"Als, I feel so bad Nathaniel got in trouble! I feel like it was partially my fault. I mean, he was drawing me..." I confessed sadly.

"Girl, that's not fair! You can't blame yourself. It's not your fault Nathaniel's got a crush on you. And it's especially not your fault that he was drawing you!" Alya said, confidently.

"Oh...I just feel so bad. He's like the first guy who's ever had a crush on me... No one else has ever!" I sighed.

Alya gave me a look I didn't understand, "No. No one else has ever had a crush on you before. Ever. Especially not Adrien."

I gave her a confused look, "Ya...I mean, Adrien having a crush on me would be like Nino having a crush on you."

Alya made a barfing sign, "Gross Mari."

"Exactly how I feel," Then I blushed, "Besides...I got a crush on...well..you know who."

Alya wiggled her eyebrows, "This just in. Marinette Dupain-Cheng in love with a superhero? Stay tuned for more!"

"Alya! Not so loud..." I murmured.

"Oh, who's gonna hear us all the way up here?" Alya said, referring to my balcony.

I poured myself another cup of tea, "It's just...I don't know... I guess it's kinda embarrassing. Like a celebrity crush...but I swear it's not one! I like him because of how sweet, funny, and smart he is..."

"Because you can determine so much about a person you've only met three times," Alya added.

I threw a pillow at her, "You're no help."

"Ya, ya, ya...whatever you say...so, what did you think of the Akuma attack on Chloe in the library today? Who do you think it could be?" Alya asked.

"I don't know...the voice sounded familiar, but who knows? It could be anyone, really," I shrugged.

"Wasn't it great though? All those hats reigning down on Chloe? And all because she was trying to bribe Sabrina with a-"

"SHOOT! Als, I totally blanked! Sabrina! The project!" I exclaimed, running down to my room and grabbing my silenced phone. Alya soon joined me.

"Whoa...thirty-two missed calls. Looks like Sabrina's found a new BFF," Alya joked.

"Oh no! I can't believe I forgot. I'm gonna have to call her..."

...

While Marinette began talking on the phone with Sabrina, I looked around her room. There had to be something, anything I could use...Some kind of weapon I could use to get her to like Adrien...

Marinette suddenly climbed up to her balcony, and I dove under her bed, grabbing out her diary. I scanned through the pages until I found Adrien's name.

Nothing. I kept leafing through to find another page...aha!

One final page I found with Adrien's name on it.

"Alya Cesaire! Are you reading my diary?" Came the shout.

Shoot! I'd been caught. Marinette stormed over, and snatched the diary, shutting it closed.

"I don't even want to know what you read...Ugh, ALS!" Marinette moaned in frustration.

I frowned, "Sorry, Mari."

She shot me a glare...but I could tell her heart wasn't in it, "I'm gonna have to make some sort of defense on it to keep you from reading it, aren't I?"

I laughed, "We'll see how long that keeps me from it."

Though a bit reluctantly, Marinette laughed too.

...

"Bye Als...have fun working with Adrien and Nino on your project...while I have to find a way to work with Sabrina...and possibly Chloe," I sighed.

Alya gave me a pitying wave, then walked out of the bakery.

I walked back up to my room and flopped onto my bed. Me and Alya had finished all of today's homework together (Except my geometry homework, which had mysteriously gone missing) so now I just had to do the project with Sabrina.

Pulling out my phone, I looked for Sabrina's number. We'd agreed earlier to meet sometime today, but after I finished my homework with Alya.

Just as I was about to call her, however, I heard a small buzzing kind of sound.

I looked around my room, "Is someone there-AHH!" I screamed, jumping back from my window.

It was being...erased?

Suddenly, an akumatized person entered. It was the same one from earlier!

"I-Umm-Oh-HELP!" I screamed, running for the trapdoor that led to the kitchen.

Suddenly, about a hundred locks appeared on it, "Marinette! Wait!" Called the Akuma, running in front of me, "Just listen! I swear it'll be quick."

I gasped. I knew that voice...taking a few steps back, I really looked at the villain, "Na-Nathaniel?"

But he shook his head, "I'm not Nathaniel anymore. My name is the Evillustrator...I-I wanted to maybe talk to you."

