The bell rang, signaling the start of the lunch break. Now was the time to talk to Marinette. Adrien turned to face her, trying to put on a smile, and saw those beautiful blue eyes staring right back at him. I can't, he told himself, maybe after lunch. Without a word he waved a casual goodbye and headed out of class, Nino following close behind.

"Dude, you still haven't spoken to her?" Nino sounded as exasperated with his best friend as he was concerned.

"About what?" Adrien tried sounding nonchalant, though he probably failed.

"You know what, dude," Nino wasn't buying it, "You've been distracted all week, you gotta talk to her."

"I know," he sighed, staring at the ground as they walked, "I just… don't know what I want to say yet."

"Well, what do you want?" Nino asked him, trying to look Adrien in the eye. Adrien's only response was a slight shake of the head. He didn't know what he wanted anymore.

"I wish you would at least talk to me, dude," Nino sounded frustrated as they exited the school, "I feel like your hiding things from me. I want to help you, Adrien."

"I know, Nino," Adrien smiled a bit, stopping at the bottom of the stairs, "Thanks. I'm just not ready yet, but…"

He was interrupted by Marinette's sudden appearance, stepping very close to Adrien as she announced her presence.

"H-hey, Adrien," she stammered, looking to him and ignoring Nino completely. Adrien turned to face her, wanting to smile, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. He hadn't been able to smile much lately.

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien replied. Marinette had a weird, blank expression on her face, as though she forgot what she was going to say. She was often stammering and forgetting her words, or maybe she only did that around him…?

"See ya later, dudes!" Nino said suddenly, waving to him and Marinette as he walked away. Adrien gave him a wave back before turning his attention back to her.

"So, Adrien," Marinette said, smiling awkwardly as she started to stammer, "have any plants… I mean, haver some plans… Do you have…"

She was cut off by a car horn honking. Adrien looked over to his car and saw the gorilla looking impatiently at him. Adrien actually felt relieved for the excuse to walk away, not ready yet for this conversation.

"I gotta go, Marinette," he said, trying to sound casual as he started turning away. He knew it was rude of him to just leave like that, but he felt desperate to escape.

All of a sudden, Adrien heard Marinette blurt out, "Doyouwantotgotothemovieswithme?" He stopped to turn back at her, in shock. Did she just say what I think she did? he wondered, is she actually asking me out? So… she doesn't want to be just a friend?

"What?" was all he managed to say.

"I said," Marinette took a deep breath, then began to speak uncharacteristically slowly, enunciating each word carefully, "do you… want to go… to the movies… with me?"

Adrien felt like he was on the spot. Suddenly he had to make a decision, figure out what his heart wanted, and to go with it. That was impossible, he needed more time. This was an obvious choice. He had to say no, explain to her that he wants to talk to her, that he needs some time to work out his feelings first. This choice was a no-brainer.

Yet, seeing her sweet, blue eyes staring at him, her expression apprehensive and expectant, he couldn't help but smile. As the smile crept unbidden across his face, the answer also became obvious, coming almost of its own accord. "Sure," he said, "I'll pick you up after school."

Internally, he was screaming at himself. Why did I just do that? Why did I not say no? What is wrong with me? Before his mouth could betray his inner turmoil, he quickly turned to get into the car, turning his smile to Marinette once more before shutting the door.

Why did I say yes?

The bell rang, signaling the start of the lunch break. This was going to be Marinette's chance, she would not back down, not this time. Adrien briefly looked back at her as he started to pack up his bag, a hint of a smile on his lips, but then he just waved a casual goodbye and headed out of class.

Marinette saw his expression as he left and he seemed… distracted? Maybe now wasn't a good time. Could something be bothering him? Maybe it was her, maybe he was planning on telling her that he didn't care about her.

Marinette's fears were creeping up on her rapidly as she imagined Adrien laughing in her face as she tried to admit her feelings to him. She buried her face in her hands as these images flashed through her head. I can't do this, she told herself.

"Hey, girl, what's the matter with you?" Alya put a hand on her shoulder, looking to her best friend with concern in her eyes.

"Oh, Alya, I thought I could do it," Marinette turned to her, her voice soft and scared, "but I just can't! He's going to laugh at me, I know it!"

"Listen to yourself, girl!" Alya answered, trying to reassure her, "This is Adrien we're talking about, not Chloé! Just relax, you got this, Marinette."

Marinette took a deep breath, letting her friend's words calm her down. Alya could be a bit… intense at times, but she was usually right.

"You're right," Marinette agreed, her face screwed up in determination. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprang out of her seat and ran for the door. As soon as she entered the hallway, she turned around to grab her backpack that she left by her seat as Alya sighed and shook her head at her. Bag in hand, Marinette rushed out to catch up to Adrien before his bodyguard picked him up.

Rushing outside, she found her crush at the bottom of the stairs, chatting with Nino, but his bodyguard was just pulling up. It's now or never! she told herself. Nearly tripping, she hurried down the stairs and walked up to him.

"H-hey, Adrien," she stammered, looking into his beautiful green eyes. Adrien turned to face her, but his expression looked troubled. Oh no, Marinette thought suddenly, something's wrong, he's definitely going to reject me, I have to bail now!

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien replied, the corners of his mouth twitching like he wanted to smile, but somehow couldn't. Marinette hardly noticed, though, as her mind had shut down temporarily with panic.

"See ya later, dudes!" Nino said suddenly, waving to Adrien and Marinette as he walked away, helping restart Marinette's brain. She gave herself a shake to find her words.

"So, Adrien," Marinette started, smiling awkwardly as she spoke, "have any plants… I mean, haver some plans… Do you have…"

Her stammering was cut off by the impatient honking of Adrien's bodyguard, glaring at his ward through the rolled-down window. Adrien glanced over to him, looking like he didn't want to leave him waiting too long.

"I gotta go, Marinette," he said casually, turning toward the car and giving a little wave. Marinette immediately entered panic mode. This was her chance and it was slipping away, she had to do it now!

"Doyouwantotgotothemovieswithme?" she blurted out as Adrien turned away. He stopped in place.

"What?" he looked back, surprised, but was now giving her his full attention.

"I said," Marinette took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as she pronounced her declaration much slower, careful to enunciate each word so she wouldn't mess it up again, feeling her heart pounding with every word, "do you… want to go… to the movies… with me?"

All time seemed to stop for Marinette in that moment. She had done it, but what would happen with it? How would he react? Would he say what she could hardly dare she would ever hear him say, or would he reject her? How did he really feel about her?

Suddenly, Adrien's face broke into a smile, that perfect, beautiful smile of his. Marinette was so mesmerized by it that she nearly missed what he said. "Sure," he responded, smiling at her, "I'll pick you up after school."

With that, he turned and climbed into the car, flashing one last smile at Marinette before closing the door. Marinette just stood there, blinking, staring dumbly at the car as it drove off. He said yes? Did he really say yes? Did she really ask him? Did all of this really just happen?

"You did it, girl!" Alya came up from behind her, giving her an encouraging hug.

"I did?" she asked, her mind finally processing what just happened. She had done it? She had done it. She had done it! She was going on a date with Adrien!