COMPLETED
From the moment you're born, there's a timer on your wrist counting down the days until you meet your soulmate.
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Marinette DuPain-Cheng was never all that enthralled by her soulmate timer like most of her friends were. She mainly preferr...
Marinette opened her eyes as her third alarm of the morning went off. Groaning, she slid out of her bed and turned it off. The clock read 4:35 am, which woke Marinette right up. She usually had to be up and working in the bakery by 4 am to start on the breakfast pastries to put out in the displays. Marinette checked her phone and saw that she had been added to a group text. She had only missed a few messages since it was still so early so, as she prepared the doughnut batter, she read through them.
Tomato🍅 created a group chat
Tomato🍅 added 'SkaterBoi,' 'Unicorn🦄,' and 'Master Mari'
Tomato🍅 changed group name to 'Art Kids'
Tomato🍅: Hey guys! Did you hear that Collège Françoise Dupont has an extracurricular art program?
SkaterBoi: Really? That's so cool! What kind of art?
Unicorn🦄: I heard about that too!! <3<3<3 The art teacher opens up his room after classes and lets his students do any art they want in there!!
Tomato🍅: Well basically the room is opened up after hours for anyone
Tomato🍅: Oh, Rose already said it. But yeah, isn't that cool!
Skaterboi: Dude, that is pretty lit. I could finally have a way to do street art without having to bribe Sabrina's dad
Unicorn🦄: Alix, there were so many things wrong with what you just said
Tomato🍅: Never say LiT again or I'll just have to slow roast your ears
Skaterboi: yeah whatever 😂
Skaterboi: Wait, I see Marinette's in the chat, where is she?
Tomato🍅: Her parents yeeted off to America for like a month so she's running the bakery all on her own so she's being all "responsible" and actually going to sleep on time and waking up early
Unicorn🦄: We should probably go to sleep, too huh?
Skaterboi: Yeah, I guess so. It is 1 am after all
Tomato🍅: True
Unicorn🦄: Goodnight!
Marinette smiled as she read her friends' conversation. She was so glad that so many of her friends would be going into high school with her. It made everything so much less scary. Almost everything, she thought as she glanced down at her wrist. She cleared her mind and hummed something to herself as she continued to prepare the bakery for opening. At 6:30, Marinette finished turning on all the lights and setting the tables. Once she was sure the bakery was ready, she went upstairs to put her hair up and changed out of her pajamas. She stole a glance at her favorite dress as it sat, finally finished, on a mannequin.
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Marinette felt a strong sense of pride as she looked at it. She pulled on a white flowy tank top and a black and red spotted skirt before climbing back down into the bakery and working on pastries for the impending morning rush. Croissants in the oven, doughnuts in the display, macaroons on the stand, and danishes on display.
Nathaniel ended up coming over to help her work the counter during the morning rush. They chatted about school, the art program, the completed dress, and of course, Marinette's soulmate as they worked.
"I told you already, Nath, I don't want to think about it anymore. You know how I am; I've just been overthinking everything since we talked about it last. What if I'm setting too high of expectations so even if they're amazing, I won't love them? What if they don't want to meet me? What if we don't get along? What if-" She started to ramble before Nathaniel put a finger to her lips.
"Mari, I love you but seriously. You're way overthinking this, you know. Soulmates are literally the perfect person for you. You know that no matter what, you'll love them and they'll love you. You guys will be happy, no matter what 'expectations' you set for them beforehand."
"I know, but-"
"I bet they have black hair," Nathaniel offered.
Marinette looked surprised as she countered back immediately. "No way, blonde." Hearing the words leave her lips, they both laughed as they finished their work. The redheaded boy had to leave after the morning shift so they said their goodbyes and Marinette closed the door.
After about an hour of the bakery being empty, she decided to let herself take a break. It had been a while since she'd gone to the park to people watch and now seemed like the perfect time. Switching the sign on the door to 'closed' and grabbed her phone and sketchpad.
