PART TWO

The next day in gym, Mme. LaCae was lecturing them on their next unit.
"We are entering our next unit, which is on dance. The first project is to be paired with a partner of the opposite gender and come up with a dance for the two of you. Now, get to work!" Chloe immediately ran over to Adrien, shrieking in a shrill voice.
"Adriekins! We're partners, right?"
Adrien's POV:
As Chloe was asking me to be with her, my eyes strayed away, noticing Marinette standing shamefaced towards the wall. It looked like Nathanael also wanted to approach her, but didn't know how. It was just the four of us left partnerless now. "Actually, Chloe," I started, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards Nathanael. "I was going to work with Mari, but you can work with Nathanael!"
Marinette jumped, facing me as she turned bright red. "Erm, thanks!" She replied awkwardly, scratching the back of her head.
Nathanael shot Mari a pleading look, as if to say, "Help me!" But I glared back, almost hissing, "Mine." Through my teeth. He seemed to get the message loud and clear, jumping at my harsh gaze. As Marinette turned to look at me, confused by Nathanael's shakiness, I immediately shot her one of my award winning model smiles.
"So, you ready?" I asked her.
"Mph... I don't know..." She mumbled.
"C'mon!" I replied exuberantly. "I know you'll be great!" I meant it, too. I'd seen her dance, that one night on the Eiffel Tower. She was amazing, flawless, and unique. She didn't fall into my arms, she pulled me into hers. She didn't step on my feet to hurt me, or because she was clumsy. She did it to boost herself to my height. She was so precise too, it was magical.
"Uh... Adrien? Hello?" Marinette's voice brought me back to reality.
"Huh?" I asked stupidly.
"Ii-i was asking what song you want..."
"How about 'Rise Up' by Andra Day?" I suggested.
"O-okay!" Was the reply. Marinette quickly ran off to get it approved by the teacher and I began to wonder what could have possibly happened to her that would create such little self value. What could make her too afraid to trust me with who she is because she thinks so poorly of herself? What could have hurt her that much? What could have made her that miserable? What?
Marinette jogged back over, interrupting my thoughts.
"She said it's okay," The bluenette explained.
"Cool. How about a little freestyle, first?" I suggested.
"O-okay!"
I pulled it up on my phone and hit play, starting slowly. She quickly picked up what I was doing and mirrored it.
    "You're broken down and tired,"
Marinette almost tripped over her feet, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her up. We began to move in sync, beginning a waltz.
"Living life on a merry-go-round," We twirled gently, picking up more and more of a contemporary appeal.
"And you can't find a fighter
But I see it in you, so we gon' walk it out," I spun her out on arm's length, just like the night on the Eiffel Tower, but she spun back to me, not pulling me with her.
"Ooooh, mountains," I sung.
"We gon' walk it out," She added quietly.
"And oooooh, mountains," We chorused, continuing our waltz.
"And I'll rise up,
I'll rise like the day,
I'll rise up,
I'll rise unafraid," She seemed to lose all self-doubt as the song went on, Ladybug showing through.
"And I'll rise up!
And I'll do it a thousand times again!" I lifted her up, as she planted her hands firmly into mine, balancing upside-down in a handstand as she continued to sing
"And I'll rise up," She brought her legs into an air-splits, not dropping.
I'll rise like the waves,
I'll rise up,
In spite of the ache," She dropped down, letting me catch her bridal-style, and gently dropped out of my arms.
"And I'll rise up!
And I'll do it a thousand times again..."
    I pulled her in, just like on the Eiffel Tower. But this time, when my lips brushed against hers, she didn't pull back, letting me kiss her as the song went on and everyone stared at us.
    "Oooooh ooh oh ooh oh ooh ooh,
    Oooooh ooh oh ooh oh ooh ooh,
    Ooooooh....
    Eeeoooooooooooooooh," Then suddenly the music was cut.
    "Ah-HEM," Mme. LaCae coughed, interrupting our moment. "As much as I loved your dance routine, the ending still needs a little work. Please keep your emotions inside you, people!" She turned around to the class and shooed them away, back to practicing their individual dances.
"Wow... That was..." I mumbled, awestruck that Ladybug, er- Marinette let me kiss her.
"IM SORRY! I didn't mean to- we, uh, ughthisishopeless..." She blurted out, blushing furiously.
"Mari, I would have wanted no one more to have stolen my first kiss." I replied, a gentle finger lifting up her chin.
"Your... First kiss?" She gulped nervously.
"Yes, and I'm glad it was you." I replied, smiling. "Was it yours?"
"Well... no... not exactly..." Mari mumbled.
