A/N: Well? How long has it been since I posted the last chapter of Holding Out for a Hero? How long has it been since so many of you started asking after a sequel? LOL! Here it is! Hopefully you readers will find this a satisfying follow up after Holding Out for a Hero. Standard warnings apply: Incredibly AU and canon divergent. Contains plot elements that might seem confusing if you've not read the first story or some of my other stories. I highly suggest reading Holding Out for a Hero first. All the other references you can probably just roll with! Anywho! Please enjoy!

"Alright so we have our research on Robespierre, the beginning of the Reign of Terror, and the storming of the Bastille." Marinette summarized as she flipped through her group's notes. Everything was perfectly organized thanks to Adrien's meticulousness. She bumped the stack of papers against the table to straighten them up again. Adrien leaned across the table, hand outstretched.

Marinette tried but ultimately failed in stamping down the butterflies that rose in her chest as his fingers brushed lightly across hers. At least she didn't blush. That would've been embarrassing. Adrien had ripped her heart out of her chest nearly three months ago. Alright, so that was a little overdramatic but he had rejected her. Despite that fact, Marinette still found her heart racing every time she and Adrien talked. She knew it would've been easier if she'd just avoided him. No pesky racing heart or butterflies in her stomach if she didn't see Adrien smile. Marinette hadn't been able to bring herself to avoid Adrien. It had seemed so petty in her mind. If Chat Noir could still hang out with Ladybug as a friend and still fight crime with her after being rejected then Marinette could hang out casually with Adrien too!

"So all we need to research no is the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette." Adrien added as he made a note of something on the top page. "After that we can start putting the report together for the presentation."

"Yes!" Nino cheered, pumping his arms into the air. His outburst earned him more than a few nasty glares from other people in the library. Nino didn't seem to care though. He just leaned back on to the back two legs of his chair. "We're, like, halfway finished with the leg work and we still have another two weeks before the project is due."

"We can take the weekend for a break!" Alya grinned.

"I am totally ready for a break." Marinette smiled back as she rested her head on her hands.

"You know what this means?" Nino asked. He turned to look at Alya, wiggling his eyebrows. Alya's grin stretched bigger.

"Date night!" crowed the two of them together. Again people turned to glare at them as they shared a high five. Marinette rolled her eyes. They'd been like this ever since they'd started dating.

"You two are going to get us all kicked out of the library." Adrien said. He cast a nervous glance around for the librarian.

"Don't be jealous because you don't have any plans for this weekend." Nino told him with a smirk.

"I'll… I'll have you know that I do have plans!" Adrien sputtered. A bright red blush creeped from his neck up and on to his face. "I'm hanging out with a friend tonight."

Marinette looked down at the scratches on her paper. She wondered who Adrien's 'friend' was exactly. Judging by the way he was blushing and stammering, it was probably someone he liked. A lot. He had told her that he already had someone he liked when he had rejected her. Adrien was probably meeting up with that person. Marinette chewed on her bottom lip.

"Hey Marinette," Alya shoved her lightly. Marinette looked up. There was a smile on Alya's lips that looked a little forced. "When do you see Felix again?"

Adrien and Nino looked up quickly. Marinette's eyes went wide as she stared at Alya. "Alya!" she hissed. "Don't just blurt things like that out loud!"

For Alya's part, she looked completely unphased that she'd just dropped their alias for Chat Noir in front of two people who weren't in on the secret. Marinette could've killed her. She buried her head in her hands. "Who is Felix?" Nino asked curiously.

"No one!" Marinette responded quickly. Too late. Nino and Adrien were already staring at her. Nino had a giant grin on his face. Adrien had a more careful expression on his face. Marinette felt her cheeks heating up. Oh! There was the blush! Wonderful.

"Doesn't sound like he's no one." teased Nino.

"He is," mumbled Marinette in a very unconvincing way.

"Felix is Marinette's friend." Alya explained. She said 'friend' in a way that made Marinette turn an even brighter red. "She hangs out with him all the time."

