The four friends saw Adrien's car pull up after school got out. "Anyone want a ride?" he offered, gesturing to the sedan.

"Is there room?" Nino asked incredulously.

Adrien scratched the back of his neck, "Uh, yeah? Sure. Yes. We can make it. Someone will have to sit in the front-"

"SHOTGUN!" Alya exclaimed, "Sorry..." She glanced over at Nino and Marinette who were looking at her like she'd grown another head.

"No middle for me," Nino exclaimed.

"Me, neither," Alya smirked, because she'd called the front.

Adrien looked at Marinette apologetically, "My legs don't fit."

Marinette sighed, "Okay. I will. No worries." Her stomach was stirring excitedly as she realized she'd be sitting next to Adrien for the entire ride.

They approached the car and Adrien noticed Natalie was sitting in the front seat. He hissed, "Oooh, um, hold on guys." Adrien ran up to the car and tapped on Natalie's window. She rolled it down. His friends hung back while he talked to her.

"Adrien," she greeted, "Is there an issue?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if my friends could come over today." He saw her immediately stiffen, "No, wait, before you say no. My father is not home, I know, but we're just talking about universities. You received an acceptance letter for me, right?"

"A few. Adrien, I don't know if your father would approve."

"Please?" he begged, "We could discuss options with each other. I need their help."

Natalie sighed and he knew she was going to give in, "All right, Adrien, but only as long as you keep your friends contained to your room. I can't be responsible for them in the house. I don't get paid to babysit."

Adrien chuckled as she made a joke, deadpan delivery. It was very true to Natalie, but one that no one else would think was a joke. Adrien knew better. "Honest. Thank you, Natalie!"

"Arthur," the driver, bodyguard that Adrien referred to as 'Gorilla,' "This doesn't go past me." He nodded, acknowledging that she was the top of this chain and he was not to go over her head to tell Mr. Agreste. Arthur really didn't have any interest talking to Gabriel Agreste, except to grunt in agreement and get paid for it. As far as Arthur was concerned, Gabriel was a prick who paid well. Tattling was above his pay grade. He'd tell Natalie and leave it at her discretion to tattle to Mr. Agreste or not.

"Come on, guys," he waved them over, "It'll be a little squished, but we can handle it."

Alya climbed in and tried to sit on Nino's lap, but she couldn't manage to fit. She and Nino were too big to sit with each other. Marinette, being the smallest, would have to sit on someone's lap. Alya had already wiggled into the middle seat, Nino had followed her in and closed the door. Marinette glanced in to the car, "You can sit here if you want," she patted her knees. They were up pretty high because of the lifted seat, "On second thought." Alya frowned at how little room was left. Alya glanced at Adrien and gestured to her seat as if saying 'trade?'

He shook his head, "I can't, Alya. My legs don't fit."

"I'll just walk," Marinette sighed as she stepped back from the car.

"Nonesense," Adrien said, grabbing her hips and pulling him into the car after him. She let out a surprised yelp as he plopped her onto his lap and pulled the door shut. "Let's go."

Marinette wasn't sure how to sit. She was on Adrien's lap. Her one thought was don't think. Then she realized her head was up against the ceiling. It wasn't the most comfortable position to be in. She tried to move so she could get more comfortable and her bones dug into his thighs. Adrien winced.

"Ow," he hissed as grabbed her hips again and slid her down towards his torso. He held her there, unaware that her face was beet red, and whispered, "Please don't move." His request was gentle.

Marinette wasn't sure what to think. She tried really hard not to, but now she felt like she needed to move position because of where her feet were. They were wedged against the door where he'd pulled her in backwards. She couldn't see Alya and she really didn't know what to do in this new contorted position. Her pelvis was tipped back where he'd pulled her back and her feet were crammed. She tried to reposition herself without touching Adrien. She wiggled backwards to readjust her posture; curling over herself didn't feel very good. Her feet she was able to turn out away from the door so she had her back up against Adrien's chest. This new position was much more comfortable...for Marinette.

Adrien hissed and stilled her as suddenly both his arms wrapped tightly around her torso. She heard his hoarse whisper in her ear, pleading, "Please. Don't. Wiggle." There was something urgent in the way he said it and a bit of a rasp in his voice. She turned her head to look at him for a better understanding as to what she did wrong, but the movement of her trying to turn made him squeeze her tighter as he dropped his forehead to her shoulder with a grunt, "Ugh, you're killing me."

