Nathaniel came with a sleeping bag and one more present for Marc. (It was supposed to be two; including the pastries coming via Marinette Mail. Marc had quite a sweet tooth).
"If you ever run out of pages," He carefully placed the customized book in Marc's hands. It's background was rainbow, but in the front was a drawing of both of them.
"I'm not going to use this." Marc said. "This kind of art needs to be permanently fresh."
"Don't worry. " Nathaniel promised. "I'll make a new one every time you ask."
Marc held out a hand. "Thanks."
Nathaniel shook the hand, wondering why he was being formal.
"Yo peeps." Alya said, Marinette in tow. "Wow; Marc, this room looks awesome."
"It's alright." Marc said.
"Woah, Marco." Nino said. "Sick room you have."
"All the more to host guests with." Adrien said.
Nathaniel saw Marinette go into panic mode. "Adrien? What are you doing here? I mean, you can be here if you want to, but I'm simply surprised."
"We'll surprise you even more." Marc said. "Have some hors d'oeuvres while we wait for Juleka, Rose, Kim and Kagami; until then, prepare yourself for party games."
It took him three Google searches to finally get the perfect party game for the operation: Spin The Bottle.
Marc had strategically placed everyone; Adrien horizontally opposite Marinette, Alya horizontally opposite Nino, Juleka horizontally opposite Rose and him sitting right next to Nathaniel being horizontally opposite Kim and Kagami.
"You know we'll have to switch places when with each turn, right?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yep. That's why this one has to be perfect." Marc said.
"And…" Kim paused. "spin!"
Nathaniel spun the bottle; it landed just where they wanted it.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!" Marinette shrieked.
"Adrien; I suppose you're not so friendless to know what to do." Marc said.
Adrien smirked. "So this is what you meant."
He walked up to Marinette and kissed her forehead
The switching of seats began; now Adrien was seated next to Marinette, Kagami was in front of Alya, Kim was opposite Juleka, and Marc was in front of Rose.
"My turn," Adrien declared. He spun the bottle hard. So had it spiralled out of control and hit Rose. That way, it pointed to Kim.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!" Rose shrieked.
"I'm not that ugly." Kim said.
"Yeah, sure; Sea Prince." Rose said.
"In a situation like this, Rose is legally allowed to dare Kim." Nathaniel said.
"I dare you to call Ondine and tell her you love her in front of us." Rose said.
"You're a terribly good person, Rose." Kim said. He pulled out his phone. "Ondie?…At a sleepover.…We didn't want too many people.…Just called to say I love you.' There was silence for exactly a minute. "Same here. Bye."
"Switch places!" Nino said.
"Rainbow and Tomato; you're moving." Adrien said.
"Sure." Marc said. He saw the mischief in his eyes. He would be in trouble.
Kim spun the bottle. Now it was Marinette versus Alya.
"I'm not good at dares." Marinette admitted. "Kiss Nino."
"She was going to do that anyway." Nino said. "Babe; kiss Mari."
"Yikes." Adrien said.
Alya kissed Marinette on the cheek. "Real yikes, alright."
They laughed.
Switch places; Adrien=Kagami, Marinette=Juleka, Nino=Rose, Alya=Kim, and Marc=Nathaniel.
"Get ready Marc." Adrien said.
Marc was just calculating the chances of him running into his bathroom; they weren't too good.
Alya twirled the bottle; now it rested with Adrien daring/kissing Marc.
"All in favour of kissing?" Nino asked.
Juleka, Rose, Nino, and Kim raised their hands.
"That's six against." Adrien said. "Marc; I dare you to kiss Nathaniel every time someone says 'back'."
"Why back?" Juleka asked. "Why not 'Tomato' or something?"
"Jules said the word." Adrien said.
Marc took deep breaths. He had never fancied kissing Nathaniel; even with Adrien's dirty looks.
So he kissed Nathaniel's hand.
"Loophole." Kim muttered.
In the next round, Kim was against Nathaniel.
"All in favour of osculation?" Kagami asked.
Everyone except Marc and Marinette raised their hands.
"Turns out I have only two good friends." Nathaniel lamented.
"Smile." Juleka called.
Nathaniel almost used Marc's loophole.
"On the face, Nath." Adrien said. "Back up.
Nathaniel groaned. Kim lowered himself a bit so Nathaniel could kiss his cheek.
"Ondine is so going to back-hand me." Kim grumbled.
"Back twice, Marc." Adrien said. "You'll have to kiss him on the lips."
"I thought I was the coolest rainbow ever." Marc said.
"You'll be even cooler once you do this one little thing." Nino said.
Nathaniel and Marc stood in the center of the circle.
"I do not want to do this." Marc said.
"Me neither." Nathaniel said. "You know what they say; 'no good deed goes unpunished.'"
"Quit stalling." Adrien said.