"It isn't like that Alya." Marinette said as she sunk down in her chair.

"So… Why haven't we heard of Felix before?" asked Nino, completely ignoring Marinette's mortification.

"He doesn't go to this school." Marinette said.

"Well obviously. There isn't a Felix that goes to our school." Nino rolled his eyes and leaned forward so that his elbows were propped up on the table. "So how do you know him?"

"He's in my journalism club at the rec center." Alya answered for her. Marinette just nodded along. It was easier.

Nino's demeanor changed subtly, eyebrows rising. "I didn't think that there was anyone named Felix in your journalism club."

Alya waved her hand dismissively, "That's because I'm not really close with him. Marinette is though. Aren't you? So when do you see him again? Didn't you say you two had something planned for tonight? Do you think he'll bring you roses again like he did the last time? I know you said you didn't want him too but..."

"They were yellow roses, not red and I like daisies better anyways." she mumbled.

"I bet he will." Alya said in a half conspiratorial whisper.

Marinette sent her a wide eyed warning glance. Alya promptly ignored it and nudged Marinette with her elbow. For some strange reason she then winked at Marinette. That was when it hit her. There was an ulterior motive behind all this. Why else would Alya be wanting to have this conversation in public? Oh she was going to kill Alya. "Alya! Can we please not talk about this here… again?"

"Where's he taking you? Somewhere romantic?" Alya pressed onwards, completely ignoring Marinette's plea. Marinette sunk lower in her chair from the mortification. Leave Alya to drag Chat Noir into normal conversation. What exactly was she hoping to get out of this?

"I'm not engaging in this discussion." Marinette muttered under her breath as she buried her head in her hands on the table. It was a futile gesture because it was quite obvious that Alya didn't need her to participate.

"I know you've thought about it… You and Ch… Felix." Alya said. "Especially recently. The boy totally has had a crush on you for ages. Probably has since you two first met. And what was it you were telling me last night on the phone? Oh yeah, you feel like your relationship with him has changed over the last couple of months."

Marinette snapped her head up and stared at her in utter shock. She wasn't supposed to just say that in public! Marinette had told her that in complete secrecy! In fact they shouldn't be talking about any of this in public! She opened her mouth to tell Alya off but all that came out was a pitiful little squeak.

"He'd be the perfect boyfriend for you Marinette." Alya told her in a mock conspiratorial voice. Marinette could literally feel the color draining out of her face.

"That's enough Alya!" snapped Adrien. There was a loud clatter as the chair he'd been sitting in hit the ground. People were staring at them clear from the other side of the library. There was even a librarian looking at them through her horn-rimmed glasses with narrowed eyes. Adrien's hands were wrapped tight around the edge of the table and his teeth were grit. The look on his face was absolutely terrifying. There was a slight tremor in his arms as he glared daggers at Alya. Marinette and Nino both shrank away from him. Alya, on the other hand, looked like the cat who'd just eaten the canary. Marinette choked on her groan. She suddenly knew exactly what Alya's ulterior motive was for bringing Chat Noir up in public. In front of Adrien…

"Really Alya?" she whispered, shaking her head. Alya gave her a knowing look and gave a subtle nod in Adrien's direction. Marinette suppressed her urge to whack Alya upside the head. She knew better. It was hard to make a person jealous if they didn't like the other in that way.

"She's clearly uncomfortable so why do you keep pushing the matter?" Adrien demanded as he flung his hand in Marinette's direction.

"Gee Adrien…" Alya said with an oh-so-innocent voice. "Are you maybe jealous that Marinette might be seeing someone that really likes her?"

Oh great! There was even a little smile and an eyelash flutter when she said it.

Adrien's glare didn't lighten. His knuckles actually went white. "What does that have to do with anything? If Marinette doesn't want to go on a date with this guy then she doesn't have to and she definitely doesn't need you making her feel obligated to do it! Marinette doesn't owe anything to anyone!"

Marinette shifted uncomfortably. She could barely force her voice above a whisper. "It's okay Adrien."

