Hey! Here's the beginning of a short-ish story. I have the plot in mind, and hopefully this doesn't take longer than 10 chapters. I was inspired by this comic dub I saw on youtube. I forgot which artist it came from, but it is based off loosely on that.

Anyways, enjoy!

The sun shines through the bar-like window frames in Adrien's bedroom. The light hits Adrien's eyelids, causing them to flutter, and eventually reveal itself to the outside world.

"What time is it?" Groggily, he sits up and checks the time on the clock. It read, "7:30", meaning breakfast would be served in the next half-hour.

"Plagg, wake up, we gotta get ready for school."

"Wake me up when you're done." Was the only reply before the Kwami returned to its slumber. Adrien chuckles internally at Plagg's antics and continued with his morning routine.

On his was to the bathroom, he noticed his favorite clue scarf on the floor. Picking it up, he noticed a difference in texture on the fabric.

He turned felt his way to the section of fabric, and to his surprise, a name was sewed into the seams of the fabric. It was small, yes, but still there. It shocked him that someone would be able to sew so intricately into the small space.

What shocked him more, though, was the name that it read.

Marinette.

Marinette, the girl who sat behind him in class. In the Derby Hat Competition, she mentioned that she always signed her work. Always.

So she made this scarf for him. His dad didn't. Also meaning that his dad didn't get him anything for his birthday.

He inhaled deeply, and very calmly, punched the floor.

Then he kept going with the rest of his routine, pondering over why, exactly, did Marinette keep this a secret.

To have your work be mistaken for another designer's work can be infuriating. And in this case, it could be flattering, considering Gabriel Agreste was the designer in which her work was mistaken for. Unless she thought that his father just claimed to buy a scarf, which would still be odd, because Marinette is a 14 year old girl, not a brand-name clothing company.

Ugh.

Adrien would definitely have to ask her today.

When Adrien arrived at the campus, he spotted Marinette immediately. He was going to approach her until—

"Hey dude! How was your weekend!"

Adrien temporarily postponed his confrontation with Marinette at the appearance bud. "Oh, hey Nino. My weekend was uneventful as usual… but how are you?"

"Good bro, but one thing, it's super hot outside, why are you wearing that scarf Mari— I mean your pops made—uhh—gave you?" Nino hoped that Adrien missed his slip up, whether he did or not didn't matter. Adrien already knew.

"Marinette made the scarf, I know that. And I am pretty sure she gave me it too, or tried to."

"Wait what?! I thought, I mean, I knew your pops finally made you a present—gave you a gift and— ugh your right, she did. I didn't mean to spoil it for you I mean—"

"Dude, relax. I found out myself this morning. Her name was signed."

"Oh."

Adrien chuckled, before saying, "You seemed so nervous about me finding out. Why ya trying to hide it?"

"In all honesty, you are gonna have to ask Marinette. I'd rather her tell you, and I don't want Alya to kill me."

Raising an eyebrow, Adrien nodded. He checked to see where he last saw Marinette, and she had already headed into class with Alya. He decided to just talk to her in class. And the two continued chatting about whatever it is teenagers talk about these days, games, girls, food, and school.

When he entered class, he found Marinette doodling in her sketchbook while Alya was very immersed into her phone.

"Hey Marinette. Watcha doodling?"

"Eep!" Marinette visibly tensed before properly replying. "Oh, uhh, nothing much just a f-few designs." She tilted the sketchbook so the content of the page she was working on was visible to Adrien. The designs included few rough drafts of a Chat-noir themed dress.

"Wow, that's really good!"

"Thank you, Adrien."

"I take it you're a fan of him?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Haha… something like that? I just thought the design was an interesting idea. Not that I don't like him or anything! He's great! I mean they're great— Ladybug and Chat Noir! But-"

"I get it Mari, haha." He cut her ramble off, while chuckling lightly at her nervousness. "Speaking of designs… you made this scarf right?" He said gesturing to his blue scarf, and her name which was sewed onto it. He gulped, awaiting her response.

Marinette turned to Alya, who gave her a 'I don't know what to do good luck' look.

"Oh...yeah... I'm really sorry for not telling you. I hope you aren't mad." She shut her eyes in fear of seeing his reaction.

"I… I am not angry at you. I'm just… disappointed in my dad. And curious. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I—" The bell ringed. Signaling the beginning of class.

