Chapter 14 - Spring Dance
The final fight against Hawk Moth had been only a few weeks ago and Paris was enjoying the return of tranquillity, where they weren't running from giant robots or being zapped into photos every few days.
For five weeks there had been not a single Akuma however the miraculous were still seen every now and then, patrolling the city for more 'human' disturbances but it was noted on a lot of blogs that the three were certainly acting different. They had always been close but now they were almost playful, chasing each other around the roofs, just messing around together, any seriousness between them was gone. Then again, they deserved a break.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Agreste had been arrested and was awaiting trial for his crimes as Hawk Moth and Adrien had been put into Natalia's care since he had no other family. Annamarie had to really bite her lip not to tell him that she knew where his mother was when he broke down at the loss of his father.
The poor boy was flocked by more reporters and paparazzi than ever before, asking about his father but luckily he always had someone to protect or help him get away from them, a whole classroom of friends who looked out for him as well as a girlfriend that let him stay the night with her and her family whenever he wanted and Annamarie was always happy to transform and 'distract' anyone giving the boy trouble.
Gradually, as the weeks passed, the news moved on and Adrien was allowed to return to a normal life and one day, the whole school was abuzz with talk about one subject and the school had only just put the posters up.
A spring dance was going to be held at the end of the month, after the exams as a reward for the student's hard work. Annamarie, Marinette and Adrien were stood looking at one of the posters, the flora design and information clear. "Looks like fun." Marinette said after a bit.
Annamarie put a hand on her hip and smiled. "Well, could be worse." She told her partners.
"How?"
"They could have decided to have a masquerade instead."
Adrien gave her a quick playful punch in the arm. "Not funny."
"Was kinda." Came Plagg's voice from Annamarie's bag since it was her turn to host the 'Kwami's-hiding-place-during-school' Club.
Marinette nodded as well with a smile. "Imagine, everyone would be dressed as Ladybug, Chat or Peacock."
"That would be creepy." Annamarie laughed.
"So, you going to let me design your dress right Annamarie?"
The dancer shook her head. "Nar, I'm not gonna go."
"What? Why not?"
She shrugged. "Formal dances aren't really my thing."
"Ironic coming from a ballerina." Adrien huffed as they walked away from the poster.
"Yeah well… you two can go. I'll patrol the city that night."
Marinette frowned at her. "Oh so that's it. You don't want to miss patrol."
"Someone has to go." Peacock said with a shrug. "Might as well be me."
"Well, the dance will be going on all night. There will easily be plenty of time for us all to go on patrol and still make it for the dance." Marinette countered. "And let's put it this way; you don't go, we don't go. Right Adrien?"
"Right. It won't be any fun without you Anna."
"I hate it when you call me that." She mumbled. "And I hate it when you blackmail me."
"I don't care if it works."
She rolled her eyes and nodded. "Well you have me over a barrel and you know it. Fine. I'll go."
"Great! So, what colour dress would you like?"
"What? They are going with pink and green theme?" Chloe screeched.
"Yes." Sabrina informed her. "With wild flowers and a 'spring meadow' theme."
The mayor's daughter stomped her foot. "Errgh! Those decorators better know what they're doing! This night needs to be perfect!" She sighed then ran a hand back in her hair. "It's my chance to get Adrien back from that Mari-"
"Ahem."
The pair turned at the sound then gulped as they saw Annamarie standing behind them with an oddly natural face. Chloe let out a half confident laugh. "Annamarie. How… how long have you been there?"
"Only just turned up." She said, tipping her head to the side. "I came to ask what colour your dress for the dance is."
"What? Why?"
"It's been agreed by the girls in class that we are going to trade colours so we don't end up copying anyone. Rose is wearing pink and Juleka is wearing black. No real surprise there. Mylène is wearing a dark brown she said, Alix green and Alya is wearing purple. Oh and Marinette is making something dark red." She lifted her head up. "So, what colour are your dresses?"