Adrien turned to her. He wasn't glaring at her but the look on his face was just as intense as he stared her down. "No it isn't Marinette! No one gets to tell you who you spend your time with and you definitely don't get to be bullied into submission by anyone either."

Her mind immediately flew to Chat Noir. Every bad pun and pick up line he'd ever used as well as all his careful measures to respect her wishes. All the obvious lengths he went to make sure he never crossed a line or made her feel uncomfortable emblazoned in her mind. She could distinctly remember his words to her on their first 'totally not a date' date. For what it's worth, I know you don't like me the same way I like you and I'm okay with that. I'm glad to be just your friend. And… I know it's your life and you're going to do whatever it is you want to do but I will be whatever you need me to be. Friend, confidant, partner, whatever. I'm here and that's all I'll ever want.

Marinette shook her head. "You really have the wrong idea about Felix."

"Marinette, I'm serious. If this guy is being a pushy bastard like Jean was then run the other direction. He doesn't get to try and convince you to change your mind. It doesn't work that way!"

The gears in her brain came to a resounding screeching halt. Marinette heard the words 'pushy bastard' and 'Jean' and instantly stopped listening. How could Adrien even begin to compare her Chat Noir, her partner, to the entitled ass that had kidnapped her after allowing himself to be akumatized in a jealous fit! How dare he. How dare he! They were nothing alike! "Stop. Talking!" Marinette hissed as each word came out with enough venom to kill an elephant.

Alya and Nino immediately looked at her. Alya reached out to her but Marinette must have been giving off enough cold rage to stay her hand because she froze midway through the motion. Nino was glancing between Adrien and Marinette with a clearly worried look on his face. He was tugging on the back of Adrien's shirt, trying to get his attention. It wasn't working.

"You know it's true. He could hurt you!"

"Him? Hurt me?" she spat. The blood was rushing to her face for a completely different reason this time. Chat Noir hurting her intentionally? He'd rather use Cataclysm on himself! Adrien suddenly froze like he'd suddenly realized he'd made a mistake. That was probably the understatement of the year. Marinette wasn't done though. "You don't even know him! Don't even dare comparing him to Jean! They are nothing alike. He has been nothing but respectful and a friend to me since we first met. If there's one person in my life that I trust completely and without hesitation it's Ch… Felix!"

Marinette just barely managed to catch herself before Chat Noir's name slipped through her lips in anger. Everyone in the library was definitely staring at them now. She could feel every single pair of eyes on her and Adrien. In fact, the librarian was now on the way over to either kick them out or send them to the principal's office. It didn't matter though. She wasn't staying to listen to anyone, even Adrien, disparage her partner. "If you guys think that we're done for the day then I'll think I'll be going. I've got other things I need to do before tonight." she told the entire group tersely.

Without waiting for them to say anything, Marinette bent down and collected her back pack. She wasn't sure when exactly she'd stood up but she was standing. Adrien, Alya, and Nino all stared at her as she stormed away. The librarian barely got a choked out, indignant threat as Marinette swept past him. Marinette heard Alya call after her but she didn't stop. She'd get a text later on about it. Marinette was certain about that. Again, she couldn't find it in herself to care as she headed down the deserted hallway.

"Marinette!" Adrien called after her. "Marinette! Please wait!"

Adrien's sounded like he was pleading with her. Marinette couldn't help it. She turned. Adrien was sprinting after her down the hall. His eyes were wide and the color had drained out of his face. It really was unfair that the butterflies in her chest decided this was the perfect moment to take flight again. Stupid crush! She was trying to be angry at Adrien and it was kind of hard to do that when he was chasing after her. How many times had she had that particular fantasy? Too many to count. Marinette swallowed the lump down in her throat and forced herself to keep walking. "Marinette, pl… whoa!"

