If you're looking for cats, always look at night. After all, as everyone knows, they are nocturnal. And one poor boy in particular was no exception. Midnight never failed to provide a backdrop of shadows and loneliness that seemed to welcome him, enveloping him in it's dreary embrace. All the world's sorrows gather round to sing their weary tune, the empty notes laying to rest in his heart. He broke them down into a new kind of sadness, letting his new melody ring from the rooftops.

Then he saw her, and suddenly his world was dripping with red. It was all he could see. Scarlet blurred his vision, crimson warmed his soul. While captivating in a rosy haze of mystery, it was her eyes that truly bound his heart. He drowned in them, those eyes, for they were blue and clear as a mountain spring. Looking into them, he felt so open, so vulnerable, and yet so very safe. She was complex, this one. He could see that almost immediately. In that moment, he knew down to the very core of his bones that he had something to hope for again. Something to fight for.

Adrien smiled as he recalled that day. He stopped to look down at his notes, only to find that he'd been absentmindedly doodling little ladybugs all around the edges. A small sigh escaped his lips. It happened in nearly every period. (The exception being physics. Nino says he's aloof, and far be it from him to call him a liar, but he always paid attention in physics.) Nino suppressed a giggle when he saw the infested pages. He was the only one in their class that knew about Adrien's 'little' crush on Ladybug and found it quite amusing, much to the blond's dismay. He glared at him with a look that very clearly said fuck off when the final bell rang. "I know you're all excited about prom, but don't forget to study for that test tomorrow." Mrs. Bustier reminded them. Chatter buzzed around the room as everyone slowly trickled out, aside from a handful of people. He barely had time to get out of his chair before the thick and sweet scent of Chloe's perfume filled his nose. "So Adrien, about Friday, I was thinking we could match your tie with my dress." She mused, completely ignoring the fact that he never asked her, or even remotely thought about it. "Chloe, I'm not going with you." He said, gently but firmly pushing her away from him. "Of course you are. Who else would you go with?" She scoffed. Like a spark, an idea popped into his head. Did it have all the potential to ruin a budding friendship he held near and dear to his heart? Yes! But he was reckless, if anything. He spun around to meet two startled midnight eyes and slammed his hands on her desk probably harder than he meant to. "Marinette, are you free on Friday? We should really hang out more, and I just thought of the perfect opportunity." He asked, smug as a bug. "Yes! I mean...yeah, sure. I- I guess." She stuttered. She really was getting a lot better at managing her speech, but damn it if this didn't take her by surprise. "Great." He beamed, before turning and walking out. If Chloe reacted, he wouldn't have known. She was better than this, and they both knew it. They talked about it, she promised-

No. She said she'd try. Trying was good enough, and these things take time. He would just have to be patient.

I don't like writing author notes, but this is important. I decided to take the story in a new direction, but didn't want to delete it and start anew, so I'm just gonna see what I can do to change this one. Also, as you might have noticed, the ladybug doodles are staying. I know this chapter is really short, not to mention ridiculous, but the next one should be longer and, well, more serious.

Edit: Heeeeeey guys, guess who's finally fucking back and ready to start finishing what I started by starting at the start and finishing the finish.