The bright lights shining from the Eiffel Tower interrupted the dark night sky, to my dismay, the glow completely illuminated my room, preventing me from getting a wink of sleep. I let out a groan as I covered my face with a pillow. Between keeping up with my studies, modeling for my father, and running around Paris as Cat Noir, I needed at least six hours of sleep. I heard Plagg's muffled voice call out to me through pillow. It sounded like I was going to have to settle for five hours tonight.

I sat up straight and after a small yawn I began to speak in a weary voice, "Plagg, I said you could watch TV if you kept the volume low and let me sleep. You might be able to take cat naps tomorrow, but I need to stay awake for my test."

"But Adrian! You don't understand!" Plagg said as he floated a few inches from my face, "Look at the news, look at what they're saying about us!"

I rubbed my eyes and looked up at the television screen in question. I could make out a news anchor talking over footage of Ladybug and I taking down the latest akumatized supervillain. Getting impatient Plagg yelled out, "They called us a sidekick Adrian! Can you believe that!?"

I chuckled and shook my head, "Plagg, please let me sleep."

I laid on my back again, but Plagg didn't stop complaining. He floated above me, his two tiny arms were crossed in front of his torso, "I can't believe it, you don't care at all that Ladybug is always the one getting credit for all the hard work you put in?"

I shrugged with my eyes closed, "Ladybug knows that her and I are a team and that's all that really matters. I can't take two steps outside without a mob of people chasing after me. I don't mind if we get a little less attention."

I heard Plagg let out a sigh, "Does it really not bother you at all? The people you save, they should appreciate you. Your dad shouldn't keep you in this room… And Ladybug shouldn't have been so quick to reject you."

My eyes snapped open, "Plagg!" I furrowed my brow and frowned at the Kwami. I had a hard time choosing my next words, "She didn't reject me, I mean, at least not one-hundred percent, she just said she values our friendship so, you know, it's like, she needs more time."

Plagg looked disappointed, "Adrian, I think you need to focus a little less on Ladybug and a little bit more on yourself."

I could tell Plagg was worried about me. When we first met I thought all he cared about was camembert cheese but over time I began to read him a little better. "I appreciate the thought Plagg but you don't need to worry about it. It hurts to know she doesn't see me in the same way I see her but I am not ready to let go yet. There isn't another girl like her."

"How do you know that? You haven't been on a date since you've become Cat Noir." Plagg said, now sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Are you going to keep me up all night just to make fun of me?" I tried to shoo Plagg away with my hand, "If I get enough sleep. I promise Adrian and Cat Noir will be just fine, with or without dates."

Plagg conceded as he silently floated over to the TV again but I was still restless. I couldn't seem to stop thinking about everything going on in my life. Being locked in my room all day, Ladybug, and whether or not I needed to take more time for myself. I tossed and turned in my sleep.

I couldn't remember what time I eventually went unconscious. All I know is that it wasn't long before I opened my eyes to see my father's assistant, Nathalie gently shaking my shoulder, "You are going to be late to school Adrian." She said in her professional dialect.

Oh no. I slept in way too late! I quickly jumped out of bed and ran to my closet to begin getting dressed. "Thanks for getting me Nathalie, I'll skip breakfast today, can you tell The Gorilla get the car started while I brush my teeth?"

Nathalie turned her head away from me as I got dressed, "I don't think Mr. Agreste would like you skipping meals. You can eat before we leave. There is also something I need to discuss with you in the meantime."

I turn around with my jeans and black tee-shirt on as I put one arm through my white button-down shirt, "Don't tell me it's another photo shoot. I've been behind on my schoolwork for weeks now."

Nathalie followed me out of my room and waited outside the bathroom door as I brushed my teeth, "Mr. Agreste had intended to visit a gala tomorrow night to represent the Gabriel brand, but something urgent has come up and he will need you to stand in for him."

I left the bathroom and moved downstairs to start eating breakfast, "A gala!? It'll be so weird for me to be there, it'll be a party for a bunch of businessmen won't it? I know I can't say no to father, but can you at least see if you can find someone else to go?"

Nathalie took a deep breath, "Adrian, you are the only one who can adequately fill your father's shoes. If you are worried about fitting in, it isn't uncommon for attendees to bring a date." Nathalie began to mumble to herself. She didn't realize that I heard her, "I mean, you're a male model in middle school it shouldn't be too hard…"

I took the last bite of my toast and looked down, "Alright, I will go to the gala." I said begrudgingly as I began to move from the table and towards the door.

"Thank you Adrian, I know this will be a little more involved than just modeling clothes, I'll begin making preparations while you are at school." Nathalie managed to say as I ran out of earshot to join The Gorilla in the car.

I looked down at my phone. Looks like I will be missing half of first period again. I am beginning to run out of excuses too.

