"So class, the deadline for submitting ideas for the school's annual charity fundraiser was yesterday and all of the suggestions have been read and listed on these sheets. I'm going to hand one to everybody. Just mark the box next to the suggestion that you think is the best and at the end of the school day, the winning event will be announced."

Miss Bustier walked through the center aisle and distributed the papers, making sure that every student received one. Marinette smiled as she got hers and quickly scanned the list. There were some alright suggestions, but the second to last one caught her attention the most.

The words 'Maid Cafe' stood out to her and she smiled more before putting a check in the box next to that suggestion. She turned the paper in along with everyone else and Miss Bustier put them all in an envelope before beginning her lesson. The rest of the day flew by quickly and before Marinette realized it, the school day was nearly finished. She looked up as the intercom suddenly buzzed to life and Mr. Damocles's voice was heard.

"Attention students, all of the votes for the school's fundraiser have been counted and the winner by a wide margin is Maid Cafe. Thanks to everyone for voting. Information about the event can be found on the school's bulletin board."

The intercom turned off and Marinette smiled, pleased that the idea she voted for was the winner. As she was lost in thought, the bell rang and she left the classroom before making her way to the school's bulletin board. There were a few papers tacked up about the fundraiser event which would be held the next day. One of them said that they needed eight maids for the event and there was a completely empty list where volunteers could write their names down.

While looking over the paper, Marinette heard footsteps and turned around to see her friends approaching the board. She moved over so they could all see. Mylène read over the paper saying that they needed maids and the short girl smiled before grabbing a pen and writing her name down. One by one, Mylène, Rose, Juleka, and Alya all wrote their names down. After they did, they started persuading Marinette to volunteer as well so they could all work at the event together. Marinette hesitantly agreed and wrote her name down as well.

After she did, Marinette looked at the three remaining spots and decided to find people to sign up. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Kagami to see if she would like to sign up. The brazen girl quickly replied and let Marinette know that she would indeed be interested in signing up. Marinette smiled once she read the response.

One down, two to go. Marinette soon spotted Kim walking nearby and stopped him. She asked him to text his girlfriend Ondine to see if she would be interested. He did and Ondine quickly agreed to volunteer. Marinette grinned and thanked him. He smiled and jokingly saluted before making his way to swim class.

Marinette then began leaving school with all of the other students who were no doubt ready to escape and do whatever they wanted for the rest of the day. As she was walking, she thought about all of the girls she knew but was drawing blanks on who to ask to fill in the last spot. Suddenly, she spotted a bright red hoodie and dark hair. She easily made her way through the flood of students going through the hallway and raised an arm.

"Marc!"

Marinette tried getting the shy boy's attention. Marc looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from before spotting the blue-eyed girl. He smiled and met her halfway.

"Hey, Marinette."

The dark-haired boy greeted her kindly. Marinette returned the smile and walked with him out of school. Once outside, Marinette stopped walking and Marc did as well. He noticed that she was lost in thought and looked at her curiously.

"Are you okay?"

Marc asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm just having a small problem is all."

The blue-eyed girl smiled a little.

"Oh. What is the problem?"

Marc asked kindly.

"You know how the school is having a fundraiser?"

Marc nodded and Marinette continued explaining.

"Well, my other friends and I all signed up to work at the event but we just need one more person."

Marc listened and once Marinette finished talking, he sheepishly spoke up.

"I...I can sign up if you would like."

Marinette smiled and looked slightly surprised.

"Really? You would do that?"

"Yeah. We're friends and I would like to help out."

Marc said shyly.

Marinette smiled more.

"That's great. I'll let the girls know."

While Marinette texted the others to let them know who else they would be working with, Marc went to the board and wrote his name down in the last remaining spot on the sign-up sheet. Once he returned to Marinette, she smiled at him.

"Would you happen to be free for the rest of the day?"

Marinette asked Marc who looked slightly confused by the question.

The green-eyed boy nodded and Marinette smiled wider.

"Perfect. I can make your outfit for the fundraiser. I just need to take your measurements and I can get started on it. We can hang out while I work."

Marc nodded once again and walked with the blue-eyed girl to her home. After quietly walking for a few minutes, they arrived at the bakery and entered the shop. Marinette waved in greeting as she passed her busy parents who briefly waved back at her. She kept walking and led Marc into her bedroom.

The dark-haired boy took his boots off and sat down on the long chair in the corner. Marinette dug through the clutter in one of her desk drawers and let out a triumphant sound as she pulled out a cloth tape measure. She then approached Marc.

"Could you stand there please?"

Marinette pointed to the middle of the room. Marc walked to the spot she specified and stood still, not really sure what to do since he's never been measured before. Marinette got a shy look and spoke awkwardly.

"This is going to be a weird thing to ask of you, but I need you to remove all of your bulky clothing. I think just taking off your hoodie should be good though since your pants and shirt are quite tight."

