Chapter 1: Roommate Wanted

"Once again Gabriel has dominated the fashion industry with sales reaching an all-time high. Fresh off the success of the recently revealed spring collection, it will be interesting to see what is in store for the family that has ruled over Paris' elite for the last decade. Father and son were both on sight for the press conference last night to address the future of the expanding label, as well as share insights into the latest overseas expansion."

-excerpt Le Nouvel Observateur

"Alright that is it, we are going out tonight."

"Alya, now is not the time." Marinette sighed at her friend as she stared hopelessly down at the pile of applications sitting on the table in front of her. 10 interviews today and not a single one had been a promising match.

"It is exactly the time. Face it, today sucked and we could both use a night out."

"We can't afford a night out." Marinette replied sullenly.

She gazed around the comfortable living room of their homey three bedroom apartment and sighed. Everything had been fine up until 3 weeks ago.

It had been so exciting at the start of University to finally move out on her own. Her, Alya, and Aurora (who had become one of Alya's closest friends after an intensive summer internship that they both attended) had been thrilled to pool their resources and invest in a nice spacious flat a short walk from the school. The trio of high school friends got along well and rarely had any major disagreements, despite widely differing schedules, and for over a year things had been great. Then 2 months ago Aurora had finally gotten her big break- an offer to take over as the lead weather reporter for a successful local station in Orleans.

They had all been thrilled for her of course. Aurora had packed her things, promised to write often and visit when she could, and headed out to chase after her lifelong dream. But while it had been a great success for their friend, the lack of a third roommate left Marinette and Alya in a bit of a tenuous position.

Both girls had part time jobs as well as some funds saved up, but their joint income would be taxed to the limit if they tried to hold onto the place by themselves for the entirety of the lease.

At first the solution had seemed simple. Nino had opted to do a semester abroad at the start of term and would be looking for a new place when he returned at the end of his four month trip. If they could scrape by on their own for the few months left till he got back they could simply keep the space open for him. After all it wasn't like Alya's long time boyfriend wouldn't be practically living with them anyways, might as well just make it official and be done with it. Money would be tight for a while, but it seemed like the perfect long term solution.

Then, Alya had lost her job.

Marinette might have been less irritated by the whole situation if it hadn't been for the reasoning behind it.

Alya had lost her job because she had missed too much work chasing after stories for the ladyblog. Not only that, her stubborn friend was now determined not to accept any offer that would 'deny her the ability to continue to refine her journalistic integrity.' Unsurprisingly, there were a lack of positions available that encouraged dropping everything to chase across town after superheroes.

Marinette had been furious. She understood her friends attachment to the blog, really she did, and the add revenue from the popular sight was responsible for a large chunk of Alya's tuition payments. But Marinette refused to support Alya in the idea that she personally needed to be on sight recording each and every encounter. It wasn't as though other spectators didn't send in cell phone videos and photos anyways. It was common knowledge that the Ladyblog was the premiere place to follow all things Ladybug. Alya could just have easily continued to maintain her blog from home AND hold down a respectable position. Not to mention then Marinette would finally have been able to stop constantly fearing for her reckless friend's life during battles.

And now here they were. Less than a week away from the next rent payment, broke, and without a single good prospect.

Alya plopped down on the arm of their threadbare couch with a carefree grin that had no business being on her face given the current circumstances. "We are young attractive women, it's not like it will be hard to have a night out on the town without spending our own money. Besides you NEED to get out their Marinette."

Marinette dropped her head on the table and groaned. Here we go again.

"Come on, we will get dressed up, hit up a nice club, find some attractive men for you to pick through."

"Alya let it go." Marinette all but growled into the table.

"As your best friend it is my duty to see you happy Mari." Alya quipped, waiving off the look of frustrated contempt being leveled at her by said best friend.

"I am happy." Marinette seethed.

"No you are tense and irritable. You need to get laid."

"I am tense and irritable because we need to find a roommate and I have no intention of indulging your psychotic need to live vicariously through my love life."

"You mean lack of love life." Alya shot back. "You haven't been on a date in months, and your longest relationship was five weeks."

"That is not true!" Marinette countered indignantly. "I dated Nicholas for four months!"

"It was a long distance relationship, and you saw him in person twice that whole time, it doesn't count."

"What do you mean it doesn't count?"

"Besides, you only went out with him because he looked like Adrien."

"That is absolutely not true!" She had gone out with him out because of a misguided notion that he might be Chat.

"I mean come on Mari, you have only ever kissed, what, four guys?"

"Five!"

"Wait who was number five?" Alya turned towards her accusingly and Marinette instantly regretted letting her irritation get the better of her. She had gone 2 years without letting this particular incident slip to Alya.

"No one you know, it was just a one-time thing." She stammered out, avoiding her friend's heated stare. "I didn't even know his name." Technically that was true. At least not his real one.

