Date? Date

It wasn't a date. Adrien knew that it was originally going to be all four of them. Alya, Nino, Marinette, and he were all going to meet up at Mari's bakery and hangout, but it was only after he had arrived to meet them did he get a text from his best friend saying he was sick. The blond replied with good wishes to get better because he didn't mind hanging out with Alya and Marinette without him. He waited a little longer outside of the bakery, but Alya was no where in sight. The only face he recognized was…Nathaniel?

"Hey, Adrien! What's going on? Are you planning on going in to the bakery?" He greeted with a cheerful smile. Adrien remembered when he was akumatized. He probably still has a ginormous crush on Marinette, and for some reason that made him feel a little on edge.

"Oh, no. I'm just waiting for Marinette," he answered. He was also waiting for Alya…why didn't he say that too. Just then he got another text from Alya saying that she was also sick and to enjoy the day with Mari. Well that solved that problem.

"Oh, really? Are you taking her out on a date?" He asked. He sounded a little apprehensive, and Adrien couldn't help but feel pride that the red head thought he was on a date with Mari. He opened his mouth to say no, but was honestly surprised to hear a different word leave his lips.

"Yes."

"Oh, you're so lucky! Marinette is so kind and gracious. Some guys only dream of being in your shoes right now," he gushed. Adrien blinked and felt irritated at the information he presented. Who are "some guys"? Why were they so desperate to date Marinette.

"Uh…thanks?" Adrien felt awkward. He didn't know why he was responding this way to other guys being interested in Mari. Just the other day he was trying to hook Nino up with her…wait, why was that irritating him now? His thoughts were interrupted when Marinette finally stepped out of the bakery.

"Sorry I took so long, my parents had to make sure I was slathered in enough sunscreen before going out," she apologized. How cute.

"It's okay. I wasn't waiting long," he assured her. She smiled and then noticed Nathaniel.

"Oh, hey Nath. What's up?" She greeted. Wait did she call him Nath? Since when did they use nicknames with each other? Did she like him?

"H-hey Marinette. Nothing much. I was just walking by, but I won't get in the way of your date. Have fun!" He said and walked off in the direction he was already headed. Adrien felt his face turn pink at the mention of date, but it was nothing compared to Marinette's tomato red face. It was almost as red as Nathaniel's hair.

"W-what gave him the idea that were on a d-date?" She stuttered mostly to herself. Adrien shrugged.

"Uh, who cares? He was probably making assumptions. Anyways, did you get Alya's and Nino's texts?"

"Yeah, I saw that they were both sick. Alya said to just go on without her, but I feel like we should visit them to make sure they're okay," she said. Wow, she really was super sweet. Of course he already knew that he probably just didn't notice it as much as it was happening.

"Uh, why don't we let them rest and hang out for a while? Then we can check up on them," he suggested. Call him selfish but he didn't want to get sick either, and he was kinda looking forward to just hanging out with Mari. He didn't get to do it often, but when he did it was always enjoyable.

"You're right, they're probably tired. We can hit the bowling ally and the park before visiting them and seeing if they feel better enough to go to the museum like we planned," she said and pulled out her phone.

"That sounds like a good idea. Are you telling them the new plan?" He asked peering over her shoulder. She nodded and quickly typed out a message. It was only after she hit send and looked up did she realize how close he was. Her flush returned to her face.

"Sounds good, let's go," he replied.

"O-okay," she stuttered.

They headed off towards the direction of the bowling ally and checked out their shoes and a lane. The two of them talked about whatever, and joked and teased each other like friends do. Mari turned out to be a rather mediocre bowler, and Adrien had picked up the hobby when his dad installed their own private ally in the mansion. He wasn't a pro, but he was better than most since his dad also rented out a coach when he found out Adrien was playing around in there. He took this opportunity to teach Mari a few things the coach had taught him, and found himself lingering his hands a little over hers when he adjusted her grip. He also found himself touching her anywhere that felt casual or natural. Such as her arm or her shoulder or the small of her back. Did she notice? He couldn't tell. The lighting was too terrible to see any real color on her cheeks. After a couple rounds they were both a little hungry and decided to snack here. Adrien went to get them some food, and was disappointed to return to Kim and Max talking to Marinette.

"I didn't know you bowled, Marinette. I bet you're no where as good as me," Kim said in his usual cocky tone.

"I would bet on it too. I'm not that good, but Adrien is helping me out. He's so good," she said as he approached the three of them.

"Kim isn't that good. He doesn't make the right angle or calculations to get a strike, so he mostly gets spares," Max squeaked. Marinette giggled and Adrien felt like melting at the sound. He stood passively next to her and tried to smile at his class mates, but ended up only kinda smiling at them. Half smiling…half glaring?

"Are you two on a date?" Kim asked. Marinette blushed and Adrien finally smiled.

"Oh n-no! Alya and Nino planned to be here, but got sick unfortunately. We're going to visit them later," Marinette informed them.

"Both of them? Ew, that means they probably passed it on to each other by making out. That's how all couples get sick," Kim said with a disgusted look on his face. Marinette laughed.

"I wouldn't be surprised," she agreed. Adrien couldn't help but glare at Kim for making Marinette laugh like that. Sure her laugh and smile was a lot more genuine when it was just the two of them, but he still didn't like that she laughed with him. He didn't even make a pun. Max must've noticed Adrien's hostile gaze because he was tugging on Kim's sleeve and telling him they should get back to their game. They said goodbye to Adrien and Marinette before returning to their lane.

"That was weird. Why did they leave all of the sudden?" Mari wondered out loud. Adrien shrugged and handed her her food.

"I dunno."

"And why does everyone think we're on a date? That's so weird," she murmured.

"They're just being annoying," he replied bitterly.

"Annoying? It's a fairly innocent question."

"If you ask me it seemed like Kim was flirting with you," he said and glared at the unsuspecting boy three lanes down. Marinette laughed, snapping his attention back to her. He cocked his brow.

"You're really funny, Adrien," she snorted.

"Uh…thanks?"

"Kim wasn't flirting with me. He and Max are totally a thing. Didn't you notice?" She pointed out. Adrien glanced back at the two boys. They did seem…rather affectionate with each other.

"Oh…no, I didn't," he admitted. Marinette giggled and patted his shoulder.

"You're silly, Adrien," she told him. The blond looked down at her and smiled as she continued to laugh a little longer. He felt dumb in the face and he couldn't look away. When she met his eyes her cheeks burned up and she quickly looked away.

"W-we should go to the park now. Our game is like done, right?" She spoke with a bit of a stutter again. No matter how casual she felt around him he always made her feel giddy and numb. She was struggling to properly use her head.

"Uh, sure. That sounds like a good idea," he nodded. Her phone buzzed in her pocket again and she quickly checked the message and rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, Alya is being stubborn and insisting that we don't visit and Nino hasn't even read the message yet. He's probably sleeping," she complained.

"Why doesn't Alya want us to visit?" Adrien asked looking over her shoulder. He caught a quick glance of her message, but could only decipher the words "help me" before she pulled away and hunched over her device. He was so close. Not that she minded, but has he ever heard of personal space?

"S-she says she doesn't want to get us sick," she lied. The real reason Alya didn't want them to visit was because she wanted Marinette to be alone with Adrien for a longer time. Mari on the other hand was begging for some company because frankly he was acting a little weird with Kim and such.

"That's thoughtful of her," he bit his tongue before he could finish his sentence. He desperately wanted to ask what the real reason was because he was certain Alya wouldn't fret about that so seriously.

"Y-yeah. I told her that we insist, a-and that we'll be there soon," she told him and pressed send on her phone before returning it to her purse.