Marinette

"Marinette! Wake up! You're going to be late on your first day!" Marinette Dupain-Cheng groaned, not thrilled to be awakened or have to go to a new school where she didn't know anyone. But when the alternative was going back to Western Academy and Lila, she didn't have a choice.

"Okay, mom! I will be down soon!" She reluctantly got out of bed, getting dressed and gathering up her school supplies. She paused by her mirror, debating on her hairstyle. At her old school, people always pulled on her pigtails, but she always loved the style. Maybe it is time for a new look, she was going to a new school after all. She debated on a ponytail, braiding it, or putting it up in a bun. Finally, she settled to just let it hang loose.

Grabbing her school bag, she headed downstairs into the kitchen, kissing her mom on the cheek as she sat at the table to eat her breakfast. Sabine smiled at her daughter, "Are you excited honey?"

Marinette shrugged, "I don't know, mom. It's a new school and I won't know anyone." She glanced down at her food sadly, "How do we know if it will go better than my last school?"

Sabine hugged her daughter, love for her swelling as she promised, "It will be better than Western Academy, your father and I have scouted this school out and we believe it is the perfect school." She looked Marinette in eyes, concern on her face, "If you feel unwell or need help, you can call us anytime, or Dr. Césaire if you prefer. We told Otis that you are starting a new school today so he will be there to pick up your call. We also met with your teachers and explained what happened at Western Academy. They all agreed that it was horrible what happened there and will help you with whatever you need." Sabine kissed her daughter's forehead, reassuring her, "This new school will be a new beginning, I promise you."

Marinette hugged her, "Thanks, mom. That means a lot to me!" She quickly finished her breakfast, then hugged her mother again as she slung her bag on her back. "I am going now! Bye, mom! Love you!"

Sabine smiled, "Bye, dear, I love you too. And don't forget to say bye to your father in the bakery!" Marinette nodded, smiling as she descended the stairs.

Stopping inside the bakery, she hugged her father, who picked her up off the ground in a bear hug. "Papa!" she giggled, "Put me down!"

Tom laughed as he set her down, "Okay dear. And take these with you." He handed her a box of fresh macaroons. "Make sure you share these with your classmates."

"Thanks, Papa," Marinette grinned, taking the box. "I got to go, love you!"

Tom smiled at his daughter, "I love you too, sweetheart. And if anything goes wrong, Don't be afraid to call. I will come running."

Marinette gives him a hug, "I know papa. Bye!"

"Have a good day sweetheart!"

Alya

"Bye mom, bye dad!"

Otis poked his head out of the kitchen, "Bye dear, have a good day! Be sure to be friends with anyone new and make them feel welcome"

"I will!" Alya blew him a kiss and was out the door an instant.

As Alya left, Otis looked back at the open file next to his breakfast, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She had been visiting him for four months now. "Hopefully you can help her. New friends that are willing to support and care for her is what she needs most."

Outside, Alya hopped in the waiting car for her, Adrien and Nino already inside. "Hey boys," she greeted as she settled in next to Nino. The two have been dating for a year now, but Adrien didn't mind being the third wheel at this point. "Ready for the first new day of the year?"

Nino nodded as Adrien shrugged. He has never been particularly eager to go to public school, but due to his rough home life, he made do with it. Despite the risk of being swarmed by fangirls, hanging out with his friends beat listening to his parents argue over his future. To avoid being swarmed, he wore fake glasses and a variety of non-Gabriel clothes to his father's disdain. Surprisingly, no one recognized him except for close friends. Adrien had admitted he hated the clothes, but the only other ones he had were Gabriel which everyone in the city would recognize him in.

"I just hope no fangirls are in our class this year. I don't want to go through last year again." Nino and Alya cringed at the memory, a fangirl who tracked him down and tried to kiss him. She was promptly expelled and got a restraining order against her.

"I'm sure everything will be okay this year, bro. You gotta stay positive. We all share four classes out of five this year. It's gonna be baller."

Adrien grinned as Alya cringed at her boyfriend, "Don't ever so baller ever again or I swear I will break up with you."

Nino smirked at her, "No you won't because you love me!" He kissed her, causing Adrien to stick his tongue out at them, making a sick noise.

"If you two are going to be gross all year, no more free rides to school," he threatened. His friend laughed, knowing full well he will never do that.

Alya pursed her lips at him, "Maybe it's time we find you a match, then we can double date and call you gross."

Adrien snorted, "As if there is someone who loves me for my wonderful personality instead of my face." Nino smiled encouragingly as Alya narrowed her eyes, already scheming.

