Neglect Me No More

After hours of careful consideration, Marinette finally decided that it would be better for her to transfer to DelaCour lycee— a highschool for the young, yet talented individuals to nurture and perfect their skills.

She had already been accepted into the school, the paperwork and letters of recommendation had been completed and sent just a week prior. She would be starting the semester in DelaCour lycee two months later. Those two months, Marinette knew, would be longer than she could handle, but she decided that it would be better for her grades. DelaCour lycee was way ahead of Francis Dupont in every sense, and transferring mid-semester would require many sleepless nights and endless cups of coffee.

One might be curious about why such a talented, beautiful, kind and caring individual such as Marinette was transferring schools when she was perfectly happy at Francis Dupont lycee. And no, she was not moving out of the bakery.

The thing is, Marinette used the look forward to attend this school. She used to be happy just being there. But now, all she could feel was deep dread every time she walked up the school steps. Marinette was no longer perfectly happy by attending Francis Dupont lycee. And she hadn't been happy to attend it for a long time. All because of Lila.

Now, she wouldn't say she was perfectly happy before either. When Chloe bullied her when she was younger, the teachers would turn a blind eye on her because of her father and how much power he had. But Marinette never took it into consideration. After all, as long as she was somewhat okay most of the time, there would be no reason to change schools.

But Marinette was no longer somewhat okay. She was miserable every second she spent at school.

Lila coming back was just the beginning. Lila threatening Marinette was just the beginning.

When Lila was 'pushed' by Marinette down the stairs, thankfully everyone had faith in Marinette at the time. But as it happened, again and again, their faith started to waver. Marinette 'stealing' her peers' things didn't help either. As time passed, Lila got better at handling the proof and evidence. Every time Marinette tried to call out Lila's lies, more people started labeling her as the liar.

Liar.

Bully.

Thief.

Manipulator.

Slut.

The last one had come about from Lila spreading rumors that she slept with older guys.

Everyone believed Lila's rumors as well because Marinette had stopped 'denying' it, choosing to ignore it instead. Everyone including Adrien. But Marinette didn't blame Adrien. After all, he didn't know that this was all Lila's doing.

What Marinette did blame Adrien for, however, was not being there for her as her friend. He chose Lila's feelings over hers. To be fair, he didn't know the extent Lila went to silence Marinette. But a friend would always stick up for another friend if something wasn't right in the situation. That was not what he did.

She had long since given up on everyone else in the class. Including Alya and Nino. They ignored her anyway. So she wasn't losing anything.

She was not losing friendships she had put time and effort into.

She was not losing the love that she had wasted countless thoughts on.

Because in reality, those friendships and romances never existed. If they wanted to ignore it, ignore her, then she would ignore them too.

The more she avoided her emotions, the fewer akumas came to her.

The more she avoided her emotion, the less confidence she had.

The more she avoided her emotions, the less she wanted Paris to be saved from Hawkmoth.

She no longer really cared about Paris.

Sometimes Marinette would stay up at night and think of how this thought made her such a bad person. She felt as if she was also a bad friend because she didn't try more to somehow stop Lila.

Marinette would cry herself to sleep every night. Deep sorrow overwhelmed her. So deep that she felt emotionless.

So deep, that the only emotion she felt was neglect.