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"Yes?" A feminine voice asked. The camera came right to my face. I had to take a step back, otherwise the lady talking to me would see the close-up view of my nose.

"Uh, hi. I'm here to see Adrien. He and I are supposed to be working on a school assignment," I explained myself.

The camera went back to where it came from. I just stood there, very confused. Seconds later, I heard a click and the gates automatically opened.

I walked in and looked at the flowers which were growing on the sides of the pavement. I clasped my hands together and held them in between my thighs.

Once I reached the front door, I rang the doorbell. Seconds later, a lady in a suit answered the door.

"Please follow me," She let me in. I entered and closed the door. She led me upstairs and through corridors. We finally reached Adrien's room.

"Thank you," I said. She nodded before leaving. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Yes?" Adrien's voice answered through the other side.

"It's Marinette," I blushed for some reason. I also bit my lip. My hands began to get sweaty so I rubbed them up and down my jeans.

"Come in," Adrien responded.

Slowly, I turned the door handle and Adrien's room came into my vision. It was very big and very spacious.

I didn't focus on his room though. My eyes landed on him. His back was to me. I slowly approached him, while thinking of what to say.

As I approached him, I noticed that he was holding a picture of something. His thumb kept sliding over a person in the picture.

When I saw the picture, I felt sympathy for Adrien. It was the picture of his mother and him. I had seen it before. And even if I hadn't seen it, you could tell.

Adrien took after his mother. The two of them together could tell you that they were related.

I found myself placing a hand on his shoulder. He gave me a side glance, before turning back to the picture.

"You miss her, don't you?" I mumbled. I didn't mean to say it out loud. That's why I was shocked when he answered.

"So much. I miss her everyday," He put the frame down and kept his eyes trained to the ground.

I was thrown into an awkward situation. If you know me, you know that awkwardness is my speciality.

However, I felt something for Adrien. It wasn't sympathy this time. He was the only child, just like me. He had an overbearing strict father and he had to keep a smile on for the cameras since he's a model. He has to mask his sadness that he feels for his mother. He's emotionally distressed.

That's why I gave him a hug.

I wrapped my arms around his upper body. I didn't really care if he hugged me back. I just wanted him to know that I was here, cliché as it sounded.

I knew that he was hurting. If you were in his situation, wouldn't you be hurting, too? I'm amazed at how strong he was.

His body was tense. After I felt like I had hugged him enough, I slowly began to let go of him. However, that's when I felt his hands wrap around my waist. They held onto my waist very tightly. I felt his hair nuzzle into my neck.

We stayed in that position for some minutes before I let go. "If you need to talk about it, just know that I'm here for you, Adrien,"

Adrien seemed like he was in a trance. He looked like he was battling something. His green eyes found my blue eyes. I tried to look as reassuring as possible.

"Thank you," He gave me a smile. A smile that I had to return.

I felt the need to change the subject. "So what is the assignment about?"

"We are supposed to be doing role playing," Adrien answered me. He went to sit on his bed.

"Role playing?" I asked in horror. "Do you know what a terrible actress I am? I can't even act natural,"

Adrien laughed. A warm feeling rose above me. I was able to lighten the mood and make him laugh. Laughter was the best medicine, it was true.

"You can't be that bad," He chuckled. That's when he noticed that I was standing. He patted the space beside him, for me to sit. I went and sat beside him. "Do you have any ideas?"

"Nope," I answered.

A silence swept over us, but thankfully it wasn't an awkward silence. We were both thinking about what we could do.

"What if we do a fairy tale?" I blurted out. My mind punched my heart for coming up with such a stupid idea.

"Maybe. We could add a little twist to it. We get more marks on creativity," Adrien said.

"What kind of twist?" I turned to face him. He was staring at something in front of him.

"We could make it modern," He suddenly turned to face me. I blushed a little because I was caught looking at him. "You could be a stuck up princess,"

"Stuck up?" I scoffed. "I told you, I am a terrible actress. Ask Alya,"

"It's not that hard," Adrien ran a hand through his hair. "Just act like Chloé,"

I burst out laughing. It was mean of him to use Chloé, but it was very funny. She was stuck up.