I looked warily at him, "So you're not going to hurt me?"

He looked astonished, "Hurt you? Never! You're Marinette! You're beautiful and kind, and gentle, and-and I could never hurt you!"

I felt my cheeks blush a tiny bit at the compliment, "Oh-Wow-Umm, how flattering, umm, thank you? But if you're not hurting people, then why did you attack Chloe?"

"Because Chloe is cruel and selfish!"

I felt myself nod, "Can't argue you with you there..."

The Evillustrator suddenly looked very shy, "Umm...so...well, it's my birthday tonight, and I was wondering if you'd like to come to my party?"

Go to a party? With a supervillain? "I-I umm...it's really not the best night. I have this project and stuff, and I have to call my friend so we can talk about the project and stuff, and you know, other stuff..." I am an idiot. I am an idiot. I am an idiot. I am an idiot. WHY DID I KEEP SAYING 'STUFF'?

"Please, Marinette! It'll just be you and me," Then, he quickly brought out a pen. I watched as he drew something on his notepad attached to his arm. Suddenly, a small piece of paper appeared. In a very formal fashion, he got down on one knee and bowed his head as he presented me with the small notecard.

On it was a picture of a birthday cake, the Evillustrator, and me, "Wow...that's me!"

"Do you like it?" He asked me with shining eyes...he looked so hopeful...Ugh! Why did I have such a clear image of him being heartbroken? I-I couldn't though...No. I was going to be strong, like Alya! I was going to stay resolved. Firm. Strong. An independent female role model. Someone who chooses her own way!

"I...Yes. I love it so much I will absolutely go to your party!" Wow. Way to go Marinette the strong, firm, resolved, independent female role model. Wait...maybe I could still salvage something out of this, "On one condition," I could not believe I was about to say this, "You can't attack Chloe anymore," Oh wait...I didn't want it to seem like I actually liked Chloe in any sense, "Umm...ya. I mean, I simply cannot bear violence!"

The Evillustrator's face lit up, "For you and only you Marinette!" Then he started drawing himself a jetpack, "I'll meet you on the left bank next to Notre Dame at sunset!" Then he flew out my half-erased window.

"No-Wait! Could you fix my window...and he's gone," I sighed, staring at my window.

Then I kinda started panicking, "Oh no...Oh no, oh no, oh no! What did I just agree to? Marinette, you idiot! How do you plan to get yourself out of your mess this time?"

...

"Marinette, you idiot! How do you plan to get yourself out of your mess this time?" Alya screamed at me on FaceTime.

I held my head in my hands, "I don't know Als...I guess I'll just have to roll with it. I mean, it's just one party."

"A DATE WITH A SUPERVILLAIN! Emphasis on VILLAIN! Okay...just get ready for your date, or inevitable doom, or whatever you're calling it. I'm getting back up. Don't worry, girl. We'll fix this...somehow...I hope," Alya whispered the last part.

I nodded and tried to look calm, "O-Okay. Talk to you soon." But she'd already hung up.

I looked around my empty room that felt as empty as my heart. I wished with all my heart I had a friend I could talk to. A little friend I could be completely honest with...but if such a thing even existed, I'd never heard of it.

...

Okay...so I have an option here. I could either, tell you about how Alya called Adrien and Nino for back up to shoot ideas off of, and how Adrien had 'mysteriously' had to go, and then transformed into Chat Noir to find the best way to protect Marinette... or I could skip to the interesting stuff...eh, who am I kidding? To the interesting stuff we go!

"I don't like this," Alya, on full 'mom' mode said, her arms crossed.

"Me neither," Nino, on full 'dad' mode agreed, his arms also crossed.

"How do you think I feel? I'm the one going..." I took a deep breath and tried to smile, "It'll be okay. It's Nathaniel, right? Just Nathaniel..."

"Nino, look how miserable she is...that's it! We're going with you," Alya said, nodding.

"Ya," Nino agreed at the same time I shouted, "No!"

"Mari, there's no way we're letting you-"

"Alya. There's no way I'm letting you guys risk your safety for me...sure, I'm nervous. But I have faith. Faith in myself, faith in the superheroes, and faith in Nathaniel. It'll be okay, I swear," I said, trying to sound confident.

