Getting Schooled

Running into the classroom just as the tardy bell rang, Adrien looked at Miss Bustier. "Sorry, I had a meeting with my father, and it went a little long."

"That's quite alright, Adrien." she motioned for him to take his seat.

Nino and he exchanged the usual fist-bump and smile as he sat down. Even though Miss Bustier started the class, Adrien couldn't get past the meeting his father had with him, his heart pounded with the prospects of what they would talk about during lunch. He was so lost in thought that the teen model missed the end of class bell. "Dude." his best friend broke him out of his trance with a shoulder punch. "You alright?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Sorry, just... thinking about what my dad said before I left."

"Good news, I hope?" Marinette said softly, smiling at him shyly.

Looking at her, he gave the young woman a small smile. "It was to me. He said he wanted to eat lunch with me today."

Hearing this, Alya blinked. "You mean... he doesn't normally?"

"No. Usually he's too busy, but he also wanted me to bring a couple of friends home."

"Duude!" Nino leaped onto his back, wrapping his arms around Adrien's neck. "Where do I sign up for a catered meal at your place?"

Adrien laughed and shook his head. "He... actually wanted to formally meet Marinette," that caused the young designer to squeak, her eyes wide, "and Juleka." The young woman in question was walking right behind him, and his words caused her to stop, her visible eye widening in fear.

"Y-Your father... wants... to meet..." the two girls stammered.

Looking from one to the other, he nodded. "It's going to be fine. He just wants to formally meet you both, and get a chance to talk with you."

Juleka went paler than normal, and looked as if she was about to pass out, but she started to walk past shaking her head. "I... I can't... I..."

Reaching out, Adrien gently took her hand, causing her to turn and look at him. "Please? I know my father can be a little intimidating." he watched as she blinked twice. "Okay, yeah, he's terrifying, but he promised me that all he wants to do is meet you both. Surely sharing a meal together can't be that scary." Looking down at his hand, she took a series of deep breaths. "I'll be right there, and I won't let him treat either of you badly, I promise."

Marinette looked at him with a blush on her cheeks. "I-I'll be there..." she then reached out and gave Juleka a single armed hug, "for both of you." They looked at the taller girl who seemed to have mixed emotions about a potential meeting with Gabriel Agreste. Seeing her wobble slightly, the pair walked her over to a bench letting her sit down for a little bit. "Are you alright?"

"I..." she took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before letting it out again, "I will be... just... I... I don't know if I can go through with it, Adrien..." she looked so scared, so fragile he sat down and placed a hand on her back, rubbing comfortingly.

"Please, I know this is probably terrifying for you, but I wouldn't even entertain the idea of you visiting if I thought my father was going to do something to upset you." Adrien suggested. "If you can trust me, then I would love to have you come to lunch, Juleka."

Managing to get her pounding heart under control, the young woman took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay... I'll be there... but..." she looked fragile, as if a stiff breeze would blow her over, and shatter her resolve into a thousand pieces, "I... don't know why he would want to see me."

Smiling, he winked at the young woman. "I have an idea, but it's for him to say."

The time between their conversation and lunch passed in the blink of an eye for some, and like a ponderously slow turtle with arthritis for Juleka. Eventually, they left the school, only to see the personal car of the Agreste family. Opening the door for the two girls, Adrien, and his bodyguard, waited to assist the young women into the back, before the young model sat down beside Marinette. The young woman was positively giddy at the prospects of sitting next to her crush, so she fidgeted to get rid of some of her nervous energy.

Juleka, on the other hand, seemed to watch every passing building with terror clutching at her heart. 'I can do this! I can do this!' she tried to psyche herself up, praying that she wouldn't make a fool of herself. Whether the young woman made a subconscious motion that caused Marinette pay special attention to her, or her friend was just that empathetic she couldn't tell. All she knew was that when she felt a slender hand take hold of hers, her heartbeat started to normalize.

