~Marinette Dupain-Cheng~

Secrets.

Everybody has one.

For me?

By day, I'm your normal teenage girl. But by night?

I'm your average crime-fighting, kick-ass super heroine.

At least once or twice a day I team up with Chat Noir to fight HawkMoth's akumas as the infamous Ladybug.

You might've heard of her.

So why don't people flash cameras in my face when I walk around out and about, you ask?

That's because it's a secret.

Nobody in Paris knows my identity- not even Chat Noir!

I also have a not-so-secret secret... I have the BIGGEST crush on my friend Adrien Agreste, a famous model. But that's not why I like him. He's handsome, as well as very kind-hearted and selfless, and he wouldn't hurt a fly. He cares for his friends very much, and yet is kind of insecure himself. And handsome. Did I mention that he's very handsome?

Anyway...

Keeping the fact that I'm a superhero a secret isn't always so easy.

Like that one time when a girl named Lila Rossi was hitting on Adrien and lying about being Ladybug's best friend. I got up in her face and started yelling at her, right in front of Adrien! She ended up getting akumatized and causing quite a lot of trouble, but, with a little bit of teamwork, me and Chat Noir stopped Volpina and set everything right.

Ever since then, I've been in more control of my emotions and tried to act more like a superhero. Tikki (my kwami) says it's okay to let your emotions take control sometimes, but only when the moment is right.

Then there's my best friend; Alya Césaire, creator of the LadyBlog. She has practically dedicated her life to finding out who Ladybug is under that mask.

"Marinette! Look at this!"

Speaking of masks...

I looked up from my math homework. "Hmmm? What is it, Alya?"

Alya handed me her phone, which had the main web page for Collège Françoise Dupont open. Something new had been posted- something about a dance.

"'This year, the board at Collège Françoise Dupont has decided to hold a Valentine's Day Masquerade Ball for the students. Everyone will be acquired to wear a mask and formal wear. You may bring a date, if you'd like. Dancing is encouraged...'" I looked up, my jaw dropped. "Alya... a masquerade ball?"

Alya nodded. "But that's not the best part! Marinette, you can bring a date. Why don't you-"

"-ask Adrien?" I laughed, knowing my best friend too well. "Alya, you know I can't do that. I'll be like 'h-hi, Adrien, w-would you like to go t-to the pants with me? I-I-I mean, the dange? I MEAN THE DANCE?!' He'd only end up saying no, anyway." I sighed.

"Girl, have a little faith in yourself. Besides, I'm- uh, we're not giving up that easily. Like I'm not giving up on finding out who Ladybug is!" Alya gave me a pat on the back, a very familiar look on her face.

Uh oh. I know that look.

Alya has a plan.

But, I won't say anything. Whatever it is, it's not good.

But still...

"Hey, girl, can you make me a dress? I don't have the time to shop, and I'm pretty sure you don't like shopping either."

"Of course, Alya! Anything for my best friend!" I smiled.

I guess that I'll worry Alya's so-called 'plan ' later.

Right now, we've got some brainstorming to do.

-0-0-0-

Monday- four days until the dance...

"Good morning, Marinette!" Adrien waves, making me turn red.

"H-Hi, Adrien!" I stuttered, Alya and Nino sharing knowing looks.

As Adrien sat down, I shot the smirking couple a glare.

Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder, turning to see Alix, Rose, Mylene, and Juleka.

"Oh! Hey girls!" I asked, a bit surprised to see all of them. "What's up?"

Rose looked a little shy, trying to say something. Alix rolled her eyes, hands on her hips.

"We were wondering if you could make us our dresses for the dance? You're a designer and all, and we'd thought you'd have fun experimenting. That is, if you want to, of course."

I smiled. "Of course I'll make you girls your dresses! Just message me and I'll get them to you by Thursday."

They all smiled, thanking me happily before heading back to their seats as class started.

"Wow, girl! Looks like you've got a lot of sewing to do in the next three days!" Alya pointed out. "Do you even have time to find a date now?!"

"I... I don't know, Alya..." I gulped.

What have I gotten myself into?!

-0-0-0-

"We have to hurry, Tikki! The fabric store closes in ten minutes!" I said, running as fast as I could across the snowy street, tugging my hat around my freezing cold ears, a chilly breeze making my scarf fly backwards as I ran.

