DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE SHOW OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Ten

"Have you already picked something you like Marinette?" The shop owner asked the girl as soon as she saw that Marinette was finally agreeing in her inner debate on whether the material was good or not.

"Yep!" Marinette answered enthusiastically. "How much for the cloth?"

As soon as the owner said the price, Marinette took out the money from her purse and handed it over to the lady. She bade goodbye and left the store, immediately going home in order to make the hat.

Earlier today, Mr. Damocles had announced about a contest. The contest was about designing a fashion piece, and it was due until later that day. The finished products would be then judged by Gabriel Agreste, one of Paris' top fashion designers. The prizes were that the winner's work would be modeled by Adrien Agreste and a personal meet-and-greet later on with Gabriel Agreste himself.

Some of the students complained that a day was too short. The others, like Chloe, considered not joining, saying that she's got better stuff to do rather than join a contest she would later on probably lose anyway.

Marinette, of course, was delighted to hear this news. She'll finally meet her idol!

Unless she wins of course, which she will, because an opportunity like this must be taken immediately and not go to waste.

The theme was about derby hats, and Marinette had slightly panicked.

"Oh Alya what do I do?" Marinette had moaned once they were outside of the classroom. She kept looking for any derby hat designs in her sketch pad. Unfortunately, there was none.

"Relax girl." Alya had said, patting Marinette at the back. "You can do it."

They headed to one of the benches and sat there. Marinette had started to ramble about why it couldn't just be any type of hat rather derby hats and she'd probably humiliate herself in front of Mr. Agreste.

Suddenly, Adrien and Nino popped out of nowhere.

And it had made Marinette jump and fall off her seat.

"You can do it Marinette!" Adrien had encouraged her. "After all, you made that awesome scarf. You're super-talented!"

Nino had added. "My dude's right! You're like, the most creative girl in class!"

"See Marinette? Even Nino and Adrien think you could do it." Alya had told her.

"Thanks for the encouragement guys." The girl had said, feeling truthful.

After that, she headed straight to her place of inspiration and had managed to make a design. Then headed to a store and bought some materials.

Marinette entered her home, quickly greeted her parents, and headed upstairs. She headed for her desk, sat down, and collected her materials.

She took out a needle from somewhere and immediately started working on her hat.

A few hours passed, and she was finally finished with her hat.

"Aaaaaaand DONE!" Marinette exclaimed happily, holding her hat against the light and checking if there were any mistakes.

It was a good thing she double-checked, because it was missing a feather.

Marinette's eyes widened. She carefully placed her hat at the top of the table and dashed downstairs.

"MomDadI'mjustgoingtolookforafeatherbye!" She said as she left her house.

She headed to the Trocadéro, since the place had a lot of pigeons. Marinette was hoping to find a stray feather somewhere.

And she did.

"I'M HERE!" Marinette announced as she headed straight for the place of judgement.

"Marinette," Adrien waved. "You made it just in time." He said.

Adrien was guiding a man, who Marinette guessed was his assistant. The man was holding a tablet which showed Gabriel Agreste's face.

Marinette could've sworn if she started saying something she would stutter.

"Adrien, you seem to know this woman pretty well." Gabriel noticed.

"Uh, yes Father." Adrien confirmed. "This is Marinette. She's the one who made the scarf you saw."

Marinette's legs started to feel like they were jelly. Mr. Agreste had seen her work?

"Very well." The man said. He then turned to Marinette, who was holding the box that contained her derby hat. "You may start presenting your work."

Marinette gulped, but eventually removed the lid of her box and took out her derby hat." Um, my derby hat is hand-made. From the embroidery, to the weaving of the band, to the stitching of the brim. They're all done by myself. And lastly, as proof that this work is indeed mine, I signed it." She explained, showing Mr. Agreste her signature.

"Hmm, you are indeed very talented Ms. Marinette. You're the winner." He said, and Marinette felt like she was going to die of joy.

A few words were spoken after that, and finally, Gabriel Agreste's face disappeared from the screen.

