While working on my long-term stories I like to take breaks and work on small projects too, and this is one of them. I hope to release more one-shots and mini-series soon.
Keep it together. That was all she had to do. Just walk around and don't make a fool of herself in front of the people who could end her career as a fashion designer before it began. Sadly for the walking human wrecking ball, walking beside her crush and in front of her idol was easier said than done.
She was always a mess at events like these. The Agreste Brand only held a few a year and her internship allowed her to work and attend them. She was grateful for the many opportunities she'd been granted while attending the extravagant events, but she personally would prefer being a hot mess at home than facing Adrien Agreste.
She'd gotten over her stutter years earlier and they'd become close friends, which made things worse.
When she first got the internship a year and a half earlier, they could have barely been considered friends. He was kind to her whenever they ran into each other but never stopped to make conversation. Now as practically best friends, whenever he saw her, the model would sprint to her side and strike up a conversation. Any other day she'd be relieved to see him. His adorable rambling about complete nonsense always eased the stress she felt trying to do better than expected of her. But on days they had a fashion show, she'd rather talk to Lila Rossi than Adrien Agreste.
Most of the time when she saw him, it was in between shoots and he was a mess thanks to the hot lights. Not seeing his face brought to perfection made it easier to talk to him. But when it came to Fashion Shows, he was always dressed to perfection. His face masterfully brought to perfection and his clothes only making him look better.
So "Keeping it together" was what she tried to do but was easily doing the opposite.
"Wrong outfit," Juleka called back to the young designer. The young model looked at herself in the mirror, making sure her hair was still secure in the tight ponytail. She was going on two years working as a model for Gabriel Agreste, and she had been excited when Marinette had told her they'd be working at the same event. Not only was she happy to have her friend there, but also happy she could maybe help Marinette from making a fool of herself.
Marinette snapped her head in her direction, then looking back don at the dress she held."Oh! Sorry!" she exclaimed, quickly switching it out for the maroon suit Juleka would be modeling, a new part of Gabriel's woman's clothing line.
Juleka chuckled, shaking her head as she took the garment from Marinette."It's fine," she yed her coffee." I think you'll need this," she smirked, offering the half drank drink.
She sighed, rubbing her eyes donning bags beneath them."No, no I'm good."
"Don't fight me," Juleka said, shoving the cup into her hands." I don't want you sending Yvette out in a size too small again," she said, still smirking as she walked out of the small storage room.
"Ha, ha," Marinette said, rolling her eyes. Picking up the dress Yvette would wear, Marinette smiled at the work. It was a dress she'd worn a few years back and Gabriel had seen a picture of it and requested her to remake it so he could consider whether or not to include it in their winter collection. Adjusting the color schemes and adding elements to give the sense of winter, he'd approved of the design and this would be her first creation to walk the runway.
She originally hoped Juleka would get to wear it, mainly since she'd been her model during the redesigning process but she would settle for Yvette. The girl's platinum blonde hair looked gave off an impression of snow and she knew she'd look incredible in the creation she'd spent many hours slaving over.
This was the beginning of her career as a model. Her first creation to be sold to millions of people. Everything had to go perfect, but of course, with her luck, everything went wrong.
Cradling the dress like it was her child, she just avoided tripping an older model and her assistant. Gasping an apology, she hurried into the room, relieved to find it as nearly empty."Oh is that the dress!" Adrien explained, dropping his top hat and rushing to her side.
Marinette grinned towards him, hanging the dress up so Yvette could change."Yup!"
"Wow Marinette, this is going to do amazing! Once again, shocking me with your talent,"
Marinette laughed, flattered but still not feeling very confident in her design. She was pleased with it but knew she could do better."Well, we'll see."
"Come on, give yourself some credit. Juleka was telling me how hard you worked on it," he said, eyes following as she picked up and brushed dust from the top of his hat.
She smiled towards him, setting the hat down."Thanks, but I'm not going to get my hopes up."
Adrien scoffed, crossing his arms."What's the worst the could happen?"
"Well, for one the photographers could-" The beginning of her lengthy ramble was cut off by the panting of one of their event managers.
"Yvette slipped, we're not sure if she'll be able to walk," he said, gasping for breath. Marinette's eyes fell, as she realized two things. The model who was supposed to model her design was injured, and she no longer had her cup of coffee. Could she have spilled it when she nearly bumped in with the model? If so, it seemed she was once again the reason for her own downfall.
"Is she okay?" Adrien asked, his hand gripping her shoulder, almost saying he knew what she was thinking.
"Her ankle is sprained, we're icing it right now," the manager looked at Marinette, frowning deeply."We don't have a replacement if she can't do it,"
Adrien questioned if Juleka could step in but he simply shook his head, explaining she was modeling right after she went on. Marinette was grateful he was asking all the questions she should've been. She felt bad, it was her fault Yvette had gotten hurt and she was only thinking about her own problems.
"What about Marinette,"
Her eyes shot up and both she and the manager stared at Adrien like a deer caught in headlights."She is the designer after all and she and Yvette are the same size. And she has attended all the rehearsals so she knows what to do,"
"Adrien I don't think-"
The manager groaned, eyeing his watch."We don't have time to wait for Yvette. Marinette you're stepping in. I'll send someone to get your makeup and hair done,"
The net ten minutes were a blur and in a single breath she was standing beside Adrien, her hair curled so it framed her face that was covered in a coat of white sparkly makeup that made her look frostbitten. The red, long-sleeved dress that hugged her hourglass figure and dove into the short tool skirt was paired with white stockings and red heels that weren't very high luckily.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, her bluebell eyes wider than ever as she shook in fear."They could've found someone else."
Adrien smiled, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze." You model the outfit better than Yvette ever could," he whispered, planting a kiss of good luck on her cheek before the manager motioned for her to go.
Her cheeks rosy, she walked the best she could. the bright lights blinded her and she could only hear the announcer explaining the outfit was designed by a protege of Gabriel Agreste and stating the model. He hiccuped, going to say Yvette but quickly changing his wording to say Marinette. She finally let out a breath, a pulled together a smile as hundreds of photos were taken of her. Walking back, she could see Adrien, giving her a thumbs up. She smiled, all nerves washing aya as she embodied the dress no one else could've looked as magnificent in.
Walking behind the curtains, relief passed over her and she noticed Juleka, beginning to walk past, grinning and certainly pleased with herself. The teen pointed her finger back at a table crammed with makeup supplies, on the edge were two cups of coffee. Both empty.