A/N: Over 500 reviews, people! *fans self* You guys are amazing :D *Marinette squeal* Thank you, thank you, thank you! Btw, I'm glad you all seemed to like my author's note ;D

Chapter 14

That Wednesday in class, instead of paying attention to the lesson material that would no doubt be on the test on Friday, Marinette found herself thinking of a different event on that day.

Of course she didn't tell Alya, the girl would have a stroke if she learned what the blackette was up to.

The designer tapped her stylus against her lip in thought. Instead of copying down notes, Marinette had drawn sketches of possible outfits. Most of them ranged from baggy hoodies and sweatpants to full-on face masks and dresses, like the kind at a masquerade.

But she wasn't going to be attending a masquerade. She was going to a club, inhabited by the best lawbreakers in the city. She had to look good, but Chat Noir had told her to wear a disguise. It was understandable, the last thing she needed was a criminal targeting her, her family, and/or her friends.

What could she wear...

"Girl, pay attention," Alya muttered, bumping her elbow into the distracted girl's arm. "Bustier is gonna ask you a question if you don't at least act like you know what's going on."

Marinette nodded and tried to get her head back in the lesson. But that's the thing, it's even harder to concentrate when you're actually trying to do it.

Her mind wandered to the previous night, the delicate chain around her neck seemed to press harder into her skin.

Before leaving, Marinette tried to give his ring back to him. But he only grinned and bowed, telling her,

"You might as well keep it, Princess. I'm all yours, anyway."

Marinette had relented with flushed cheeks and a flustered gulp. Chat Noir winked, gave her a two-finger salute, and rushed back into the night.

She decided that morning to attach it to a silver chain, she had a few from experimenting with different outfits. After slipping it around her neck she hid the ring under her shirt; she didn't want people to start asking questions.

However, of all people, Adrien seemed to be pretty interested in it. He couldn't stop grinning at the chain, asking her if he could see the main piece of the necklace. Marinette refused, her cheeks gradually tinting to a light pink as she stuttered and stammered for an excuse. The blond eventually relented on his curiosity, held both hands up as a sign of surrender and turned around in his seat. Alya and Nino walked in a minute after.

Her fingers absently found the small bulge below her neck, idly toying with the hidden ring.

She was wearing Chat Noir's ring, did that make them a couple? So far, they kissed, they flirted with the other, they held hands, and snuggled with each other.

But not once did they discuss whatever it was they had.

Marinette visibly drooped as she let out a barely audible sigh. She still had feelings for the unattainable blond in front of her, yet Chat Noir found his way into her heart as well and now she was wearing his ring.

Which brings her back to her previous concern: did that make them official?

Her thoughts played out a scenario of her flirting with any guy in their class, and a feeling of guilt soon made it's presence known in her stomach. She felt like she would be cheating on him, but technically they weren't a thing!

Suddenly it hit her, like she was reaching on her tip toes to reach that sack of flour but instead the bag hit her in the head.

She had no idea who Chat Noir was. She had no idea whose ring she was now gripping. She only knew him as the city's notorious thief, not at all what he was like behind the mask.

She didn't even have a hint to what his name was.

The bell rang, cutting off Marinette's mental groan of misery. Why did her life have to be so confusing and complicated?

She stalled in packing her things, previous thoughts still racing through her mind.

"Marinette?" Alya asked, pausing in her trip to take Nino's hand and walk out the door with him. Said boy was waiting for Alya, though giving Marinette a concerned glance. "You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," she automatically responded. "Go on without me, I'm good."

Alya arched a brow. "Are you-"

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm fine, promise." Marinette felt bad for lying, but now wasn't the time or place to discuss her confusing love life. She forced a grin to come to her face. "Go get that interview with Lila."

Now it was Alya's turn to smirk. "Sure thing, girl!" Alya grabbed her groaning boyfriend's hand and ran out of the room.

"Marinette?"

The designer stilled at the sound of her name coming from her crush's mouth. By now everyone was gone, even the teacher, but for some reason the blond stayed.

He tilted his head in worry. "Everything alright?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it," she replied.

"Funny, Alya seemed to be fine with that answer, but I'm not buying it." He crossed his arms and shot her a half-grin.

Marinette, wide-eyed, gaped at his answer. He wasn't usually so...cheeky? Cocky?

She bit her lip and looked away. "It's nothing to be concerned about."

"Come on, we're friends, aren't we?" He prodded, lips twitching into a hardly-concealed smirk. "Talking about it makes you feel better, and I've been told I'm a good listener."