Dad is going to give me an earful, Marc thought before closing his eyes and kissing Nathaniel for less than five seconds.
"Excuse me." He said, then ran into the bathroom.
"What's wrong with you, Adrien?" Nathaniel raged.
"I didn't know it would affect him that badly." Adrien said. "Besides; just like how you got me and Mari together, I thought to repay the favour."
"Wait," Nathaniel held up his hands. "Who else thinks we're supposed to be a couple?"
Everyone raised their hands.
"I can't believe you!" He shouted. "So Marc's kind of girly; it doesn't mean he's gay. Well, usually he is; as in happy. Otherwise, you can't jump to conclusions."
"It's not about being girly." Marinette said. "You guys hang out a lot and look cute together."
"Ooh. So that means I can ship you with Alya?" Nathaniel asked. "Or Adrien with Nino? Marc and I are best friends—for now." Why did you say that? "I mean; we're close, but we're not attracted to each other. At least I'm not." Dude, that's worse! "You know what? See you later."
"Someone's caught Marinitis." Alya muttered slyly.
Nathaniel ignored her, knocking on the bathroom door. "Marc, are you okay?"
Marc opened the door. "Perfect timing, Tomato."
He wondered if he'd done something wrong. "Sorry."
"I'm just messing with you." Marc said, smiling. "My dad, on the other hand—"
"Show me right now." Said a voice that came from the edge of the bathroom.
Nathaniel walked to it. It was just a laptop. In the laptop screen, though, was a clearly overjoyed way past middle aged man with hoop earrings, red lipstick, and purple-tipped hair.
He looked at Marc. "Is this you in forty years?" He whispered.
"Can it." Marc warned.
"I'm not that old. So I'm him in thirty-one years." Mr. Anciel said.
"How's not at all?" Marc asked.
"Please, Marcus. You're already reliving my experiences. I too was fifteen and attending a sleepover for my first kiss." Mr. Anciel said. "Mind you, I was lucky that that person was my first crush."
"Jean; stop." Marc said. "You're embarrassing me more than usual."
"You're embarrassing me by being ashamed of this milestone." Mr. Anciel pouted.
"Bye." Marc shut the computer.
"I will not be silenced!" Mr. Anciel yelled. "I am The Night!"
Marc took a few deep breaths. "Just to be clear; I'm not gay in either sense right now."
"Again; sorry." Nathaniel said.
"It's not your fault." Marc said. "It's just—I have no idea. I'm fifteen and still doubt my sexuality. Everyone thinks or expects me to be gay because I wear make-up, but I don't think I am. Don't think, meaning there may or may not be some exceptions. Maybe—like my dad says—there's this guy out there too cute and kind for me to resist. But now, all I know is that I don't like girls that way and I don't want to follow the stereotypes associated with being 'gender disobedient'; another thing my dad made up."
Nathaniel sat on the closed toilet. "If it helps, I don't know either. Yes, I liked Marinette, and have a so-so crush on Ladybug; but I think I can be attracted to guys. I don't know."
"Do me a favour and don't let anyone else hear what you just said." Marc said.
"Right." Nathaniel said, pinching himself.
"Anyway, let's forget about this." Marc said. "Our mission's accomplished, so we don't have to play that game anymore. We do, however, have to get Marinette closer to Adrien so she can talk to him without blabbering."
"Then we set the date tomorrow." Nathaniel said. "I understand."
"Let's do this." Marc went out of the bathroom.
From what Nathaniel deduced, Marc was ace.
Outside was simply murder.
"Nice to see you back." Kim said.
"No more loopholes, Marc." Adrien said.
Marc rolled his eyes and kissed Nathaniel on the cheek. "I declare Spin The Bottle over. Let's move on to other sleepover activities."
"Movies?" Alya suggested.
Nino smirked. "I wanna watch Back To The Future."
Another eye-roll, another kiss from Marc.
"That movie's too old, Nini." Alya said. "How about The Green Book?"
"No!" Nino protested. "That movie's soo backward."
"Seriously?" Marc and Alya asked simultaneously. Marc kissed Nathaniel again.
Nathaniel started to contemplate how much of it he could take without blushing.
Marinette stood. "We don't want this going b—I mean, here and there. So let's present our choices to the host, and then he'll come up with something."
"Hey Nathy; what's up with your face?"
Nathaniel frowned at Chloé. "None of your business."
"It's all my business." Chloé held her hands akimbo. "Who's the girl that's such a loser that she kissed the most losery boy in school?"
"Suggestions?" Marc was obviously trying to be nice. "Anyone?"
"Back up; I heard something about a movie." Chloé said. "Sabrina; get my backpack. That movie Backyard Beach shouted be there somewhere."
"I remember." Sabrina said. "I packed it back at the hotel."
"Adrien," Marc called.
"Fine; kiss him four times all over his face." Adrien said.