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A Step at a Time	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 4022 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
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Monday morning dawned bright and sunny. Adrien, however, sat at his desk in class, a proverbial cloud of misery surrounding him. Gabriel and Caline had gone out to dinner on Saturday night. Apparently, it had gone so well they had a picnic lunch date on Sunday. Gabriel had come home after each event smiling. Adrien rested his chin on his hand and stared despondently at nothing as he thought on this unnerving turn of events.
'Dude, check out Mister Model,' an obnoxious voice boomed. 'What heppened, Golden Boy, someone steal your Top Model title?' Kim teased.
'Move it, Meat Head.' Alix kicked him behind the knee. 'You're in the way,' she told him as she moved toward her desk.
'You alright, Bro?' Nino asked as he slid in beside Adrien.
'Yeah, I'm fine,' Adrien mumbled automatically.
'You look like you just watched The Human Centipede.'
'The what?' Adrien tilted his head.
'Never mind,' Nino blurted as he looked away.
'Anyway,' Adrien continued, 'I'm fine. Just tired.' The only thing tired was that excuse, but it always worked. If the truth got out, Adrien would never live down the humiliation. The taunts of Teacher's Pet haunted him before it even began.
The rest of the class shuffled in, barely awake and unhappy to be there. Madame Bustier entered and smiled widely, but turned a disapproving eye on Marinette as she stumbled in, late. Caline watched Marinette take her seat, but as she looked away, Adrien thought Caline looked directly at him with a subtle smile before moving on to roll call. Adrien's horrific imaginings came back, clearer than ever.
All morning, Adrien shifted awkwardly in his seat. Nino asked three times if he were alright, Adrien nodding like a demented bobble-head every time. However, the day progressed as usual, and after lunch, Adrien thought it ight be fine if he relaxed. Of course Caline wasn't going to talk about her private life while on the job, and there was no way Adrien was going to say anything. Unless Gabriel suddenly decided to confide in Adrien's classmates, no one could possibly know he was dating the teacher.
'Adrien, could you repeat what I just said?' Caline interrupted his musings. 'I'd hate to have to tell Gabriel you were daydreaming in class.'
Adrien felt all eyes turn to him. Slowly, murmurs filled the room.
'Did she say "Gabriel"?'
'Why would she have to tell him?'
'Is your dad banging the teacher?' Kim shouted, equal parts scandalised and gleeful. Adrien wished Kim's moment of acuity had happened at any other time as the whispers stopped.
Caline put her hands on her hips. 'Kim, we don't use such vulgar language in the classroom,' she scolded.
'I'm not hearing a "no,"' Kim continued to tease.
'It's very bad manners to discuss another's romantic life. If you continue like this, I'll have no choice but to send you to the principal's office,' Caline threatened.
'Ok, fine. I'm sorry, Madame Bustier,' Kim said, clearly not contrite.
Caline frowned, but turned around to continue writing on the board. A ball of paper hit Adrien's shoulder; he turned to see Kim mouth at him, 'this isn't over.' Adrien sighed.
The final bell rang and Adrien bolted out of his seat. He thought he'd avoided a confrontation until he tried to leave the locker room. Kim was standing in the doorway with the class, and some students from other classes, behind him.
'Alright, level with us, man,' Kim began. 'Is your dad dating Madame Bustier?'
There were startled gasps from the students of the other classes and the murmuring began anew. Adrien began to sweat as mutters of Teacher's Pet and Preferential Treatment became audible.
'Hey,' an angry voice shouted, and several students staggered as Marinette forcefully pushed her way to the front.
'Stop talking rubbish, Kim,' she demanded. 'Adrien's not like that. He'd never accept "preferential treatment". He's always insisted he be treated like everyone else.' Red faced and huffing, Marinette glared at the crowd as they looked at their feet, awkward and ashamed. 'You had all better apologise to Adrien,' she finished.
'But what if Monsieur Agreste is dating Madame Bustier?' asked Alix.
'So what if he is?' Marinette returned. 'It's none of our business and won't impact us at all. Madame Bustier, Monsieur Agrests, and Adrien would never allow a connection like that to influence the classroom.'
Adrien stared at Marinette, thankful for her presence. She had always been nice and sensible, if a bit weird, and Adrien appreciated her support.
'You would say something like that, wouldn't you?' Lila sneered.
'What's that supposed to mean?' Marinette asked, hands on her hips.
'You want to be a fashion designer when you graduate, so of course you'd get in good with your idol's son. Smoothing the way early, no doubt.'
Stunned, Adrien turned to Lila. He couldn't believe something like that of Marinette. He didn't know her well, but she had always seemed like an honest person.
'Not to mention,' Lila continued, 'your hopeless crush on Adrien. Seriously, is there anything you won't do to get his attention? Or maybe you just like who his father is. Did you plan on riding Monsieur Agreste's coattails into the fashion industry? Admit it, you just want to use Adrien to further your own career goals.' Lila smirked as everyone shuffled and glanced at Marinette from the corners of their eyes.
'How dare you?' Alya began, but Marinette fled, tears in her eyes. Alya glared furiously at Lila before shoving students out of her way to catch up to Marinette.
'I didn't hear a denial,' Lila gloated, cupping her hand around her ear.
Adrien hung his head and made his way through the silent crowd. He felt awful for Marinette; she had been humiliated when she had only wanted to defend him. Adrien wondered if Lila's accusation of a crush were true. He hoped it wasn't. He loved Ladybug and would hate to have to reject Marinette, especially after a scene like that.
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A Step at a Time