(A/N): I forgot to write this when I first published the chapter but I'm going to be slowly switching the whole story into a 3rd person POV instead of 1st person. I feel I enjoy writing in 3rd a lot more and it makes me more excited to get out a new chapter <3

Marinette

"Um, holy shit, there's like ten pages in the whole thing!"

Marinette eyed the thick packet that Alya held between her fingers, pages fluttering against the crisp breeze. She silently prayed for the neatly stapled stack of papers. Though not knowing Alya for long, she could tell she wasn't that careful with her stuff, quick to shove important documents into her bag to be forgotten. Alya must've realized at some point how mayor this event was because she didn't dare discard the paper work this time.

Instead, she twiddles with the corners, folding the chalk white sheets as she reads.

"Ok so let's discuss," Alya leaned against the school building, "there's this thing here about partners, how do you feel about it?"

Marinette's slid down the brick wall, legs aching from fatigue. The ground felt damp under her and moisture soaked into her pantyhose, though she was too exhausted to care.

"Um, lemme think." She looked up at the murky sky. Her eyes traced the slowly dissipating clouds as they became thinner and thinner, creating unusual shapes.

"I don't think I'd be up for it, you know how clumsy I can be. It would suck if I messed up my partners chances of winning because I fell during a performance."

Alya made a approving noise through her mouth as Marinette's eyelids begin to shut. There was a moment where neither spoke, enjoying the rare silence.

"So what's the deal with you and blondie?" Alya suddenly asked, and like that, the relaxing moment that Marinette relished came to a halt.

She had come to notice that Alya didn't  have the best of filters, and that she had one hell of a poker face. She continued to flip through her packet, acting as if she hadn't asked the question at all.

"I have...have no idea what, what you're talking about. I mean, me and Adrien? Psssh, nothing's there–absolutely nothing!"

Alya eyed her, eyebrows raised in a way that made it obvious that she didn't buy her lie. Marinette could feel her cheeks warm.

"Ok it's just, he's really–really cute," the words coming out with ease. Her heart pounded with the excitement of finally being able to tell someone.

Alya squealed, "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I knew you had a thing for him the minute you started making goo-goo eyes at him!"

"I have not!!" Her hands covered her face. "You've got it all wrong!!"

"Oh please, you aren't fooling anyone," Alya chuckled, rolling her packet into a cylinder. She whacked Marinette on top of the head.

"You've got it bad girl."

She brought her knees to her chin, letting her cheek rest on the slightly damp cloth. It cooled the heat that burned through her skin only slightly.

This wasn't something she should be focusing on, especially with Regionals around the corner. Sure, Adrien was cute and whatever, but she didn't even know him that well. What's the point of developing feeling for someone when their basically just eye candy?

She hoisted herself up. Alya is blowing this out of proportions anyways. Marinette had no time to be gushing over a boy, especially someone she saw in class almost everyday. Imagine how distracting it would be!!

"Look, we both know this isn't something I should be focusing on. So this whole 'I think Adrien is cute' ends here. No more Adrien talk," Marinette said, facing Alya to make sure she sees how serious she is about this.

"Well that's going to be a little hard, seeing that he's headed this way."