Chapter 1

It was spring. The air was damp from the recent showers, and buds were starting to grow on trees and bushes. For an average citizen of Paris, spring would be a time to enjoy the beauty and wonders of nature.

But for a high schooler, spring is time for the Springtime Dance.

Marinette flung her purse over her shoulders as she met Alya on the way to school. "Has anyone asked you to the dance?" Alya asked. "No," Marinette replied. "How about you?"

"Oh, yes, Nino finally asked me! Look, there he is now!" Alya ran to him and flung her arms around his neck. He looked startled. Marinette sighed. She desperately wanted Adrien Agreste to ask her, but he was a popular kid, so he would probably be taken by some blond snob.

A few feet away, Marinette could see Chloe Bourgeois slathering on strawberry colored lip gloss. Chloe was the daughter of the mayor, and she was just the kind of blond snob that would dare to ask Adrien to the dance. She placed the lip gloss in her baby blue designer clutch bag trimmed with fake diamonds and walked up to Adrien.

"Why haven't you asked me yet?" She demanded, waving her clutch bag wildly, her ponytail flinging high in the air. "Because I'm not going to the dance," Adrien said, his eyes fierce.

Marinette's heart sank deep down into her chest. If he's not going, then I'm not going, she thought.

Nino, who now stood behind him, gasped. "You're not?" "Yes, I thought we talked about this. You're staying home too, remember?" Adrien said. "You didn't ask someone, did you?"

Nino looked down at the floor. His face flushed. "Um… I asked Alya." Adrien chuckled, saying, "I knew you would." He patted Nino on the back and headed towards the front door of the school.

Marinette glanced at her watch. Oh no! It's five minutes until the bell rings and I didn't even get to my locker yet! She sprinted to her locker and stuffed her things into it, took out her supplies, fidgeted with her lock, and dashed to homeroom just in time for the bell to ring.

"I MADE IT!" she shouted, and the whole class stared at her. Oops! She slinked into her chair. Her day was not going as planned.