Marc flushed a little and took off his hoodie. He went and sat it down on the sofa where he was sitting before returning to the middle of the room. Marc stayed still as possible while Marinette took his measurements and she wrote them all down before grabbing some fabric and sitting down in front of her sewing machine.

"While I'm working, you can use my computer if you would like."

Marinette kindly offered, but Marc declined as he returned to the long chair and sat down.

"I'll just watch videos on my phone."

Marc smiled at her and Marinette smiled back before turning to her desk and preparing pieces of fabric. Marc started watching videos before an alert popped up on his phone, letting him know that he had a new message. He opened it and saw it was from Nathaniel. He smiled fondly, unaware that Marinette was watching him. After sending a text back to the redhead, he glanced up and noticed the small smirk she had and the knowing look in her eyes. He flushed slightly from being under her direct attention.

"Who are you texting?"

Marinette asked playfully even though she was pretty sure that she knew who the shy writer was messaging.

"N-nobody."

Marc's face flushed more and he stuttered nervously.

"Well, 'nobody' must be really important for you to look like that while texting them."

Marinette returned to her sewing while continuing to talk to Marc. The green-eyed boy nervously fiddled with the sleeves of his hoodie before speaking up.

"I was texting...Nathaniel."

Marc nervously admitted with a small frown. Marinette heard a slight amount of embarrassment in his voice and turned off her sewing machine before turning in her chair to worriedly look at him.

"Are you okay?"

Marc shrugged and Marinette frowned.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel bad. I wasn't trying to."

Marc shot her a strained smile.

"I know you weren't. It's just getting stressful having feelings for him. You're the only person that knows that I'm gay. Nathaniel is probably straight anyway."

Marc gazed downheartedly to the side.

Marinette felt a twinge of sadness and got up from her chair to sit down next to the saddened boy. She rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I can't imagine how you feel, but I think that everything will turn out alright. You don't know for sure that Nathaniel's straight. I think that whenever you're comfortable enough to, you should ask him if he likes boys. Worst case scenario, he says no. Best case scenario, he says yes and you can ask him out."

Marc stayed quiet as Marinette gave him advice and felt his mood rise a little. He gave her a small smile of gratitude.

"Thanks for cheering me up."

Marinette smiled brightly at him.

"It's no problem. That's what friends do."

The next couple of hours were spent quietly with Marinette working on Marc's outfit while Marc switched between watching videos on his phone, texting Nathaniel, and writing in the small journal that he almost always had with him. While Marc was scribbling in his notebook, Marinette suddenly stood up from her chair.

"I'm finally done."

Marinette exclaimed happily as she held up a complete maid outfit. Marc blushed as he looked at it and imagined how he would look wearing that. His self-doubt began to tug at his thoughts and he frowned. Marinette noticed his frown.

"Do you not like it?"

Marinette asked.

"I do. It's just...I don't think that I'll look good in it."

The blue-eyed girl smiled kindly at him.

"Well, I disagree. I think that you will look great in it. Could you at least try it on? There's a divider right over there."

The writer nodded and carefully took the outfit from her before going behind the divider. He began to change and heard Marinette greet her classmates as they came in. The writer took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. He removed his shirt and pants before pulling the dress over his head and sliding it on. He then put on the pair of shorts that Marinette made to accompany the dress which came down to right above his knees. He also slid on a pair of black flats that Marinette lent him.

Marc looked at his reflection in the long mirror nearby and noticed that the dress fit him perfectly but he wasn't sure if other people would think that he looked good in it. He hesitated for a few seconds before walking out from behind the divider while anxiously gripping his arm and keeping his gaze down. He heard a collective gasp from the group of girls sat in the room and assumed the worst.

"I told you Marinette. I don't look good. I'll get changed out of this and go."

Marc's words got more anxious the longer he spoke and he turned to go back behind the divider but a hand on his arm stopped him.

"No! You look amazing."

Marinette assured him while the other girls nodded in agreement.

"The outfit definitely compliments your hair."

Alya commented with a genuine smile.

"It fits you really well!"

Rose loudly and happily proclaimed with a wide smile.

Juleka nodded in agreement with her excitable girlfriend.

"The black and white of the dress really brings out the color of your eyes."

Mylène spoke kindly.

Alix simply grinned and gave Marc two thumbs up.

Marc shyly smiled and blushed from the praise.

"Thank you all."

After that, Marc headed home and agreed to meet Marinette and her friends back at the bakery the next morning to get ready. The night passed rather uneventfully and Marc went to bed, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiousness about the next day. After a quick breakfast, once the dark-haired boy woke up, he headed over to Marinette's home where everyone else was already waiting.

They quickly did some makeup and wardrobe preparation and they all headed over to the cafe that the fundraiser was being held at. They arrived a few minutes before the shop was supposed to open. Each of them was given a notepad and pen and they simply waited as the doors were opened and people began coming in.