I stretched my arms wide over my head as I finish putting the last dress on display of the shop. I adjusted the ruffles on the baby pink and pearl white strapless dress before I return to the back to put my sewing supplies away. It had been a normal day at the store where I tried to finish the designs that have been in the works for ages now and tended to customers who wanted to try on each and every dress on display. It was so humbling to know how many people loved my designs and wanted to compliment them, even if they couldn't afford to buy them at the time. Everyone says I should submit my designs to global fashion shows, but being grounded here in Paris is good enough for me. The fact that I can own my own fashion store is living the dream as it is and I didn't need any more.

"Marinette! Where are you?!"

I peeked my head out of the back room when the bell on top of the door rang. It was after hours, but I knew that booming voice anywhere, especially when I have to hear it everyday.

"Back here, Alya!"

The loud steps of her sneakers followed after and she stood in front of the doorway. She put her hand on the frame and slumped against it, completely out of breath. She glanced down at her phone that was never out of her hand and turned it on. To be honest, the fact that it was off was a little surprising.

"Gee, Alya, you look like you just saw a ghost," I joked as I folded up the fabric on the sewing table to put back in its shelf.

"No, not a ghost; something better!"

"What?"

"Look at this!"

Alya shoved her phone in my face and I saw a picture of a beautiful diamond engagement ring in a rouge velvet box. "A ring?"

"No, wait, yes. But it's not just any ring; it's your ring!"

"I don't have any rings. You know they get in the way of my sewing," I said.

Alya raised an eyebrow at me and leaned more comfortably against the doorway with her hands crossed over her chest. "Really now? You're so bad at taking hints," she sighed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What day is today?" she asked out of nowhere.

"It's the seventh."

"And what's so special about the seventh?"

"It's me and Nathaneal's second anniversary. You know that more than anyone."

Nathaneal and I have been together for two years now. I still remember the day he talked to me at the Eiffel Tower on the day of our high school graduation. The whole class went there for a picnic of sorts to hang out all together one last time and say our goodbyes as most of us went to college or to go study abroad. It was getting late at night but I couldn't stop staring at the starry sky beyond the tower. The world was so big and there was so much to explore, but I couldn't imagine leaving Paris. I had made plans to work on my career as a fashion designer. During high school, I managed to make enough of a name for myself from winning design contests for people like Gabriel Agreste and rockstar Jagged Stone. All I needed to do was put myself out there and I was fully prepared to do that, but I still had to wonder what I could be missing in this great big world of ours.

"It's a beautiful night tonight."

I turned around and Nathaneal was behind me, looking up at the sky.

"Yes, it is. Did everyone leave?" I asked. It had gotten considerably quieter, but I didn't bother to look for my former classmates.

"Most of them did. Others are stargazing too. How come you're not with them?" he asked me. He sat down next to me, but we didn't make eye contact.

"I'm just thinking about the future, I guess. I don't know, I guess graduating hasn't officially set in yet," I muttered. I sighed and brought my knees to my chest.

"Yeah, I can't believe it's real either," he chuckled to himself.

"I just...wonder what everyone will do while I'm here. Everyone is so talented that I'll probably hear them on the news, especially if Alya becomes a journalist. But..." I sighed and rested my head between my knees. I couldn't even find the words to describe how I felt. I should be happy, not only for me, but for everyone. But, I wasn't. I felt empty and as if when I wake up tomorrow, it'll be lonely.

"But you're scared."

I look over to Nathaneal for the first time since he sat down. He still doesn't meet my gaze, but he leans back on his hands and continues to look at the sky, his scarlet hair falling away from his eyes. "I'm scared, too. I keep wondering if after all these years of hiding in the back of the classroom that I'll be stored away in the back of everyone's mind. But, no matter how lonely that is, I know that we all made some amazing memories together and that we'll make plenty more. Who knows, maybe we'll all be reunited someday. This isn't the end, Marinette. If anything, it's just the beginning." He looks over and shows me a gentle smile. I feel a slight blush crawl up to my cheeks and thank the stars for not shining brightly enough for him to notice.

