Secret Admirer

Chapter 3: A Visitor

Marinette leaned against the countertop in her parent's bakery with a dreamy smile. Tikki sat on top of the cash register. Good thing the bakery was empty because Marinette wasn't paying attention to anything else other than daydreaming.

"Oh no, she's in love." Tikki teased.

"Yeah." Marinette replied, still staring off into space.

"It seems Adrien is starting to like you, Marinette."

"Yeah."

"So what are you gonna write next?"

"What?" Marinette snapped out of her thoughts, leaning off the counter.

"Adrien wrote you back, so now you have to write a response." Tikki answered.

"Oh no, Tikki, I forgot all about that! And I've already lost one day! What if he's waiting for a response and thinks I don't like him anymore?!" Marinette panicked, arms flailing. "What am I gonna say?"

"Just talk to him like a normal person."

"I don't know how to do that!" She put her hands on her cheeks. "I poured my heart and soul into the first one. How am I supposed to keep it interesting now? I didn't even think I'd get this far. What am I supposed to say now?"

"Just write what you're thinking." Tikki suggested. "Don't try so hard and maybe the words will come to you."

"You're right, Tikki. I got this." Marinette reached under the counter and grabbed one of the blank, white cards that said Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie in the top corner. She pulled out a blue ink pen and began to write. "Dear Adrien . . . " She smiled but stopped. "Ugh, this is hopeless!" Marinette slammed her head down. "I don't know what to write!" She groaned.

"Just keep trying." Tikki encouraged. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

"I hope you're right, Tikki. I'll keep trying." She breathed. "I just hope I don't say something stupid."

Tikki flew under the countertop. "Marinette." She whispered, but Marinette didn't hear. "Marinette."

"At least I don't have to face Adrien anytime soon." Marinette sighed as she picked her head off the counter. "Ah!" She jumped back, her arms flailing. That stupid, smiling cat stood right in front of her. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"You just scare too easy." Chat Noir chuckled and picked up the card. "I see you started your next card . . . or at least tried to."

"It's not funny." She snatched it back. "It's a lot harder than it looks."

"Is that why you fell asleep while writing it?" Chat moved forward. "It must have been pretty boring writing to this guy."

"I didn't fall asleep." Marinette defended.

Chat Noir moved closer and poked her cheek. "Then why do you have blue ink on your face?"

"What?" Marinette turned around and ran to a mirror and sink around the corner. "Ugh! Why does this happen to me?" She rubbed her cheek. Chat Noir laughed. Marinette sent him a death glare and he stopped.

"It's just ink." He smiled. Marinette scoffed and walked back to the counter. "A little ink isn't going to ruin your pretty face."

Marinette didn't know what was up with him lately. Chat Noir's been nice lately, too nice, and it made her suspicious. She was used to him being around when she was Ladybug, but this was weird. She's just a normal citizen right now, so why would he treat her differently?

"Why are you here?" She asked, setting the card back down.

"Well, I thought you would have your response already written, so I came by to see you."