Thank you all for your reviews!
Half & Half
.7.
"Birds of a Feather"
(Part 2)
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Al impatiently tapped his foot, sneaking peeks from his phone for the time. The other contestants had already started sharing their derby hat designs and his blue-haired friend was still missing. A bit of the excitement had died a little- energetic chattering from fellow students toning down into nervous murmurs when Paris' renowned fashion designer, Mrs. Agreste was pulled up onto her assistant's tablet, stone-faced and cold. Tardy, Al tsked in his head, as always. "Where is that boy?"
Marion was going to win this. (Al needed him to, because if Marion did win his design would be modeled by Adrienne Agreste herself and he could have that shit laminated and framed). He'd seen his friend stress and slave over his designs to perfection- he had full confidence that he had this in the bag if he'd only show up on time for damn once.
Ms. Damocles and Adrienne were guiding her mother about the different creations, stopping by Julieus and Ross' hat. "As you'll see, Mrs. Agreste, our students have poured their hearts and souls into their projects."
Adrienne also had a confused and anxious expression on her face, eyes searching Al's in a silent question, 'Where the hell is he?' Her face smoothed, however, and Alya heard footsteps come up beside him and heavy panting. Al tsked out loud this time as he turned to face his disheveled friend, annoyed with him for worrying Adrienne and himself like this for no reason. "Where have you been? You got your hat?"
Marion took a moment to catch his breath, cheeks pink from tire as he plucked off the lid it hid behind for Al to inspect. "Yep, here."
Al took a moment to marvel at it, eager to see what his friend had come up with this time, but upon looking at it and it's very familiar design his expression darkened and his gut seemed to twist up with rage when he put two and two together.
"What's up?" Marion asked, taking a bit of offense and hurt to his best friend's reaction.
Al calmed himself down, reluctant to break the news to what the bully had done this time. Affronted, Al huffed. "It's the same as Cole's"
"What?"
And right then Adrienne and Mrs. Agreste's assistant had come up to Cole and Sebastian's hat.
"Mrs. Agreste! I'm Cole Bourgeois. You know my mother, Andréa Bourgeois, the mayor?" He had a self-assured smirk on his face that made Al feel all sorts of nasty inside.
Marion's jaw clenched, hissing. "That thieving little brat!"
Al was scowling. "Do you want me to take care of it?"
Marion looked thoughtful for a moment before he grinned as if he knew something Al didn't. The judges finished up with Cole's cakey sweet-talk and slowly made their way over the Marion's display. Big blue eyes flashed to Cole, slyly. "I think I can handle this."
Upon approaching them Adrienne's expression fell, gasping then turning to glare at her childhood friend's smug face. Cole started running his mouth in the background about the unfairness and the scandal of his designs being stolen. Gabriella Agreste was quick to make comment. "Is this a joke?"
Adrienne was just as quick to defend, determined to right this. "Mother, I'm sure that this is just-"
The slender, straight-faced assistant gave her a look to stay quiet.
"But Marion wouldn't-"
"Adrienne." This time it was the older Agreste that shut her down. "I'm sure the boy can make his own case."
She looked crestfallen, but Marion gifted Adrienne with a warm and grateful look. He smiled at her mother in composed diplomacy. "I apologize for the situation Mr. Agreste, but I can prove that this derby hat is my original design. Everything on my derby hat is handmade. From the embroidery, to the weaving of the band, to the stitching of the brim. All done by myself. And last there's a special design element, that only the true designer knows about." Adrienne gasped, eyes shining. Al couldn't help the satisfied smile when his friend turned the hat over, revealing swirling gold embroidery: Marion Dupain-Cheng. "I signed mine."
Cole was red with embarrassment and stormed off, Sebastian hot on his heels.
Gabriella seemed pleased, at most, but the approving nod was enough to send everyone's hearts into an erratic pace. "A very exquisite creation. You definitely have the laboring hands of a hat maker, monsieur…"
Adrienne stepped forward this time with confidence, putting an arm on his shoulder, pride radiating off of her as she announced, "Marion Dupain-Cheng!"
Adrienne glowed when Gabriella nodded again, "Congratulations on your demonstration, Monsieur Dupain-Cheng. You're the winner."
A broad grin showcasing pearly teeth stretched Marion's cheeks."Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Adrienne will wear your derby on our next advertising campaign." The blonde fluttered her lashes and winked at him, and Al had to suppress a giddy, very manly squeal with the coloring of the blue-haired boy's cheeks.
"Awesome job, Marion." She said cooly, taking the hat from him by not so discreetly cupping her hands over his and gazing into his eyes. She pulled away and started putting on the hat, but took a long pause, eyes wide. "A-ah…."
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"A…...achoo!"
Thank you for reading.
The next chapters will be
1."Copycat"!
After LB rejects an artist named Theola, his partner shows up acting very strange. Meanwhile, Adrienne can't seem to get away from Al.
2. "Antibug"
LB learns an important lesson in setting aside his pride and grudges.
3. "Off my rocker"
Guest: "I hope marion's slightly stalker habits still exist as it would make even more sense with his crush being a mystery superhero that he'd compile as much info as possible"
please feel free to leave feedback and other suggestions! I greatly appreciate it!
