On Monday, Nino gets up in front of the entire class. He looks nervous. Everyone wonders what seems to be on the guy's mind.  Miss Bustier decides to wait to see what he has to say. It does appear whatever it is that happens to be important to him. 

       "Well, you see everyone, I must admit, I never thought, after Alya's death that I could ever care for anyone again!  Only, recently I begin to realize how wrong I was!  You see the thing, is I have feelings for the new girl, Stacey!" Nino announces.  He thinks, there I put my heart on the line.  

     Nino returns to his desk. Everyone else is silent.  Miss Bustier teaches the lesson as usual. Everyone acts as if nothing is different than usual. Everyone is happy for him other than Marinette.

 Marinette struggles to pay attention to the teacher's lecture. As she thinks about Nino's announcement, she is hurt. She can't believe he would betray Alya's memory like this.  How could love Stacey?  I mean sure she is nice, but what about his love for Alya?  How could he just throw all that way?  

   Marinette asks to be excused and when it is granted she leaves early. She goes on home. She is not sure what else to do.  On the one hand, she wants to be happy for Nino, but on the other hand, she can't believe he cares for someone other than her deceased best friend, Alya.  Alya was his first love.  How can he just move on just like that?  She cries.

  Adrien notices that Marinette is hurt about the news Nino gave earlier. He figures what else could it be that would make her want to leave earlier.  He sighs. He only wishes Marinette could love him the way he loves her.  He wishes she could care for him the same way Nino cares for Stacey.  

  Later, after school, Stacey waits for Nino.  She sees him about to leave.

 "Hi, Nino!" Stacey says.

"Oh, h-hi, St-Stacey,"  Nino says.

"So, you like me, huh?"  Stacey asks.

  "Yes, but you don't have to feel the same,"  Nino says.

   "I will understand if you feel like I am too immature for you and..." Nino says.

   "Nino," Stacey interrupts him.

  "Nino, you need not worry.  I like you too!" Stacey says.

   "You do?" NIno looks up at Stacey in surprise.

    "Sure, you are kind, brave to stand up and announce how you feel in front of everyone like that and rather cute,"  Stacey says. She blushes.

  "W-wow, I am glad!" Nino says.

    Stacey smiles at him.  Nino blushes even more.

    "Stacey?"  Nino says.

    "Yes, Nino?"  Stacey says.

    "Stacey, will you go out with me?"  Nino says.

     "Sure, I would love too!" Stacey says.

       Adrien overhears the whole conversation as he was on his way to see Marinette. Only Lila stops him to talk.  He is not too happy about this.  He tells Lila to take a hike and leave him alone. He even goes so far as to gently shove her away from him.  As he turns to walk away, he overhears Nino and Stacey.  He feels glad for these two. He knew that Stacey could be good for Nino.  Nino deserves to be happy again. He only wishes he could help Marinette to understand all this.  He heads on home. 

    Adrien does his homework. 

       Meanwhile, Marinette who has been home for a while now continues to cry. She cries almost non stop. She feels like Nino somehow betrays Alya's memory. She also feels a bit selfish for feeling the way she does about all this. She is unsure of how to respond. 

      When Adrien finishes his homework, he goes to check on Marinette he sees she is still upset. He feels sorry for her.  He knocks on the door to the bakery.  He gets no response.  Marinette's parents are away on business.  He sighs. He goes on home.

       Around supper time, the flower sender shows up. He enters the house through the trap door area. He tiptoes past Marinette who is asleep. He leaves the room and places a rose in the hallway. He slowly closes the door behind him, so as not to awaken her. He walks downstairs and out the front door. He makes sure to close this door too.

       Marinette wakes up from her nap at 7:00 pm.  She opens the door to her room and sees the rose. She smiles as she picks it up and places it into a fresh vase full of water. She continues to wonder who the mysterious sender could be anyway.  She goes downstairs and locks the door to the bakery.  She goes back to her room and locks the trap door to ensure no criminals end up in her house.

     Marinette is happy to receive this fourth rose!  It cheers her up so much, she almost forgets all about the whole thing to do with Nino and Stacey!  She goes to bed that night at least a little bit less at odds with the world than she was before this gift of the most recent rose.

  to be continued in Chapter 5  Locker Rose?