"What are you planning to do after tonight? After the graduation vibe blows over, I mean," I asked.

"I might go to an art school to study more, but really, I just want to work on my drawings and paintings. Being a lone wolf suits me better, I think, and I do my best work when I'm inspired rather than being tasked to. I guess I'm just as clueless as you are," he said.

"I want to open my own fashion boutique," I said softly. It was always my dream and my best talent to design fashion.

"That sounds like a great idea. Maybe I'll come visit sometime," Nathaneal smiled.

I turned to him with a big smile on my face. "Would you really?" I asked. Nathaneal smiled back and nodded.

For the next few months, Nathaneal and I stayed in contact virtually everyday. He decided against going to art school to spend more time on his artwork like he said which did him a lot of good because some of his pieces made it into art shows occasionally. When I got the shop up and running thanks to the money I made from selling clothes and from my parents, Nathaneal kept his word and visited me everyday. We quickly became a lot closer than we were in high school and made it a point to go out to lunch everyday to discuss work. I would help critique his work and he would usually give me tips on color coordination in my clothes. Everything between us was very comfortable until one day when we went to the park for lunch.

He was very on edge and didn't make eye contact like he had something to say. I didn't want to pry, so we sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, he turned to me. His head was low and his bangs covered his eyes like they usually did. "Marinette..." he stuttered.

"Is everything alright, Nathaneal?" I asked.

He took a deep breath and looked up at me. "Well, yes. Everything is alright. I just...have something I want to tell you." I didn't respond and he continued. "Ever since high school, I had...an attachment to you. You really are something else. Whenever someone had a problem, you would be there for them, even if you weren't on the best terms with them. Your smile lights up everyone's day and you always put forth your best effort in everything you do. Seeing you work the store proves that and it embodies everything you work so hard for. There aren't many people like you in this world and being your friend is a huge honor. But...I've come to realize that you're my biggest inspiration and I've been finding myself wanting to be selfish and have you all to myself. I know this is sudden and all, but I wanted to tell you that...I love you, Marinette."

I had no idea what to say and I hated that. My heart was pounding and my eyes felt teary from that heartfelt confession. I wanted to find the words to answer him and end the silence that must be hurting him.

"Nathaneal..."

"If you never want to see me again, I'll understand," he mutters.

"No! That's not what I want at all! In fact...I love you too, Nathaneal."

His head shoots up and one wide eye is uncovered by his hair. "You do?"

"Whenever I feel insecure or lonely, you're always there to cheer me up. You constantly help me make the boutique the best that it can be with your feedback and kept the promise you made on graduation night."

"You...remembered that?"

"Of course I did. When you sat with me, I felt something change. Maybe it was love. All I know for sure is I couldn't have made it this far without you by my side."

He continues to look at me in awe before he envelopes me into a hug. "I can't believe it," he mutters into my ear.

Within the next month, Nathaneal moved in with me in my apartment above the store. We decided to help each other out with our careers and Nathaneal helps me design clothes while I model for paintings. There are several paintings of me and us together scattered on the walls of our apartment and a few in the store.

"So what are you planning to do on this anniversary?" Alya asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"We're going to dinner at that new Italian restaurant down the road," I answered.

"That sounds fancy; fancy like this ring!" She shows me her phone again.

"You can't possibly think that Nathaneal is going to propose to me." Alya raises her eyebrows at me again and doesn't reply. I look away from her and put my hand on the sewing table. "He wouldn't."

"Are you saying he doesn't love you?"

"Of course not! He loves me," I said.

"Then why wouldn't he propose to you?" she asked.

I can't find a plausible answer and her assumption takes over my thoughts. "Oh my god."

Alya takes a step forward and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Congrats, girl," she smiles brightly.

I smile back at her even though I feel butterflies nesting in my stomach.

Is it finally happening?

Author's Note

Welcome to my second ML fic! Since my first AU was well received, I decided I'm not the worst ML writer and came up with another one XD I'm not sure how long this one will be, but I promise you things are going to get crazy later on. You'll just have to wait and see what happens ^w^ I hope you enjoyed this first chapter!

Until next time, sayonara~!