Blinking, Chloe looked away and folded her arms. "White. White and gold. Sabrina's is orange."
"I'll let the others know." She said with a soft nod, turning away from her.
After a short, internal debate, Chloe swallowed. "Wait, Annamarie."
"Yes?"
The teen took a moment, looking down to the floor. "What about you?"
The dancer gave her a small smile. "Blue. Sky blue." With that, she turned aback and walked off.
The day of the dance finally arrived and the whole school spent most of the day buzzing with excitement to a point where most of the teachers gave up on any kind of academic lessons and just put films on.
When the school bell finally rang, everyone went off to get ready in their own ways. Most of the classes were getting ready together with friends and would regroup at the dance itself; Alya going off with Rose and Juleka while Nino went with Kim and Max.
Adrien, Marinette and Annamarie said they were going to get ready together and excused themselves from everyone else so they could 'make a grand entrance' but in truth once they got to a safe place, Adrien opened his bag for the kwami to get out and transformed them.
Splitting up, the three covered as much of Paris as they could in just an hour and a half and luckily the worst trouble they came across was a young boy who'd been separated from his mother. Ladybug soon found her and reunited the pair.
By 7:30 that evening, they returned to the bakery and headed inside to get changed, Adrien being shooed to the spare bedroom until the girls were suitably clothed.
Annamarie sighed happily as she span before the full length mirror and looked at her dress. "Marinette, this has got to be your best work yet." She said, running her hand over the soft silky fabric.
"I worked extra hard on it for you." Marinette explained as she finished putting her necklace on.
"I hope you didn't put mine before yours." The blue dressed woman said softly. "Although, from the look of it, I'd say you worked just as hard on that one."
Both their dresses were floor length and sleeveless but while Annamarie's had a rounded, jewelled neckline in a pale sky blue with a sparkling overlay, Marinette's had a sweetheart cut in the dark red and a pale pink panel down the front with a long dark flowing bow at the back.
They were both works of art that were completed with white elbow length gloves for Annamarie and wrist length red ones for Marinette. As they finished pulling the gloves on, there was a knock on the trap door. "Can I come in yet?" Adrien called from below.
Marinette smiled at it. "Yeah, alright."
The door opened and he stepped up, looking at them both and his jaw dropped. "Whoa." The girls couldn't help but giggle at his expression as he stumbled up the steps to them, wearing a dark green tuxedo, white shirt and matching tie, looking just as handsome as ever.
As he came in, Tikki, Plagg and Froufrou came in as well and Frou's let out a long whistle. "You girls look amazing!"
"Thank you Frou."
"Yeah, you look… alright." The black cat joined in.
Tikki gave him a nudge in the side. "You all look beautiful. I know you will have an amazing night! But you better get going or you'll miss the whole thing!"
The three nodded and walked down the stairs, heading for the road where Adrien's car had been waiting for them but Tom and Sabrina were waiting downstairs, taking several photos of the group before they were allowed to leave.
They sat in the back of the car and Marinette sighed. "You know, I hate to say it but… I just know Chloe is going to do something to ruin tonight."
Adrien sighed as he held her hand. "I know."
The dance chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about Chloe. I've got her covered."
The two turned to look at her. "What? What have you done Pea?"
She smirked and winked at them. "Nothing bad if that's what you are worried about."
They didn't look as if they believed her but they knew there was no point trying to find out what she was planning; their peacock could be remarkably stubborn on these things. The car ride was slow but finally they made their way to the school where the dance was being held, already in full swing with music and drinks and conversations but as the three made their late dramatic entrance, everyone turned to look as Adrien walked in with Annamarie on one arm and Marinette on the other, everyone soon hurried over to compliment them on their appearance, by far the best dresses in the whole school.
Annamarie was soon swept to the side by a man in a classic black tuxedo who held her tight. "Louie!"
The stranger smiled and winked at her. "You look stunning."
