The next day, Marinette starts to fall on the steps outside the school and Adrien catches her.  "Whoa, there, Marinette!  Are you okay?" Adrien asks.

    "Y-Yes,y-you are f-fine, I mean I am good Adrien," Marinette says.

     Nino scratches his head in confusion. 

   "Hi, Adrien!  Who is this?"  Lila asks.

    "Oh, hi Lila!  This is my friend, Marinette!" Adrien says.

   "Hi, Lila!  Hi, Adrien!  Hi, Marinette!  How are you?"  Alya asks.

" Hi, Adrikins, who needs these losers anyway?" Chloe remarks as she blows a kiss toward Adrien.

"Bye, Marinette and Alya!  See you later, Adrien! You are cute!"  Lila says and leaves with Chloe and Sabrina.

"Hi, girls and Adrien!  Dude, is Chloe still giving you trouble?" Nino says.

"Yes, as usual,"  Marinette and Alya answers.

   "You know, Chole is just jealous of how well Adrien and Marinette get along," Alya remarks.

  "Chole has been my friend since middle school, though now I wonder why since she is so mean.  Marinette let me now if she bullies you again," Adrien says.

"I must go, s-see you l-later, A-Adrien!" Marinette says and rushes off to class.

    "Class, the spring fling is coming up soon!  If you wish to bring a special someone invite them this week because the dance is next week.'" Miss Bustier says.

     Time skip to lunch break time!

  "Hi, Chole do you have a date to the spring fling yet?"  Nathaniel asks. He blushes.

 "Look, Nathaniel, I do not like you. Adrikins is the one for me, however, I suppose we could go as friends, but if anyone else asks I will deny it, tomato head child,"  Chloe says.

"Do you have a girlfriend, because you are so great!"  Lila says.

   "Look, Lila, I am flattered, but I like someone else,"  Adrien says and walks away.

"So, Adrien who do you like?" Alya asks as she overhears his conversation with Lila.

"Well, actually I like..."Adrien gets interrupted

"I  am so excited!  Max asked me to go with him to the dance!" Rose says.

"Kim asked me, I said yes, and I am so excited. So, are you taking anyone or going solo?" Alix remarks.

"Well, there is a girl I want to ask, I am just not sure if I can," Adrien says.

"Oh, why is that?"  Rose asks. She thinks it is obvious Adrien and Marinette like each other.

"Yes, tell us who is she?  Does she go to our school?" Alix asks.

"My best friend does not love me..." Juleka sobs. She is sad about Nathaniel's crush on Chloe.

"I am sorry to hear that Juleka. He does not know what he is missing though.  Someday, I am sure you will find someone." Rose says.

 The bell rings again, bring, bring, bring lunch break is over for the day.

   "Class the poem for this week to write is about the importance of friendship. A true friend is someone who is there no matter what anyone else says or thinks about it."  Miss Bustier explains.

    Later after school is dismissed for the day...

   "Marinette, are you okay?  You bumped into the stairs rather hard there this morning." Adrien says with concern in his voice.  He blushes.

   "Yes, I am f-fabulous like you!  I mean, yes I am great A-Adrien, thanks for asking." Marinette says.

Adrien says, "Good because I do not want to see you get hurt!  Oh, my rides here!  See you tomorrow, girls!"   He waves as he leaves.

"Bye, A-Adrien, See you! " Marinette stutters, blushes, and waves back

"So, girl when you going to tell him?  You have only liked him since last year!"  Alya remarks.

"Hi, girls!  Tell who what?"  Nino asks. He thinks, does Alya like me?

  "Hi, Nino!  What is it you need?"  Alya asks. She blushes.

"Why are you blushing?"  Nino asks.

 "Who me, I am not blushing,"  Alya remarks, but continues to blush.

"Oh, yes you are but do not worry though, Alya I think it is kinda cute. I mean I like you."  Nino says.  He thinks I said it.

"What? Nino, I like you too!" Alya says and hugs him.

Nino hugs her back and blushes when the hug ends. 

 "So, Alya want to go with me to the Spring Fling?" Nino asks.

