Chapter 5

~Marinette's POV~

"I have the next few scenes written out." Alya told all of us. That made five total ready to shoot.

After everyone got the copies, she continued. "I think we should use this day to read over and memorize lines. Tomorrow is the start of the weekend. I think we'll be able to film all five before Monday. Maybe even the scene I'm currently working on."

Everyone read over their scripts. I walked up to Alya. "So..." I started. "Who is Lucy? The one I work with?"

"Oh, I'm Lucy." Alya smiled.

"Really?!" I asked her excitedly. "That's awesome!"

"Sure is." She said. "Anything else on your mind?"

"How'd you..." I started to ask, but trailed off. It's like she can read my mind sometimes. "Yeah. I was wondering what scene Adrien and I start filming together."

"Excited?" Alya grinned.

"Nervous." I responded. "I don't think I can do it without being a total dorkasaurus."

Alya chuckled and put her hands on my shoulders. "Why else would I have made Marilee White a total dorkasaurus?"

"Seriously?" I asked. "Does Marilee represent me?"

"Girl," Alya smiled. "You are Marilee. Marilee is you."

"Did you do the same with Adrien and Zachary?" I asked curiously.

"Well, I don't know him as well as I know you." She said. "But... Based on our many, many, many, many-"

"Yes, I get it!" I giggled.

"... Many conversations about him," Alya continued. "I know that he's a nice guy who is not full of himself. He also doesn't seem crazy on the idea of a relationship."

"Wow." I said. "I never really thought of him not wanting any relationships with anyone. I guess I've been selfish in wanting him to notice me as more than a friend."

"Nonsense." Alya said. "He just hasn't fully opened his eyes to see that he is ready, and that he has met the right girl for him."

I smiled, and my cheeks grew hot. "Alya, stop it." I told her. "You're making me blush."

"Oh, hey." She said suddenly. "Would you like to meet Queenie?"

"My, well, Marilee's cat?" I asked.

Alya nodded. "You'll have a scene with her tomorrow so you two better get along."

"I'd love to meet her!" I said with a big smile. "Let me grab my things."

I hurried to my desk and put everything away, then slung my backpack over a shoulder. I was sliding my other arm through the second strap as I walked back to Alya. To my surprise, Adrien stood next to her, his own bag on.

"Let's go." Alya said, taking the lead out of the classroom. Adrien and I followed her to the animal shelter where we had been given permission to use their animals.

After a little while, I decided to break the awkward silence. "So... Ambrose?"

"Oh, my cat?" Adrien asked. "Yeah. And Queenie is yours?"

"Yep." I replied, looking at him while we walked. "You and Ambrose better get along. He has to rub against your legs, climb on your lap, and lay on your bed."

"You read that script?" He asked. "Even though you wouldn't even make an appearance?"

"Of course." I said. "I like knowing what's happening in our story." I blushed a little, not exactly meaning my last few words as they had sounded.

He let out a soft chuckle, not noticing my blush. "Our story is definitely unique." He said. "Never heard of one like it."

"Me neither." I said, forcing my blush away. "Alya's doing great, isn't she?"

"For sure." He responded. Another moment of awkward silence.

"Open my eyes." He said suddenly, smiling as he broke the silence.

I gave him a questioning look and he continued to smile at me. "That's what Alya told me to do. For the sake of Zachary."

"What do you mean?" I asked, realization slowly overcoming me. Alya told me that he had to open his eyes to me...

She wouldn't... She couldn't embarrass me like that! She couldn't have told him to open his eyes to me!

"You're playing Marilee, Zachary's love interest." He explained. "Alya told me to really be in character. Something about getting this sparkle in my eyes that people tend to get when they're in love."

I couldn't help but blush a bit as I mentally sighed in relief. "I know what you mean." I said.

It's the sparkle, Alya's told me, I get in my eyes when I think of or am around Adrien. I couldn't help but wonder if that sparkle was in my eyes right now.

"Welcome to the animal shelter!" Alya said, spinning around to face us. Adrien and I had fallen a little behind her while in our conversation.

"Wow." I heard him say. He smiled as he took in the building. "I can't believe they let us borrow their animals."

"They want us to credit them for the animal usage." Alya said. "Something about advertising for adoptions. I don't know if they realize that not everyone will see this movie."

I let out a sigh of relief. I don't know what I would've done if everyone saw me acting like a dork around Adrien, Marilee or not.

"Why not?" Adrien asked. "I mean, I know it's a school project, but don't you think we could let more than just our class see it? It could really help Nino out if the movie gets good reviews."

"You're absolutely right." Alya smiled. "I'll talk with Nino and Ms. Bustier about it."

I sent a slightly panicked look to Alya, then looked back at Adrien. I guess I was wearing the same expression because he frowned slightly.

"I mean..." He said, looking at me. "As long that's okay with you."

"It's fine..." I muttered, looking down. "Just not sure I'm ready for everyone to see what a dork I am."

"Hey," Adrien chuckled softly. "I have to act like a completely oblivious dork who can't even recognize his own feelings for the girl he falls in love with."

I heard Alya snort a little as she tried to hold back her laughter, and mutter, "Oblivious child."

I turned red with embarrassment, understanding what she had been referring to. "Let's go meet the cats, shall we?" I asked, hoping to get out of this situation.

Alya told the nice man at the front desk who we were, and he eagerly went to a room I could only guess was the cat area.

"He's happy to see us." She said. We took seats in the main lobby as we waited. Not too long after, the same man and a woman came back with two cats, one in each arm.

The woman handed me a fluffy mottled brown cat with white paws and white a chest. It had a collar, unseen in the fur, with a tag that read Queenie.

The man handed Adrien a ginger tabby cat with shorter fur. It had a red collar with a red heart shaped tag that read, Ambrose.

"I love them!" I said happily, scratching Queenie behind her ear.

"They're absolutely purrfect." Adrien said, giving everyone a grin. He was clearly proud of his pun.

Alya rolled her eyes as I giggled. "Don't encourage him, Girl!" She told me. "Don't you know puns are the worst form of comedy?"

"Is that so?" Adrien asked with a small smirk. "Sounds like you're growing claws."

I giggled a bit more, blushing as I did so. Alya threw up her arms in defeat. "Whatever, Model-boy." She said. "We'd better get going. It's getting late."

Adrien scratched a bit under Ambrose's chin before handing him back to the man. "Alright, alright." He said, chuckling.

When I did the same as him in handing Queenie over, I couldn't help but become lost in his eyes. The way they sparkled with amusement and happiness. I really enjoyed seeing him this happy because he hadn't had the best childhood, his parents divorcing and all only a year ago after years and years of fighting.

I couldn't help but admire the way Adrien was able to stay strong through it all. If it were me, I'd fall to pieces.

He turned his attention back to me after standing up. "I guess we'd better get ready for tomorrow?" He asked.

I nodded as I was about to stand up next to him when I saw his hand reach toward me. I blushed a bit and took it in mine, allowing him to help me to my feet.

He told me he had to go back to the school because his chauffeur would be waiting. We said our goodbyes when I said I had to get back to the bakery to help my parents.

I don't know if I'm nervous for tomorrow's filming, or excited.