"We're here." Adrien remarked.

'I can't do this!' her hand gripped Marinette's in terror, only to feel a comforting squeeze.

"Juleka?" Adrien asked, seeing her tremble.

"I... I-I don't think..." she was shaking like a chihuahua in a snow storm.

"It's okay, Juleka." Marinette said softly. "We're here with you."

Adrien stood outside her door, holding his hand up. "I'll be right there with you, Juleka. Every step of the way." She wasn't sure why her heart seemed to stop beating so rapidly when she looked up at him, all she knew was that those green eyes and his kind smile definitely urged her on, giving her a courage she never thought she possessed. Reaching out, she took his hand and stepped out of the car. All together, they ascended the steps toward the large double doors.

Nathalie opened the door before they reached it, and she motioned for the dining room. "Lunch will be served in five minutes. Gabriel Agreste is already seated, and..." she looked at Juleka, "are you alright?"

The young woman shook her head rapidly. "N-No... I... have panic attacks..."

Handing her tablet to Adrien, she gently, yet quickly, took Juleka's hands in her own. "Please, Miss Couffaine, listen to the sound of my voice." She spoke softly, slowly, and soothingly. "I want you to focus on your breathing, nothing else. Breathe in, count slowly to five, and let it out." When she breathed in, Nathalie counted. "Now breathe out." she watched as the young woman did as she instructed. "From this point forth, nothing else exists outside of your breathing, nothing else matters. Breathe in, think only of your breathing, breathe out."

Barely a minute later, Juleka was standing there, breathing normally, her eyes blinking rapidly. "H-How did you know to do that?"

Offering the young woman a smile, she closed her eyes, bowing her head. "When I was your age, I had panic attacks as well." Opening those blue pools, Nathalie sighed. "I still sometimes do, but when I do I practice those breathing exercises. If you do the same, you can calm your heart."

"Thank you." Juleka said softly, her breathing now almost entirely under control.

"You're welcome."

Seconds later, the trio entered the dining room, only to see Gabriel standing in front of a portrait of his family, looking up at the picture with his hands behind his back. Turning to regard his guests, his gaze fell upon the trio. Walking over to the table, the three teens saw that there was only one setting on his side of the table, while there were three on theirs leaving most of the table to sprawl out to the sides. "Please, sit." He walked over to his place setting, but waited for the two young women to sit before he ever sat down.

Adrien pulled out the seats of Marinette, and then Juleka before he sat between them. Gabriel noted these actions, the protectiveness causing him to arch a brow at his son. "Thank you, Mr. Agreste, for inviting us to lunch." the young designer said softly, he could hear the fear in her voice, but the fact that she managed to keep her composure was admirable.

Juleka nodded. "It was... unexpected."

"Yes, well, discovering my son modeled clothing that are not of my design was also rather unexpected." Gabriel countered, causing Marinette's eyes to widen, his stern gaze going from her to Juleka "As was finding out that he was doing so with a model that wasn't contracted through my company."

'Crap!' Juleka started to hyperventilate. "I... I'm sorry... I... he was... I just..."

Taking hold of her hand, Adrien spoke soft and soothing. "Juleka, breathe, slowly."

"I... I can't..." Her world started to spin, darkening at the edges. She never heard the sound of a seat sliding across the floor. She felt her seat turned to the right.

A new voice was suddenly before her. "Think nothing of the world around you. Focus on my voice, and your breathing, Miss Couffaine." Closing her eyes, she swallowed. "Deep breath and hold it." She did as he instructed, and suddenly her world started to right itself, brightening ever so slightly through her eyelids. "Let it out slowly, counting to five as you do. That's good. Very good." When she opened her eyes she saw Gabriel Agreste knelt down in front of her, his hands holding hers. "Take another, and focus on calming your heart. Now let it go, count to five." her copper eye looked into his storm cloud gray ones, and she saw blurring at the lower edge as tears welled up. "Very good. Very, very good." When he was sure she had full control, and could breathe without assistance, he nodded. "I apologize for scaring you, I was not aware you had panic attacks."