Nino and Alya both chuckled. Naive Marinette had NO idea what the issue was. She glanced at her friends who gave her knowing smirks. Marinette's furrowed eyebrows made Nino smile. "He's a guy," he nodded, gesturing to Adrien who let out a breath he'd been holding as if on cue. Marinette still had no idea. Her eyebrows rose in confusion and Alya started laughing.

Marinette tried to look back at Adrien again, but he whined. She whispered, "I don't know..."

He sighed and whispered desperately in her ear, "Unless you want to get skewered I'd stop moving around."

Marinette's eyes widened in horror. THAT was what they were talking about. Dang, her ignorance was so embarrassing sometimes. Her face turned bright red and she was suddenly quite aware of where Adrien's arms were wrapped, just under her boobs, and her breath hitched. It was a rather intimate sitting arrangement for friends.

"Now she gets it," Alya chuckled.

"I could have just walked," Marinette whispered back to Adrien apologetically.

"It's fine, Marinette," she could just feel him smile softly behind her, "As long as you don't hold anything against me."

"It's a little too late for that," she chuckled.

"No hard feelings?"

Marinette REALLY wished she could look him in the face at that moment. Twice in a row? That could hardly be a coincidence, but then again, Adrien was never one to make crude jokes, surely. Marinette couldn't stop the amused smirk. "No," she shook her head, but couldn't stop a small laugh. The movement she regretted as she felt a sudden 'twitch' beneath her. She ignored it and Adrien held his breath. Then Marinette decided to try and make it less awkward. The best way she knew how was to relax. She leaned back against Adrien, and did her best to go limp against him so maybe he, and other parts of him, might follow.

Adrien had been sitting in the car, surely glowing a brilliant shade of pink, as he'd pulled Marinette on his lap. He was sure they'd never let him live this down, especially Marinette, and he felt horribly tense and nervous. It wasn't his best idea. He hadn't realized she'd be so squirmy. When she laid back against him, relaxing, he could feel his tension dissipate. It was like she was telling him she was going to be low key about it. He was just hoping she didn't rat him out. That last shake of her head was too much and his body betrayed him. Luckily, Marinette seemed to be understanding and he was grateful. He'd never actually done anything like that with a girl on his lap before. In fact, he was sure he'd never discussed, let alone applied, himself in that kind of a light before. He'd always been 'pure,' in a sense, as far as anyone was concerned. He was horribly embarrassed he'd been betrayed by his own body in such tight quarters with witnesses. Natalie, thankfully, hadn't noticed. Gorilla didn't appear to, either. Adrien relaxed against Marinette's back. They were almost there. Maybe Marinette wouldn't mention his moment of weakness. He could always hope.

Since he was relieved, Adrien absentmindedly started to gently rub small circles against Marinette's soft upper arm. She didn't say anything, but he felt her breath hitch. He realized he was doing it and whispered, "Sorry, does that tickle?"

"No," she whispered back, very careful not to move, "Just surprised me."

"Oh," he said before he began to rub her arm again, "You're soft." He realized, immediately, she was really soft. He had to stop massaging her arm and quickly imagined pulling splinters out from under his fingernails. This was not a good seating arrangement for such a soft, squirmy girl and a rather biologically weak Adrien. He'd never thought of himself as weak for girls before. Actually, quite the opposite. He thought modeling had desensitized him to an extent. Obviously, that was a visual one and not so much a physical one. He took note that Marinette smelled like fresh baked bread and vanilla, her skin was soft, and she liked to wiggle-all very BAD combinations for such a situation.

They pulled up in front of his house and he was staring out his window just trying to imagine cringe-worthy things to keep his mind occupied elsewhere. His hands had been clasped firmly around his own elbows, around Marinette, and he had been leaning away from her to remove the desire to lick her. The car had barely stopped when Adrien opened the door and pushed he and Marinette out.

He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair nervously. He approached Marinette before Nino and Alya could join them, "I'm really sorry-"

Marinette held her hand up to make him stop talking, "Don't. It's fine."