Marinette

The walk to school was a lot shorter than her old commute, so that was a win Marinette figured. As she walked up the front steps of Collège Françoise Dupont, she glanced around at everyone standing in groups, chatting like they were all friends. Not ready to approach new people just yet, she found her first class glancing around the room shyly. In the front row of the farther set of desks sat a blonde girl and redhead girl with glasses. Two rows behind them were the biggest boy she ever seen, wearing a black shirt with a white skull on it. Next to him sat a small cute girl, wearing a green 'save the environment shirt'. The two seemed to be in deep conversation with each other, smiling at each other like her parents usually did.

As Marinette stood by the door unsure what to do, the blonde girl, Chloe Bourgeois, noticed her and smirked. Fresh victim, no one around to guide her. She got up and walked over to Marinette, "Hi, are you new here?"

Marinette nodded shyly. "Yea-ess," she stuttered, clutching the box close to her chest.

Chloe offered a fake smile, an idea forming in her mind. "In that case, you have to sit here in the front," she pointed at Adrien's spot, "It's where the new kids sit so everyone knows who they are." Marinette nodded her thanks shyly and sat down without another word. Chloe turned away and smirked, Adrien was gonna flip when he saw someone sitting in his spot and it would be a wonderful show. Glancing up at Ivan and Mylene, Chloe assured herself the lovey-dovey couple wouldn't interfere with her fun.

Adrien arrived two minutes later, Nino at his side as Alya caught up with Alix who wanted her to do a story about the new exhibit her brother set up at the museum on Alya's blog. Adrien stopped speaking the moment he noticed someone sitting in his seat, a girl that seemed to be focused on some kind of sketchbook. "Excuse me, who do you think you are?" he snapped rudely. The girl stared at him, mouth opening and closing but no words coming out. Adrien glared at her, "Oh you are another fangirl, aren't you? Why can't you crazy people just stay away?"

Marinette felt herself tremble, struggling to say a word. "I, I, I."

"Get out of my spot," Adrien growled, completely out of patience. Marinette meekly got up and ran up the stairs, tripping and spilling her contents. Chloe laughed as the girl scrambled to pick up her stuff, still shaking with tears forming in her eyes. Today was supposed to be a new beginning, not the same as her old school.

As Adrien sat down in his seat, Nino slid into his spot next to him, eyeing his bro. "Dude, you need to chill. That was way too harsh." Nino glanced at the frightened girl, now sitting in the very back row of their section.

Adrien shrugged, "I don't care, she is just another fangirl. They are all the same."

"Dude, she did not seem like a fangirl," Nino insisted. Adrien stared at the board, not wanting to talk about the shy girl.

Alya walked in, taking the grumpy model and her glaring boyfriend. "Okay, I left you two alone for ten minutes and you already messed up. What happened?"

"A new girl was sitting in Adrien's spot so he snapped at her. Now she is hiding in the back row." Nino continued to glare at Adrien, who continued to ignore him. Alya sighed, as always, she was the one who had to pick up the pieces.

She left the boys to sort themselves out, she walked up the stairs and sat down next to the girl, remembering her father's advice to befriend anyone new at school. "Hi, I'm Alya. Sorry about Adrien, he may be brilliant, but his people skills need work."

When the girl turned to look at her, Alya saw the tears. She was going to kill Adrien. "I'm Marinette. I'm new, well I guess you already know that."

Alya gave her a warm smile, channeling the positive vibes her father taught her how to send. "It's okay, we all have first days sometimes. You just didn't know it was Adrien's seat."

Marinette sniffed and glanced at Adrien, "Who is he and what's his problem?"

Alya's eyes widen, "You don't know him?" Marinette shook her head, she clearly had no idea who Adrien was. So she definitely was not a fangirl, Alya figured. "He is just protective of his favorite spot, that's all. He always sits there in all our classes." Changing the subject, she asked the shy girl, "So what classes do you have?"

Marinette looked at her, tears no longer coming out if her eyes, Alya noted thankfully. "I have this class Literature. Next, I have Math, then lunch break. After I have Physics, Chemistry and Fashion History."

Alya grinned at her, "Sweet we share the first four classes together. What made you choose Fashion History?" she questioned curiously.

"I want to be a fashion designer," Marinette pulled out her sketchbook and showed Alya some sketches. "It as the only fashion-related course they offered so I signed up hoping to learn something about it."

Alya nodded, glancing at Adrien out of the corner of her eye as she studied the sketches. Adrien and Juleka also were taking that class, so she was going to have a little chat with the cranky model to make sure he stays in line. "These are amazing, do you ever make any of them?"

Marinette pointed at her bag and her clothes, stating shyly, "I designed and made these myself, though I am usually limited by my allowance for project budgets." Alya shook her head, a new sense of admiration for the shy new girl when she noticed the box with a bakery logo on it. Marinette noticed her looking at the box, "That's from my parents, they gave me macaroons to share with the class." Alya was really intent on tearing Adrien a new one, this girl was amazing and too sweet for this world, and he made her cry.

