The Tale of Two Hearts || Adrienette || Miraculous

Twenty Two - Stuck in The Middle With You

"I'm so nervous! What if I stutter!? What if I faint! What if I don't know what to say!? Oh my god, I can't go! I might choke on my food whilst I'm having dinner and die-"

"Marinette! Shut up." Alya interrupted Marinette by putting her hand over her mouth. "There is no need to get yourself in a mess, remember, you're a professional designer. You must act like the most knowledgeable woman in the room."

"But-" The words were muffled under Alya's hand.

"No! No buts! You're just collecting the prize YOU earned Marinette." Alya was stern with her words and raised an eyebrow waiting for Marinette to agree. Marinette nodded and Alya moved her hand away from Marinettes's mouth, who shrugged and sighed.

"You're right, it's just crazy, I am working with Paris' top fashion designer, who also happens to be my soulmate's father, but he doesn't know that yet..." Marinette's face screwed up. "But what if he founds out! I'm SCREWED!"

"This conversation sounds like stress..." Marinette turned around and saw Adrien was right behind her, who smiled when he realised he'd caught her attention, he put his hands on her shoulders rubbing his thumbs into her shoulder blade for comfort. "It's okay to be nervous Mari, just act normal, remember, my dad already likes your designs, you're already co-host and it's been announced in magazines, no matter if you stumble on your words when you're at my house later, you'll still have the job of co-host."

"Thank you! Least you get it Adrien," Alya sighed picking up her book bag from her locker and slamming it shut. "Now let's go to class before we have another breakdown."

"Okay, okay.... I just hope it goes well..." Marinette mumbled as she picked up her bags and walked with Adrien and Alya to their classroom.

"Take a seat guys, we are just about to start." Miss Bustier announces as soon as they walk into the classroom, making them hurry to take their seats.

**II**

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, welcome, please come in." Gabriel Agreste was standing tall and proud, Marinette awkwardly smiled and followed Mr Agreste into his large house, she felt strange, even after being in the house before filled with warm memories, she felt cold and nervous as she walked by the famous fashion designer. She followed him to a part of the house she had yet to see, she walked a few steps up to two large doors after he opened one for her she whispered a thank you as she walked in, she took in her surroundings, his home office.

"Do take a seat Marinette," He gestured for Marinette to sit in one of the two brown leather chairs that were adjacent to a large mahogany desk, whereby he sat behind. "Well, let me just personally say, congratulations for winning the competition, your designs impressed me, I liked that you took a more personal lens on the subject of Romance in the city of love, many designs were full of traditional red cocktail dresses and ballgowns, they were delightful nevertheless but your new take on the subject is what put you as first."

"Thank you Mr Agreste," Marinette strained her voice to stop her from choking.

"Please, call me Gabriel, we are colleagues now," He smiled. "It was a very bold statement and I'm glad you did it. Now, shall we begin with a little background so this isn't as awkward, where do you study?"

"Collège Françoise Dupont, sir," Marinette spoke softly and slowly, trying to compose herself from being swallowed into the ground.

"Ah! My son, Adrien, also schools there, do you know him?"

Marinette almost fainted , her head was rushing with thoughts trying to compose a simple answer to the question she was asked. "Y-yes, I am actually in the same class as Adrien..."