Chapter 6: Kaleidoscope
Monday, Marinette woke, fully expecting that her crush on Adrien Agreste would have diminished a bit. She had convinced herself that it was a temporary state of being and that a good night's sleep would set her brain to rights. After all, she had been extremely sleep deprived the previous day. Obviously, she never would have reacted so strongly otherwise, right?
Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed when she pulled up his picture on her computer and felt her heart pick up it's pace. Her brain may or may not have been convinced that the crush was temporary, but that shouldn't have been the organ she was worrying about. She groaned and slammed her head down on her keyboard painfully. Tikki winced as her chosen sat back up with a yelp, nursing her forehead.
"Oh, Marinette," the kwami sighed, shaking her head.
"Tikki," she whined. "It's just a crush! It's supposed to go away! Why isn't it?"
The little red kwami gave her chosen that knowing look again and Marinette scowled.
"No. No, Tikki. I can't be in love with him!"
Tikki huffed and crossed her arms.
"Why not?"
Marinette's hands began churring the air as she stood and paced her room.
"Because! Because he's… he's… he's, him!"
She paused long enough to gesture at the computer screen before she picked up her pacing and arm flailing again.
"Because he's sweet and understanding and gorgeous and has that heart-melting laugh and that little lopsided grin that's too adorable for his own good and he makes me stutter and act like a complete moron and say stupid things and run away in a panic and… and… and!"
She turned on her kwami, gaze desperate.
"And he's way out of my league, Tikki!"
"No he's not, Marinette!" the kwami insisted, but her chosen was too deep into her rant to listen.
"I mean, he's this famous model who could have any girl in France! There's no way he'd ever want some stupid, stuttering, wanna-be baker, he barely even knows! I could never compete with the girls he works with! They're models! I'm miles out of his league! I'm lucky to be able to see his league!"
"Marinette!"
The bluenette pulled up short as her kwami flew right into her face. Tikki had her hands on her hips and was looking at the little baker sternly.
"Now you listen to me. I have been around thousands of years and I have never had a Ladybug who wasn't talented and kind and caring and smart, and you are no exception to that, Marinette. You never give yourself enough credit."
She lost the stern expression, seeing that she'd gotten Marinette off the self-pity train, and flew forward to nuzzle at the bluenette's cheek.
"Thanks, Tikki," the little baker said softly.
Then she sighed.
"I still don't want to be in love though."
Tikki giggled.
"Oh, Marinette."
Tuesday was no different than Monday had been on the crush front, but Marinette tried to stay hopeful that it would fade by later in the week. Nino had made plans for that afternoon to meet Adrien at the arcade the DJ loved and invited Marinette along to kick their butts at Sole Survivor III. She declined, saying she had been planning on trying something new with macaroons as soon as her father let her have the kitchen. Alya gave her an odd look, but didn't comment.
Wednesday was no better than it's predecessors and Thursday was even worse when she found herself seriously contemplating buying a magazine because he was on the cover. She could have kicked herself and felt her hopes that this stupid crush would go away on it's own quickly diminishing.
Friday, she gave up and finally admitted, to no one but herself for now, that she might actually be in love with Adrien Agreste, but she wasn't about to tell anyone else until she could come to better terms with it. She still didn't want to be in love, wasting all her time on a boy, but apparently she and her heart were going to be on disagreeable terms for a while.
Stupid hormones.
"Hey, dudes," Nino said, turning around in his seat as they were dismissed for lunch break. "Wanna hit up the arcade with me and Adrien later? He says he has a photoshoot, but he can meet us after."
"Sounds like fun," Alya said. "You in, Marinette?"
The bluenette nodded and Nino grinned.
"Awesome! I think he might actually beat you at a few games. He's pretty good."
The baker smirked.
"Yeah, we'll see about that."
When school let out for the day, the trio walked to the main entrance. Nino pulled up short as a text from Adrien came through.
"Guess we're going to a photoshoot," he announced as he sent a reply.
Marinette tried to put a lid on the sudden case of nerves that pounced on her.
"What are you talking about?"
"Adrien says they're running behind schedule so I figure we may as well head over there first."
Alya shrugged and linked an arm through Marinette's.
"Works for me. Let's go."
They could hear the screaming from a block away and at first Marinette was afraid it was an akuma attack. She started trying to think of ways to ditch Alya and Nino as they turned the corner and saw that no, it wasn't an akuma. It was an angry female model, yelling at another girl, who had a coffee cup in each hand and a downcast expression.