"I didn't mean to-"

"I-it's okay. You're soft, too, I mean, you weren't soft," she bit her lip and moaned in embarrassment, "Gah! G-glad it was youandnotNino." She mumbled the last part super fast and walked away from Adrien, flustered. Adrien watched after her with a smirk of amusement on his face. Glad it was him and not Nino, huh? He wondered what she meant by that.

"Not Nino, what?" Nino muttered walking around the car.

"Nothing," Marinette squeaked quickly before stomping off to follow Natalie into the house.

Nino approached Adrien and smirked, "So, you just about stabbed poor Marinette with your pork sword, huh?"

Adrien ran his hands down his face. If only Nino knew; which he didn't, and if Adrien had any say in it, he wouldn't...ever.

Alya smiled and draped an arm around Nino's shoulders, "Maybe we should find a bigger car so we can try that out."

Nino waggled his eyebrows, "Oh yeah?"

Alya popped the visor down on his hat, "I'm no genteel. I'm a wild child."

Nino growled, "Roawr."

At that Adrien exclaimed, "EWW! Guys. There are other people here."

"Ear muffs, Adrien. Ear muffs for your sensitive ears."

"Oh, he and Marinette were made for each other, baby," Alya hummed. At that Adrien rolled his eyes. He was engaged, after all. He chased up the stairs after Natalie and Marinette to get away from Nino and Alya's innuendo.

They got up to Adrien's room and sat around. Nino and Alya really close to each other and then Adrien and Marinette across the way. Marinette was lying on her stomach, kicking her feet up absentmindedly behind her, while Nino stared at her.

"Girl," Alya called, "You're messing with my boy."

Marinette had no idea what she was talking about, "Huh?"

Alya glanced down at her chest, which was obviously showing a lot more cleavage at this angle than usual, and Marinette blushed. She shrugged, "Get him a leash?"

Alya smirked, "Not funny."

"I don't mind," Nino smiled.

"I bet you don't," Alya glared. "Mari..."

Marinette sat up. Adrien sat stiff as a board; part of it was because of the three letters in his hands. The other was because of the conversation and how closely related it was to his problem earlier. Ever since puberty his friends had always gone to the places he wouldn't allow himself to go; he had a reputation to protect and he had zero experience. That was one thing he respected about Marinette; she had other things to talk about, too, besides always going to the same material. She didn't wear her sexual frustration on her sleeve, so to speak. Unlike Nino who was about to jump Alya.

Alya stood up, "Adrien, do you have a bathroom?"

"That way," he pointed.

Alya grabbed Nino's hand and hoisted him out of the floor. Not looking at Adrien, but with a mischievous look in her eye, Alya said, "Thanks." She proceeded to drag Nino with her to the bathroom.

"What? In his bathroom?" Nino whispered as he chased after her.

The door latched and Adrien looked over at Marinette in horror. "I'm going to have to have that entire bathroom bleached!"

Marinette chuckled, "I'd recommend it."

He frowned. He'd thought he'd be the first one to have sex in his bathroom. Then again, when would he ever have that opportunity? Marinette saw the look on his face and could read his mind. She pulled out her phone and sent Alya a text.

[Marinette; Don't have sex in his bathroom.]

[Alya: Why not?]

[Marinette: Respect?]

[Alya: Ok. No sex. Promise.]

[Marinette: Thank you.]

Marinette pulled some papers out of her pink satchel to fan through. Adrien stared at her while she fiddled with her pamphlet. It was the one for Couture. He still couldn't figure out how she got into that school in the first place. Sure, they had a bachelors program, but you had to have some fashion props through a school or something first.

"How did you get into Couture?" he finally asked. The curiosity became too strong.

"Huh?"

"I thought you had to take fashion courses before they'd accept anyone into the bachelor program."

"Yes," she nodded and blushed, "Unless you have an exception like some experience in fashion and design. I, uh, put down your dad's competition wins on my application."

Adrien smiled, "You know, I actually think he'd be pleased to hear that." And he did, too. He truly believed his dad would want to know that he'd helped one of his friends get into a prestigious fashion school.

"You can tell him," she smiled shyly, "I don't mind."

