Chapter 86:France

After school Marinette let out a huge sigh as she and Adrien descended the steps from the school, flooded with dozens of other fellow students escaping the stuffy confinement of their classrooms.

"We made it!" Marinette leaned against the banaster.

"You sound like you just made it through a marathon," teased Adrien, and leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "...or a dozen akumas!" He then took the opportunity to steal her backpack away from her again.

"I guess it wasn't that bad," she offered him a lopsided grin. Then she straightened the black pencil skirt and smoothed her sky blue blouse she had changed into, growing silent again.

"And you're going to do amazing with your internship today too!" he cheered, lifting her chin on his index finger.

"I hope so..." Marinette clenched her hands at her side. "I'm just not sure I will have what it takes. What if I screw everything up and ruin my chances to get a recommendation to design school...what if they hate my designs...what if..."

"Whoah...whoah! Mari, you have already impressed them...and they haven't seen anything yet! You are a gifted and hardworking designer who has been setting trends long before you won that bowler contest years ago!" Adrien took her hands in his, staring earnestly into her eyes. "You've got this!"

"You really think so?!" she asked hopefully.

Adrien nodded brightly.

"It's only my first day as a Jr. Intern too," Marinette cheered. "They'll probably just be having me do coffee runs right?!" Then Marinette's face went white, and her eyes were timed with dread. "Oh man...what if so spill the coffee on everyone...or on the new fabric samples...and everything is ruined...and..."

Adrien chuckled kindly, and wrapped her up in his arms, lifting her slightly off the ground. "Don't worry so much Princess, your knight has your back."

"Wha...what do you mean?" Marinette asked her chin pressed against his strong shoulders, and feeling the residue panic subsiding within his embrace.

Adrien stepped back, releasing her back to earth, with a suddenly shy smile and a shrug. "I uh..I guess I might end up being one of the models SQ uses after all," he stretched his arm back to his neck self-consciously.

Marinette let out a short squeal, and leapt back into his arms. "You are! I've always wanted to dress you!" Marinette exclaimed, and then caught herself and rapidly rephrased, "...I mean not dress you...not put clothes on you...not that I would undress you...just that I would...I um...aw...maybe I should just work with mannequins..." she clapped her hands over her face, cringing at the words that just kept digging her deeper into a pit of embarrassment.

Adrien however, just stood back quite enjoying the trail her mind was taking, and waited for her to peek through her fingers at him.

"You're going to make some smug comment about me undressing you with my eyes aren't you," Marinette pouted through her half-shielded face.

"I would never!" Adrien gasped theatrically in mock shock, holding his hand to his chest. "I'm a professional!" Then he grinned smuggly and leaned in, "but I'm at your disposal Miss Dupain-Cheng for whatever you might require!"

Marinette went red, and playfully pushed him away with a roll of her eyes. "You really are all Tom-cat aren't you!" she accused.

"But I'm your Tom-cat," he couldn't help retorting, cozying back up to her shoulder.

"Im not sure if you are going to make things harder or easier with this internship," Marinette shook her head.

Adrien suddenly looked at her in panic, with joking pushed aside. "Easier...for sure easier. Mari, I don't want to be in the way. I thought I could help, but if you don't think it's a good idea I don't mind dropping out!"

Marinette held him tight, not letting him retreat, and kissed his cheek tenderly. "I'm only teasing! Of course I want you to be there...I had wanted to ask you before, but I knew modelling had always been pushed on you, and I didn't want you to go through that again. I've been so nervous all day, and having you there...well, it's more than I could have hoped for!"

Adrien's shoulders released the sudden tension, and he put his arm around Marinette, "I'd do anything for you Mari."

Marinette leaned into him as they walked to meet Adrien's Chaffier, which delivered them to the design mogal's glass tower rising up from the streets of Paris.

Adrien walked in casually (he had been there countless times before, both as a child tailing his father and as a occasional model on loan to SQ). Marinette however was stunned by the opulent grace of the architecture that housed some of the most prestigious and cutting edge designers and collections in the world. She held her breath as they passed by enlarged magazine covers with Audrey Bourgeois' latest declarations of the latest trends. The gold trimmed entry was so wide open, with vaulted glass ceilings looming far above that it made their footsteps echo across the white marble floors. In front of the transparent elevators was a solid desk with reception and security. Marinette cleared her voice, but her voice still came out strained when she croaked, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng for the SQ Jr. Internship, please."