What the heck?
Adrien was standing off to the side, looking at the sky like he wished he was anywhere else right then, the photographer stood with his arms crossed, and several other people who were obviously tied to the shoot stood around with varying degrees of annoyance, anger, and pity on their faces.
Nino gave a little wave to get Adrien's attention and the blonde grinned, jogging over to them and away from the disturbance.
"Dude, what's that about?"
The model rolled his eyes.
"She was brought the wrong kind of tea."
"Tell me you're joking," Alya said, eyes wide.
"I wish I was," Adrien said with a sigh. "I may not be able to come at all at this rate."
"Man, that sucks!" Nino said. "And I had Marinette convinced to come and try and beat you at Sole Survivor III."
That green gaze turned on her and the little baker felt herself flush as he gave her an apologetic smile. Dang it! It wasn't fair! Why did he have to be that handsome? It should be illegal.
"I'm sorry I have to miss it," he told her.
"Y-yeah, m-me too," she managed.
There was a screech from the direction of the female model and they all turned to look as she stormed off, the girl with the cups in her wake, and the photographer turning his back to the whole thing.
"Hang on, guys," Adrien said before he jogged back over to see what had happened.
They watched as he spoke briefly with the photographer, who then looked over at them and stared thoughtfully for a moment. He said something to Adrien, who shrugged slightly, before marching over towards the trio as the model followed him.
"What are your sizes?" the photographer asked, pointing at Marinette.
The bluenette was so startled that she actually pointed at herself.
"M-me?"
"Yes, you, sizes?"
She told him and he grinned.
"Perfect-o! You're going to be a model today. Makeup!" he called over his shoulder and three women came towards her, one pulling out mascara and lip gloss, one wielding a tape measure and a pair of scissors, and one brandishing a comb and brush.
"W-what?"
Marinette looked from Alya and Nino to Adrien with panic in her eyes. Had she just been forcibly volunteered to replace the screaming girl? The blonde put an arm around her shoulders, making her freeze where she was.
"It's okay," he said gently. "You don't have to, if you don't want to, but I'd enjoy your company."
The proximity was making her beet red and words refused to leave her, so all she could do was nod dumbly. Adrien grinned and released her as she was surrounded and dragged away to change.
When Marinette reappeared, Adrien found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was even more lovely than usual. Her hair had been let down and left free with only a couple of bobby-pins to keep it out of her face and her already pretty features had been enhanced by the makeup artist. Since they were supposed to be modeling a spring collection, she had been put in a backless, sea-foam green dress and a pair of white heels for the first round.
Marinette looked beautiful, but also nervous and completely uncomfortable. Seeing this, Adrien jogged to her side and gave her a smile, which sent a blush across her cheeks.
"You don't look very sure about this."
She swallowed hard.
"W-well, I-I'm not," she admitted shakily. "I n-never w-wear heels and dresses aren't r-really my thing."
"Nope," he agreed with a grin. "Your thing is jeans and a t-shirt while you bake, but if it'll make you feel better, I'll promise to let you teach me to bake if you'll let me teach you to model."
He winked roguishly and took more pleasure than he should have in her deepened blush and wide eyes. She seemed at a loss for words for a long moment before she managed a nod.
"O-okay."
Adrien took her hand and led her to the photographer, who directed them where to stand. The blonde still held the little baker's hand and he gave it a squeeze as he slipped his other hand to her waist so that they faced each other.
"Just breath, Marinette," he told her in a low voice. "Follow my lead. And try to smile."
She gave him a nervous smile that made him laugh, which made her giggle nervously in turn. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers.
"You look beautiful by the way. The dress suits you."
She grinned and blushed prettily.
"T-thanks."
My life
My life was black and white and I believed it
I believed it
"Dance with me?" he asked.
Her eyes went wide.
"I-I don't dance."
"Sure you do," he said. "Every time you're baking you dance. Just pretend. That's half the battle of modeling."
My eyes
My eyes looked at the world but couldn't see it
I couldn't see it
"B-but… heels…"
"Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
She swallowed hard and nodded, so he gently spun her out, keeping hold of her hand. Her skirts spun around her and she looked back at him with a grin he couldn't help but match.
You're like the thing that makes the universe explode
Into the colors of a world I've never known
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
He could hear the camera clicking away and, having worked with this photographer a lot over the years, knew the man would let him explore with what he felt like doing, unless he just wasn't giving them the shots they needed.
