I have always been a creature of habit, and tonight is no different as I run across the rooftops, patrolling my beloved city of Paris. These days Paris is peaceful, but I still feel the need to patrol.

It does feel a bit strange, however, not having my partner, Cat Noir, beside me. Cat would be with me tonight but he told me he had event that he couldn't get his tail out of. There's no reason to feel bad, I told him, but I do feel lonesome tonight.

Most of the friends I attended school with are all off at college now, some even traveling to America and abroad. But two friends have stayed close, and one satifses my cookie and love of books craving. My stomach growls and I realize I could go for a warm oatmeal cookie at the bookstore that Adrien Agreste's cousin Felix runs. Even mentioning Adrien's name makes me wince with pain, but not because he felt for college. With him getting back into modeling and my secret life, we drifted apart. But that doesn't mean I don't miss him. Okay, I know he would meet for coffee if I asked, but I have always been so shy around him, and thinking about it makes my palms sweat.

Dropping down in front of the bookstore, I push the lonesome thoughts from my mind. The warm scent of coffee and cookies makes my stomach growl and I slide into a stool, waiting to see my friend. Before I came inside, I changed back into my civilian self, also known as Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

"Why, Marinette!" Felix turns with a grin on his face, for he's used to seeing me in here. "Did you come for a coffee, or…." he pauses, lowering his voice. "The gossip?" "Gossip?" I whisper back with my eyebrows raised. Then I shake my head. "No, I came here for a cup of coffee and a cookie. Oatmeal, to be exact."

Felix pours my coffee and hands me my cookie, grinning. "But wouldn't you like to like to have a juicy piece of gossip?" "Must be important if your this excited about it." Felix can be playful, but when I met him back when I was fourteen, he was the most serious boy I knew, the exact oppisate of his cousin.

"Adrien is doing a photo shoot for a magazine and the word is they need a girl to model with him." I gasp before I can hide it. This could be sign I've been waiting for. "Where do I sign up?" I ask, nibbling at my cookie. "Now, now, its not as simple as that," he grins at me, and I groan. "Of course it isn't." "They'll be an application of Agreste Fashion Monthly Magazine and you can mail yours in. If your lucky enough to picked, you get to work with Adrien. And Marinette," Felix gives me a wink for he knows about my Ladybug secret. "Your the luckiest girl I know." "I'm also the clumsiest," I remind him. "I'm only graceful when I have the suit on." "Well, the choice is yours. Oh, but there is one more piece of news I should share." "Yes?" "I'm starting a weekly sewing class and whoever does the best in class will be selected to win a prize of starting her own fashion business." "Your kidding." "No, and as one of the owners of the Agreste Brand, I know about the all the going's on in the company." "Well, the sewing class I'm joining." Its my dream to have my own brand. Felix smiles. "Your a terrific sewer and designer, Marinette. But there will be some stiff competition out there." "Bring it on."

Finishing my snack, I realize I should get home. "Hi, sweetie. Did you have a good run?" My mother asks as she sweeps the floor of their bakery. It always smells like sweets in here. "Yeah, it was good. I saw Felix on the way home." Papa takes the broom from Mama as he walks in. "You can tell us everything over supper, sweetheart."

The scent of tomato and garlic hits my nostrils and my stomach growls for Papa has made his famous spaghetti and garlic bread.

"You and Felix are sure close these days," Mama smiles as I tuck into our food. "Why, I wouldn't be surprised if he asked you out one of these days." "Mama! Felix is just a friend!" Papa smiles. "Remember, Sabine, she likes the handsome cousin." I roll my eyes and groan. "His name is Adrien, Dad!" "Oh, speaking of Adrien," Mama snaps her fingers and gets a magazine from the coffee table. "Your magazine came today."

And there he is, staring at me with the most gorgeous eyes on the planet, Adrien Agreste. "May I take upstairs, Mama?" "After you've finished your food." "And the dishes," Papa chimes in. I sigh. "Yes, Papa." Even as a superhero, I'm not granted any special privileges and Mama and Papa don't know I'm Ladybug.

