Author's Note: Jesus Christmas why is this system giving me problems? I hope it works this time. I'm really trying to get it to not be a mess!

Chapter 1

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was screwed and she knew it. Her face grew pale as she continued to listen to Mr. Damocles his speech about the upcoming Winter Masquerade Ball the school was hosting. Apparently, it was meant to be a chance at a historical research project or something outlandish like that; really though, anyone who had eyes merely had to look over at Chloé to put two and two together to get four. The list of reasons for why she would "insist" on having a Winter Masquerade are numerous but Marinette didn't have time to think about all that. She had a laundry list of new things to worry about.

Like dancing for example.

Oh she was fine design wise. She already had a beautiful pink princess style dress patterned and ready to make for herself (she was planning to enter it into a dress design competition, sue her) and it wouldn't take her long to design something for Alya but heels, dress, and mask aside, she had two very dangerous left feet to contend with. A whole host of scenarios ran through her mind of how she was going to ruin everything. Only Alya seemed to notice her concern. Everyone else was focused on their principal, and Marinette returned to reality long enough to hear, "Students, you will have until December tenth to finish your projects and turn them in for presentation at the ball. The school will also be providing ballroom dancing lessons every Wednesday afterschool until then. We will be bringing in a professional teacher to conduct those classes. If you would like to attend them, make sure to sign up before the end of school today. Any questions?" No one raised their hands so he dismissed them for their lunch. Poor Mari disappeared into her mind again. Alya shot her a sympathetic look, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and grabbed her bag.

"Come on Mari. Let's head over to your place. We can at least start brainstorming the dresses. You know I only want a Marinette original on this bod." The dark-haired girl gave a murmur. Alya shook her head. She grabbed her elbow gently and guided her out the room. Mari was so distracted that she missed both Nino and Adrien saying good-bye to them and she barely missed the door frame; thank goodness for Alya and her quick reactions. Said girl took it upon herself to guide her friend out of the school building. Down the sidewalk. Across the street. Into the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Finally, into her room where Mari immediately took a seat at her desk and began flipping frantically through her designs in search of something for her friend. Alya took it upon herself to accept the light lunch from Sabine (she thought it was cool that Mari's parents wanted all of her friends to call them by their first names instead of Mr. Dupain and Mrs. Cheng). She sat on the chaise lounge eating silently as she watched her friend. Every now and then she would mumble something, hold up a piece of paper to eye her and it at the same time, before rejecting it and going back to her search and design. Eventually she found something. With a bright gasp, she held up another design before showing it to Alya. The second girl squealed. "It's perfect Mari!"

"Glad you like it," she chirped as she reached for a notepad, making a note of all the materials she was going to need for both of the dresses. She started her mumbling again. Alya eyed her for a second then stood and joined her at the desk, leaning on it.

"Girl, you have got to relax. Your designs are going to be off the chain. We are going to look like two hot chicks even if Chloé comes in an Agreste original." She paused and then slapped her forehead. "Oh wait. It's not the designs you're worried about. Knowing you, it's probably the dancing. Right?"

Mari flinched and pouted up at her. "Alya, I'm going to mess up! You can't admit that I'm not clumsy! What if I go to dance with Adrien and my two left feet get in the way and I fall on top of him and break a bone or give him a concussion which sends him to the hospital either way? Then Adrien and Mr. Agreste will both hate me and I'll be banned from being friends with him, let alone a girlfriend, and I'll never get a chance in the fashion world! I'll be stuck sweeping streets. Maybe even begging? Point it: My. Life. Is. Over!"

Alya lost it. She tried really hard to not laugh but this. This was too much. She loved her best friend but her insecurities were a little much to deal with from time to time; this particular time had her doubled over in pain as she held her sides and tried to breathe. Mari continued to pout. It took a moment for her to regain her voice.

"You have got to chill girl. There's just a couple of holes in that scenario. Like, you asking Adrien to dance? You've got to get a halfway decent sentence out to him instead of 'Hey A-a-a-uh-guh-ah'."

"I've gotten better," she defended.

"Riiiight. Anyway, even then, you need to be more concerned with the dresses right now. We can sign up for those classes when we get back and I'll make sure to clear my schedule to be there with you."

"Yeah! You're the best friend anyone can ask for."

"Don't I know it? Anyway, when do you want to get started on these dresses?" Mari eyed the design and her shopping list.

