As I walked to school, I was hit with the thought that Cochon was meant to protect one of the students at school. I transformed, hopping to the field, where Lila came running in my direction. She embraced me in a hug that I almost confused for genuine. Almost.

"Oh my gosh, Cochon!" I plastered on a fake smile as she stepped back, still holding my shoulders.

" I apologize if I come off as rude, but I don't quite remember you, " I responded as politely as I could be with her. She laughed and took her hand off me, which did nothing if not make me happy.

"I'm Lila! Ladybug told me to do something," the girl looked conflicted. " But it is so mean and unlike my personality! " Yeah, like you haven't an evil bone in your body. "What do I do?" She gave me the " doll" eyes, which just weirded me out. It's hardly find when a small child does it, but a fourteen year-old girl? I took a deep breath.

"Well I heard you were best friends with Ladybug, so why doubt your best friend's decision?" I offered with a shrug. She gave me a blank stare before embracing me in a hug. This girl is such a violator of privacy!

" Wow! You are amazing! Would you say you were my friend, Cochon? " No! No, I am not. You lie, you disrespect everyone, and you threatened me! There is no way in Hell, Michigan I am ever going to consider myself your friend!

"Of course! I would be honored to call you a friend!" What the heck? Did I hear myself correctly? Is My mind working properly? Did those words seriously come out of my mouth? I felt her pat my back before breaking the hug. I was using all my will power not to slap her or gag. She ran off, and I began wandering the field, looking for signs of trouble, when my eye caught on two bodies hiding under the stairs, I couldn't see their faces, but one year had long, black hair while the other had longer, red hair. I smiled and walked towards the two boys, want desperately to erase the past few moments from my mind. Being ad it was about, 7:30, most everyone was there to stare at me, slowly approaching my hidden classmates.

When so was directly behind their head, I let a snort and watched as they both jumped. Nathaniel's pen was thrown into the air, dropping on his head, and I couldn't help my laughter that had the occasional snort. They both looked ashamed, embarrassed, but I put a reassuring on one of both of their shoulders.

"Hey, boys. Sorry for the scare, you alright?" I asked them both. Marc stared at me in shock, Nathaniel's green eyes glanced from my eyes to my feet, almost nervously. When he looked like he was about to lunge for my feet, I looked down to see his notebook. Before I could see what he had drawn, I picked it up while closing it, giving it back to his owner.

He seemed surprised by my gesture. "Y-you didn't look at it?" I knelt down, frog-style, so I was on the same level as the boys.

"If you wanted me to see, you would show me yourself. No matter how much my pig-tastic instincts may tell me to intrude on your privacy, that should be your choice that you decide when you are ready." I flashed him a smile, and Marc chose to speak up.

"You're so much like Sam-," while his reaction was to cover his mouth and turn about as red as his friend's hair, mine was for my face to drain of blood.

"W-who is Sam?" I asked stupidly.

"J-just a friend of ours," Nathaniel returned as Marc's glance returned to the floor.

"Who are you?" Of course I know them, but they don't know, that I know, that they are actually my friends when I am out of costume. Why is being a superhero so complicated?

"I'm Marc a-and t-this is Nathaniel," the boy hiding behind his black hair confirmed through stutters. Although his voice was hardly above a whisper, I knew that either Sam or Cochon would be able to get him to open up and become a bit more outgoing.

"Stay still!" Nathaniel yelled to me with no warning. I obeyed, listening to the sound of his pencil scratching on the paper. "Wow, I could confuse you for a statue." I could tell his mind was in deep concentration, not actually aware of the conversation. A little while later, he showed me his notebook, which had only the best, (and the first) portrait of Cochon. Wide smile and sparkle in my eye. "I know it's not,-" I saved his comment dismissively.

"You are too much of a modest artist! You should draw a comic!" He smiled to Marc, both boys blushing.

"Ugh," that is exactly what I want to say to the person who said it. Chloe. " what are you doing down there? Waiting for someone to adopt you talentless boys and your pet?" She was staring at us as if she was the winner, Sabrina following behind her so called "friend".

I may not be Sam at this moment, but nobody, was going to get away with disrespecting my friends. As I stood up, I could feel the anger rush to my face. "At least they have actual friends instead of basically a slave owner. I don't know about Paris but-" I covered my mouth. I don't know about Paris, but slavery ended more than a hundred years ago in America. I couldn't say anything about America, because that is a very strong link between Cochon and Sam. "P-Parisians," I stuttered, my hands on my hips. " Other, than, myself! If course, uh," I cleared my throat and put my head high. "Look, I don't want to argue, but if you say anything more against Nathaniel or Marc around me, I,-"

Chloe leaned forward so she was looking straight into my eyes. "You'll what? Blow my house down?" She took a step back. "Oh, wait. That was the pig who got their house blown down. Go away, sausage!" She walked off, mumbling her famous words: "Ridiculous! Utterly Ridiculous!" I felt as if steam was pouring out my ears. I couldn't hold back a growl, and I felt something land on my watch. I could hear the shouts of Nathaniel and Marc as if from a distance, and I could see only dark colors, but also a window, just like the one I had see the white butterfly go through. It overlooked the entire city, just as I had thought.