Marinette sighed in defeat. She knew she wouldn't be able to get out of this one.

"I-I guess..."

"Great!" Adrien exclaimed. "I don't think there's another class in here for awhile, so we can talk here."

"But what about our other classes?" The blackette asked. The sense of doom washed over her as the bell rang after she spoke, the sound signaling the beginning of the next set of classes.

Adrien shrugged and gave her a mischievous grin. The action further puzzling her, it was so out of nature for him. "Oh well."

Oh well? Oh. Well? The boy was practically an angel, never skipped a class in his whole time at their school and all he had to say to their skipping class was 'oh well'?

"Friends are more important than grades," he elaborated. He scooted down and patted the empty bench space, the action meant to draw her closer.

Marinette fought off a blush as she shakily made her way down to the seat. She slowly sat and set her backpack on the desk in front of her.

"Whenever you're ready to start," Adrien said. He flashed her a reassuring smile for encouragement.

Marinette wanted to bury her face in her hands. How could she possibly talk about her problem when he was involved with it? Well, sort of. She supposed she had two main problems, her Chat vs. Adrien problem and her not being aware of who Chat Noir really was.

Maybe she could talk a little bit about the second one. She didn't meet him in the eyes when she started to talk. "Adrien?"

"Yes?"

"Is it possible to lo-like someone whose name you don't even know?"

When he didn't say anything she chanced a peek at him. His unblinking apple green eyes were wide, his mouth slightly parted. A rosy color rose to his cheeks before he cleared his throat and tossed her an easy grin.

"Of course. Psyche fell in love with Eros and she only knew him by his voice."

Her stomach dropped at his answer. She doesn't love Chat Noir, she just liked him. That's it. Who cares if they kissed, and flirted, and snuggled, and held hands, and she wore his ring-

Shit.

Well, the evidence certainly wasn't in her favor.

Marinette felt her face heat up. How does she respond to that? "I-uh-well-"

"What's wrong, Marinette?" Adrien asked, voice dropping to a low murmur. "You can tell me."

She shook her head. "I can't."

She felt her heart beating faster. She had to get out of there.

The blackette jumped out of her seat, grabbed her backpack, and sprinted out the door.

...

That afternoon after school, Marinette sat in her room, once again finding herself tapping her lip with her stylus.

Right now she couldn't think about her boy troubles. She was going to the club with Chat on Saturday night, which only left her three days to design an outfit. She already made the decision to not go in a baggy hoodie. Sure, it would serve as a disguise, but it'd hardly be fashionable.

Marinette grabbed a worn yoyo from her computer desk and trudged to her balcony. Leaning on the rails, she slowly brought her hand up and down, watching the yoyo drop down towards the street, then back up into her waiting palm.

A wry grin made it's way onto her face. When she was younger she used to try doing a tricks with this same yoyo, but every time she'd end up smacking herself in the head with it.

The blackette gazed at Notre Dame with a wistful look. What could she wear that served to hide her identity and impress others?

She wished she could have an outfit like Chat's. It was perfect: practical, stylish, and did it's purpose to hide his identity.

Her sapphire orbs flickered down to the railing for a split second, in that time she noticed the ladybug making it's way towards her arm. She smiled while reaching a finger down and letting it crawl on the appendage.

She's always liked ladybugs, believed in their luck even though she found herself to be unlucky most of the time.

A sudden thought came to her mind.

A ladybug-printed mask.

Marinette glanced down to the insect still crawling on her finger, to herself, to finally Notre Dame.

A calculating smirk stretched across her lips. Her thoughts wandered to her piggy bank... did she have enough money for some spandex?

...

Chat Noir didn't visit her the previous night, which Marinette didn't mind in the least. It gave her time to further design the outfit she was sure was going to be her greatest creation yet.

She almost skipped to the classroom that Thursday morning in giddiness, eyes twinkling as she surveyed the classroom as if it was a new year filled with wonderful opportunities.

Alya eyed with her with a bemused smirk. "What's got you so happy this morning?"

"Nothing, just had a good morning," Marinette hummed contentedly.

Alya leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Does it have anything to do with your thief?"

Marinette blushed at her best friend's words. All too quickly it seemed his ring was burning on her skin. "No."

"Liar." Alya grinned. "Come on, girl, tell me! As your best friend I'm obligated to know all the deets of your love life."

"It's nothing! I'm just in a good mood, that's all!"

"Mhm."