"So," he asked the little baker casually as he brought her back in and held her so that he stood behind and a little to the side of her. "You still think I'd make a terrible Viking?"
That startled a laugh out of her. He liked hearing that sound and his grin widened.
Violets and purples
Diamonds and circles
You're my kaleidoscope
"Y-you would make a horrible Viking," she confirmed, looking sideways at him.
"Ah, too bad," he said with a dramatic sigh. "And here I was, really getting used to the idea."
He sat on the short wall behind them and pulled her down into his lap as he did, earning himself a squeak of surprise and a shocked face. He grinned up at her and she blushed again
I love every minute
You've got me in it
You're my kaleidoscope
She wrinkled her nose at him playfully and he returned the face, making her snort a laugh. Then she stood and pulled him up after her.
"I-I thought we were dancing," she said. "Tired already?"
In reply, he picked her up by the waist and spun her, getting a small shriek of laughter from the girl.
In the background, the camera kept clicking away.
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
As they took a break to change, Adrien found he couldn't stop smiling. He was having more fun that he ever had at a photoshoot before. He shook his head as he slipped on the next t-shirt. That girl really was something.
Tonight
The stars are in your eyes and I surrender
I surrender
Her next outfit was much more her, he thought; blue shorts and a sleeveless, flowing pink top with some sort of abstract design. Then he noticed they'd put her in wedges. Poor girl. Those weren't much better than heels.
Adrien held out a hand to her and she took it.
Tonight
Our hands against the wind, we are forever
We are forever
She stumbled a bit and he caught her, turning it into a low dip, as though they were still dancing. Big blue eyes stared back up at him, surprised, and his smile softened. Gently, he righted them both and found that she was pressed entirely up against him, and he was entirely caught in that lovely gaze.
It all looks better when I see it with you here
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
Adrien was brought back to himself when the photographer cleared his throat. The blonde glanced over and caught the raised eyebrow. He smiled sheepishly and pulled away from the little baker so that he was only holding her hand now. It surprised him how natural that felt.
Violets and purples
Diamonds and circles
You're my kaleidoscope
Marinette's heart was racing in her chest, but she did her best to play along with whatever poses Adrien thought up for them. She had no idea what she was doing and felt like a newborn fawn, all tumbling, shaky limbs, but no one was complaining, even Adrien, so she kept at it.
I love every minute
You've got me in it
You're my kaleidoscope
She caught sight of Alya and Nino watching patiently from outside the circle of professionals. The former gave her a wink and a thumbs up, to which she rolled her eyes, even as she blushed.
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
The third outfit was the one she was most comfortable in, Marinette decided. It was a yellow and white polka-dotted jumper with a pink undershirt and white flats. Thank heavens! Another pair of heels and even her luck might have run out. Each of the previous pairs of shoes had given her visions of twisted ankles and hospital trips. These she was almost positive wouldn't make her injure herself.
I closed my eyes to the orange skies
Living all of my days the same
Then you came along, and you sang your song
And the whole world around me changed
The photographer pointed them to a swing set for the last group of photos and Adrien had her sit as he did most of the work. He pushed her on the swing a bit and posed around her so that she hardly had to do anything at all.
Violets and purples
Diamonds and circles
You're my kaleidoscope
Adrien took the swing next to her as the photographer changed angles and began swinging himself as he looked over at her and winked. She blushed and giggled, swinging herself gently in an opposite rhythm than he had picked up.
I love every minute
You've got me in it
You're my kaleidoscope
When the photographer waved them on, Marinette stood so that she was leaning between the chains of the swing and Adrien slipped in behind her, leaning out to one side as she looked back at him with a grin.
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
Hey la nah nah oh
You keep turning, keep turning my life around
Then he moved around to her side, slipping an arm around her waist to pull her close. He leaned down towards her then, as she looked up at him, and their noses bumped, making them both laugh.
You're my kaleidoscope
You're my kaleidoscope
Then, someone screamed.
X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X
A/N: I'm half tempted to only put this chapter up tonight since I meant this one as a bit of a cliffhanger originally, buuuut I have time so I'll probably put the next one up too. Lol. I definitely remember the agonies I went thorugh to find a good song for this chapter.
This song is "Kaleidoscope" by A Great Big World. It's a catchy little tune and I definitely recommend a listen.
Don't forget to drop me a review. I love hearing from you guys! Till next chapter! :)