"Yes, Nino I will!  See you tomorrow!" Alya answers then leave

Marinette goes home and smiles.  "Mom, Nino asked Alya to the dance and she said yes,  Kim is going with Alix, Max with Rose, Mylene with Ivan, Juleka will probably go solo, Nathaniel is with Chole..."  Marinette says.

  "Are you going with anyone?" Sabine asks.

 "No, because Adrien has not asked me," Marinette says. She sighs and goes to her room.

Sabine thinks, well Marinette's crush on Adrien has lasted longer than I thought possible. He must be special to her.

   Meanwhile, with Marinette and Tikki...

"Tikki, why is it almost everyone else has a date to the dance expect for Juleka and me?  I wish Adrien would ask me,"  Marinette says.

  The phone rings, Marinette speaks for a bit, and says, "I see, okay, later Alya!"  She hangs up.

"Marinette what was that all about anyway?" Tikki asks.

"It was Alya she wants me to meet her at the park, " Marinette says.

"See you later, Mom and Dad, I am meeting Alya at the park, Bye!"  Marinette says.

"Ok, do not stay out too late though, it is a school night," Sabine says.

"Ok, I won't thanks, Mom!  Bye,"  Marinette says and goes to meet Alya at the park.

     Marinette arrives at the park, and Adrien bumps into her.  She falls and he lands on top of her.  "A-Adrien,"  Marinette says with blushes all across her face.

   Marinette stands up.   "Alya told me to meet her here, what about you?"  Marinette asks.

"Nino told me the same thing, but  I do not see him though,"  Adrien says.  He gets a text and looks at his phone.

  "A-Adrien, what is it?"  She asks. She touches his shoulder.

"Nino sent me a text that says he is not coming and neither is Alya. They are on a date,"  Adrien says.

"What, they are dating and never told us?"  Marinette says.

"Yes, I was surprised too, but they are great together," Adrien says. He blushes and puts a hand on her shoulder.

   "Marinette what are you doing here with my Adrikins?  He does not like you!" Chole says.

   "Bye, A-Adrien!"  Marinette says and runs off.  She does not say another word.

   "Chloe, that was rather harsh," Adrien says. He runs off, hides, transforms and says now let's go see Marinette.

   Chat  Noir goes to Marinette's and taps on her window, He smiles when she lets him inside. Then, frowns when he sees her tears.

  "Marinette, why are you crying?"  Chat asks.

"Well, Chat Chloe said something that hurt my feelings.   She is probably right he does not like me." Marinette says.

  "Marinette you are the kindest, talented, amazing girl I know!'' Chat says.

   "You do not have to say this to cheer me up, Chat Noir. Everyone knows you like Ladybug.  It is okay, because she is a hero, and everyone seems to like her."  Marinette says.

Chat Noir kisses Marinette's hand, she laughs and he blushes. He leaves goes home and detransforms.

"Why did you kiss Marinette's hand, Adrien?"  Plagg asks.

" I do not know. I suppose I like Marinette and Ladybug both.  How did I choose between my partner and my best friend?"  Adrien says and sighs.

Tikki giggles.  "Marinette, what do you think of Chat Noir now?"  Tikki asks.

"I love Adrien, Tikki!"  Marinette says.

"I know, it is just that Chat did kiss your hand,"  Tikki says.

"Adrien, I think you like Marinette more than Ladybug because of the following reasons: 1. you hate it when Chloe picks on her, 2. you blush around her, 3. sometimes you stutter around her, and 4. you talk about her even more than last year,"  Plagg says.

    " Plagg, you know I love Ladybug. Marinette is lovely and I can not stop thinking about her,"  Adrien says.

Marinette gets a text from Alya and smiles when she reads it.

   Alya's text to Marinette

 Nino and have been dating for a month now, sorry I never told you before girl.

"Tikki, Alya, and Nino have been dating for a month already!  She is fortunate her crush likes her back." Marinette says.

   The next day, Marinette is late to school, as usual, she starts to fall and Adrien catches her like he normally does.

"Marinette are you okay?" Adrien asks.

"S-Sure, A-Adrien I am good," Marinette says. She thinks I love you!  She sighs.

"Come on Mari, let's go to class together!" Adrien says. He sighs, blushes and gently reaches out to grab her hand.

"Oh, okay!" Marinette says and blushes as she walks to class with Adrien.