Chapter 2

Adrien:

Adrien Agreste wasn't an average high school student. Try as he might, he would always be recognized in public. Swarmed by girls screeching for an autograph or a smile. It was tiring. All he wanted was a more normal life. One where he went to school every day and came home to see two loving parents waiting for him. Is that too much to ask? Apparently.

Adrien checked his watch. He had told Natalie, his father's personal assistant for a day off today. She had looked at him sadly and given him two hours to himself. He had used up his first hour getting a coffe at a nearby cafe and drinking it slowly in the park near his school. Now he found himself simply walking around.

Soon he found himself crossig the street towards a bakery called the Dupain-Cheng Bakery. Half-way across the street, he almost froze in his walk as he saw Marinette, a very awkward and shy girl from his class come down into the bakery in just her pajamas. He quickly strod across and found a hiding spot to watch. He didn't know what he was doing. Why would he want to watch Marinette all of the sudden? She barely spoke to him in school.

Nevertheless, he continued watching. He was surprised and how warm and genuine the interaction between Marinette and her mother was. He felt an odd sense of longing for their relationship. He had never had a warm and kind mother-figure in his life.

He continued to watch as the two continued their conversation. Suddenly he saw Marinette start to stretch and yawn. With the stretch her shirt rode up just abover her waist. This made Adrien's heart flutter.

"Wait no, I love Ladybug. Me creepily watching Marinette shouldn't make my heart flutter!" He muttered to himself.

But despite his heart's warnings he continued watching. He watched as they unboxed a... sewing machine? Adrien new Marinette took the fashion design class at their school (He took it with her) but he had no idea that she was into it enough to design out of school. He assumed everyone in his class took it just because it could be an easy A.

He watched them struggle to carry the box upstairs. He wanted to run in and help them but he stopped himself because he knew he would seem stalkerish. So he waited until Marinette's mom returned to the bakery until he walked in.

A bell tinkled as he opened the door. Marinette's mother looked up and smiled as he walked in. Sabine, according to her nametag, said:

"Hello young man, Welcome to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery, how may I help you?"

"U-uh I'm a friend of Marinette- I mean I'm in her class and... I think we have a project to work on..." Adrien trailed off and rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, something he did often when he didn't know what to say. He wondered if Sabine could hear the lie on his tongue.

Sabine's smile widened and said "oh!" she laughed a bit at Adrien's awkwardness and said "this way. She's upstairs."

Adrien thanked Sabine and headed up the two stories to Marinette's room. He quickly and quietly opened the hatch and stepped up onto the floor. Marinette, completely immersed in her drawing didn't notice Adrien. He slowly walked up behind her, not wanting to disturb her creative flow and looked over her shoulder.

What he saw was amazing. Design after design looked like they had come straight off the runway at Paris fashion week. He would know, he had modeled in it for the past 7 years.

"Wow," Adrien breathed, "These are amazing."

Suddenly, Marinette squealed and fell off of her chair in surprise. She looked around to get her bearings and said "Alya! You scared the living daylights out of-" She froze mid-sentence when she saw it wasn't Alya standing there, but her mega-crush, Adrien Agreste.

She froze and stared up at him. He grinned sheepishly and held out his hand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you!"

Marinette took his hand and got up. She almost melted at his touch but she was able to stay standing. She drank in the sight of him, his ruffled hair, his bright green eyes and the designer jeans, coats and gloves.

"U-uh Adrien! I-I didn't think it w-was you- I mean not that I'm not happy to see you, I mean who would be unhappy to see you- wait no I didn't mean that.." She trailed off and closed her eyes to recollect herself.

"Uh, what brings you here? To my room?" She asked so quickly he almost didn't catch all of her words.

"Uh well, I wanted to check on you. I know you are entering the Little Miss Designer competition and I wanted to see how you are doing..." He trailed off, hoping she would be as oblivious to the lie as her mother was.

Marinette narrowed her eyes slightly then shrugged and said "U-uh I'm doing okay. I just finished my top 3 designs."

"Oh! Can I see them?" Adrien asked.

"U-um sure..." Marinette trailed off.

