Adrien sighed as he approached the apartment door. He knocked on the door and it was answered by Nino. He was surprised by how much taller Nino had gotten since he last saw him and that he was now growing a goatee.
"Adrien you came." He pulled him into a hug but Adrien just stiffed. "I haven't seen you in forever man, I've really missed you."
"Yeah." He said. "Good to see you too."
"Come inside."
Adrien had never felt comfortable at big crowded parties, sure sometimes they were bearable but they still made him nervous and this party was no exception. It was filled with lots of people but all the guests were his old friends so he didn't feel too nervous. All of his former friends and classmates had changed greatly. Ivan had become a writer and was now happily married to Mylene, Max was a college professor, Rose had opened her own flower shop, Juleka had started her own cosmetics line called Beauty Within, Nathaniel was now a famous artist, Alix became a skating instructor, Kim had become a famous athlete, and Chloe who was Kim's girlfriend had opened her own hair salon.
"The publisher loved my poems." Ivan said. "But I can't take all the credit because most of it goes to my inspiration, my beautiful wife Mylene."
"Oh Ivan." She said blushing.
"So I've developed a new shampoo that not only washes and conditions hair but eliminates dandruff, grease, lice, and add extra shine." Chloe said holding up a bottle. "After Christmas the shampoo company is going to start making hundreds like these, I'll be famous."
"That's impressive Chloe." Max said. "My students and I are working a stain removal chemical. I have the prototype right here by it's highly acidic so I don't think it'll be much good. I brought it with me because I didn't have time to dispose of it properly. It's in the kitchen so nobody touch it."
"Hey everyone! Look who's here!" Nino announced bringing Adrien into the other room.
"Adrien!" Alya cried hugging him. "So good to see you."
"What's up man?" Kim asked. "Where you've been?"
"I've been busy."
"Adrien I just have to say your dark color fashion line really helped boost my make up business." Juleka said.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Adrien Darling!" Chloe cried.
Adrien bit his lip in annoyance.
"I'm so glad you're here, you simply must try my new shampoo. It will do wonders for your hair." She handed him the bottle.
"Yeah wonders, excuse me I need a drink." He went into the kitchen to get some punch. "Typical Chloe, no doubt she only gave me this so I'll promote it."
He spotted a vile of green liquid. He had been told that Nino and Alya had a kid so he thought that it was play slime. He decided to play a little joke on Chloe and pour some of the the strange liquid into her shampoo bottle.
"Huh...Surprise Chloe." He snickered to himself.
"Adrien?" A familiar sweet voice called.
He turned around to see Marinette walking in with a tray of cookies. She was as beautiful as he remembered her if not more. Her hair was no longer kept in pigtails but was now down, straight, with a pink ribbon tied in it. Her blue eyes still held their twinkle of joy and her cheeks and nose had become rosy from the cold weather. She smelled like sugar cookies, gingerbread, apple pie, and all those other wonderful sweets her parents made at the bakery. But what he loved most about her was that kind and loving smile that always melted his heart.
"I'm so glad you came." She said.
"Yeah...Uh...Hi."
"Hi. Wow."
"Wow what?"
"Nothing it's just you've gotten more handsome."
"Thanks."
"Wanna a cookie? They're sugar you're favorite."
"Thanks but no, I haven't had a sweet in God knows when. Can't risk getting fat you know."
"Funny the Adrien I remember could never resist a cookie from my family's bakery."
"Well I've changed."
"You sure have kitty." She giggled. Adrien blushed at his familiar nickname.
"So what have you been doing? Did you ever become a fashion designer like you always wanted?"
"I've been working on it. So far no will take my designs so until them I've been working at the bakery to make ends meat."
"Nobody likes your designs? Get out of here you're the most talented designer I know."
"Oh...Thank you." Her cheeks were like two cherries.
"So just out of curiosity have you been seeing anyone?"
"No I've been too busy with work. I mean Nathaniel has asked me out a few times but it's been so long since I've had a date I'm a little shy."
"I see. It wouldn't have anything to do with what happened between us would it?"
"Oh no! No! Adrien it's been seven years, I've moved on. Really."
"Okay."
"So what about you? Do you have someone special."
"No don't have the time."
"Right. Listen I know you're not really big on the holidays but I don't like thinking about you being alone on Christmas so I was wondering, why don't come spend Christmas with me and my family like we used to do?"
"Marinette you're a sweet girl, but we're over. Okay? So we can't do that anymore."
"Why not? I understand if can't be a couple but why can't we be friends? Why don't you ever wanna be around us anymore Adrien? We all miss you and we worry about you. You used to be so happy at this time of year, so full of light and joy. What happened?"
"Excuse me but I have to go to the bathroom."
Of course that wasn't true but he couldn't stand looking into those blue eyes without kissing those soft lips any longer. He needed a few minutes to think things over. He went inside a nearby closet to get his thoughts together. While he was in there Alya's parents Otis and Marlena started talking by the door.
"Do you think he'll ask him?"
"No Otis it's not our place."
"But Marlena, Alya and Nino need money. Why can't they just ask Adrien for a loan?"
"Otis keep your voice down!" His wife whispered strenly. "Even they do ask him do you really think he'll do it if he heard you?"
Unknown to them, Adrien had heard the entire conversation and it hurt him. Did Nino only invite him to this party to get money from him? Of course he did! That's the only reason anyone ever wanted him around to get something out of him. He was so sick of this. In rage he burst out of the closet and approached Nino.
"Hey buddy enjoying yourself?" Nino asked.
"Why do you care?! So you can get a loan out of me?!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb! I know all about it!" He shouted gaining evertyone's attention. "You only invited me because you wanted a loan from me!"
"That's not true!"
"Yeah right I heard your in laws talking about it!"
"Dude lower your voice my daughter's asleep."
"And if she wakes up you can tell her that it was your fault!"
"Hey Agreste!" Alya said. "I don't care if you're famous or not! You wake my baby and I'll throw you out of here so fast you're head will spin!"
"Fine. I'm out of here, I should've know none of you really wanted me here. You're too lazy to work a real job so you have to beg hard workers for money and mooch off of them. Some friend you are." He left the apartment slamming the door hard in the process.
"Mommy? Daddy?" Piper came out of her room in her nightdress rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Why is there shouting?"
"We're sorry baby, somebody just got upset." Alya said. She picked up her daughter and took her back into her room.
"Sorry everyone, give us a minute." Nino said following his wife.