Adrien

It was her fifth day at her new school and Marinette seemed to Adrien like she was on cloud nine. Her new classmates, save for Chloe and Sabrina, had welcomed her with open arms. Sure there were a few bumps, but everything was a lot better than it was at Western Academy. She moved from the back row to sit next to Alya, behind Adrien and Nino. She and Adrien haven't interacted much, mostly just greeting each other.

Which was not okay with Adrien. He wanted her attention, to talk to her, to hang out with her. But she always seemed to be swept up by the girls, escorted from class to class. He voiced this complaint to Alya, who snorted and told him has yet to apologize for being rude. He groaned, "How am I supposed to apologize if I never get to talk to her?" Alya and Nino laughed the rest of the car ride to school at his frustration. So far Marinette had refused his offers of giving her a ride to school, much to his disappointment.

Alya shooed them off to class as she waited out front for Marinette. Adrien reluctantly obeyed, with what Alya remarked is a sad puppy face. Nino chuckled as they walked across the courtyard. "Seriously dude, what's with you?"

Adrien shrugged, "I don't know, it just feels like I have gotten the least amount of attention from Marinette. She is always interacting with you guys more than me."

Nino patted him on the back, "Don't worry bro, I am sure things will improve." He stared off in thought for a moment, then asked him, "Have you told her that you are the model Adrien Agreste? She might be more interested in talking to you."

Adrien shook his head as they entered the classroom, "I heard her talking to Juleka about how she would never date Adrien Agreste because she thinks it won't look good for her design career. But if she thinks that I am an ordinary boy named Adrien, then she would be more willing to befriend me."

Nino looked over at his very confusing friend, "Dude, you aren't making any sense. She said she won't date Adrien Agreste, so you think that means she won't be your friend? She would probably love to be friends with you being a fashion model and all. Not to mention your father is her favorite designer."

Adrien groaned and slammed his head into his desk, mumbling, "It's way more complicated than that. She might act weird instead because my dad is her favorite designer." He lifted his head back up to look at Nino again. "I just want to be sure that she won't avoid me before I tell her."

Nino sighed, his bro was way too dramatic for him to handle alone. Usually, Alya was here to shut him down, but she clung to Marinette since day one. "Okay dude," he sighed in defeat, "Do it your way, but remember that your face is plastered all over Paris and she will recognize you eventually. How do you think she will feel about you hiding this after you were convinced she isn't a rabid fangirl?" Adrien didn't reply, lost in the thought of that day in the rain when she spilled out her secret. She trusted him, but if he didn't do something soon it would seem to her that he didn't trust her back. He slammed his head into his desk again, wishing he hadn't been such an idiot on the first day of school.

"Are you okay, Adrien?" The sweet voice made him freeze up, the authentic concern in it making his heart beat faster. Daring to look up, Adrien found himself staring into the very blue eyes of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Her eyes were filled with concern as she bit her lower lip, adding, "I mean if you want to talk about it."

Adrien felt himself freeze up, "N-n-no, I'm o-okay. Ju-just not feeling lecture li-listening to have." He begged for someone to end his misery, he couldn't even say words in the proper order any more.

While Alya and Nino both gave him questioning looks while Marinette simply gave him a smile that made him melt. "Okay! I don't want to be here either," she admitted. "But you guys make it bearable."

Adrien could only smile as she walked around him to her seat. That didn't go so bad, right? Alya observed the flustered boy, wondering how to test this new development. "Hey Marinette, what do you think of model Adrien Agreste?" Nino flashed her a warning glance while Adrien seemed to perk up at the mention of his name.

Marinette tilted her head as if in thought, then looking at Alya she answered, "He would look good in black and green."

Alya saw Adrien's cheeks go red, deciding to fish for more information. "I meant do you think he's cute?" Marinette raised an eyebrow as Adrien slumped down in his seat.

"Yeah, he's cute I guess. Why are you so interested in this?" Marinette asked with suspicion in her tone, eyes narrowed at the blogger.

Alya shrugged, "No reason, just curious." She shot a glance at the model, who was now beat red with embarrassment. This is interesting Alya noted, filing it away for future interrogation of Adrien.

Marinette also noticed Adrien's reddening face, the look of concern returning to her face. But then Ms. Bustier called the class to attention before she could voice her concerns. Marinette sighed, deciding she would just have to wait until after class as she listened to her teacher. "Today, I have a surprise announcement: Gabriel Agreste is holding a design contest for high school students. The challenge is to design a formal bowler hat. The winner's hat will be worn by Adrien Agreste at the next fashion show."

Alya would never forget the way Marinette's eyes lit up at the challenge. The designer clearly forgot everything else, her mind already mentally sketching out designs. It was taking all of Marinette's self-control not to pull her sketchbook out and start drawing right then. Ms. Bustier smiled as she continued, also noticing Marinette's eagerness. "You will have one week, then next week Friday your hats will be judged by Gabriel Agreste himself."