Finally, I trudge upstairs. My Kwami, Tikki, darts out of my bag. "Why are you dilly-dallying? Hurry up and fill out the application, Marinette!" I give her a small smile. She knows how much I miss Adrien. "But I'm so shy, Tikki. And they would never hire a clumsy girl."

I read through the application anyway, and a germ of an idea plants itself in my brain. "Marinette, I know that look," My Kwami crosses her arms. "Your up to something." "Me? Up to something?" I smile sweetly as I roll across the room for a pen.

I don't have to apply as Marinette, I'm going to apply as Ladybug. "And….done!" I shake my hand fifteen minutes later. "In the morning, I'll send it off in the mail!" I seal it up in a elevope and give the back of it a kiss.

Maybe this will be my way to get close to Adrien again. Does he ever think of me, like I think about him? I sigh as I climb into bed and write in my diary for a bit. Then I turn off the lights.

Normally, I like to sleep as long as I can, but today I am up early. "Come on, Tikki, we got to mail the application! Spots On!"

The sky is blushing a beautiful shade of pink as I swing down my balcony and jog towards the nearest postbox. I skid to a stop, gigging with glee as I slide the mail down into the chute. "Now, time for a Starbucks," I tell myself.

Little do I know I've been watched from an upstairs window by the very boy I wish to see. Morning coffee in hand, I walk towards home ready for an ordinary day of helping in the bakery and some sewing in the afternoon.

I'm kneading bread dough when Mama comes in with my mail. "I didn't mean to peek, honey, but this one looked especially interesting." I wash my hands then open the pretty pink envelope.

"Dear Miss Dupain-Cheng," I read aloud to Mama. "You have been invited to join a sewing club hosted by Felix Graham De Vanilly on Thursday. Details to come."

"Ooh, that sounds fancy, dear! And you always wanted to make new friends!" I smile, but I want to bite back a sarcastic comment. Yeah, how do I make friends when I have to keep half my life a secret? But I don't. "I'm going."

Mama finds me some equally pretty pink paper to reply back and I find myself heading to the mailbox once again. However, now that its later in the day, the streets are crowded and I weave my way in and out of the crowd.

"I'm going to get that spot for the modeling job with Adrien!" A girl squeals to her friend. "We're going to look so cute together!"

My heart seems to plummet as I push my letter through the flap, and to my surprise I find tears welling up and slipping down my cheeks. Thank goodness I'm wearing a mask and I slump down against the wall in one of the quiet alleyways.

My memories of Adrien are all rushing back, and I can feel his warm hand wrapped around mine, like a reassurance that everything will be okay. Those warm green eyes and that goofy grin that made me snort.

That buttercup hair that I would ruffle when trying to cheer him up. I look up quickly when I hear slow footsteps and dive behind a box of cardboard.

"Hey," a voice calls out, "Ladybug, I saw you crying. Are you okay?" Someone saw me me crying? Oh, sugar and icing. But something about that voice sounds familiar. I peek around my box gasp. Adrien Agreste is in the alleyway looking for me.

I squeak as my boxes tumble over, giving away my hiding place. "Hey, Adrien." I give a small awkward wave. "Ladybug. So it was you. Did you hurt yourself? I saw you crying."

No, I didn't hurt myself, but my heart hurts from loneliness. "Here, let me give you a hand," he reaches down to help me up and when our fingers connect a rush of warmth spreads through my body and my heart feels normal.

"Why were you crying?" he asks, concern on his handsome features. "Because I'm lonesome," I blurt out the truth. "Everyone is allowed to get lonesome. Even I feel alone at times." I blink in surprise, but recover quickly. "I could be a friend, if you like. In fact….." I hold my breath, wondering what Adrien is going to say.

But then I hear loud footsteps and loud voices. "They went this way!" Adrien pushes me to the back of alleyway. "Ladybug, you need to run! The reporters are coming!" I dash off, growling under my breath but thanking Adrien at the same time. I don't want to end up on a gossip magazine, no matter how much I wondered what he was going to say. But will I never find out?