Chapter 4: Cats and dresses
When Marinette heard the bell ring, she nearly jumped out of her seat. This was her chance. This was the time to tell him. She was mentally preparing herself for talking to Adrien when Alya approched her at the bench where she was eating her lunch. When Alya sat down she groaned and Marinette looked at her curiously. »What's wrong?« Marinette asked her best friend. Alya groaned again. »You know that ball that Chloe is thrownig?« Marinette had all but forgotten Friday's ball. »Yeah, sure. Why?« Alya looked really sad when she explained. »My mum has a very important client that day and I have to babysit my sisters. There's no way I'm getting out of it.« Alya desperately looked at Marinette. »And you know what the worst part is? I was so looking forward to going with Nino. And even more, Chloe has named this year's ball the Red and black ball. It was supposed to be in honor of Ladybug and you can dress in red and black or black and white and wear a mask. I was hoping maybe Ladybug would come and I could find out her identity.« Alya sighed again and Marinette thought the situation through. »Don't worry Alya, I'll stay with you. I don't think I would even be aloued into that ball, so it's no problem.« Marinette smiled at her friend, hoping to cheer her up. »What?« Alya almost frigtened the living daylights out of Marinette. »No way. This is your chance to impress Adrien by making an amazing dress and dancing with him. And then him falling in love with you without knowing who you are and then you take off your mask and he kisses you. There is no way you are missing this opportunity, no way!« Marinette was taken aback by Alya's words. Only when she saw the spark in her friend's eyes, did she understand. Her BFF had been planing this for a while. It was Marinette's turn to sigh, »Alright, Alya. Have it your way. But if I embarrass myself it's on you!« She said poking her friend in the chest with a finger. »Yay!« Alya cheered. »Operation Cinderella is in motion. Oh and by the way if you see Ladybug or any action, keep me updated, understood?« Her friend turned serious and Marinette sighed again as she realizied she fell into a double trap, designed by hers trully, Alya. »Of course I will!« Marinette anwesered her friend with a smile. Just then the bell rang and both of them ran to class, Marinette forgeting for a while about the golden haired boy she was supposed to talk to.
When she got home Tikki immediatly flew out of Marinette's purse and right in front of her face. »Why didn't you talk to him?« She interogated her. Marinette sighed. »I didn't have time during the lunch break and when class was over I had decided on a different approach.« When Marinette didn't explain, Tikki pushed on. »Well?« Marinette sat down in her desk chair and turned to look at one of the pictures of Adrien that she had on her walls. »Alya said that he won't know who I am at the ball. I decided to make a ladybug dress and a mask like the one I wear when I'm Ladybug. I'm going to tell him at the ball, Tikki. The mask will make me more confident and my outfit will grab his attention. He'll listen to me...« Marinette trailed off and Tikki had to admit that the plan wasn't half bad. »But what about the dress?« Tikki worriedly asked her. »I have enough time to make one and I've already sketched it.« »Really? Show me!« Tikki zoomed onto Marinette's table and Marinette laughed as she pulled a sketch out of her school bag and put it on the table in front of Tikki. The little kwami gasped. »M-Marinette...that dress is beautiful.« Marinette watched the kwami read her side notes and nod her head approvingly. »Let's make this dress!« Tikki exclaimed and Marinette laughed as she started gathering everything she would need.
The next day she showed Alya her sketches and they both poured over them and improved small details. Alya was really happy that Marinette was going through with this. Chloe picked on Marinette only once that day and Marinette even greeted Adrien with a hi when passing him in the hallway. She was so happy at the end of the day that she almost forgot about her usual patrol. Tikki reminded her though and she got to the eiffel tower on time. When she arived Chat was already waiting for her. »Well, hello, mon chaton. How are you?« He smiled at her as he kissed her hand and she pulled away, rolling her eyes, she reminded herself to keep her cool. »I'm feline won-fur-ful, now that you are here, that it is.« He said with a wide mischevious grin. He deserved another eye-roll but instead Ladybug just shook her head. »C'mon we have to patrol and I might laugh at one of your puns if we stay here much longer. She swung herself onto the next building just as she saw him laugh and extend his staff, lifting himself and following her across the rofftops. When they finished thier patrol they sat on top of a building and looked at the lights of Paris. After a comftrable silence and some small talk Marinette almost let it slip that she knew his identity. She decided it was time to head home. She stood up. »Au revoir, Kitty.« was all she said before swinging away, feeling his eyes on her until she dissappered.
When she got back home she worked on her dress until her mom scolded her for staying up so late and told her to go to bed. When Marinette was lying in bed she thought about the ball, which was just four days away. Her dress was almost finished and her mask was the only thing that needed a bit more work. She had thought about what she was going to say many times, but she knew that when the time came she would forget every word she had practiced. She sighed, before falling asleep and dreaming about green eyed cats.
A.N:
Thanks for reading, please review!
And just so you know I'll be updating the cover picture soon, so don't be suprised when you see a new one! J
Dream on!
Timisa