As I said goodbye to The Gorilla, I did a steady job to class. I was all too familiar with the feeling of walking into a classroom half an hour into a lecture. My guilt started to fade away after I sat down with my best friend Nino. He passed me a note he wrote before I even walked through the classroom door, "Don't sweat the teach being mad you're late bro. She already knows your day is cray-cray with the modeling stuff."

I smile and give Nino a thumbs-up. He was generous enough to show me his notes so I could catch up with what I missed. Nino always had my back and always went out of his way for me even when he knew there wasn't any way I could pay him back. I had even considered telling him about my secret life as Cat Noir, but it didn't take me too long to talk myself out of it.

Class ended. I apologized to my teacher and quickly caught up with Nino to begin telling him about the gala as we both walked through the hallways.

"Dude, you're telling me you get to go to some fancy party with millionaires with a chick and you've found a way to complain about it?" Nino said with a smirk.

"Nino, I said Nathalie only suggested I bring a date, I never said I was actually going to." I said correcting him.

Nino made a 'tsk tsk' noise. "That's a real shame bro. It's pretty selfish to go-it-alone, I can't think of one person who wouldn't want to go with you dude."

Great. First Plagg, then Nathalie and now even Nino. It felt like everyone wanted me to get a girlfriend, "Look Nino, I am not trying to lead anyone on. It's not that I don't wan-" I was interrupted by a familiar voice yelling around the corner of the hall.

"You're so stupid! I can't believe I still call you my friend! Don't you know how to be anything else besides useless!?"

"You run to class Nino, I should probably take care of this." I said, moving towards the voice.

"If you're sure dude… Honestly, I don't know how you even put up with Miss Ice Queen. Pretty much everyone in our grade can't stand her."

I shrugged my shoulders, "She wasn't always like this Nino. If I don't try to help her out from time to time, I'm not sure anyone else will."

"Whatever you say man, peace." Nino lightly hit my shoulder has he turned around to walk away from the yelling.

I turned the corner to face Chloe Bourgeois. She was wearing her usual outfit of jean capris, her yellow jacket over her white shirt with a pair of matching white-rimmed sunglasses resting on her head. Sabrina, one of Chloe's friends was standing behind her looking terrified. "Chloe, isn't that enough?" I began, doing my best to sound empathetic, "I am sure whatever happened isn't so bad you have to yell as loud as you are."

Chloe's angry expression melted away after her eyes met mine, letting out an excited, "Oh Adrikins!" as she suddenly wrapped her figure around my body in a tight hug. "Oh I've missed you! I haven't seen you all day!"

I notice Sabrina had already scurried away, leaving me to deal with Chloe alone. I reluctantly hug Chloe back. Chloe always over-reacted when she saw me. I can't remember when she became so bubbly but it can be a little too much to handle on a day-to-day basis. Chloe and I let go of each other, "I know you're trying, but you shouldn't yell at your friends."

Chloe looked down sheepishly. I didn't know how many times we've had this conversation but it was often enough for her to look guilty to be having it again. "It's all her fault, I told her to get me a mirror for my locker so I could re-apply my makeup."

I shook my head. It amazed me how Chloe justified her outbursts. I needed a different approach. I had threatened to stop being her friend, constantly reminded her to be nice, and did my best to give her enough time and attention to vent any frustration she had. I wanted to know why Chloe treated people the way she did.

"Chloe…" I said softly, prompting her to listen carefully, "Is there anything else going on? Not between you and Sabrina, but… Something outside of school?"

Chloe nervously pushed her two index fingers together, "Well, if you really want to know, my dad has been putting me through a lot. It's a lot to be the Mayor's daughter after all. He just wants to dress me up and show me off most of the time."

Chloe surprised me, "I know exactly what you mean."

Chloe seemed to perk up. "Yeah! Oh, I mean… I bet you do. Lately it feels like you're never around, I wish we could spend time together like we used to." Chloe looked really disappointed. Depressed even. Apart from Sabrina, she didn't have any friends at all. She could be bratty at times for sure, but deep down I missed hanging out with her too.

"Hey Chloe, it isn't much, and I am not sure you would even be interested but my father wants me to go to a gala this gala tomorrow night. I was thinking it would be nice to have someone there I could actually talk to." I began to speak without really thinking it through. Maybe it was to cheer Chloe up, maybe it was because of what Plagg said the night before, or maybe I simply didn't want to spend another evening alone, but I invited Chloe.

Chloe let out a large gasp, "The gala for every VIP in Paris!?"

"Yeah that's the one. Hey, how did you know that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. It was a social gathering for old people. I wondered why Chloe got so excited.

All of a sudden, I was assaulted by another one of Chloe's hugs, "Adrian! My daddy was going to make me go to that same gala! I was worrying about it all day! I would love to go with you!" Chloe began to giggle as she buried he head into my shoulder.

"The exact same… Gala?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It made perfect sense though. Chloe and I were both in the public eye and our parents treated us a lot differently than anyone else our age. I began to laugh along with Chloe. Sometimes I forgot just how alike we both are.