Hi guys, I think the meds are finally kicking in! Writing this chapter has definitely been the most fun, first time ever writing text conversations. Marinette seems like the type of girl to give nicknames to everybody on her phone so that's been fun. And Alya strikes me as the type to nickname herself using Marinette's phone lol, hence the name. Anyways, onto the story!
Chapter 4: She's Me
Neither Adrien nor Marinette got much sleep that night. Both of their minds were thoroughly occupied with thoughts of the other and all the emotions that came with it. Tikki did her best to calm Marinette between the teen's gushing over the possibility of her - Ladybug her at least - being Adrien's crush and lamenting that she's been rejecting him all this time. Not to mention her flipping out occasionally at memories of things Chat Noir has said and done. Frankly, Tikki sometimes wondered if her parents already knew everything given Marinette's rather... Easily projected voice. Meanwhile Plagg was comforting an extremely emotionally confused Adrien. And by comforting I mean laughing at the boy with a mouthful of cheese before going to sleep with a headache that he pointedly blamed Adrien for. Eventually the teen model texted Nino, the only friend he knew would give him unprejudiced advice, and fell asleep a notification reading:
Nino: dont worry bro i got a plan. Sent 1:23 am
The next morning Marinette woke up with 15 new messages from her group chat with Nino, Adrien, and Alya. Of course, she reached for it so fast she nearly launched herself off her bed.
Nino: ay anyone awake Sent 1:31 am
Nino: guess not lol Adrien got free time tomorrow so i thinkin we could all hang wat u guys thnk? Sent 1:35 am
Ladybug4ever: go to bed. Sent 1:36 am
Ladybug4ever: now that it's a DECENT hour... Yeah hanging out sounds fun. Marinette will come too. You guys have somewhere in mind? Sent 9:03 am
Nino: is she with u? n we dunno yet Sent 9:04 am
Ladybug4ever: No, but she'll say yes. How about the mall? Sent 9:05 am
Nino: rlly? the mall? No offense babe but i dont think me or adriens idea of fun is shopping Sent 9:06 am
Ladybug4ever: Not for shopping, for the arcade ya dingus. Sent 9:07 am
Nino: oh lol ok, sounds good Sent 9:08 am
Ladybug4ever: What time is Adrien free? Sent 9:09 am
HotStuff: 11:30 to 2:00. Anything I should bring? Sent 9:10 am
Ladybug4ever: Just your ridiculous amount of money lol. Sent 9:11 am
HotStuff: Ok! Sent 9:12 am
Nino: bro she was joking Sent 9:13 am
Nino: bro? Sent 9:18 am
Marinette pulled down her Adrien schedule and smiled before sending a message.
Mari: He's probably at a photo shoot. Sent 9:20 am
Of course, she was right. He was a photo shoot in the park which would be done at precisely 11:25. Which was close enough to noon to... Idea!
Mari: Hey why don't I bring some lunch for us all? Sent 9:20
Nino: nice thinking see u guys there Sent 9:21
It wasn't even a minute later that Alya pm-ed Marinette
Ladybug4ever: OMG GURL SLICK THINKING! WE TOTES NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT ADRIEN'S FAVORITE PASTRY IS AND BRING IT. QUICK SEND IT ON THE GROUP CHAT HE MIGHT SEE IT BEFORE THE SHOOT IS OVER. Sent 9:21
Mari: What?! But then it'll sound like I'm favoring him just asking what his favorite is! Sent 9:22
As soon as the message said read and there wasn't a typing bubble on the screen, Marinette knew she was going to have a visitor in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
"MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG WE ARE SENDING THAT MESSAGE!" the trapdoor flung open and a very heavily breathing Alya was bursting into the room.
"You really didn't have to run here..." Marinette sighed, still sitting on her bed in her pajamas.
"Oh yes I did!" her bff proclaimed, flopping down next to her and snatching her phone. She began typing furiously.
"Hey!" Marinette yelped, "Alya! Don't send anything!"
"Oops, too late!" she chimed, overdramatically pressing the send button. Marinette took the opportunity to steal back the device, but the damage was already done.
Mari: Adrien, I know everyone else's favorites to bring so what's yours? Sent 2:25
HotStuff: Anything from your bakery is the best :) Sent 2:26
Alya and Marinette both looked at each other, mouths gaping at first, and then began screaming.
"GIRL HE TOTALLY JUST FLIRTED WITH YOU!" Alya squealed. Marinette looked like she was about to faint. And then she did. Alya leaned over her for a second, but the bluenette just cracked open one eye with a grin,
"If I'm dreaming, don't you dare wake me up!" Eventually their screaming subsided and they hounded Nino to get Adrien's real favorite: chocolate croissants. Naturally, at that news, they stampeded into the bakery to get started. Her parents laughed good-naturedly when they insisted on doing everything themselves. And absolutely no one except Adrien was to eat Marinette's made-with-every-ounce-of-love-humanly-possible croissants. Except Alya for taste testing. Thank goodness they were done just in time for 11:30. Alya shot the group a quick text saying she was already at Marinette's and Adrien wouldn't take no for an answer after offering up his limo for the ride there. In the few minutes In between the croissants finishing and his arrival, Marinette was nearly ready to bounce off the walls. Her Adrien, her sweet adorable Adrien who also happened to be her hot flirty kitten, was about to be at her doorstep! And now that she knew his identity, she had more confidence than ever that she would be able to talk to him normally. If she could joke around with him wearing a skintight leather suit, she could speak like a normal human being around him in his everyday t-shirt and jeans. It didn't make him any less gorgeous when he opened the bakery door though.
