"Oh Marinette," Tiki hovered over my shoulder. "It's beautiful." I smiled brightly at the little doll in my hand. Just then my phone buzzed.
"Oh no! I'm late of the fair!" I stuffed the doll in my bag and picked up the boxes. "Come on Tiki!" Tiki dove into my bag as I raced out of my bedroom.
"Bye Mom!" I shouted as I ran out of the bakery. I couldn't be late. I knew Chloe was going to show up to mock Barrie again and I had to get there before her. Barrie needed to know she had friends by her side, especially when dealing with Chloe.
"There you are," Alya greeted me in front if the school, her arms crossed. "The fair started five minutes ago. You better set up girl."
I know I know. I was…."
"Running late,"Alya finished for me. "Come on. I'll help." I followed her into the gym where the fair was already in full swing. I saw dozens of different booth. Rose was set up closest to the door, ten different scrapbooks spread out on her booth. Juleka was right next to her, showing people handmade lace gloves. Nathaniel was in the back, shyly explaining a comic book of his to Mm. Bustier.
I moves to my booth and opened one of the boxes. I pulled out a soft pink table cloth with the eiffel tower on it and spread it over the table. Then I turned to the two dress forms on either side of my booth. Out of that same box I pulled a red and black polka dot dress and put it on the dress form. The dress was beautiful, with a sweetheart neckline and a rounded skirt, both lines with black mesh for a trim. The black silk neck strap laid perfectly on the dress forms neck. On the table I set the matching arm sleeves and earrings on the table. Alya pulled a fitted black suit out of the second box and put it on the dress form. The jacket was crisp and perfectly ironed, the seams lined with silver thread. Tucked into the jacket pocket was a lime green pocket hanky. A tie of the same color laid perfectly over the white dress shirt. She set a fedora with a lime green ribbon around the inside of the brim, cat ears poking out the sides, and I'd spend months putting these pieced together and was insanely proud of them. I'd never made formal clothes before.
"Has anyone ever told you your an amazing seamstress?" Alya snapped a picture of my dresses then gave me a side hug. "These are total knockouts. Bonus for taking my suggestion and going with the Ladybug and Cat Noir theme. You're gonna kill it!" I laughed a little.
"Thanks Alya," I hugged her back and turned around, tweaking the placement of the gloves just a bit. Alya punched my shoulder playfully.
"Well I'm of to cover the rest of the booths. I'll see you in a bit," Alya waved goodbye and jogged off. As soon as she was out of sight Tiki poked her head out of my bag.
"They look amazing Mariette. You should be proud of yourself," she whispered.
"Thanks Tiki," I rubbed her head affectionately. "Now stay out of sight." Tiki nodded and ducked back down. I turned to adjust the tie on the form to my right when I heard a voice from behind me.
"Wow," I turned around to see Adrien admiring the Ladybug dress.
"Adrien!" I jumped and almost knocked over the dress form I was fixing. I stumbled forward and waved, my face in fire. "Um hi."
"Did you really make these?" He looked over at me and smiled, his eyes shining. I squeaked and managed a nod. He walked past me and looked over the black suit. "They're incredible!" he touched the bell on the fedora, making it chime, and chuckles. "Ladybug and Cat Noir inspired formal wear?"
"A-Alya gave me the idea," I managed to choke out a reasonable sentence. "She even helped me pick out the fabric. She's kind of an expert on them." Adrien walked to the front of the booth and looked at the fedora and arm sleeves.
"I bet she is. You have to be to run a blog about them," He glanced up at me and offered me another smile before looking at the earrings.
"You read Alya's blog?"
"Of course," He looked at me, a playful look in his eyes. "I'm a bit of a fan myself. Ladybug and Cat Noir are amazing."
"Y-Yea," I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "They are pretty special." My head buzzed. Adrien thinks Ladybug is amazing. I could've fainted right then and there.
"Hey have you seen Barrie?" Adrien looked over his shoulder at the booth across the room from mine, the only empty one. "I wanted to talk to her. Apologize for Chloe. And give her this." He pulled what I assumed was a patchwork doll from his pocket. It looked more like a potato then a person but you could tell he put a lot of effort into it.
"Actually no," I frowned. Where was she? "I was hoping she'd show up soon. I was going to give her something too." I pulled the doll I had made out of my bag and showed it to Adrien. He smiled sheepishly.
"Maybe I should've bought her a doll. Yours is a lot better than mine," He took mine from me and held it up to inspect it. The palm of my hand tingled where his fingertips had touched it.
"N-No!" I covered my mouth. "I-I mean yours is great! Um….." He laughs.
"Don't worry," He handed my doll back to me and pocketed his. "I know I'm not good at sewing."
"I-It's the thought that counts," I managed, slipping my doll back into my bag. Adrien smiled at me. I felt my legs starting to give out.
WHAM. The doors of the school flew open with a bang. Hovering in the space between them was what looked like a giant patchwork doll. Her skin was a mix of tan and pink fabric, her hair long black yarn. In her hand was a giant needle, the eye functioning as a grin.
"Oh no! Barrie!" I gripped the table cloth tightly, recognizing the akumatized victim immediately. I should've known she'd be Hawkmoth's next target.
"Attention!" Barrie snapped, her button eyes glowing a faint purple. "My name is Patchwork! Where is Chloe Bourgeois!"