I came into class late the next day, and I had forgotten what day it was in general.

I came into the classroom quickly and set my bag down, throwing on my shoes. When I looked up, I saw that the entire class was gathered in a semi circle surrounding the center of the floor, and for some reason, the Head of Competition Activities was there.

I snuck up behind Alya and peeped over her shoulder. Adrien and Max were doing fouetté turns on center floor with determined looks on their faces.

I tapped Alya's shoulder, "Alya what's happening-"

She shushed me and waved me away, concentrating on recording the event.

Rose came up to me bouncing with excitement, "Don't you remember Marinette? Today's the contest to see who will go to the Paris-Spin-Off competition!"

"More like the contest to see who will be Max's partner." Kim said as he came up behind me, "Max has been practicing fouetté turns all year for this competition."

The crowd was chanting the number of fouetté turns the two were doing.

At 19 turns, Max took a tumble and fell out of his, landing on his feet, dizzy. But Adrien kept going until 21, doing a double pirouette and landing in fourth position gracefully. He smiled and pumped his fist in the air with success when he realized he had won.

"So... whoever can beat Max's score of 19... will get to be Adrien's partner?" I asked.

Alya turned off her phone and turned around with a sigh. She grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me away from the group. "Marinette, you can't embarrass yourself like this. Remember what happened last time we had fouetté turns in a combo?"

I did remember. That was way back when Master Fu was here. "I've been practicing since then Alya, I really have! I've gotten better!"

Alya sighed and shook her head, "Even if you have gotten better, this is a serious competition! Not an excuse to flirt!"

"I know I know, but I'm trying!"

The Head of Competition Activities had his hands on Max and Adrien's shoulders, "It seems we've found our contestants!" He said in a big booming voice.

"Wait!" I said, holding my hand up, "May I compete for a spot?"

The HCA looked confused for a moment, then shrugged, "I don't see why not."

I wiggled my way through the crowd and to the center of the floor.

Max walked up and stood next to me. He held out his hand, "May the best spinner win." He said.

I shook his hand and we both took our ready positions.

The music begun and we both started to turn. I remembered to spot myself in the mirror every time I span, just as my old teachers used to tell me. The movement just came to me, like magic.

The crowd chanted as we turned, "17, 18, 19, 20..."

Max fell out at 20 and landed on the ground, his head spinning dizzyly.

I continued to spin, trying not to let it faze me. I finally got to 25 before I felt myself falling, and I did a single out of my last turn and landed in fourth position.

I jumped in the air and yelped in delight.

The HCA came over and put a hand on my shoulder. "It seems we have our new contestants, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste!"

Adrien smiled at me, "You're really good Marinette!" He said, "Maybe we could come back to the studio after class and practice for the competition?"

"Y-yeah that sounds great!" I stuttered.

He smiled and nodded in response and walked off.

I sighed happily.

Alya came up to me, "You better win that competition now Marinette! You're representing the whole school!"

I ignored her and sighed, "Ah... Adrien...."

Kim ran over to Max, who was still dizzy and sitting on the floor. Max waved him off and pushed up his glasses, "I'm fine Kim, I-I... just need some air." Max said and he stood up, "Good job Marinette." He said, his voice cracking. He walked calmly out of the classroom and out of the studio.

-----

Max paced in front of the studio, back and forth.

"I should be the one going to the competition, I am the best!" He said to himself, "I've been practicing all year. I've used every technique, video simulations, after class practice, for pete's sake I've taken video games almost completely out of my schedule to make room for practices! I should be the one going... not her."

A man in a tuxedo walked by and dropped a purple envelope on the ground in front of Max. Max picked it up, "Hey you dropped-" But the man was gone.

Max examined the envelope. It was addressed to him. He looked around before carefully ripping the envelope open. There was a letter inside. It said...

"Dear Gamer,

You are the best, and you should be the one who goes to this competition. Prove you are the best dancer overall by following my instructions. Go to the back of the storage closet and you will find a door that leads to Club Miraculous. There is a bag filled with everything you need by the door. All I ask in return is that you unveil the identities of Ladybug and Chat Noir.

~Hawkmoth"

"I will not fail you Hawkmoth." Max said, "I will prove I am the best around."

Max dropped the letter and ran into the studio.

-----

Class was dismissed early since we had nothing else to do today, so Adrien and I stayed after to practice our turns. I was really excited, well, excited and scared. I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of Adrien!

Adrien put a disc into the CD player and pressed play. He ran over to center floor, where I was standing.

"Ready to practice?" He said with a smile.

"I- uh- oh- y-yes. Yes. Yes I am." I stuttered. So much for not embarrassing myself.

Adrien smiled and shook his head.

We did the preparation positions and started to turn. I spotted myself in the mirror, counting as we span. "11, 12, 13..."

I tried to focus, but I couldn't help but look at Adrien. I lost my balance and fell out of my turn.

Adrien stopped immediately and grabbed my shoulder, steadying me. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I felt blood rush to my cheeks, "Y-yeah. I'm fine."

