The seniors of Francois Dupont gathered in front of the school near 6 o'clock in the morning. The homeroom teachers were doing head counts of the students struggling to stay awake.
"Why, oh why did teachers think the seniors taking a day trip to Normandy was a good idea," groaned Alya, the Light Music Club huddled together for warmth and fresh croissants.
"And why not wait until we are guaranteed warmer weather," added Marinette. Spring might have been a week away, but Paris was still suffering a late winter.
"At least it's a break from studying college entrance tests," said Chloe, reaching over to help herself to a croissant, dipping it in her coffee mixture before taking a bite.
"Your school has entrance exams," asked Nino?
"Of course. The best schools don't just accept anyone."
Marinette and Nino both frowned, both going to art schools asking for portfolios or music demos.
"At New York University we didn't have to take a test. But they recommend touring again during spring break since they'll still be in school so I could shadow classes," said Alya.
"You finally picked," asked Nino?
"Yep, got a pretty good scholarship considering my grades, and the blog definitely helped get me into the journalism program immediately."
Nino lifted his hand, Alya smacking it for a high five.
"Alright, everyone in the bus, each seat can hold two people so no single seating," announced Ms. Bustier. The seniors shuffled onto the bus, Marinette and Nino sitting in front of Adrien and Alya.
"Please tell me you brought your pills," Marinette turned in her seat to Nino. The boy immediately turned green, slumping in his seat to endure the three and a half hour ride in misery.
"Hey Marinette, would you mind trading seats with me," asked Alya, leaning over the back of the seats.
"You sure? Nino forgot his pills."
"I'll be fine, just give him some sleepy music and he'll probably be out like a light."
Marinette shook her head, neither agreeing or disagreeing as she tried Alya's suggestion. She set Nino up with the world's most relaxing song, and he was out in seconds.
"Thanks girl." Alya and Marinette switched spots as Ms. Bustier came on board, quickly doing another head count before sitting in the opposite seat in the front with another teacher.
Alya tried to be discreet as she looked over the seat, seeing Chloe doing the exact thing from the seat across from Marinette and Adrien. Adrien and Marinette were sharing his earbuds, Marinette leaning on Adrien's shoulder as they listened. Adrien looked up to Alya, raising one eyebrow before looking back down at Marinette who was drifting to sleep. He then moved his head to look at Chloe, discreetly giving Marinette's hair a kiss before looking back down, settling into a nap. Chloe looked over to Alya, Alya shrugging before sitting back down in her seat.
Alya took out her phone, snapping a picture of the group. She also managed to get some of Chloe, who leaned in for the picture and Ms. Bustier's shoulder before sending it to Juleka.
The rest of the underclassman would still have school today, the seniors not arriving until long after school was over.
"Heading to Normandy with the Sleepy Music Club. Missing Julekat today!" She sent the picture to Juleka before plugging in her ear buds and turning on her music.
She received a response moments later.
"Too early, go to sleep."
Alya closed her phone, settling into her seat for the long road.
"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!" A voice spoke over the bus's intercom, waking everyone on board. Alya nearly jumped out of her seat, which startled Nino into nearly throwing up. Ms. Bustier quickly handed Nino a trash can.
"WE JUST ARRIVED IN NORMANDY AND WILL BE HEADING TO OUR FIRST STOP SOON."
The second homeroom teacher - Alya thought they might teach one of the advanced sciences, but she stopped taking that after Biology - looked through their notes before speaking again.
"OUR FIRST STOP WILL BE OMAHA BEACH. ONCE WE ARRIVE, WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF BATHROOM BREAK AND MEET UP WITH OUR GUIDE FOR THE DAY."
The teacher put the microphone away and sat back down in their seat. Alya glanced over to Nino to see him contemplating his life choices while staring into the trash can. She turned in her seat to see Adrien trying to help Marinette wake up.
"Did you guys sleep the whole way," yawned Alya, looking at her bag to grab a water.
Adrien nodded, helping himself to a water before passing it to Marinette. "How's Nino?"
Alya looked back to Nino, "He's alive, mostly. And clean."
"That's good." Adrien took the water bottle back from Marinette, then proceeded to help her straighten her pigtails and jacket.