"You free tomorrow afternoon? The sooner I can get the measurements and materials, the better in my opinion." Especially since I don't know when Hawkmoth will mess up my day, she thought bitterly. Alya nodded and took another bite out of the sandwich she'd been eating.

"Sounds good to me. Say, why don't we invite Nino and Adrien along?" Mari pushed back from her desk, her eyes wide.

"A-Adrien?! Why?" Alya shrugged.

"I figured he might be interested in seeing what you're doing. After all, he is a designer's son." Mari narrowed her eyes.

"You've got something else planned don't you?"

Alya batted her eyelashes and moved away from the table. She sauntered over to the chaise lounge to gather her belongings. "I have no idea what you could mean my dear Marinette."

"Alya…."

"My lips are sealed and no amount of begging will get them to come undone. C'mon. We need to get back to school to sign up for those classes." The brunette left out the trap door first, shutting it behind her. Tikki flew up from Mari's purse, a giggle on her lips. Mari grumped at her.

"Don't you say it. I know what you're thinking and it's not going to work."

"Oh Mari…."

"It won't. Adrien isn't going to go with us, I'm not going to get my chance to ask him to dance with me, and you and Alya are not going to start some weird shipping name for us."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged before vanishing again with a fresh cookie into the purse.

Marinette came down the stairs this time, carrying her own dirty dishes. Both girls helped with washing, drying, and putting up before grabbing a small tart each from Tom on their way back to school. She was feeling more like herself having already picked out the dress patterns so quickly and making a list of the things that she needed to make them but the dancing still weighed heavily on her mind. Alya dragged her over to the sign-up sheet as soon as they entered the building. Eyeing it showed her two things: one, that a majority of the students in her class and several from the other classes had signed up and, two, that Adrien had not. She guessed that would make sense. Living in high society meant that he probably had a whole repertoire of ballroom dancing styles and skills. That or he was booked on Wednesdays now and she just didn't know. She hadn't updated his schedule in her room in a while and made a note to do so soon. Alya patted her on the shoulder again. Once both of their names were written down, they returned to the classroom where both Nino and Adrien were sitting in their usual seats. Alya leaned down quickly to give Nino a quick kiss on the cheek. Mari blushed heavily when she spotted her making eyes at her as if to say "You should do the same to Adrien." If anything, this made her avoid eye contact with the boy as she made her way to her own seat where she promptly met the other girl with an elbow in the side. She merely giggled.

Before Ms. Bustier could get started, she leaned down and tapped Nino on the shoulder. "Hey Nino, Adrien," she called, getting the blonde's attention, "Mari's gotta get some supplies to make our dresses. I figured since it's a given that at least the three of us are going together," she motioned to herself, Mari, and Nino, "we could all go look at the materials together. You already know you're going to be matching me babe. No amount of arguing will stop it." Nino rolled his eyes as she playfully rubbed his head.

"Wasn't going to dude."

"Smart."

"Uh, Alya," Adrien cut in. "What do I have to do with any of this?" All three turned their eyes to meet him so quickly, it almost made him wonder what in the world he just said wrong.

"Uh dude, you know you're part of this group whether you want to be or not?"

"Yeah Adrien. You're one of our friends. You are more than welcomed to join us. I just haven't gotten the chance to ask if you wanted to go to the ball together and for the record, one of us was going to ask you to come." He blinked and looked between the three of them. His heart beat rapidly and heat rushed to his face, causing him to stutter for a second. Never. Never had he been treated like this before and it made him feel almost like a kid let loose in a candy shop. "So what do you say? Can we expect you tomorrow afternoon and at the ball?"

"I'll go," he quickly answered. "I'll go. To both." He would have to sneak away from Nathalie and the Gorilla but he would do it; he would go, he would have fun, and he would have some bonding time with his friends. Alya and Nino let out a triumphant shout while Marinette released an unearthly screech. Adrien eyed her. Did she not… Did she not want him to go? Before he could ask, a voice cut in.

"I'm sorry but I didn't realize I taught in a zoo. If you four would kindly stop being loud in class, we can begin today." The four of them sunk a bit in their chairs, appropriately abashed, as Ms. Bustier introduced some Victorian Literature, explaining that ballroom dancing was important to that society and would thus be part of their focus for the rest of the fall semester.

Marinette was unfortunately so focused on what the teacher was saying that she failed to see the wheels turning rapidly in Alya's head.

Oh, tomorrow was going to be fun.