"Do you wanna take a break?"

"Um... sure."

-----

We walked to the back of the studio and refilled our water bottles at the fountain.

As I took a sip from my bottle Adrien asked, "How'd you get so good a turning? You've gotten so much better since the last time we did turning." He leaned against the wall.

"Well uh, practice," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, "Well practice obviously... and, well, uh... I have a secret weapon that helps me."

"Really?" Adrien said, "What kind of secret?"

I reached behind my neck and unlatched my necklace. It was a simple bead necklace with a Chinese symbol on it. We weren't supposed to wear jewelry at the studio, but I kept it hidden under the neckline of my leotard. "This." I handed him the necklace.

Adrien looked skeptical as he held the necklace, "...This?"

I laughed, "It's my lucky charm. Try it. I promise your dancing, turning, anything, will improve."

Adrien smiled and tucked the necklace in his pocket.

We stood in silence for a second, but it seemed like forever. He glanced up at me with that beautiful smile and eyes I could get lost in...

The silence was broken when the door to the storage closet slammed open. Adrien and I both turned in shock and saw a boy in a black tank top with neon green lines on it, with matching baggy pants and a beanie over his hair. He had purple eyeshadow smeared across his eyes.

He pointed a finger at me accusingly, "Marinette!" He shouted, "You took my spot in the competition from me, humiliating me, and now I will humiliate you!"

I suddenly realized who it was, "Max?" I said. I turned to Adrien to see how he was reacting, but he had disappeared.

"I am The Gamer now!" He said, "And I challenge you to a dance battle at Club Miraculous!"

I tried to sound innocent, "What?" I said, "I c-can't dance at a breakdance club, that's against the rules!"

"Either battle me or surrender your spot in the competition-"

"That's enough Gamer." Chat Noir said. He came out of the boys' bathroom and stood in between me and the Gamer protectively, holding his arms out.

"Leave her out of this." Chat said, "If you want someone to challenge, challenge me."

The Gamer hesitated, then smirked, "Fine. I'll challenge you. But if you lose, Marinette gives up her spot."

"Fine. But I won't lose."

"See you at the club then." The Gamer said. He walked back into the storage closet and went down into the club.

Chat turned around to face me.

I was in shock.

"Are you okay, Princess?"

"I... I... um...."

"What? Chat got your tongue?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Really?"

Chat laughed. "I'll see you later purr-incess." He said, about to go to the club.

"Wait!"

Chat turned around, a worried look on his face.

"My friend Adrien," I said, "He was just here. Did you see him when you came in?"

Chat was the one who looked tongue tied this time, "I- um- Yeah, he had to go call his... Parents... about staying late, yeah. Yeah! He'll be back soon." And he ran into the club.

-----

As soon as Chat was in the club I ran to the bathroom and changed into Ladybug as fast as I could. I flung open the door and ran into the club.

I ran up and stood next to Chat Noir, across the floor was The Gamer.

"Nice to see you made it, My Lady." Chat said with a wink.

I rolled my eyes, "Try to focus on the dancing, Silly Kitty." I smiled.

"It's hard to focus when you're so nice to look at."

"Chat."

"Okay, okay, I'm done." He laughed.

We looked across the floor to The Gamer.

"TONIGHT AT CLUB MIRACULOUS, WE HAVE... THE GAMER!" DJ N shouted into the mic, "LETS SEE WHAT COMBOS YOU GOT!"

The music pumped up.

The Gamer did very robotic moves, poppin' and lockin'. He went into a bunch of fouetté turns and went out of them into a circular disc and landed facing us with his arms crossed.

"Oh it is on." Chat said. He turned to me and we nodded.

We both went into preparation positions and then did a matching about of fouetté turns in perfect sinc. We went straight into aerials, switching sides. When we landed we went down into a bug position and popped our legs out then back in. We stood up, span around, and crossed our arms, standing back to back.

The crowd went wild.

"AND OUR REIGNING CHAMPS, LADYBUG AND CHAT NOIR, WIN AGAIN!" DJ N shouted.

Chat and I pumped our fists together, "YEAH! POUND IT!" We both said.

-----

The next day the whole class took a field trip to the competition.

"Are you sure Marinette?" Alya asked me, "It's not everyday you get to be partners with Adrien Agreste."

I had just told her I had decided to surrender my spot in the competition to Max, "Yes I'm sure."

I stood up and walked over to Max.

"Max, you should be the one in this competition."

"What?"

"Take my place."

"Really?"

"Please, you should have it."

"...Are you sure? You're much better than me."

"Please Max, take my place."

A hand touched my shoulder, "Only if Marinette takes my spot."

It was Adrien.

I span around, "Adrien?"

"You and Max are the best spinners I've ever seen. You two should be the ones competing."

"A-are you sure Adrien?"

"Absolutely."

"O-okay."

-----

Max and I came back to the studio that night with the first place trophy for the Paris spin off.

I went back home, exhausted. I fell asleep as soon as I hit my bed.