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Beau and the Beetle	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 3721 -:- 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
- 1-Prologue: Alya
- 2-Adrien
- 3-Felix
- 4-Bridgette
- 5-Adrien
- 6-Sabine
- 7-Bridgette
- 8-Alya
- 9-Adrien
- 10-Felix
- 11-Sabine
- 12-Bridgette
- 13-Alya
- 14-Felix
- 15-Adrien
- 16-Alya
- 17-Felix
- 18-Bridgette
- 19-Adrien
- 20-Sabine
- 21-Felix
- 22-Alya
- 23-Bridgette
- 24-Adrien
- 25-Sabine
- 26-Adrien
- 27-Felix
- 28-Alya
- 29-Bridgette
- 30-Adrien
- 31-Sabine
- 32-Bridgette
- 33-Felix
- 34-Alya
- 35-Adrien
- 36-Felix
- 37-Sabine
- 38-Bridgette
- 39-Adrien
- 40-Felix
- 41-Adrien
- 42-Felix
- 43-Adrien
- 44-Adrien
- 45-Adrien
- 46-Epilogue
- 6
- 7
- 8
Bridgette took a deep breath to steel herself. Hefting her bag strap higher on her shoulder, she approached the school.
She’d had reservations about leaving Tom and Sabine to run the shop on their own, but they assured her they had everything under control, and had operated like this for years before Marinette’s disappearance. So, Bridgette had packed her bag and headed out.
Her misgivings about attending Marinette’s old school were strong. She felt guilty enough just sleeping in her cousin’s old room, and fervently hoped she was not thought of as a replacement. Bridgette loved her aunt and uncle, but she wouldn’t be their surrogate daughter. It wasn’t healthy.
Still, she couldn’t deny that she’d missed weeks of school. Her grades were sure to suffer, so she couldn’t afford to make matters worse for herself. So, here she was, striding toward a group of students with an air of confidence she didn’t feel.
‘Hello,’ she greeted them, with a jaunty little wave. ‘I’m Bridgette. I just started attending here today.’
The group of girls turned to her, a blonde in pink returning her wave.
‘Good morning, I’m Rose. Welcome to Collège Françoise Dupont. It’s nice to meet you. Do you know which class you’re in?’
Flustered, Bridgette dug through her bag to pull out her class schedule. ‘Uhh, Madame Bustier’s class. Can you tell me where that is?’
Rose’s smile widened, as the other girls stirred restlessly behind her. ‘You’re with us. We’re in Madame Bustier’s class, too.’
Bridgette’s shoulders sagged in relief. ‘Really? That’s awesome.’
A shorter girl with colourful hair stepped forward. Extending her hand, she introduced herself. ‘Mylène Haprèle. Welcome to our school.’
Accepting the proffered hand, Bridgette shook it eagerly. ‘Bridgette Cheng. It’s nice to meet you.’
The other girls shifted, muttering uncomfortably amongst themselves. Suddenly, Bridgette’s apprehension came back in a rush.
‘You wouldn’t be a relation of Marinette’s, would you?’ asked a diminutive girl with pink hair.
Rose gasped, appalled. ‘Alix! Please excuse her bluntness,’ she trailed off, fidgeting nervously.
Bridgette wilted under their collective stares. ‘She was my cousin,’ she whispered.
Their restless shuffling stilled as they stared at her.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Rose uttered, sincerely.
A tall girl with dark hair jabbed Alix in the ribs with her elbow.
‘Yeah, sorry about that,’ she muttered, glaring at the taller girl.
Bridgette shrugged and looked at her feet. ‘It’s ok. I know it’s a shock.’
They stood in awkward silence for a long moment, avidly avoiding each other’s gazes.
‘Hey guys,’ called a cheerful voice. ‘What’s going on?’
Another girl, warm skinned with auburn hair, strode toward them, her hand raised in greeting.
None of the girls answered, still reluctant to meet one another’s eyes. Bridgette’s stomach lurched, her anxiety peaking.
