"Oh my God!" It had taken three words coming from a familiar voice to bring her back to her senses. Three words, and she'd snapped from the reverie that Adrien had lulled her into with his touch on her skin that had sent fire coursing through her and the soft whisper that everything would be alright because they were together.
Adrien seemed to have snapped to his senses too, because he leapt back as if burned, though he still stood in front of Marinette, she noticed with a detached sort of amusement. Her Chat, always ready to protect his Lady from whatever threat there may be.
"Alya!" She exclaimed when the other girl rose to her feet, eyes wide with her realization and her hand covering her mouth. Of course it was Alya; how long had they taken? She'd promised to meet her at the front doors, but of course Adrien had caught up with her before she could leave…
"You're… And He's…" Alya at least had the sense to not say it aloud, her mouth clamping shut with resolute stubbornness that spoke of loyalty beyond the simple bonds of friendship. Marinette's smile was sympathetic and apologetic all at once, and it was her hand on Adrien's shoulder that smoothed the tension from his stance.
"It's okay, Chaton," She murmured, her hand lingering on his shoulder until he covered it with his own. There was that feeling again and oh, she'd need to speak with Tikki about just how right it felt to be touched by Adrien in this way. "She's got a secret too, don't you, Rena Rouge?"
Alya stared back at them, mouth moving like a fish out of water, before squealing and surging toward them to wrap both of them in a fierce hug that nearly knocked the wind from Marinette and clearly did Adrien, judging from the sharp sound he made on impact and the way his arm came up to catch her.
"I knew it!" Alya crowed victoriously, and although Marinette didn't have enough energy to inquire exactly what Alya was talking about, she had a hunch. "How long have you two known?!"
"The last few days," Adrien supplied, disentangling himself from the hug and, bless him, blushing awkwardly. He looked to her for permission, and she shrugged.
"We were going to get some coffee and do some homework at my place," Marinette told him in a soft tone, worrying her lip between her teeth nervously. She blushed when she realized that Adrien's gaze had zeroed in on the gesture and his lips had parted in a soft gasp. "U-uhm… You're welcome to join us.. Ama and Papa will be in the shop until late tonight, so… So we'll have some time to explain things." She turned to Alya for this, trying to get the look Adrien had just given her out of her head, along the realization of just how close he'd been to kissing her before Alya's interference just moments before.
Her friend merely smirked at her and nodded, then pulled her phone out.
"Okay but I'm getting Nino then,"
"What, why?" Adrien protested, starting to reach for her to stop her. Alya just looked at him.
"You really are oblivious sometimes, Agreste." She deadpanned, and Marinette couldn't help the slightly hysterical giggle that bubbled up her throat. It distracted Adrien and made him smile at her, making her giggle all the more, and in a gesture driven by kwami-knew- what; fatigue, relief, or just plain hysteria, she leaned against Adrien while she dissolved into her laughing fit.
It wouldn't be until after that she thought about how easily his arm came around her waist. It wouldn't be until after that she would realize that he'd pressed a kiss to her hair, and held her against him as if he'd been drowning. It wouldn't be until after that she realized just how comfortable that feeling was, or how badly she needed to hold onto him, too.
It wouldn't be until much later that she would realize there were another pair of eyes on the group that afternoon, much too far away to hear anything, but not far enough to keep daggers of envy from slicing through the air toward her.