"Listen..." Adrien cleared just throat "What I'm trying to say is if you're interested in modelling instead of being a barista?"

Marinette's eyes widened as her stomach filled up with butterflies. Her mind wondered in all different directions. Would she really be able to get away from this average life and move into stardom? And with a guy she just met?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Agres— I mean; Adrien, do you just offer things like these freely?" Marinette asked in suspicion "I cant help but feel some shady aura coming out from you."

Adrien laughed "I usually don't, but this time Chloe got riled up because of me, as always that is, I've seen many friendships ruined because of Chloe's clinginess. Consider it also a way to redeem myself. Besides, we've been looking for a female model to be my partner anyways."

"Partner?" Marinette thought "What is 'partner' supposed to mean?"

"Oh!" Adrien quickly flushed red "Well...about that actually..."
Marinette looked at the model curiously before Nino interrupted them
"Ayo Mari! Looks like Chloe the bitch went insane over there, you aight?" The friendly photographer asked in concern
"I'm fine Nino, just a little bit stressed" marinette responded in a sigh "Adrien over here actually just offered me a job...in the modelling industry."

"What?!" Nino and Alya were both dumbfounded as Adrien laughed awkwardly
"Is it really that hard to believe?" Adrien asked while scratching his chin
"Um. Yes." Alya retorted "You should totally agree Marinette! Its better than this boring stick of a job! You don't get this type of opportunity everyday!"
"B-but...I wouldn't even be sure if I could handle the pressure...." Marinette stuttered

Adrien smiles before putting his hand on her shoulder
"Marinette, would you rather live your life boring and easy...or adventurous?" He asked her
"W-what?" Marinette looked at the comforting hand on her shoulder and felt butterflies in her stomach
"Life is about hardships. Life should be an adventure. I'm not asking you to do risky and illegal things, all I'm saying is that you live it to the fullest. Experience all the good things you can experience. Whether people hate you for it or not doesn't matter. As long as you're doing what you think is right."

Marinette stared at Adrien and their eyes locked. The words he told her was practically icing on the cake. The key to the lock, the signature on the contract sealing her in. She, this day onward, would become a model.

Still looking into his eyes, Marinette smiled "Maybe you're right...but if I ever fall..will you be there to catch me?"
Adrien smiled back "Always."

Nino teasingly replied to the two's cheesy lines "AYO, I heard a saying that if you stared into each other's eyes for 8 seconds or more, you both fall in love."

Through this remark Adrien and Marinette immediately backed away, both blushing profusely.
Alya laughed "Babe, don't tease them like that. You're such a meanie!"
"Sorry, but I suddenly felt like a third wheel in this scenario" Nino retorted
"Make that a fourth." Alya giggled
"Quit it you guys!" Marinette pouted

Suddenly, the manager came bursting into the room with all her fury and rage
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" She yelled one the top of her lungs
"Oh no." Marinette sighed before Adrien pat her on the back
"It's going to be okay." He comforted
Marinette smiled before letting out another huge sigh as she walked towards her manager
The manager quickly slammed the door shut and the echoes of her screaming and insults were heard across the entire cafe

After an hour of nagging, Marinette came out of the room she was practically locked in with her manager.
"How'd it go Mari?" Alya asked in concern
"Surprise surprise, I got fired." Marinette said sarcastically
"Psh! You're lucky girl, you'll run to a better job away from this place anyways. Madame will realize her mistake once you debut as a model!" Alya enthusiastically cheered to help make her friend feel better. But it was to no avail, Marinette was too emotionally exhausted to even fake a smile.
"I'm gonna go pack my things guys, to take home permanently." Marinette stated before leaving to go to her locker

Next to her locker, a concerned tomato haired boy stood.
"M-Marinette!" He stuttered
"Oh, hey Nathanael" Marinette smiled politely "is there something wrong?"
"N-no! I j-just heard..well..the whole cafe heard...the screams of Madame..." Nathanael bashfully stated
Marinette sighed before pulling a fake smile "Yeah, I got fired. Guess you won't be seeing me tomorrow, huh?"
"W-what!? All because of that blonde girl?! T-this can't be!" Nathanael panicked
"It's okay Nathanael." Marinette let out a small giggle "It's for the best. As they say, everything happens for a reason. I'm in God's hands now."

