Welcome back! I considered splitting this chapter, but I figured it would be better to keep them together. Also, the length of this chapter will probably be about what most of my chapters will be. I know it's kinda long, but there isn't really a better way to split them up...
For those of you who want to keep reading (and I hope that that's everyone!), I'll probably be updating every couple of days-a week at the most. I'm one of those writers who has it all up beforehand and just splits it into chapters later. :)
I also recognize that Season 2 of Ladybug is coming out soon, but I'm still going to finish this fanfic. Hopefully it'll be done before the episodes are released in English!
Enjoy!
Marinette hummed happily as she cut fabric for her dress. She'd decided on a creamy white calf-length dress with a full skirt and red accents.
"You're going to be beautiful, Marinette!" Tikki chirped, zooming over Marinette's head.
"Thanks, Tikki!" Marinette beamed. "I just hope I can finish the dress in time. Being Ladybug tends to fill up my spare time." She held up the square of fabric and draped it around the dress form. "Will you hand me some of those pins?"
Tikki obliged, zipping over to the pincushion. "I'm sure you will! If anyone can, it's you!"
Marinette giggled. "Now you're just being nice."
Tikki dropped a handful of pins on the desk in front of Marinette. "So, did Alya say anything about Adrien today?"
"Not a peep," Marinette admitted, taking the pins and sticking them in her mouth. "I hope she's right about Nino."
"We'll find out soon, I'm sure." Tikki landed on the dress form, grinning.
Marinette smiled, pins in between her teeth. "Mm hm." She turned back to the dress form and started pinning the skirt up around the waist.
"Tikki, do you think bow in the back or in the front?" Marinette asked.
"I say front," The kwami said, hovering above the dress for a moment. "But either way."
"That's what I was thinking too." Marinette smiled.
The doorbell rang from downstairs and Marinette groaned.
"Why is it always when I have pins in my mouth?" She spit out the pins on the table and left the skirt hanging on the dress form.
"I'll come with you," Tikki offered, gliding closer to Marinette.
"Fine, but stay out of sight." Marinette held open her cardigan and Tikki zoomed inside.
Marinette yanked open the trap door and walked down the stairs.
"I got it, Mom!" She called as she raced down the last set of stairs.
"Little late for a social call, wouldn't you say?" She murmured, glancing at the clock on the wall. It read 9:45 PM.
Marinette yanked open the door and opened her mouth to speak.
"Hi, what can I do...for..." Marinette blinked. There was no one there.
"Huh." Marinette stuck her head out and glanced around. "Hello?"
The street was empty and dark, with no one in sight.
"Then what..." Marinette glanced down at the doorstep, and her heart skipped a beat.
There was a small statue of La Tour Eiffel with a note rolled up in the interior frame.
"Must've been a doorbell ditch." Marinette bent down and grabbed the tower, then swung the door closed and walked back up to her room.
"Okay Tikki, you can come out again." Marinette held open her cardigan and the kwami zoomed out.
"What is it?" She cried, zipping up to the small tower.
"The Eiffel Tower?" Marinette held up the metal frame curiously. "I wonder what this is about?"
"What about the note?" Tikki pushed her way up the frame, pulling out the rolled-up slip of paper inside the tower.
"Let's look!" Marinette set the small tower on her desk and unrolled the piece of paper.
"Marinette," She read aloud, "It would light up my night if you would go to prom with me." She felt her heart flutter and her stomach started to jump.
"Oh wow! You just got asked to Prom!" Tikki exclaimed, beaming. "That's wonderful!"
"Tikki!" Marinette cried excitedly, spinning around her room. "I'm going to prom!"
"That's great, Marinette!" Tikki cried, zooming excitedly around the room. Then she paused, looking back at Marinette. "Wait, with who? Is the note signed?"
Marinette looked back at the piece of paper. "No, that's all it says." She read back through the note again.
"Light up my night," she read, her eyes falling on the Eiffel Tower. She noticed a small plug snaking away from the frame. "I've got it! We need to plug in the statue!"
Marinette ran over to her desk and quickly plugged in the small Tour Eiffel. The lights flickered and came to life. The letters "Adrien" were spelled out across the bars.
