Marinette hopped from toe to toe in excitement. Today, she'll hand over her present to Adrien without mumbling. She would do it, she won't mess up, she-

"Girl! Calm down, you're going to create an earthquake here!" Alya laughed. Marinette turned red, "I'm sorry Alya, it's just – I'm so excited! He's finally going to notice me! And I'm not going to mess this up!"

"I know, I know. Finally your obsession's going to pay off! Anyway, good luck. Nino's here."

Marinette smiled and waved, happy that her friend had found someone. In a hundred years, who would have thought Alya and Nino would be an adorable couple. Oh well, she thought to herself, there's hope for me too. I'm going to make sure Adrien has a fun birthday.

A touch of guilt snaked into her mind. Today was the day Chat Noir wanted her to be around for. His behavior from last night still nagged her. She recalled her midnight discussion with Tikki:

'Marinette, I really think you should call him and meet him!'

"But Tikki, it's Adrien's birthday! What if my plan works out and he actually accepts to go for a movie with me?!"

Tikki pouted and gave Marinette a reproachful look, "Marinette, he's your partner! Don't tell me you didn't notice he was not in his right state of mind."

The argument had went on for about an hour more, dying out when both fell asleep mid conversation. This morning, Marinette couldn't shake off the feeling that Tikki was right, and that she should somehow track down Chat Noir. But how can she contact him when she (and probably he) wasn't in costume?

The bell rung behind her. Her hopping now took on a different rhythm, as her mood swung from excitement to anxiety & disappointment. Any later, and Mme Bustier would send her out of class. Sending one sweeping look out at the road for Adrien's limo, she turned and ran to get to class on time.

Three lectures into the school day, and Adrien was nowhere to be seen. Marinette kept glancing at Nino, but his only answer was a worried shrug. He had no idea where the boy was, and he wasn't answering any texts.

Suddenly Tikki started kicking up a storm in Marinette's bag. Panicking, she quickly excused herself and ran to the locker room, opening her bag the moment she passed through the door, "what's wrong ,Tikki?"

"It's Plagg, Marinette. Chat Noir's kwami! He's in trouble!"

Marinette's eyes widened. "Tikki, SPOTS ON!"