I'm so sorry that it took me this long to post. Enjoy...

"Hey Mari," the customer said softly,"I'm sorry, I didn't know." I looked up from my shoes, bright green eyes meeting my sea blue ones. Really? Haven't I embarrassed myself enough?

"It's okay, um, what can I get you?" I shuffled around the counter, grabbing a napkin, trying my hardest not to look at his luscious emerald eyes. It was like Medusa, when you look at them, you can't look away.

"Can I explain what happened earlier?" Adrien whispered, as if I would run away. Every piece of me wanted to shake my head and flee the room, but 1 I would get a scolding from my parents, and 2 I couldn't move. Reluctantly, I slowly nodded my head and waited for his explanation.

"I'm really sorry if you thought I didn't remember you. I remember a girl with glasses who was kind, crazy intelligent, creative, cute, and her name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Matter of fact I'm glad your not Marcie, I didn't like her at all." Adrien said with a nervous smile. I continued to rest my gaze on the floor, but this time not out of embarrassment. Right now my face was as red as the strawberries on the cake next to me.

Don't stutter, don't stutter. "T-thanks, I'm sorry about earlier. I-I was out of line. Can you forgive me?" I asked, trying not to sound weak, like the old me.

"N-no, don't be sorry! I was the one out of line." Adrien said, waving his hands in his face. "I shouldn't have called you Marcie, you don't even look like her, where did Marcie even come from? I didn't even know her very well..." my giggle interrupted his rambling. I covered my mouth, trying not to be rude, but he was so cute.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" He asked, giving me a puzzling look. His eyes began to get wider as if he really thought he did something.

This time I let out a glass-shattering laugh. He once again gave me a questioning look. "No silly, your just funny." I said, looking into his irresistible eyes.

We stood there, looking into each other's enchanting eyes. Nothing else needed to be said. After a moment of silence, my father's thuds of footsteps made their way from down the hallway and my mind snapped back to reality.

"Did you want something?" I said, trying to get Adrien out before my embarrassing, overbearing parents saw him.

"Actually, I came here to see you, I didn't know if you would be here. I guess luck is on my side." Adrien replied as he stuffed his tan fists into his designer pockets on his designer jeans.

I smiled and walked around the glass counter. "You might want to hurry, you don't want my parents-" right when I was starting to push the gorgeous blond out the door, my father came out of the kitchen. I shifted my gaze to the floor, my hands stuck to Adrien's chest. I sighed in defeat, knowing what was to come.

"Marinette? You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend." My father said, crossing his arms, a friendly look on his face.

"Dad, this isn't what it looks like." I said, removing my delicate fingers from Adrien's chest. Adrien looked at me and then my father, confusion plastered all over his face. I mentally face-palmed, why, why do I embarrass myself.

Adrien moved to shake my father's big, burly hand and I shuffled to the corner, trying not to make a bigger fool of myself. "Adrien, Adrien Agreste," he said with another amazing smile.

After what seemed like an awkward hand shake, my father replied,"Tom Dupain. My daughter used to talk about you a lot." My dad said with a wicked grin of his own. Great, not that I needed anyone else to embarrass me. Blood was once again rushing to my cheeks, wondering how this scene would unfold.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" My father said, pointing to the stairs that led up to their house.

"I wouldn't want to impose." Adrien whispered, making circle with his feet. He looked disappointed, my heart broke in tiny pieces for him. His dad is probably busy all the time, singing and all.

"You wouldn't be imposing," I said, trying to make home feel welcome. He looked in my eyes and smiled. I grabbed his warm, soft hand,"Dad, can I show him upstairs?" I asked. My father nodded and I took that as a sign that we could go up. I continued to lead him up the stairs.

-line break-

Once dinner was ready, we all sat in our designated seats and began to eat. Adrien acted like he hadn't eaten in days. He had seconds, thirds, and fourths.

"So, what are you up to?" My mother asked, breaking the silence and clanking sounds. Adrien looked up from his plate, spaghetti sauce smeared around his mouth. I giggled,"You've got a little something." I said, motioning around my mouth.

He quickly grabbed his napkin and dabbed around his mouth. "I um, help my father out with his music and do some singing of my own, although opera music isn't particularly my style." He said, still wiping sauce from his pink, luscious, lips.

"What about you Marinette? Do you still live here?" Adrien asked almost as if he already knew the answer.

"Um, actually I'm the head costume designer for Chat Noir. I own my own studio apartment about five minutes from here." I said, trying to sound normal.

"Are you a fan of his, I take a liking to his music." Adrien replied as he rose out of his seat a little.

"He's okay I guess, I've only met him a few times." I said, trying not to let on what happened this morning. Adrien seemed happy with my response and the rest of the dinner we all talked about anything and everything.

