"Happy birthday, Adrien!" Ashley shouted and hugged his cousin.

"Whoa! Ashley!" he exclaimed, holding onto to her.

It was a failure as they both fell off his bed. She grinned sheepishly at her cousin. He shook his head. It was surprising to see her in his bed early that morning, but he knew why. It was his birthday and coincidently, hers as well. He patted her head.

Plagg yawned and stared at the two. "What's with all the noises this early?" he complained.

"Sorry, Plagg," Ashley said, pocking the kwami who was asleep in Adrien's bed too.

"Happy birthday, Ashley," Adrien said.

"It's your birthday too? So we have a birthday boy and a birthday girl today..." Plagg grinned.

He flew away for a moment only to come back with two slices of camembert with him. He handed each to the two. Adrien refused to take it while his cousin hesitantly took it. Plagg ate the one he wanted to give to Adrien.

"Umm...I think I'll give this to Marinette's parent. They can make another cupcake for you, Plagg," Ashley said.

"Okay!" Plagg said, excited.

The girl nodded. She went to get ready to head to Adrien's school with him. It was the day the students had to submit the outfit for Adrien's model partner, also known as Ashley herself. Adrien made his bed and went to take a bath.

"So she's going back tomorrow?" Plagg asked when he was done.

"Yeah... Her father had already booked her a flight ticket, so she can't say no," Adrien replied.

Plagg sighed. The chosen smiled to his kwami. He got his bag and they were off to eat their breakfast. Nathalie wished the two of them a happy birthday. She told them that the dinner was at Le Grand Paris and Adrien's father had already decided the menu again. Ashley shrugged to her cousin. She didn't mind since she would be spending time with her cousin. Who knows when they would see each other again after all?

"I have to come to school too, right?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah. I mean, you'd have to put on most of the outfits the students design," Adrien replied.

"Good thing it's a pair work..." she smiled, mumbling, "I get to see Nathanael again."

Adrien noticed the faint pink color on his cousin's cheeks. He wondered who she was thinking about. They finished their food and then, off they went to the school. Like that one time, Gabriel didn't make an actual appearance. He communicated via the tablet again. Adrien's classmates displayed their designs proudly: Marinette and Alya, Adrien and Nino, Rose and Juleka, Mylene and Ivan, Kim and Max, Alix and Nathanael, and Chloe and Sabrina. Adrien stood beside Nino. Ashley and Nathalie started off with Marinette and Alya's.

"Our dress comes with a matching headband. Will you wear it too?" Marinette asked.

Ashley nodded. She put it on, one outfit after another. Gabriel would evaluate each one, ordering Nathalie to circle around the girl each time she changed into another outfit.

"Hmmm... Ashley, which one do you think is the best," Gabriel asked her.

"Hmm...Based on the fabric, Marinette's is a little itchy, Adrien's is a little too thick, Alix's is nice and comfy. Umm...Mylene's is too thin that I'm afraid I could tear it any second. Rose's fabric is just nice but too much fragrance is added. Kim's design is too cool for a girl, I guess but it was fun to wear," she explained.

"What about my design?" Chloe asked.

Ashley smiled at her and said, "Obviously it was designed and made by an expert."

"How dare you accused me of cheating!" the blonde girl shouted angrily.

"But can you deny it? I've been wearing designer clothing since I was three. I can tell which is made by an expert and which is made by an amateur," Ashley explained.

Chloe grunted, angry. She crossed her arms and turned to look away. Sabrina was wearing a panicked face. She didn't know what to do. They just stood there in silence.

"Moving on, I think Miss Alix and her partner's design is the best then," Gabriel said, forming a small smile, "She will wear this for her next modeling with my son."

The orange haired girl walked up to Alix and Nathanael. She flashed a smile to the two of them.

"It was the right decision choosing you as my partner, Nathan," Alix said, lightly punching the boy's shoulder.

"Thanks..." he replied, smiling.

"Congratulations, you two!" Ashley exclaimed.

Nathanael faintly blushed as he saw her smile. She turned to him and blinked. Their class teacher, Ms. Bustier said that she would be wrapping up the outfit. The students returned to their classroom.

"Would you like a tour, Miss Agreste?" the Principal offered.

"Hmm...? May I?" she asked, brightening up.

The Principal nodded. He turned to look at the students as they walked up the stairs. He wanted to choose a student to give her a tour.

"Nathanael," he called.

"Yes, Sir?" the boy stopped from advancing upstairs.

"Would you be so kind as to show Miss Agreste around?" he requested.

"But, I h-have classes to attend..." the redhead muttered.

"Umm, I'm okay to look around by myself," Ashley spoke up, smiling guiltily, "I mean, I don't want to bother the students after all..."