"We only just found out ourselves in the foyer." Adrien said softly. "How do you know how to do that?"

Gabriel stood up, looking at the young woman. "Emilie told me about Nathalie's panic attacks when she was too stressed. For more than a year I had to be there for her, Adrien. The times when we couldn't be there, one of us would find her passed out on her dorm room floor." He continued to hold her hands, letting Juleka breathe for a few more seconds before letting her go slowly. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Y-Yes, sir. I'm sorry for..."

"No. It was my fault. Had I known, I would've approached this much differently." Smiling at her, he shook his head. "Please let me start again." Sitting in a seat next to Juleka, he sighed. "I will admit that I was upset to find my son modeling off contract," he held up his hand as Marinette started to move and speak, "I am not angry at him helping his friends, but understand that he is the face of my company. Any modeling must be permitted by the parent company, so I only ask that you make a formal request before asking him, Miss Dupain-Cheng."

"I... that day was... unplanned." Marinette stated softly. "I'm sorry, but it actually surprised me when Adrien showed up."

Juleka shook her head. "I was meant to model her clothes and jewelry, but I... I needed someone with knowledge about what to do... and your son volunteered to help." She shook her head. "I have severe anxiety, and Alya urged him to go through with the modeling with Marinette instead." Leaving out the fact that she was Akumatized, she sighed.

"But, I saw you in those pictures..." Gabriel urged.

"When I recovered, Adrien helped me model Marinette's designs. He was so kind, and helped me so much, I never forgot it, and wished I could do more modeling." Juleka turned to look at Adrien who was now standing behind her chair. "I... was actually going to ask him to teach me, today."

A smile graced Gabriel's lips. "Then he shall teach you how to become a professional model."

That caused her head to snap back at the elder Agreste. "Wh-What?"

"I will have an opening for a new model," he offered, sitting on the seat next to her, "if you are serious about learning from one of the best models in Paris, I can make sure that happens."

Pulling her hands up in front of her face, tears fell down her cheeks. "A-Are you serious?"

Gabriel nodded. "Always, but only if your parents and you agree, naturally. I can have Nathalie go with you to help with the contract."

"I... I don't know how my mother will react... but... this is like a dream come true..." Gabriel wasn't expecting the young woman to lunge at him, wrapping him up in a hug. "Thank you!" He just sat there, perplexed for a few seconds before gently patting her back. Backing up a little she blushed. "I... I'm sorry... it's just..."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Miss Couffaine. I understand your reactions, and..." he then looked at the chefs coming with their food, "I believe our lunch is here." Returning to his seat, the quartet ate, offering only cursory conversation about school before Gabriel looked at Marinette. "How do you feel about Miss Rossi?"

Just the look on her face was enough to tell him exactly how she felt. "Mama and Papa always told me that if I can't say something nice about someone to say nothing at all." She looked straight at Gabriel, her voice full of malice. "They have also told me to be as honest as possible when someone asks me a question, so you've put me at a difficult position, Mr. Agreste."

"That is an interesting way to answer my question." He then motioned to his son. "Adrien has spoken of Miss Rossi at great length, and I have several statements from other co-workers. I was just looking for final confirmation before taking action this afternoon."

Marinette nodded. "She's a manipulative habitual liar who plots and schemes, thinking nothing of hurting others to obtain what she wants. Unfortunately, I can't prove anything, but she may also be a cruel and vindictive thief who tried to get me expelled in order to turn my friends against me."

Nodding slowly, he watched Juleka's reaction. Her eyes narrowed, her lips twisting in a scowl. "Do you agree with her assessment?"

