One week later, Adrien is on the sidewalk when he sees Marinette.  He thinks, will she help me out?  He does not have time to try to find a better plan to get away from them-that is to say all the fangirls and a few fanboys-who saw him and are after him now!  He runs towards Marinette to ask her for assistance when she walks away.  He sees her go in the opposite direction.  Oh, great ! Just great!  Now, what?  Adrien thinks to himself.

      Adrien sees the news station.  He finds a quick disguise, puts it on and heads inside.  He breathes a sigh of relief.  He hopes no one will recognize him now!  His  relief does not last for long though.

       "Oh, hi!  I am Nadaja Chamack! " The famous news reporter says.  She happens to have the recorder device off since it is her lunch break.  "So, what brings you here stranger, or should I say Adrien Agreste?"  She ask.

       "Well, you see I kinda need a place to hide for a bit.  There is all these crazy fangirls and fanboys after me!  you gotta help me!  Please!"  Adrien says.

       "Sure, I will on one condition though!  You give me a short interview to explain the pros and cons of a model's  life."  Nadaja remarks. She sees this a huge opportunity to get this in for a live scoop.

      "Sorry, but I am afraid I can not do this."  Adrien states.

     "Oh, and just why not?"  Nadaja inquiries.

     "If   I do my dad will find out I  left the house and I will be in trouble! Why can you not just help a boy out for a change without a story in return?"  Adrien pleads with her.

     "Look, I would!  Only, If word got out that I did not interview you while I have the chance my boss would be furious!  So, you see you either let me interview you, or I give you over to all those who happen to be behind you!"   Nadaja says.

     "What?   How dare you try to blackmail like this!  Why that is horrible and it is illegal, right?"  Adrien says.

     "Ha, just give up!  I  will not help you.  So, get out now before I call the police!"  Nadaja states.

     "Fine, but if they tramble me to death it is your fault! "  Adrien sneers at her.  He clearly is not to happy to have no help when it comes to such matters.  

       Adrien  goes outside and sure enough, the crowd chases after him once again!  Each one gives reasons such as "I want an autograph, or  please give me your number!  I have a single cousin, daughter, friend, etc.  who would love to meet you!  Come on Adrien!  What do you say?"   On and on it goes!  

      Just when he thinks he will pass out or worse, someone grabs his arm and pulls him into an alleyway.  Before he can scream, the person, drags him into an nearby building.  Now, she lets go of him and giggles a bit!  "Wow, Adrien those people really adore you, huh? "  She says.

      Adrien looks up to see who came to his rescue and blushes.  No way!  It is his crush, Marinette!  He thinks, what in the world?  How did she even get here?
   

     "Blondie, what is the matter, cat got your tongue?"  Marinette teases him.

     "No, I just uh...Well, I uh, ...Thank you for your help back there!  I do no know what I would have done if you had not come alone when you did!"  Adrien remarks.

       "Yeah, yeah, Blondie!  You know something, at first it was fun to watch you run from them, but when I saw you enter the news area, I figure there is no way you were out of range for long.  Sure enough, you come back out and its all down hill from there!   The way I see it is that I took you from them for spite.  I mean if  I think its a bit rude for them to carry on so much!  Am I right?"  Marinette states.

      "Uh, yeah!  Thanks just the same.  You d-did not h-have t-too.  I m-mean y-you d-do n-not like me anyway."  Adrien remarks.

       "You have that right!  No listen if you tell anyone that I was the one to come to your aid, I will deny it all!  Got it beach boy wanna be?"  Marinette remarks.

       "Yes, got it!  Oh, and just for the record my hair is naturally blonde!  I  never put in dye in it!"  Adrien says.

         "Wow, then that really stinks!   You should totally dye it!"  Marinette says.

        "Hey, no one cares what you think!"  Adrien snaps at her.  He secretly does care about her opinion of him though.   

         "Whatever you say, Blondie!"  Marinette says.  She rolls her eyes in annoyance when he attempts to hug her.

          "Oh, sorry!  You are the kinda girl who is not into hugs."  Adrien says.

          "Hmmpfth!"  Marinette retorts.

        "I  uh, better go!  I think the others are long gone by now.  I do not want to be a pest."  Adrien says.  He walks to the door and is about to pull it open when he feels something touch his wrist.  He turns around , his jaw drops when he sees Marinette's hand touches his wrist.  He blushes.

      "Blondie, you better close your mouth or flies will get inside!  Haha!  You should see the look on your face!  Why it is so funny!  Haha!"  Marinette says.

      " Why did have a hold of my w-wrist, B-Bluebell G-Gal?"  Adrien ask.

       " I just want to say that though we are not friends, you are really something!  Well, gotta go!  Bye!"  Marinette says.  She walks away before Adrien can say another word.

       Adrien follows her and watches her enter the bakery.  He thinks oh, so that is the famous bakery.   He sighs, walks home and thinks,  That girl is a puzzlement!  She is strange, she confuses me, has my stomachs all in knots, and I love her!   I have a  huge problem.  Yep, sure enough do.  

      "Plagg, is it not great that Marinette got me away from them!"  Adrien says.

      "I suppose, then again no."  Plagg says.

      "What?  Why not?" Adrien says.

     "Fine , then the only girl in Paris, France with no interest in you kept the fans away!  Good for her!  I mean big deal!"  Plagg says with a bit of sarcasm.

       "Oh, I almost forgot Plagg.  Here is your cheese!"  Adrien says as he hands him some Camembert. 

        "Thanks!  This is so good."  Plagg says, as he takes a big bit out of his cheese.  

         Meanwhile, Marinette heads home.  She goes to her room, does her homework, writes in her journal and plays a bit of Solitare on her phone.  

         Tikki comes out of purse!  "Well, Marinette that sure was nice for you to help Adrien!  Only, I thought you did not like him!"  Tikki says.

         "I do not like him.  I loath him!  I hate me so much!"  Marinette blurts out.

        "Then why did you help him?   I  mean you could have just left him in the dust, so to speak! "  Tikki says.

          "Goodness, Tikki just because I hate him does not mean I would stoop that low as to let him fend for himself against those nuts!"   Marinette says.

         Tikki giggles, she thinks it to be funny how Marinette reacts to the entire situation.  To bad her holder does not know this Adrien fellow is kind like everyone says or that he likes her!  Well, that is something she will have to figure out for herself!  Yes, indeed!  

         "Tikki, there is no sense to read into it something that is not there.  I  despise him I tell you!  Only, those fans of his are a total pain!  I mean honestly they should expect an autograph that often!   I mean give the boy a break!"   Marinette says.  She thinks it peculiar the reaction Adrien has to  it.  For that matter, Tikki is  so weird too!   

       "Sure, whatever you say, Marinette!  I think you kinda like him though."  Tikki says.

            Back with Adrien...

             "I have no idea why she choose to help, but she did.  I just know that I like her even more, Plagg."  Adrien says.

     "I still think you waste your time with a crush on this girl.  She can not even stand you."  Plagg laughs.  He thinks why does he like Marinette anyway?

       to be continued in Chapter  4   Adrien Crushes Even Harder?