Chapter 1: Can't Stop Wanting You

Marinette had already made up her mind. There was no going back. Today was the day she was going to tell Adrien how she felt about him. She couldn't live another day without him not knowing her feelings.

She was sweating, and if one thing went wrong she'd loose her mind. She brushed her dark hair and put them back into pigtails with trembling hands second time that morning. She wanted to look perfect. She checked the clock – she still had ten minutes before she had to leave for school. And she was going to school, no matter if it felt like she had a bunch of Akumas in her belly or not.

"You can do it, Marinette." Tikki encouraged her, noticing her nerves were starting to get fried.

Marinette trembled.

"But… what if I can't? I probably shouldn't even tell Adrien, because what if Chloe is there to ruin everything…" She collapsed in her chair and rested her head in her hands.

Tikki patted Marinette's shoulder.

"You had plenty of courage a few minutes ago. What happened to it? You jumped out of bed and said 'today I'm going to tell Adrien how I feel about him'. You really said it."

"I think it's gone now…"

"Marinette!" Her mom called, "Come on down for breakfast! You'd better get ready for school!"

"I'll be down in a second!" She replied with a nervous laugh, "You're right Tiki. I already made up my mind. I can't wait any longer."

Marinette grabbed her backpack, and Tikki flew into her bag. She raced downstairs to the kitchen where her parents were eating breakfast. Her mom sipped on coffee. The kitchen smelled like pancakes and chocolate. Marinette grabbed herself a plate, but it started to shake and she dropped it.

"What's wrong, Marinette?" her dad asked.

"Oh! Nothing. I'm just nervous."

"Do you have a test today?"

"Kind of." she replied with a blush, "But not the normal kind… you could say…"

Her parents were confused. But she didn't want to tell them in case she got rejected. She'd have to tell them anyway later, but now she had to get going to school. She didn't even take a bite of her pancake, because she might turn green and throw it up on Adrien. That would be embarrassing.

"Have a good day Marinette." They said as she burst out the door before she could change her mind.

Well, she did change her mind. She ran back inside before Tiki could ask what she was doing, and hugged her parents. Then she ran to school even though her heart was telling her to run back home.

Marinette arrived on time to class for the first time in a while, but it still felt like she was late. There were only three other students in the class. Adrien, Alya, and Nino. They all looked glum. Marinette scratched her head, and then turned towards the teacher, who she discovered was a substitute. Her heart raced when she saw Adrien.

"Where is everyone else?" Marinette asked Alya, as she was heading to her desk.

Alya sighed and replied, "They went on a field trip, to the National Museum of Modern Art."

"Wait, there was a field trip today!?" Marinette collapsed on her desk, realizing that she had forgotten the permissions slip at home, and had forgotten to ask her parents. She was so busy being Ladybug that she forgot about the field trip. She grumbled under her breath at how stupid she was.

"And why can't you go, Alya?" she asked.

"I'm behind on my homework. I mean, my Ladyblog is taking off! I have priorities!"

"Oh. How about you, Nino?" she asked.

"My parents weren't home so they couldn't sign it. I really wanted to go." he sighed sadly, embarrassed.

"And my dad isn't even letting me go." Adrien explained.

Marinette hung her head. She felt sorry for him. But at least she was with her favorite friends! Today couldn't be all that bad.

Well, that was until the bell rang. The substitute teacher was incredibly strict. However today was an art day, since they missed out on the field trip they were allowed to work on art projects in pairs.

"Marinette and Alya, you will be working together. And Nino and Adrien, you will be working together." he said.

Marinette's heart did a flip-flop when she realized she wasn't going to be paired with Adrien. She didn't mind being paired with Alya, it was just she could've missed the perfect opportunity to tell Adrien her feelings for him.

Nino was talking to Adrien about a map of the museum now, and he was really interested in it.

"Girl would you concentrate on this? You seem so jumpy!" Alya said.

"Oh! Sorry. It's Adrien…"

"It's always Adrien." Alya said, rolling her eyes.

They worked on the project for a few moments. Then Marinette told Alya what she was going to do.

"What?" Alya shouted.

"Keep it down and work!" shouted the subsitute, who came over to them with his arms crossed. He tapped his fingers and waited for them to get back to work.

They did quickly.

"Sorry." Marinette said, ducking her head.

"You get two more warnings today. If you get to warning three, I will send you to the principal's office."

It really shouldn't be too hard to watch four kids in a single class, Marinette thought to herself, considering we are decent students.

For the rest of the period Alya and Marinette whispered to each other while they worked. Nino and Adrien were relatively quiet except for when they asked each other school-work related questions, like could you pass the crayons and other similar questions, which the teacher didn't seem to mind because they were working. The teacher didn't yell at them, but he did give them dirty looks.

Alya said, "Whoa. I'm super impressed Marinette! You're finally going to tell him. It took you about a million years."

"I'm super nervous, Alya." she groaned.

"You can do it. Adrien is totally going to fall head over heels for you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Have you paid attention to the way he compliments you?"

Marinette's jaw dropped, and sighed romantically. She could hardly believe that she was really going to tell him her feelings that day. That very afternoon. Speaking of afternoon, lunch was quickly approaching. They finished up their project together just as the bell rang for lunch.

Instead of going to the cafeteria, Marinette ran to the bathroom. The butterflies in her stomach returned. She locked herself in the stall, thinking she was going to throw up, but her empty stomach grumbled. She was a mess anyway. Tikki flew out of her bag.

"Why are you nervous again?"

"Because… what if I mess up? I am totally going to mess up. I can see it happening. I am so unlucky."

"Remember this, you're Ladybug! Ladybugs are lucky! The Ladybug who saves Paris all the time. The Ladybug who de-evilizes Hawkmoth's akumas!"

Marinette was pumped. Tikki was right. She was both ordinary and extraordinary. Hero and student. And helplessly in love with Adrien Agreste. If she didn't do something soon, she'd regret it for the rest of her life.

"You're right. I am Ladybug. I can do it. I am going to tell Adrien how I feel about him."

"And Chloe isn't here." Tiki reminded, and this made Marinette smile.

If there ever was a day to tell Adrien, it was today. Marinette got out of the bathroom and went to the cafeteria. She found Alya on a bench, eating her lunch. Marinette debated if she should eat her lunch first, but probably decided it was better to eat it after so she wouldn't make a fool of herself.

"I'm going to do it, Alya."

Alya gave her a thumbs up.

"You totally got this!"

Nervously, Marinette got up and walked across the court, which seemed to go on forever. Her legs felt like lead. She was worried she would trip over her own shoes. But she didn't. Adrien and Nino were talking to each other and enjoying lunch too, though they seemed a little gloomy. Nino especially. She hoped he was okay.

Finally, she was close enough to Adrien and she hadn't messed up. Not yet anyway.

Here goes nothing, she said, trying to calm her racing heart and failed.