Chapter One

"Baking was where she felt most like herself—quiet, steady, and useful. Here, the world made sense."

"A sense of disconnection, like she was watching the morning unfold from behind a pane of glass....It wasn't that she wasn't happy. She loved this bakery. Loved her parents. Loved the feeling of creating something that made people smile. But there was an ache, too. One she couldn't knead away."

 *****

Chapter Two

"You are human. You make mistakes. But you also keep going. That's what makes you worthy." 

"Alya was right—she did have feelings for Adrien. And maybe... maybe Chat Noir, too. But love didn't come easy for girls who carried secrets like weapons." 

"As Ladybug, she was supposed to be calm. Smart. Strategic. But love... love was messy. It got under her skin and tangled with her judgment. It made her feel like she was back in middle school again, fumbling over her words and tripping over nothing."

*****

Chapter Three

"'You are hereby invited to the most insane, most fabulous, most ridiculously over-the-top birthday bash of the year!'"

"He offered a small, encouraging smile. "'I'll be there. Maybe we'll finally get to dance.'" 

"The name alone made Marinette's stomach knot. If there was anyone more likely to turn Chloé's birthday party into a public execution for Marinette, it was her. And if Adrien was there—and if Lila was there, smiling with those manipulative little lies—and if he showed up with her..." 

*****

Chapter Four

"'Take Kagami,' Gabriel Agreste had instructed flatly over breakfast, not even looking up from his tablet. 'She photographs well, and it will be good for public image.'"

"The last time he'd pushed back, his fencing practices were canceled for a month and replaced with photo shoots. Because discipline builds focus."

"Nino blinked once. Then grinned wide. 'Took you long enough.'"

*****

Chapter Five

"Alya's grin widened. 'Exactly why we're going to make you shine.'"

"'Well, party's over for you," Alya muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing. 'Go find somewhere else to cause trouble.'"

Alya whipped out her phone. 'Selfie time! We've got to capture this moment—the new Marinette, fearless and fabulous.'"

*****

Chapter Six

"'Neither. It's bigger.' Alya scrambled the rest of the way in and stood, completely out of breath. 'You're not gonna believe what I just saw on the school bulletin board. Hot off the press.'"

"Tikki zipped into the air, equally excited. 'This is your dream, Marinette!'"

"'I'm still scared,' she admitted softly. 'But I want this. And I think I'd regret not trying more than I'd regret failing.'"

*****

Chapter Seven

"'I'm not freaking out,' Adrien said quickly, even though his bouncing leg said otherwise. 'I just... want to get it right.'"

"Another pause. 'I assumed we weren't going together.'"

"Gabriel's gaze returned to his screen. 'Friendship is fine. Public relationships are strategic. The press has already speculated about you and Kagami. That alignment benefited both families.'"

*****

Chapter Eight

"Alya, who had been right beside her only seconds ago, gave Marinette a wide-eyed, silent look of encouragement and immediately took two steps back, mouthing, You got this! before vanishing like a supportive ninja."

"'No, no! I—it's fine! That's—I mean—honk?'" (In context, this one makes me laugh my head off XDDDDD)

"'I did, but I was designing it for Gabriel Agreste. Not for me.' She bit her lip, considering. 'I think that's what I've been doing wrong. Designing for what I think people want, instead of trusting what I want to say.'"

*****

Chapter Nine

"Chat Noir shifted, his tail flicking nervously. 'You feel it too, right? The silence? It's like the calm before a storm.'"

"She looked up at him, eyes shining with a mixture of strength and something softer — trust, hope, maybe even something more. 'Always.'"

"'And what about being honest? About being real?' Chat's voice cracked with emotion. 'You don't have to carry this alone.'"

*****

Chapter Ten

"'Besides,' her mother said more quietly, 'we heard about how much Chloé has changed.'" (That's right people- bestie gets a redemption arc!)

"Marinette nodded. 'Not huge ones. Just... enough to make it me.'"

"Tikki landed lightly on her hand, voice warm. 'You can always hope. Just don't lose yourself in the hoping.'"

*****

Chapter Eleven

"'Yeah, yeah. People, cake, dancing. Don't blame you.' Plagg hovered closer, blinking. 'You know he's not gonna like this.'"

"Adrien stepped off the final stair, jaw tightening. 'I'm not a 'version' of anything.'"

"In a flash of light, Adrien disappeared—and Chat Noir stood in his place."

*****

Chapter Twelve

"'You fit right in,' he said softly."

"Marinette laughed. 'I don't even want to question it. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts.'"

"Tonight was golden. And Marinette Dupain-Cheng—designer, class rep, and maybe-something-more—was finally shining with it."

*****

Chapter Thirteen

"He said it before he could stop himself, and instantly regretted it."

"Marinette's shoulders tensed. Adrien saw it — the faint tremble in her hand, the hurt flashing behind her eyes. But she didn't bite. She straightened her back and smiled."

"Chloé brushed it off. 'Don't get all sappy on me. I just hate bullies more than I hate you now.'"

*****

Chapter Fourteen

"Nino's voice boomed over the mic: 'Allll righty, everyone. This next one's a slow jam—so grab your partner, hold on tight, and get ready to dance!'"

"'And now—presents!' Chloé announced, her voice snapping back into its usual theatrical flair. 'Try not to be too jealous.'"

"How could she have been so careless? A slow dance, a laugh, the way Adrien looked at her like she was the only one in the room—it had all felt so real. And that was the problem. She wanted it to be real."