Soooo, this is a fanfic I had meant to upload a year ago already but have it now because I didn't work up the courage back then :D
Forgive me if it isn't my usual writing style since it's a bit older but as I beta-read one last time I wanted to keep it that way, for nostalgia x)
Anyways!
This is a gift for Toshyano. It's meant to be one for only 2016 last year but she's continued to guide me and encourage me through 2017 as well and I owe her a huge thanks. She helped to beta most of my stories throughout 2016 and 2017 and she's been my biggest supporter. Thank you for being there for me and helping me through a few difficult things. It's been fun to work together with you and be your friend. I hope your new life is a thousand times better now and I wish you everything good and happy for the new year! :)
With that being said, happy New Year for everyone when it's time and I hope you'll enjoy reading!
Note: Yes they're drinking legally. In France the legal age to drink starts at 16 and they're all aged up to 18 or 19 so no worries.
New Year's Eve.
Of course, Marinette had looked forward to it because like most events, Paris made it absolutely lovely. Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's day, Easter… Somehow, Paris managed to make it an unforgettable event each year.
And New Year's Eve always meant new beginnings. So maybe, the new year would give Marinette enough encouragement to finally confess to Adrien?
She sighed as she made another stitch on her own dress. She had Alya's dress already finished and hung it aside, as well as Nino's suit. She had combined a dark blue tie with a black suit, sticking close to the design of Alya's dress which was dark blue itself. It was strapless, with a tight top and ended in a wide skirt. The fabric was silky and shiny and it would fit Alya just perfectly.
She smiled when she looked at it.
Alya had asked her about half a year ago if she could make her a dress for the party on New Year's Eve and Nino had turned around, grinning, asking her if she could make a suit for him as well. She had laughed and nodded. After the lesson, Nino had pulled Marinette aside and had asked if she could, maybe, make them alike?
She had smiled conspiratorially and assured him she would unintentionally use the same fabric for his tie and Alya's dress. He had beamed at her, even giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
And now she was working on her own, a violet dress on which sequins were forming a pattern that followed her upper body and then down her skirt.
She was just finished sewing on the last sequin before she leant back on her chair, sighing heavily. It was three in the morning and even though she had Christmas holidays, she'd regret it tomorrow. In one hour, her parents would get up to start business in the bakery and it would be better if she was asleep by then. She didn't want her parents worrying about her for staying up that late to finish these. Of course, she was nearing her eighteenth birthday and she could very well decide on her own when to go to sleep, but sometimes her parents still were a bit overprotective.
"I'm finally finished.", she whispered and patted her cat's head from the pillow she had put there earlier, to keep her warm. She smirked when Tikki silently meowed, shooting her a questioning look.
"Yeah, finally, I know. You coming up with me? It'll be warmer there."
The orange cat didn't wait until Marinette had changed, but jumped up to the bed herself. The bluenette smiled and stroked her soft orange fur, making her purr.
"Goodnight, Tikki. Sleep well."
She placed a quick peck on her forehead and had to stifle a little laughter because Tikki looked so cute, nestling herself in the sheets to get warm.
Yawning, she laid down beside her, instantly falling asleep.
Finally, the last day of December.
Marinette was buzzing with excitement. She had finished the outfits two days earlier and in ten minutes, Nino and Alya would be over to change and go to Chloé's party. Chloé had invited almost everyone from the school to the hotel of her father and was throwing a huge party celebrating the new year. Marinette and Alya were allowed to come too, even though they were probably the two girls their party host would more likely see dead than in her father's hotel.
But it was not the party Marinette was excited about. Well, yes, she was happy she would be able to go there but most importantly, Adrien would be there too.
She already wore her dress and was putting on make-up as her mother shouted up that her friends had arrived.
She grinned, opening the hatch to gesture them both to come up.
"Wow, Mari!", Alya beamed, looking up to her, "You look absolutely beautiful! If my dress looks about half as good as yours, I'll look stunning!"
The bluenette laughed and guided her friends into her room, closing the hatch behind them.
