Quick note! This is my first multi-chapter Miraculous fic - I've been posting a lot of quick one-shots, so this one is only going to be a couple chapters long. I've been posting so many single-chapter fics, though, I was wondering if any of you have read them and would prefer I just made one story and each chapter was a single-chapter fic? You know, just a compilation of one-shots - I was just wondering if that would be better/more convenient for any of you who like my work! Leave a review or message me with any recommendations. Anyways! Thank you so much for reading this note and reading my fics & every follow, favorite and review makes my day.
"Girl, you cannot be serious." Ayla frowned, crossing her arms across her chest, "Nino is – my friend. But a total nerd."
"That's perfect! You're a total nerd." Marinette retorted, earning a gasp and a playful punch on the shoulder from Ayla.
"I think you just want me to go with Nino so you have a shot at going with Adrien." Ayla shot back, and Marinette blushed and took the opportunity to gaze at one of her many posters of Adrien around her room.
"Well, no – that wasn't my original reasoning, but now that you mention it…"
"Marinette! Nino and I are just friends. I am not going to ruin our casual, lighthearted friendship over your crush on Mister Perfect."
"Oh, come on. Nino is super cute." Marinette replied, and Ayla arched her eyebrows up at her, pursing her lips. "What?"
"If you think he's so cute, why don't you go with him?"
"I don't like him like that! Look, I wouldn't even care this much if Chloe's birthday party wasn't some – stupid, super-formal event." Marinette muttered, looking down at her nails.
"Do we even like Chloe? She's never been nice to us, especially you." Ayla huffed, sitting down on Marinette's chaise and staring at her. Marinette's legs were propped up on her desk, her phone in her lap.
"Well – it's her birthday! I'm not going to not go to her birthday party – she'd probably be even meaner to us if we don't go." Marinette sighed, and Ayla nodded, "It's a good opportunity to let loose and have fun. Chloe suggested everyone get dates, and I think you should go with Nino. He's nice to you and you're nice to him, and you guys obviously like each other – as friends!" Marinette said, catching Ayla's glare.
"What if Nino isn't even planning on going?"
"Adrien is, so Nino is. They're like two peas in a pod –"
"Just like us." Ayla finished, and Marinette giggled at her. "Fine, I might as well ask him. As a friend. We'll go as friends."
"Great! That means I get to design you a dress." Marinette winked at her friend, reaching for her sketchbook.
"Hold on, we're not finished yet." Ayla said, standing up and walking over to Marinette's desk, "You're asking Adrien."
"What? No. No, no, no. That's what I'm saying and that's exactly what he would say if I asked him!" Marinette complained, pouting as Ayla took her sketchbook from her.
"If I'm going with Nino, you're going with Adrien. There's no harm in asking!" Ayla insisted, much to Marinette's dismay.
"There is harm in asking. Harm to my heart. If he says no, I'll be torn into pieces, Ayla! And there's never a guarantee he would say yes. Besides, he's like – basically dating Chloe and since its her birthday, he's probably going with her anyways."
"You have a point – but – Marinette." Ayla sighed, placing her hand on top of her friends head, turning her face to look at her straight in the eyes. "You can't let yourself love him in secret forever."
"Says who?"
"The world. And me. And if he knew, I'm sure he would be flattered – for all we know he likes you back!"
"For all we know, he makes out with Chloe on the weekends –"
"Stop torturing yourself like this, girl! You're going and I'm going, and you know what? If Adrien says no, I am going to dump Nino and we are going together. I'm not going to let you do this to yourself."
"Ayla – how did I ever get so lucky to have you as my best friend?" Marinette sighed, grinning up at her friend.
"Karma. Okay! Let's design some dresses."
"We can ask them to lunch, and you can ask Nino on our way back to school." Marinette suggested. Ayla had grown increasingly nervous about the situation over the past several nights. Marinette had noticed she'd even taken to biting her nails – which she never did. Marinette reached for Ayla's hand as she began to raise it to her mouth, squeezing it quickly. "Don't be so anxious!"
"Oh, no. Here they come. Okay, okay, um – Nino, twelve o' clock, Adrien twelve forty-five-ish – more like fifty-nine, since they are standing really close together!" Ayla squeaked, and Marinette smiled slightly at her. Marinette was always the one freaking out around her crush, and now Ayla was in her shoes. As soon as Marinette turned around, she took upon the same demeanor as Ayla. Weak knees and quickened heartbeat. Adrien smiled and waved at them as they walked closer. Marinette thought she might faint.