Marinette spun around just in time to see Adrien stepping on a stray paper that someone had dropped on the ground. His arms pinwheeled through the air in a futile gesture to keep himself from completely wiping out. It didn't work though. His feet went flying out from under him and he landed flat on his back with a hard, resounding 'thud' on the ground. All Marinette could do for a moment was look at him and blink. "A… are you okay?" she asked as she took a step in his direction.

And then another step and then another.

She knelt by his side. Adrien groaned loudly as he laid on the ground. He ran his hands through his hair and let his palms rest over his eyes. "Stupid, rotten, crummy bad luck. Just once. That's all I ask. Just once!" he continued muttering under his breath but it was all lost as he rolled over on to his side.

He gave a heavy grunt as he climbed back to his feet. Marinette stepped away to give him some space. "What did you want Adrien?" she asked him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Listen I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you so angry. It's just that I worry about you." he apologized as he waved his hands through the air emphatically. Marinette bit her lip and stared at her feet. He sounded completely sincere too. "You're my friend and I don't want to see you hurt. It… it scares me."

Once more, Marinette found herself turning beet red. The embarrassment was back. Only this time it wasn't just because she was talking to the boy she still had a crush on. Nope! Marinette was just now realizing that Adrien had absolutely no idea that Felix was Chat Noir. He had absolutely nothing to go off of except for what he'd just listened to Alya say which, if Marinette were honest with herself, did paint him as a bit pushy and entitled.

Marinette combed her fingers through her hair and forced herself to look at him again. "I… I understand." she told him quietly, "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"I know it's your life and you'll do whatever you want but I just heard Alya say all those things and… I had a flashback."

Marinette shuffled her feet against the tiles. "I get that and I while I appreciate it…"

A door opening around the corner and footsteps distracted her. Marinette and Adrien automatically shifted sideways to move out of the oncoming person's way. Adrien opened his mouth to say something else. However, someone else's voice cut him off before he had a chance to say anything.

"Mar… Marinette?"

Marinette felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. Every muscle in her body snapped tight, rigid and unmoving. She still had nightmares where that voice was calling to her in a dark, cold, deserted warehouse and demanding to know where she was hiding. Bumps rose on her arms and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. It was like she could feel a pair of cold, vice-like hands gripping her forearms, leaving marks in her skin. The image of a boy with dark hair and blue tinged skin shot to the very forefront of her mind. Slowly, she turned to face the owner of the voice. "H… hey Jean," Marinette said weakly and in a voice that was almost too quiet to be heard. "How are you?"

"I'm, uh fine." Jean answered. He looked absolutely normal. Black hair and eyes, no fins on his legs or arms, and definitely no blue tinge to his skin. A completely average and normal teenaged boy. There was not a single trace of the akuma he'd been transformed into. Nope! Not a single trace of Wavemaster to be found. He twisted the strap of his swim team practice bag tighter in his fist. With his other hand he scratched the back of his neck. "What about you?"

"Oh… you know, just classes and homework and um… stuff." she said. Marinette hated the way that her voice trailed away from her. She hated that all she could think about at the moment was being alone with Wavemaster in that pitch black warehouse. She hated the way that she rubbed her hands over her forearms where Wavemaster had once touched her. Jean wasn't Wavemaster but it had been his jealousy that had akumatized him and it had been his steadfast refusal to take no for an answer that had lead to Wavemaster kidnapping her.

"That's cool." Jean said with a light shrug. He shifted from side to side, almost nervously. It had been a long time since she'd actually talked to Jean. They passed each other in the hall but Marinette always looked away or turned the other direction when she saw him. She had the sneaking suspicion that Jean did the same thing. It was a very far cry from seeing each other every morning in the art room to sketch fashion and designs and paint. A lifetime seemed to have gone by since Marinette had last called Jean her friend.

"Yeah," Marinette mumbled. She had the burning, itching sensation creeping through her legs. She really wanted to leave. Badly.

"Made it to the Championship meet, huh Jean?" Adrien asked throwing his arm over Marinette's shoulder abruptly. She jumped. Somehow, she'd completely forgotten that Adrien was with her. "Nino mentioned something to me about a few of his teammates qualifying. You must have been one of them."

