Chapter 1: What and If

Marinette sat at her desk staring at the computer screen displaying the colorful collage of her crush. Recently she had been trying to put into words her feelings to Adrien, but to no avail. She was nothing but a blubbering mess around the boy and although she knew he thought of her as a friend, he would never think of her as anything more. As this thought struck her Marinette felt the enviable wave of tears start to pour from her eyes. Tikki, noticing her distress, flew up from her resting place on the vanity, landing on Marinette's' shoulder.

"Mari…. What's wrong?" Tikki stroked the hand cupping Marinette's face soothingly.

"It's stupid. I just realized something and I can't believe it took me this long to see it." She said still hiding her face.

"And that is?"

"That Adrien and I will never be together. I'm just wasting my time." The words came out as a chocked sob; it broke the kawami's heart to see her friend and wielder like this.

"Don't say that Marinette! You just need to-"

"NO TIKKI! I'm done. I'm emotionally and physically exhausted from trying and trying and getting nowhere!" this sudden burst of anger surprised Tikki; Marinette was usually such a quite and composed girl. Marinette sniffed wiping her eyes on the hem of her sleeve.

"I'm sorry Tikki, I didn't mean to snap, it's just that…" Marinette let out a sigh,

"It's okay Mari, I just want you to be happy!" said the Kawami snuggling up to the girls tear stained cheek. Marinette returned the tiny embrace then reached for a tissue to clean up her face.

"Besides, really its nothing more than a school girl crush," Marinette clicked through her desktop and found the background delete button, "its time to move on."

CLICK

The many pictures of Adrien flickered once then disappeared. Marinette let out a sigh of relief. Of course it would still be hard seeing him at school and in the magazines and billboards… Geeze! This was going to be tougher that just deleting her computer background. But Marinette felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Even of she never found someone she loved as much as Adrien, she could at least move on with her life.

Tikki flew to the window and peered out at the Parisian night. It was 9pm and it had started to rain.

"Mari don't forget you have patrol with Chat tonight."

"Oh great, so I can get drenched and be shamelessly flirted with!? Super." She knew she shouldn't be so harsh on Chat; he was only trying to flatter her. For just a moment she wondered what it would happen if she returned his advances…wait… What?! Marinette was taken aback by the thought. Chat was a flirt, and he was no doubt just messing around. Of course he was a great partner, reliable, trustworthy, and he did cheer her up…but…what if?