As she started to ask more when Ms. Bustier called the class to attention. "Good morning class and welcome back from your vacations. Before we begin, we have a new student with us. Please welcome Marinette Dupain-Cheng." She looked at the back where she saw the shy girl sitting with Alya.

Marinette started to slouch down in her seat as everyone in the class but Adrien turned to look at her, but she stood up when Alya gave her encouraging smile. Alya nudged the girl to stand up. "Um, hi-i-i everyone. I'm Marinette," she stammered as she stood there, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic.

Alya noticed her and stood up, picking up the box of bakery treats Marinette had brought. "She brought macaroons from her parents' bakery to share with all of us."

Ms. Bustier gave Marinette a warm smile, "What a wonderful idea, Marinette. You can hand them out and then we will start class. Marinette, with some encouragement from Alya, slowing walked down, passing macaroons to the rest of the class. Everyone thanked her with an eager smile, recognizing the logo on the box as the best bakery in Paris. When she reached Chloe, the blonde stuck her nose in the air, refusing the treat. The redhead next to her also refused, imitating Chloe.

She turned around to Adrien and Nino. Adrien continued to stare at the board until Nino elbowed him hard in the ribs. Reluctantly, Adrien took one as he glared at Nino while rubbing his sore ribs. Instead of eating it though, he set it on the edge of his desk. Nino took one, giving Marinette an apologetic smile. Finally, she gave one to Ms. Bustier, who thanked and dismissed her to her seat.

After Marinette settled down next Alya, Ms. Bustier began the class. Alya watched Marinette closely, noting that she was intent of paying attention to the lesson, not glancing once at Adrien. When she glanced down at Adrien, she caught him inspecting the macaroon as if it were dangerous. To her surprise, he then took a bite. Maybe he won't be so hopeless.

Lunchtime

Alya eagerly led Marinette to the girl's table, the young designer unable to resist the blogger's excitement. "Hey girls! This is Marinette, the new girl!" The girls, who Marinette learned to be Rose, Juleka, Alix, and Mylene, eagerly greeted and welcomed her to sit with them.

"Sorry I didn't warn you about Chloe," Mylene apologized, "I should have paid more attention."

Marinette gave her a shy smile, "It's okay, it wasn't your fault." She glanced at Adrien, who was walking in the cafeteria with Nino. "Adrien and Chloe were the only ones at fault. What is his problem anyway? Who does he think he is to act like that?" The girls looked at each other in shock. Alya had mentioned in the group chat that Marinette doesn't seem to know who Adrien really is, but they never expected it to be true.

Alya stepped in, "He had a bad experience and has been weird about it since." She decided it was probably best to make sure they don't reveal Adrien's identity until he himself realizes her inability to recognize him. Then hopefully he would chill out a bit around her.

Rose jumped up to change the subject, "What I want to know is where did you get those clothes!" Marinette started to cringe expecting an insult to follow. To her surprise, it never came. "These are beautiful, the patterns are amazing and ooh! Your backpack and purse match with your outfit!"

Marinette's eyes widened as the rest of the girls complimented her outfit, tears of joy forming in her eyes. As she thanked the girls and explained how she designed and made them herself, Alya slipped away to beat the snot out of a certain fashion model. "You!" she jabbed a finger at Adrien, "Come with me right now!"

Adrien glanced at Nino, who shrugged at him. "Better go with her dude. She is in that mood where there is no stopping her." Adrien groaned and submitted himself to Alya's wrath while Nino gave him a comforting pat on the back before heading over to the girls' table. "Hey, Marinette. I'm Nino, Alya's boyfriend. Awesome macaroons!" Marinette blushed, stuttering out a thank you. Nodding he heading over to hang at the boy's table.

Outside the cafeteria in the hallway, Alya slammed Adrien into the wall. "Ow, careful Alya! I have a physical next week and a bruised body is all my dad needs to pull me out of school."

"Shut up and listen, sunshine boi. Marinette is the sweetest thing ever and you made her cry," Alya growled, anger burning in her eyes.

Adrien glared back at her, "She is just another crazy fangirl."

"If she was a fangirl, then how come she doesn't recognize you?" Adrien raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Alya sighed, "She didn't know it was your spot, Chloe told her that was where new kids are supposed to sit."

Adrien sighed, "I don't quite believe what you say about her not being a fangirl, but I wouldn't put it past Chloe to pull something like that." He tried to walk away, but was pulled back by Alya, "What?"

She stared him down, fury still burning in her eyes, "You have to apologize to Marinette. You owe her that much at least for making her cry."

Adrien shook her off, "We'll see." with that he stalked off to have some choice words with Chloe, leaving a still seething Alya behind him. This was the last straw for Chloe, she had officially lost his friendship.