Eventually, Mylène stepped forward. ‘Bridgette, this is Alya, Marinette’s best friend. Alya, this is Bridgette, Marinette’s cousin. She’ll be attending school here from now on.’
Alya faced her with an indecipherable expression. It sent chills down Bridgette’s spine with how blank it was.
‘Nice to meet you,’ she uttered tonelessly, before turning around and heading inside.
‘She never really got over losing Marinette,’ Rose explained in hushed tones. ‘They were like sisters.’
Bridgette didn’t respond. It was strange to see evidence of Marinette’s life outside of the family home, and as irrational as it was, she felt jealous Marinette had befriended someone, and had been as close as sisters. Bridgette had always fancied herself as Marinette’s sister, and unreasonable resentment simmered in her gut.
The bell rang, yanking her from her thoughts. She was being petty and ridiculous. Of course, Marinette had a life outside of their family reunions. Bridgette herself had a close friend in Melodie.
Firmly setting her hypocrisy aside, Bridgette accompanied her new classmates inside. They showed her to their classroom, pointing out other locations of interest on the way, such as the library, the principal’s office, and the science labs.
A friendly woman with kind eyes awaited them in the classroom.
‘Good morning, students. Take your seats, please,’ she instructed them.
Bridgette hovered anxiously in the doorway. Seeing Alya seated alone at a bench her fear that she had been placed in Marinette’s former class. Suddenly, she wished she was back home.
Madame Bustier faced her with a patient smile, and waved her in.
‘Everyone, this is Bridgette Cheng. She’ll be joining us for a little while, until her family figures things out. Please show her the same courtesy and respect you would any other student.’
‘Cheng?’ exclaimed a tall boy in a red hoodie. ‘As in?’ He didn’t finish his sentence, his voice fading into the awkward silence.
Madame Bustier heaved a long-suffering sigh. ‘Yes, Kim. Bridgette is Marinette’s cousin. She’s been helping out in Madame and Monsieur Dupain-Cheng’s business, and is unable to return home just yet. So, for the foreseeable future, she will be attending school here. Are there any more questions?’
Everyone shook their heads mutely.
‘Good. Now, Bridgette, would you like to find a seat?’
Sweeping her gaze over the available spots, she immediately decided against the place beside Alya. Her eyes were narrow and hostile, despite being focussed on the windows, rather than Bridgette. The place beside the large boy behind Alya was also out. He looked like a bully.
By process of elimination, she took the remaining seat next to a shy, red haired boy. She smiled as she stood beside his desk.
‘May I sit here?’
He nodded, and murmured a soft, ‘sure.’
Bridgette slid into her new place, and endeavoured to make as little noise as possible for the rest of the day.
Bridgette returned to the bakery for lunch, disheartened. She’d known enrolling in Marinette’s old school would be hard, but she’d hoped to make a good first impression, and show everyone she was a decent person.
Instead, they’d been all been leery and uncomfortable, particularly Alya. In turn, Alya made everyone around her uncomfortable, so they’d all avoided her in the end. So far, she’d not had an opportunity to prove herself or befriend anyone.
‘How was your first morning at school, Dear?’ Sabine asked, as she pushed through the front door.
Bridgette forced herself to smile. ‘I think it’ll take a while for them to get used to me, but they all seem nice enough.’
Sabine nodded, sagely. ‘It must be confronting for them, to be faced with a relative of their missing friend without warning. Give them time; they’ll warm up to you.’
Bridgette nodded in agreement, then spent the next hour helping in the kitchen.
After break was over, she returned to class with a feeling of dread. She now had a better idea of what to expect, which she supposed was the problem. Her classmates weren’t openly hostile, but they weren’t warm and welcoming either. They regarded her suspiciously, or more accurately, like a bad memory.
Bridgette understood their feelings, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Inhaling deeply, she headed out once more. Hopefully, they would adjust quickly.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Beau and the Beetle