More than a Marichat tale

~dance preperation~

💙Marinette's room💙

'I have only an hour to get ready Tikki!'

'Go shower now Mari and then i'll help with your makeup'
'ok ok'

After her shower, she sat on her beanbag chair and trusted Tikki to do pretty makeup.

'Are you going to eat before we go? I wouldn't trust there to be enough food, let alone good food.' Tikki said.
'Earth to Marinette??'

She looked back at Tikki.
'Sorry, I just thought CatNoir would visit. True though, i'll eat here'.
'There's still time. When does the dance start?'

Marinette looked up at the white clock on her wall.
'It's 7:50 now and it starts at 8. Adrien's going to pick me up from here at 9:30'

'Why so late?'

'Fashionably late. And also it finishes at 1am'

'Why is getting ready the first thing we are doing, you still need to eat and it can't get all over the dress'

'Don't do the lipstick and I'll put the dress on right after i've eaten'

'Ok ok' tikki added a light shade of pink blush.

'Will it look like i'm blushing at him all night?'

Tikki giggled

Marinette lost focus again.

'What are you thinking about?' Tikki flew in front of her face, 'you seem very distracted, Marinette.'
Marinette took a breath in and looked at Tikki, 'I feel guilty for even thinking it...'
'Thinking what?'
'But I shouldn't feel guilty, I have no reason to. In fact, I should be feeling glad.'
'About what? Spill it!'
'I miss him, Tikki! And it's only been two days. I want to be going to the dance with Catnoir. What is wrong with me?'
Tikki gasped and covered her mouth, 'nothing is wrong with you, Marinette! You are catching feelings for Catnoir.'
'What!?'
'You must be! It's not a bad thing. He really likes you.'
'Yes, it is very convenient... it's not that I don't want to go with Adrien but he only sees me as a friend... he wants to take me as a friend. I just wish I had a date tonight.'
'I know, Marinette. He did say you'd be his for the night. Maybe he will surprise you.'
Marinette went over to her bed and lay down, 'I really hope so, Tikki.'

**Ring Ring**

'Could you pass my phone, please?'
Tikki flew over holding Marinette's phone; Marinette sat up.
'Thanks. It's Alya'

'Hey Alya!'
'Are you ready yet?'
'Um almost. why?'
'I wanna see youuu'
'Can't you wait until the dance?'
'No. Cause I already know you're going to be late. And I need to check you out before Adrien does!'
She knows me so well. 'You have 30 minutes'
'Thanks gurl! See you soon!'
'Bye!'
'Byee.'

'I'm done now, Mari' Tikki said.
'Ooo you carried on while I was on the call! Thank you so so much'

Marinette stood up and went over to the mirror.
'Wow I look so good, almost unrecognisable'
'You look gorgeous.' Tikki zoomed around her.

She went down to the kitchen to get a bite to eat.

'I'm home, honey' Alya walked through the front door.

'Hii' she hugged her.

'I was just about to eat. Join me.' Marinette said.
'Oh no thank you. I ate at home. I'll just get myself some water. I actually made a fruit salad for you, it's a gift.' She passes a bowl to her.
'Aw alya! that's so sweet'
'Yeh uh, do you have any gum? I kinda left in a hurry'.

'oooo are you planning on kissy kissy with NIMO??'

'Not with the fish but maybeee NiNo'

'Are you going to get there at 8:30?'
'Around then, yes.' Alya replied.
'You going to leave early then?'
'No, i'm staying for it all babay!'

Marinette put a mango slice into her mouth.
'Great!' she said, 'not sure I will last as long but I love your enthusiasm.'

Then she stood up and reached into a cupboard, she took out stick of gum and held it out for Alya.

'Thanks hun. You're a life saver! haha' Alya laughed but it was hollow.

'Oh damn, time flies, I'm meeting Nino in a few minutes, shame I couldn't see you in your dress. Gotta run,' she headed for the door, 'Can't wait to see that dress on you later!'
Marinette waved Alya off, and headed up to her bedroom.

Marinette put on the dress and Tikki helped do her hair.
Then she walked over to her full length mirror and does a spin.

'I actually look gorgeous'
'Yes you do Mari! That's how everyone should be talking about themselves' Tikki said.

'I'm all dressed up though. And with makeup that makes me look so good it's almost', she sighed. 'Unrecognisable. It's not me.'

'You look just as beautiful without makeup but the only reason you don't see that is because you're familiar with your own face. when you buy a painting. while it's new, it's extra valuable to you. When it's been around for a while it's still just as pretty to anyone else, but to you, since you've been able to look at it every day, it doesn't catch your eye every time you walk past it. Like with the painting, you're just use to your own features, and putting on makeup makes you look like a slightly different person. like when the same artist who made that beautiful painting, makes another painting. It's different but still beautiful because it's by the same artist that you like, it's in the same style. You're still very beautiful because you still need your facial features to apply makeup. just like you need the artist to make another painting. not everyone looks good with certain makeup styles, the ones you look good in, only look good because it's on your face not somebody else's.
You still have that beautiful painting, but you own it, so you're use to seeing it. That doesn't mean you're becoming any less beautiful.'
'That's really touching, Tikki.' she hugs her Kwarmi.

ding dong

'Oh my god! That must be Adrien'.
'Ooo i'm so excited!' Tikki shrieked in her little angel-like voice.
'Hide Tikki!'

Marinette made her way down the stairs. careful to not trip over her own feet.
Then she opened the door and let Adrien in.

Adrien smiled at her.
'I- wow. You look.. incredible,' he took her in from head to toe, pure admiration in his eyes, 'I have no words honestly'.

Marinette felt her cheeks go red.

'Are your parents home?'

HE DOESNT MEAN IT LIKE THAT AHAH

'I'd love to say hello,' his eyes wonder around the bakery.
'No they're staying with my grandmother. she's fallen quite ill'
'Oh.. i'm really sorry to hear that Marinette. I hope it'll be okay'
'Me too' she mutters.

Adrien looked down at her shoes.
'I see you made the wise choice of wearing flats' he laughed.
She chuckled with him.
'I can barely stay on my feet in general, no way would I try to walk in heels. I'd most likely sprain an ankle, or two.'

'Well, may I escort you to the dance' he bowed to her.
Marinette did a little curtesy.
'Yes, you may' she giggled.