"Thanks for dinner Mrs. Cheng and Mr. Dupain." Adrien said after insisting he help clear the table and wash the dishes.

"Your welcome, come back any time." My mother said as she patted Adrien's hand.

I led Adrien back down the steps of the bakery, wondering what would happen after tonight. "Thanks for everything Marinette, I hope you know you can count on me as a friend." I turned away and scratched my arm, waiting for him to say something else.

"Thanks Adrien, I guess I'll see you around? You are still friends with Nino." I asked. Maybe my school girl crush wasn't over.

"Yeah, maybe we could hang out some time." he said unsure of how I would react.

"Sure, au revoir," I said softly with a scratch of my neck.

"Au Revoir, Marinette." Adrien said. And with that, he was gone. I felt my heart sink once again. I hadn't seen him in years, now my crush is back. I guess I better get home, it's already past eight.

-line break-

After I got back to my apartment, I threw all of my things on my counter and walked into my sewing room. I had the perfect material to make the costume I designed earlier today. I wouldn't use it, but it would help me take my mind off of Adrien.

I grabbed my sketchbook and began sewing.

-line break-

"Girl, don't tell me you stayed up all night sewing some new design." I heard my friend yell. I made a "shh" noise with my lips. My coffee pot was broken, and I didn't have time to stop for coffee, so I didn't even have a drop of caffeine and my head felt like someone was hitting me with a hammer.

"I'm going to take that as a yes." Alya said, lowering her voice and sitting down in a coral chair. I stopped what I was doing and laid my pounding head on my welcoming, soft desk. "Can I see it?" Alya asked as she began to stroke my messy, tangled hair.

"Why would I bring it with me?" I replied, wondering how Alya knew me so well. I lifted my head, just enough to see Alya. She gave me a questioning look like she knew I did, and she was right.

"You should go put it on. I bet it would make you look better than Lila. You know you're a better singer than her. You just can't bare to share your voice with anyone after what happened in lycée." Alya said, giving me a boost of confidence.

"Will you stop talking if I try it on?" I mumbled, kidding. She laughed and I slowly grabbed the costume and went to the bathroom. Oh, and it just so happened that I was wearing red high tops.

After I put the clothes on, I pulled my hair into twin tails, just to top it off. I peaked out the bathroom door, making sure no one could see me.

I scrambled back to my office and was met with a high pitched squeal. "What?" I asked, looking down at myself. This was probably the most skin I had ever shown. I was in shape and went to the gym every now and then, so I expected to look okay in it. "Do I look weird? I knew it." I said as I began to walk out of my office door.

"No, wait! Mari, you don't look weird. You look hot!" Alya exclaimed. I looked down at the floor while deep reds dusted my cheeks. I couldn't even take a compliment from my best friend. I began to laugh, and eventually Alya and I were stuck in a fit of giggles.

Finally, when Alya and I got over our laughing spell, I changed back into my normal work attire, and untied my hair.

The day seemed to fly by. There were so many things to do and prepare for tomorrow's concert. Alya had told me that tickets sold out months ago.

Before I knew it, I was in my apartment once again, all alone. Some how I found myself humming one of Chat Noir's hit singles.

Lately I've been, I've been losing sleep...

Dream'n about the things that we could be...

-line break-

Once again, time had flown by and I was now pacing backstage, making sure everything was in place for Chat and Volpinia's costume changes.

The stage really was breath-taking. Part of me wished I were the one singing up there, but I know I'm not good enough for that. The stage was curved, like a big, black oval. It had green and red lights on the top, waiting for performers and screaming fans. There were two circle platforms on the stage, one on the left, where Chat would be, one on the right where Volpinia would be. Each platform would rise from a section that was underneath the stage and there were green lights at the rim of Chat's platform, and red lights at the rim of Volpinia's platform.

There was something unfamiliar brewing in my chest, maybe jealousy. It couldn't be.

"Marinette we need help with Chat's costume!" Some one shouted, interrupting my thoughts.

Chat's costume was black, tight leather pants with a black leather jacket and a black T-shirt. He would also wear lime green vans and cat ears to set off the look.

-line break-

It was now eight o'clock and the concert started at eight thirty. Alya was pacing around the floor, sweat dripping off of her brows. Volpinia still wasn't here and Alya was worried sick. Nino was supposed to pick her up at the airport at six. They got stuck in traffic and are still forty five minutes late, having to stop in traffic every once in a while.

"Where is he? If this concert is a bomb, I will break up with him." Alya said, pulling at her hair. I walked over to her and gave her the tightest hug I could muster.

"Alya, it will be okay, I promise." I said, stroking her hair.

The sound of a phone ringing made Alya jump out of my arms, and accidentally hit me in the face.