This was a crisis. It was perhaps the single worst thing he'd run into when not fighting Shadowmoth. There was supposed to be a talk about the bonfire in homeroom but Adrien couldn't wait. He grabbed Nino by the shoulders as soon as he saw him.

"Marinette is a *girl*!"

Nino's confused. "Dude what?" wasn't helpful.

"She's a *girl* Nino."

His friend gave him a worried look. "Really? Wait 'til I tell Alya. She'll freak."

Adrien let go with a sigh and scrubbed his face with his hands. "This isn't funny Nino, this is serious. It's Chloé all over again."

Nino took him by the arm and led him a little ways off to the side of the entrance. "Okay man, you know you're my best bro. I'm here for you but you still gotta make some sense."

Adrien tried to put it together. It had been driving him nuts since last night. He couldn't even talk to plagg about it, he knew the kwamii wouldn't understand. "They're both *girls* Nino."

Nino's tone was patient. "Yeah dude, you might have noticed we have a lot of them in our school."

Adrien didn't have the words to make this easy. "It's not the same." he offered lamely.

Nino thought for a moment. "Okay dude. Is Alya a girl?"

"She's Alya. She's your girlfriend, she's a girl yeah."

"Alix?"

"Skater, artist, and yeah, also a girl."

"Juleka?"

"Luka's sister. Gothy, and yeah I know what you're getting at. It's not the same."

Nino frowned,"Okay so, what's the difference?"

Adrien sighed in exasperation. "The difference is... it doesn't keep ringing in my head every moment I'm around them. I don't notice… all sorts of things. I don't bounce between wishing they were wearing more and a lot less with no way to turn it off."

Understanding dawned, followed by immediate confusion. "Wait, you said Chloé. Dude, you can't stand when she gets close."

How could he not get it? It was too much, why was Nino so calm? Adrien scrubbed his face again and tried. "Chloé's been my friend since we were tiny. She's like my sister. Then you wake up one morning and suddenly your sister is hot."

"Dude, ew."

"Yes! Suddenly it's all cringey and weird. You can't be around them, and you don't dare *explain* why you can't. Now it's happened with Marinette. Nino, she's my friend! Last night she was in this dress and it broke me. I was struggling all night. Now what? I'm going to see her in class. We'll study again, and she'll still be… distracting. I don't want to be weird around Marinette."

Instead of taking it seriously Nino cracked a smile that turned into a snicker then a series of small laughs he struggled to hold in.

"Nino, it's not funny."

"Dude." Nino put a hand on his shoulder,"It is." Nino shook his head. "You'll be fine." He steered Adrien towards the entrance. "Just keep calm, maybe be a little honest? Tell her she looks nice. You know girls love that."

"I don't want to sound creepy or insincere." Adrien protested, letting himself be led.

"Trust me dude, you couldn't sound like either of those things if you tried."

Adrien worked to try and let the tension out. To focus like in fencing. "I just don't want to mess things up."

"You're good dude, trust me." He leaned in conspiritously. "If all else fails, think of her in that sombrero and moustache." Nino paused, "Whatever you do, don't think about bubble baths."

Adrien yanked Nino's hat down over his eyes.

The meeting was pretty simple. The other two couples were there. Mylene&Ivan, Rose&Juleka, Marinette was there, sitting on her desk and listening. Adrien kept stealing looks her way. It was a bit easier in her normal outfit. Why had he not noticed before? Why did he have to notice now?

Maybe he could talk to Chloé about it. It couldn't be as awkward now as it was back then. A lot had changed. Marinette was still fresh.

Only she wasn't here. Luka was. He was going to be driving the truck and three passengers with all the wood, supplies, and sound gear in it. Adrien would be driving the Yukon to fit the other 8 people going in it. Felix could also drive if needed. He was absent from the meeting too, despite leaving early.

Mylene was in charge of emergency gear. No one wanted to think about anything bad happening but better safe than sorry. Nino was on music, obviously. Rose, Juleka, and Marinette were all working on organizing food. Rose and Juleka were there mainly so things other than pastries would be provided. Alya was running communication between all the groups. Chloé was footing the bill. Lila hadn't been put on anything, owing to her illness and the fact that at least half the attendees expected her to bail.

Adrien noticed she had been somewhat subdued since their talk. He hoped he hadn't also messed *that* up too. It would be a black cat's luck to offend two girls in less than two days. Their eyes met and she flashed him a smile without the usual exaggeration. He still wasn't sure how he felt about… all of that. What did you owe someone who liked you? What if paying them attention might make other people's lives easier? What had he been doing to Ladybug all this time?