Fashion History

As Juleka lead Marinette into class, she noted Adrien was already there, watching them as they came in. Marinette, however, didn't even spare him a glance, focused on their conversation. That was point in Marinette's favor. They sat down across the aisle from Adrien, Marinette not sparing him a moment of her attention as she sat down with her back to him, facing Juleka. Adrien however, continued to stare as if studying her. Marinette simply didn't notice him, showing Juleka her designs in her sketchbook.

Ever since Alya introduced her to the girls at lunch, something inside of Marinette seemed to light up. She was still shy, but her stuttering and stammering seemed to have ceased. Adrien, she noted, had been studying Marinette since the end of lunch break. Juleka decided to test the waters of Marinette's knowledge, "So you want to be a fashion designer right?" Marinette nodded, giving Juleka a sweet smile. "Have you ever seen Gabriel Agreste's designs?" Adrien, she noticed, perked up at his father's name.

Marinette chuckled, "Of course it's kinda hard to not see his designs with them plastered all over the city. He is actually my fashion idol, I have all of the Gabriel Fashion magazines and have seen all of his designs."

Juleka decided to venture further, "What do you think of his main model?"

Marinette gave her a questioning look, "Adrien Agreste, he is okay I guess. Cute face but he probably acts like some snotty rich kid." She looked back her designs as she continued, "Even if he was a decent guy, I can't date him. Then if I succeed in getting my designs out there, people can't say it was because of him and not my own talent." Juleka smiled, nodding her understanding as she observed Adrien. The boy was beat red in embarrassment, not at all affected by the fact Marinette guessed he was a snotty rich kid.

It was clear to Juleka that Adrien was finally starting to accept Marinette really didn't recognize him or was a crazy fangirl of his. As a plus, she unknowingly told him that he was cute but not worth her time. She smiled to herself, a flustered Adrien was an awesome thing to observe.

When class started, Juleka noted that while Marinette paid attention to the instructor, Adrien kept stealing glances at her. Ensuring the teacher didn't see her, Juleka texted the girl squad the results.

School Entrance

Adrien glared at the dark sky as the rain came pouring down. If he knew that it was going to rain, he wouldn't have given his driver the afternoon off or at least brought an umbrella. He groaned, he hated rain more than anything, all those cold photoshoots his father forced him into. At night, he could hear his parents arguing about him even across the mansion, his mother displeased by his father's treatment of him. It leads to a lot of lonely dinners as they refused to eat together. Adrien cursed the rain, his rotten luck. Alya and Nino always joked that he needed to find his lucky charm. He never told them, or anyone, about his parents always fighting.

"Are you okay?" A timid voice came from behind him. Turning his head, he noticed Marinette standing behind him, umbrella in hand still closed.

"I'm fine, just waiting for a minute." Then for reasons unknown to him, he admitted, "I don't like the rain." Why did he admit such a silly thing?

Marinette didn't comment on it to his relief, she simply walked to the edge of the protection provided by the overhang next to him. Taking a deep breath and remembering Alya's encouraging words, she turned to face him shyly. "I am sorry for sitting in your spot. That Chloe girl told me that's where I was supposed to sit. I truly did not know how it was your spot. I don't know what you meant by being a fangirl of you, but I can assure you I didn't know you until this morning."

Looking down at her feet, she admitted, "I never had friends before today." Adrien gave her a surprised look as she continued, "At my old school, I was bullied a lot by everyone there. That's why I transferred here, to get a fresh start." She opened up her umbrella, then held it out to him. "I'm hoping we can start fresh too."

He eyed the umbrella then looked into her blue earnest eyes. He instantly got lost in them. "I-I'm A-Adrien," he stammered, unsure why.

She gave him a shy but bright smile, "I am Marinette." She offered her umbrella to him again, "I live only a few blocks away, I will be fine." Hesitantly, he took it from her, never looking away from her. Then his bad luck returned, the umbrella closed on his head as he was lost in her eyes, catching him off guard. Marinette must think I am such a fool, he figured. A soft quiet giggle pulled him out of his thoughts. Adrien opened up the umbrella, seeing her big smile as she tried to cover up her giggles with her hand.

He found himself laughing and smiling as well, something he hasn't done in a while. They both soon settled down, looking at each with small smiles. Marinette waved at him, "See you tomorrow, Adrien" She started to descend the stairs, then paused looking back at him nervously. "Please don't tell anyone about me being bullied at my old school. I'm not ready to talk about with everyone just yet." Adrien nodded, earning another bright smile from her. "Thanks, Adrien, I appreciate it. Bye."

He could only wave as she walked away, stuttering out, "Ye-eah, see yu-you to-tomorrow. What is wrong with me?" As he walked home, he could only think of Marinette, the first girl to not fangirl over him and the first person to make him laugh for the first time in a while.