"I'm telling the truth!" Marinette insisted.

"Your flailing hands tell me otherwise."

Marinette groaned and rested a hand on her forehead. "He didn't visit last night, I'm just designing a new outfit and I'm excited for the outcome." There we go, not a total lie, right?

Alya frowned, still suspicious. "I'll let that slide, for now. But nothing's changed, right? You guys aren't official or anything?"

Marinette shook her head. "Nope."

Alya cocked her head to the side, surveying her neck. Or rather, what was on it. "Is that a new necklace?"

Marinette swore her heart stopped. She hoped her face wasn't as pale as she thought it was in that moment. "No."

"I've never seen you with it." Alya gasped. "Did he give it to you?! Let me see!"

"It-It's nothing!" Marinette bit her lip.

"You're lying! You stuttered!" Alya pointed her finger at her, mouth twisting into a grin. "He gave you that necklace didn't he?" She frowned as a thought came to her. "Oh, God, he didn't steal it, did he? Marinette are you wearing a stolen necklace?! What if the police catch you? Why would you wear it in broad daylight?!"

Marinette shushed her before the girl could spout any more nonsense. "No! The chain is mine, I have a bunch of them for when I'm working with different outfits. But..." She trailed off. She might as well tell Alya, there was no getting out of this one.

The blackette chanced a look around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. With the coast clear, she reached inside her shirt and pulled out Chat Noir's ring.

Alya's eyebrows furrowed, wondering what was so special about it, until Marinette turned it so the emeralds were in sight.

"That-" Alya stammered. "That's his symbol!"

Marinette's eyes wandered away from Alya's scrutinizing gaze. "Yeah..."

"Are those emeralds?!"

"Yep."

"This must cost a fortune!"

Marinette blushed. "I guess..."

"Girl," Alya whispered in disbelief. "Is this an engagement ring? Did you get engaged and not tell me? How could you not tell your best friend that you got engaged?! But you're sixteen, you can't unless...Oh. My. God. Are you pregnant?!"

"No!" Marinette squeaked, balking at the idea. "No, we're not engaged and I'm not pregnant. He just wears this ring all the time and he gave it to me."

"Ohh." The journalist thankfully calmed down. "Phew. You're lucky, because I was about ready to smack you. I want to be the cool aunt to your kids and all, but not this soon."

Marinette laughed. "I promise I won't get pregnant until I'm much older."

The auburn-haired girl smirked. "Good. So...he gave you his ring, huh? But you told me you guys aren't official! This is like a guy giving his girlfriend his class ring."

"I know. But we haven't had that kind of talk, yet."

"Then talk to him, God damn it!" Alya hissed. "This is serious! He gave you his ring, you can't act like that's nothing."

"I know," Marinette repeated, moaning. "I like him but I still like-"

"I know," Alya echoed her earlier words. "But honestly, Adrien isn't doing shit, and I don't think he's going to make a move anytime soon. You said Chat can be a hero. I say pick him."

"Just like that?" Marinette whispered in horror.

"He obviously cares about you enough to let a ring worth thousands hang around your neck," she commented dryly.

Marinette banged her head off the desk. She did like Chat Noir and he obviously liked her back, so what was holding her back from trying to make things official between them? Why couldn't her heart just drop Adrien?

Said Adrien walked in just then, walking beside a laughing Nino.

What was she going to do?

A/N: Not much of Lila, but she'll be making her presence known soon! Also, for those that don't know, Eros and Psyche is an ancient Greek myth. Story time/Summary time: Psyche is a beautiful girl, so beautiful that people worship her as if she was Aphrodite (the Goddess of Beauty). Soon Aphrodite's temples get abandoned so in typical Chloe fashion, she freaks out and gets Eros (her son, God of Love) to do her dirty work. She tells him to use his arrows to make her fall in love with a hideous beast. However, when Eros sees Psyche, he immediately falls in love with her (some variations say he pricked himself with his arrow, others say the love was natural) so he plans to marry her. Psyche, meanwhile, while still gorgeous and being praised for her beauty, can't seem to get a suitor. Her family takes her to the oracle, where they're informed she's destined to be wed to a monster even the gods fear. So they bring her to a hill in a weird wedding/funeral fashion and leave her there for the monster. She ends up at Eros's secret home *cough*palace*cough* and at night Eros comes to her to do the nasty, only he doesn't tell her his name or let her see him, so she only knows him by his voice.

If you're interested I recommend reading more, it's my favorite of the Greek myths and it's such a cute love story :)