It was another beautiful day in picturesque Paris or… at least it was supposed to be, but nothing seemed to work for Marinette that day. The alarm clock didn't ring, there was no hot water, her toast was burned and she almost wore her blouse inside out. Ignoring all these little unlucky accidents, she rushed to school since a presentation in History class would take place today and she didn't want to miss it. But what she didn't expect was a sudden shower.

Just my luck, she thought sighing.

She was sure the forecast hadn't mentioned anything about it and so she carried no umbrella with her. But even if she was mistaken, the result was still the same; she was half-way to school and all drenched. She looked around for a safe place, but she kept thinking that the more she was stalling here, the more chances she had of missing the start of the class. She decided to gamble and wait for the shower to fade away or at least until it became a light drizzle, because the last thing she wanted was to barge into the classroom dripping from everywhere, but she wasn't sure her luck would hold out.

"Marinette, are you ok?" asked Tikki, her kwami peeking from her safe and dry hiding spot.

"I wish I were! This rain…" she looked towards the sky which seemed disinclined to stop the rain. "Do you think I should transform into Ladybug and run to school? I'm sure I'll be done faster and probably drier!" she said half-jokingly.

"You know you could expose your secret this way! And the powers are not meant to be used this way." chastised her Tikki, but she was smiling kindly. Marinette sighed.

"I know, I didn't mean it… at least not completely." She smiled back. "But this day seems to be against me, I just wish it went away!" she waved her arms in front of her as if an invisible enemy was in front of her. "You'd better hide again. At least one of us should survive this unscathed!" Tikki giggled and hid again.

In any other situation she wouldn't mind being a bit late, but Adrien was to present first and she really didn't want to miss it for the world. He might just see her as a friend, but she couldn't help wanting to be near him as much as possible, so she squeezed her eyes closed and started praying in her mind for the rain to finally stop and let her be on time. After a couple of minutes of no apparent result and with her patience thinning out, she heard a car stop and someone speak.

"Do you need a lift, miss?" the stranger asked candidly. Marinette opened her eyes widely and gaped at the source of the voice. "Haha, did I scare you? I'm sorry."

"O-oh no! What are you talking about, Adrien? It was just unexpeprising. I mean, unexpected and surprising! Haha!" she managed to say, while fiddling her thumbs and trying to control her rising blushing face. In front of her stood Adrien, or more like the car that had Adrien in it. He was looking at her through the open window with a gentle smile and good humor in his eyes.

"Were you late, as well?"

"Just a bit… a lot… not sure what time it is currently, r-really."

"Not too early to reach the school bell ringing, but not too late to reach class before getting lectured!" he smiled and she smiled back instinctively. He could tell her she failed class, but she would probably still smile at him if he did. "Want a ride? I see you have no umbrella and this rain is trouble." She kept staring at him, not sure of what was happening. She probably stared for too long, because Adrien was now looking at her a bit puzzled. "Marinette? Is everything ok?"

"Uhh, yes yes! I was j-just thinking that my clothes are wet and I couldn't possibly get in the car!"

"Oh, no worries." his head vanished for a 2 seconds. "We already have waterproof sheets on the seats" he came back showing her a plastic sheet. "The rain caught us unprepared, as well. So, c'mon, get in, get in" and before she could utter a word, he opened the door and scooted inside so she could sit next to him.

Is this real life? Could everything be leading to this? Was every unlucky incident a "fee" for me getting this present? She kept asking herself frozen at the spot.

"Hurry up, because time is ticking away."

"Yes!" she jumped almost as if electrocuted and got into the car. Next to her Adrien was smiling like always.

The ride to school was a short one, but for the life of hers she couldn't remember anything at all. She was almost sure she was conversing with him, but it might have just been her mind playing tricks. She was already feeling nervous and embarrassed for stuttering so much in front of him once again, she knew she wouldn't be able to just chat with him naturally after that. On the other hand, she remembers clearly Adrien laughing and talking so she must have said something longer than a syllable.

Once they reached the school, the rain had let up a bit, but not nearly enough. Adrien had an umbrella with him and shared it with Marinette, who was ready to bolt at any moment. The thought of embarrassing herself further was the only thing that made her follow him without acting up.

"Let's hurry, because I am pretty sure we are almost completely late." said Adrien looking at the time.

"Yes! And sorry! Because of me you arrived even later…" she just realized that her lucky meeting with him was an unlucky burden on him and felt sad about it.

"What are you talking about? What are friends for if not helping when they are in need?" He gave her his brightest smile and then nudged her arm to start running towards the building.

Ah yes, friends… She swallowed a small sigh and ran with him inside.

The rest of the day went by uneventfully. They were just in time for Adrien to start his presentation and Marinette ogle him as indirectly as she could, forgetting that she had her own presentation to worry about. She had spared so much thought on him, that she hadn't revised her materials since the previous day. Thankfully, she managed just fine with only a couple mistakes, though Chloé did not let them pass by that easily.

So, it was another usual day and Marinette forgot about her crummy morning and went about her day in a pleasant mood thinking about Adrien and their meeting, even when Alya was drilling her with questions during lunch.

"Omg, girl! You came together with Adrien?! And you didn't tell me? Did you plan this? And here I thought you would always just avoid him because you are so shy! When did you do this? I need to know! And how did you do it? Did you call him? Did HE call you? But wait, why would he call you? Actually, did you really do it? Doesn't sound like you." Her barrage of questions never ceased. Marinette tried to wedge an answer among her questions, but she was cut off before even uttering a word. She couldn't help smiling, but her insistence worried her that someone might listen.

"Alya, shhhh! Do you want everyone to know?"

"Know what? That you are an item? Giiirl!"

"What are you talking about?! I wish… but of course not!" she put on her dreamy eyes just for a second just as she pictured herself on a date with Adrien.

"Haha, I'm joking. But I'm still surprised!"

"I realized that when you widened your eyes once we got inside" she smirked.

"How could I not? So tell me!"

"There is nothing to tell, other than him being the perfect gentleman I already knew he was" she swooned around a bit. "I was just waiting the rain out when he saw me and gave me a ride with him."

"Ohhh, still juicy! What did you talk about?"

"I… don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Don't look at me like that! I was just so nervous! He was smiling, so it must have been something good!"

"… You are telling me you rode with him to school and you talked with him, but you can't remember what?" she wore an incredulous look on her face. Marinette didn't know where to look.

"I was so nervous, Alya! Totally unprepared! But it was still the best moment of the year!" Alya shook her head and sighed.

"What are we going to do with you, Marinette?"

"Hold me just before I faint? Do you know how much effort that needs?" she tried to joke. It worked.

"We have to practice for you to be ready next time, silly girl." She smiled and they got up from their table when they heard screaming from outside and felt Tikki moving.

Oh no, what is it this time?