"Tikki!" Marinette shrieked, her heart ready to burst. Her knees trembled, and she spun around the room once more.
"Adrien!" Tikki laughed. "Congratulations, Marinette!"
"Adrien! Time to go!" Natalie called up the stairs.
"Coming!" Adrien yelled back, gathering up his textbooks. "Just finishing my homework from last night!"
"You should've finished your homework before you snuck out to ask Marinette," Plagg said accusingly.
"Whatever, at least I got it done." Adrien shoved his Math book into his bag. "Come on, let's go."
Adrien held open his jacket and Plagg zipped in. Slipping his bag over his shoulder, Adrien ran down the stairs and raced out to the car.
"Adrien, we're going to be late!" Natalie scolded. "Next time finish your homework before you go to bed!"
"Yeah, sorry." Adrien beamed guiltily.
Natalie rolled her eyes as the car sped off.
Adrien stared out the window, his mind whirring. What if he saw Marinette? What would he say? Or worse, Chloe? Adrien shuddered as he imagined Chloe's reaction when she found out he was going to prom with Marinette.
"Here we are!" Natalie jumped out and pulled open Adrien's door. "Have a good day! We'll see you after school?"
"Thanks!" Adrien clambered out of the car and ran up the stairs. He raced to his classroom and was just reaching for the doorknob when someone crashed into him.
"Oof!" Marinette cried out. "Sorry! Should've watched where I was going."
"Marinette," Adrien breathed, his heart pounding as he turned around. "It's fine, no worries!"
Marinette gasped. "Adrien! I, um..." She quickly pulled something out of her bag. "This is for you!" She pushed a small wrapped parcel into his hands and yanked open the classroom door, disappearing inside.
Adrien blinked, then looked down at the parcel. He reached out to open it, then jumped as the late bell rang.
"Hang on, Marinette," He muttered, shoving the parcel into his pocket and pushing open the classroom door.
"Adrien!" The teacher welcomed him. "So good of you to join us!"
Adrien laughed guiltily. "Sorry I'm late."
"Just take a seat and we'll continue." The teacher turned back to the blackboard.
"Dude, what's up?" Nino whispered as Adrien slid into his seat.
"I'm just late, that's all," Adrien whispered back, pulling out his notebook and pen. "I didn't get all my homework done last night."
"How come?" Nino asked curiously. "We didn't really have that much."
"I'll tell you later," Adrien hissed, squinting to try to read the board.
"Adrien! Nino!" The teacher glared at them, putting a finger to her lips.
Adrien scowled at Nino, then turned deliberately back to his notes.
Nino scribbled something on a piece of paper and shoved it over Adrien's notes, grinning slyly.
Adrien glanced down and started.
Did you ask Marinette last night?
"Nino!" Adrien hissed, glaring at him. "Knock it off!"
"I'll take that as a yes," Nino chuckled.
"Last warning, you two!" The teacher called out.
Adrien shot Nino another glare and stared down at his notes. He heard Plagg chuckle from inside his jacket and tried to ignore it. Soon his eyes strayed down to his pocket where he'd stuffed the gift from Marinette. He reached down and felt around the edges, wondering what it could be. He was sure it was an answer to the dance, but what was it? Something to do with the Eiffel Tower? His mind wandered, and he found himself thinking of the Eiffel Tower and all the times he'd climbed its metal frame as Cat Noir, with Ladybug at his side. He imagined taking her there, without the costume, and sitting with her at the top.
Suddenly the lunch bell rang, and he jumped, startled out of his daydream.
"Come on, bro, let's go talk about last night." Nino grabbed his arm, yanking him out of the classroom.
"Hang on, I need to clean up my notes!" Adrien pulled out of Nino's grasp and shouldered his way through his classmates back to his desk.
"Adri-kins!" A shrill voice rang out, and Adrien groaned.
"H-hey Chloe." He forced a smile and turned around.
Chloe flicked her ponytail and smirked down at Adrien. "Hey there, Adrien. So, did you know I haven't been asked to prom yet?"
"Really?" Adrien swallowed nervously. "That's...surprising."
"And I was wondering if you'd asked anyone yet." Chloe batted her eyelashes and took a step closer toward Adrien, backing him into the desk.
