Chapter 4

~Adrien's POV~

"But I'm not allowed to drive yet!" Marinette said staring at the car we decided to use as Marilee's car.

"Cut!" Nino called out. "Marinette! We know you can't drive yet."

"That's why all you have to do is start the car, and put on the brakes." Alya explained. "The car will drift forward on its own."

Marinette nodded slowly. "Alright. I'm sorry for messing up that take."

"Hey, don't worry about it." Alya smiled. "That was only the third take. You're doing great."

"Let's try this again." Nino said. Everyone followed him back into the school and took a seat, except for Nino, who was filming, and me.

I couldn't play an extra because I was a main character. I would most likely be noticed. I told Nino and Alma I could sit in the back, but they told me we couldn't risk me being noticed. Something about this being a professional film.

I stood behind Nino as he got the camera ready.

"Again?" Mr. Damocles asked. Our principal was playing Marilee's college professor.

"Yeah." Nino said. "We should get it this time."

"If you say so." He replied.

Right before Nino called, "Action." Alix walked in front of the camera. She clapped the clapper board. "Scene two, take four." Afterwards, she sat back down in the front row.

Mr. Damocles turned to face the class from the chalkboard. Facts about domestic animals were written on the board. Marinette's character, Marilee, went to veterinary school.

To play her character, Marinette let her hair down. I couldn't help but think that it looked great. I hope she'll wear it down more, not that those pigtails we're bad, but it made Marinette seem more... Marilee-like. I guess I was taking Alya's advice on opening up to Marinette's character pretty well for me to say that about her new hairstyle.

"Feline dilated cardiomyopathy," Mr. Damocles said, walking around the teacher's desk. "And hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are both common in many species."

Nino walked around the room to film the students. I followed him.

"Your pussycat patient may present with..." Mr. Damocles cut himself off when he looked at Marinette. She had her head propped up with an arm, hand under chin, appearing to be asleep. "Miss White."

He approached her desk as he continued with, "Can you tell us some of the symptoms a cat with cardiomyopathy might present with?"

"Marilee." Rose whispered while the question was being asked. "Psst, Marilee." She was sitting next to Marinette.

Seeing that she was still 'sleeping', Rose nudged her 'awake'. "Wake up." She whispered.

Marinette leaned over then sat bolt upright looking at Mr. Damocles with wide eyes.

"Miss White..." He repeated. "Feline heart disease. Can you tell us some of the symptoms-"

"A low-pitched cough, breathing difficulties, noticeable weight loss or gain, reduced mobility, swelling in the abdomen."

"Thank you, I-" Mr. Damocles tried to say.

"Heart disease typically causes the heart to enlarge, and this enlargement causes the loss of efficiency-" Marinette fidgeted nervously as she rambled off and gladly shut her mouth when Mr. Damocles cut her off.

"Very. Good. Miss. White." He said, obviously a little irritated. "Now. You may go back to sleep."

Marinette awkwardly ran her fingers down her cheek as the classroom was filled with laughter. She looked down, embarrassed.

"Cut!" Nino called out. "Very good, Marinette. You remembered all your lines, so I don't have to edit."

Last take she skipped a symptom. Nino said it was alright for the sake of filming, but since we had to retake the next scene, we decided to try this one again.

"Let's go outside." Alya said.

I sat with the rest of my classmates in our classroom watching the three scenes we filmed. Nino had already edited them, and they looked great so far. We had just gotten to the third scene.

I hadn't gotten to see Marinette recording that one with Rose because I had to go to the fire engine that we had a little ways away.

Both the girls we're dressed in warm winter jackets. Rose wore more of a fancy-like designer winter jacket, and Marinette wore a big, puffy winter coat. My father was surprisingly kind enough to allow us to use them.

"You need some balance in your life." Rose told her as they walked through a parking lot. "I mean, you're clearly exhausted. All you do is work and study. You need to relax, have some fun. It's Christmas! Go get a mani-pedi. Watch television. Go to a movie."