She turned to look at him, miming a 'sorry'. Nathan looked away again. He avoided meeting her eyes. It was too embarrassing because he was starting to develop a crush on her. He excused himself and continued his way back to his classroom. The Principal apologized that he couldn't escort her because he had matters to attend to. She shook her head and smile as a sign it was okay.

"But if you need me, feel free to knock on my door," he said before leaving her.

"Man, that was close," Plagg suddenly spoke up.

"Plagg? How long have you been inside my jacket?!" the girl exclaimed.

"The whole morning," he smirked.

Ashley puffed her cheeks angrily at the kwami. He reassured her that he didn't see anything when she was changing into the different outfits. She was in doubt, though.

"So, would you like me to show you around?" Plagg offered.

"I guess...since you've been here as long as Adrien," she shrugged.

They started to stroll around the school. Plagg showed her where the cafeteria was and where Adrien would always have his fencing practice. He showed her the library, the Science lab and some empty classrooms. It was her first time in a school so she didn't know anything. They went to grab a snack from a vending machine after the tour.

"Would you like a candy, Plagg?" she offered.

"No thanks. Do you still have that camembert I gave you?" he replied.

Ashley nodded. She took it out from her pocket. It was put in a small box and wrapped with a tissue to cover the smell. Plagg decided to eat it up that very moment. Ashley went to sit on a bench.

"It's almost lunch time," she said, looking at her phone.

"Hmm? Who's the guy with you in the picture?" Plagg asked, placing his palm on her phone.

Ashley gazed at the background for her phone. It was a picture of a six-year-old and her nine-year-old brother. He has a darker orange hair and deep brown eyes instead of green. He was choking her in the picture and she was crying. In the background, she could faintly make out a figure of a seven-year-old Adrien, rushing up to them.

"My mother took it. It was the day before we had to go back to Malaysia. That's my brother, messing around with me," she explained.

"Oh...so that's your brother. He's way better looking than Adrien," Plagg remarked.

Ashley giggled. The bell rang and students started to exit their classrooms. Plagg hid inside Ashley's jacket. She sat there, waiting for Adrien. Lila suddenly came to view. She stood in front of the girl.

"So, you're Adrien's cousin?" she asked.

"Yeah. Do you need something?" Ashley asked.

"Don't you know who I am?" she abruptly asked again.

Ashley nodded and then, shook her head. Before she could answer, Alya called out for her. The girl smiled and rushed up to them, leaving the angry Lila alone.

"Marinette here has a gift for Adrien," Alya said.

"Really?" she cooed.

"Y-Yeah...could you..." before the girl could finish her sentence, Ashley called out for her cousin.

"Adrien! Over here!" she waved.

Adrien and Nino approached the three girls. Ashley grinned. She pulled a frozen Marinette to face her cousin. Alya pulled Nino away from the two. The orange haired girl walked away as well.

"Umm..." Marinette started.

Noticing the box she was holding, he asked, "Is that...for me?"

The girl stared down at the box before slowly nodding. She handed the gift to him.

"Happy b-birthday, Adrien..." she drawled, grinning awkwardly like always.

"Whoa...thanks, Marinette," Adrien said, holding the box in his hands.

Marinette blushed, averting her gaze from him. Adrien faintly blushed too. It was the first time anyone had ever given him a gift personally to him. Most of his fans, including Chloe, had their present delivered. Ashley trotted back to them.

"I have a gift for you too, Ashley," Marinette said, taking out a thinner box.

Ashley happily took it. "Thanks!" she exclaimed.

"Did you know that today is her birthday too?" Adrien asked.

"It is?" Marinette asked the girl.

She nodded as a reply. Alya and Nino went back to them as well. Ms. Bustier came up to them to deliver the outfit for Ashley. Then, the two cousins said goodbye to their friends.

"Can you wait for me in the car?" she asked Adrien, handing him the paper bag with her outfit in it.

Adrien nodded to her. She rushed up to Alix who was going down the stairs with Nathanael behind her.

"Would you like to come with us to the photo shoot? It's a chance to see your design photographed..." she invited her.

"I'll go if Nathan comes too," Alix said, turning to the said boy.

"W-What?" he stammered.

Nathanael blinked at Ashley's smiling face. She took his hand and Alix's, pulling them to follow her. Adrien didn't argue with her decision. Nathalie made it happen by texting the photographer about the upcoming visitors. Nathanael and Alix got into the car. They sat down with Ashley between them. The red head clawed on his sketching pad as they went on their way.


I think I'll finish this story in two or three more chapters. Plus, I'm thinking of a fanfiction for Nathanael and Ashley.

Would you guys like that? Again, I just thought getting it out there but haven't started anything yet on this.

Anyway, don't forget to tell me what you think!