Adrien felt his palms get sweaty. That left him a week to tell Marinette that he was the famous model that she didn't want to be associated with. Just great.

Marinette

When Ms. Bustier dismissed them, Marinette wanted to spend the whole break working her hat design but decided to check on Adrien first. Waving on Alya and Nino, she picked up her bag and walked down the stairs. Or rather, tried to walk down the stairs, she barely rounded the corner of her desk when she tripped and fell forward. Right into Adrien's arms. He had stood up and turned to face her just as she fell, catching instinctively. For a moment the two teens stared at each other, Marinette's cheeks reddening slightly while Adrien's burned red. "Thanks for catching me," she said softly, slightly flustered by their current position. Thankfully Alya wasn't here, she thought as she speculated the crazy blogger's reaction. Alya would have assumed way too much.

Adrien stared at her, captivated by her blue eyes, her very blue eyes. Then with a sudden realization, he let go of her and looked away as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I, I'm s-sorry."

Marinette laughed softly, "For what? I didn't trip down the stairs because of you, I am just really clumsy sometimes. Besides, you just saved me from a broken wrist that might have taken me out of the design contest." She grinned at him, unsure what was wrong.

Adrien shook his head, "Not this, I mean the first day of school. I'm sorry for being so rude to you, I should have never acted like that. I am so sorry Marinette." Adrien braced himself, waiting for her reply.

He never expected what came next. Marinette wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly, resting her head against his chest. "It's okay Adrien. I know you are a great guy, not some bully." To his disappointment, she let go of him and stepped back, looking him in the eyes again. "And I know I can trust you with my secret."

Adrien frowned, "You told me you left your old school because of bullying." The flash of pain in her eyes tore at his heart, but he kept going. "What happened?"

Marinette looked away, "I am not ready, not yet at least not now. I barely was able to tell you actually." Marinette turned her eyes back on him, overwhelming him again merely with her gaze. "Please just don't tell the others yet. I'm still working through some stuff and rather tell them when I am more prepared."

Adrien sighed, wishing she would trust him and open up more but decided not to push his luck. "Okay, I promise you that I won't tell them. But," he hesitated, then continued, "you can always talk to me, that is if you want to."

Once again, she caught him by surprise, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Adrien. This means a lot to me." She then broke the hug, giving him a bright smile as she picked up her bag. "We better get going, the next period is going to start soon." As she headed through the door, Marinette glanced back, giving him one last smile before heading to her locker. Adrien didn't know how long he was standing there in a daze, but he did know when the first warning bell went off. He jumped and scrambled to leave as the next class entered the room. Yep, something was definitely different about the way Marinette made him feel, he thought as he dashed to his locker. And it was like nothing he had ever felt before.

Nino

Nino generally could understand most things, but what was going on with his bro was one of those things he did not understand. Adrien was barely eating, staring at a table in the corner of the cafeteria where the girls sat. Marinette had originally sat there alone, completely absorbed in her sketchbook. The rest of the girls noticed this and decided to move there for the day. As Marinette sketched, they chatted while watching her, curious to see her results. Eventually, the bluenette couldn't handle the attention and left for her 'secret garden of inspiration'.

And from the moment Marinette entered the room to the moment she left, Adrien had not stopped watching her. "Dude?" Adrien didn't respond, still looking at the door Marinette left through. Nino shook him by his shoulder, "Duuuude!"

Adrien snapped out of his daze, half glaring at Nino, "What?" Nino sighed, his bro was definitely out of his mind now.

"You couldn't stop staring at Marinette since she walked in. It is sweet but also kind of creepy. What's up with you?" Adrien huffed and looked away, clearly intent on not giving Nino an answer. "If you don't tell me, I'll let Alya torture you for it," he threatened.

Adrien frowned at him as Alya crept upon them. "Let me torture who?" Nino smirked at the look of defeat on Adrien's face as the model slammed his head into the table. Alya glanced at the model, then sat down next to her boyfriend. "What's wrong with him?"

Adrien turned his head, giving Nino a warning glare. The DJ ignored it, shamelessly spilling the deets. "Adrien here couldn't stop watching Marinette the entire time she was here, completely zoned out. And he looked so disappointed when she left." Nino smiled at Adrien, ignoring the death glare he was receiving from his bro.

Alya smiled, adding, "He also seemed to lose the ability to speak like a normal human being when she started talking to him." A devilish smirk came to her face as she added, "and when she said that Adrien Agreste the model is cute, he lit up like a stoplight." Adrien groaned as the couple laughed. Was he really that obvious? Alya didn't stop, "I wonder what she thinks of you then, Adrien Agreste, a famous fashion model who works for and is the son of her favorite fashion designer. Or if she even knows that yet?" Her eyes narrowed at him, telling him he wasn't getting himself out of that question.

