Chapter 3: What If Mari told the scarf it was from her?
Scene: Marinette's room, Marinette Dupain-Cheng is sleeping and then is woken up by her cellphone.
Marinette: (wakes up) Huh? Happy birthday- ow! (She jumps down the stairs and hits her chaise.) Happy birthday! (She gets on her computer and turns it on, revealing her desktop background to be a collage of Adrien Agreste's pictures.) Ah! Happy birthday, Adrien. (She makes kissing noises towards the screen.)
Scene: Adrien's bathroom. Adrien is brushing his teeth.
Plagg: Happy birthday, Adrien!
Plagg brings a piece of Camembert cheese wrapped with a red bow.
Adrien: (disgusted) Ugh, Plagg! Get that filthy piece of Camembert out of my face!
Adrien plugs his nose
Plagg: Huh? (He eats the cheese.) Mmm.
Scene: Dupain-Cheng House. Marinette is walking down the stairs with a gift in her hands while her mom is in the kitchen drinking tea.
Sabine: Marinette, don't forget to clean your room after school today.
Marinette: Mom! It's Friday, and I'm already doing something with Alya.
Sabine: Fine, I'll go ahead and clean it, but don't blame me if I come across any of your private stuff, like your e-mails, your diary-
Marinette: (makes a nervous face) Okay! I'll do it, I'll do it.
Marinette goes up to her mom, gives her a kiss, and starts to leave.
Sabine: Have a nice day, sweetie!
Marinette: (as she closes the door) Happy birthday- I mean, have a nice day!
Sabine: (surprised face) Hm? (shrugs) Hm. (drinks)
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Adrien is eating alone at a big dining table. He looks sad.
Nathalie: (walks in) Your schedule, Adrien. (She hands Adrien a tablet.)
Adrien: (takes it) Thanks, Nathalie. (Nathalie starts to leave.) Hey, um, my father get back to you about my birthday party? (His face lights up.)
Nathalie: Well, um- He doesn't think it would be a good idea.
Adrien: (turns sad again and speaks softly) 'Course not.
Nathalie: Happy birthday, Adrien. (She leaves.)
Scene: Outside of school. Adrien and Nino are talking. Meanwhile, Alya and Marinette are hiding nearby out of sight. Chloé and Sabrina are in the school but near enough to see what's happening.
Nino: (as he blows bubbles) Dude, seriously? Has your dad always been such a downer? You'd think he'd at least remember what it was like to be young and wanna party a little.
Adrien: No, I'm pretty sure he was a downer back then too. Well, at least I tried.
Nino: (wraps one arm around Adrien) It's your b-day, dude! Insist!
Alya: (encouraging Marinette) You can do it, you can do it!
Marinette: I can do it, I can do it!
Nino: You know what, I'm gonna have a little convo with your pops.
Adrien: Don't waste your time. He's not gonna change his mind.
Marinette: (pops up to look at Adrien while he's not looking) I can't do it, I can't do it!
Alya: (facepalms) Uh, no you don't, girl. You've been stalling all morning. Now's the time.
Alya pushes Marinette over to Adrien
Marinette: Ah! (She stops right in front of Adrien.) Um, he- Hey!
Marinette is nervous as she holds her gift behind her back
Adrien: (surprised) Hey.
Chloé: (as she watches what's happening outside) Wait! Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing? Don't tell me it's Adrien's birthday?!
Sabrina checks her tablet, is surprised, and makes excusing noises while smiling sheepishly
Chloé: (facepalms) Ugh, do I have to do everything myself? Seriously, what are you good for?
Chloe walks toward Adrien
Marinette: (nervously) I, uh, I wanted to, umm, gift you a make-– I mean, gift you a give I made- I mean…
Chloé: (she yawns while Marinette is talking and then shoves her away) Out of the way. (She acts sweet.) Happy birthday, Adrien! (She throws herself onto him and gives him a kiss on the cheek.) Mwah!
Adrien: (surprised) Yeah, thanks Chlo.
Marinette: (on the ground, to herself) Dummy.
Alya facepalms again.
Chloé: Did you get the gift I sent you?
Adrien: Uh, no.
Chloé: (pretending to be annoyed) What? Oh, those delivery guys. I bet it was too heavy so they had to go back and get another guy to help. Those slackers. (She wraps her arms around Adrien's shoulders again.) I'll make sure they get it to you by tonight. (She gives him another kiss on the cheek) Mwah!
