"Marinette! Oh Marinette!" Tikki pulled at Marinette's short black pigtails, who only groaned in response.

"Tikki, just a few more minutes..."

"Look, I know you were up last night fighting crime and all, but you don't have a few more minutes..." Tikki continued, "school started thirty minutes ago..."

"WHAT?!" The frazzled girl jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to change as fast as she could, "Tikki!! Why didn't you wake me up?!"

Tikki just hovered above the sink, hands on her hips and clearly annoyed.

"Ugh...sorry... I'm just a bit frazzled..." Marinette apologized as she turned the water off and left the bathroom, dressed out of her pajamas.

"It's okay. I understand how you feel. Believe me." Tikki giggled as she hopped into Marinette's pink purse, which now slung over Marinette's shoulder as Marinette picked up her school bag.

"Okay, let's go." Marinette said finally and they left her family's bakery.

___________________

As soon as Marinette crept into the classroom and took her seat, Alya was all over the place.

"Today's the day!!" Alya whispered excitedly to Marinette.

"Wh-what's today?"

"Today's Ladybug and Cat Noir's anniversary!" Alya answered.

"Wait, WHAT?! They're not married!" Marinette whispered, almost yelling. She didn't notice that the Adrien Agreste had turned a little to listen in on their conversation.

"No, of course not! But today's the day that they first started saving Paris! This definitely demands a party!" Alya bounced up and down in her seat with pure excitement.

"Oh...phew..." Marinette let out a sigh of relief, then looked up and finally noted a certain magazine model watching her. She managed an awkward smile, and he smiled back, sending her a little wave before turning back to the front of the classroom.

"So you're going to Ladybug and Cat Noir's celebration at the Eiffel Tower, aren't you? Tonight?" Alya asked.

Marionette quickly averted her attention from her crush back to her best friend, "Uh, t-tonight? I'm sorry, b-but I don't think I can go..."

"Why not? Everyone is going." Alya said just as the bell rang. Everyone got up to go to their next class, and she and Marinette did the same.

"Well...not me..."

"I don't think I'd be able to go either." Came an unexpected voice from not too far behind them.

Alya and Marinette turned to see Adrien and Nino walking up to them and joining in on their conversation.

"Why not?! This is the celebration of a lifetime!! For me, at least." Alya chuckled.

"Oh yeah. I'll definitely be there. But you know Adrien's dad...always holding him back. It's okay dude." Nino patted Adrien on the back, who just smiled and shrugged.

"Hey, wanna go get a smoothie or something?" Alya asked Nino, winking at Marinette. Marinette stared at her friend in horror and silently shook her head, pleading with her friend not to leave her to die at the hands of the boy she loves.

"Gladly." Nino answered as he took Alya by the arm and led her out.

"Haha, those two are pretty cute for each other." Adrien chuckled as he and Marinette walked out of the classroom.

"Y-yeah...you're pretty cute... I mean... They're not as cute as you... Ahaha, what am I saying? Oh gosh..." Marinette hit her head as she tried to take back what she had just said. Adrien just stared at her, then started laughing. She looked up at him and joined in.

"So what's your excuse? Why can't you be there?"Adrien continued, until a certain blonde approached the two.

"Oh please, she just hates Ladybug. Why, she's just jealous of her, aren't you Marinette. I'm sure you wish you were her, but you can't. In fact, I'm besties with her!"

"Whatever, Chloe." Marinette rolled her eyes and stormed off.

"Hmph. Let's go Sabrina." Chloe said as they turned to walk in the other direction, "you're coming with us, right Adrien? Or are you going off with that scoundrel?"

Adrien glared at Chloe, then turned and followed Marinette, "Marinette, wait!"

"WHAT?!" Chloe screeched, "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!! Adrien chose that insolent girl over ME?!" She turned on her heel and stormed away, Sabrina following close behind.

Adrien tapped Marinette's shoulder once he caught up to her, "Marinette, don't listen to her. I'm sure you're just as amazing as Ladybug."

"I am, aren't I?" Marinette said to herself and smiled, looking at the ground. Then she looked up to see Adrien staring at her, "I-I mean, thank you!"

"You know, I even think that Cat Noir might have something for you." Adrien smirked, "I feel like he's been...following you around? Like when he saved you from the Evillustrator."

"He saved ME?!" Marinette rolled her eyes, and Adrien just continued to stare, "I mean, o-of course he saved m-me...but he's in love with Ladybug."

"Yeah, you're right." Adrien nodded, "do you like Cat Noir?"

"Sure, he's pretty cool." Marinette smirked, "but I've got a...project to work on. It's a personal project. So I won't be able to be there tonight... Sorry..."

"Ah, I see." Adrien nodded, "okay, well, see ya around... My lady..." Adrien smirked and walked off.

Marinette looked off after him. Then she snapped out of her trance and realized what he had just called her. She quickly reached for her phone and held it up in front of Adrien as he walked off. The picture on her phone was of him, then she swiped to the left and it was Alya's edited picture of Adrien as Cat Noir that she had sent her a long time ago.

"I...I refuse to believe it, I refuse to believe it..." Marinette gasped inaudibly.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" Tikki asked, peeking out of Marinette's pink bag.

"Y-yeah... Yeah... We'd better get ready for tonight... We'd better start getting ready for the unexpected..." Marinette sighed as she walked to her next class.