Chloé strode past him as his thoughts were wandering and wordlessly seated herself in Luka's lap, reaching up and back to drag her nails through the short hair on the side of his head while tucking her head up under his chin. It earned her a comfortable embrace from behind and some soft murmured words Adrien couldn't hear.

Old thoughts echoed from a year and more past, but then newer ones covered over them. He put himself in Luka's position, and Marinette in Chloé's. No, Marinette's nails weren't as long. She wouldn't sit facing out. She'd curl up sideways against his chest, smelling of cookies and warm cotton. He could gather all of her up in his arms and squeeze. She'd nuzzle in against the hollow of his neck, and maybe kiss-

"REALLY?" Mylene's normally soft voice rising in shock broke him out of that happy train of thought.

Chloé was still lounging on her blue throne but cracked an amused smile, bringing her hands down to lay over Luka's around her waist. "Well, what am I going to do with a farm that big after we are done? Just name it the Chloé Bourgeois Preserve for Illiterate Penguins or something."

Mylene's big eyes shone with innumerable grand plans. She wiggled in her seat barely containing herself. Adrien shot a look back at his long time friend, was she showing off for Luka again? Adrien's thoughts drifted again, seeing their interlaced hands and wondering, just how big were Marinette's compared to his own? Adrien's memory called up the soft fleecy feel of her hip against his palm last night.

Then the group was breaking up. People were returning to their seats. Felix finally made an appearance and headed directly up to his seat. Marinette flashed Adrien a smile as she scooted from desk to chair that made his head spin. Adrien wondered again if talking to Chloé was a good idea at this point, but she was entirely too close to Luka right now, parting words before he went off to his own classes.

From up above, rising over the conversations came Lila's disgusted complaint,"Ugh, Felix, you smell like you rolled in a bottle of perfume."

He caught up with her during lunch. "Chloé, got a minute?"

She looked up from her phone, texting while walking as had become a norm for her. Her smile was a gentle thing. So many new smiles she'd found in the last year. Adrien still didn't quite understand all that had happened, but he was glad for it. "For you Adrikins? Of course." she stashed her phone. "But not much more I'm afraid. It seems everyone wants a piece of Chloé Bourgeois these days." She stopped and grinned a more classic Chloé grin at him. "Not that you can blame them, right?"

Still a hurricane with a ponytail. The business look might fool some, but he could still see the girl underneath. He blew past the usual self aggrandizement and got to the point. "It's about, Marinette."

Chloé's grin turned into an instant frown. She leaned in and poked him in the chest with one nail. "This is going to take longer than a minute, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Adrien admitted. "Probably."

Chloé whipped out her phone again, dashing off a text as she talked. "There go my lunch plans." She hooked him by the sleeve and drew him into an empty classroom. "You're making me disappoint someone Adrien, only *I'm* allowed to do that." she locked the door and sat herself on the nearest desk, tucking her phone away. "So make it good." she kicked her high-heeled feet and waited attentively on him.

This had seemed like a great idea in his head. Or maybe just a desperate one. Now he was standing here and it all sounded dumber than anything. He thought of Marinette, that was worth sounding dumb for.

"I like Marinette, Chloé."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."

"Does *everybody* know?" Adrien felt like the last person to his own party.

Chloé waggled her nails at him. "Everyone with half a brain, which unfortunately leaves your little pig-tailed dreamboat out of things." The smile on her lips hinted that the insults were pro-forma now, not spiteful.

Adrien sighed,"Fine, but, it's not just that. It's- I don't want to be awkward around her." He could tell it was like Nino all over again, he wasn't getting through, so he took a chance and added. "Like with you."

That made an impact. Chloé had been leaning in, cocksure and teasing. Now she sat up, smile replaced with a pensive expression. "You mean?"

Adrien hunched his shoulders and stuffed his hands in his pockets, this kind of embarrassment went beyond blushing. "I was always shocked you didn't figure it out."

He'd stumped her. For once in his life he'd really floored her, no come back, no flippant remark, just utter disbelief. "But, Adrikins, I *adored* you."

Adrien rubbed the back of his head. This was getting worse, but he was in the hole now, keep digging. Maybe he'd come out the other side. "I adored you too! You were my friend, my only friend for the longest time. Did I care when you mauled me when we were 8? 10? It cheered me up just knowing how happy you were to see me. I loved it." He forced his eyes to hers. She didn't look mad. "Then, suddenly you... well... You've never been subtle about what you think of your looks." Adrien needed to sit. He leaned up on the desk opposite hers. "I did too. And everything got weird."

Adrien was treated to the rarest of sights, a Chloé Bourgeois blush. It was just a hint of color under her makeup. Nature doing what rouge attempted to mimic. She brought her hands up and cupped them over her mouth. Was he causing an explosion? No. No scream, just the smallest of 'eeeeeees' and when her hands came down a smile. "Oh Adrien, you are precious."