He was rewarded with a kiss but then her attention was taken by a lost looking brunette in a jacket and suit but once he saw her, his confusion vanished, hurrying over and hugging her. "Annamarie! There you are! Whoa, you look beautiful."
"I'm so glad you came."
"Well, when your baby cousin asks you to come to a formal school dance, who am I to deny her?" The other laughed, looking over her. "That is an amazing dress by the way, where did you get it?"
"Well, that's part of why I asked you to come here. Louie, I'll be back in a moment." She promised then pulled the other away and pointed to the side. "Now, you see that girl over there? The one in the red dress?"
"With the guy in green?"
"Yes them." She said with a nod as Adrien and Marinette began to dance. "She designed this dress for me and is a really close friend. So… now… do you see that girl over there?" She pointed across the room to a teen in white with a golden band around her waist.
The other blinked as he looked at who she was pointing at and his breath froze for a second. "Yeah."
"Knowing her, she is going to try and ruin the night for my friends." She turned to her cousin. "Think you can keep her distracted for me?"
"With pleasure." He said, already walking towards the blonde. She didn't notice him approach, too busy staring at Adrien as he and Marinette danced. The young man coughed. "Excuse me?" He said softly as he stood behind her.
Chloe scoffed as she turned. "What do you…" She paused as she took him in, his sharp face, his gentle brown eyes and his gentle soft brown hair. For a moment she forgot herself. "Umm… hi."
"Hello." He said back with a nervous smile. "Would… you like to dance?" He asked, holding out his hand towards her, just as slow romantic music began to play.
Chloe bit her lip and glanced between him and Adrien as he danced with Marinette. She finally gave the stranger her hand and walked to the dance floor with him, watching him place her hand on his shoulder and slowly waltzed onto the dance floor.
For a bit they just danced but then she frowned. "You… you look familiar. Have we met before?"
"I'm sure I would remember meeting someone as beautiful as you."
She blushed deeply and smiled, looking sideways at him. "But I'm sure I've seen you before. What's your name?"
"Tomas. Tomas Darso."
It took a moment but she finally remembered the name. "Tomas? Wait… do you know Annamarie?"
"Yes. I'm her cousin. I'm visiting for a week and she asked me to come here tonight. Now, enough talk about me. Tell me about you?"
They soon began to dance and talk as if they were the only people in the world.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Annamarie smiled, resting her head on Louie's shoulder while they also took part in the slow dance. A few dances later, she moved away to get a drink when someone touched her shoulder. "Annamarie?"
"Hey bugaboo." She teased, turning around. Everyone was too busy to catch the odd nickname but it still made her friend blush red. "What's up?"
"Who's that guy with Chloe?"
"My surprise." She explained, smirking as she took a sip of drink. "Tomas is in Paris with his mother for a few weeks, they are staying with us and I thought… well, he's single and attractive, he could keep her off our case."
Adrien glanced over the room and huffed with amusement. "He's keeping her more than 'off our case' Pea."
The girls looked just in time to see the blonde girl and brunette boy leaning on the wall in a deep embrace, lips pressed to each other's. Annamarie blinked. "Well… I'll be."
Adrien bumped her arm. "Done it again cupid."
"And I thought I was the love bug." Marinette mumbled. "Guess that will keep her off our case." She laughed suddenly then listened as a loud song began to play out and grabbed her partners for a dance.
A/N: Okay, I think our heroes needed a break. Time for a cute chapter! Plus Chloe and Tomas? Whos with me?
Also, anyone who would like to see pictures of what the dresses look like, check out my DeviantART page!
And finally, one last chance to have a go at the riddle;
So in a world of good and evil,
Heros are victorious.
Even when they celebrate
Nothing can remain that way.
For now the tables have turned
As appereances can be deceiving.
Read the story closer and you may find
Evil is never really gone.
To see what is to come,
Understand the past.
Remember how things change.
Now can you work out my riddle?
Stay tuned for more chapters.