While Tikki kept the dark blue haired girl behind to discuss coming by for a dress appointment, Adrien took his chance to escape. He ran outside to see Chloe nowhere down the street and frowned.

Great, now he had an upset girlfriend on top of a ticket for a party he couldn't go to. Maybe the girl, he couldn't quite remember her name, came asking for an extra ticket as well. He would feel much better giving it to her than trying to take hers again.

Adrien pulled out his phone to text Chloe.

"Where are you?"

Adrien was about to head back to the street they originally came from when the door to the boutique opened, the blue haired girl stepping outside as she tucked her ticket into her purse. Her big blue eyes went wide once she realized he was still there.

"Hi," she continued down to the curb where he stood.

"Hey," he responded, not exactly sure how to respond. He was about to pull out his ticket when she started talking again.

"I'm sorry. About all that. I didn't mean to cause you trouble. For you and your girlfriend. You were probably hoping to have a nice night with her at the ball and I ruined it by being selfish. I just, she was just, was so mean to Tikki and I couldn't stand it. I shouldn't have gotten involved. I'm sorry," she burst, everything seeming to come out in one breath.

Adrien stared back, trying to figure out what exactly she said and how best to proceed.
This girl apologized, for standing up to Chloe. Other than that shopkeeper inside, he hadn't seen anyone else be able to stand up to her, not even her own father.

"No, it's fine really. That was actually pretty cool what you did there. Not a lot of people are willing to face her like that."

"But it was so petty, over a stupid ticket. I was going to spend Christmas with my parents this year, but now I have to go to a ball where I won't know anyone," the girl pouted, Adrien chuckling to himself at the sight.

"If you want, you could have my ticket, take someone you like with you," Adrien pulled out his ticket, handing it over. The girl shook her head no.

"I wouldn't even know whom to invite," she sighed. Adrien put the ticket back in his pocket.

"Well, we could go together. I don't think I'll know anyone else at the ball either. And having a familiar face would be nice," Adrien offered with a polite smile.

The girl frowned at him.

"What about your girlfriend. Just because she can't come doesn't mean you should go out with other women," the small woman scolded.

"Honestly, after today, I don't really care. There has really been anything between the two of us for a long time. I know it, and she might know it. We're honestly just together for publicity at this point."

The girl nodded, trying to decide something before turning to him with a determined look.

"Fine, I will allow you to accompany me to the ball as two people who are going together so as not to be alone."

"A date of convenience," Adrien offered.

"Not a date."

"Friend."

"We just met."

"Acquaintances."

The girl sighed.

"Fine, acquaintances," the girl relented.

"Is there a chance to improve my standing?" Adrien asked with a smirk, leaning into her space.

"We'll see," the girl pushed him out of her bubble by the nose before extending a hand.

"I'm Marinette." Adrien accepted the small hand into his own and shook it.

"Adrien."

Marinette let go his hand, snapping it back into her pockets for warmth.

"I'll see you at the ball then," Marinette turned to leave. Intrigued, Adrien ran after her.

"Can I at least walk you home. A gentleman shouldn't allow a lady to walk herself home on the dark streets of Paris this late," asked Adrien once he caught up.

"You let your girlfriend walk the streets of Paris alone this late at night," Marinette quipped back, Adrien frowning. She had him there, but in fairness, Chloe was the one that ditched him.

He then heard his text ringtone, and opened his phone. It was Chloe.

"I took the car home. We'll discuss this later." Adrien quickly pocketed his phone.

"Actually, she took the car home, so she is well protected. You, Miss Marinette, thou have me to protect you."

They turned the corner onto the main street, Adrien unsure if the lamps illuminated her face enough to be pink from a blush or if it was just his imagination.

"Don't you know it's rude to flirt with other girls when you already have a girlfriend," the girl retorted.

Adrien went quiet at that. What was he even thinking? First chance of freedom from his father and Chloe with a ticket to a ball, and he was already making advances on the only other person he knew that was going. Aside from the store owners.

"Sorry," he mumbled, quietly falling in step with her as they continued down the street.

It was Marinette's voice that broke the silence.

"I know you said you two don't really have feelings for each other, at least you don't for her. But maybe you should break it off. Before the hurt spreads more or you end up living a lie full of regrets."

"Easier said than done," Adrien commented dryly, his heart no longer in the conversation.

Marinette only frowned, seeing as how her suggesting wasn't going through to him.

"Acquaintances can still get to know each other," Marinette offered, Adrien's eyes lighting up at the suggestion.

"Alright. How did you find that boutique? I thought Chloe was seeing things when she spotted it," asked Adrien, stepping a little bit closer as they stopped at a crosswalk.

"Christmas shopping actually. They had a ladybug locket in the window I thought my Nona would like. Tikki must have slipped the ticket into the package when I wasn't looking."

"I found mine in my pocket. I have no idea how it got there."

"Maybe magic," Marinette mused, her eyes dancing with merriment as they crossed the street.

"Probably Christmas magic," Adrien teased back, laughing as they made it to the other side. He hadn't had a good laugh in a long time.

"So how far is you place exactly," Adrien inquired as he pulled his jacket tighter to block out the cold.

"One more block."

"Convenient. How'd you find a place in this area."

"My boss recommended it to me after my promotion a year ago. It's close to work, close to my parents. Sort of like a middle ground."

"Doubly convenient," acknowledge Adrien as they turned the corner, very recent apartment buildings lining the street.

"And you?" asked Marinette.

"Me?"

"Where do you live?"

"With my father. He has a mansion with too many rooms and not enough people, so I stay home. And since he's also my boss, makes things easier too."

"I guess," Marinette nodded in agreement before coming to a stop in front of a building.

"This is my place," she gestured, about to head inside.

"You sure you don't want me to walk you up," he offered.

"I'm fine, thanks though for walking me home," Marinette smiled, Adrien now certain the pink on her cheeks was not an illusion.

"My pleasure," Adrien took her hand, and was about to kiss it before she quickly pulled it back.

"Sorry, no flirting," he amended, Marinette's smile returning.

"Oh, can I have your number. I want to make sure those suit guys compliment whatever you're wearing or in case we need to meet up or something," Adrien search for an excuse as he pulled out his phone. Anything to get this girl's number.

"Sure," Marinette took the phone and entered her contact information.

"And put yours in mine," Marinette handed over her phone, Adrien taking the small device as if it were a treasure. On her phone was a picture of her and possibly her parents, her mother a petite lady of Asian descent, probably Chinese, and her giant of a father. He smiled at the happy family before entering his information.

"Here you go," Marinette handed back the phone, her name reading "Marinette Dupain-Cheng".

"And here you go," Adrien handed back her phone, chuckling to himself as she read over his contact name.

"Adrien - Acquaintance," she deadpanned.

"You can update it later," he smiled, letting out a nervous shiver. An icy wind blew through, Adrien turning purposefully so it wouldn't hit Marinette.

"You're sure you'll be alright getting home in this weather," asked Marinette, huddling next to him until the gust passed.

"I'll be fine," Adrien reassured her, stepping away once the wind quieted down.

Marinette seemed to contemplate something for a moment before her whole expression lit up. She quickly unwrapped the blue scarf around her neck and wrapped it around Adrien's, Adrien sure he was turning a little pink as she did that.

"Hopefully that will help warm you up," Marinette nodded, happy with the results. Adrien could only nodd.

"Goodnight Adrien. See you Christmas Eve, if not sooner," Marinette waved as she headed into her building, leaving Adrien outside. It may have been freezing outside, but Adrien was warmed to the soul by her kindness.