step foot on the mat," he looked away "but when you step out in front of a person that can't control themselves is another story, Chloe could've done something to you. You didn't think of me when you left our spot, you don't know how terrified I was when I couldn't find you," tears slid down his face "I thought you got captured or hurt by the ceilings collapsing."

I lay my hand on his warm cheek and wipe away his tears "I should've thought of how you felt, I'm sorry for leaving-."

"Then promise me if anything like this were to happen again just stay put where I leave you so I can find you," he laid his hand on mine.

"I-I can't promise you that," I sighed, he try's to pull away again but I hold onto his face.

"Please Anthony, please understand I can't make that promise, I j-just can't.."

"Why?," he asked.

"Anthony," I sighed.

I knew more accidents will happen from now on, since Hawk Moth has made himself known once again, but I didn't want to put Anthony in harms way. However I also know Anthony will always have a comment about me going on missions, I know he'll object and want to keep on eye on me, and that won't work.

"I can't tell you but it's a good reason," I rubbed his cheek with my thumb "please, understand me, understand that I'll never step back from seeing people I care about get their emotions being used to harm others."

"What about you Marinette? What if anything happens to you? What if you get caught up in the mess and get seriously hurt! You're not a hero! You're a normal girl," Anthony grabbed me by my shoulders and lightly shook me.

"I'm strong Anthony!"

"Yes you are, but even so, you can get hurt! You are a human being Marinette!," he yelled lightly.

"So what if one day I get Akumatized? You cannot tell me you'll ignore me and sit in a room knowing everything is going insane outside of it," I grumbled.

"What if one day we aren't in the same room and someone else gets Akumatized, are you willing to find me through all the danger-," I get cut off.

"Always... I'll Always look for you if I know you can get hurt," Anthony caressed my cheek "I'll always look for you to keep you safe from harms way Marinette."

I can feel my eyes water and I lift my hands trying to wipe them away as quickly as possible only to fail as more tears left my eyes.

"Anthony I can't just leave these people to get hurt while I'm safe, I won't leave Chloe, Alya, or you.  I'll warn people if there is danger, I'm always going to find a way to help," I cried "I won't stay still, that just shows that I'm a coward."

"Marinette-," Anthony coed.

"Anthony I-I'm not who you think I am," I mumbled.

"I'm a liar and a bad friend to you, I've been keeping a secret from you and I can't no longer hold it in," I grabbed his hands and sniff my tears.

I couldn't keep it from him anymore, I trusted Anthony completely, I trust him. I know he wouldn't tell another soul, but I'm afraid he'll be angry for not telling him sooner.

"I'm sorry for never telling you but I-I'm L-L-Ladybug-," I can feel my body getting pulled into Anthony's chest as he rubs my hair softly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Marinette I'm so sorry," he rubbed my back "I'm sorry for not believing in you, I'm sorry for being upset and making you out yourself out to me, I'm sorry my Marinette."

I can feel a huge weight getting lifted off my heart as I told my best friend my biggest secret.

"Aren't you angry at me?," I sniffled.

"For what?"

"For not telling you sooner."

"Not at all, I understand why you've been keeping it a secret, I knew you were holding something from me but I wanted you to be ready to tell me, I'm sorry for emotionally forcing you to reveal your secret," Anthony sighed.

"No," I pulled away and looked up at him "I had to tell you, I don't like hiding things from you, plus more incidents like this will happen often and it was a better choice to reveal myself now and not worry about trying to sneak away from you in the future," I giggled lightly.

"Hmm," he hummed "does anyone else know?"

"Just my parents," I mumbled.

We stayed in each other's arm for a while till we decided to head home.

—

"So this is my Kwami Tikki,"'I introduced her to Anthony.

"Nice to meet you Tikki," Anthony stuck out his pink for Tikki to shake.

"Nice to meet you to Anthony," she giggled happily.

After what happened back at school I decided to show Tikki to Anthony, of course with her permission, she agreed and was actually pretty excited.

"So she transforms you into your suit?," he looked up at me.

"That is correct, she also helps me with her intelligent brain and encourages me often when I'm in battle," I nodded.

"Well aren't you a powerful little Kwami," Anthony smiled down at her.

"Marinette is the true powerful one out of both of us," Tikki laughed as Anthony chuckled and looked up at me.

