Marinette woke up with a pounding headache. For some reason, her heart ached too. She rolled over and felt on her counter for the water bottle that she always kept there. She drank the lukewarm water in silence. She was glad that her dark blinds were drawn and that she didn't have practice. Sunday was her only free day and she wanted to spend it in bed. She rolled back over and tried to fall back asleep. After a few minutes with no sign of sleep coming anytime soon, she slowly got up.

Marinette usually didn't drink. In fact, she rarely ever drank but yesterday she made an exception. She wanted to hate Chloe. She wanted to hate her with her entire being but she just couldn't. Marinette was basically the sweetest girl in Paris.

Marinette stepped through the quiet apartment and took some Advil. She wanted to forget about last night and the audition. It was horrible.

Every time she closed her eyes the events that transpired played behind her eyelids. She remembered them all. She quickly began almost breaking the shoes and sewing them up for her audition but when she actually tried to dance in them, they were weak and couldn't support her. Her shoes didn't feel right. She was sabotaged. She looked around the room and her eyes fell to a grinning blonde. She passed Marinette on the way to the stage. "Have fun trying to dance in those," she sneered. "And before you even think about going to the director, I've already got the part. He's just putting on a show to make it seem like he needs to decide." Marinette felt her heartbreak at the memory. She remembered the stare of astonishment from the dancer called Lila when she showed her shoes to the other dancer. She wasn't proud of herself for dancing with fault shoes. She pitied herself for falling for such a selfish trick. The only person Marinette hated was herself.

It was well into the afternoon so Marinette made herself a sad peanut butter sandwich and ate it slowly. Her stomach churned and she wanted to throw up. She wished she felt better.

Marinette looked at the counter and saw a note. She leaned against the counter to read it. Alya was working a double and they needed milk. She put the note on the fridge and stretched in the kitchen. She could feel her tense muscles relax a little. She worked her way into the living room and put on Adrien's music and she relaxed into the couch. She couldn't believe that she had met him in person. It all felt like a dream. She felt that any moment that she may wake up. She turned and laid on her side and basked in the quiet notes. She remembered the exact shade of his eyes and the way that his smile hid something. She sat and enjoyed the sounds. Although she wanted to dance, she sat back and watched the city through her grimy window. She made a mental note to pick up window cleaner as well. She got up when the CD came to the end and she put on her flip flops that were by the door and set out for the store. She didn't care that she was in her pajamas.

She walked into the store and picked up a worn red basket and picked up the two items she needed. The young cashier was playing a video game on his handheld while she walked around the small mart. Once she finished she brought her items up and politely cleared her throat to indicate that she was there. The cashier's name tags gleamed Max. She smiled at him, he returned his with only half the effort. She brought out her wallet and waited for it to be rung up. She laid out her money and looked over at the small section of magazines.

"You don't have enough," he stated simply before basically brushing her off. Marinette searched her purse but to no avail did she find any cash or coins that would make the difference.

She sighed. "I guess I don't need the glass cleaner," she started but then someone slid a blue piece of plastic on the pale counter. She looked behind her and was met with red hair. The person smiled at her before wedging his way next to her.

"I'll pay for the both of us," he said and smiled. Max didn't seem to care about the good deed and began ringing everything up anyway.

"Thank you so much!" Marinette smiled and took the bags that Max handed to her.

"It was really no big deal Marinette," he shrugged it off. "I'm sorry you didn't get the lead. I thought that the director would see that if anyone deserved to be Ladybug it was you," he said seriously and quietly. Marinette must have had a confused look on her face because suddenly the guy blushed as dark as his hair. "I didn't really introduce myself before. I'm Nathanaël Kurtzberg, I'm playing the role of Chat Noir," he politely smiled at the girl.