Marinette was walking to school the next day in a more confident mood than normal. She would normally be stressed and frantically rushing to school sometimes running late in the process mostly due to her double life as Ladybug, but after her talk with Cat Noir last night she began to feel and act like a completely different person.
Marinette's kwami Tikki poked her head out of Marinette's purse "Marinette you seem rather cheerful today" she said.
"Yes Tikki, today is the day that I'm finally going to tell Adrien how I feel. I'm kind of surprised that Cat Noir gave me some advice considering all the terrible puns and pick-up lines he always uses"
Just like Plagg knowing that Marinette was Ladybug; Tikki also knew that Adrien was Cat Noir. Tikki also had the spell on her being unable to tell anyone about the superheroes civilian identities.
"I'm so proud how far you've come Marinette. How much you've evolved"
"Yeah and today's extra special because it's Valentine's Day and when he says yes it will be end up being greatest day of my life. Plus our group can have another couple along with Ivan and Melan, Nino and Alya, Juleka and Rose and Marc and Nathaniel"
"Wait, I thought that Rose liked Prince Ali and Nathaniel liked Ladybug"
"Rose and Nathaniel like both guys and girls. The term we humans use is Bi-sexual but these days some people decide not to use labels. It is 2019 after all"
"I guess we all learn and evolve every single day" said Tikki
"Of course Tikki" Marinette replied "We're almost at the school. I'm going to meet Alya so you better hide. We don't want her seeing you and discover my superhero identity for her to put on her blog"
Tikki giggled and hid.
Marinette arrived at the school and started to walk in. She saw her friend Alya walking up in the distance to greet her.
"Hey" Alya said "How are you today?"
"I'm feeling great Alya" Marinette replied with enthusiasm; which in turn made Alya a little confused "I'm gonna finally tell Adrien how I feel"
Alya was stunned "Really? What made you decide to finally step up?"
"I decided to take some advice from a friend"
"Finally" Alya said "I've been trying to get you to ask Adrien out for a really long time and now you've finally decided to take my advice"
Marinette was confused but had to go along with it. After all; she couldn't say that she got advice from Cat Noir "Yeah, sure."
"Well here's your chance. Adrien's car just pulled up"
All of a sudden Marinette just froze right there on the spot, the only sound she could hear in her head was the sound of a dying church bell and her skin nearly started to go pale.
"Uh Marinette?" Alya asked as she waved her hand in front of Marinette's face and snapped her fingers trying to Marinette's attention "Oh boy"
Tikki wasn't watching, but she could hear what was going on from inside Marinette's purse.
"That's the Marinette I know" Tikki quietly said to herself.
The bell began to ring and the sound of the school bell able to break Marinette out of her frozen state.
"What just happened? Did I just freeze?" Marinette nervously said and Alya just nodded at her to answer her question "Oh God!"
"Don't worry Marinette it's just last minute nerves. It happens to all of us. Well it does tend to happen to you a bit more"
Marinette just looked Alya with an irritated look on her face.
"Ok, I'll just tell him at lunchtime. It will take a bit of pressure off since it won't distract us from morning classes"
"Are you 100% sure that you're gonna tell him at lunchtime?" asked Alya
"Positive. Those last minute nerves will be gone by then" replied Marinette as she and Alya began to walk to class.
"I hope" Marinette quietly thought to herself.
After a couple of hours it was lunchtime. Adrien was sitting on one of the benches looking around at some of the happy couples around the school while he was waiting for Marinette. He wanted to get some advice from Plagg but couldn't risk having someone see Plagg and possibly revealing his secret identity.
Adrien then felt a hand on his shoulder which made him smile, but his smile quickly faded as he looked up and saw that it wasn't Marinette. It was Lila.
"Hey Adrien" she said as she began to sit next to him "Today is such a romantic day seeing all these happy couples together"
Lila was a very manipulative person who also had a crush on Adrien but Adrien wasn't buying into it as he was more focused on waiting for Marinette.
"Sorry Lila, I'm waiting for someone"
"Really?" Lila said was she started to get a little angry "Who?"
"Someone like me" said a voice in the distance.
"Oh boy" Adrien said as he began to facepalm.
The voice belonged to Chloe as she walked up with an angry look on her face.
"What are you doing here talking to Adrien? He's mine"
"Oh really" Lila replied "The last time I checked this was a free country. So I can talk to anyone I want"
This made Chloe furious so Lila decided to get under her skin
"What's the matter? Your little lackey not here to back to back you up?"