"Adrien, Nino, hi!" Marinette chirped with, thank god, minimal trembling in her voice.
"Hi Marinette!" Adrien grinned back cheerfully, "You two ready to go?"
"You bet!" Alya stepped in, "We've got food for everyone and I'd like to get to the mall and find a seat before it gets cold." They all nodded in agreement, the bright ray of human sunshine especially. It felt like there were only seconds between them piling into the car and then piling back out (though Marinette was promptly wishing they had chosen a farther mall with how she had been pressed against Adrien's side). Then again, as she went to slide out of the car, Adrien turned around and offered her his hand. She could nearly see the black mask and ears in that one gesture. Marinette's head was in cloud nine as she took his hand to "help" her out of the car. His skin was softer than any fabric the young seamstress had ever handled, but wasn't too distracted by it to not notice Adrien's rather intense stare. Was he able to tell how much she was enjoying holding his hand? she almost freaked out. Fortunately for her nerves, he just gave her a little smile and started walking towards the doors. Nino walked after his best friend with a not very well hidden smirk and Alya nearly pounced on Marinette.
"Girl, you are never gonna believe what Nino just told me!" the brunette whisper-screamed, at least having the sense to try and not let Adrien hear.
"What?" Marinette whispered back, nerves building back up. Instead of answering, Alya opted to grab her bff by the wrist charge ahead of the boys, not even stopping to throw back,
"We're heading to the bathroom, don't wait for us to start eating!" Alya's pace didn't slow down enough for either of them to see the boys exchange a mildly concerned look. In fact it didn't slow down at all until they were safely inside the entirely empty girl's bathroom. Marinette couldn't even ask before the other girl started,
"So, like, Nino said Adrien was texting him at like TWO am and talking about YOU!"
"W-what?! Me?!"
"Yes girl! You!"
"What did he say?!" Marinette's head was spinning. Alya did a little dance and bit her lip, which only made Marinette more anxious,
"Nino wouldn't tell me."
"Wouldn't tell you?! But it could be something horrible!"
"No way, I bet he's starting to like you!"
"You really think so...?"
"Girl, I'm so sure about this, I know so! Now c'mon, you're gonna charm him with your amazing personality!" Alya pushed Marinette out the doors and they walked back to the table. Where, of course, Alya took the chair next to Nino. Marinette smiled over awkwardly at Adrien, hoping she didn't bother him by sitting next to him. His return smile was around an entire croissant. The bluenette couldnt help but snort in laughter and his cheeks immediately reddened. He couldn't even chew with his mouth closed after home much he had stuffed in at once.
"Can I have one of those?" Marinette asked, mirth still in her voice. Adrien's eyes turned wide and his even ears looked like they were sunburnt.
"I, mmphh, umpph..." he mumbled shyly around the pastry.
"He already ate them all," Nino translated.
"Mmphpho!" the blonde objected before turning back to the blunette, "Mmph mphowwy..." Marinette could only giggle.
"It's ok Ki-" Marinette stopped midword before fixing her sentence, "The croissants were made for you after all. I'm... I'm just glad you like them so much." The blonde grinned with chocolate smeared teeth. Alya stood up and stretched, announcing as she did so,
"Ok you two lovebirds, time to go get our game on!"
"Alya!" Marinette yelped while Adrien choked on his mouthful of food.
"What? You two can flirt on the way to the arcade too," Alya drawled. Adrien's coughing fit had almost stopped until he heard that and started choking all over again.
"Dude, you're gonna kill him!" Nino tried to chide Alya but it just came out as laughing. Thankfully a few more hearty pats on the back opened the model's airways again. He recovered from the near deaths experience with a awkward smile and laugh. Marinette could only pray to God that her best friend's comments would soon be forgotten. They seemed to be as the group started their trek down the mall towards the arcade. Not that the bluenette would have known that Adrien's brain had burned those two teases into it. A few loud gasps came from the crowd. Marinette turned around to see what she could only describe as something very, extremely wrong. She saw Ladybug landing gracefully in front of her and her friends.
"Hey everyone!" Ladybug gave them all a warm smile. Then she laid eyes on Adrien and her face turned soft, "Hi Adrien."
DUN DUN DUN. BET YOU GUYS WERENT EXPECTING THAT. But seriously guys I'm sooooo sorry. I didn't update this in like... A third of forever. Don't worry, I swear on my crush's life that I'll get the chapter up sooner! Pre-nanowrimo season is taking it's toll and THE NEW EPISODES HOLY CAMEMBERT. I'm keeping the fanfic still like... just after what's aired on Netflix (up to captain Hardrock) cause I know some people aren't watching the YouTube episodes so yeah! Kitten out!