"Hey! Hey, Nino – hey, Adrien. What's up?" Marinette squeaked, and Nino grinned at the two of them.
"We're headed out to lunch. Do you guys want to come with us? We're going to a park." Nino offered, and Marinette took another glance at Adrien and went light-headed. If Ayla asked Nino, she realized, she'd have to ask Adrien. And as soon as Ayla got her yes, she'd be pressured into asking Adrien that same minute. Her stomach rose up in her throat and all she could do was nod.
"Cool! Um, Marinette, do you want me to carry your history book?" Adrien offered, and Marinette glanced down at her book – she'd dropped it haphazardly on the floor when she'd seen him. Embarrassed, she reached for it as he did. Their hands brushed and he took it, smiling at her. Oh my –
"Let's go!" Ayla smiled, and Marinette looked over at her friend – all of Ayla's anxiety over the situation had disappeared and she linked her arm through Marinette's. Pulling her along, Marinette was wedged between Alya and Adrien. Marinette and Adrien's hands brushed as they walked, and for a moment Marinette thought her life was ending.
They walked to the park, Ayla and Marinette sharing their ideas for their dresses – Chloe's party was only a week away, and Marinette needed to begin sewing immediately to have them done in time; being the master designer she was, it would be a fun and easy project.
Nino spread out a blanket for all of them in the park, and Marinette pulled a small paper bag of croissants out of her backpack, tearing open the bag and setting it on the blanket. "We can all share. My dad always packs me a half-dozen croissants with my lunch for friends. Usually Ayla and I just eat them and give the rest away." Marinette smiled, glancing at Adrien as he took one, took a bite, and sighed contently.
"So do you guys have dates for Chloe's party?" Nino asked, and Ayla shook her head.
"Nope! I think it's so ridiculous that she even wants us to bring dates –" Ayla began.
"Right! She's acting like her birthday party is some sort of gala –" Nino replied quickly, and Alya gasped.
"I know! It's so silly." Ayla breathed, and Nino beamed at her.
"We could go together, if you want." Nino offered, and Ayla's face lit up. Marinette and Adrien watched the scene unfold in front of them, Adrien tearing off pieces of croissant and eating them quickly. He reached for another when he was done with his first, leaning toward Marinette.
"They are perfect for each other." He whispered to her.
"They're practically finishing each other's –"
"Sentences." Marinette and Adrien said simultaneously. He laughed and nudged her shoulder, biting into another croissant. She turned toward him and grinned, though her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest.
"Yeah! Yeah, that'd be great." Ayla said to Nino, and they began talking about whether he should wear a suit. Marinette sat cross-legged on the blanket, playing with a croissant as Adrien started on his third.
"Marinette – you don't have a date to Chloe's party?" Adrien asked, and she looked up at him. Adrien's eyes were as green as the park grass itself, and Marinette wanted to roll around in them.
"Um, no. I just sort of helped Ayla plan out how she was going to ask Nino, but he seemed to do the job for her." Marinette giggled, and Adrien chuckled.
"These croissants are amazing."
"Thanks. My parents make them fresh every day." Marinette replied, and the two lapsed into another silence. Marinette opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it. Just ask him, she thought to herself, come on! Get the words out! "Do you have a date?"
"What? Oh, to Chloe's thing? I didn't even RSVP yet – I kind of forgot. I've been kind of busy lately," he began, staring at her as he rambled, "no. I don't have a date."
"Oh? Um – well, since –" Marinette couldn't seem to get the words out, "Since, um – you know, Nino and Ayla are like – going together –"
"Do you want to be my date?" Adrien asked, noticing her nervousness. She gazed at him for a moment before nodding quickly, dropping her croissant onto the blanket.
"Yes – yes! Yes, please. I mean – not please, because I'm not – desperate or anything, but yes. Yes, I'd like to be your date." Marinette rambled, and Adrien grinned at her.
"Great! What color should my tie be?"
"Red. I look best in red."
"Great! Red and black go well together – I've always looked pretty sharp in black." Adrien smiled, and Marinette giggled.