– CHAPTER I –
Today is definitely not my day. I can't even pay attention in class because of this headache, and my body is still sore all over. In the last few days, akumatized attacks were frequent, and they were quite strong and difficult to defeat. Some of them even left bruises on my body that not even the uniform could protect, that must be why my body is like this. I need to talk to Master Fu about this soon. I hope Cat Noir isn't like me…
– Marinette.. Marinette? – My thoughts were interrupted by Professor Bustier.
– Yes? – I tried to respond by pretending to be natural, but my confused face didn't fool anyone.
– Is it okay for you to be like this? – Okay what? What was she talking about? I looked at Alya, and she was already looking at me with a big smile on her face, pointing her eyes at the teacher, waiting for my answer, but I had no idea what to say. She tried to say something but I couldn't understand anything, I'm terrible at reading lips. After the unsuccessful attempt, she placed her hand on her face in frustration.
– Yeah… I think so.. – I had no idea what I was agreeing to.
– Great! So, Adrien will be your partner for history coursework and I think we've finally sealed the pairings…see you friday for the presentation! – Wait, what?! She simply said that and left the class. Then the school bell rang and everyone started to leave.
I looked confused and shocked at Alya, and she started laughing in my face. I was going to ask her what was going on, but out of the blue, she stopped laughing and stared into my eyes, looking back, as if there was someone behind me. Then I looked back and almost fell out of my chair.
– Hey Mari! About the coursework... Could you give me your number so we can talk better? – I was in shock, my heart raced in a different way, like never before. Gods, calm down! I quickly got up, a little awkwardly, but I tried to act naturally. Alya noticed my nervousness and gave me a little push, signaling for me to react.
– Oh.. hi, s-sure! – I grabbed my phone but it just fell out of my hand, I think it was nervousness and dizziness as I got up a little too quickly and my head was hurting. Dying with embarrassment, I crouched down to pick up the phone, but Adrien also ducked at the same time and our heads bumped. This beat only made my head hurt more, and without realizing it I put my hand on my head, trying to massage the area. A chaotic situation for me.
– Everything is fine? Did you hurt yourself? – Adrien asked worriedly, placing his hand on my shoulder.
– N-no, I'm fine – I had never been this close to him before, I was mesmerized when our eyes met, I couldn't look away. His eyes were more beautiful up close, green like… I don't know, they were unique. After a few seconds of staring at him, I realized that his other hand was under mine on the floor. I quickly removed my hand, taking the phone with me and stood up. He did the same. I looked up my number and gave him my phone to see, but a while went by and it looked like he had a problem.
– I'm not able to save your contact .. it's just that I have difficulty using this cell phone. I think it's easier this way.. – He started messing with something on my phone and then handed it to me. – I saved my number on your cell phone, later you send me a message and I'll reply, okay? And… I already have to go, bye Mari! – I think his driver had arrived.
– Okay.. bye… – He left and I was like a statue standing, looking at the door, ecstatic.
– Marinette Dupain-Cheng, what was that? – Alya came towards me, hugging me, making fun of my face, obviously.
– I don't even know.. – I was still trying to process this.
– You have to try to hide it, bestie. You were almost drooling over the boy. Or do you want everyone to notice that you have a crush on him?
– But didn't I act normal? – Stupid question, I was about to enter an internal collapse.
– Only if it's in your head, because your reaction was totally out of normal, lucky for you he's slow. He probably didn't even notice – I hope.
– That's what matters. – We left the classroom and were walking down the hall, when I remembered to ask how this coursework was, that Mrs. Bustier passed. I was already forgetting the most important thing, my head is really crazy. – Aly, can you explain to me what to do? I just know that Adrien is my partner, but I don't even know what to do.
– Mrs Bustier gave us a history project to present this Friday. Remember French Revolution classes? She finally concluded this content and then passed this homework on to us. Each duo got a part, now I don't remember what you and adrien got.. – Alya said trying to remember
– All right.. but did she require anything specific?
– As far as I remember, no. She made us feel free to do the best we could. You know she's not strict about courseworks.
– Yeah, it's true – This will be easy, but with Adrien… I'm going to be totally distracted. We went down the stairs and were already leaving the school, when Alya stopped and wanted to ask me something, she looked serious.
– By the way... you weren't very well this morning, right? Did something happen, Mari? – Oh…
– Ah, no.. I was just a little tired… – Exhausted, to be more specific.
– You always say that. But you know that I know you better than anyone. If you have any problems just tell me. You don't have to keep it to yourself, girl!
– I know Aly, but I'm serious. It's not a big deal, just tiredness, these days were going to be pretty… tough – School and personal problems don't even compare with the fact of saving Paris almost every day and every night from akumatized people, that's what breaks me, even more when it's a villain who it gives me work, but I can't say that to Alya.
– So okay, I'm on my way, Mari. Take a rest, cause after sunset I'll go to your house – I'm sure she only goes to my house to eat the new bakery foods, she's smart. – See you later!
– See you…
When Alya left, I walked towards my house, but on the way I remembered Master Fu. I wanted to talk to him, but I was too lazy to go now. He could wait, in this case... I could wait, I can talk to him later. So I continued the path, which was very short, I only needed to cross a street and I was home. But the moment I arrived at the bakery, I started hearing screams and then people running scared.
– A giant baby! – A random woman ran screaming scared.
Oh no.. not again… I walked away from the bakery and into an alley away from people.
– Tikki, spots on!
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