(A/N: I will try to update as soon as possible, but remember- your support does help to keep me motivated! Thank you to those who have already followed and favorited! It means a lot.)

Adrien's P.O.V

"So, dude, what are you going to do at the party?" Nino asks.

"I'm not really sure," I respond honestly. "Hide from Chloé, for one thing." She has some idea that we're dating, and takes it upon herself to hang onto me at every opportunity. It's no mystery why she invited me.

"Speaking of Chloé, what is she doing?" Nino points out Chloé, who's yelling something at Marinette.

"You honestly thought that I would ruin my 16th birthday like that?" Chloé mocks. "How pathetic!"

Marinette runs from the room, clearly close to tears. I lock eyes with Alya and her shocked expression mirrors mine.

I walk up to Chloé. "What in the world is your problem?" I ask.

Alya follows, hands on her hips. "Yeah! Don't you have any sense of common decency?"

Nino adds, "Totally uncool!"

Chloé puts her hands to her mouth in obviously faked shock. "I'm so sorry, Adri-poo! I didn't know she was going to take it like that!" She's lying, I think to myself. She's not even trying to hide it.

Alya throws her a disgusted look. "You can't be serious."

Chloé drops her hand, and the act along with it, and pins Alya with a glare. "Well, ex-cuuuuse me for not wanting my party to be ruined by her. In fact, the only reason I invited you was to get to her. Come anyway. I don't care." She looks at her nails.

I give up on Chloé. "Did either of you see where she went?" I ask Nino and Alya.

Neither of them look like they have any clue. "We have to look for her," Alya says.

Nino says apologetically, "I can't. I have to go home so I can get Chloé a birthday present." His expression betrays his distaste.

I put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay," I say. "See you at the party."

The bell rings rather conveniently then, so we split up- Nino heads back to his house, and Alya and I decide to check Marinette's parent's bakery.

On the way there I ask Alya, "No offense, but why did Marinette ask Chloé for an invitation? They don't really like each other."

Alya looks away. "It's my fault. I pushed her to."

"But why? I somehow doubt you wanted Marinette to go so she could enjoy Chloé's great personality."

Alya giggles, then grows quiet. "Um… I didn't want to be there without her."

Lie. I know it immediately, but don't push. If Alya doesn't want to say, I won't make her.

When we get to the bakery I hold the door open for Alya. Marinette's mother is waiting inside behind the bakery counter. "Mrs. Dupain-Cheng? Is Marinette here?" Alya asks.

Mrs. Dupain-Cheng purses her lips and wrinkles her forehead. "She's upstairs, but she seems really upset. She came in and told me not to let anyone bother her, then went up to her bedroom."

"Can we see her?" I ask.

"I don't think so, dear. She seemed really upset and said she wanted to be left alone. It wouldn't be a good idea. I'm sorry."

I look at Alya and she shakes her head and motions towards the door. Before we part ways, I say to her, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Alya replies, "Me too." She shrugs uncertainly. "See you at the party!"