"Wake up, princess~"

I smiled at the sound of my alarm. It was a line from a series I absolutely loved, and of course, the person who said it is my one and only Nathaniel. But even though his voice sounded so sweet, I decided not to listen to him for now and go back to sleep.

I hit the snooze button and rolled over to the other side of my bed, slowly drifting to sleep.

Then, suddenly, cold water splashed on my whole body, which made me scream and sit up. My eyes were as wide as saucers when I realized that I was soaking wet, and so was my comfy bed. I narrowed my eyes at the culprit, who was smiling sweetly while holding a bucket.

"Alya! How could you?" I yelled, "The weather is so damn cold and you just splashed cold water on me! Urgh! Don't ever do that again."

I stood up from my bed and walked to the bathroom, grabbing a dry towel.

"I'll take note of that. But, Mari, today's the day of your audition, and you're thirty minutes late," Alya shrugged and went out of the room with the bucket.

Psh.

Wait, what?

Audition? Thirty minutes late?

My eyes widened as I gasped in realization. I was late for my audition! Oh my pancakes, this is so bad!

I immediately washed my face, not even bothering to take a shower. Then, I quickly put my hair up in a messy bun and took whatever clothes I could find in my closet.

Shiznit, why didn't Alya wake me up earlier?

Quickly, I grabbed my bag and went out of my room.

"Goodbye Alya! Thank you for reminding me about the audition and waking me up early!" I yelled, slightly sarcastic. I received a playful "no problem" from her, and I went outside the apartment to get a taxi.

Of all the things that could ruin my life, this has to happen. And I even planned to wear something classy, not just jeans and a hoodie. I groaned and prayed that this day wouldn't get any worse.

It took quite awhile to get a taxi, and soon, I was on my way to my audition.

***

Wow. That was all I can say once I stepped out of the taxi.

The building was huge and really amazing. It looked like it was just made with glass, which made it look so cool.

I stopped drooling once I realized I was late for almost an hour. I immediately ran inside and searched for the elevator. Once I saw the two silver doors, I tried to run faster, and unfortunately, I bumped into someone and spilled its coffee.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

That voice.

I froze on my spot, not being able to think. I just stared at him as he bent down to get his coffee cup. The golden blonde hair. Toned skin.

The overripe blonde banana.

Once he stood up, I couldn't help staring into his emerald green eyes. They looked so soft, so gentle, as if it describes who he really is. But no, he's nowhere near soft and gentle. My whole body stiffened once he handed out a tissue.

"I'm sorry. I should've looked at where I was going. Are you alright?" He asked, concerned. I wanted to laugh at his face and congratulate him for being so damn good at acting as if he was really concerned.

But . . . why the hell am I feeling this way?

I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. My heart felt like it was about to explode any second now. My cheeks felt warmer than it usually was. Why am I like this? I shouldn't be like this.

"Oh, were you the one who threw popcorn at my face in the theatre?" He asked, a smile slowly forming on his face.

I blinked. Immediately, all the feelings I had two minutes ago washed away in a blink of a cat's eye. He looked amused. He was even smirking.

"Yes, yes I was. Thank you for the tissue - hey!" Anger washed over me when he stretched his arm up, the one which was holding the tissue.

"You actually hate me? How is that?" His eyes twinkled in delight and amusement. I glared at him, trying so hard to refrain myself from kicking him on his precious virginity taker.

"Just give me the damn tissue, you jerk! I'm late for auditions!" I snapped, trying to reach and steal the tissue from his disgusting hand. Wow, this day has gotten so much worse.

He chuckled and shook his head, "You're really interesting, but the thing is . . . you're not attractive. I don't think you'll get the spot, bugaboo."

"Excuse me? Looks doesn't matter in acting. What matters is the skill, unlike you. And don't call me bugaboo!"

He raised an eyebrow, looking irritated, but still amused.

I pushed his chest using my index finger and smirked at him, "I will get that spot. Just watch and see."

"Pfft. And what if you do get that spot?"

I mischeviously smiled at him, "I'll spank you in the butt for 500 times."

That amused look on his face disappeared and changed. He looked scared. No, he looked mortified. Thanks to Alya being such a stalker, she said that Adrien's afraid of spiders, cockroaches, lizards, and spanks in the butt. I had no idea why Alya said that, but now I'm thanking her.

"A-And what if you don't get that spot?" he gulped as he began to sweat. Oh boy, this was getting funny. I didn't know Adrien Agreste was this scared of spanks.

I shrugged, "I dunno."

He slowly nodded, and I immediately grabbed the tissue when he unconsciously lowered his hand. With a laugh of victory, I ran to the elevator and pushed the 23rd number.

I sighed in relief, knowing that the bastard is finally out of my way. I have to get that spot. It could be my only way to achieving my dream. And it would be nice to spank the bastard's butt, get someone to record it, blur my face out, anonymously post it online, and ruin his career.

Once the elevator stopped and the doors opened, I ran to the audition room and went inside, gasping for air. The people inside stopped doing what they were doing and stared at me as if I was some kind of psycho. I looked around the room and searched for a professional looking woman, but damn, it looked so hard, since all of them looked so professional.

They looked like they were having a meeting. Well, they were having a meeting, judging by the looks on their faces.

"Excuse me, but, what are you doing here?" The woman sitting at the edge of the table with a sunflower displayed on her head asked as she smiled sweetly. I looked at the flower weirdly, wondering what went on the woman's mind while she was dressing up back in her house.