"Everyone sit down! Class is starting!" Mme. Bustier called. The two sat down, Adrien hesitating when turning to his seat. "Alright, as usual, we are going to start of class by complimenting each other!"

She looked around the room. Now, who should she choose today. Usually, she'd pair up people who looked like they have conflicts with each other. Marinette and Chloe were up there a lot. Chloe was up there a lot.

Now, Mme. Bustier was born at night, but not born last night. She saw right through Marinette's hopeless crush on Adrien. She also noticed the affection Adrien showed to Marinette, but not to other girls in the class.

Last time she paired those two up, Marinette started rambling about how amazing Adrien is, then realized what she said, apologized, and ran out to the bathroom… she hasn't paired them up for a while.

Since the Troublemaker incident, hopefully it can be safe to assume that Marinette and Adrien got closer, no?

"Marinette and Adrien, please."

Marinette froze.

The last time she was up there with Adrien, she made a fool out of herself. She had rambled about his hair, and how it was like the sun, and then she said that the sun was beautiful, which then led to her talking about how beautiful Adrien is. But oh there's more. After that, she continued on and on about Adrien and how perfect he is, then got embarrassed, apologized, and ran out like Lighting McQueen. Heart racing, she slowly pulled herself out of the seat.

Adrien was already standing at the front of the class by the time Marinette had just stood up. Oh shoot she had been thinking for too long. She can't think anymore! NO! She has to think, or else she wouldn't know what to say and then she'd be messing up like last time. UGH! Don't think of last time. Last time she thought of last time she made Adrien wait up front while she was freakishly slow and—

"I think you are a really creative and amazing designer, especially for a young girl. I'm sure that even my father thinks so."

Marinette gaped. Literally. Her jaws were hanging from her face.

"Marinette it's your turn." Mme. Bustier said while grinning. The rest of the class (apart from Chloe and Sabrina) were also giggling at the duo's exchange.

"W-well, I think…" she had to choose her words carefully, so she thought over it for a few seconds, " that you are very admirable because of the qualities that you have. You're a really honest, hardworking, and kind guy. It's hard to find someone like that, especially at this age and—yeah." She was about to ramble, but cut herself off. Cheeks red, she quietly, but hastily made her way back to her seat.

Adrien was ecstatic. Usually, when people compliment him, it's his looks, his grades, or something that his father forced him to do. When someone does compliment his personality, it ends up being "you are a nice dude". It wasn't as ever a heartfelt as he saw Marinette do it.

Last time, when Marinette praised him, it was about his looks. He felt happy that Marinette managed to say at least that, of course, but didn't quite understand what Marinette said when she began to ramble. Something about sunshine and inner beauty?

Nontheless, he was very happy to receive such a compliment from that shy girl in class.

The lesson went on, classroom still somewhat bubbly after the two sat down.

Marinette, on the other hand, was not just bubbly. She was full-on overjoyed. Adrien just called her amazing! And creative! Oh my if this was a dream she never wants it to end.

She was beyond surprised that she didn't just faint at the notion of talking to Adrien, let alone praising him!

Alya was sending questioning glances toward the euphoric girl, but decided to interrogate her after class ended.

Well, unfortunately for Alya, Adrien beat her to the punch.

"Hey Marinette!" Adrien turned around and came face to face with said girl.

"Oh, u-um, hey Adrien!" Nervousness erupted from her stomach up, as she stared up at her crush, remembering the events before class.

Just as Alya was about to interrupt the awkward silence, Adrien spoke up.

"So… well, can I talk to you outside? Real quick?"

"Yeah! Um Alya I—"

"Go. I'll be waiting in at the stairs." Alya walked to the door, and very non-discreetly, winked at her Homegirl.

When Marinette and Adrien were alone outside of the classroom, Marinette was the one to speak up first.

"Look, I completely get it if you are mad at me. It's o-okay! Haha, I mean I'm mad at me! No-wait, I mean, if I were you I would be mad at me. I think? Wait, no it's just its okay if you are mad at me, I mean." She inhaled deeply, having said all that in one breath.

"It's okay, I promise that I am not mad. But I am curious, why didn't you tell me?"

Adrien awaited her response.

"Well, in all honesty, you looked so happy when you thought it was from your dad. I couldn't just spoil it for you. Ya'know?" Marinette said as sincerely as possible.

Oh.

Oh.