Chloe leaves, humming a happy tune to herself. Nino chuckles and playfully punches Adrien's arm
Alya: (to Marinette, still hidden) Get back there! Don't be a pushover, literally!
Marinette: (sounding defeated) Mmm. (Alya looks frustrated.)
Sabrina: (to Chloé) What did you get him?
Chloé: (mad) I didn't, you did. (She points at Sabrina and sounds really angry.) And it better be amazing, and it better not be late!
Sabrina: (cowardly) Mhm. (She nods.)
Chloé: (furiously) Ugh! (She leaves.)
Sabrina taps on her tablet quickly while looking scared and following Chloé.
Alya: C'mon, you can do it.
Marinette: (looking determined) Hm!
A limousine arrives.
Adrien: (to Nino) Gotta go. Photoshoot.
Adrien gets into the limo and leaves.
Marinette: (to herself, next to Alya) Why can't I just mean what I say?
Alya: Uh, say what you mean?
Marinette: Exactly.
Nino: (to himself) Looks like I've got some business to take care of with Adrien's old man.
Scene: Outside Agreste Mansion. Marinette and Alya stand at the gate. Marinette tries to open the mailbox.
Marinette: This mailbox won't budge!
Alya: Ring the doorbell. (She points to the doorbell.)
Marinette: Are you kidding? What if Adrien answers the-
Alya rings the doorbell, and Marinette panics and screams. A hidden compartment on the wall opens and a camera appears.
Nathalie: Yes?
Marinette: Um, hi. I'm in Adrien's class and I, uh- (She shows the gift to the camera.) Heh, did I already say that? Umm... (She looks more nervous.) Heh... (She smiles awkwardly.)
Nathalie: Put it in the box.
The mailbox opens.
Marinette: Uh. (She puts the gift in the mailbox.) Thank you! (The camera retreats and the wall compartment closes. Marinette is excited.) Oh! I hope he likes it!
Alya: You signed the note, right? (Marinette makes a surprised face.) Ah, girl, girl, girl.
Marinette: (groans)
Scene: Agreste Mansion. Nathalie enters her office with Marinette's gift in her hands and puts it on her desk while sitting down.
Gabriel: (from intercom) Who was that, Nathalie?
Nathalie: A friend of Adrien's. She was delivering a gift for his birthday.
Gabriel: Did you remember to buy him a present from me?
Nathalie: (surprised) Uh-uh, but you didn't ask me to.
Gabriel: (angrily) Of course I did!
Nathalie: Yes, Mr. Agreste. I-I'll take care of it.
Gabriel: Good. (disconnects)
Nathalie: (covers her mouth, in fear) Uh. (She looks despaired, then her face lights up and she takes Marinette's gift.) Ah. (The doorbell rings and she composes herself.) Yes?
Nino: (from the camera outside) Uh, hi.
Scene: Inside Agreste Mansion. Nino and Nathalie are standing in the foyer, waiting.
Nathalie: He'll be here in a minute.
Gabriel: (as he enters) Adrien's not home yet.
Nino: Uh, I was coming to see you, du-sir.
Gabriel: Me?
Nino: Yeah, that right. Look, I know you don't want Adrien to have a party, but it's his birthday, dude-I mean, sir. It's all he wants.
Gabriel: No. (He raises his palm.) That's final.
Nino: That's messed up. (Adrien enters without anyone noticing.) He never screws up in class, he always does whatever you tell him: photoshoots, fencing, Chinese, piano-
Adrien: Nino? You're here.
Nino: (to Adrien) Anything for my best bud. (To Mr. Agreste.) Show some awesomeness, du-I mean, sir, please. (Mr. Agreste looks at him angrily.)
Adrien: Forget it, Nino. Really, it's fine.
Gabriel: Listen, young man. I decide what's best for my son. In fact, I've just decided that you're a bad influence and you're not welcome in my house ever again. Leave now!
Adrien: Father, he was just trying to do something cool for me. (Mr. Agreste leaves.)
Nathalie: (steps in front of them) Goodbye.
Nino starts to leave, but Adrien catches him outside the front doors.
Adrien: Nino, wait! I'm sorry. My father-he's pretty stubborn. It's just best to stay out of his way.
Nino becomes furious to learn that Adrien's father is colder.
Nino: It's not fair, Adrien. Harsh, uncool. (Nino crosses his arms and leaves, leaving Adrien looking sad.)