Marinette gave a small scoff. "I haven't been to a movie in years."

"Exactly my point." Rose continued with a sigh. "I just joined this dating site called Just Dessert. You should sign up."

"I don't have time to date." Marinette replied, shaking her head. "After I graduate, I'll figure it out-"

"You fill in the questionnaire," Rose interrupted. "They put a group of potential soulmates together, and you meet at a catered party for dessert."

Marinette tilted her head slightly at Rose, amused by her concern.

"I mean," Rose continued. "Even if you don't make a love connection at least you get cake."

"Have you met anyone yet?" Marinette asked.

"No." Rose said sadly. "And I've gained like six pounds! I'm seventy-nine years old, and I'm fat, old, and alone."

"Please, you are not fat." Marinette reassured her. "And you need to stop counting your age in dog years."

Rose let out a small whine of protest. "See you Monday?"

"Yeah." Marinette chuckled. "Bye."

Marinette climbed into her car and muttered, "Okay." While starting it. She buckled herself in and drove forward a bit before gasping and quickly stopping her car just as a fire engine honked a few times, driving in front of her.

As it drove by, I had given her a small smile and wave.

Marinette awkwardly smiled, more out of embarrassment and shock from almost getting hit, and returned my wave though I hadn't seen it.

"Good work everyone!" Nino said happily. "This is going great."

"When do I have scene?" Chloe asked rudely.

Everyone looked at Alya. "I'm not sure yet. I've only written the next two scripts. I'll write more tonight."

Alya handed out the papers and turned to Chloe once more. "By the way, the owner of the pet store Marilee works at is Blair's dad. Could you-"

"Um..." Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Why does this 'Blair' concern me?"

"Chloe, you are Blair." Adrien said. "My ex."

"Right." Chloe said, then frowned. "What do you mean ex? Adrikins! We haven't even started dating!"

"For the sake of the film, Chloe." Alya interrupted. "Will you ask your dad to be in our film?"

"Will I be able to get Marinette in trouble if my dad's her boss?" Chloe asked.

"Yes, sure, whatever." Alya agreed, earning a complaint from Marinette.

"Alya, seriously?"

"I'll get my dad to be Marinette's boss." Chloe smirked. "Don't worry."

I sent a concerned look at Marinette, then walked over to her. "Hey, don't take what she says to heart."

"She wants to make my life miserable." She frowned, looking down. "I don't even know what I did to her."

"I don't have any idea." I smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I don't see what she could possibly have against you. You're probably the most amazing and caring person I know."

She stared up at me with wide eyes. "R-Really?"

I nodded, resulting in a huge grin from her. "Thanks, Adrien." She said. "That means a lot."

"Well, we'd better study our lines." I said, looking at the scripts. "We each have roles."

"Yeah..." She said, looking at her own.

"You know, based on how this story line is progressing in the fifth scene, I bet we'll have to meet soon." I told her.

"Right." She said, looking away from me. "When the... Romance... Begins."

"Yeah..." I said awkwardly. To me, it almost sounded like she was uncomfortable with our upcoming scenes.

"You know..." I said slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Don't tell Chloe, but I'm glad you're playing Marilee."

"What?" She asked, eyes wide and face red. Oh no... Did I get her mad?

"Well, yeah." I said. "I'd prefer you over Chloe any day."

I widened my eyes from how that sounded. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that. What I meant to say was-"

"No, I get it." Marinette looked down with a small smile, her face not as red. "I understand."

"We'd better go..." I said trying to get out of the awkward conversation. "Tomorrow..."

"Yeah..." She said. "See you..."

"Bye." I walked to my chauffeur who had been waiting for a little while already. After apologizing, I climbed in and saw Marinette walking home with quick steps.

I sighed a little, annoyed with myself for saying things like what I had to her. I could already tell that this film would change our relationship as we knew it. For better or worse.