Marinette was late for school again.

The bluenette had just woken up in time to notice her alarm hadn't gone off (or that the sleep-deprived superheroine most likely slept through it) and freaked out; unless she ran full-pelt to school, she was going to miss the bell.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Marinette cursed herself as she ran across the street, tying her hair up in the pigtails she always sported.

"Marinette, don't beat yourself up! You woke up late, it happens!" Her Kwami, Tikki, assured her.

"Ugh, Tikki, as a superhero, I have to be on task at all times! I should have been smarter!" Marinette sighed, her hand drifting down to her stomach to clutch a stitch.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, listen here. You are an amazing superhero. You overslept; everyone does that!" Tikki tried again. "And not everyone is secretly a a saviour of their city! You must allow yourself some kindness."

"You're right Tikki," Marinette sighed. "Sorry I snapped, you didn't deserve that."

"That's alright," Tikki smiled. "Just give me extra cookies to make up for it!"

The two were laughing by the time they finally made it to school.

It was two minutes to the bell and everyone had already gotten stuff from their lockers. Marinette exhaled a whoosh of air, shifting her bag and starting toward her own locker when...

"Thanks, Natalie!" A familiar voice made her stop in her tracks.
Adrien was stepping out of his silver limo.

"Marinette, now's your chance! Go over to him, come on!" Tikki coaxed Marinette, who found herself walking over to the blond model.

I guess this is my only chance to give it to him, the dark-haired girl decided, placing her hand around the pendant in her pocket. 

"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien waved. Marinette ran up until she was side-by-side with him.

"H-hello. You're never normally this late," Marinette managed, and Tikki quietly celebrated in the heroine's purse.

"Yeah, I slept in," Adrien smiled. 

Marinette felt her heart jump at the smile, a reaction that jolted her back into action. "I, uh, I got you something," she choked out. "For New Years', celebrating your first f-full year at public school." 

Marinette slid the ladybug pendant out of her pocket, offering it up to her crush. It was a lovely, vivid red spotted with black dots slung on a silver keychain. A seperate, small silver tag sported the words "Mon chéri".

The second Adrien saw it, his eyes lit up. "Wow!" He took the pendant from the bluenette's hands, his smile wide. "Thanks, Marinette! I love it!" The model looked the ladybug over before beaming at Marinette.

Marinette smiled back, giggling slightly, just before the bell sounded.

"Dude, where were you?" Nino's familiar voice interrupted the unspoken conversation as he slung his arm over Adrien's shoulders. "I've been looking everywhere – oh, sweet! Where'd you get that sick pendant?"

Before Marinette could say anything, Alya came up to the trio. "Late again, girl?" The brunette sighed, linking her arm with her friend's.

"We should get to class, guys," Adrien reminded. "Nino, I'll explain in first period."

"Sure, dude. Let's go!" Nino started walking, the rest following him.

And Marinette didn't miss the smile Adrien threw back at her.