If Only

blossoms | part 2

'I don't believe in magic.'

The young boy said.

The old man smiled.

'You will, when you see her.'

- Atticus

***

In all of the history of Françoise Dupont High School, the lycée had never experienced a student so consistently late as Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The girl may have spent a tad too much time daydreaming about Chat and dismissed the ring of her alarm to the back of her mind. Luckily, her maman was always there to save the day, aware of Marinette's habit of being behind in time.

"Marinette, it's time for school!" the older baker called from the apartment.

This woke the blunette from her dreamy thoughts and caused her to run around like a chicken, collecting miscellaneous items she would need for the day. "I'm coming maman! Just running a little late," she answered back. Marinette opened her pink purse and breathlessly told her kwami to hop in.

Tikki settled comfortably in the bag with a couple cookies to munch on throughout the day.

With a kiss to her maman and papa she crossed the street, taking a quick glance to look for cars, and ran to the school. Marinette flew up both sets of steps and opened the door to her first period class. Most of the class, familiar with Marinette's tardiness, didn't look her way, but a few turned their heads. One in particular was Adrien, who gave her the biggest real smile and waved. She blushed a deep shade of crimson and felt her temperature rise. A smile was given in return and the blunette practically stumbled to her seat.

"Hey girl," Alya whispered.

Marinette greeted her with a smile and took out her tablet, ready to take notes. She didn't notice, however, the light blush that dusted the model's cheeks and reached his ears.

***

He couldn't put his finger on it but something about his and Marinette's relationship felt different. A good different. It was almost as if he had gained feelings for the petite twin tailed girl. No, there's no way. He loves ladybug. But, then again, why did he blush?

All these thoughts and more ran through the blonde's head distracting him from taking notes. The bell rang, causing Adrien to jump in his seat. A quick peek around the room, indicated that the only students left were Marinette and, well, himself. A streak of courage hit him and he swiftly stood up, swung around, and asked the clumsy girl if she wanted to hang out tomorrow. Deep down, Adrien selfishly wanted her to know both sides of him, not just as the elusive Chat Noir.

Marinette looked taken aback and blinked a couple times almost as if she was questioning if this was real. After regaining her composure she swiftly agreed.

"It's a date. Or, no, I-I mean, er, I'll see you then," and like a cheetah catching its prey, she was gone.

Adrien stared at the door long after she ran off, "It's a date."

The model shook his head in an effort to clear his thoughts. Grabbing his backpack, he walked to his next period, only to be stopped short by a loud BOOM. Not even questioning it was anything other than an akuma, he dashed to the empty classroom and said those three marvelous words.

"Plagg, claws out!"

One moment Adrien was standing in the classroom, the next he was Chat Noir, ready to face the most evil of akumas and protect his lady at all costs.

The akuma was called Littermeister and would stop at nothing to destroy anyone who litters Paris' beautiful parks and Seine river. One of the dumbest akumas either superhero had faced up to this time. Chat Noir guessed Hawk Moth was running out of ideas. The akumatized object, was instantly discovered to be a crumpled coupon in the akuma's fist