"Hmm..." the slim receptionist with a tight blond bun, and narrow nose, looked down her false eyelashes at Marinette briefly. Then she scanned her tablet, pinching her lips. "Ah...here you are...yes. You are to meet Stephanie in conference room C on the third floor. The she glanced up and caught sight of Adrien. "Oh! Mr. Agreste! What a pleasure to see you again!" her voice jumped an octave, and she leaned over the counter. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she gushed, talking right through Marinette.

"Thank you, no," Adrien smiled gracious as always, putting an arm around Marinette's waist. "I'm just helping out my girlfriend today."

"Oh," her mouth popped open into an 'o,' and Adrien breezed past her with Marinette towards the elevators.

Marinette stifled a giggle as the elevators closed.

"What?" Adrien asked.

"Nothin'" Marinette smiled. "I just love it when you call me your girlfriend...I might just have to fight off half the women in Paris!"

"I think you could take em'" Adrien grinned back.

The other Jr. interns had already arrived and were standing in a staggered line, holding their jumbled portfolios. Adrien pecked Marinette on the cheek, handing her back her bag. "I'll be just down the hall at the lounge when you're done," he said. Then added, "head up, these designers are a pack, and they'll respond to confidence. Show them, and they won't be able to resist you!"

"Thanks!" she whispered gratefully, and slipped into the tense room.

"Humph," a woman huffed, as she entered the room behind Marinette, and surveyed the six Jr. Interns in front of her critically. "Well, here you are. My name is Stephanie Peele, executive HR rep here at SQ. Congratulations on being selected for this very exclusive Style Queen internship. I expect you have reviewed your entry package and signed all release forms."

There were nods from around the room.

"You will each be assigned to a senior designer. You will observe, and when and only when you are assigned a task, you will provide assistance to those you are shadowing," she drawled in a bored voice. "Your term is set until the end of August, but honestly I'd be shocked if most of you last till the end of the week."

The interns glanced nervously at each other.

"Well, come on. Bring your portfolios and I will give you a quick tour before delivering you to your mentors." She turned on her sharp red heels, and ticked out the door and around the corner, with the interns scrambling to trail her.

Marinette was eventually delivered to a bright room with tall windows. Facing each window was a raised architect table, computer station, and chair. On the opposite end of the room was three fabric cutting stations, and white fabric busts pinned with garments in various degrees of completion. Marinette's eyes widened. It was like walking into a fashion dreamland!

"Your new Jr. Intern," Stephanie announced in a bold voice, gesturing to Marinette.

"I don't have time to babysit!" the woman shook her fiery short pixie cut, and shot Stephanie a glare over her shoulder from where she was working. "You know, I've got to get everything for the next photo shoot ready to go out by next week! Can't Jeremy just handle her, till I get through this deadline at least!"

"No Alexis! Absolutely not! Audrey herself approved the assignments, and I'm certainly not going to bring something like this up with her!" Stephanie retorted with a scowl. "You are welcome to bring it up to her yourself..." she threatened.

Alexis chucked her stylus against the table, and stood with her arms folded tight against her chest. "No, no...finnnne. I'll deal with it," she growled.

"Lovely," Stephanie chirped overly sweetly with dripping sarcasm. "I'll leave you to get acquainted then!" Then she was out the door again, leaving Marinette facing off with the hostile designer.

"Hi! I'm Marinette," Marinette stepped forward, summoning her courage and trying to follow Adrien's advice.

"Um Hmm,"Alexis turned back to her desk, and waved her hand dismissively. "You can go put your things over there."

Marinette paused for a moment, and then moved over to a small desk in the corner, where she draped her jacket over the chair, and neatly stacked her things. Then she turned and watched the designer, leaning over the sketch she was working on. There was a uncomfortable silence between them, before Marinette shifted, and ventured, "is there anything I could get for you, or help you with?"

"Maybe you can somehow freeze time so I can actually have enough time to get all this done," Alexis muttered.

Marinette just looked back blankly, but in her head her newest miraculous power did cross her mind.

Then the designer, breathed out frustratedly, "Okay fine. Why don't you just go do some inventory for me or something. Here is a list all the fabric and materials we need for tomorrow. Go check with the stock room."

"Absolutely," Marinette nodded enthusiastically, collecting the long list from Alexis' pinched fingers. "Um...where?"

"345," Alexis responded dismissively, without looking up.