Adrien let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "You're not mad?"

Chloé shook her head, putting her hands on the desk,"Oh good heavens no. If you were dying this much over that we never would have worked out Adrikins." Her face went from cheerful smile to suggestive leer, "I'd have probably broken you."

That was a bit too much. Adrien found refuge in counting holes in the ceiling tiles. "Anyway..."

Chloé laughed with delight at his reaction, but sobered up quickly. "So, Marinette. You're having impure-" she snickered, "-thoughts about the girl you like. What's wrong with this?"

Adrien brought his eyes back down when he dared. "I don't want it to end up like our friendship did. I almost lost one good friend. I don't want to risk another."

Chloé scooted forward on her perch. "Well, then just give in. Kiss the silly girl. Kiss, hug, whatever else is in that darling head of yours."

"Chloé, you can't just do something like that out of the blue."

She gave him a positively smug smile.

Adrien had to laugh at himself,"Okay, I walked into that one. I'm sorry. I thought you might understand having been on the receiving end of awkward Adrien."

"I do understand." Chloé assured him. "Look where doing it your way got you. So, try doing something else this time." Then that impish grin was back,"At the very least you might get a couple of good smooches out of it. Luka seemed to think she was worth it."

A quick and unfamiliar pang of jealousy was unwelcome, but thankfully didn't linger. Still the experience left him in lower spirits. "I'm not Luka."

Chloé scoffed and stood,"No, you are not." She stepped up to him,"You are Adrien super-model Agreste." Adrien realized the desk was still behind him. "Luka is the sweetest man alive and we know how to play each other like fiddles." In her heels she was taller than he was now. "You Adrikins, could conduct an orchestra." These words were whispered in a honeyed tone.

Adrien swallowed under that sapphire gaze. He hadn't been the target of a Chloé-attack in longer than he could remember. "I don't think-"

"Ah ah ah." Chloé's fingertip tapped his lips. "You do think; too much. That is your problem." Her words came in a cadence that fogged his mind. She smelled strongly of perfume, and something else he could not place.

"Chloé-"

"Stop? There you are thinking again." Long nights years ago spent in shame imagining the contours of her face. Now, so close. She took his hand and placed it on her waist,"Just push me away Adrikins. You're a strong boy."

He didn't.

She slow blinked and leaned in, whispering again,"You've got warm hands. She'll like that."

"I'm not-"

"Neither am I. You need a guinea pig. And you owe me." Her fingers danced their way up his chest to his shoulders. Adrien was fourteen again. His oldest friend's lips ever so lightly brushed his. "Last chance."

Do something different.

The kiss was everything he had been afraid of for a heartbeat, then that all melted away. It was a long slow drifting moment that packed in too much to understand. Their lips parted and her arms were around his neck. The fingers of one hand ran through his hair. His hands were… He shifted them upwards quickly eliciting a laugh.

"So Adrikins. Do you love me now?" It was a question that knew its answer.

"No."

"Do you hate me now?"

"No."

Chloé grinned, her face still inches from his. "Feeling a little less tense?"

Adrien felt color rise in his cheeks, years of quiet self recrimination were gone. "Yeah."

She drew back, ruffling his hair mercilessly. As much as everything he'd said had been true, he felt the loss of her closeness. "Just imagine how much tension you and Marinette can help each other with."

Marinette. Her image wound itself around the sensations still sparking through him. He looked down quickly and Chloé laughed once more. "I'll do it again, so help me."

He had to change the topic. "So, um. Luka won't be mad will he?"

Chloé had a compact out and was checking her lipstick. Adrien realized he could still taste traces of it. "No, I don't think so. If he is, it'll only be the kind I can make good use of later." She snapped the compact shut with a truly feral grin. "And no one else has any right to be."

Adrien took a cleansing breath, moments ago seemed distant past already. Years spent dreading something that was; meaningless wasn't the right word. It was meaningful, extremely so. It just also had meanings other than the ones he'd believed. "Thank you, Chloé."

She had her phone out, raising it to snap a picture that captured his confusion at the gesture. She didn't even acknowledge her actions. She just replied. "Now go out there and knock the pigtails off Miss Marinette. I need a girlfriend I can talk smut with."

Adrien laughed at that, then after a moment opened his mouth to say one thing more but she shooed him with a flick of her nails. "Go on Adrikins. I've missed quite enough of lunch already."

Summarily dismissed, he saw himself out and almost ran into Lila on the steps. She flashed him a smile,"Still on for the movie Adrien? I've been resting up." One situation resolved, another arises. This one he might have a handle on. It was much the same as the other. Do something different.