"Well, I hid it. First, Nino. Go change, your suit is behind the dressing screen."
The boy nodded and vanished to put on his suit. The two girls heard a delighted squeaking and shortly after, a very happy Nino came out again, showing off his black suit with the blue tie.
"There's only one thing missing…", Marinette mumbled, then backed off and nodded at the blue pocket square, smiling, "Now you're complete. How do you like it?"
Nino laughed and lifted Marinette in the air, careful to not let her dress slip up or rip anything.
"I love it! Thank you, Marinette!"
"Can I see my dress now?", Alya shouted excitedly, jumping up and down. As soon, as the bluenette's feet touched the ground again, she nodded, shooing Alya off behind the dressing screen.
"Of course. We have to get going too, so hurry!"
Alya practically floated when she stepped into the room again, grinning at Marinette who applauded and Nino who nearly had to brush the tears out his eyes, his mouth hanging open.
"Well, are we ready?", the brunette asked laughing, closing Nino's mouth with one finger to the chin. He cleared his throat and swallowed, brushing off the surprise.
"Yep, I'm ready. Let's go celebrate the new year!"
"With Adrien."
"Adrieeeeeeeen…", Marinette sighed, only snapping out of it as Alya put her hands to her cheeks, moving her lips as if she was speaking, mimicking her voice in a mocking manner.
"I don't know if you guys already know, but I am massively in love with this blonde cutie! Anyways, where do I need to sign up for kissing him today?"
Marinette laughed, shaking off Alya's hands.
"Stop it! Now, let's go!"
She took her friends hands and led them down to the doors, kissing both her parents on the cheek for a goodbye. They stepped out in the street and took Alya in their middle, Nino and Marinette linking their arms with hers.
They were at the hotel in no time, even though it was snowing a little bit. Nino had lent the two girls his coat to protect their hair from the wet, soft snowflakes. Though, Marinette suspected it was mostly for Alya because for one, the nature of her hair was different than Marinette's, always sort of exploding in a voluminous mess when they got in touch with rain or snow. And because of him really liking her, like, really liking her.
When they stepped through the front door, they were already greeted by a few butlers, ready to take their coats and lead them to the room where they would be celebrating. They were shown the way to the elevator and then brought into a huge room directly under the roof where many students of their school were already gathered.
"Woah… The hotel staff sure outdid itself.", Alya said amazed, twirling once, then twice. Nino couldn't look away from her best friend's flying feet, stretching as she took a few steps. Marinette bumped her elbow into his side, startling him.
"You know, sometime she's bound to notice you're staring.", she whispered, resulting in a beet red boy next to her.
"I-… I'm not!", he stuttered, clenching his teeth as he looked at the ceiling instead, "I was just-…"
"You were totally checking her out.", a voice said from behind. Adrien appeared next to Marinette and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not my fault Alya's got a nice b-… body…"
The blonde smirked, leaning down to the bluenette who was now just as red as Nino, whispering in her ear.
"Any ideas on how we'll get them together today? Seriously, Nino's head over heels for her since she's joined the class three years ago, it's about time."
Marinette laughed uneasily, rubbing her lower arm. It was not like she had fallen for him as he had joined the class the same time Alya had and it was certainly not like she wanted to confess to him someday soon because she freaking thought it was about time.
"I-… I th-think so too, aah… So, how do we-… Uh, h-how do we-…?"
"ADRIKIIIIINS!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Chloé had cut her off. Suddenly, Adrien was buried under a large pile of white and yellow frilly fabric, unable to talk with her anymore.
"Oh my god, Adrien, you look handsome! You're gonna sit with me during dinner! Come on!"
Adrien only laughed, a little nervous.
"Actually, Chloé, I would love to sit with you during dinner, but isn't it a little while until then? I'll catch up with you when dinner will be served, so-… Oh, look, Sabrina's calling you!"
He grabbed Chloé by the shoulders, turning her around to make her face Sabrina in her light green dress, waving for her attention. Apparently, something had gone wrong because shortly after planting a big, wet kiss on Adrien's cheek, Chloé stormed off.