Tikki peeked out of my hair, trying to stay warm. "Can you believe that it's snowing in February? "

I laughed as I opened the door to the fabric store. "It's always cold here in February,"

I quickly grabbed a cart, snatching fabrics off the shelves as fast as I could.

"Alix wants neon green... silk... sequins..." I mumbled to myself, checking my list. "Rose wants different shades of pink and Juleka wants black and purple... Mylene is okay with anything... I have orange and white for Alya, I just need black... ooh, that's some nice silk! Hmmm..."

I scanned the shelves, looking for anything that I could use.

That'd when I saw it.

Pink silk with black embroidery, white swirls and a beautiful piece of fabric all together.

It's perfect.

I grinned reaching for the fabric just as someone else did.

"Sorry! You can take it," I apologized.

"No, you must want it more," A girl's voice said, and I could sense the smirk in her voice. "being a designer and all, Marinette."

I turned, noticing who I was speaking to.

Kagami Tsurugi. Fencing champion, ice skater, a bad ass through and through. She and I are friends... sort of. Kagami used to hate Adrien because of a mistake I made during fencing tryouts at school, and she got akumatized because of it. But Adrien and her made up, and Adrien seems to have taken a liking to her. A few weeks ago Adrien invited her to the ice rink. I went to help Adrien, give him advice, even though I was a bit jealous (okay, I was VERY jealous). I invited Luka Coffaine, not wanting to do it alone. Both of the boys were a big distraction. I ended up locking myself up in the bathroom until an akuma attack took place. I almost confessed my true feelings to Adrien that day... I saw Kagami glance at me a few times while she was talking to Adrien. Truth is, I've always seen Kagami as a bit of a rival, but she's proven herself to be a good friend, especially after what happened on Friendship Day. Me and her have hung out a bit more lately, but there's still a bit of rivaling. Just my luck to run into her here.

"Oh! H-Hey, Kagami!" I laughed awkwardly.

Kagami nodded, looking at my cart, eyes wide. "What's all that for? You look like you're designing a whole new wardrobe for yourself,"

I groaned. "My friends want me to make them all dresses for the masquerade ball at school. I agreed, being the good friend I always am. But now I have over six dresses to make in the next three days, including my own. Luckily, they're all making their own masks. But I also still have to find a date..."

Kagami laughed a bit, her cheeks red.

"It's not funny!" I pouted. Kagami gave me an amused look. "Ok, fine, it kind of is. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

Kagami shrugged. "Just exploring. I need a dress, but, knowing my mother, she probably already bought me one. I want to wear something in my style, though. This fabric caught my eye, but I don't know what I'd do with it. I already bought some black and white fabric."

"Hmmm... I could make you a dress, if you'd like. I was considering using this fabric for my own dress, and depending on how much you're gonna use, maybe I can use it too."

Kagami shook her head. "No, no, I wouldn't want to add more to your plate. You already have so many dresses to make!"

"It's okay, Kagami. Consider it a favor. We are friends, after all."

Kagami smiled. "If you insist. Thank you, Marinette. I'll pay you, of course..."

"You don't need to pay me. Like I said, consider it a favor." I smiled back at her. "So, you're going to the dance?"

Kagami nodded. "Yeah. There's this guy I want to ask to come with me, but I don't think he'd accept."

I winced, frowning. "I'm sure Adrien would love to go with you,"

"Adrien? Who said anything about Adrien? Me and Adrien are just friends. Sure, there's been something there in the past, but I like someone else now."

My heart was doing a little dance inside. "R-Really? Who?! "

Kagami blushed slightly. "Remember when you we went to the ice rink and you brought Luka with you? Well, me and Luka have been hanging out a lot lately... and, uh... he's kind of cute..."

Marinette squealed, hugging the embarrassed Kagami. "I'm so happy for you!"

"I just said that he's cute!" Kagami pouted, her face as red as a strawberry.

"That's not what your expression said," Marinette smirked, winking, Kagami turning even redder.

"Anyway, message me about the dress, and I'll get to work on it right away." I smiled at Kagami, placing the fabric in my cart. "Feel free to suggest any fabrics or certain themes you'd like."

Kagami smiled. "Thank you again, Marinette."

"Don't worry about it. That's what friends are for!"

-0-0-0-

After saying goodbye to Kagami and paying for all the fabric (taking out most of my allowance for the next two years), I made my way back home, laying out the fabric and design sketches on the floor of my room.

"All right, Tikki..." Marinette took a deep breath, gripping her pencil. "let's get to work."