-8- Art Galleries and Jealousy

Even after a morning shower, Marinette keeps finding flour in her hair and ears. "I can't believe Adrien and I baked together yesterday, Tikki!" She spins in her room, gleaming. "It was the best day ever."

"Even if you did spill flour all over him." Tikki laughs as Marinette glares at her.

"Very funny." She starts gathering her books and notebooks, checking the time on her phone. "Ahh! I'm late for school! Come on, Tikki." She flies in as Marinette runs downstairs, storming out the door. She stops abruptly as a car zooms by and Tikki stares up at her. "That was close."

"That was closer than close."

Marinette races up the steps, making it just time time before the school doors shut. She climbs the stairs two at a time before she reaches Miss Bustier's classroom. Adrien looks up and smiles as she runs into class, tripping and falling right in front of his desk. He jumps to help her up. "You okay, Marinette?"

"Marinette, can I talk to you real quick?" Miss Bustier asks, leading out her of the classroom. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said Chloe stole your essay. It was very unprofessional of me."

"It's okay, Miss Bustier." Marinette softly smiles. "We all know how Chloe can be." Her teacher nods in agreement. "What was Chloe's punishment, anyway?"

"Chloe's suspended for three days. She'll return to class on Monday." Miss Bustier opens the door and lets Marinette walk in first. "Alright, class. Please go to the online textbook on your tablets. Today we're going to start reading Romeo and Juliet. Then, next week we're going to hold auditions for the play we'll be performing."

Rose shoots her hand in the air. "We're doing the Romeo and Juliet play?" She squeals, jumping up and down. "That's my favorite play! It's so romantic and—" She gasps, adding, "TRAGIC!"

Miss Bustier nods. "Yes. We're going to be putting on the play. When we're done reading it, I'm going to hold auditions in the gym. Anyone can audition for any part they want."

Alya leans over to Marinette. "Imagine you and Adrien play the leads. You'd had a reason to kiss him again."

Adrien smirks to himself as Marinette hides her face under the table.

The class reads through the first act before lunch.

"After lunch, we're going to keep reading." Miss Bustier grabs a lunch box from under her desk. "So, go eat and refuel."

As Marinette stands up to follow Adrien, Alya, and Nino, her classmate Nathaniel taps her shoulder. She turns around. "Oh, hey Nathaniel. What's up?"

Adrien stops at the classroom door and watches them. Something flips in his stomach and he wishes more than anything that Nathaniel would leave her alone. He remembers when he turned into Evillustrator and made Marinette go on a date with him.

Plagg peaks his head out, whispering, "Jealous, are we?"

"What? No!"

"Hi, Marinette!" Nathaniel scratches the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you'd like to, uh, go to the art museum with me after school tonight? They're opening a new exhibition on abstract art."

Her eyes widen. That was out of nowhere. It sounds fun, though, and she didn't have any plans. "Oh. Sure, Nathaniel. That sounds fun."

"Awesome. I guess I'll meet you at your house at seven." Nathaniel waves and walks past Adrien as he leaves the classroom.

"Going on another date with Nathaniel?" Adrien asks, scaring Marinette as she puts her stuff away.

"It's not a date," She defends, shoving her tablet in her book bag. "We're just friends going to the art museum."

Adrien crosses his arms, asking, "Wasn't he the Evillustrator on your last date with him?"

"That's not him anymore, Adrien. Ladybug saved him." She slips her book bag on and faces Adrien. Why did he care what she did after school? Was he jealous?

"Do you like Nathaniel... as more than a friend?"

Marinette shakes her head. "No. I like...." She trails off. Adrien smiles. He didn't have a reason to be jealous, even if he still is. "Are you and Nino still eating lunch with Alya and I?"

"Of course." Adrien and Marinette walk to lunch together. "Are you going to try out for the play?"

"I've never done a play before. It sounds fun." She looks over at Adrien, who's already staring at her. "The costumes I've seen used for that play are amazing! I've always wanted to design something like that."

Adrien steps closer, their hands brushing. "If you audition for Juliet, I'll audition for Romeo."

"Deal," She whispers, grinning.

The lead characters' love ends in tragedy, which is what Marinette fears between her and Adrien if she confesses everything.

***

Marinette steps outside her bakery and waves at Nathaniel. Instead of her usual causal fit, she's sporting a short, long-sleeved black dress with rhinestones around the hem. Even Tikki thought it was too fancy for a non-date. Marinette just wanted to blend in at the art gallery so people didn't think she was an amateur. "Hey, Nathaniel."

"Wow, Marinette. You look beautiful." He tries to hold her hand as she turns to lock up the bakery, and frowns. They walk side by side, empty handed. "So, are you excited for the new exhibition?"

"Yeah. I love seeing new art." She's clueless to Nathaniel's attempts at holding her hands. She couldn't stop thinking about Adrien earlier and how he sounded jealous that she was going out with Nathaniel. No, if Adrien liked me, he would just ask me out already. "Huh?"

Nathaniel laughs. "I've been saying your name over and over, Marinette." He scratches the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you wanted to get some food before we go."

"Oh. No, I actually ate before we left," She tells him. "My mom's always making sure I eat before I leave the house."

"What about some ice cream?"

Marinette nods. "Sure. I can do ice cream." They walk over and buy an ice cream to share. She thinks about when she and Adrien shared an ice cream. Well, tried to share, at least. Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. It's rude of her to think of other people while hanging out with Nathaniel.

"Want a bite?" Nathaniel asks, leaning in.

She starts to feel uncomfortable, but doesn't say anything. Nodding, she opens her mouth and takes a bite. "Wow. That's good." After they finish eating, they throw away their trash and continue walking to the art museum.

***

"Do you think Marinette's going to fall in love with Nathaniel, Plagg?" Adrien asks his kwami as he lays on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Plagg laughs. "With Mr. Tomato Head? Unlikely." He grabs a piece of cheese, smelling it. "I'm in love with this beauty, though." He swallows it in one bite and Adrien rolls his eyes.

"I know you already told me Marinette likes me, but what if something changes on their date tonight?" He rolls over and screams into his pillow. "I don't want her to fall in love with someone else."

"Didn't Marinette say it wasn't a date, though?" Plagg asks.

"Yeah," He mumbles into the pillow, sighing. "I don't know why I feel like this."

Plagg snickers. "I do..."

Adrien turns his head to find Plagg floating right in front of him. "And what's that?"

"You're jealous!"

"What? Me? No." He shakes his head, climbing off his bed and walks over to the window, looking down. He spots Marinette and Nathaniel sharing ice cream. He offers her a bite. "Okay. Maybe a little."

Plagg grabs another piece of cheese. "It's not like Marinette to bounce from guy to guy, so I still think you've got her heart, Romeo."

Adrien's hands fist in jealousy. "I have to go see her."

"And what? Crash their date?"

"What if Nathaniel turns back into Evillustrator?" He faces Plagg. "Cat Noir should be there to keep her safe."

Plagg rolls his eyes. "What a valid reason."

"Plagg, claws out!"