Adrien: Thanks anyway, Nino.
Scene: The Place des Vosges. Nino is sitting on a bench, looking angry. He starts blowing bubbles with his bubble wand.
Wayzz flies out of Nino's bag.
Wayzz: You know Gabriel is just worried for Adrien
Nino: I know, it's just, he doesn't give Adrien time to relax outside of his lessons and schools.
Wayzz: I'm sure Gabriel will see that someday. In the meantime, you can celebrate at school.
Nino: You know what? You're right. We'll celebrate at school. I'll get all of Adrien's friends and we'll throw the best party ever.
Unbeknownst to Nino and Wayzz, the Akuma that was sent towards Nino's way started flying back to base.
Scene: Shadowmoth's lair
Shadowmoth: The emotions are fading! No!
Scene: Nathalie Sancouer's office
Gabriel: (on the intercom) Nathalie? Did my son like his gift?
Nathalie: Actually, I was going to check right away sir.
Gabriel: Good. (He disconnects)
Nathalie: (She despairs, looks around, and takes Marinette's gift. She sighs and goes to the dining room where Adrien is eating.) A birthday present, from your father.
Adrien: Thank you. I mean, please say thank you to my father for me.
Nathalie nods. Adrien looks happily at the gift. A doorbell is heard. Nathalie returns to her office.
Delivery Man: Delivery for Adrien Agreste. It's a gift from Chloe Bourgeois.
Nathalie: Of course, bring it in.
A/N: I believe that Sabrina would be going big, in the spirit of Chloe. Therefore it wouldn't fit in the box.
A handful of delivery men bring the big package in. It was 6 feet tall, and 2 feet wide.
Nathalie: Adrien! Your present from Chloe is here.
Adrien walks into the entry room with a scarf around his neck. Nathalie looks at the scarf with interest.
Adrien: I wonder what Chloe got me this year?
Scene: Outside school.
Alya: Hey girl! Are you ready for the party for Adrien?
Mari: Yeah, Nino did great, planning this party. I'm surprised it was all set up before school. Nino might even contend with me about liking Adrien. (Starts zoning out on Adrien's name)
Alya: You know what? We need to tell the girls about your crush.
Marinette: What? Are you sure?
Alya: Relax girl, you've known them for what? Years? They'll understand.
Adrien: Hey girls! (He gets out of the limousine, wearing a scarf)
Marinette: (to Alya) Hey, that's my scarf! He's wearing my scarf.
Adrien: (to Nino) Hey, dude.
Alya: Yo, nice scarf, Adrien. Off the chain.
Adrien: Yeah, can you believe my dad got this for me? (Marinette looks surprised) He's so awesome. He's been giving me the same lame pen for three years in a row.
Nino: Wow, I guess anyone can change. Adults can be cool when you least expect it.
Adrien: Speaking of adults, I know my father said you were a bad influence, but-
Seeing the exchange between Adrien and Nino, Mari had a nagging yell in her mind, but she couldn't keep it in.
Mari: I made it!
Adrien looked back at Marinette. Chloe notices Adrien and starts asking him about her present.
Adrien: You have awesome talent Marinette. This is made really well. You're really generous to make dad's present.
Mari: N-no! Present me give! I mean, give me present! I mean.
Alya: What Mari is trying to say is that Mari and I stopped by yesterday to give you your present from her. What made you think it came from your father?
Adrien: Nathalie told me.
Chloe, who had heard the whole conversation, was flabbergasted. No, furious! How dare someone trick her Adrikins.
Chloe: How dare she! I'll get her fired!
She starts calling for her dad until Adrien stops her by putting his hand on her shoulder.
Adrien: Chloe. No, let's not involve your father.
Andre: Chloe my dear? Is everything alright?
Chloe: False alarm daddy.
Chloe hangs up
Alya: Adrien is right. We gotta do this ourselves.
Nino: But first dude, we got school (he nudges Mari's arm)
Mari: Right, book, study, school.
Alya rolls her eyes. She needs help.
Scene: After the school day, at the Agreste Mansion.
Alya, Mari, Nino and Chloe stand outside the gates, but Chloe stands farther away. She is only doing this for her Adrikins. Adrien is absent from the group as he has fencing after school today.
Nino: Are you sure I should be here? Gabriel declared I was a bad influence on Adrien yesterday.
Marinette: Of course, we need all the help for this.
