"You like her, don't you?" Nino asked me while stuffing his face with cereal.

I had stayed the night after the party to help them clean up and ended up falling asleep on their couch.

"Marinette? Please," I scoffed. "It would never happen."

"You're not denying it," Alya pointed out from the couch.

"I'm not admitting it either, smartass."

"So you do admit it then," Nino said.

"What? No," my voice cracked.

"Omg!" Alya exclaimed, turning around to face me. "You totally have a thing for Mari! I knew it Nino! Pay up." Nino handed her 20 dollars.

"Seriously? A bet?"

"We have to have something to keep us entertained," Nino shrugged.

I shock my head, "You guys are something else."

Alya smiled, "So how are you going to get Mari to like you back?"

I shrugged, "I hadn't thought it completely through yet." I never told them about the almost kiss because I wish I could take away the almost part. One day.

"You need to get her to come with you to the premire on Friday," Alya said and went back to reading. "I'm seeing her today, perhaps I can convince her."

"Yeah, maybe," I sighed and finished my breakfeast. I knew there was no hope but I didn't want to tell her that.


The bell dinged from the front desk. "Mari?" I heard Alya call from the front. "Where are you?"

"Here!" I said popping my head out.

"Omg! You're eye!" She exclaimed and rushed to examine it.

I laughed at her and swatted her hand away. It had swollen to almost twice the size of normal and the cloring was now puple with hints of red.

"I'm fine, Als. It's just my eye. It'll heal." I brought her to the back with me so we could talk while I took inventory. I had workers for that, but I enjoyed doing the little tasks myself. "So, what's up?"

"Your fans are growing more and more impatient to see you and Adrien together. Give them what they want for at least one night. Please," Alya pleaded with me.

"No. Every girl Adrien 'dates' always ends up becoming famous or at least semi-famous. That wouldn't be such a bad thing if their success of their careers wasn't credited to Adrien, not them. I want to become famous and successful on my own and I'm well on my way there," I explained. I didn't tell her about the almost kiss last night which made things even more complecated than before.

Alya pondered on what I said before answering, "I suppose…" I felt like she was hiding something but I didn't push it.

I sighed. "Look, if it makes you that happy, I'll go with him." I saw her face light up. "Pretending Als. I don't actually like the guy." This was half true. "He's been my rival for my whole life and he'll stay that way if I can help it," I stated sternly. Alya rolled her eyes.

"Fine, thanks," She hugged me and left shortly after. It was Saturday which meant I had a week to mentally prepare myself for acting as Adrien's girlfriend.


"She what?" I half choked on my coffee.

"Alya, I know you like to joke but if you're joking-" Nino started.

Alya sigh in exhasperation. "But I'm not! Mari said she'd go with you. Though, she did say pretending, not for real, but, between you and me, I think that could change."

Nino clapped me on the back. "Now on to Phase 2," he smiled.

"And what would that be?" I glared at him now totally deflated. Pretending? That's what she thought of us.

"Getting her to like you back, man," he and Alya shared a look. I'm sure another bet would be placed soon.


I yawned and erased a line on my new sketch. I just couldn't get the angles right. I knew I did better with a live model in front of me but it was too late. Then the door opened. I took my feet off my desk.

"Sorry we're closed-" I said then saw who it was. Adrien was standing in front of me.

"Sorry Mari, I know it's late but I really need this jacket fitted for a photo shoot on Monday. Can you help?" He asked, his eyes pleading with me.

I sighed. "Fine but I really new a male model to sketch. Do me the honors?" I said while pinning parts of the jacket.

"Of course." He got up on the plateform and posed. "Like this?" He said after I had taken the measurements for the jacket.

I nodded. "Perfect, just like that." I sat back down at my desk.

"So, Marinette," he started.

"Uh huh," I drew a cruve for a sleve.

"Friday night. You and me," he continued. He was quite awkward.

I looked up at him pointedly. "Not for real. To the media, yes. To us, no."

He cleared his throat, "Well-"

"Can you turn your head a tiny bit?" I asked, totally focused.

"Yeah, Marinette. Anyways, I was thinking-"

"To the right please."

"Mari. I thought we could pose as a couple all week. You know, hype up the event?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever, that's fine," I was getting annoyed at this point.

"Marinette?"

I sighed, "What, Adrien?"

"What's your problem?" He was getting angry. Well so was I.

"Problem? I don't-"

I was cut off by his lips pressed against mine. At first I was in shock so I forgot to kiss back. When I remembered I practically melted into the kiss, his lips warm and soft on mine. It was gentle but it left room for more. Like the first bite of a delicious cake. You instantly want more.

"Don't lie to me Marinette Dupain-Cheng." He looked me straight in the eyes. My breath caught. His lips centimeters away from mine. This guy would be the death of me. "You haven't listened to me all evening," he pointed out. He was right.

"I'm just a little distracted," I tried to defend myself. "You're not helping matters."

He sighed. "Have you eaten today?"

I thought for a minute. He knew me too well. I've been known to forget to do simple tasks like eat when focused. "Well, no," I mumbled, now embarrassed.

"Come on," he grabbed my hand and pushed me out the door. "We're getting food." There was no arguing with him.


I tried my hardest not to stare at the girl in front of me. She was still sketching while we waited for our food to come and I just couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked. Even in the dim resteraunt light she was so gorgeous.

I thought back to that kiss. She didn't seem upset at the fact I kissed her. She even kissed back. I hoped she wasn't angry with me, since I didn't ask before hand.

"What?" She asked when she caught me staring. I think I was smiling too.

"Nothing."

She looked at me weird and was about to say something when she was distracted by our food arriving.

We couldn't decide what we wanted so we ordered two things we both wanted and split both. We did this with the deserts as well. I slipped my hand in hers when we walked out, expecting, and being right, the paparazzi to swarm us.

I leaned down and whispered, "I hope that kiss was okay," in her ear.

She slightly nodded and said, "It was I'm just a little overwhelmed by the cameras right now."

"Come on," I lead her away from them and shielded her with my body. "Let's go to my place." It wasn't far so she let me take her there. I set my keys down on the counter. "Home sweet home."

She smiled. "Modest. I like it."

"I'll take the couch and my bed's just in there," I said, showing her my room.

"What?" She was a little confused.

"Oh," I chuckled. "They'll be out there all night. Might as well stay. They don't need to know where you live too."

She nodded and said, "I'll take the couch then."

I shook my head. "Nope. Ladies get treated like the princesses and queens that they are. My mother taught me that. And royalty always has the bedroom. Please take it, M'Lady."

She smiled. "Your mother taught you right."

"She taught me many things before she departed. I just wish she would've taught me a few more." I looked down, remembering the kind woman that was my mother.

Marinette pulled me in a hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. I hugged her even tighter.

When we released we were in the same position as when we were on the rooftop. It felt right.

I looked down at her lips again. They were pink and tasted like cherry lip balm. Marinette looked back at me.

"I, uh, I'm kinda tired," she stuttered and pulled away from me. Again. "Thank you."

"Good night," I called as she shut the door to my room. That girl would be the end of me.


The next morning, when I checked my phone, I smiled and saw the headlines which said we were together. Finally, the world knew, even if it was fake to her. It was all real to me.