"And how exactly does Chloé act?" I asked, after getting over my laughter.

He got up to demonstrate. "Like this," He walked to the end of his room. When he turned around, he puckered his lips. I started to snicker.

He copied her sashaying. He over exaggerated swaying his hips and stood in front of me with one leg straight and one with his knee bent a little.

He began to pick on his nails. Then he turned to me with a disgusted expression. "Just what do you think you are doing Marinette?" He asked, eyeing me up and down. "Get off my seat right now or I'll call daddy,"

I couldn't hold my laughter. I bursted out laughing again. My head hit his bed and my hands clutched around my stomach. My body vibrated so much and I could feel the tears in my eyes.

Adrien was such a good actor. He nailed impersonating Chloé.

"How are you able to do that?" I asked him, after my laughter died down.

"I told you that we were childhood friends. I've known her long enough," He answered, sitting beside me. His eyes locked onto mine again. I noticed how they were glowing.

"I have to take some lessons from you. I've been trying to impersonate her for years," I chuckled.

"Sure. I don't mind teaching you. It's quite easy actually. Now it's your turn," Adrien gently nudged me.

"What?" My eyes widened. Any trace of humour was gone.

"You heard me," He raised an eyebrow. "I want to see your impression of her,"

"I don't want you to see me act. I'm terrible," I said stubbornly.

"That's what you keep saying. I don't think you're that bad," Adrien got up and grabbed my hands. He lifted me off his bed.

Then he went and sat on his desk, next to his computer. He kept his eyes on me and raised an eyebrow.

I groaned. "I'm warning you. I'll make a fool out of myself,"

"That's why I am here to help you," He said. Then after a second, he added, "After I finish laughing at you first,"

I glared at him. "Wait. So who are you?"

"I am but a poor lad, who works for you," He said. "Pretend that I just dropped one of your favourite shoes. Jimmy Choos,"

"Okay," I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I can do this. I can do this.

I re-opened my eyes. "You imbecile!" I raised my voice. "How dare you drop my shoes!"

Adrien's lips formed a smirk.

"Do you know how much they were? They probably cost more than your life. Once I tell my daddy what you did, you are so fired!" I huffed, and did a hairflip even though my hair was tied into pigtails.

"No please," Adrien slowly made his way to me. He reached out to touch me. That's when I realized that he was acting, too. "I didn't mean to. I need this job. I'm the one who provides for my family,"

"Don't touch me with your filthy hand," I scoffed and swatted it away. Adrien held his hand and stared at the ground in shame.

"Please, princess. Don't fire me," He pleaded with me. His green eyes reflected sadness.

"I have to. You should have thought of that before dropping my shoes," I turned to sashay away.

"Wait, I just washed the floor-" Adrien warned. I pretended to slip and fall. I actually fell but it wasn't painful.

"My dress!" I looked at my clothes in horror. "First my shoes, now my dress? You're a monster!"

"I am sorry," Adrien came over to me and extended his arm. "Let me help you up,"

I looked over at his hand as if it were covered with mud and filth. I held on to it lightly. Adrien then scared me. He lost his footing, making both of us fall.

Adrien was now on top of me and I nearly freaked out by how close his lips were to mine. He didn't seem to be bothered with it, though. His eyes gazed on my lips.

"Do you think we should kiss?" He asked me.

That question nearly threw me off the edge. My heart was beating faster and louder now. My breathing hitched.

"What?" I managed to ask.

"Do you think we should kiss?" Adrien asked again. "Since this is a fairytale and all, do you think we should kiss?"

Oh, he meant for the role playing. This didn't calm me down though.

"I-I don't know," I stammered. "D-Do you want to?"

"Yes," He answered in a heartbeat. "When we slip and fall, we should kiss. Then I get off you, apologizing again. I go to pack my bags and you stay paralyzed by the kiss. We can end it there,"

I blinked. We were going to kiss. I tried not to think about it. "That's not how the fairytales I know end,"

"Think of it as Cinderella," Adrien's eyes finally left my lips and he got off me. He helped me up. "Cinderella ran away, leaving the Prince love struck. This time the Prince runs away, leaving Cinderella love struck. There's the twist, you were asking for, earlier on," He winked.