The way she was nervous around him was adorable. Just yesterday he'd learned that Marinette had a thing for him from Nino. He'd been completely oblivious to it, but as soon as he said it there was a sudden realization. He remembered how it went, though, and his reaction wasn't what Nino had hoped for. He misunderstood him, but Adrien thought it was probably better that way.

Marinette had just had a stuttering episode in front of Adrien. She'd dropped her books, stubbed her toe, and mowed him down in one fell swoop. He could tell she was embarrassed. He helped her with her books, sent her on her way, and sat back down with Nino.

"Man, she's got it bad for you," Nino chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Marinette," Nino gestured, pointing at Marinette, "She's like...ridiculously head over heels for you; literally."

"No," Adrien looked incredulously at Nino. Nino snickered at him. "Really?"

"You need to get your eyes checked, seriously, dude. That girl is HOT and she's been obsessed with you for years."

Adrien just stared after her in confusion and then frowned at his feet. He didn't know. It was too late to investigate a relationship with Marinette now, though. He was engaged.

"Whoa, dude, you don't have to feel guilty cause you don't like her back. Mari's awesome. She'd be cool with it. Sure, she'd probably be a little sad for a while, but she'd come around. She's friends with everyone."

That made Adrien even more sad about the whole thing, but he couldn't let Nino know about his engagement with Ladybug. "That's why she stutters," Adrien grumbled.

Nino side-eyed Adrien, "You rich kids need to get out more. That's obvious."

Now she was there being herself and he saw her with new eyes. His father would have loved her, too. Too bad he missed an opportunity to find out by being an idiot. That chance was gone, but at least she'd fallen in love with him and not the other way around. He was weak when it came to unrequited love; as evidenced by his relationship with Ladybug. He admired Marinette for still being his friend in spite of his ignorant rejection.

"So, Strasbourg?" Marinette asked glancing over at him absentmindedly fiddling with an unopened envelope. It was the one from Strasbourg.

"Yeah," he nodded, "And two places I don't even remember applying." He tossed them down on the floor.

"Hey! Architecture. Oooh, and Descartes! Nice."

Adrien nodded. He was sure his father had sent in applications for both of those schools in his stead because he wanted to keep him on a tight leash. Adrien, however, had planned to move out no matter where he went to school. Although, now that he was sitting here staring at the letters, he felt that staying in Paris wouldn't be too bad. Plus, it would save a long, boring trip for photo shoots, which he'd been told he would continue.

"I suppose," he nodded. He lifted one and tore it open. Strasbourg. "I got in!" he said handing it to her.

"Congratulations!" Marinette grinned.

He pulled the other two and opened them both. The letters he laid side by side while he and Marinette leaned forward to read them. He'd been accepted to all three of them.

"L-looks like a ha-har...difficult decision to make," Marinette smirked. She couldn't even say hard around Adrien yet. A blush crawled up her neck as she looked away.

"Hard, Marinette. You can say hard," he laughed. She put her hands over her face and he thought it was the most adorable thing. He leaned over and tickled her ribs. "Hard. Say it, Marinette. Hard."

"I ca-c-c-can't!" she shrieked and giggled, "I ca-can't! STOP!" He was tickling her mercilessly and she kept squirming.

"Just say it and I'll stop," he laughed.

He HAD made that joke earlier. Marinette growled through her giggles and said, "Hard. Now, stop!" He stopped tickling her and she got a gleam in her eye. It was mischievous. "My turn..." she jumped towards him, pushed him down to the ground, and climbed on top of him while she tickled mercilessly.

"Nooo!" he huffed through breathless giggles, "Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Marinette stopped tickling him and stared at his breathless form beneath her. "There. Now we're even." Then she realized where she was and scurried off.

"So...wh-what do you think?" she asked him finally while gesturing to his acceptance letters.

"I don't know, you?"

"I was thinking Couture. I'd never get in. I never thought. Not once."

Adrien smirked, "I was leaning towards Descartes, actually. The pamphlet says they have great science programs."

"L-local?"

He nodded, "You, too?"

"Y-yeah," she agreed.

"So..." he was going to mention the apartment discussion they'd had earlier, maybe they could be neighbors or something, but he'd be married by then. He didn't want to give her the wrong impression or get her hopes up.

"I guess we'll still see each other around next year."

"I'm sure we will."