Jean started. Apparently he hadn't realized that Adrien had been standing behind Marinette. Their eyes locked over Marinette's shoulder. "Yeah, the meet is in a couple of weeks." Jean replied as he shifted once more as he stared at Adrien.

"Ahh, I see." Adrien nodded. "I imagine that your practice should be starting soon. It starts a little before four every day right? Right after you and the rest of the team going to the Championship meet finish up study tables if I'm correct. I mean, that's what Nino's told me anyways. Last I checked it was gettin' kinda close to practice time wasn't it?"

There was something distinctly unfriendly in his voice. It wasn't cold or nasty. It was mostly short and terse. Adrien's voice cut straight to the point. He sliced right through the tension that hung around them in the hallway. It was quite clear that he had no interest in letting Jean stick around to chat. "I, uh… I just finished up with our homework. I was heading down to meet up with the rest of my teammates." Jean said, twisting his fist even tighter.

"Better run along then," Adrien growled, "don't want to be late now do you?"

Feral. Adrien sounded downright feral. Marinette could almost feel the sneer on his face. She had to suppress the urge to turn around and look at him. She was pretty certain that she'd never seen him sneer before. Adrien pulled her close and flat against her chest. That was when she realized that his arms were trembling and his heart was racing. She could feel each movement through her back. Adrien's other hand slipped on to her other shoulder. He squeezed reassuringly. Marinette fell stiffly back into the support he was offering.

For a moment, Jean didn't say anything. He only stared at Adrien. Then he dropped his eyes and looked at the ground. He swallowed before nodding slightly. "You're right. I gotta go. I will…" he started to say before stopping suddenly. "Have a good afternoon Marinette."

"Bonsoir Jean." Marinette mumbled. Once more Adrien squeezed her shoulder and drew his arm tighter over her. Jean ducked his head and slipped past the two of them. He didn't even glance at Marinette as he went by.

He was all the way down the hall and out of sight when Marinette let out a breath she hadn't realized that she was holding. Her shoulders sagged and she slumped against Adrien's chest. "I know he has no memory but he still makes me feel so… so…"

"Unnerved?" offered Adrien. His voice fell sort of flat. Unnerved, that was one word for it. Marinette thought helpless would've been a better one. She'd been separated from her Miraculous when Wavemaster had taken her. Had it not been for Chat Noir…

Marinette shuddered. She couldn't bare to think about what would've happened to her had Chat Noir not found her in time.

"Do you see Jean around often?" Adrien asked her. His voice was deadly serious.

"No, not really." she shook her head. "Thank goodness for that. I don't think I could handle it."

Chat Noir had had words with Jean after she'd left the warehouse. She had no idea what he'd said to him exactly but she had the distinct feeling that it hadn't been pleasant. Marinette had asked him not to do anything he'd regret. Obviously, Chat Noir hadn't gone overboard because Jean was still breathing. Whatever had been said though had been enough to keep Jean from seeking her out. Chat Noir probably would've told her, or at least Ladybug, if she asked but Marinette had no desire to know. However, she was eternally grateful to Chat Noir.

"Good," Adrien answered simply.

That's when Marinette became acutely aware of just how close Adrien was to her. His hands were wrapped all over her shoulders and her back was against his strong, firm chest. He was warm and secure and made her feel protected. And she had fantasized about something like this only about a million times.

A strangled squeak broke from her throat as heat rose into her cheeks. She pulled away from Adrien, heart hammering against her chest and stomach flipping at an insane interval. "OhmygoshI'msosorry!" she sputtered, flailing her arms like a pinwheel.

All the color drained out of Adrien's face. It was painfully clear that he'd just remembered her still present crush on him. He waved his hands in front of him and shook his head vigorously. "No, no… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… yeah, God I'm sorry."

