Wishing Upon A Star In The City Of Lights

Chapter 4: Sugar and Sweetness

  
   Marinette. Marinette Dupain- Cheng. Mari, 'Nette. So cute! Adrien thought. He could get lost in those ocean eyes of hers. She had dark silky hair, pale skin, and freckles that ran across her cheeks and nose. Rose tinted cheeks and pink lips. Adrien wished he could spend the rest of his days with her. But anyone that beautiful had to be seeing someone already.

   "Hey kid, you gonna keep standing there or are you actually gonna walk?" Plagg pokes his head out. The comment from floating cat snapped Adrien back to reality.

   "Oh, right. Sorry," Adrien fumbled. He walked towards the small family owned bakery that was nearby. It was owned by the best bakers in Paris. There was something familiar about Marinette's last name.  Dupain- Cheng. I've heard that name somewhere before, Adrien thought. As he opened the door to the bakery the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread greeted him.

   "Hello, how may I help you today?" A woman asked.
   
   "Hi. Can I have 2 croissants? Do you have passion fruit macaroons?" Adrien asked.
  
   "Of course. And about those passion fruit macaroons, you got lucky. My daughter was experimenting with flavors a few days ago and had the brilliant idea of making passion fruit flavored macaroons," she told him. Adrien looked at her a bit closer. She kind of looks like Marinette, he thought. As she was grabbing his order, he thought of how to question if she was related to her somehow. All sorts of questions regarding her and Marinette popped into his mind but he pushed them all away. He got another he didn't like, but it was his only choice. He took a breath in and spoke.

   "Do you, by any chance, know a girl named Marinette?" Adrien asked.

   "Dupain-Cheng?" Adrien nodded. "Yes, she's actually my daughter," she told him. "Why? Are you a friend of hers? I thought I met everyone. She has never mentioned you before."

   "Oh, it's just... I met her this morning and she looks just like you! She looked like she was running late for school and we ran into each other. So I helped her get to school," he said.

   "Oh thank you! You have no idea how many times we've gotten letters from the school saying she arrived there late. Well, it's not like it's unusual for her anyway," she told him. "By the way, I'm Mrs. Cheng, but you can call me Sabine."

   "Nice to meet you Mrs. Cheng, I'm Adrien Agreste," he looked at his watch. 8:40 AM. He didn't have much time and he agreed with Nino to meet him at 9 AM for breakfast. "Well, it was nice meeting you, but I have to get going," Adrien announced.

   "I won't keep you any longer then. You must be busy," Sabine said, handing him two small boxes containing his croissants and macaroons.

   "It was nice meeting you. Have a nice day!" He said, walking towards the door.

   "Thanks! You too," she said back.

   As he walked to Place de Vosges, he pictured Marinette's big blue eyes. So pretty, he thought. It only felt like seconds before he arrived at their meeting place. But since he was lost in Marinette's eyes, he walked past.

   "Hey dude. Over here!" Adrien heard Nino shouting. He turned around and saw his friend waving his arms, trying to get his attention. He started walking back to his friend.

   "Oh, sorry. I got a little distracted."

   "Yeah, I figured. So what's got the famous Adrien Agreste so distracted today? Is it your father? Busy schedule?" He asked.

   "No, actually. This time it's a girl," he said, looking all lovesick.

   "So... what's her name?" Nino asked curiously.

   Adrien sighed softly. He then proceeded to say, "Her name is Marinette."

   "Wait, Marinette? 'Nette? Really? Actually I'm not even the slightest bit surprised. Trust me, I had a crush on her in school. And this other dude, Nathaniel, and someone else. Oh yeah, Kim did, too. I think all the boys in our class had a crush on her, honestly. I don't blame you, she's cool, awesome and she's always trying to help others. Putting their needs before her own." Nino told him.

   "Wait you know her? And did you just call her 'Nette?" He asked, caught off guard.

   "Yeah, I'm one of her closest friends. Who doesn't know her?" Nino paused for a bit. "Oh, you don't. At least not yet, but trust me, Alya and I, we'll think of something."

   "Oh I don't doubt you will," Adrien chuckled.