"I don't know, girls. I mean, its not like the sim is an instant boyfriend," I tell my friends. "Oh, Marinette, don't be silly! Its just supposed to be for fun!" Julkea giggles.

Well, stranger things have happened at Ms. Hannigan's School For Girls. And its only a sim, right? "Fine."

"Great. Here's your headset," Enemy hands me the goggle looking device. I give the thing a questioning look. "Looks more like something Mr. Harrington would use in an evil lab experiment," I joke, using a evil sounding voice. "Oh, just put on," Alix grabs it, and plonks it on my head.

I press the button and the home screen comes up.

Hello, what is your name?

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

How old are you, Marinette?

16.

What's your ideal man?

?

The screen blurs, and I find myself walking along a beach. If not for being a VR headset I'm using, I might think this was real. Pixeled waves wash at my feet, but even so, the sound is soothing. Then, suddenly, I see a boy skipping rocks. Curious, I walk over to him.

"Hello, mind if I skip rocks with you?" the boy nods. "The best ones are the flat ones, because they skip best along the water. Here, I'll find one for you." His eyes scan the shore and selects one handing it to me. "Here, go on, give it a try."

It isn't as easy as it looks, and I feel myself becoming disappointed. "Hey, don't worry, we can try again. Here, let's find a rock," how does he find the flat ones so quickly? "And I'll help you throw." "Sounds good."

He adjusts my arm and elbow, motioning for me to to flick rather then throw. "I did it!" I punch the air in victory as I watch my stone skip across the water. "I didn't get your name back there," the boy says. "Marinette." "Nice to meet you. I haven't seen you around here." "No, I go to Miss Hannigan's School of Art and Design." "Ah, so your a model. Strike a pose!"

I freeze as I was bending over to find a rock. "You okay?" "I will never be a model," I snap. Why do I sound so defensive? "I just want to create clothes and hide in the background!" The boy's features change as I give my little rant. "Why go to school at all then? You a mouse?"

I gasp, anger rising. I may be a shy girl, but I've been known to have a temper. "Listen here…." Suddenly, the pixels scramble and the screen turns black. "Dating simulation: Failed."

I pull off the headset. "Well, that was a total bust," I mutter, then realize my friends are still here. "How was it?" Julkea asks. "Was your date tall, blonde and handsome?" "We're he take you?"

"Girls, girls! I...failed the date," I say, quietly, tears stinging my eyes. That was fake, I remind myself. So, why do I feel so disappointed?

"Um, I need to get some homework done," I make up an excuse. "But I'll see you at dinner." I hurry out of the Student U before they can ask more questions.

Instead of running to my room, I head for the bridge in the wooded area of school. That is until I crash into someone. "Ow!" I rub my head. "Sorry about that," a warm voice says. I look up to see a blonde haired boy with green eyes holding out his hand. "I'm new, and I like to jog to get out the anxiety. I'm Adrien Agreste." Aka, a Zeus! I think to myself, because he is CUTE! But I need to focus. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng. But what are you doing at the girls school?" Adrien grins sheepishly. "My dad is Gabriel Agreste, and he and Miss Hannigan's are good friends." "Wait, the Gabriel Agreste! He's my hero!" "Yeah. And Miss Hannigan's insisted on giving Father the tour and I wandered off and…." Adrien's voice trails off. "And here you are."

"I've only been going to school for one semester so far, but your going to love Harrington," I assure Adrien. Its the boy's school down the road. "Well, I like what I'm seeing so far," Adrien smiles at me. Is it my imagination or did he just check me out? "You looked kinda mad or disappointed when I crashed into you. Everything okay?"

"Oh, I failed this dating sim my girlfriends and I were playing with. Apparently, my date only likes "models." I want to be a designer, but I'm pretty shy." "You don't seem shy." "Don't take this the wrong way," I tell Adrien, playing with my fingers. "But I find you easy to talk to." Adrien laughs. "No offense taken! So, do Harrington and Hannigan's partner up for classes?" "Yep. In fact, we should be getting our class schedules during dinner. Sent via text." "I really hope we have some classes together. Its not always easy to make friends." I nod, knowing the feeling.