Alya and Nino shared a look. Then, "No way," Alya said while Nino said, "Okay."

I smiled, "Great! Bye! Nino, restrain Alya..." Then I ran from my room.

"Marinette, where are you going honey? Aren't Alya and Nino still here?" My mom called.

I froze...I'd decided not to tell my parents about the Akuma. They'd never let me go...and as much as was afraid, a part of me wanted to do this... Maybe I could help Nathaniel? Or Chat Noir...Chat Noir...handsome, beautiful, wonderfully-

"Marinette?" My mom called again.

"Oh, umm I'm just going to a party mom! Do you remember Nathaniel? Anyhow, I think Alya and Nino wanted to finish some homework quickly, then they'd join me later..."

"Oh, okay honey! Be back before 10:30, please."

"Yes mam," Then I walked out of the door. I melted with relief, "Phew, that was a close-AHHH!" I screamed as Sabrina appeared right in front of my face.

"Oh, Sabrina. It's just you-"

"MARINETTE! I'm ready to do our project," She said happily.

Oh no...

"Oh...I'm so sorry Sabrina. But I just can't tonight. I've got something really important to do," I said.

"Something really important? You know who uses that excuse all the time? Chloe. You know, I'm beginning to see how similar the two of you are!" Then Sabrina stormed.

"Sabrina I-"

"Here," She threw my missing geometry homework to the ground, "I can't believe I did your geometry homework for you!"

Then she ran off, "Sabrina!" I called, but she didn't turn around.

"Whoa! I thought I was going to have to save you from that girl's claws...get it? Claws?"

I turned around, to find Chat Noir leaning casually against a wall...AHHHH Why was he so cute?

"I...whoa...wow...you...I...umm, wow! You look...umm...gorge-pretty-nice. Ya, you look Nice. I mean, you're always nice, so it makes sense, and ya," Chat Noir said, cooly.

...

What. On. Earth. Did. I. Just. Say.

...

"Wow...that was one of the most beautifully awkward things I've ever seen!" The Lady in Purple giggled from the rooftop where she watched the two. Pollen looked worried, "Oh my, oh my!"

...

I suddenly felt self-conscious in my clothes...not what I was used to. I wore one of the dresses I'd designed. It was light pink and came just below my knees. A white belt was around my waist with a wooden buckle. The dress had tiny white flowers embroidered along the bottom, and matched perfectly with my mystery pearls. I'd even put white ribbons in my pigtails.

"I-You-Are-Umm..." Why was I stuttering so much? This didn't normally happen, "What are you doing here?" I finally managed.

"Well, that birthday date of yours is bad news. But don't worry. I'm here. All I need you to do is to help me find his akumatized object and get it away from him," Chat Noir explained.

Was he...puffing out his chest? Standing taller? Flexing his biceps?

"I-umm-Okay...I...I think I need to go though, I mean...I don't wanna be late?" Wow. Good job Marinette. Way to be sure of yourself.

Chat Noir nodded, "Good idea. See you soon Purrincess."

Then he bounded away.

...

Why was I so jealous? It wasn't like Marinette liked the Evillustrator or anything...from Alya's call, it hadn't even sounded like she'd wanted to do this.

But seeing them sit together on that barge, the moon shining down, music playing, lanterns glowing...it made my blood boil.

I listened as Marinette giggled, and the Evillustrator smiled.

I hated this.

I wondered if I could...Marinette suddenly took the pen from the Evillustrator. There, she began drawing in the air. Swirly letters appeared in bright neon colors in the air, slowly fading away. Marinette wrote out.

Happy Birthday to a wonderful Prince who makes a girl feel like a Kitty with a bowl of milk.

The words 'Prince' and 'Kitty' were both underlines...what did that mean?

...

Where was he? I had the akumatized object... I'd given him the signal...Chat Noir!

...

Okay...so if 'Prince Kitty' is me, Marinette could be telling me one of three things. One, she has the akumatized object, two, she needs help finding the akumatized object, or three, she has no idea where the akumatized object was.

