"Are you sure it looks okay..?" Marinette says skeptically, twisting and turning before her body length mirror to check every fold and ruffle of her dress. As soon as it was announced that the dance would be a masquerade she immediately got to work. You could probably fill a entire dump truck with the sketches she scrapped, trying to get it absolutely perfect. While her night may not turn out as good as she hopes, she at least wants to feel pretty. Though, shes feeling very skeptical about her design. Shed be lying if she said she wasn't somewhat inspired by her second life, as Ladybug.

"Girl you look wonderful!" Alya says in awe. She does a small twirl and watches as the black fabric sways around her thighs. Already anticipating the ending being stepped on, she made it stop at knees length. Its a simple design, really. Mostly black aside from the red sash tied around her waist, just above where the two layers of ruffles flare out. Although she doesn't have them on right now, she had to buy a pair of black, elbow length gloves and add her own red trim to the ends. And finally, her mask, the smallest thing yet it took the most effort. She picks it up off her bed and ties it around the back of her head. Its much like her ladybug mask, but black with red details at the edges. Though it looks a bit ridiculous, she just had to add the little black cat ears at the top, though to most she doubts it looks like anything more than small arches coming up from the sides.

"Adrien is so gonna love you after tonight" Alya squeals, and Marinette can see her excitement in her face from her reflection. Her face heats up, making her wonder if it would have been better to make something that covers a little more of her face. If she indeed does have the guts to even approach Adrien, shes definitely gonna need something to cover the tomato that her face will quickly become. She smiles sheepishly and removes the mask, setting it neatly back in its place on her desk.

"I'm sure he'll be too busy with Chloe to even notice.." She mutters, already seeing it now. Chloe no doubt made her dad buy her the finest outfit the world has to offer, and Marinette wouldn't even be surprised if she convinced her dad to set her up with Adrien for the dance..

Why does life have to be so unfair?

"Well then we'll make him notice." A gentle hand comes up and pats her shoulder. "Don't worry, your girl got plans"

Marinette is about to question just what Alya was planning when her mother calls for her. She almost forgot she was helping her parents out today. She quickly fumbles with shimmying out of her dress as Alya bids her a goodbye, promising to meet up with her before the dance. Her mischievous smile doesn't sit too well with the girl, but she lets it go for now. She has cakes to deliver, and then she has to go get her hair done. Oh! And she cant forget to pick up the custom necklace she spent pretty much all her savings on. She quickly scribbles the reminder on a sticky note and places it on her monitor.

"Marinette?" Her mother calls again. She fumbles and falls as she pulls on her pants, trying her best to speed it up. She has four hours before the dance, which is a good amount of time for any other girl. But this is Marinette, the infamous klutz with a bad habit of running into difficulties. Shes gonna need all the time she can get.

"Coming!" She says and rushes down the stairs, panting slightly. She only slows her roll when she grabs the boxed cake. She writes the address down on a scrap piece of paper and loads it onto her bike outside. Okay, three deliveries and then she'll go pick up her necklace.

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"You look beautiful.." Her kwami compliments as he walks through the door.

"I'm not even in my full costume Tikki" Marinette giggles as she puts on her necklace. Her mother was kind enough to take the time to curl her hair, to she's decided to leave it down for tonight.

"Well, your always beautiful Mari" She scratches her neck shyly at the complement and carefully ties her mask under her hair. She can help the nervousness churning in her stomach as she looks at her reflection to fix her hair. What if Adrien doesn't like her? Or worse, what if she cant even speak to him properly? No one likes a stuttering idiot.. Tonight is a night of elegance, and she mentally promises herself to do everything in her power not to be the clumsy dummy she so often tends to be.

She clutches tightly to her small matching coin purse as she looks herself over. The more she stands her and looks at herself, the more self conscious she gets about what people will thing, what Adrien will think. She had promised herself tonight is the night she will finally try to approach him, and for once not just spout nonsense.

"Ah I wonder what he'll be wearing.." She thinks out loud, her face flushing a soft pink at the thought. She knows, whatever it is, it'll look great. Hes Adrien Agreste, famous teen model, he can make even a trashbag look stunning. But he'll probably be wearing something designer, of course. Maybe even something of his own family's brand. Oh how wonderful he would look in one of his fathers designs.. Marinette sighs dreamily.

Tikki's giggle brings her from her thoughts with a replenished blush on her face. She shakes her head softly and wills her embarrassment away.

"So, are you sure you don't want to come? I don't mind carrying you around at all" Marinette turns to her small friend with furrowed brows. The kwami in question only shakes her head .

"I'm sure. Go have a good time, I want your night to be perfect" Tikki urges, taking the small purse from her and dropping back on her desk. She zips back through the air to hug Miranettes cheek, turning her small frown from tikkis answer into a giggly smile.

"Okay okay." Mari sighs and pats her head with a finger. She glances at the clock, finding it 20 minutes till 8. "I should be leaving now, though.." Her smile falls as a slight sense of dread hits her. Butterflies flutter violently in her stomach as she gives herself one final look.

"Youll be fine. Have a good time" Tikki pats her shoulder with her small hand. She swallows thickly and forces a smile. This is it. Tonights the night. Shes gonna do it. Itll be fine..

She hugs Tikki goodbye and heads downstairs. She smiles nervously as shes greeted by both her parent with great smiles.

"Oh Mari you look stunning.." Her mother is the first to speak up. Her dad only pulls her into a big warm hug, which her mother soon joins in on.

"Too stunning. I don't need all those boys falling for my baby girl" Her father says, already sounding teary.

"Don't worry papa, ill always love you more" Marinette gives a soft giggle once shes released from their death choker of a hug.

"Promise?"

"Promise" She kisses both their cheeks before saying her farewells. She could have sworn she saw tears well up in her fathers eyes, but shes not sure.

She pushes though the bakery doors and shivers as the cold evening air blows over her. She lets the nippy wind chill away her worries as she walks the all to familiar path to her school.