Despite setting an alarm to wake up earlier than normal to go out and practice skating before school, Marinette was still running late. She woke up to the sound of her mother calling her downstairs:

"Marinette, you're going to be late for class if you sleep in any longer!" Mrs. Dupain-Cheng said, "Come down! We have a surprise!"

The young girl jumped out of bed, scrambling to put her school clothes on before rushing downstairs, "Sorry mom! I know I set my alarm but-" She gasped as she saw what was sitting in front of the door of the bakery, a helmet and skating pads!

"We went out this morning, we want to see you try them out but I guess it's too late now." Her father laughed.

Grabbing a croissant, Marinette smiled, "I'm sure they're perfect, I'm going to go to the skate park after school!"

"Don't you want to try skating on a flat surface first? It may be easier." Her mom suggested.

"I can't!" Marinette replied as she picked up her backpack, skateboard, and now her helmet and pads, "I have to meet my uh- my friend at the park!" She opened the door, "I'll see you later! Love you!" She called back before rushing out and down the street towards the school.

- - - - -

The school day went by fairly normally. A lot of girls were still asking Adrien for autographs; Marinette wasn't jealous though, because she got to sit behind Adrien in class. She actually had to make an effort to snap out of staring at him all day.

Finally the last bell rang and all of the students jumped out of their seats and ran to their lockers. Plenty of students already had skateboards and were preparing to go straight to the park, and when Marinette pulled her new board out of her locker, Alya walked over.

"I didn't know you skated Marinette," She said, holding up her own board, geared and ready to go, "Are you heading to the park now?"

"Yeah!" Marinette replied, struggling to get the chin strap of her helmet the right size, "I'm really excited to see- I mean- to skate!"

Alya's eyes narrowed, "I heard that, who are you trying to impress?"

"Impress? What? No!" Marinette objected, "I'm just... uh...."

"A terrible liar that's what you are." Alya snickered, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulder, "Come on, let's head over."

- - - - -

Plenty of students had beaten the girl's to the park, but everyone was simply gathered around the structure, watching someone as they skated on the inside. Marinette's eyes darted around, looking for one skater in particular.

"Who are you looking for, Marinette?" Alya asked with a chuckle, "I can already read you like a book, who is it?"

"He said he would meet here-" Was all Marinette murmured in response.

With a skid of wheels, the mystery skater in the halfpipe made a stop at the top, causing a round of applause from the crowd. Looking up, Marinette saw it was Adrien, and he was waving down at them!

Adrien hopped on his board again and rolled down to the part of the concrete that was even with the ground before picking up his board and running over.

"Hey Marinette!" He said as he reached the pair of girls. He turned to Alya and added, "Sorry, I didn't catch your name yesterday."

"Alya Cesaire." The girl said with a smirk, "Where'd you learn to skate like that, I thought you were a model?"

Adrien smiled, "Actually I just got my board. My friend is showing me the ropes today, he's a great teacher!" He waved behind him, "Nino! Come over here!"

A boy wearing a baseball hat turned around, walking over from his spot in the concrete jungle. Taking off his headphones, he nodded, "Hey girls, how's it going?"

Alya adjusted her glasses, "I recognize you, you were always sitting in the back of class with those headphones on. What do you listen to?"

"Well Ms. Bustier pulled me up front to sit with Adrien here. I guess I can't work on my remixes during English anymore." Nino chuckled, "Want to have a listen?" He asked, holding out his headphones and motioning over to a tree by the park.

Alya smiled, "Sure, I'm sure Marinette and Adrien can get along without us." She winked at her friend before walking to Nino's side.

Meanwhile, Marinette panicked, alone with Adrien, she didn't even know how to skate!

"I-um-" She stammered, "Shouldn't I find someone to teach me how to skate first?"

Nino called back, "Adrien learned fast, he can teach you the basics!"

Even though the pair had their backs to Marinette and Adrien, Marinette had a feeling they were snickering at her.

"Well Marinette?" Adrien asked, putting a hand on her shoulder and sending the red into her cheeks, "Want to give it a go?"

"G-go, good! I mean, good to go!" She replied, fidgeting with her elbow pads nervously.

He chuckled, "Good, let me teach you a few things before we start on the ramps and stuff."

- - - - -

Marinette spent the rest of the afternoon learning about different parts of her board, different vocabulary for each piece, and some basic tips for riding around on flat ground. Before she knew it, she was up on top of the ramp, classmates cheering her on, telling her to try her best.

A pit in her stomach formed, she doubted anybody expected much from the girl who could barely walk down the hallway without tripping, but when she locked eyes with Adrien down below she felt... she felt like she might actually be able to skate.

One deep breath, and she was rolling. Her front foot guided the board while she pushed off with the back, stomach lurching as she plunged down into the bowl of the skate park.

To everyone's surprise, including her own, she didn't fall immediately. In fact, she didn't fall at all. Gliding around on top of the concrete, she didn't feel nervous. Just rolling up and down, she felt at ease. Pushing herself forward, Marinette let her instincts guide her for once. By the time she got out of her daze, she was back on top of the ramp, stepping off of her board.

The crowd was stunned:

"No way that was your first time!"

"Where did you learn that?"

"How can you do that when you trip so often?"

Marinette looked down at her board, picking it up and staring at it. It was like an extension of herself, she felt complete with it under her feet. How she didn't realize this before, she didn't know. Walking over to the ladder, she climbed down and was approached by many of her classmates, some not even in her class, all trying to know where she learned.

"I swear, I just learned today, Adrien showed me."

Speaking of, Adrien walked over, "That was so cool! You did great!"

As soon as he spoke, Marinette's butterflies returned. A goofy grin appeared on her face, "W-well I have you to t-thank-" She tried to lean casually on the side of the concrete wall, but missed, "WOAH-"

Adrien swooped in and caught her before she hit the ground, "Hey, you good?" He asked, helping her back onto her feet.

Marinette's could feel her face turn red as their hands touched, "Oh- Oh yeah I'm just getting m-my sea legs! Sea legs? I mean skate legs! Wait, is that a thing?"

The group surrounding her laughed, and she started to laugh as well.

A dinging sound filled the air and Adrien ran over to his backpack, pulling out his phone. Frowning, he walked back over, "My father says it's getting late, I have to get home." He said, looking over the skyline at the setting sun.

"O-Oh yeah. I didn't realize the time, I should probably help my parents with dinner." Marinette replied, "I'll... I'll see you guys later?"

"Definitely." Adrien said, dropping his board down and waving before skating off.

A few people wanted to see Marinette stake again, but she insisted she needed to go back home.

As she rolled up to the front door of the bakery, she couldn't help but giggle. Picking up her skateboard, she whispered, "Thank you Tikki!" Before running inside.