Chapter 1
Miraculously Sweet
The cardboard boxes were sprawled on the pink carpet. A quiet exhale was heard as another box was placed on the floor. Marinette lifted her back and stood tall laughing to herself. Moving from China wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but Marinette followed her parents to Paris. Of course, she had picked out the college she wanted to go to once she was told they were moving to France. They had lived there once before, but Marinette was just a little girl then. Deep down Marinette didn't want to be far from her parents. She loved helping them out in the bakery they had once owned. On the other hand, she knew that she would have to move to away from them to continue on her path to be a fashion designer. Marinette had always creative with her ideas on making hats, scarfs, and other clothing. It was her passion and she knew that it was a great way for her to make money. Marinette pulled her phone and looked on the screen that glowed for her. The time was 4:30 and not a single notification had come in. It was for the best after all, she did want to get everything done as soon as possible. Pushing her phone back into her pocket, Marinette lifted a smaller box and set it atop of a taller one. Marinette rolled her eyes, only now realizing how many things she truly had. A sudden knock was heard at the door and soon opened once Marinette had looked its way. A woman with reddish-brown ombre hair stepped in the room and smiled gently.
"Hi there, I'm assuming you are my roommate?" the girl said as she closed the door behind her.
"Ahh, yes! I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng and you are?" Marinette questioned her. The girl giggled to herself and smiled at Marinette.
"I am Alya Cesaire, I can tell we are going to get along just fine!" Alya said cheerfully. Marinette smiled at Alya's kindness. Alya strolled over to their couch and set her stuff atop of it. She wiped her forehead of the sweat that had formed. Alya sighed and turned to Marinette, who had only moved her boxes in herself, and smiled once more.
"I know they are both pretty small, but we can figure out what to do with our extra belongings later on. So which room would you like?", Alya questioned. Marinette didn't get much of a chance to looked over the rooms. So instead of replying to Alya, she quickly glanced in each room and found that the second one would be hers.
"I'll take the room on the left. I'm glad we do not start classes for another month." Marinette clarified, for she knew that she wanted to get used to the area and campus. Marinette snapped out of her thoughts when Alya passed her vision. Realizing that she needed to move her stuff into the room she had picked. Marinette rotated to find which box to move first. She looked at the box with the words, 'clothes' and walked over to get it. Marinette trekked into the room, it had a mattress, a bedside table, and a small desk. With the box in hand, she set it on the mattress and rolled her eyes knowing she had more work to do. Marinette strolled to the closet and opened it up by sliding the door to the left. The closet was quite large considering the room size. Dragging the box off the mattress and opening it, she started to hang her shirts on the hangers, which she had brought herself. Her mind had drifted off and started thinking how her first year of college would go. For she knew, Marinette would need a job to have food and everything she needed here in her dorm with Alya. Marinette pulled her favorite shirt out of of the box and smiled. She had this shirt since she was in high school. The shirt was white with pink flowers across the chest. The bluenette hung it up along with the others, but looked down to find all the shirts were now hung in the closet.
"Hey Marinette," Alya called as she opened Marinette's door, "I have to head out for work. You should stop by later! It's called Miraculously Sweet, about a mile from here. Hope to see you there!" She finished, closing the door behind her. Alya's footsteps could be heard scurrying across the floor and out of the front door. Marinette snickered to herself, but she turned slowly looking at her surroundings. She'd have to go out for other things so stopping by Alya's work wouldn't kill her. Marinette smiled softly, turning towards the door and leaving her room. Grabbing her purse and sketchbook, locked the dorm door behind her and pulled out her cell phone. Unlocking it, Marinette went to her maps app and looked up, 'Miraculously Sweet'. Her blue bell eyes scanned the screen seeing the small reviews and stars that have earned.