"Yeah, well, I have actually," Adrien said, deliberately not meeting Chloe's eyes and grabbing his notebook and pencil.
"I knew you hadn't! So, what do you..." Chloe trailed off, frowning. "Wait, you have? But...but it wasn't me!"
Adrien laughed weakly. "Funny how that turns out, huh?" He hurriedly shoved his notebook and pencil into his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "See you later!"
Chloe was shocked into silence while Adrien bolted for the door. It was only after he was safely in the hall that he heard Chloe's shriek of anger.
"Whew," Adrien breathed. "That wasn't so bad."
"Dude!" Nino beamed and slung his arm over Adrien's shoulder. "Nice! I haven't seen her that mad since...well, yesterday."
"I'm not sure that's a good thing," Adrien joked, laughing.
"So, you asked Marinette last night?" Nino prompted, leading Adrien toward the outdoors.
"Yup." Adrien grinned. "I snuck out and left something on her doorstep."
"Smooth!" Nino complimented him. "And her answer?"
"Oh!" Adrien pulled out the small package from his pocket. "She gave me this as I was coming in the door."
"Open it!" Nino urged.
Adrien complied and tore off the paper wrapping excitedly. He pulled out its contents and found...
"A flashlight?" Adrien said, turning the small light over in his hands.
"Turn it on," Nino suggested.
Adrien flicked the switch, but it was still too bright in the day to see the flashlight beam.
"I'll look at it later tonight," Adrien promised, pushing open the doors leading to the front orchard.
"Tell me what you find, all right?"
"Of course!" Adrien grinned, plopping himself down on their bench.
He glanced around the orchard and spotted Marinette leaning up against a pear tree, frowning slightly as she drew in her sketchbook.
"I wonder what she's drawing," Adrien murmured, suddenly curious.
"What?" Nino said absently, unwrapping his meatball sandwich.
"Hm? Nothing." Adrien slipped the flashlight back into his pocket and started opening his own lunch. "So, what are your plans for the dance? Marinette and I are good to join your group, right?"
Nino laughed, punching Adrien playfully in the shoulder. "Dude, of course! You'd better!" He leaned back and took a bite of his sandwich. "Ayla and I were thinking-"
Nino was cut off as a bus screeched and was barreling toward the orchard-right towards Marinette.
"Marinette!" Adrien yelled, jumping to his feet. "Look out!"
Marinette glanced up from her drawing just in time to see Adrien racing toward her. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, then widened as she heard the bus.
"No!" Adrien bolted toward Marinette. His foot caught on one of the pear trees and his ankle flared in pain. Yelping, he tripped and dived toward Marinette. He and Marinette rolled out of the way of the out-of-control bus.
The bus crashed into the tree that Marinette was leaning up against with a bang, and several people screamed from inside.
Adrien looked down at Marinette, his face inches from hers. "Are you okay?"
She smiled, her face bright red. "F-Fine."
Adrien smiled in relief and got to his feet. He winced as he put weight on his left foot, realizing he must've rolled his ankle on the tree. He reached out his hand to help Marinette to her feet.
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Marinette smiled bravely, grasping his hand. Adrien winced again as he pulled Marinette up into a standing position, trying to stay off his left foot.
"Are you all right?" Marinette asked, glancing down at his feet. "Did you hurt your ankle or something?"
"Just a little. I tripped on all these pear trees." He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll be fine."
"Let me help you back inside," Marinette offered, taking a step closer to Adrien.
The bus was beginning to smoke, but the doors were still jammed shut. All the passengers crowded by the doors, banging on the glass and screaming.
"Naw, I'll be fine," Adrien said quickly, rubbing his ring in anticipation. "Thank you, though."
Marinette nodded. "Good luck!"
Adrien limped inside, heading into an empty classroom.
He opened his jacket and Plagg flew out.
"Come on!" He urged, holding out his ring. "Maybe we can beat Ladybug this time!"
"Why is it always a competition?" Plagg sighed.
"Plagg, claws out!
Please, if you like it so far, go ahead and leave me a review! I'm excited about this story just as much as any other fan!
Thanks for reading!