I blushed but tried to cover it. "How would it be modern?"

"I don't know," He shrugged. "Unless you have another idea,"

"No, no!" I said quickly. "This is fine. It's good,"

"Wow," Adrien smirked. "Someone seems eager to kiss me,"

My eyes widened. "I didn't know that you are cocky. And I'm not eager to kiss you. You sound just like Chat Noir,"

Adrien's eyes widened but he quickly regained his composure. "Chat Noir is cocky?"

"Yes,"

"How do you know?"

I nearly choked. I was about to tell Adrien that I worked with Chat Noir, revealing my secret. "When Nathanëal had a crush on me, Chat Noir came to help me. Ladybug was busy. He was such a flirt,"

"Oh," Adrien said. "I didn't know that. I can be cocky at times. And arrogant. But I try hard to cover it up,"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because girls don't like cocky and arrogant people," Adrien shrugged.

If it were from another boy, yes, I would agree with Adrien, but if it's Adrien, I would be attracted to him even more.

"You've not met every girl to say that," I raised an eyebrow. "You should be yourself. Try being yourself around me and see if I like you any less,"

I blushed once I realized that I indirectly told Adrien that I liked him. It's time for me to do some quick talking.

"Like you any less as a friend," I added, nervously. "That's what I meant,"

"I'll make you a deal. I'll be myself around you, if you be yourself around me. That way, it will be fair," Adrien said.

"Deal," I said.

This was the time where an awkward silence fell upon us. We stared at each other. The honking sound of cars from outside reminded me of what time it was.

"Uh, I need to go," I nodded to the door and rubbed my neck.

"Of course," Adrien got up and opened the door for me. I liked how he had some chivalry, unlike most boys in our school.

"Bye Adrien. I'll see you in school tomorrow," I waved at him.

"Wait, Marinette," He put an arm on my shoulder. "Where were you today?"

"I went to the hospital to get a jab," I answered. "My father heard that there was some nasty disease going around and he didn't want me to get it,"

"Your father is very nice, compared to mine," Adrien muttered under his breath, removing his arm from my shoulder. I don't think he wanted me to hear it but I did. "Bye Marinette,"

"Bye Adrien," I said once more before he closed the door.

___________________________________________

Last night, I dreamt about today and what happened yesterday in Adrien's room. I was very nervous, yet very excited.

My first kiss.

Well, it's not but it's my official one. I won't count the one where I kissed Chat Noir. That was to break the spell and he didn't kiss me back.

I made sure that I didn't eat anything that would make my breath stink. I became so self-conscious.

I hadn't told Alya yet. I plan to keep it a surprise.

When I pushed open the door to class today, Alya attacked me with a hug. "Marinette!"

"Hey Alya. I was only gone for a day, not for a year," I hugged her back, while chuckling.

"You don't know what I went through yesterday with Chloé seating on your seat," Alya grumbled. My eyes widened as she let go of me.

"Chloé sat on my seat?!" I asked, both shocked and angry.

"Yeah. Adrien, Nino and I tried to make her leave, but she wanted to sit with 'Adrien-kins'," Alya rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry about that. I went to get an injection because my father heard there is some nasty disease going around. The queue was long, that's why I didn't show up yesterday," I explained.

"Well, it's fine. Let's sit," Alya began to walk. That's when I noticed that she went to sit with Nino and she was at Adrien's spot.

Now I was confused. "Over here, Marinette. You're my new deskmate for today," Adrien spoke up and waved over.

I walked up to sit at my usual seat. He was seated at Alya's seat. "Is there a new seating arrangement or something?" I asked, putting my bag down.

"No," Adrien replied. "I asked Alya if we could switch seats,"

"Oh," I said. "But why?"

