Chapter 3

As Marinette and Adrien stepped out into the crisp and cold February air, Marinette started to get nervous. She was actually going out. With Adrien Agreste. Nice guy and model extroardinaire. She started to shiver, teeth chattering.

Adrien glanced over at her, cheeks flushed and noticed her shivering. He sidestepped closer to her in a gentlemanly manner and rubbed his shoulder against hers, in an attempt to transfer some of his body-heat to her.

This surprised Marinette and she blushed furiously, shivering even more. Yet, Adrien stayed next to her, trying to keep her warm. And they walked like this, across the street and around the park to the entrance where the photographer, two crew members and Nathalie were waiting impatiently.

Adrien started to jog, one arm slung over Marinette's shoulder so he could also make sure she was with him. Marinette tried to run as well but found it difficult because she had uncharacteristically worn two inch heeled boots.

"Finally! I was worried you had forgotten about your two hour time limit! Perhaps it should have been one hour?" Nathalie asked Adrien in her cold and calculated tone.

Finally noticing Marinette, Nathalie turned, "Oh, and who is this?!"

"Nathalie, this is Marinette...my... friend. Yeah my friend from school. I went to see her today because she was working on her designs for the fashion show."

Nathalie looked her up and down, as if she were an object, in need of appraising. Nathalie simply said nothing and returned her ice-cold glare to Adrien.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get on set, we need to start shooting!"

Adrien sighed and grabbed Marinette's hand as they walked over to the fountain at the center of the park, a common place for photo-shoots. Adrien quickly shrugged of his designer jacket and shrugged on another, this one obviously better because the previous one had been made last season and that just wasn't good enough.

Adrien turned to face Marinette and smiled sadly.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but I think you need to find somewhere to sit..." Adrien trailed off awkwardly.

"Oh! yeah that's okay. I'm going to be at the benches. Good Luck!"

Marinette resisted the urge to kiss his cheek and started to walk to the benches when Adrien swung her around, grabbed her hand and kissed it gingerly.

Marinette blushed so red, a tomato wouldn't have been able to compete. She whipped her hand from his grasp and walked away, trying to hide her blush. Adrien stayed their watching her, wondering what on Earth had come over him. He loved Ladybug. Marinette was nice and all, but she wasn't his lady.

He shook his head of these thoughts and got into the zone. Yes, he had a zone. embarassing but true.

He started posing for the camera. Perhaps it was the blush on his face, or the smile that kept creeping across his lips, but the camera seemed to love him. He got so lost in it that he didn't even notice when the photographer had stopped shooting him, in favour of another topic.

Adrien looked over with some interest. Occasionally, while at a shoot, the photographer would notice someone walking down the street and do a couple shots with them. 4 out of 5 times that person started modeling and became famous because they had been "Scouted by Adrien Agreste."

He turned just in time to see what the specimen was this time.

It was Marinette.

For whatever reason, when the photographer had glanced her way, he had noticed something in her that made him need to shoot her. Adrien walked over to listen to the conversation.

"But, but... I'm really not a model!" Marinette was protesting to the photographer.

"Ah, perhaps not, but that moment I saw that black cat run into your arms and the pure surprise and happiness in your eyes. You just radiate model. And I think we can nurture that."

Adrien touched her shoulder gingerly and said " I think you should do it Marinette! Just this once! You would be great at it."

Marinette looked up at him, unsure, but sighed in submission and walked toward the fountain with the men.

The two crew members ran over and quickly measured her and got her a new outfit that fit her as closely as they could get it.

As they started shooting, Marinette was very shy and didn't want to open up to the camera. Adrien made a silly face behind the photographer and made Marinette laugh. The camera caught her perfectly. Whatever was making the camera love Adrien more then usual was making the camera go crazy for Marinette. She nailed frame after frame.

By the end of the shoot everyone was exhausted. They had gotten some really good single shots AND shots together. Adrien knew Marinette would be the newest mystery model he was suspected to be in an a relationship with, but honestly, he couldn't care less.

As everyone left, the photographer gave Marinette his card and Nathalie told her she would be showing her film to Mr. Agreste because she should be looked into as a potential model. Marinette almost fainted. Adrien laughed at her excitement.

The crew left and Nathalie got in the car, expecting Adrien to join her, but was met with:

"Pick me up outside the Dupain-Cheng Bakery. I'm going to walk Marinette home."

"Y-you don't have to-"

"I want to."

And with that they were off. Back the way they had come. Except this time, before crossing the street Adrien was swarmed with fans and was forced to talk to them for twenty minutes while Marinette waited patiently.

When they finally got back to the bakery, Marinette was relieved, yet also sad that this wonderful blur of a day was over.

Adrien turned to her and thanked her for the wonderful day, and she responded with a thanks for the help.

Adrien leaned in and kissed her cheek, tenderly. At this, Marinette actually fainted.

"MARINETTE!" Marinette could hear someone calling her name, but was confused. It was a female voice.

"A-adrien?"

"No silly, It's me, Alya!"

Marinette sat up slowly.

"Oh, Hey Alya! What are you doing here? And where's Adrien?

"Oh he had to leave as soon as he was sure you were okay. I was on my way anyway but as soon as I saw that boy leave the bakery I ran in and found you in your fathers arms being carried to your room. Girl you have a lot of explaining to do!"

Marinette sighed as the memories from that day flooded back into her and tickled her skull.

"WELL, let me tell you..."

MEANWHILE

Adrien sat, looking out the window when he realized he hadn't spoken to his brother Felix all day.

Suddenly his phone buzzed. Speak of the devil, Felix was calling him!

"Adrien, you haven't called me! How was your day?"

Adrien sighed and smiled. Felix was like the mom he never had.

"Well Fe, let me tell you..."