"She is pretty powerful huh?," he laughed.

—

The next day_

Anthony woke up earlier than usual to train my leg muscles since yesterday we played footsies and I lost pretty fast. We were now walking to school as I rubbed my thighs groaning in pain, Anthony walked next to me laughing at my suffering.

"You're a terrible friend," I groaned.

"Oh please I'm amazing," he laughed loudly.

"Sure whatever," I joked.

"Fine since I'm a terrible friend I'm leaving you behind," Anthony sticked out his tongue as he began to run towards the school.

"No don't leave me here!," I yelled as I try to run after me "please, help," I grumbled annoyed.

"Try to catch up will yah? You're slow," He yelled.

"Butthole," I grumbled before taking a deep breath and began sprinting towards him, finally getting close I jump on his back knocking us over in front of the school.

"Get off! Ugh!," Anthony cried out.

"Loser," I laughed as I got up lending out my hand to him.

Anthony groans annoyed as I start to lift him up till I hear a cat like shriek, and not the normal ones. I drop Anthony again by accident.

"Ow! What the hell?," he grumbled.

"Shh," I put my hand on his mouth.

"God what's that awful noise?," he covered his ears.

I shrugged as we walked through the main doors of school to only see Lila crying as Chloe stood in front of her with a stern expression.

"Why are you being so mean to me? I don't understand? First Marinette and now you," Lila cried out.

"I got Akumatized yesterday because of your stupid lies!," Chloe yelled "you even talked about how my mother didn't care for me."

I quickly step forward until Anthony held me back, I give him a stern look before he let's go and follows behind me.

"Separate now," I get in between the girls.

"Marinette let me finish talking," Chloe groaned.

"No, you both need to keep quite and not cause another incident like yesterday," I look at Lila "please stop making yourself the victim because we all know that when people get Akumatized is because they are wronged or hurt, so I know you've said something to her."

"N-No," Lila glared at me "you both are just accusing me to hide the fact that Chloe can't control her emotions."

"Lila, you can't control your emotions, so don't blame Chloe for being used by Hawk Moth," I mumbled annoyed "if Chloe felt wronged with your conversation with her I think you should apologize."

"I didn't do anything wrong! Chloe bothered me and came up to me!," Lila lied.

"If you felt wrong then you would've be Akumatized, but if you're not going to admit to it then we'll leave you alone, just make sure not to hurt anyone else's feelings, I don't want anymore more of my friends emotions taken advantage of," I grumbled and grabbed Chloe's hand before walking away.

"Marinette I think I fell in love with you," Chloe mumbled as she looked at me in awe.

"I love you to," I laughed.

"No you can't have my Marinette!," Anthony quickly linked his arm with mine.

"Yes I can, I knew her longer!," Chloe argued with him.

"Well I've been friends with her longer," he laughed.

"Okay uncallled for," Chloe chuckled.

"What did I miss?," Alya ran up to us with Adrian and Nino.

"Lila was, once again, trying to blame everything that happened yesterday on me," Chloe growled "look I know I wasn't the best person freshman and sophomore year, but I'd least own up to the crap I've done."

"What did she say to you?," Adrian rubbed his head.

"Just a comment about my life and mom," Chloe sighed "Marinette stepped in before anything can escalate today, you're truly my hero," she looked at me, as I laughed.

"I can't believe Lila will do that," Nino mumbled.

"Since when did you and Lila become all buddy buddy huh?," Alya raised her eyebrow annoyed.

"Since you left me and Adrian alone at our table," Nino rolled his eyes.

"Uh oh," Anthony whispered to me.

"Nino don't even-," he cuts her off.

"Your so busy with your blog you barley pay attention to me," Nino grumbled.

"Don't even start with this crap, when I come after school to hang I found this crusty earring on your couch!," Alya pulls out a earring.

We all gasp as I feel my heart break for my best friend, Out of pure instinct I look at Adrian who was looking down at Nino shocked as he took a step towards Anthony.

"That is yours!," Nino lied "stop trying to make a scene in public, let's just go talk in private."

"No! Who's is it?," Alya ordered.

"I thought Nino was a good guy," Anthony mumbled to me.

"He is!," I groaned in confusion.

I know Nino would never do such a thing to Alya, I know that 100%.