"Because I want to know you better," He poked my cheek. My cheeks turned slightly red. "I really enjoyed movie night, even though we didn't really watch the movie,"

"I liked it, too," I admitted. "I learnt a bit of Mandarin,"

"Really?" His eyes lit up. "Okay, tell me something in Mandarin,"

"Nǐ hǎo. Wǒ de míngzì shì mǎlǐ nèi tè. Wǒ shì jiālǐ wéiyī de háizi, wǒ yǒu yīgè péngyǒu, shuí shì yīgè móxíng," I said. (Translation: Hello. My name is Marinette. I am the only child and I have a friend who is a model)

"Hěn hǎo mǎlǐ nèi tè," Adrien smiled at me. (Translation: Very good Marinette)

"Xièxiè," I smiled back. (Translation: Thank you)

"What are you saying Adrien?" Chloé asked. "Has staying with Marinette made you speak the language of stupid, since stupidity is her speciality,"

I mumbled profanitites under my breath, while glaring at her.

"What's that?" She put her hand behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I don't speak stupid, Marinette, but let me try,"

"Chloé leave Marinette alone," Adrien came to my defense. "Please go back and seat down with Sabrina,"

Chloé, not surprisingly, listened to Adrien and went back to her seat.

"I have an idea," Adrien said. I turned to look at him.

"Does it involve throwing Chloé of the Eiffel Tower?" I stared at him blankly.

"No," He shook his head, trying to hide a smile. "You need to learn Mandarin. Then we can gossip about people in Mandarin and they won't understand a thing,"

I gasped. "That's brilliant!"

It was. Adrien is already fluent in Mandarin. My mother is Chinese so I can ask her to teach me somethings in Mandarin. Or I could just use the internet.

"I know. I'm brilliant," Adrien pretended to do a hair flip. "It runs in the family,"

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. "You are so egoistic,"

"Hey. You're the one who wanted me to be myself," Adrien defended himself.

Our teacher walked into class. "Good morning class. I hope you rehearsed what you were doing with your partner because we are presenting it today,"

Side conversations started.

"Who wants to go first?" Our teacher asked. Suddenly, I felt butterflies in my stomach.

"Good. Adrien and Marinette will go first," Our teacher went to sit at the back of the class.

What?!

Why did Adrien raise his hand? I know that I didn't raise my hand. It must have been him.

"Marinette, by the way, I noticed that you missed class yesterday. Are you alright?" Our teacher looked at me with concern.

"Yes, I am," I nodded, with a small smile. Our teacher nodded and smiled.

"Come on," Adrien intertwined his fingers with mine and led me down the class. I noticed that Alya got her phone out and pointed the camera at both of us.

Then Adrien held both of my hands. "Are you ready?" He asked me, maintaining eye contact with me. I took a deep breath and shut my eyes. Then I nodded. "You'll do great. Don't worry,"

"Our skit is called, What Could Have Been," Adrien informed everyone. Our teacher nodded and noted it down on her notebook.

Adrien went and whispered to our teacher something. She gave him her shoes. I blushed in embarassment. We forgot the shoes.

That reminded me about the hair flip that I was going to do. I removed my hair bands and put them in my pocket.

Adrien nodded at me and I nodded back. He got on the floor, scrubbing it and knocked over our teacher's shoes.

I was seated on the teacher's chair when I saw him knock over my shoes. "You imbecile!" I made my voice loud and clear. "How dare you drop my shoes!"

Adrien's eyes lit up in fear.

"Do you know how much they were? They probably cost more than your life. Once I tell my daddy what you did, you are so fired!" I huffed, and did a hairflip just like Chloé would.

"No please," Adrien slowly made his way to me. He reached out to touch me. "I didn't mean to. I need this job. I'm the one who provides for my family,"

"Don't touch me with your filthy hand," I scoffed and swatted it away. Adrien held his hand and stared at the ground in shame.

"Please, princess. Don't fire me," He pleaded with me. His green eyes reflected sadness, like yesterday. I have to applaud him on his facial expressions.

"I have to. You should have thought of that before dropping my shoes," I turned to sashay away.

"Wait, I just washed the floor-" Adrien warned. I pretended to slip and fall. I actually fell but it wasn't painful.

"My dress!" I looked at my clothes in horror. "First my shoes, now my dress? You're a monster!"

"I am sorry," Adrien came over to me and extended his arm. "Let me help you up,"