My face fell, and I think it was evident. Who kissed MY lady?! Does she have a boyfriend? Is it Nathanael? Ugh, I'm going to beat that sketchy character(A/N: The puns!) into the pavement for kissing her...
"Um... Adrien?" Her voice interrupted my thoughts. "Are you alright? You looked... angry..." She almost seemed frightened by me. Agh! Adrien, why can't you do anything right?!
"I-I'm fine! Just fine!" I said a little too loudly. Everyone turned to stare as I awkwardly scratched my neck. Oops...
Everyone finally turned away and left just me and Mari. It's now or never, I decided.
Bending down on one knee, I asked. "Marinette Dupain-Chang, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" I gently kissed her hand like I did in costume. The kiss, or maybe it was the question, but she seemed to go into shock, barely giving a little nod, before collapsing on the floor.
"Adrien, what happened?!" The gym teacher cried, running over.
"Well, uh... She kinda fainted..." I replied. Technically, I was telling the truth! I merely left out the majority of the details. She gave me a skeptical eye before telling me to take her to the nurse. I picked her limp body up bridal-style and carried her out of the gym.
"I love you, Purrincess. Never forget that." I whispered, planting a kiss on her head as I walked down the hall. Laying her gently on the nurse's sickbed, I explained what happened... Sort of.
"She fainted, and I brought her here." I summarized. "Can I wait until she wakes up?"
"No, Adrien. You have to go back to class. It's important." She replied sternly, reminding me of Nathalie.
"But-" I whined.
"The only way you can stay with this girl is if you were some sort of superhero, which I can guarantee you aren't." The Nurse scolded, shooing me out.
As soon as we got into the hallway, Plagg flew out. "You're going to see her as Chat, aren't you?" He groaned.
"Yep." I replied, shouting the phrase that causes my transformation.
I ducked out of the school's glass roof (the walls are much easier to climb as Chat) and perched on my staff outside the Nurse's window.
"Chat Noir!" She exclaimed. "Why are you here?"
"I- eh..." Crap! I forgot to think of an excuse! "Uh... An akuma was attacking, causing random teen bluenettes to faint. I am checking to make sure they are waking up properly. Ladybug and I took care of it." I mentally facepalmed myself for the excuse. No way would she buy it.
"Okay, this is Marinette. I must be going, if you don't mind." She replied, exiting the room in an excited mess.
I sat down on the chair and began to wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. After a while, he fell asleep, still on the waiting chairs.

Marinette's POV:
Bending down on one knee, Adrien asked me. "Marinette Dupain-Chang, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" He gently kissed my hand like Chat would. Then darkness. I'm not really sure what happened after that, but I recall shouting and someone picking me up.
"I love you, Purrincess. Never forget that." I heard someone say. Then I felt a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"Chat..." I wanted to call into the darkness. Nothing. Where am I? I can't do anything, just stay. I must have drifted into sleep, because the next thing I knew, I was in the Nurse's office.
"Ugh... My head..." I moaned, sitting up. Looking around, I spotted Chat Noir laying on the chair by my bed.
"Chat? What's going on?" I asked, poking him on the arm.
"I'LL SAVE YOU, MLA-" He screamed, waking up abruptly. "Oh. Sorry, Mari!"
I had my ears covered, my head still hurt, and Chat's incessant noise didn't help. "Stuff it, please!" I begged. "What happened? Why am I here? Why are you here?"
"Marinette, I saw you in here and I wanted to make sure you were okay. We are friends, aren't we? This is what friends do, right?" He asked, desperately looking for confirmation to what a friend 'did'. Oh Chat...
"Why'd you ask if that's what a friend does? Don't you have friends?" I questioned his questioning as he looked away in disappointment. "Oh, Chat... You don't have friends, do you?"
"Not exactly. He replied soberly. "They just want my fame, in and out of this mask... Even my father... It's just me and M'Lady, and I have nightmares all the time about losing her. If I lost her-" His voice cracked as a few tears ran down his face.
"Poor Kitty!" I cried, wrapping my arms around him. "You've got me now, don't you?"
He stifled a giggle. "I guess I do. You and M'Lady. Thanks, Purrincess. I've got to go. You should get to class soon, okay?" He hopped out the window, waving goodbye as he vaulted from building to building. Now I have another reason not to tell Chat who I am. It would break his heart knowing his two friends are the same person. I got up, thanked Nurse what's-her-face, and left.
When I got back to gym, Adrien ran over to me and shouted, "You're okay!" While pulling me into a hug. I turned bright red as he gave me a model-smile, making my heart melt.
"So, did you think about my proposal? Marinette, will you be mine?"
I nodded vigorously, trying my best not to faint as he pulled me into another hug.
"Back to practice, Mari?" He asked, leading me away.