"Seems like a good place", Marinette said to herself and pulled out her headphones. Listening to her favorite song, she started walking. The sun came into view when she walked out of the building. It was one of those baby-blue skies, not the psychedelic candy-blue nor the washed out grey so characteristic of wintry mornings. For Marinette, the soft warm sun reminded her of her mother's hugs. She had missed her family, even though they weren't so far away. Marinette's parents balled their eyes out when she was leaving hours before. She took a breath of the cool wind when it passed by. She exhaled after seconds had passed and a genuine smile formed on her face. Marinette turned to continue of campus and found herself crossing over the Seine River. Stopping on the bridge, she gazed over the railing to see the large river. The river passed by soft and smoothly. Sounds from the river reminded her of how peaceful the city was for her. She had always loved Paris for as long as she could remember. From the Eiffel Tower to Louvre Museum, the places near her she could always get inspiration for her designs. The whole reason she is in college is to continue her goal to be a big fashion designer. Gabriel Agreste, who is the biggest designer in Paris, is her biggest inspiration since she got into fashion. Meeting him would be a dream come true for Marinette.
Marinette's phone suddenly chimed alerting her that she had arrived at 'Miraculously Sweet'. The small cafe was huddled between two large buildings on either side. It's windows were fogged and emitted a warm glow from within. There was nothing extravagant about the place; it didn't have any fancy pillars or window etchings. It held the warm aroma of a homey business, and Marinette felt drawn to it. The sign was created with golden, cursive letters that hung proudly and gleamed in the sunlight. It gave off a calming aura that relaxed her mind. Marinette started for the door and pulled on the handle enough to open slowly. Entering in, the smell of freshly baked goods infiltrated her nose. There were many customers sitting at a table and two waiting at the counter. Smiling delightfully, Marinette walked up to the counter only to encounter Alya working behind it. Her hazelnut eyes looked up, meeting Marinette's blue belled ones.
"Hey girl, you made it! How was the walk here?" The people next to Marinette scooted aside as Alya finished. Marinette laughed lightly at Alya's reaction.
"What can I get you?" Alya said and leaned over the counter with her hand at the side at her mouth, "It will be on the house, so don't worry about paying". She winked at Marinette and chuckled pulling away.
"Well Miss Alya, I will get…", Marinette started, but soon lost in thought as see looked over the many items on the board above. Her eyes grazed the menu, then stopped once she found the right thing she wanted. "I'll take an iced cinnamon latte with whipped cream", Marinette finished excitedly. Alya looked at her happily and dash to get her friends drink, all while almost slipping and falling on the floor. Marinette rolled her eyes and went over to wait for her drink. About a minute later, Alya handed Marinette her drink.
"Thanks Alya", Marinette said merrily.
"No problem, Girl. go sit and relax. I'm going on break soon", Alya replied and looked to the man next to Marinette, "And here is your hot cinnamon latte, Sir".
"Thank you, but I also had a sandwich too, Ma'am" He said to her.
"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry, it will be right out!" Alya said and hurried to the back. Marinette grinned and sat down at a table that was aside from a window. She pulled out her sketchbook and turned to an empty page. With a pencil that she always carries in her purse, Marinette started to sketch a fedora hat. Yet, she stopped at the outline of the hat and looked out the window next to her. There, she had saw a beautiful Magpie sitting on a sign near by. From its dark black wings and back, to its pearly white stomach. Her eyes suddenly beamed and she quickly looked to her sketch. Marinette started drawing feathers to over the top of it. Her hand moving quickly. A smile formed on her face.
"Umm excuse me… you're in my seat ma'am.." A voice came from above her. Marinette looked up to find a man with brushed-back blond hair and light green eyes. Marinette was mesmerized by the glow in his eyes.
"I ahh… am?" Marinette questioned, not knowing what to say. He had moved his hand to point to the black briefcase that was stuffed in the corner underneath the table. Marinette opened her mouth agape and stumbled to her feet.
The man giggled and sat down. Marinette had turned to stand and leave, but was stopped when he awed. Marinette saw him looking at sketchbook that she didn't grab from the table.
"You're a really good artist" he commented, and looked back at Marinette.
"Ahh.. thank you?" Marinette questioned back, "I just really like fashion… so I was drawing the next dress… I was going to make", she said while studying his face. His cheeks had a rosy tint to them. He had a silly smile plastered on his face. His light green eyes fixed on Marinette's sketchbook. Her mouth was open, as if words wanted to come out. None of them were flowing out like she wanted them to. She closed her mouth, not sure what to do.