Marinette presses the doorbell with confidence. A strange eye sticks out of the wall.
Nathalie: Yes?
Chloe pushes Marinette out of the way, Alya catches her.
Chloe: Ms. Sancoeur. We would like to talk to you!
Nathalie sees the two girls who dropped off the gift yesterday and she pales. What does she do? In trying to act like nothing's wrong, she opens the gates. The quartet walks in the mansion with fire in their eyes. Nathalie walks in, trying to hide her nervous face.
Nathalie: What do you need to talk with me about?
Marinette: You know full well what we are here for! You stole my present for Adrien to Gabriel!
Chloe: You tricked my Adrikins!
Nathalie: You should've signed the present then.
Alya: I know, it's infuriating! But you knew it came from us! You purposely took it!
Gabriel walks in the room clearly angry. He heard the commotion.
Gabriel: Nathalie! My office. NOW!
Nino swore that Gabriel's voice shook the mansion. Nathalie, more stiff than she has these last 14 years, nods her head and walks inside. Before closing the door, Gabriel nods at the four teenagers clearly thanking them. Alya, Nino and Mari fist bumped. Chloe just mentally cheers in her head.
Gabriel: Give me one reason why I shouldn't fire you right now!
Nathalie is about to give a reason, until she lets loose on Gabriel.
Nathalie: You know what sir? You need to let loose on Adrien! You haven't been there for Adrien for a while now! Before this year, he hadn't been to public school. The only reason that changed was because of me! Who has been there for Adrien when you couldn't?! Oh right. ME! You need to be there for your son! Not only that, but you recently started this secret thing that no-one in Paris knows about except me! You stick everything about parenting to me! Heck, at this point Adrien could be more my than yours at this point. DO YOU THINK REMOVING ME FROM YOUR COMPANY IS A GOOD IDEA?!
Gabriel stands there for a few seconds.
Gabriel: ...you're right. I have not been parenting well. However, you claimed a 14 year old girl's present to Adrien was from me. You're lucky that they decided not to post about it on the internet, it could've ruined my reputation! I would have to crawl back to Audrey Bourgeois for help. As far as I'm concerned, Ms Sancouer. YOU'RE FIRED!
Nathalie: Well goof F****** riddance! I don't want anything to do with the company anymore!
Nathalie storms out of the house, pushing past the teenagers and storming out of the house. Gabriel and Nathalie's conversation was deafening. Marinette, Nino and Alya feel guilty over what they had done. Was this a mistake? Chloe just feels smug over this. Gabriel walks over to the teenagers in a thankful way.
Gabriel: Thank you everyone for bringing this to my attention.
Marinette: All things considered Mr. Agreste you didn't have to fire her.
Gabriel: I appreciate your kindness miss, but this was potentially damaging to my company.
Chloe: (while on phone) Gabriel is right. If this went unchecked and found out, or if we reported it ourselves, the Agreste business would be put out of business.
Alya: Hold on. You knew what we were doing?
Chloe: Yup.
Nino: And you didn't tell us?
Chloe: Yup.
Mari: Typical Chloe.
Chloe: Hey! The only reason I came was for Adrikins' sake! I didn't come to help you! Did you honestly think that I was purposefully with you?
Gabriel: Now Chloe, that's no way to speak to the other guests of honor.
Chloe: What?!
Gabriel: You are also a guest of honor too Chloe.
Chloe: Whatever. I'm out of here. I got better things to do.
Chloe leaves the mansion.
Alya: Don't you need a new assistant now?
Gabriel: That is true. There is a gap in our employment now.
Alya: *whispers* You could take the job.
Marinette: *whispers* What? No, I'm busy.
Nino: Well, I'll just leave now.
Gabriel: Wait! Lahiffe…
Nino: Yes?
Gabriel: I was wrong about you. You can come when you like. Just make sure to call… *he realizes Nathalie is gone* Ahem, call Adrien's bodyguard. Adrien will give you his number tomorrow.
Marinette: We'll be leaving too. By Mr. Agreste.
Gabriel: Wait. What are your names? I didn't get them in all of the tension.
Alya: My name is Alya Cesaire, and this is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. See you.
Gabriel will never forget the day four teenagers started him becoming more of a father.
To be continued…
A/N: OMG! Did you guys see that promo? Or is it a trailer? I am so thrilled and also exceptionally worried for Mari, Nino and Alya.