"Thank goodness that was over." The man-Plagg-said. "I need camembert after that. My arms' aching from all that holding and stuff."

Adrien paid him no attention. Instead, he went over to Marinette, who was still smiling because of the fact that she just won Gabriel Agreste's contest.

"Awesome job, Marinette." Adrien told her. "Can I borrow the hat for a moment? I'd like to try it on."

"S-s-sure!" The winner said, giving Adrien the hat. He started to put the hat on but suddenly sneezed. At Marinette's curious expression, he explained. "Sorry! I'm allergic to feathers." He explained, smiling sheepishly.

"It's okay!" Marinette grinned. "I understand."

Plagg suddenly appeared in front of them. "You're the girlfr-I mean, the winner right?" Not waiting for an answer, he handed Marinette an envelope. "That's an invitation for tomorrow's party. You'll be able to meet Gabriel Agreste there. Congratulations!" He said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Sorry about my assistant over here. He's just hungry." He apologized to the girl.

"It's alright!" Marinette said. She then invited the two of them over to her bakery. "You guys could come to my parents' bakery. They'd really be happy to have you guys!"

"No need to Mari-"

"SURE! Lead the way!"

Marinette heard Adrien sigh as she led the way.

Later that night, Marinette, was in panicking mode, again.

She was currently in her room, rummaging her closet for any proper attires she could wear.

"Evening Princess!" Chat's voice greeted, making Marinette jump.

"Not now, Chat." Marinette told the boy, managing to go back to looking for proper clothing and not even bothering to spare him a glance. She picked a pink dress from her closet, examined it, and shook her head. She threw it back inside. "I'm having a problem."

"What problem?" Chat asked, sounding worried. "Maybe I could help you."

"It's not like that." Marinette said, easing Chat's concern. "I just won a contest and now I have to attend this party to meet my idol."

"Gabriel Agreste?" Chat asked, not waiting for an answer, he then added, "Maybe I can help you out."

"Thanks Chat, but I'm not really sure you're the best person to ask for beauty tips and such."

"Me-ouch! You wound me, Princess."

Marinette took out a yellow dress from her closet. Hmm, wait, why a dress? I need a gown. Yeah, it's a formal party! I need a gown!

"Anyway Princess, can I borrow your phone?" Chat asked from his place at the chaise. "I just need to search something."

"Okay but don't look at my gallery." Marinette warned from inside her closet.

Chat took her phone and tapping noises could be heard from where he was sitting. Suddenly, a romantic song filled the room.

"What's Chat up to now?" Marinette thought out loud from inside the closet.

Suddenly Chat tapped her shoulder. She turned towards him and found his arm held out. "Princess, may I have this dance?"

"What's this about?" She asked, trying to look like she doesn't get the point of any of this. In the inside though, her mind was screaming: HE ASKED YOU TO DANCE WITH HIM AHHHHH

Chat winked. "Well, if you're going to a party you might as well learn how to dance."

He took her arm gently and led her to the center of the room and stopped, both facing towards each other. He took her left hand and gently placed it on his right shoulder. His left hand gently held her right hand up. His right hand was placed at her mid to upper back.

Marinette had never stood this close to Chat before, and with that realization, she blushed, but had manage to hide it from her crush.

"I might step on your foot." Marinette said in a joking manner.

Her kitty laughed. "It's okay. At least a princess would be stepping on her knight's foot. Better that than anyone else."

His princess giggled. She wanted to say right then and there that she liked him, but she did not want to ruin this, what they have right now.

"Just follow my lead okay?"

"Okay."

Marinette felt like she was in paradise. Her problems and worries were all gone at that moment.

All that mattered to her right now was her knight.

Also, this is NOW her favorite song.

YESSSSS I JUST UPDATED AGAIN!

YOU GUYS REVIEWING/FOLLOWING/ADDING THIS STORY TO YOUR FAVORITES REALLY MOTIVATED ME TO UPDATE AGAIN!