"Should I change my hair," she mumbled as she watched her boyfriend fuss over her.
"I like your hair just the way it is, but however you want it," he responded as he took back his ear bud and put it away. Marinette watched him, trying to go back to sleep on his shoulder when he stopped moving, only for Adrien to raise his shoulders and grab her hand, showing off their intertwining fingers to the sleepy girl to keep her occupied.
"I should have brought some tea for all the sugar you're giving me," teased Alya, Adrien just smiling.
"My question is, why are you both being so sickeningly sweet at this ungodly hour of the morning," asked Chloe, finishing the last of her coffee.
"Marinette's shown up to class like this. You just gotta keep her distracted so she doesn't fall asleep again. Once we start walking around we should be fine," explained Adrien as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Did Nino show you that trick," asked Alya with a wink. Adrien winked back.
"Yeah, he warned me about Marinette's sleepy mornings. That's why they usually run to school, to wake her up."
Chloe frowned but went back to whatever she was doing. Adrien looked back to Marinette, the girl's head starting to bob. He whispered something in her ear, Marinette waking up a little as her face turned pink.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE! YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO GET BACK HERE! MAKE SURE TO STAY IN GROUPS," announced the other homeroom teacher, students agreeing as the bus rolled to a stop. Students stood up one by one, Adrien helping Marinette to stand as the class shuffled off the bus.
"The sea," Alya moaned the moment the breeze hit her face. Still a bit colder than summer mornings at Adrien's beach house, but with no clouds in the vicinity, it would surely warm up.
The ocean breeze seemed to do the other students some good, people perking up at the sound of the crashing ocean in the distance. Kim and Alix had ran off, racing to see who could make it to the bathroom first.
"It's beautiful, and haunting," whispered Marinette, statues of the battle of the past littered around the grounds. Alya nodded, pulling out her phone to take pictures.
"Let's get a picture of us for Juleka, before we go to the restroom," suggested Alya.
"Good idea," encouraged Adrien, pulling Marinette to his side as he moved next to Alya. "Nino, get in for the picture!"
The group looked over where Nino stood. The boy was rocking on his feet, greener in the face than before. He quickly bolted to the nearest trash can. Alya quickly snapped a picture as Marinette and Adrien ran after Nino, Nino throwing up some before making it to the trash can. In the background, Ms. Bustier looked horrified.
"Be thankful you missed this."
"Feeling better Nino," asked Marinette as she glanced up from her sketch book. Nino was walking around in circles, taking deep breaths of the ocean breeze as he did.
"I have nothing left to throw up, so I might skip lunch," he groaned, "And I hate bus trips."
The Marinette groaned in agreement, the group taking a break at their third stop of the day, or more like a second stop. After Omaha Beach, they had gotten back on the bus and drove to an American cemetery. Their tour guide had talked about the brave soldiers buried there as the bus continued on, Alya barely able to get a picture.
They were currently as Pointe du Hoc, permitted to walk around the grounds as another teacher went to make lunch arrangements at a nearby restaurant. Kim and Alix were trying to find a way down to the beach below the overlook, other students wandering around in groups.
Their group had stopped at the actual pointe, Marinette taking time to sketch while Alya took pictures both for her self and of Adrien so he could send to his father later, and Nino tried to calm his nausea.
"Maybe at least a soda to help," offered Adrien, as he and Alya returned back to the top of the pointe.
"I'm considering it. If I make it back."
Nino slumped on the grass beside Marinette, laying his head in her lap.
"If I die, give any music files to Jagged Stone. Have him live out my music dreams in my stead. And make sure my mom doesn't use my baby photos in the memory video."
"You aren't going to die. Just go hungry. And you'd better not throw up right now." Marinette snapped her sketchbook shut, putting it away as it seemed her whiney friend wouldn't let her sketch in peace.
"I won't, I told you, I have nothing left. Hey!"
Adrien sat on the other side of Marinette, moving Nino over a bit so he could also rest his head on Marinette's lap.
"Get your own lap to lay on," Adrien grumbled, bumping his head against Nino's to get more room.
"Best friend rights."
