A/N: An important note! The first chapter has been reuploaded and updated! I would recommend re-reading it to make sure you've read the correct version as there have been some changes to it. The plot itself hasn't changed but the quality of the chapter has improved and I think the story is more clear.

Also thank you to everyone who has left a comment on the first chapter! I'm so surprised with how many views this story has had so far.

I will leave replies to reviews at the end of the chapter.

Film Sets

The following weeks flew by in a haze of signing contracts, attending rehearsals, and reinforcing Marinette's lies to her parents and Alya.

As far as they were concerned, Marinette had a small role in a little film she had applied for a long time ago. She said she couldn't really explain the film as she only had her lines for the scene she was in and so didn't know the full narrative. Thankfully her parents didn't ask any further questions, simply telling her that they were so proud of her and happy that she had a job to work on, however Alya was a different story. Question after question, Alya wouldn't stop inquiring into the role. Marinette couldn't get annoyed with her best friend as she knew it was just the journalist in her that couldn't be controlled.

Marinette and Tikki signed the contracts together to commit to the film and also to swear to keep the role completely confidential. Mr Kubdel had repeated over and over how important that was to the film's effect on both the cast and crew. Only the costume artist, makeup artist, and himself would know the identity of the film's protagonist, and it was essential to keep it as such.

The young actress completely understood his creative decision and agreed that it would make for a brilliant impact on the audience when it's premiered and revealed who the actors were the entire time. Mr Kubdel told Marinette that when she finds out who her co-star would be, she would be thrilled, although the woman did not dwell on who it could potentially be. She decided that she would rather it be a surprise like he intended.

The script read-through and rehearsals that Marinette had to attend did not disappoint despite the lack of a co-star, as Kubdel filled in for the role. He convinced Marinette that it would break the tension between the pair and he was right. Within a few weeks of rehearsals, Marinette felt like she and Kubdel got along well and the director was always excited when she understood his visions for the film.

Overall, Marinette was having the time of her life before shooting had even started. The evening before the first day, the young actress stood in front of her full-length mirror and practiced her lines. The first day of filming was scheduled as the scene when the protagonist would meet their partner. Kubdel had already told her he wanted one take of the first shot so the reaction was realistic, as Marinette would be meeting her disguised co-star for the first time too. As the young woman relayed her lines to her reflection, she couldn't deny the nerves she felt for shooting.

Marinette's petite reflection looked back at her.

"Am I really up for this?" She muttered to the mirror, not expecting a reply.

Marinette's phone buzzed from where it rested on her desk. She dropped the script pages onto the desk and picked up her phone, reading the text message that had come through.

To: Marinette
From: Alya
Good luck with your secret film shoot tomorrow. You'll do great, girl! x

Marinette smiled at her phone as she typed her quick response.

To: Alya
From: Marinette
Thanks, Alya. Up early so I'll text you tomorrow when I get a break! X

Marinette switched from her messages to her alarm on her phone and set it for five thirty in the morning. She groaned just thinking about the hour she had to wake up just to get to the film set for six thirty in the morning.

Wiping her tired eyes, Marinette climbed up to her bed and placed her phone beside it. She buried herself under the covers and hoped she could forget all of her nerves for the following day and get a good sleep.

When the alarm startled her awake the following morning, Marinette almost fell down from her bed. As the disorientated girl hit her phone desperately trying to turn off the loud ringing, she wondered briefly why she had even set the alarm. The skylight above her was still masked in darkness of the night sky since the sun had not even graced the horizon. Marinette narrowed her eyes in a temporary confusion before looking at her phone again.

"It's today!" she realized, sitting bolt upright and throwing the bed sheets back from her legs before swinging herself down from her bed.

Marinette hurriedly grabbed the clothing she had prepared the previous night from the chaise longue and rushed to the bathroom to get ready for the film shoot. She had been told not to wear any makeup and to wear casual clothing since she would be changing once she arrived at the film studio, so the young actress opted to wear her favorite pink jeans with a button down white shirt and her dark hair tied up into a messy bun on top of her head.

Marinette picked up her usual clasped shoulder bag and placed her phone inside before heading downstairs and grabbing something to eat for breakfast. She quietly made herself a bowl of cereal, every move silent as a tiptoe so to not awaken her parents.

The clock hand pointed at five minutes to six when the young woman's phone buzzed from her bag. Marinette checked it while eating her cereal to see a message from her agent.

To: Marinette
From: Tikki
Pick you up in five. X

Marinette's eyes widened as she rushed to finish her cereal and crammed her phone back into her bag, clasping it shut. She placed the empty bowl in the sink and hoped her mother would forgive her for leaving the kitchen in a bit of a mess then exited the house, locking the door behind her and standing on the cold Parisian street.

The light was still nowhere to be seen in the sky but the streetlights illuminated parts of the road. Marinette loved seeing the city before it was even awake, knowing somewhere so full of life could also be so peaceful and relaxing. It provided a much needed calm before a hectic day of filming, allowing the woman to take a moment to breathe.

Lights from a car turned into the road and took Marinette back into reality. The dark vehicle stopped in front of her and the window was rolled down, Tikki sat in the back seat with a smile on her face. Marinette wondered how she managed to look so cheerful at such a horrible hour to be awake.

"Good morning, Marinette," She chirped happily. "Quickly, get in the car out of the cold."

Marinette didn't need telling twice as she rushed inside, appreciating the return to warmth.

She gave her agent a bright smile as soon as she sat down and the driver put the car back into motion.