He shoved his hands into his pockets then pulled them out again so he could fold them behind his back. Even then he seemed to decide against that and simply let them hang by his side. Right… she was the one with the crush on him. He was desperately trying not to exasperate it. Adrien liked someone else anyways and it hurt horribly. Like a knife to her gut. "I really should go now. I do kind of need to get ready to meet my friend."

"Felix you mean?" Adrien pressed.

"Yes," Marinette told him.

Adrien bit his lip. "Listen Marinette, I really think you should be careful. I know you said…"

"Felix is a good and trusted friend. He has done nothing but go out of his way to keep me from feeling uncomfortable. Sure he drops a cheesy pick up line every now and again but I know he'd stop if I ever told him that he was making me uncomfortable. He's always been a gentleman to me and he's a decent person." Marinette interrupted him. She felt like she was emphasizing every word out of her mouth to drive her point home. There was no way she was about to let him start up again with his 'anti-Felix/Chat Noir' campaign. It felt so wrong!

"You're my friend and I don't want to see you hurt."

"Adrien, I appreciate your concern, really I do, but please… just butt out okay." she told him with a sharp note of finality.

Marinette spun on her heel and and strode down the hallway. This time Adrien didn't follow her. That was a huge relief. "Are you alright Marinette?" Tikki asked, popping up from inside her purse.

"I shouldn't have snapped at him." whispered Marinette. "Adrien was only trying to be a good friend and I just…"

"No!" Tikki cut her off. "You were right to defend yourself and Chat Noir."

"But don't you think that what Alya was saying makes it seem like Chat is pushy and demanding? I mean, in Adrien's defense he had no clue that isn't the case. It isn't like he knows that I was talking about one of Paris's renowned heroes."

"Adrien made an assumption and you're right, anyone could've done that. He didn't listen to you though when you told him that he had the wrong idea about 'Felix.' If he's your friend and you've given him no reason not to then he should trust your word."

"I know he cares. Like he said, he doesn't want to see me get hurt… especially after Jean. The idea of Chat hurting me intentionally is completely ridiculous and I couldn't just sit there and listen to Adrien say such horrible things about him."

"That was why you stood up to him and set him right. There's no harm in defending the people you care for. It's the special part of you that makes you you." Tikki assured her. She slipped out of Marinette's purse and rubbed her cheek soothingly. Marinette cracked a small smile.

"Thanks Tikki." giggled Marinette.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "I'll be fine. I'm looking forward to seeing Chat tonight I think. He always makes me feel better when I'm having a rough day."

That was probably the understatement of the year. Right after Adrien had rejected her, Chat Noir had there for her. He'd broken some girl's heart right around the same time and it had obviously been eating him alive. However, he'd put it on the back shelf to comfort her. If Marinette went back over the course of their partnership, she couldn't even begin to count how frequently that happened. Chat Noir was always putting her first.

Tikki let out a tiny relieved sigh and smiled warmly. She dropped down and nestled herself in Marinette's blazer. "Have you thought about what Alya asked you? Really thought about it?"

"Thought about what?"

"You and Chat Noir and if you might want something more with him?"

"What!" Marinette flushed bright red. The tips of her ears were literally burning with embarrassment. Tikki looked at her with a patient expectancy. "I… I… uh…"

Tikki nuzzled her warmly, "It's alright."

X X X

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

"Kid… I hate to tell you this but headpressing is a sign of serious neurological problems in cats." Plagg told him as he watched Adrien rhythmically bash his head into the wall.

"I'm not headpressing." muttered Adrien. "I'm just beating my head against a wall until I make myself bleed from my ears."

"Yep! Definitely no neurological problems there." Plagg commented.

Adrien let out a low growl and completely ignored him as he continued to take his frustrations out on the wall and his head.

"Will you knock it off?" sighed Plagg. Adrien suddenly found it impossible to continue his present course of action on account of Plagg darting into the middle of his path. "You fixed it with Marinette as Alya put it. You apologized to her and explained where you were coming from. She's forgiven you… mostly. I think."

Adrien grasped his head and groaned. He had a headache that was from more than smacking his head into the wall. "I made her feel horrible and the worst part is that I can't bring myself to change my opinion on this Felix guy."