I sat there a moment, thinking about which one it could be. Then I realized they all had the same result. Me getting Marinette out of there.

I silently jumped onto the boat and crouched. I don't think anyone had seen me. I began to sneak forward, getting ready to pounce.

Then, I saw the Evillustrator put his arm around Marinette, "Thank you, Marinette. This has been my best birthday party ever."

"Of course. Everyone deserves to be happy on their birthday," Marinette replied.

"You know what'd make me even happier?"

"I-" She gasped.

The Evillustrator suddenly leaned forward towards her.

Marinette was frozen, shock on her face.

Oh no, he wouldn't!

I launched forward and tackled the Evillustrator to the ground.

Marinette quickly stood, the pen still in her hand.

She looked scared, her eyes wide as I wrestled to keep the Evillustrator down.

"Marinette! Throw me the pen!" The Evillustrator called.

She looked unsure, suddenly...she looked at me, then at the pen, "No...I'm keeping it. Chat Noir, catch!"

She threw the pen at me, "Cataclysm," I called.

But then, the Evillustrator threw me from where I held him and caught the pen. I tripped, and my cataclysm only managed to destroy a lantern.

"Marinette? You're working with him? Ugh! I'm so stupid. I actually thought you liked me! But you're really just like Chloe. Teasing me, mocking me, leading me on!" The Evillustrator raged.

Marinette frowned, "Come on! Why does everyone keep comparing to Chloe tonight?"

"That is exactly what I want to know!" Came a voice. Scar was here.

She jumped onto the boat and glared at the Evillustrator, "I should have you know that Chloe Bourgeois is a very extraordinary girl! And that she is so far above that sorry excuse for a person!" Scar exclaimed, pointing at Marinette.

Me, the Evillustrator, and Marinette all glared at Scar.

She suddenly looked flustered, "I mean, she is wearing pigtails. And those are so UGH!"

Then, the Evillustrator seemed to remember the battle at hand. He began drawing arrows that launched at us.

"Marinette!" I shouted, jumping over to her, "Stay behind me!" I commanded as I began spinning my stick. It acted as a sort of shield, blocking the arrows.

Suddenly, Scar threw out her yoyo, but only managed to hit the Evillustrator on the side of the head.

He stopped firing arrows at us and quickly drew a box, that trapped me and Marinette.

Then, he drew a jetpack and began to fly away.

"Hey! I wasn't done with you! COME BACK!" Scarlet Lady screamed, running after him.

Then, me and Marinette were alone.

She looked around, worriedly, "There has to be a way out of here...right?"

I nodded but frowned as my ring beeped. Two minutes left.

Suddenly, Marinette smiled, "Here, your stick," She crouched down beside me, and pointed my stick up, "Now extend it."

"Okay, hold on tight, Purrincess."

...

I clung tightly to Chat Noir as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Finally, I found myself back home, "You'll be safe here, don't worry," Chat Noir said, putting me down on my balcony.

"Thank you, Chat Noir," I said shyly.

"Thank you...for your help that is...I know it didn't go quite as planned, but still."

I nodded...Chat Noir stood there, for a moment, as if forgetting he had the Akuma to fight. Then, he seemed to remember, and he ran off into the night.

"Goodbye Chat Noir..." I said softly. Oh, I wanted to melt into a chocolate puddle!

...

"HOLD STILL!" I shouted. Why wouldn't that stupid Akuma just do everyone a favor and give up? I was missing my favorite TV show for this! Ugh, so unfair.

I expertly threw my yoyo, but the wind must have been too strong, because I missed, and hit a lamppost instead.

Suddenly, Chat Noir appeared. I glared at him, "Where were you? I've been doing all the work, as usual! I don't know why I even put up with you. What were you doing anyhow?" I demanded.

Chat Noir gave me one of his stupid smiles, "Getting Marinette to safety...and giving my kwami something to eat."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't know why you bother. It's not like she's worth anything."

Chat Noir shrugged, "If that's your opinion, you obviously don't know Marinette."

"Please, I know her well enough!"

Suddenly, a giant bucket of water was poured on top of me. I whipped my head towards the Akuma, "DID YOU DO THAT?!?"