I know the official prompt is Charm Bracelets, but they don't really use them as bracelets in the show except for maybe once? I decided to just generalize it to be the lucky charms and have them use them as keychains.

Day 10 – Charm Bracelets / Lucky Charms

Monday morning came around and Marinette was dreading walking into school. Her weekend had been tough. Thursday night Adrien had seen her in her pajamas again, and the next night she woke up several times in the middle of the night with more nightmares about her encounter with Chat Blanc. Not to mention the Akuma she and Chat Noir had to fight for the majority of the day on Saturday followed up with her shift in the bakery on Sunday. To say she was tired was an understatement. She was exhausted.

She sat up in bed and silenced her alarm praying that today would be an easy day. She got dressed and went to grab her school bag over on her desk before her eyes caught something. The charm she received for her birthday was pushed towards the back of her desk under her computer screen. She considered the blue and yellow beads for a moment. She could use a bit of luck today she figured.

She grabbed the charm and pocketed it, deciding that during class she would turn it into a keychain. The last time she had worn it as a bracelet, Adrien had noticed and made a comment about it. She wouldn't be able to handle it if he saw her wearing it the Monday after their awkward encounter.

In a strange twist of fate, one that she was incredibly grateful for, Marinette actually arrived at school earlier than Adrien.

"This is an actual historical event I'm witnessing right now." Alya pulled her phone out and began recording. "Tell me, miss, is this the first time you've been to class on time on your own?"

Marinette was used to her friends teasing and decided to play along. "Why, yes it is Mademoiselle. 'Twas by sheer luck I awoke on this morn at the sound of the roosters crows and donned mine own tunic to arrive henceforth at Ye Olde le Collège Françoise Dupont." She bowed to finish her monologue.

Alya laughed and switched off her camera. "That is definitely going on Insta, girl. Just warning you."

Marinette just stuck her tongue out at her as Mme. Bustier began her lesson for the day.

She reached into her bag and fished out the charm and a paperclip. She tied the extra string to the paperclip and affixed it to the zipper of her backpack. She considered the rigging she had created and frowned. It didn't look right and she knew she could do better. She removed the paperclip and stared into her pencil bag inspecting her options. Her eyes brightened with creativity as she spotted a marker. She carefully removed the knot she had made and wrapped the paperclip around her marker. She had created a slightly wobbly key ring for her new charm.

This time when she surveyed her work, she was pleased. Hopefully he wouldn't notice. She really didn't want him to get suspicious about her feelings towards him. She couldn't risk losing his friendship.

She focused her attention back to the board and noticed the lack of blond hair obstructing her vision.

"Where's Adrien," She whispered to Alya.

Alya shrugged. "I'll text Nino."

A few beats passed. Alya slid her phone over. Photoshoot, Nino had replied. "Sorry," she whispered back.

Marinette was simultaneously relieved and disappointed and slumped in her seat until it was lunch time.

Usually when he had a photoshoot, Adrien was gone from school the entire day, so she wasn't expecting to see him walking in the front doors.

"What's he doing here? He usually eats lunch at home," Marinette thought to herself.

"Maybe he wants to eat lunch with a certain someone?" Alya nudged her with a wink.

Marinette barked out a laugh. "Yeah, I'm sure that's it."

"Nino!" Adrien called out as he climbed the stairs two at a time.

"Hey dude! What are you doing here? Doesn't your old man usually make you eat at home?" Nino clapped his friend on the back.

"Yeah," Adrien was brimming with excitement. "But he said since I was at a photoshoot all morning, he said I could go eat lunch at your house today!" He paused and held up his hands. "That is, if it's ok with you?"

"Sorry, Buttercup," Alya interrupted putting her arm around her boyfriend. "I've claimed him for the day."

"Yeah, man, sorry. We've got plans. I'm sure someone else in our class would love to have lunch with you!" Nino said apologetically.

Marinette watched as Adrien's face fell for the briefest of seconds before beaming at his friend. "Ok, guys! Have a great time."

She stood with Adrien watching the couple walk away. Marinette almost thought she had imagined his disappointment what with how enthusiastic he had been. She studied his expression struggling to find a hole somewhere in his mask; she was sure it was a mask.

He must've felt her scrutinizing stare and turned to meet her eyes, smiling brightly. "They love each other a lot, don't they?"

He almost had her convinced that he wasn't bothered. Almost.

"Do you want to come to my house for lunch today?" She offered before she could stop herself. She couldn't stand knowing that her friend was suffering in silence when there was something she could do about it.

His smile widened and this time it reached his eyes. "Really? Are you sure?"

She pulled her eyes away from him and started down the stairs. "Yeah, of course! My maman always makes me way too much food anyway," She said stifling the panic rising in her chest screaming 'what are you doing?'.

She could practically feel his excitement as he followed her towards the door. "That'd be awesome, Marinette. Thank you!"

Her eyes threatened to pop out of her head. She wasn't expecting him to accept her invitation! Why would he even want to hang out with her anyway? She wasn't famous, she wasn't a model, she wasn't a superhero (well, right now anyway). She was just a girl in his class.

"Hey, is that the charm I made you?" His voice broke her out of her thoughts and she stopped.

"Yeah," She turned and watched him regarding her keychain with interest.

"That was clever making it into a keychain. I just keep mine in my pocket." Sure enough, he pulled the charm out of his jeans. "I can't wear it during photoshoots, and I don't like leaving important things in the dressing rooms, so I just carry it like this."

"You still hold onto that?" She exhaled in disbelief.

He straightened. "Of course! It's a one of a kind lucky charm from my everyday Ladybug."

She took careful notice to the way he said 'my'.

Adrien's stomach let out a growl and Marinette couldn't help but laugh.

"Come on, let's get something to eat," She said as they resumed their trek towards the bakery's apartment.

If she didn't know any better, she would say she could feel his eyes on her the whole way home.