"Um, I was looking for Penelope Gingers?" I said, feeling intimidated by these people surrounding me.

"Yes. What do you need?" She asked and stood up, walking towards me.

"Oh, u-um, I was here for an audition. I - "

"Auditions are closed. The director's busy at the moment," she cut me off, her smile quickly switching to a frown. Is she pregnant or what?

"Please. Please just give me a chance," I begged, trying not to make the tears fall. I felt like I was hit by a thousand bullets when I realized I was too late.

"I'm sorry, you couldn't do anything. I've already chosen who the leading lady is supposed to be, so I'm really sorry," a woman wearing a casual outfit said. I'm guessing that she's the director.

"No, please. This has always been my dream. Please."

"No means no, young lady. And you better get out here, or else -"

"Or else what?"

Everybody turned their attention to the mysterious person who butted in. My heart skipped a beat when I realized who it was.

"N-Nathaniel?"

His eyes turned to me and he smiled, "Hey there, Mari!"

He looks so cute.

"What are you doing here, son?" a man in a fancy tuxedo asked, raising an eyebrow. Hold on. Is that his father? Well, obviously, he did call Nathaniel his son, right?

He ran his hand to his hair, (omyghod I think I'm gonna die. He looks too sexy) and smiled at his father, "Give her a chance. She's an amazing actress, really. Please."

Did the Nathaniel actually say that I'm an amazing actress? Is this for real? I pinched myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming, and nope, I still didn't wake up. Wait, so does that mean, this is real?

To be perfectly sure, I reached out my hand and grabbed Nathaniel's face. Holy fudgeballs. He's real.

"Mari? Are you okay?" He asked, taking my hand away from his face as he silently chuckles.

My face flushes in embarrassment as I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay. I just had to make sure that this isn't a dream."

He laughs even more. Oh my ghod, his laugh is so adorable. My heart can't take this anymore. Too much fangirl feels! Eeek!

My cheeks began heating up when I realized that I have been staring at him for too long. I couldn't help it, he looked too cute.

"Look, if you're just here to flirt and look cute, you better go."

Nathaniel stopped laughing and all our attention switched to that one guy that said that. My anger began rising up when I saw who it was. Seriously? I was having a moment here, and he just appears out of nowhere.

His face looked scary, as if he was going to kill somebody. His eyes that once looked soft and gentle turned violent and angry, but why the hell was he angry out of nothing?

His eyes turned to me and I instantly flinched from his look.

"What, are you just gonna stand there?"

"I'm too late, you bastard."

"That doesn't mean you should give up, stupid."

"Who said I was giving up?"

"Your words did, idiot."

"Who the hell are you calling an idiot?"

"You."

"You bastard."

"Old hag."

"Overripe banana!"

"Tasteless blueberry!"

We continued to argue and call each other names, not caring about the people around us. It seemed as if we had a world of our own, and that world was having a war. This guy was getting into my nerves.

"Enough is enough! You two are acting like children!" The woman with the sunflower thing yelled, her face as red as Nathaniel's tomato hair.

The both of us stopped arguing, but our eyes were shooting lightning at each other. The same woman walked towards me and gave me a glare, "The auditions are closed. What do you not understand about that? Did you go to high school, young lady? Cause it didn't look like you did!"

The director placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, "Maggy, it's alright. I'll take care of this. Go back to your seat."

Maggy huffed and stomped her feet towards her chair. Wow, and she says we were the ones acting like children.

The director looked at me from top to toe, and smiled. "You're perfect for the role."

I blinked, shocked. Say what?

"B-But I - "

"But she didn't act yet!" Adrien interrupted, his face looking mortified. "That's unfair!"

The director laughed and ruffled Adrien's hair as if they were good friends, "The way she argued with you was perfect. Stella, your main character's love interest, is a feisty one. Plus, she actually hated your character in the beginning, but at the end, they end up together."

She turned to look at me and smiled genuinely, "You got the spot."

My face broke into a smile as I hugged the director and started squealing, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Even though it really was kind of unfair, but thank you so much!"

The director, Nathaniel, and the other people except Adrien laughed at my reaction. Once I released myself from the hug, I smirked victoriously at Adrien.

I leaned over to his ear and playfully whispered, "I'll spank you 500 times. Show me your arse!"

His expression darkened. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me away. His grip was so tight I thought it would break my arm.

I heard Nathaniel's voice and the others calling for us, but Adrien didn't seem to care. I had no idea where he was taking us, but my heart wouldn't stop pounding.

"Blonde banana! Where are you tak-"

He slammed me to a wall and placed both of his hands on both sides, pinning me. What the heck?

My heart began to beat faster. What is he gonna do? My whole body began to shiver as he got closer. My feet felt weak.

Memories of that night began flashing into my head as he got closer and closer. I felt so scared about what he's about to do. I felt so terrified, so weak.

No, not again.

Please.

"No, please don't do this."

A/N:

THIS CHAPTER SUCKS AHAHA

Anyways, are ya'll finally getting clues about why Marinette hates Adrien so much? c:

Sorry if this chapter sucks, I've been kinda sick lately, so yah. I'll try rewriting this when I get better lol.

I'm not a perfectionist, so please, if there are grammatical errors or any mistakes at all, feel free point them out nicely. :D

sayonara with sparkles and rainbows,

Gela ✨