Marinette slid her sketchbook over to him and he flipped through the designs. The first one was an elegant dress made of red silk and tule with a black sash and a mask on a stick that was red with black spots on it. He felt like it reminded him of something but brushed the feeling off and turned the page. The next design was a black, long sweater with a red fitted shirt and a black skirt that went down to her knees.

"These two must be for the elegant and casual categories," Adrien thought to himself.

"Yeah, t-they are.." Marinette said and the blushed.

Adrien looked up in surprise. He hadn't realized he had spoken aloud.

Adrien turned the page to the final design for the swimwear category.

It was a one piece bathing suit with a ruffled sash that went along the waist. This one was black with red spots and to match it had a red hankerchief that was worn like a headband.

Adrien imagined what the designs would look like on a person and then realized he would get to see them. And not just on any person, on Marinete. In the competition, designers were required to model their own designs. Adrien couldn't imagine Marinette having the courage to walk down the runway.

"Wow, these are amazing Marinette, are you ready to model them?" He wanted to be subtle with this but he just had to make sure.

Marinette went bright red in horror at this realization.

"Oh, I didn't mean to scare you I just..."

Marinette was pacing now, probably thinking of all the ways she would mess it up. Adrien felt horrible. He had just shattered and confidence Marinette had had.

"Wait I didn't mean to frighten you! U-um maybe I could teach you!"

Marinette stopped pacing and looked up at him.

"You would do that for me?"

"Uh yeah, of course!"

Marinette sighed.

"Okay. Could we... could we start now? Maybe? I don't know, now's probably inconvenient-"

She stopped mid-sentence because Adrien had put his hands on her shoulders and held her in front of him.

"Watch me."

Adrien walked over to Marinette's chaise and placed his coat and gloves in a neat pile on the edge. He then stood up, squared his shoulders and walked in a straight line across the room with a carefree demeanor. Marinette stared as he did so.

"Oh I could never do that. You make it look so easy! I mean you make everything look easy-I mean." This time she stopped herself, squared her shoulders and imitated Adrien. Although Adrien saw several flaws, he didn't point them all out right away. Instead, he slowly worked them into his lesson. After an hour of small corrections and a game Adrien liked to play called "How Many Times Can I Touch Marinette's Shoulder In One Hour," he decided she was ready.

She jumped in the air in excitement. She landed awkwardly and almost fell into a heap on the floor. But Adrien and his quick cat-like reflexes were fast enough to catch her. But, instead of helping her up, they stayed like that. Adrien's arms around her back and Marinette'd ahnds placed carefully around his neck.

They both blushed bright red and Marinette quickly righted herself.

"The-uh, sorry!"

"N-no it's okay Marinette! You're doing really well!"

At this Marinette blushed. Then she perked up as if she had gotten an idea.

"Could I maybe try it in one of my finished designs?" Marinette asked nervously.

Adrien smiled and say of course.

Marinette rushed to the folding wall that was in her room that she changed behind.

Adrien patiently waited in a position where he could see her whole walk.

Suddenly Marinette peaked out. Adrien couldn't see much but he could see her shoulders. His heart leaped.

Marinette slowly walked out from behind the wall and started her walk. Adrien was amazed, it was flawless. And of course, of all her designs the one that was ready to be worn for this was the bathing suit. Adrien stared at her, the arch of her back, the movement of her legs the pure joy on her face...

Marinette completed her walk and and turned to Adrien expectantly.

Adrien froze and blushed furiously.

"U-uh t-that was a-amazing Mari, I mean M-Marinette."

He looked around, in hopes of a way out when suddenly his phone buzzed. To his relief, surprisingly, he saw it was Natalie telling him his two hours were up and he had a photo-shoot at the park to get to.

"The-uh, I have to go to the park for a photo shoot..."

"Oh, that's okay. Can I walk over with you? Just give me a moment to change!"

Marinette rushed back behind and changed back into her signature brown jacket and pink pants. She looked the same as before but suddenly, Adrien saw the curves and arches of her body.

Marinette also grabbed a coat and stood in front of Adrien. He also took his coat and they walked downstairs together.

"Maman, I'm going to the park with Adrien. Be back later!" Marinette said as she kissed her mother's cheek.

"Okay, make sure to be back by six for dinner, sweetie!" Sabine called out to them as they left.

Adrien sighed and smiled. This day was turning out wonderful.