"Cochon, Chloe is such a mean girl, embrace your protective-"

"No! I won't-! Grab a jar!" I shouted to nobody in particular. I held my head in my lap as I lay in a ball on the floor.

"Silly girl, don't fear the anger, embrace it!"

"Stop! Leave me alone! Smash the watch!"

"Silence!" Hawk Moth's voice echoed throughout my head. I couldn't give in. I thought about my friends, Ladybug, Cat Noir, Marinette, Nathaniel.

I raised my arm in the air, sensing someone take it off. "Akuma in the jar!"

"No!" That was the last word as I put my arm down and listened to the smashing of the watch.

"Cochon!" Lila, just the person I want to see after almost being akumatized . "Move! She is my friend!" No! Keep her away from me, for her own safety.

"Please stand back, miss. Excuse us." Thank god/s! "Pardon us!" I slowly stood up with the sound of Cat Noir's voice.

"Cochon? It's Ladybug." I looked to where the hand that was attached to me was coming from. The black and red superhero helped me up, and I realized I, we, we're standing in the middle of most everyone. I nodded to Nathaniel, the holder of my watch, and Marc, the boy holding the jar that held a purple butterfly. "Thank you, gentleman," she took the insect out and performed her usual routine. "No more evil doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilise! Bye-bye, little butterfly." She tossed the watch into the air as I had a chat with the cat.

"What happened?" I looked into his eyes, which were full of happiness, watching "his" lady do the fist bump with Marc and Nathaniel.

"It came from somewhere else, it can't any of the Agreste guys," it was almost as if he was in a trance. I knew they wouldn't believe me now, they saw the Akuma come from somewhere else. I guess I have no proof. Great, back to square one.

I realized my watch had reappeared on my wrist when Daizzy's voice projected itself from my watch. "It is eight o'clock! get out of costume! Now!" My face warmed up, and I covered my watch as I ran to the bathroom stalls.

"I will kill you, Daizzy!" He only smiled before hiding in my shirt pocket. "I mean it!" I run to class just to find Lila in my seat next to Nathaniel, twirling her hair around her finger.

"Miss Gostene, please try to arrive to class on time tomorrow. Also, we moved your seat next to Ivan so-" Ms. Bustier was cut off by Lila.

"So I could next to Nathaniel!" She sent me a giggle, basically saying, this was her way of getting back at me.

I looked back to the teacher, who seemed to think it only sweet. Do teachers just never use their common sense? "Well, yes. But Lila also told me that you and Nathaniel couldn't stop your talking. Please take your seat so we may continue to take notes." I obeyed with a false smile and say down.

After a half hour or so, I felt something hit my head from behind. A ball of paper rolled in front of me, and I knew it was from Lila. Call it pig-stincts.

Does that pun work? I can't think of any good pig puns. Help!

I opened it up to see a letter written in nice writing.

Dear Samantha,

I know we got off on the wrong foot. I just thought you and I could be friends.
Unfortunately, your weakness shows: your friends. Sure,you may not have anything that you would be willing to lose for yourself, but if I were to take away Tomato Head and that comic friend of his, take away their only chance at ever have any respect in the artistic, comic, or writing world.
Let me just guess you wouldn't be too happy. Marinette? I will make sure she never designs another fashion piece again. Alya: No more blog. Nino? No more D. J. gigs. So, you still want to be my enemy?

Lila 💋

I turned around to see the girl sitting too close for comfort to Nathaniel. I looked back to my notes and shoved the letter in my pocket.

The rest of the day, I walked through quietly. Apparently, both Adrien and Marinette were MIA, and Alya had left early to catch Ladybug and Cat Noir deal with the one or two akuma attacks. I considered going, but I knew they had this in the bag. Literally, at one point, Cat Noir had to go into a bag, which was the Lucky Charm of the Crime. I ate lunch in the art room, watching Alix spray paint the wall with pictures of a bunny.

I ran home after school had finally ended, giving me two hours to transform into a Greek goddess statue. When I finally got back to the park, my skin a smooth gray, hair full of baby powder, and a stiff gray dress with matching flats, all used to give me an elegant look. I put a ton down in front of my chosen standing place, and watched, as motionless as possible, Ladybug and Cat Noir defeat yet another Akuma victim.

"Miraculous Ladybug!" I fixed my eyes on a tree branch that extended from behind me. "Spots off!" No! The voice came from directly behind me. My body, well, my mind, went blank. Ladybug had just transformed behind me. BEHIND ME!

"Good job, Marinette! You and-" I interrupted the high pitched squeal that sounded higher than Daizzy's with the repetition of one word that meant the most to me at that moment.

"M-Marinette?" I heard a small whimper behind me escape from the kwami.

"Sam?" Her voice was hopeful, as if she wanted this to be nothing more than another dream. It wasn't. This is real. I know who frickin Ladybug is! She is a fourteen year old girl who I have befriended! Shoot.

COUNTDOWN

40 Days

DATE OF DANCE: April 20, 2019

Note from the Author!

I bet you thought I had forgotten! Nope! I have just been a tad busy.

Find me on Avakin Life, and I will be more than happy to speak with you. Just let me know that you read my story.

My name is AnAuthor13, so come find me!

Adios!