Chapter 5:
THE SHOW *DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUN*
This was it, showtime. Marinette had spent every waking moment preparing for this. She had finished her final two designs just in time and had to run out the door with her clothes with her, clutching them as if they were her children.
Her mother was outside waiting to bring her. She wasn't allowed to go inside because she had not been able to buy a ticket but Sabine wished her luck anyway and helped her get the clothes in.
Marinette had walked in and almost immediately wanted to scream. Chaos was occuring backstage. Famous designers were walking around looking at the kid's designs. She was immediately approached by a preppy crew member with a clipboard to sign her in. SHe was told she had 3 hours to get makeup on and get set up for the show.
She was immediately rushed away to the makeup station and told to put her clothes on a rack. She didn't want to let go of them but she did and turned to the makeup station.
For some unfortunate reason, Marinette was seated next to Chloe at the makeup station. While waiting for her makeup artist to come, Marinette composed herself and listened to the conversation between Chloe and her makeup artist next to her.
"NO IT IS IMPERATIVE I HAVE PINK BLUSH AND PALE FOUNDATION AND BLUE EYESHADOW AND PINK LIPSTICK. OR ELSE IT WON"T MATCH MY CLOTHES!"
The two had been arguing about Chloe's makeup for sometime now and the makeup artists seemed to give up with her.
"Fine, your majesty, whatever you desire."
Chloe humphed in triumph and let him do her makeup. The makeup artist tryed to do the best he could but a half hour in, Chloe decided that was enough and she had to start getting into her clothes and finding Adrien.
Marinette stared, confused at Chloe when she said she needed Adrien.
Noticing Marinette for the first time, she smirked at her confused expression.
"Aw, does stupid Marinette not know the rules of the competition? Adrien has to walk us down the runway for 1 of 3 of our designs and then he watches for the other 2. It's a rule."
Marinette blushed furiously, not only because she hadn't known that, but also because ADRIEN was going to walk with her down the runway.
Chloe laughed and strut off.
Marinette sighed, comosed herself, and turned back around to wait for her makeup artist.
The artist that had been working with Chloe turned to Marinette and asked if she had been done up yet. Marinette responded that she hadn't so he got to work.
"So, do you also have certain requests?" He said lazily, assuming Marinette was like Chloe.
Marinette widened her eyes.
"Am I supposed to?!" She asked in surprise.
The makeup artist perked up and laughed.
"No! But that girl before you sure seemed to!"
"Oh Chloe? Yeah, she's a nightmare!" Marinette laughed. "But can I request one small thing? Maybe like a redder lip? I don't know much about makeup but I just thought that might be nice..."
The makeup artist laughed.
"Sure! I was going to do that anyway, but at least you didn't request pink blush!"
Marinette looked at him, confused.
"Pink blush and pink lips make you look like a vampire on the runway."
"Well, then do your magic with whatever YOU know works."
And he did, he made her look AMAZING. And he was hilarious. They talked about everything. Too soon, Marinette had to leave to get ready.
She went to where her rack was and got changed into her first outfit: the dress.
A hairdresser was finishing a quick updo on Marinette when she heard screaming.
Marinette whipped around, expecting to see an akuma, but saw something MUCH worse.
Adrien was stumbling around, 10 feet away, trying to deal with the horde of 10 girls clinging on to him, as if being near him would win them the competition. Marinette stared and laughed out loud. Adrien's head jerked up. He saw Marinette and sighed in relief. He turned to the girls and told them he had important business to take care of.
He jogged over to her and sighed in relief.
"Having fun?" Marinette asked through laughs.
"Very funny, Mari!" He said, exasperated. This time he did not correct himself when he said Mari.
They were about to continue talking, but then they heard an announcement stating the models/designers had to get in line. Marinette just happened to be going last so she and Adrien had to part ways.
The show started as soon as they were in order. It took about 30 minutes for all 25 girls to walk with Adrien. When it was finally Marinette's turn, she stepped out onto the runway, where Adrien was waiting and NAILED IT. She did exactly as Adrien had instructed her, yet also not at all what he had told her. She did her own thing, and it was amazing.
By the third time, she was having fun. She even twirled around at the end. By the time she finished her final walk and was walking around in a line with all the other models, she didn't want to stop.
After that, they all lined up on stage, ready for the winners to be announced. Gabriel walked on stage with 3 crew members carrying tiaras for the 3 runners up and the winner.
"You all had lovely designs, however there can be only 1 winner. the third runner up was Alisha. THe second was Maria. The first runner up was Simone."
Marinette started to get nervous. What if she hadn't won?
"And the winner of the Little Miss Designer competition is... MARINETTE"
Marinette wanted to faint. SHE HAD WON. But something was wrong.
Chloe had ran up to the tiara, acting as if she had won. The crew didn't seem to know the difference. But Adrien did. He walked up behind her and asked, very loudly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Chloe whipped around and said
"I won! duhhhh."
"Mari won, not you, Chloe."
"WHAT?! HOW COULD I NOT HAVE WON?!"
"Well you might have had a chance had one of the judges not noticed the fact that your designs looked oddly similar to a certain designers style And when we called them up, they admitted to having made them. This competition is for those who MADE their designs."
Marinette was shell-shocked. ADRIEN? Standing up to Chloe for HER?
Adrien turned around and led Marinette to be crowned. The crowd roared so loud that no one noticed Chloe run off. It was bliss.