CHAPTER 3

As soon as she woke up, Marinette felt that on that day something would have happened. All through her morning routine she had a stingy sensation at the pit of her stomach. Call her paranoid, but she trusted her instinct and, right now, it said not to get her hopes up for the day.

Though, how could she be happy after what had happened the previous day?

First of all, her worst enemy had now major chances of ruining her life. Then, her crush (celebrity crush, CELEBRITY crush) openly stated that he was happy to be in the same class as said enemy. They must have been really close, as Chloe was, uhm, difficult to handle and being her friend was kind of impossible. That was how Adrien earned the whole class' distrust with just a phrase. Poor thing! Marinette felt a little ashamed of her behaviour. But still, she didn't want anything to do with Chloe and her circle of friends. As a matter of fact, nobody did.

Once she finished her morning chores, she went to the personnel's changing room and changed for school.

Every day, except for Sundays (thankfully), Marinette would wake up at five, prepare everything she needed for school and head with her parents to Le Grand Paris, as they all started working early. Then, not before getting all her assignments done, she'd leave for school. What was odd was the fact that most of the time she managed to get to class late, no matter what time she finished working, something had to happen.

As a proof of that, since that morning she had everything done by a decent time, while she was going for the main door of the hotel, she got stuck in an unpleasant situation.

First, it should be noted that Le Grand Paris hotel, after a vicious protest made by an old rich lady that lived only for her dogs, allowed its guests to keep their pets during their stay.

Knowing this, the little old man that was wandering around the entrance area should have paid a little more attention on what was on the ground. Then, he wouldn't have stepped on that dog's tail and, as the dog immediately started barking at him, he wouldn't have stumbled backwards, knocking over the expensive Chinese vase that shattered in a million pieces as soon as it touched the pavement.

Upon hearing the noise, Marinette rushed towards its cause. The poor man had fallen on the ground along with the vase, but thankfully didn't hurt himself with its pieces. Careful not to step on anything, Marinette helped him getting back on his feet. The dog was still barking and its owner was shouting along with her dog while the receptionist was trying to calm her down.

The old man was about to open his mouth to thank the kind girl that helped him, but a voice interrupted him,

"What happened here?!" Marinette blanched: it was her manager.

The dog's owner started proclaiming what abuse her poor little baby had to suffer, but Marinette's manager's eyes were focused on the broken object on the ground.

Without a second thought, Marinette stepped forward,

"I'm deeply sorry Madame Moreau, it was my fault"

The dog's owner curled her lips and shouted,

"Do you think that a mere apology will…" but she didn't finish, as Madame Moreau addressed Marinette,

"Oh, Marinette, what have you done? Do you know how much that vase was worth? I don't think we can overlook what just happened"

Marinette knew that, but she couldn't let that poor old man get the blame. Helping other was like a second nature to her. Considering the circumstances, she could have helped him differently, though. Now she was in deep trouble.

Her manager spoke up again,

"Please, collect the pieces, then you can go to school, but I want you in my office as soon as your last period ends, is that clear?"

"Yes, Madame Moreau" with that the manager left, followed by a not so happy hotel guest who wanted justice for her dog.

Marinette sighed, her shoulders drooping and her spirit under her shoes. She turned to the old man, who was watching her intensely. Ready to excuse herself to go and pick a broom to clean up that mess, she was interrupted by said man,

"Thank you, young lady. I didn't expect somebody to take the blame for me. If you ever need a hand don't hesitate in asking for my help, as I'll gladly offer you a hand." With that he left.

Marinette was speechless. He was so calm after the mess he'd caused, she was a little taken aback. What a strange guy.

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice the receptionist approaching her with the broom.

"Marinette? I know you have school in five minutes, don't worry, I'll take care of the broken vase" she kindly said. Marinette thanked her over and over, then ran out of the doors and headed towards school. It was nothing compared to the entire situation, but her colleague's help had her gain a smile.

Her day might have begun with a disaster, but as Marinette approached the school's main entrance, she realized it was two days in a row she managed to arrive on time. That was a record, no kidding.

Upon climbing the stairs leading to her classroom, she heard a collective "Horray" coming from there.

Once Marinette entered, she noticed that everybody had crowded the front desk with an excited looks on their faces. She couldn't help but wonder what she had just missed.