Nathanael, dumbfounded about the situation, frantically tried to let some words come out of his mouth.
"M-Marinette! I-I...."
Marinette stared at him confusedly
"Y-you see...t-the thing is...I l-l....." Nathanael practically looked constipated while trying to say something
"You L..??" Marinette asked, still confused
"I-I...l-LEFT MY BAG AT HOME! Yeah! Haha! I-I guess I'll see you again, whenever! I-I'll text you! Bye!" Nathanael hurriedly ran out of the room and slammed the door

"What was that about?" Marinette asked herself but shrugged it off. She always thought that Nathanael was a little bit weird anyways
Marinette packed up her stuff and removed her apron. Hanging her apron on the clothing rack she sighed. She knew she'd miss the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The creme walls that surrounded the cafe. The green plants that hung by the silk curtains. Oh gee, today was just one big disaster huh..
And then a voice suddenly echoed into her mind:

"Life is about hardships. Life should be an adventure. I'm not asking you to do risky and illegal things, all I'm saying is that you live it to the fullest. Experience all the good things you can experience. Whether people hate you for it or not doesn't matter. As long as you're doing what you think is right."

Marinette smiled "Goodness Mr. Agreste..you have such a way with words"
"What was that about me?" Adrien retorted
Marinette suddenly turned her back to see Adrien Agreste in the flesh, leaning against the wall.
"Geez! You startled me! You could've knocked you know?! Imagine if I was changing!" Marinette pouted
Adrien laughed "I'm not a peeping tom. Besides, didn't your red headed boyfriend just run out of this room?"
"He's not my boyfriend!" Marinette pouted once more "And that's besides the point, where even is Alya & Nino?!"
"They left." Adrien replied "They told me to walk you home. It is kinda late right now."
"How would you even walk me home Mr. Agreste, I know for a fact there's a car waiting outside for you." Marinette replied
Adrien laughed "My my silly girl, there are many many ways to get past that"

Adrien quickly put on a coat, shades, and a mask on his face. Putting the hood over his head he quickly looked at himself in the mirror
"Ah perfect, nobody would recognise me."
Marinette laughed "You look ridiculous."
Adrien laughed back "That's the point, innit?"

The duo quickly left through the back door and snuck behind the car that was waiting for Adrien.
Unfortunately, Adrien stepped on a small stick
crack
The duo looked at each other, before Marinette could say anything, Adrien quickly grabbed her arm and made a run for it.
"Adrien!" Marinette screamed "You're crazy!"
Adrien laughed "You're even crazier for hanging out with me!"
"I did not consent to this! Marinette retorted
That didn't stop her from breaking away from his hand though. The crazy duo continued to run and run and run..until they were seemingly lost.

"I-I think we're lost..." Adrien awkwardly stroked his chin before pulling out finger guns as to try to humor the scenario
"Adrien Agre-" Marinette was about to scream before Adrien quickly covered her mouth

"Shh! Have you forgotten why I'm wearing a disguise?!"
"Mm! Mmmmph!" Marinette made muffled angry noises which made Adrien laugh even harder
"Today couldn't get any crazier huh?! First you argued with the Mayor's daughter, second you got fired, third you met and befriended the most popular model in Paris, fourth you snuck out with that same model, and now you're officially lost, with that model!"
Marinette crossed her arms "You act like that's a good thing!"
Adrien grinned "Isn't it though? This'll be a great story to tell your kids one day."
"Yeah, if i even live past today!" Marinette sighed "Come on, Agreste, lets go look for some help. I need to find my neighbourhood."

"Aye Aye! Miss Dupain-Cheng" Adrien saluted before ruffling Marinette's hair

And there they were, off to find a way back home.

[word count: 1501 words]