"Oh that's mine! I left it last night when I came over!," Lila joined the conversation all of sudden.

"Well shit," Chloe looked at me with wide eyes.

"What?," Alya looked at Lila with pure rage.

"She only came over for a project I swear!," Nino said quickly.

"But I thought our time spent together was more than that Nino?," Lila sighed.

"Shut up what are you talking about?," Nino growled to her.

"If this makes Alya get anymore fired up she'll get Akumatized," Adrian mumbled.

"Marinette I think you should step in," Chloe whispered to me.

"I-I don't t-think I can," I stuttered.

"You put Lila in her place for Chloe now do it for Alya," Anthony rubbed my back.

I nod and stand next to Alya.

"I think we should hear Lilas side first and then Ninos," I held Alyas hand as she looked at me sadly.

"Don't add yourself into this Marinette," Lila mumbled annoyed.

"And why shouldn't my best friend be involved? Shut up and tell us your side," Alya grumbled annoyed.

"It's okay babe I got you," I whispered to Alya as she gripped my hand tighter.

"I went over to Ninos house for a project which was true, but as I spent time with him he slowly started flirting with and knowing he had a girlfriend I tried to ignore him," Lila mumbled "but I fell into his trap and we kissed."

"She's lying I wouldn't cheat on you babe," Nino sighed as he grabbed Alya's other hand.

"How long were you at his house?," I mumbled as I turn to Alya who slowly began to cry.

"I stayed till 12 am," Lila sighed.

"Stop lying!," Nino yelled lightly at her.

"Stop acting like nothing happened yesterday between us!," she yelled back.

"Nothing happened! And you know it! We did our project as you kept trying to flirt with me and I kicked you out because I felt uncomfortable," Nino argued.

"I have something to say," Adrian stepped up.

"Uh go ahead," I sighed.

"I think Lila is lying, first off I think we all know Nino wouldn't do that to Alya," we all nodded "also what seems weird is that I came to Ninos to work on homework at 8 and you were already leaving so how did you stay till 12?"

"W-well I can back looking for my e-earring," Lila stuttered.

"Wrong again," Adrian smirked as he stepped towards her "I slept over at Ninos, and he brought up how he felt like we shouldn't eat with you anymore because he felt uncomfortable, so Lila quit the act and tell us the truth before this gets any worse," Adrian looked at her in disgust.

"But Adrian-," she started.

"First Marinette, then Chloe getting Akumatized, now Alya, how many more are you going to hurt to keep acting like a victim," Adrian growled.

"Adrian!," Lila gasped.

He looks at her body up and down "even in this situation you can't act like the victim since you knew Nino had a girlfriend yet you still flirted with him, that's not a good spot to be in now is it?"

I felt my heart skip a beat at Adrians sudden rage, I knew Adrian always had a strong spirit but today he really just blew me away for some reason.

"See baby I'll never do that to you, I love you, I'm sorry for making it seem you don't have time for me, I understand how much work the blog is," Nino sighed and stepped towards Alya who was wiping her tears away.

"I think you guys should talk to one another alone now," I tried to smile at them.

Nino and Alya nod as they walk away, I turn to Lila who stood there shocked.

"I'm getting pretty sick and tired of you Lila," I mumbled "I'm not one to show such anger towards anyone, but stop messing with my friends emotions! This isn't a popularity game for them, the one thing your playing around with is their lives and I will no longer just sit back and let you ruin them," scoffed.

"M-Marinette-," Lila began.

"I think that's enough for today," Anthony stepped in front of me.

"Class will soon begin he's right," Adrian sighed as he puts his arm on my shoulders and rubs them to cool me off.

"Let go of her," Anthony grumbled.

"No," Adrian laughed.

"Don't touch my Marinette," Anthony turn to me and pouted.

I laughed lightly as I turn to Adrian who was already looking down at me with a warm smile, I felt the heat rush to my head as I felt my legs begin to wobble.

I've been avoiding Adrian all this time thinking I forgot my feelings towards him, but I knew I would always be pulled back in with that smile.

And I hated that.

— hey everyone it's me! Uhm just wanted to say I drew Anthony!!! He came out so cute and honestly the only area I can post this is on wattpad or my discord I think? :) anyways check out my recent on wattpad bro check out Anthony's face reveal!!!!:))))