Marinette zipped out of the room glad for some errand to escape the tense atmosphere...but still had no idea which way to go. Eventually through the maze of rooms she located the supply room #345. This was no little closet; it had the span of a warehouse and rows of high shelves stacked on top of each other up to the ceiling. Each shelf was overflowing with bolts of fabric, boxes of buttons, and trails of zippers. Marinette stood gaping like a kid in a candy store. She didn't know what she had expected, but this was more!

She shook her head, refocusing on her task. There was no way she would fail her first assignment from her mentor. She was determined to prove herself, no matter how disinterested the designer seemed. Scanning the numbers and letters assigned to each category she went about collecting each item on the list. She was down to her last item: A green Lycra spandex still evaded her search. Finally she tracked it down and spotted it. There it perched, right in the doorway, on the very top shelf; teetering precariously as if taunting her. There was no way she could reach it. Marinette narrowed her eyes determinedly, laying down her other supplies, and sticking her list between her lips. Grabbing hold of one shelf, then another, she wedged her foot on one of the wrings, and reached out on her tip toes.

Her finger tips just barely grazed, the sleek fabric when she was started by a amused voiced behind her saying, "Need some help beautiful?"

Her breath caught in her throat and her mouth popped open, letting her list float down to the feet of the young man standing down below. Craning her head back carefully, so she didn't loose her grip she saw him. He looked like a freshly unboxed Ken-doll, with a slight gleaming tan that gave him a polished took. He swooped down swiftly to retrieve the list, swinging back his near shoulder-length bleach-blonde hair. His toned muscles defined his white t-shirt, but it was his pale blue eyes that were the most striking.

"You must be new here? First day?" he asked, studying her precarious position.

"It's that obvious huh," she rolled her eyes.

"My first day too," he ran his hand through his hair.

"Let me guess, model?" Marinette glanced back up at the fabric above.

"It's that obvious," he laughed. Then he watched her gaze. "Can I reach that for you Bella Blue?" he asked.

"No, I've got this!" Marinette lied, gripping onto the panels of the shelf tighter. "...and the name is Marinette!"

"I could give you a boost Bluenette?" he offered with a perfectly white smile, stepping forward.

"No, no, I'm fine!" she turned back to the shelf, reaching up again.

"You certainly are," he stepped closer.

Marinette lunged for the roll of spandex and although she nabbed the corner, her extension made her slip too far forward, and she lost her footing. Down fell a cascade of shimmering pleats of fabric, and down she dropped, only to be caught in the arms of the stranger beneath her.

In shock she stared at him, and he grinned back.

"You're welcome," he said.

"Uh, yeah...thanks," she managed.

Then a much more familiar voice was cleared behind them at the doorway. "Everything okay?" asked Adrien who had come around the corner, hearing the crash. He was looking concerned at Marinette, and glaring at the man holding her as if ready to tackle him into the fallen fabric.

"My fault," Marinette quickly wiggled out of the grasp of the young man, and straightened her blue blouse. "I'm so clumsy, and now I've made a mess of everything my first day."

"Actually, it was probably my fault. I'm afraid I distracted her," the model interjected. Then he seemed to size up the competition, "So you are the great Adrien Agreste."

"Do I know you?" Adrien narrowed his eyes at him sceptically.

"Who doesn't know you? Your fathers work is legendary," he replied. "I'm sure we'll have lots of fun working together. Usually I'm more focused on acting, taking on a role, a character...but I thought, what the heck, why not model along the way. I never know what intreating people I might bump into along the way," he smiled back at Marinette.

"I'm lucky he caught me...um...sorry I didn't actually get your name..." Marinette jumped in.

"Komar Zanzara," he winked grazing Adrien's shoulder on the way out, and shooting Marinette a wink over his shoulder. "See you around Bluenette!" he called.

Adrien glared after him, and then knelt down to help Marinette pickup the fallen fabric.

"I'm sorry, I guess my disastrous tendencies follow me everywhere," she sighed. Then she looked up at Adrien who was still silent.

"Adrien?" Marinette asked concerned. "You know right that nothing was going on. I was just clumsy as usual, and he was just helping me out."

"Yeah...it's just I'm sure I've seen him before. I don't know...there is just something I don't like about that guy," Adrien crumpled the loose cloth into a tangled bundle.

"Come on Adrien," Marinette smiled at her jealous Kitty. "I'm sorry he bugs you, but I'm sure he's harmless."