"Sabrina is busy right now, besides my daddy won't be happy when I tell him about you"
"Oh right you dad's the Mayor. But this is one thing your dad can't help you with" Lila replied as both she and Chloe looked at each other angrily.
Marinette was near the staircase watching.
"Marinette, aren't you going over there to talk to Adrien?" asked Tikki
"It's a bit difficult Tikki. Lila and Chloe don't like each other, but they don't like me either if I walk out there it will be like walking in the middle of a war zone with targets painted on me"
"Come on Marinette, what's the worst that can happen?"
"I could trip, say something inappropriate, freeze, burp, break wind, faint, he flat out rejects me. The list is endless"
"Sorry I asked" Tikki replied "Anyway, you're Ladybug. Why don't you just walk up there with the confidence you have while battling akumatized villains?"
"You're right Tikki if I use the confidence I have as Ladybug along with Cat Noir's advice there's no way I can fail. I'm going in"
Marinette walked up and Adrien noticed her.
"What do you want Dupen-Cheng?" Chloe asked angrily
"I just want to talk to Adrien" Marinette replied
"Oh yeah, well get in line. I was here first" said Lila
Adrien then proceeded to stand up.
"Let her speak" he said to both Lila and Chloe
"Ok fine" Lila said
Chloe just scoffed and then snickered "This is going to be entertaining"
Marinette's heart was beating faster and faster, but she decided to pluck up courage and speak her mind.
"Adrien, ever since I first met you I have had feelings for you but until now I have always had trouble expressing them to you"
Lila looked angry and Chloe just ignored what Marinette was saying. But Adrien started to smile as Marinette recited the Valentine's card that she previously sent him but forgot to sign word-by-word.
"So I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime."
Chloe just laughed "If you think that Adrien will go out with you after that, then you are sorely…"
"Yes" Adrien replied to Marinette
"WHAT?!" Chloe said in complete shock
"I will go out with you Marinette"
Marinette just stood there as her heart nearly skipped a beat. Chloe stood there both shocked and confused. But Lila was furious, so furious the top left hand corner of her upper lip started to twitch and a vein nearly showed in her forehead.
"How dare you!" Lila screamed as she grabbed the collar of Marinette's shirt "How dare you interfere and steal Adrien from me"
"It's no one fault that he likes me instead of you"
"You have made the biggest mistake of your life" Lila said as she was about to knock Marinette out. This sent a shockwave through the school, even Chloe was shocked. Alya and Nino soon rushed in to separate Lila from Marinette.
"So it looks like you've finally shown your true colours" Adrien told Lila "I've always been nice to you and I know realise that you would even manipulate my father into making me hang out with you. After what you've shown today I'd be safer with Chloe than with you"
Adrien then walked over to Marinette and held her hand "I've made my decision" he said to Lila.
Lila realised she could lie and manipulate her way out of this one.
"You're gonna pay for this Marinette Dupen-Cheng. You will also pay for this Adrien Agretse, you'll regret not choosing me" Lila said angrily as she pointed at both Marinette and Adrien and then at Chloe "You'll also pay Chloe"
Chloe looked at Lila confused "What in the world did I do?"
"If you didn't interfere while I was talking to Adrien everything would have been just fine. You'll all pay"
Lila walked off before anyone else could come.
"I can't believe that she would blame me for her being crazy" scoffed Chloe "Utterly ridiculous"
Chloe then turned her attention to Marinette.
"Anyway I'm sure that this little date that you will have will most certainly fail. And when it does; Adrien will realise what a loser you are and come to me"
Chloe then looked at Adrien.
"I'll be waiting Adrikins" she said as she winked at him and then walked off leaving Marinette, Adrien, Alya and Nino both disgusted and confused.
"That was strange" said Alya "Come on Nino, we better give these to some time to talk"
Both Marinette and Adrien were silent for a few seconds.
"So you were the one who sent me that Valentine's Day card"
"Yes" Marinette said as she nodded "I also gave you that scarf for your birthday"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was nervous and when you said that your dad got it for you, I didn't want to upset you"
"That's understandable"
"I thought you told me you were in love with someone else"
"It didn't work out; she was in love with someone else"
"Wow" said Marinette "Small world"
"Yeah; anyway I can meet you at the park this afternoon. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great Adrien"
Both Adrien and Marinette walked away as the lunch break was about to end. Adrien smiled as he walked to class. Marinette was so excited that she clinched her fists, leaped high into the air and screamed like she had just scored the winning goal in the final of the Champions League. All of Marinette's friends were happy for her as they also had been waiting a long time for this day to come. Everyone then went to class to continue on with their day.