"Yes." Marinette looked at her friend, her mouth opening slightly. "That day when she claimed Mari stole from her, I knew my friend would never have done something like that." Juleka shook her head. "It was the only time I truly wanted to hurt someone. Lila betrayed my trust in her, and I wasn't about to let her get away with that."

A smile spread Marinette's lips. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Jules."

"You've been my friend for years, Mari. I would trust your word over my own mother's."

Gabriel's eyes widened. "That is quite the proclamation, Miss Couffaine."

Looking at him, she nodded. "I trust Marinette, and anyone who says that she could be anything other than one of the kindest, most selfless people in Parisl I would definitely have cause to doubt that person's word." He saw conviction in the young woman's eyes, and heard steel in her voice.

'Interesting.' It took only a few minutes before Gabriel returned at Marinette. "Unfortunately, I will have to ask that you take down the pictures of Adrien on your website. He is under contract with our company, and although I do appreciate him offering to help Miss Couffaine, pictures of him cannot be used by another for the purpose of clothing design."

He watched as Marinette nodded. "I do apologize for not asking before posting them online." she stated softly, "My friend, Alya and I didn't really think about the business aspect of those pictures on the site." She then smiled at Juleka. "Looks like you won't be able to model my designs either."

"What?!" Juleka asked, her voice tremulous.

Gabriel nodded. "I'm afraid she's right. Once you sign a contract with my company, no others can use you to model their designs."

"But... I love modeling Marinette's designs. She's my friend." Shaking her head, she looked down at her lap. "Isn't there anything you could do? Perhaps give me a provisional contract that permits me to model only for her?" She looked at Gabriel and saw what she was going to say before she ever opened her mouth. "If I can't model for her" she gave a soft gulp, "then I'll have to refuse your offer, Mr. Agreste."

For several seconds he sat there, looking at the trio in front of him. "You feel that strongly about modeling her designs?" He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw Adrien grab Juleka's hand under the table, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"I do." tears fell down Juleka's cheeks.

"Then there's only one possible answer to this singular problem." Gabriel looked at Adrien. "Do you feel comfortable working alongside two of your classmates?"

"What?" Everyone seemed to be shocked by the question, but Adrien's eyes widened, a smile spreading his lips. "O-Of course. I would love to work with both Marinette and Juleka."

Gabriel nodded. "Miss Dupain-Cheng, I ask that you bring over a portfolio, a filled sketchbook, a resume, and your parent's tonight for dinner." The young woman fell back, her heart pounding like a jackhammer against stone. "I want to see if your designs are up to my high standards. Also, if you can, wear something that you've designed yourself."

"I always do." Marinette interjected.

"Do you mean to tell me you designed this yourself?" Gabriel asked, looking at her outfit.

Marinette blushed, nodding. "Everything from my clutch to my underwear. I never buy clothes, but instead make my own."

Looking at her outfit now with a more critical eye, he blinked. "I... presumed you were wearing something off the rack, but... now that I look more closely, the way it perfectly fits your form, and even the way your purse looks draped across your body. I don't know why I didn't see it before. That is truly professional work." Gabriel sat back with a shake of his head as the door opened.

"Sir, the children need to get back to school soon." Nathalie remarked.

"Understood, and thank you." She nodded, bowing out of the room. Looking back at the trio in front of him, he smiled and shook his head. "This has been the most informative, and thoroughly enjoyable, lunch I have had in a long time." As they all stood, he motioned for the trio to start through the dining room doors. "I will look forward to your contract's arrival this afternoon, Miss Couffaine, and dinner with your family, Miss Dupain-Cheng."

"If you don't mind my asking," Marinette asked, "why did you ask about Lila Rossi?"

The hard look in his eyes caused her blood to run cold, making her shiver. "I don't like being lied to, and prefer to confirm information before I make any decisions about my models." Gabriel stood there looking at the young woman. "That should be all the information you need about my concerns for Miss Rossi. Now, you three get back to school, think nothing more of her, and make sure your families know what we've talked about here."