Hi everyone!  SylveonKwami here.

Hope you're all excited for this update!  I also have some news for this book.

We've now reached the development arc in the story.  Mari and Adrien will be doing things leading up to the ending- but here's where you guys come in.  You can request stuff!

That's right.  Our protagonists need some stuff to do, and obviously I have some of it, but I can't come up with EVERYTHING- so you can request some scenes you want to see between them.  Obviously, I might not be able to do some of them, as they have to line up with my plot for the story.... but I definitely want to do the majority of them.  You can request more than once- it's fine by me.  Just put a comment of what scene you want to happen... yeah, that's it.  My only rule is to keep it PG.

Think about it in the chapter- you can request stuff later on, too.  I'll let you all know when the time to request is over- I'll say it before the chapter like I'm doing now.  It won't be for a while, so don't worry about that.

Anyways, you didn't come here to see me talk- let's start!  Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked it!

Enjoy \(^v^)/

Marinette

"Sorry, guys, I didn't get to work on the project yesterday... but I'm feeling better now, though," Marinette told Alya and Nino.  "That's fine, right?"

"Don't worry about it, girl," Alya said, though Marinette could sense something a little off about her voice.  "We didn't do much with it either- we wanted to work with you."

"We were too busy watching Agreste's speech last night," Nino added, and Marinette could feel Adrien's slight movement in her bag at the mention of his dad's name.

"There was a speech?" she asked, and he nodded.

"You should watch it," Nino told her.  "There's videos all over the internet now."

Marinette nodded, putting her hand around the outside of her purse to comfort her kitten.  "I'll have to watch it after school," she said absently, knowing that Adrien would want to watch it with her.

Last night, after dinner, they'd come up with a plan.  Around 10 o'clock every day, she'd use an excuse to get out of class and get him breakfast- basically all the stuff they did yesterday, minus the soaking part.  To make things worse, this morning she'd been rushing so she'd forgotten to pack her water bottle.  She was going to be so thirsty today...

"Aaah I was so tired this morning I forgot to pack water," Marinette groaned, stretching out over the desk.  

"That sucks," Alya said sympathetically.  Turning back to the project, she added, "Alright guys!  If we focus, we should be able to finish, and we get a free day tomorrow," she added.

"Right," Marinette said, sitting up again.  She looked at their project- they had to look up a famous author and write down facts about him/her.  One of Marinette and Alya's favourite book series was called "In the Stars".  Basically, it centered around a 16 year old who died by accident, and she has to do many trials to gain her life back- both in the after life and the real world.  She meets people and spirits along the way and... yeah, you get the picture.  The author was named Emmy Carlie- and they chose to research her.

"I'll handle writing about her career," Alya said.  "Marinette, maybe you could handle interesting facts and Nino, you can do her past and basic info?" she asked each of them, and both nodded.  They all simultaneously pulled out their tablets and began to jot notes down for their project.  Throughout it all, Marinette made sure to keep track of time.

"I'm really sorry about yesterday, guys," she said, and both of her friends looked at her.  "I wasn't myself.... yeah, you get it, right?"

"We get it," Nino said, tossing her a smile.  "Stuff happens, besides, yesterday was hard for all of us."

"Yeah..." Alya added thoughtfully, jotting something down.  

"Thanks so much, you guys," Marinette said, feeling grateful her friends were so forgiving.  She still felt bad that she couldn't tell them the truth- that Adrien was fine, and he was here with them right now.  But she couldn't... how every much she wanted to.  She would risk everything- everything- if she did that.

Just then her phone buzzed.  She pulled it out and it had a text from her parents.  It read: Marinette- we're sorry, but due to some storms here, we're going to be staying here for a little while.  Don't worry yourself- it's just your Dad doesn't feel comfortable driving.  We'll text you with updates- but the storms are going to continue for a while.  We will drive back in a couple of days, but it will take us a long time to get back- we are going to do it slowly.  Maybe you can stay at Alya's?  Or you can stay at the bakery by yourself- we trust you.  There are lots of ingredients in the pantry, you know where they are, or you can order out for meals- is that okay with you sweetie?  Call us back as soon as you can.

Marinette almost swore.  Her parents better be okay.  Maybe Ladybug can go bring them home- no, too risky.  How on earth was Ladybug supposed to know about this situation!?  Besides, if they were gone, she and Adrien could have the place to themselves... which would definitely make things easier.  They seemed safe; maybe this was the best way.

"What's up?" Alya asked, looking over her shoulder at her phone.

"Text from Maman," she replied.  "They won't be home for a couple of days."

"You can see with us if you want," Alya told her, seeing her name in the text.

"No no, it's fine, I want to stay in the bakery," Marinette told her quickly.  

"Want the place to yourself, eh?" Alya asked her, and Marinette mumbled something and turned away.  "Aw, don't worry, I'm just teasing ya," her best friend said.  "If you need anything, just call me and my parents- you name it, we can do it."

Marinette gave her friend a small hug.  "Thanks, you're the best Alya," she said, smiling.  Just then, her eyes caught site of her tablet- the clock read 10:07.  Shoot!

"Oh, uh, I have to go fill up my water bottle," Marinette stuttered, panicked.  She was late!  Grabbing her bag and telling the teacher where she was going, she promptly left the classroom.

Alya (surprise!)

Alya was so confused.  "I thought Marinette forgot her water bottle?" she asked herself, looking at Nino.

He shrugged.  "She must've forgot she forgot it.  Or maybe she's just thirsty.  Who knows- losing Adrien must've really got to her."

"Yeah, it's gotten to all of us..." Alya said, sighing.  She didn't know if there was any hope that the blonde would ever return, but chances of that now seemed slim.

Suddenly, a couple of police officers walked into the classroom.  One of them was actually Sabrina's father.  She waved to him, but he gave her a look that said "important police business".  

"This was Adrien Agreste's class, yes?" Roger asked, and everyone nodded, including Miss Bustier.  

"We're looking for people who were very close with him," he stated.  "We need more information to help solve this case."

Alya and Nino instantly raised up their hands, as with Chloe.  A couple others did as well, but that was when Alya realized something- Marinette was still gone.

"Uh, officer!" she exclaimed, waving her hand to get his attention.  "Marinette- she knew Adrien very well, she, uh, left class for a second.  Can we wait for her?"

"Oh, uh, as long as it's quick," Roger said.  To Miss Bustier, he added "Can you put an announcement for her?  We really don't have long," he said, and she instantly nodded and left.

Alya sat down in her seat.  Marinette was going to be in for quite the surprise when she got back...

Hi again, everyone!  SylveonKwami here.  Hope you enjoyed reading that chapter- sorry, I had to make it more of a filler chapter.  The next chapter should be more interesting.  

Oh yeah, requests!  If you have anything now, feel free to comment them below- but as I said, you can always say them later.  The rules are the same as above- WHY AM I REPEATING THEM.  But yeah, if you have stuff, comment! 

Anyways, that's it.  See you all in the next update!

Stay tuned ;)