"W-Well, haha-…", Marinette laughed as he turned to her again, smiling brightly.
His eyes went up and down her body and she did her best to not make an embarrassing pose or something, he was a model after all. After a bit of awkward fidgeting around she settled for legs together and hands folded in front, her ears still burning.
"Your dress looks absolutely stunning, Marinette. Did you make it?"
"I-… I, eh, I actually de-designed it, too! A-And Alya's and Nino's as well. N-Not that Nino's wearing a dress, but I-… I did his suit, too.", she finished becoming quieter with each word, making him step a little closer to still understand her.
"Amazing. I'll tell my father about this because I'm sure he's interested in such good work. All by yourself? Wait, let me get a picture of your dress. I'll ask Nino and Alya later for a pic, I think they're… Busy right now."
She turned to face her two friends, Alya flirting hardcore with Nino while his mouth stood open. A little longer and her best friend would make him drool. According to the cheeky glimmer in her eyes, the girl certainly aimed for that.
Marinette giggled and brought a hand to her mouth. In this moment, she heard a flash of a camera. Startled, her gaze shifted to Adrien who held his phone in his hands, grinning.
"Wow, what a picture. You sure are photogenic, Mari."
Her face grew red again. Her cheeks burned. He had called her by her nickname that only Alya used.
"Wh-… What?"
"Here, it really is a cute pic. I'm gonna use it as your contact picture in my list if that's okay with you."
She looked at the screen Adrien showed her. Her whole body was on it but her head was turned sideways, her laughing face in profile. She had to admit it really was a cute picture.
Adrien grinned wider and swished his finger over his phone, obviously searching for her number in his list.
"Huh…", he wondered, "I apparently don't have your number. How could this have happened? I mean, we're in the same class for three years now.", he handed her his phone, already a new contact opened, "Could you type in your number?"
She took it with shaking hands, almost typing in a wrong number. After double checking, she was sure it was actually hers.
"H-Here you go…", she beamed. He nodded and tapped a bit longer, then her own phone buzzed. She opened her purse and took out her phone. A new message had arrived.
Adrien: Hey there!
Marinette: Hi!
"Thanks! I'm gonna send you that picture and then let's go to our seats before Chloé tries to haul me off again.", he winked conspiratorially and held out his arm for her to link in hers, leading her to a table like a gentleman.
She grinned and nodded, taking his lead. They sat down next to Alya and Nino who had already picked out a table by the window where most of their classmates were already seated. Adrien pulled back a chair and gestured Marinette to sit down. He asked Nino and Alya to stand up again so that he could make pictures of them to show his father later, then dinner began.
Adrien sat down next to the bluenette again, showing her the photo of their friends. They looked like a couple to Marinette and Adrien because Alya was leaning on Nino's shoulder and he had wrapped an arm around her waist, which resulted in a fit of stifled giggling from the two of them.
During dinner she finally got a bit more relaxed around him, steadying her voice, getting rid of stuttering and generally feeling more comfortable around him.
While they ate their dessert, he even placed a little bit of ice on the tip of her nose and she had returned the favor with an amused laughter.
A knife to a glass broke their laughter and they turned to the source. Chloé had stood up, her wide dress of a flurry mess of yellow and white gently floating down to the ground. She was the only one who wore a long dress.
"She looks like a Disney princess.", Marinette whispered to Adrien who laughed.
"Who did she steal it from, Cinderella?"
They had to stifle the next outburst of laughter because she started speaking, looking in their direction.
"I'm really excited to welcome you in the hotel of my father, the mayor of Paris. After dinner the bellboys will clear the room from a few tables up front so that we'll have a dance floor and then, we can party!"
"That was a start in being nice, did you notice?", he mumbled into her ear, making her giggle again as she felt his warm breath on her ear.
"She certainly had a nicer tone to her voice than usual, that's for sure."
"Maybe there's hope for this troubled girl?", he asked, placing a hand above his heart. She laughed even harder, lightly slapping his upper arm.
"Oh my god, Adrien, shut up! Her gaze is already killing me again!"
