Reunited (A Miraculous Ladybug Romance)

Something New

     When I woke up this morning, I did not expect this day to go well. I had gone a blissful four years without ever having to think of monotonous photo shoots or being the famous model, Adrien Agreste. No one in China knew who I was, so I was able to actually live as a normal guy. I didn't even have the fame of being Chat Noir seeing as how there were no villains to fight. Even though I missed being Chat, it was nice to live a life out of the spotlight for a while.
     The entire limo ride with the Gorilla was an unhappy one. I wanted desperately to be back on my bicycle with the freedom to go anywhere on my own. After the Gorilla dropped me off  in front of my dad's building, I caught a glimpse of a girl in obvious distress. The Chat in me would not allow me to move on without trying to help her.
     For some reason, my heart began to flutter when I realized that this girl was Marinette, an old friend from high school. I had not seen any of my friends since I had returned from China only a few days ago, and I was elated to run into one so quickly.
     "So, you're going to be working for my father," I said after we had called the roadside assistance company. "I guess we will have that in common." I must have had a big, goofy grin on my face because I was so happy that I would be working in the same building as a friend which had never happened to me before.
     Marinette just blushed as she looked to the ground, "that's s so cool, Adrien. M maybe we will see each other s sometimes."
     "I'm sure we will," I smirked. We spent the rest of the time talking about the highlights of our last four years. I told her all about China and how she would enjoy visiting it someday. For some reason, I had the strange urge of wanting to be there with her when she did.
     After she had gotten her car unlocked, grabbed her things, and I had walked her into the building, we stood in the lobby awkwardly together. We both had different places that we needed to be, but neither of us wanted to say goodbye. There was still just so much to catch up on. Marinette looked at me as if she wanted to say something, but nothing ever came out of her mouth. Multiple people walked around us as they headed off to begin their work day.
     "Hey Marinette," I said shyly breaking the silence, "would you like to meet me for lunch?" Her face turned beat red as she crossed one of her arms to grab the other rubbing it as it still hung by her side. "I mean....it's just that....well, it's your first day working here, and you probably don't really know anyone else, and I.... um.... have been gone for so long that I'm not sure if I will know anyone here either."        
     Marinette looked really uncomfortable with my question. Maybe she already had lunch plans, or really just didn't want me hanging around her all day. I wasn't even sure why I wanted to spend time with her so badly anyway. I had never felt like that about her before. "It's okay if you don't want to," I suggested, "we could do it some other time."
     "N no!" Marinette quickly blurted. "I mean yes. I don't want to do another time. I mean... maybe I would, but today. Today would be perfect, Adrien."
     I couldn't hide my smile at her acceptance of my offer. Today was already going much better than I had ever hoped it would.

When I made it to the dressing area to prep for my shoot, I was scolded for being late.
     "We only have fifteen minutes until the photographer wants to get started and you still look like you just rolled out of bed!" Carla, my new hair and makeup artist huffed. She shoved an armful of clothing into my arms and demanded that I get changed quicker than I could sing happy birthday. When I came out of the dressing room, she just rolled her eyes and plopped me into the chair immediately throwing a layer of powder on my face.
     It had been four years since I had had to wear any make up and the foreign substance felt funny on my face. I looked in the mirror to see a boy that I didn't recognize and sighed at the thought of people once again seeing me this way. Being a model that showcased a fake sense of perfection was never something that I had enjoyed. I regrettably wondered which Adrien Marinette would prefer. The picture perfect model, or the down to earth normal looking guy.
     The whole morning was taken up by modeling in many different outfits. The photographer was not pleased with my lack of practice and my distracted behavior. I kept thinking about where I would take Marinette to lunch and what we would talk about when we got there.
     "Are you sure you are the same Adrien Agreste who I used to photograph?" Nico, the most prestigious photographer in the business questioned. "Get your act together kid or you will not last long in this industry. I'm only working with you right now because I know that you used to have talent."
     My feelings might have been hurt if I wasn't so giddy about seeing Marinette again. Honestly, I could have cared less if my modeling career was a wash; however, I didn't want to disappoint my father. It wasn't that I was afraid of him, but honestly, I just wanted to make him happy. Plus, I needed this gig to work out until I found something else to do.
    "Thank you, Nico," I said flashing him my most modelesque smile I could muster, "I'm sorry for being so rusty. I will work harder to up my game, I promise."
     He just turned his nose up and sneered, "You better. I expect to find someone different the next time we work together or I can't promise that there will be a third time."