"You have a natural disposition to protect people. It's just who you are kid, but like she said, it isn't your place so put your sword down Mr. Knight in full body leather." Plagg told him.

"But Plagg!" Adrien started.

"Pull yourself together Adrien! Part of this is because you saw the former 'Puddle'master and he dragged the alley cat out of you. You heard Marinette. Leave it be!" snapped Plagg. Adrien stared at Plagg with wide eyes for a moment. Then the guilt overtook him and he dropped his eyes to the ground. Plagg was right. He had to find some way to let the situation go. The problem was he didn't want to.

Something warm hit his cheek. A soft purr vibrated against his skin. "You're hanging out with Ladybug tonight. Do me a favor and talk to her alright. For some reason that girl always makes you feel better." Plagg told him.

Adrien cupped his hand around Plagg. He let himself sink into the warmth and affection. Once again, Plagg was right. Ladybug had always been his rock. She'd helped him figure out how to be okay with turning down Marinette. "Yeah, I'll try." he promised.

X X X

Therese tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder as she glided into the room still dressed in her practice leotard. She smiled slightly at her partner. Angeline sat on the ground with her back to Therese. Her ashy blonde hair already in a bun for the night's performance. Angeline always wore her hair in a bun. It seemed more unruly than usual however. Actually, everything about her seemed a little off to Therese from her appearance to her demeanor. The pair of ballet shoes in her lap were completely forgotten as she read over some letter. There was a certain tightness in her shoulders that made Therese pause. She moved towards Angeline as quietly as she could. Being a dancer had it's perks.

"Angeline, my pet…" Therese trailed her fingers across Angelique's shoulders. "You need to focus on your shoes otherwise they aren't going to be ready for tonight's performance."

"Huh?" Angeline looked up abruptly at her, eyes going wide with momentary confusion. She looked up from her spot on the floor with the piece of paper she'd been reading still clutched in her hand.

Therese laughed lightly and sat down beside her. She pointed to the pair pointe shoes that were nestled between Angeline's legs. "Your shoes Angeline. You need to sew your shoes for the show tonight. What is it that has your attention instead I wonder? Can I see what you're reading?"

Angeline looked down at the piece of paper before flicking her eyes back up to Therese. "It's nothing Therese. Don't worry about it." Angeline told her with a dismissive smile as she quickly folded the paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her zip up sweater.

"Are you sure? It didn't look like nothing. You seemed very preoccupied." Therese pointed out, raising her eyebrow at Angeline..

"I promise you it's nothing." Angeline insisted. She picked up her shoes and her sewing needle. Therese handed her the roll of elastic and favorite ribbon.

"Good I'm glad. You know how important tonight is for us. It's our last performance before we audition with the touring company. I'd hate for you to be worried or preoccupied right before a big show." Therese told her.

Angeline touched her wrist gently. "You worry too much."

"There might be some big name critics there and I don't want you to be nervous. I know how difficult it is for you to dance if something doesn't go just right the performance before."

"Therese!" Angeline dropped her shoes in her lap and took Therese's hands in her own. "Stop it! You'll work yourself up to the point where you'll have a hard time performing."

Therese pulled away and shook her head a little. "You're right of course. I'm sorry. I'm just so excited about our audition next week. Can you imagine it? All our dreams coming true! Dancing ballet professionally, like we used to talk about when we were learning the difference between first and third position."

Angeline cracked a thin smile. "It will be like one of the fairy tale ballets we like to perform so much."

"Of course." Therese nodded. She closed her eyes and rested her head against Angeline's shoulder. Bright lights, thunderous applause, beautiful costumes, and stunning dancing all filled her mind. In all her visions it was the two of them. Her and Angeline. Therese opened her eyes and beamed at Angeline. She couldn't suppress her laugh. "We'll be primadonnas. Our big shot. I can't believe it!"

Angeline swept her hand over Therese's hair. "Almost too good to be true." she murmured.