Adrien pouted, but chose not to say anything as some girls from the Adrienette club came up, trying to make it not obvious they were watching.
"Alya, want to get on this too," jested Marinette, the boys using their head as a tug of war over Marinette's lap.
"I'm good." The girl then smirked, and turned her phone towards the group, snapping a picture before sending it to Juleka.
"FRANCIOS DUPONT STUDENTS! WE ARE LEAVING IN TEN MINUTES! PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO THE BUS!"
Kim, Alix, and Ondine scrambled away from the edge, racing back to the bus as students slowly started walking back.
"Come on boys, you can fight over Marinette later."
Alya pulled up Nino first, Adrien jumping up after to help Marinette off the grass.
"Such the gentleman," Marinette teased, keeping his hand in hers as they walked to the bus.
"I thought you both were trying to be covert about everything," whispered Alya, glancing at the Adrienette group ahead of them.
"What do you mean Alya? Adrien's just my very good friend."
"Exactly. Friends can hold hands," insisted Adrien, grabbing Nino's hand.
"Dude, I'm not holding your hand!"
Adrien continued to playfully reach out to hold Nino's hand, Marinette being pulled along as he chased Nino.
Alya's phone suddenly buzzed. She opened her phone to see a text back from Juleka. There was a picture of her with Ivan, Mylene, Marc and Nathaniel at lunch. Nathaniel and Marc's books for the superhero comic sat on the table along with their lunches.
"Missing our favorite seniors!"
"Hey, I got a text from Juleka!" Alya ran up to her friends, who stopped their hand tag to wait. She showed them the image, everyone smiling.
"Dude, they're still working on the comic?"
"Considering it's been a part time project between two people, and their first comic, its natural to expect it to take a while," answered Adrien.
"Come on, let's send a picture back," insisted Marinette.
The group gathered around, Adrien taking Alya's phone to hold since he had the longest arms. The group smiled as he snapped the photo, then passed it back to Alya for approval. She sent the picture back to Juleka.
"Missing our favorite juniors!"
"FRANCOIS DUPONT! PLEASE HEAD BACK TO THE BUS!"
Alya quickly put away her phone, the group running to catch up with the other students.
Their group waited as Nino stood by a trash can, making sure he was alright before they continued.
"Curse buses," he grumbled, standing up and taking a few deep breaths.
"We know, we know," groaned Marinette, pulled Nino away from the trash can and into a shop. Alya and Adrien chased after, Alya barely having time to take a picture as she followed them inside.
They had visited too many places with either guided tours or detailed stories on the bus. Saint Marie du Mont at least allowed them some time to walk around after the brief story in the bus. Mostly it was to let students use the restroom and shop for memorabilia.
Inside the store was mostly World War 2 antiques with occasional gimmicky gifts. The students frowned as they scanned the store, before they were pushed in by other students.
"Maybe my grandfather would like something," offered Marinette as they stepped further in, the group splitting up to look around. Adrien explained something to Marinette about the military items on display while Nino looked through the military clothes. Alya wandered around the gimmicky items section, eventually stumbling on something.
"Adrien," she summoned, the boy stopping his explanation to bring over Marinette. Nino also came over, the group grinning at what Alya showed them.
"It's a good idea, but a little janky if you ask me," said Nino.
"No, one for each of us, and Juleka and Ivan. Like it ties us together."
"I like it," said Adrien, Marinette already picking out what to get. Alya looked over to Nino, who sighed, but smiled before picking out his own.
With their selections made, the group walked up to the counter to pay.
Alya had noticed Marinette and Adrien leaving when the tour guide gave them permission to wander the church grounds. She grabbed Nino's wrist, pulling him after her as she followed, Marinette and Adrien sitting under a tree, mostly out of site.
Alya sighed in relief, then pretended to be wandering around the grounds.
"You don't need to keep holding," said Nino, Alya realizing Nino's wrist was still in her hand.
"Sorry." She quickly let go, pulling out her phone to take pictures.
"I thought we were done with attempting to stalk their 'dates' for the Adrienette club."
"We are, just now we are running interference. Plus…" Alya looked back, "they probably need a moment."