"Are you nervous?" Tikki asked Marinette.

Marinette nodded once. "I am a bit."

"Oh, Marinette, you know you don't need to worry," Tikki reminded her. "Nobody will even know who you are, they will probably be nervous to be around you."

"I suppose so. But Tikki! I don't know who my co-star is. What if they're famous? What if they're amazing at acting and then I look amateur?" Marinette rambled.

Tikki let out a little giggle. "Kubdel is one of the best directors in this city, I trust he knows how well the acting will look between you both. If he thought one would outshine the other like that, he wouldn't have hired you both. Don't panic."

Marinette nodded again and fell silent. She figured Tikki was probably right, she usually was.

"Thanks, Tikki."

It took about twenty minutes before the film lot became visible from the car. Marinette couldn't sit still as she peered out through the window, barely able to see through the lack of daylight but still so full of excitement and nerves that she couldn't look away.

The lot was huge, spaced out with buildings and sets, trailers and other vehicles. It had a huge fence surrounding its perimeter, closing it off to the public with a single gate at the front with a security hut.

The vehicle slowed to a stop at the hut and the driver showed a ginger haired man his identification. The guard didn't seem all too interested in who else was in the car and granted them access, pressing a button which made the barrier lift so that the vehicle could enter.

The car pulled into a car parking space over by the fourth studio building, where Mr Kubdel was stood outside talking with someone.

"I'm not going to be able to stick around set," Tikki told Marinette. "I have to get to the offices to handle other clients for the rest of the day but my phone is always on so text me if you need me for anything. I know you'll be great though, Marinette. You've just got to believe in yourself."

Marinette gave Tikki a smile. "Thank you for getting me this job, Tikki."

The woman shook her head. "It's all you. Go on now, off you go."

Marinette hopped out of the car and approached Mr Kubdel. She lingered nearby awkwardly, not wanting to talk to him upright and blow her cover in front of the person he was talking with.

Instead she opted to just clicking the clasp of her bag for lack of anything else to do while she waited for the director to finish talking.

"Marinette!" Mr Kubdel suddenly spoke. "Come and meet Juleka."

Marinette looked up and approached cautiously.

The woman, Juleka, looked at her with a straight face that almost made Marinette shrink.

"Juleka, this is Marinette," Kubdel introduced. "Marinette, this is Juleka. She'll be your makeup artist for the film."

Marinette felt herself tense slightly under the glare of the woman.

"Nice to meet you," Juleka said in a monotone voice.

"H-Hello," Marinette replied, reaching out to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you too."

Marinette noticed how even in the faint light Juleka's bright purple strands of hair shone from her the rest of her dark hair. She didn't look interested in Marinette one bit, and that made her feel a bit nervous.

"It's six thirty sharp now so Juleka please take Marinette into costume. And remember, nobody is to see her in character," Kubdel instructed.

Juleka nodded and ushered Marinette over to a trailer where she would have her makeup and costume ready.

As the makeup artist closed the trailer door behind them, Marinette stood uncomfortably. She had never had her makeup done properly for a film and the impression Juleka was giving off was not a warm one.

"I'm sorry if I seem rude," Juleka said with her back turned as she collected makeup items from a dressing table. "I hate mornings."

Marinette couldn't help the smile on her face. "I can relate to that."

Almost immediately the tension seemed to diffuse.

"Rose will be over with some coffee soon," Juleka continued as she moved a chair out and gestured for Marinette to sit. "She won't see you though, don't worry."

Marinette took the seat and allowed Juleka to make a start with her makeup.

"Who's Rose?" Marinette asked as she closed her eyes, feeling a make-up product glide over her skin.

"She's working on the catering for the film, but basically a runner. I've known her for a while now."

Marinette felt more relaxed as she could tell Juleka was too. The actress guessed that the makeup artist was just as shy as she could be herself.

"You're friends then?" Marinette continued.

"Good friends," Juleka smiled.

The pair shared some polite talk while Marinette had her face prepared and her hair tied up into two little ponytails. Juleka clipped on some little red earrings with spots on before bringing over a red spotted mask.

As soon as that was on, the costume was brought out from the wardrobe.

"That looks small," Marinette commented as she stared at the spotted suit.

"It's a body suit," Juleka told her.

Marinette raised an eyebrow, skeptically looking at the outfit before shrugging. "Well, here we go."

It took a grand total of twenty minutes to get Marinette into her costume and make any final tweaks so it fitted her properly before the actress was finally brought over to a full length mirror and allowed to look at herself in full character.

"Wow," Marinette gasped.

An hour previous she had entered the trailer simply as Marinette, the struggling actress who was never quite good enough to get a decent acting job. Marinette, the bakers child who helped out to be less of a burden to her parents. Marinette, who spent years of her life so positive and full of goals but slowly found she had become more and more lost.

Marinette was not the person in the mirror. The person looking back in the mirror was Ladybug.

Replies to Reviews:

gleamqueen- Thank you so much! Having Tikki as a support for Marinette is something I definitely want to make sure I'm writing in this story. Hopefully I do manage to do that!

Nanami-Hime- Thank you, I'm glad you like it so far! I'm sorry you're disappointed that Tikki isn't a Kwami in this story, but I just wanted to make it more realistic and having Tikki as a human was the best way I thought to do it

justsomebread- Thank you, I hope you have chosen to read more (otherwise you wouldn't be reading my response right now...)

Traveler737- Sorry! I will be posting more of the story though and there will be more to it. I'm glad you find it interesting though!