Adrien sighed, "No, I haven't told her yet."

Nino threw out his arms in a 'why not' gesture as Alya pressed further, "And how long do you really expect that to keep going? Not that your face is plastered around the city or anything, but it kinda is plastered literally everywhere. And from what I learned about Marinette, she is pretty good at figuring things out."

Adrien groaned again, banging his head against the table again. "I know, I know. I just want to be friends first before she finds out I'm her fashion idol's son. Then maybe she still will want to hang out and be friends."

Alya smirked as Nino laughed, "Boi, you are so past wanting to be 'just friends' with her. It's written all over your face." Adrien blushed, remaining face down in embarrassment. Alya decided to feel some pity for her model friend, deciding he was tortured enough. "Tell you what, admit that you think Marinette is cute and that you want to want to be more than just friends with her. Then Nino and I will help you out."

As Adrien lifted his and rested it on his arms, Nino gave his girlfriend a questioning look, "What did we say about messing with other people's lives? Remember what happened with Kim and Rose when you thought they were destined to be together? They still argue sometimes about who's fault that was and then ignore each other for weeks."

Alya shook her, "This is different. This time, we will have the consent of one of the two. And I promise not to repeat the closet disaster plan unless Marinette also seems interested, then I will have no choice." At Nino's tired expression, Alya gave in, "Fine, we will only leave them alone together, nothing manipulative or forceful." both of them looked back at Adrien, who was clearly lost in thought again. "Hey, sunshine boi," Alya snapped her fingers him. "Are you gonna spill or what?"

Adrien jerked up, "Sorry, what?"

"You have a crush on Marinette or not dude?" Nino asked, smirking at Adrien. The model gave him a confused look.

Alya sighed, growing impatient with the love struct model. "Admit that you think that Marinette is cute and that you want to be more than just friends with her, then we will help you." The blogger and DJ leaned in, eager for his answer.

Adrien looked down, his cheeks growing red. "I want to be more than just friends with her," he admitted, "but I think calling Marinette cute is an understatement." Alya squealed in excitement, cause Nino to cover his ears as he smiled at his bro.

Marinette

She was thrilled, finally gaining the design that she approved of. All through her afternoon classes, Marinette was filled with excited energy, eager to get home and start making her hat. Today had been a great end to her first week, making new friends and meeting someone willing to listen to her talk about her issues. That someone was in front of her right now in fact. Sure she and Adrien had a rocky start, but he had apologized since. But Marinette couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't telling her something. Now that she thought about it, she didn't even know his last name. No one had said it around her and she was beginning to wonder what was up.

"She is just another fangirl," Adrien's words from that first day came to her mind. What did he mean by fangirl? The only famous person she knew named Adrien was… "Oh," she breathed, the word barely making it to Alya's ears. The blogger looked over with a question in her eyes. Marinette shook her head, not wanting to get into it just yet.

Marinette stared at the back of Adrien's head, wondering why he or anyone else for that matter wouldn't tell her. Little did she know, the model was fearing this very moment.

Otis

"Come on in, Marinette!" The young designer gave him a thankful smile as she entered the house. The school allowed her to leave early for her therapy session, though this would be more of a check-up. "Please have a seat." Once Marinette settled in on the couch across from his chair in his home office, he picked up his notepad and sat down as well. "So I guess from that smile on your face, the first week of school went well?" He already knew the answer, based off of the stories Alya had eagerly told him at dinner after school, not knowing Marinette was her father's patient.

Marinette eagerly nodded, telling him about her new friends, the wonderful teachers and the design contest that was just announced today. She went on to tell him about Adrien, their first meeting, the moment in the rain and today after the first period. "One thing I don't understand is why he didn't tell me who he really is."

Otis leaned forward, considering carefully before answering. "Perhaps he was afraid his celebrity status may scare you off after you placed so much trust in him, making you not want to seek his friendship." As Marinette nodded understandingly, he had another question, "Why didn't you tell the others about the reason why you switched schools?"

Marinette took a deep breath, "I'm not ready, yet at least. I just want to make sure they won't leave me if they realize how weak I really am."

Otis gave her a comforting smile, "Marinette, I can assure you none of them will leave you. They will support you no matter what, especially Alya. Once she has made a friend, she sticks by their side."

Marinette frowned, "How can you be so sure?"

Just then the front door opened, "Dad, I'm home!" Marinette's eyes widened as Alya's voice rang through the house.

Otis grinned reassuringly at the surprised designer as he called back, "Okay dear, I'm in a meeting." Marinette tried to sputter out something but stopped. Otis gave her a second before he answered her question. "Call it a hunch. But I won't tell her your secret, that is your decision. But if you choose to do so, I can promise you Alya will never leave you alone."