"You know instead of staring, you could always sit down and talk to me more about this", he said as he pointed to the sketchbook in his hand. Marinette couldn't help but want to sit back down and talk more about her sketch. She was hesitant at first, but slowly sat down across from the seat she was once in. Marinette was smiling dorkly, but on the inside she felt like she was going to faint. This handsome man invited her to sit with him, for he wanted to know more about her sketches. No one else had asked her ever about her sketches because they knew of how Marinette thought they were embarrassing to her. Yet to her surprise, this man she had never met before wanted to know more.
"Well… ahhh ummm…" Marinette couldn't come up with a single word to say to the blonde man. She looked to the table unsure, but then quickly looked up, "Your name… ah what is it?" she finally managed to utter out. He laughed and slowly smirked.
"Adrien. It's Adrien Agreste." The man now known as Adrien, replied to her. Her mind went blank, and his name rang in the back of her head. She felt transfixed on his eyes, an ocean of emerald that sucked her in. She felt lost in a daze, the world spinning away as all she could see was this man who appeared like a model. She quickly regained her senses and looked at the book infront of Adrien
"What do you want to know about my sketch?" Marinette said with. Adrien cleared his throat and looked back down at the sketch.
"How about your inspiration for it? What made you want to sketch or maybe make this dress?" He replied to her happily. Marinette started to think why she was inspired at all. Her cheeks turned red and she muttered quietly to herself before speaking out to Adrien.
"I'd have to say my parents. They have been my biggest support to keep going even after multiple failed attempts. I started to like fashion when i was a little girl, so i always just continued on with it" Marinette had stopped to breathed, but soon continued, "I wanted to make the dress because I had just moved into my dorm earlier today and realized that i needed a summer dress for the warm weather right now", She finished.
"So you're going to collage?" Adrien had asked, interested on the subject about her. She nodded in response. "Let me guess, for fashion design right?" he asked her another question once more.
"Yes, i have gotten good at it over the years. I thought since I loved it so much that i should continue and make money off it", Marinette said. Adrien smiled to her and slid her book across the table and back to her. She tilted her head and questioned, taking the book back and closing it before her. Before Marinette could say anything Adrien had stood and walked back over to the counter. A minute later, he came back followed by a bag he had in his hand. Adrien sat back down and slid the paper bag over to Marinette. He smiled at her and nodded her to look in. She opened the bag before her, inside she had found a folded up paper and a warm croissant. Marinette grabbed the paper in the bag and unfolded it, wondering what the paper had on the inside. It read:
Would love to get to know you more, Marinette. It's kind ironic that we met.
I am big into fashion myself, but it seems that I didn't notice how much time had actually passed since our meeting. Sorry, but have something to attend to. How about we meet up and talk later on today? Here's my number: +33635124
Hope you won't be to mad at me.
~ Adrien Agreste
Marinette had been so focused on note she had in her hand that didn't see that Adrien had left the seat from across her. Her eyes widen in surprise, but soon relaxed when she realized how cute the note she had in her hand was. Marinette hadn't met Adrien, but only about 30 minutes ago. He was so interested her, yet she had no idea who he truly was. On the other hand, he was mysterious to her and she wanted to know more. Her cheeks bright red as she smiled, she stood and waved goodbye to Alya. Leaving the small cafe behind her and heading back to her dorm.
Adrien sighed resting his head on his hand. His eyes were dull with boredness, he sat listening to his father. At the age of 25, Adrien was still being scolded by his father, whom he hadn't lived with for he last 5 years. Yet Adrien still worked with his father even after he had stopped modeling for him. Now he is working towards being a professor for fashion design. His father Yet his mind had been on the blue haired woman he had met earlier today. Earlier, he was fixed on Marinette's blue-belled eyes. To Adrien, she seemed nervous and yet she was more than happy to tell him about herself. Hopefully, she would reach out to him. Abruptly, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Adrien pulled out the cellphone and looked closely at the device in front of him. A notification in the middle of his screen stood out to him. It was a text message, it was a number that wasn't in his phone.
"Who has the number of +33653257? Could it be…" before he finished. He unlocked his phone and read the message sent by the number. He read it slowly and happily. It had read:
Hey, it's Marinette :)