"Well, I'll see you around, Adrien." "Bye, Marinette."

Feeling ten times better, I start back towards the dorms. Failed, ha! Who needs a Pixeled boy when a real one is so much better?!

"What's his name?" Julkea asks again, during dinner. "Adrien Agreste." Oops, maybe I said that a little to loudly. Chloe, Sunni, and Cassia stand up marching to our table. "Uh-oh, Barbie Alert," Alix mutters. Chloe, Sunni, and Cassia are popular girls here at school, but my friends have a special name for their group: The Barbies.

"Adri-kins is here?!" Chloe shrieks. "He's the most hottest teen model in Paris, and he transferred to our school!" "Eavesdrop, much?" I cross my arms at Chloe, but before she can make a retort we get our class schedules. Along with the Art theme, we have regular classes too, like chemistry and math. Looks like the boys will be in chemistry, but will that mean Adrien?

"Marinette, maybe its a good thing you don't know," Rose chirps. "If you stare at Adrien instead of the chemical, you could blow up the school!" I giggle. "I'm not that clumsy, Rose. But thanks!"

After supper, its time for bed and Lights Out. The moon shines brightly outside my window. Instead of sleeping, I sit in my window seat staring up at it. Like Adrien, I, too, came from Paris.

Mama and Papa encouraged me to apply to one of the best boarding schools in France, and I filled out the application thinking nothing would happen. But I've been sewing since I was six, and I'm good. Plus, I wanted to make new friends despite my shyness. I like the girls, but I would still call myself an introvert.

A pang of homesickness washes over me, but I push it away, instead heading for bed. If Adrien is a big deal as everyone says, why did he move from Paris to here?

He seemed warm and kind, not cold and fake like the sim. I smile, I didn't give the fake boy my name. How wise of me.

And now, meeting Adrien, I wonder...could I have a chance with him? Whoa, slow down. You just met him! Still, those mesmerizing green eyes are hard to pull away from and…..sigh. I need to get to sleep.

We have one more day before classes start, and we're meeting the boys tomorrow. Mr. Harrington can be a stern teacher, but his eyes twinkle with humor. Whoever the new kids are, I hope they like him.

I sigh. I told Adrien I didn't want to be a model, but what I didn't tell him is I'm terrified of being on stage. I've always admired people who can rock the red carpet, and I wonder if that will ever be me. I mean sure, I want to create my own brand, but wouldn't be fun to wear your own design down the runway of Paris Fashion Week with cameras flashing?

I start to picture it, but then in my mind's eye tripping onstage. My eyes fly open. Okay, think of something else, like my friends here at school.

Julkea wants to become a beautician, and she's dangerous with a can of hairspray in her hand. She mumbles, but she's got my back.

Myelene wants to be a designer too, but her thing is using recycled material. I admire her creativity. Last semester, she made shoes out of plastic milk bottles. High heels, in fact!

Rose isn't sure yet, but she's a ball of energy. We found out during dinner, a new girl named Alya will be started tomorrow. Potential new friend, perhaps?

I have a friend at Harrington named Nino. His big thing is music, and boy is he good! He made a hefty chunk of money mixing CDs for his friends and DJ at their birthdays. If any of us are going places, its Nino.

I wonder what Adrien is into. He did tell me he likes running. I wonder if I could running with him sometime. A running date! No, bad Marinette! Don't scare him before you really know him.

Even if its not like that, I would like a friend I could talk to about anything. Maybe Adrien would like that too…..

I glare groggily at my alarm the next morning. Its Saturday, why did I even set it? Until I remember we're going to see the boys!

I sigh, looking out at the pouring rain, but I won't let dampen my spirits. "Marinette! You've got to help me!" Julkea bursts into my room. "I wanted to try a new design for my hair and its raining! It will get all fuzzy and puffy!" Julkea likes to try different styles and loves hair dye.

"Here, I'll make sure your hair stays dry." I grin, wielding my umbrella. "Oh," Julkea blushes. "I didn't think of that." we look at each other and giggle. "Show me what your brought, and I'll have you all dolled up in no time."