"Making out with a guy whose name you didn't even know?" Alya cried dramatically, "Wow Aurora really was a bad influence on you wasn't she. I can't wait to tell her. So details."

"No!"

"You know you aren't allowed to have secrets from me, I need details on this mystery guy now."

"Alya, it wasn't that big of a deal we made out one time." Marinette whined, hoping that she could get through this conversation as quickly as possible.

"Oh so it's make outs now? Why is this the first I am hearing about this? Was it that hot bartender who was checking you out at the club last month?"

"No! I told you it's nothing can we just drop it?"

"Nope. Either spill or I am definitely dragging you out to a club tonight. Who knows, perhaps hottie mcbartender will be working and can score us free drinks."

"If I tell you will you drop the whole going out tonight routine?" Marinette groaned. Alya simply grinned manically and clapped her hands together in gleeful anticipation.

Seriously, Nino needed to get back home as soon as possible. Alya had far too much pent up energy and Marinette didn't know how much longer she could cope. She had never fully appreciated just how much effort that boy must put into keeping her best friend distracted and on task. Really he deserved a medal.

"It was the night after graduation, and he was a guy who I used to see around the bakery sometimes." Marinette began, trying to keep things as vague and uninteresting as possible. "As you may remember I was upset over the whole Adrien leaving for overseas thing and we ended up talking. He was dealing with a sort of similar situation with a girl he liked not being interested and one thing just sort of lead to another…" Marinette trailed off praying that Alya wouldn't push the subject.

"So let me get this straight," Alya said pinching the bridge of her nose "You stay up all night talking to a guy, then decided to let him put his tongue down your throat, and you couldn't be bothered to get his name?"

"It didn't seem important at the time?"

Alya made a guttural noise of disgust, shaking her head in disbelief. "At LEAST tell me he was good looking. What did mystery man look like anyways? Oh wait, if this was right after graduation let me guess- tall, blonde and preppy?"

"Actually he usually wore a lot of black." Marinette quipped before she could stop herself.

"Oh a bad boy! So, how did tall dark and nameless rank on a scale of 1 to please tear my clothes off?"

Marinette choked.

"That good huh? OK now I DEFINITELY need details."

"Ok seriously Alya you have a problem." Marinette replied, desperately hoping that her face hadn't turned an impressive shade of red.

"It's been 84 days Marinette. 84. You know the best part about being in a stable relationship? Not having to worry about going 84 freakin' days without getting any!" Alya hopped up off the couch and flopped boneless across Marinette's shoulders letting out a theatrical wail of frustration. Marinette just rolled her eyes and patted her patronizingly on the top of her head.

"You poor thing. I don't know how you will last the month and a half left till Nino's return." Marinette stated sarcastically.

"Well you can help distract me by going out with me tonight." Alya grinned, all traces of her faux sorrow replaced with a devilish smile."

"Alya I said no." Marinette pouted, standing up from her own chair to shake off her plotting roommate. "Besides I already ordered delivery and it should be here any minute."

"So put it in the fridge for later and go get changed." Alya shot back, clearly not willing to back down. "I mean it Marinette you spend way too much time cooped up in the apartment sewing, and that's just on the good days."

"I take my studies seriously, and as the only one of us who actually HAS a job right now forgive me if I am too busy paying our bills to go chasing after guys!" Marinette shouted defensively.
"Oh please, as if you've ever chased after anyone other than Adrien anyways." Alya scoffed, waiving her hand in a dismissive gesture that made Marinette's teeth grind.

"Adrien and I are just friends." She hissed out the familiar mantra, although for whose benefit was anyone's guess.

"Yes, a fact we are all painfully aware of seeing as how you still have never worked up the guts to do anything about it."

"Oh so now you want me go running after Adrien again? Here I thought you wanted me to go out with you to flirt with nameless bartenders!"

"Well apparently you are happy to make out with nameless strangers so it shouldn't be that far of a stretch for you."

"Well that was uncalled for." Marinette huffed.

"Why can't we just go out and have some fun? What do you have to lose Mari? Its not like good looking available men are going to just come knocking on your door!"

Both girls jumped at the loud rap of knuckles against the hardwood door.

Marinette closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "That would be my delivery." She breathed, allowing herself a moment to get her heartrate back under control.

"No, no, we are going out tonight, so don't even think about curling up in front of the tv."

"Not going to happen Alya, just give up." Marinette replied lightly fishing her wallet out of her purse and heading over to the door.

"Nothing you say is going to change my mind Mari. So help me I will drag you out of this apartment kicking and screaming if I have to."

"Alya if you think…" Marinette's reply died on her lips as she swung open the door to reveal a breathless, extremely disheveled Adrien Agreste.

"Hey, Marinette… I… that is… are you guys still looking for a roommate?"

"On second thought," Alya murmured poking her head into the hallway "an evening in sounds great."