As if she could read her mind, Alya suddenly emerged from her classmates' squished bodies and shouted,

"Marinette! You wouldn't believe what just happened!" Now she was even more curious.

"Adrien's got us all invited to the Mayor's exclusive masquerade party! Isn't that great?"

When Adrien arrived at school that morning he knew the first thing he had to do was talking to Nino about the previous day.

"Nino, I'm sorry for yesterday, it wasn't my intention to offend you. Can we start over?"

His desk mate looked at him with a surprised expression.

Adrien clarified that just because he was friends with Chloe it didn't mean that he supported her every action. Then he awkwardly explained how all that high school stuff was new to him, so from his part making mistakes was going to be a constant during the remaining school year.

Adrien noticed how his classmate's expression softened and released a sigh of relief. If he was to be sincere, he wasn't sure whether Nino would have given him a second chance or not. He wasn't really used to people.

Nino was about to answer Adrien's attempt to start over, when Chloe launched herself on the latter, bragging about her father's upcoming masquerade party, to which he was invited, obviously.

If someone were later to ask Adrien what had gotten him to do what he was about to do, he would've replied that his gut had taken possession of his brain and made him ask the first thing that came to his mind.

"Chloe, why don't you ask your father to invite our classmates?"

At that, everybody in the classroom turned to them.

"Why would I do that?" Chloe asked perplexed.

Obviously, Adrien wasn't the only one that needed more friends. She would have thanked him later.

"Well, Chloe, don't you think that your father's masquerade party hosts a lot of grown-ups? If I remember correctly, last year we were the only two teenagers there. It'll be more fun if there were more kids, don't you agree?" Adrien looked at her trying to decipher her expression: at least she was pondering his proposal.

The whole class was silent, everybody's breath caught in their throats. Then, Chloe glanced quickly towards the ginger girl sitting in the front row, Sabrina, and said,

"Ok, you convinced me Adrikins. If I tell my daddy you asked for it too I'm sure he will accept."

Then, Hell broke loose. All his classmates came rushing at him, squealing of joy.

Some thanked him, some patted him on the back, someone hugged him! Then Nino put an arm around his shoulders and said,

"That was awesome, dude! You already had me with your little speech from a few minutes ago, but now I might as well throw me at your feet!"

Adrien laughed nervously,

"You don't have to do that, really."

"…I was kidding, dude."

"Oh"

A hand tugged his shirt sleeve and he turned to see Alya smiling at him,

"I knew you were a nice guy. I'm glad!" Adrien blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. At least he was back on the right path to make some friends. But then he noticed something missing: there was Alya, but where was…

"Marinette! You wouldn't believe what just happened!"

There she was! He felt a little lighter knowing that also Marinette now could give him a second chance.

Said girl entered the classroom followed by the teacher, who ushered everyone to their seats and begun her lesson.

As Alya explained to her what had happened before she arrived, Marinette kept glancing at Adrien, her lips forming a kind smile and her cheeks tinging of red. Her best friend had also told her about Adrien's conversation with Nino, which everybody heard. So, it wasn't just the party thing that had the whole class so eager: it was more of a welcome cheer.

The rest of the school day passed merrily and the girls already lost themselves in chatters about the masquerade party.

Marinette thought that after all her day wasn't so bad.

Well, maybe not entirely.

She still had to meet with her manager to accept whatever were her morning action's consequences.

On her way towards Le Grand Paris hotel, a white limousine stopped next to her. Chloe's frowning face appeared when the car window was lowered.

"You know," she began "Adrien might have made me change my mind on the guest list for my father's masquerade party, but there are always exceptions."

"Of course, mademoiselle" Marinette already knew where that was going.

"So don't even think of showing up at that party. I don't want you or your clumsiness around, trying to ruin everything. If I see your face there, I'll have to take measures."

And with that, she closed the window and the car left.
Marinette watched it go. Realization came upon her and anger slowly raised from the pit of her stomach. How could someone be so double-faced? The girl wasn't a child anymore, she was almost an adult and it was time she started behaving as one! Though, Chloe was used to having her way, so getting mad wasn't worth the struggle.

And right now, Marinette had a far more serious problem to face.

As soon as she arrived at the hotel, Marinette went to the changing room to put on her uniform, then headed to the manager's office.

She knocked on the door and entered once she got the permission to get in.

Marinette didn't expect to see her parents there.

And they didn't look happy. At all.