It was true, Chloé had sent a poisonous glare in their direction. She looked like she was about to kill Marinette with a variety of weapons in this room, ranging from a spoon to the massive chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
He just laughed and winked to Chloé, softening her expression as her gaze shifted from the bluenette to the blonde.
"She's not as cute as you, that's already a reason to sit next to you and not her."
She blushed, shaking her head.
"Is that the alcohol speaking there? You've had a few drinks, don't lie to me."
"As have you!", he laughed, pointing to her third or fourth cocktail tonight.
"But I drank water to that, you just gulped every cocktail down. How far are you, fifth?"
"Fourth, as you.". he winked, a cheeky grin playing around the corners of his mouth.
"You were counting my drinks, mister?"
"I was counting mine and I always ordered for you, too, because you were too shy to speak to the cute waiter.", he countered.
"He's nothing against you and you know that, the tall, green eyed, blonde model that you are."
"Oh, do I?"
She laughed at their playful banter, as he did, and it was something Marinette very much enjoyed. After all, who could've imagined that she would warm up so quickly after years of stuttering?
"Anyways, are you trying to make me drunk?"
"Maybe?", he inched closer, now a seductive tone to his voice, "Maybe I wanna make you drunk so that you won't complain when I'll kidnap you to one of the hotel rooms."
"Oh yeah? Maybe I wouldn't complain even if I was sober?", she retorted, her ears already warming up again but she blamed it on the alcohol.
He just laughed as she blushed in a deeper red.
"Well then, how about a dance? After all I gotta seduce you first before kidnapping you.", he held out his hand and she gratefully took it, already hearing the first song being played.
"Thanks.", she breathed, smiling at him as he led her to the dance floor that had already been freed by the bellboys. They spent almost half an hour dancing until a slow song played. Adrien saw Chloé already elbowing her way through the crowd, but Alya and Nino just happened to be in her way with the most innocent faces, so he turned to Marinette.
"One slow dance, beautiful?"
She giggled and took his hand, suddenly being very close to him. He gently began swaying her around, sometimes leading her to do a swirl. He did that more often after some time.
"What's with all the pirouettes?", Marinette asked laughing. He just grinned down to her, making her do another one.
"I really like how your dress is swirling when you do that."
She laughed and his grin got wider. If he didn't look out he would fall in love with her, but if he was being honest, he didn't exactly care. Dancing with Marinette just made his heart flutter so strongly so that his head didn't mind.
Half an hour and much bantering later, the moment had finally come.
New Year's Eve!
They all gathered up on the roof, Marinette with Adrien not far from Alya and Nino, already watching a few fireworks being lit.
"Ten!"
He looked down at Marinette and her blue eyes sparkled from all the stars and the sparks in the sky.
"Nine!"
She looked up at Adrien and almost lost herself in his leaf green eyes that made her melt almost everytime.
"Eight!"
His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"Seven!"
They both looked over to Nino and Alya who were really close to each other, too. Marinette had to giggle at Nino's lovestruck golden eyes and Alya's soft smile as they inched closer to each other, barely whispering the countdown.
"Six!"
"Hey, isn't there this New Year's tradition?", Adrien asked nervously, his other hand rubbing the back of his head.
"Five!"
"Which one? Lead pouring?", she jokingly asked, her eyes glowing.
"Four!"
"No, the one-…", he bit his lip. Her gaze became questioning as he leant down, his hands sneaking to hers to interlace their fingers.
"Three!"
"… The one with the kiss.", he whispered.
"Two!"
She looked up at him, flustered. His eyes went down to her lips, her damn kissable lips he'd had to tear his gaze away the whole evening already.
"One!"
He looked down to her, shaking with nervousness. As she closed her eyes he leant in, too. He could already feel her warm breath on his skin.
"Happy new year!"
Their lips met and they both shut out all their classmates and fellow students jumping up around them. For this moment, just the two of them existed, her soft lips on his, his warm lips on hers.
As they broke away from each other, he noticed a blush on her lit up face because of the colorful fireworks that were started around them.