Nino glance over and nodded, leaning against the church wall.
"Are you ready for New York then?"
"Maybe, I'm excited, but it hasn't sunk in yet. I'll be visiting again in the spring, so maybe it will hit me then? You?"
"I just got my letter last week. They accepted my application for music, but not sound engineering. I talked to Penny so I'll be having a part time job at the recording studio in the fall so I can apply the following year."
"Look at you, all grown up, making big boy choices."
Nino scowled at her teased, but it turned to thoughtful smile. "Marinette's always been dedicated to her passions, which helped me pursue drums. Now with everyone pursuing their dreams, you learned guitar, Adrien to write music; it pushed me to try new things and make them passionate things."
"Glad to be an inspiration for you."
"Glad I got you to join the club."
They smiled at each other before quickly looking away, Alya taking a picture of the building.
"If you were trying to be secretive while following us, it didn't work," teased Adrien as he walked up with Marinette, her hand tucked in his.
"Just running interference. Don't know where everyone else is though," said Nino, getting off the wall.
"Everything alright with you two," asked Alya?
Adrien looked down to Marinette, who turned pink and started giggling, "Fine. Just future talking. Or teasing." She playfully flicked her boyfriend's nose, Adrien looked appalled by her suggestion.
"Princess, how could you ever suggest that I would tease you so?"
"Actions speak louder than words Agreste. I'll hold up my end of the deal as long as you hold up yours."
Adrien frowned, pulling Marinette in to tickle her sides.
"Everything ok over here," asked Ms. Bustier as she came around the corner.
"Everything's fine, just taking in the view," Alya gestured to the empty fields beyond the church yard and the giggling Adrien and Marinette.
Ms. Bustier nodded, slightly skeptical, "Alright, well, everyone needs to head back to the bus. We need to drop our tour guide off, then we're going to grab dinner before heading home."
"I didn't hear Mr. Zag say anything," said Adrien as he stopped tickling Marinette.
Ms. Bustier shrugged, then suddenly a loud voice echoed around the field. The group winced as the teacher spoke.
"FRANCOIS DUPONT, PLEASE RETURN TO THE BUS IN FIVE MINUTES!"
The group waited for silence to return.
"Let's get one more picture for the road then," said Alya, passing her phone to Adrien. She then pulled Ms. Bustier over to join their photo. One last photo to send to Juleka.
"You sure you're fine Nino," asked Ms. Bustier as Nino took his seat on the bus. To hopefully avoid anymore nausea, he had only eaten saltine crackers from his friend's dinner soup and a sprite.
"I just need to sleep." Nino settled in his seat, pulling up the playlist Marinette found for him that morning before dozing off. Alya took the seat next to Nino, Marinette and Adrien sitting behind them.
Students settled themselves on the bus, some students getting ready to sleep while others chatted in the back.
"HAS EVERYONE USED THE RESTROOM?"
Everyone either nodded their head or responded in the affirmative. The other teacher, Mr. Zag, sat down in the seat in front of Ms. Bustier, Chloe again sitting behind their teacher along with Sabrina.
"I can't believe they expect us to still go to school tomorrow," Chloe groaned as she pulled out her neck pillow.
"You're the student president. Couldn't you pick the day," asked Marinette as Adrien got comfortable, holding Marinette mostly in his lap while he leaned against the window.
"Weekend tours cost more. And who wants school on a weekend." Snapping an eye mask on her face, Chloe slumped in her seat to rest.
"At least we just had midterms, so no homework due tomorrow," said Alya, leaning to look over at Marinette and Adrien.
Adrien just nodded, resting his head so he could secretly kiss the back of Marinette's head. Marinette pulled out her sketchbook to draw while there was still light.
"With your PDA, its a wonder no one caught on." Alya leaned on the head of her seat, watching the couple.
"It's always been there, you just haven't noticed," responded Adrien as he leaned his head back to sleep.
"Oh, I notice, you both were just obnoxious whenever I asked questions."
The couple shrugged, Adrien sleeping while Marinette sketched.
The bus started to move, Alya turning back around in her seat. She flipped through her music library, selecting a playlist to listen to as the bus started driving back to Paris.