"We'll pick you up, but maybe we could walk home together after?" That would give him time to explain.

Lila beamed,"Walking under the stars? That sounds lovely." Her smile fell though and she leaned in, sniffing. "Ugh, change your shirt though. I think whatever Felix had got on you."

The evening was lovely, or at least enjoyable. Lila wasn't hanging on him as if he might disappear. The movie itself was terrible. Flat deliveries and a hackneyed script turned what was supposed to be a 'romantic comedy of errors for the ages' into just 'poorly aged errors'. This turned out to be a blessing though.

With a dead theater and horrible movie Lila began ab-libbing for the actors, soon adding flourishes and over the top expressions to enhance her performance. She was good, and his attention spurred her on further until even if the movie itself wasn't helping, Adrien was fighting to keep from getting them kicked out from his laughter.

He did end up wearing the bucket. They popped out the bottom and stuffed napkins around the edges to preserve his hair and it became his crown as they left the theater. Briefly he was Emperor Butterking, Lord of the saltiness. He couldn't act and he knew it, but his horrible 'kingly' airs had her laughing almost as much as her acting had him. He plucked it off halfway back to her house and carried it in one hand. It was time, he just had to put the words together for the opening.

Her touch, not on his arm but his hand, startled him. Lila took his hand gently and when he looked surprised she tilted her head. "It works, don't you see? We do make a good couple."

Adrien raised their hands and gave hers a little squeeze,"Lila, I said friends remember?"

"But-"

"No, Lila, listen to me, this is important." Adrien took a deep breath. "I did this wrong before, and I really hurt someone I cared about. I'm trying to not do that again, because believe me or not I do care about you too." Adrien gave her a fond smile,"We've worked together, and been classmates for a while now. I wanted to be your friend from the beginning." He tilted his head,"but then everything happened. I still don't know why, and it doesn't matter why. This was fun, and I like you like this but-" Adrien sighed,"I'm messing this up again." And he could see from the hurt in her eyes he was. No going backwards though. He just had to hope for the other side. "I've got feelings for someone else. I have to sort that out, see what they mean, and know before I could even pretend to be more than a friend to anyone else. If not we'll just be back here in a few weeks, a month, who knows, and it'll all just be worse."

Lila pulled her hand away,"I know who it is." she hissed,"What's she got that I don't?"

Adrien rubbed his fingers together gently where her hand had been. "I don't know." he murmured,"Probably a lot. Just like you probably have a lot she doesn't. For one thing she can't act anywhere near as good as you." He looked back up into Lila's eyes,"But it's not about measuring up. It's about feelings." Adrien laughed once, and this time it was a mirthless thing grown from his own particular pain on the subject. "And the one thing I know is feelings don't play fair, and they don't care about what makes sense."

Lila clenched a fist in front of her heart and dropped her gaze, only to snap it up with fire in it. "Adrien, listen to yourself! She's no good for you, you've known her for how long? Have you ever even been on a date?"

"I took her to dinner yesterday." That shocked Lila into silence and he continued in the breach. "You'd have been proud of me. It was supposed to be a study session, and yes it still was because there were books and we did homework. We also ate three hundred euro a plate." Adrien shook his head. "I'm not even sure she noticed."

"Then, why?" Lila's voice dipped from anger into despair, her hands were up in front of her again, held together against her chest.

"Do you really want me to tell you?" Adrien asked softly. "Do you really want to hear all the big and little things? The obvious and obscure? The sensible and silly? Would that really help?" Adrien aimed for an encouraging smile and hoped it got through. "Who knows, maybe she'll shoot me down if I get myself together enough to ask. My track record is terrible with girls." Adrien gave a short laugh at the unexpected truth of that statement. "Maybe this is just your chance to escape a disaster."

He was out of things to say, so he just waited and watched and hoped. He could see emotions playing across her face and was reminded of the very sad truth that if she was faking any part of it he would never know. He would believe whatever she told him this time though, he owed her that much.

Lila eventually dropped her hands and her head. When her face came back up she was wearing a smile, but not an exaggerated one. "You won't take forever to find out, will you?"

Not the response he was expecting. It left him wrong footed. He turned the ring of his 'crown' in his hands. "No? It's really my fault. I just need to ask her, but I'm scared of losing her as a friend." Adrien gave Lila a strained look,"Kind of like right now."

Lila turned towards her home, but looked across at him and stuck out her hand to the side again. "Then I'll wait to be sad until I know what your feelings really are, friend."

Adrien blinked; unexpected and better than he could have hoped. He took Lila's offered hand and gave another squeeze,"Just promise me you won't do anything silly like waiting, okay friend? You are worth more than that."

Lila squeezed back,"Deal." and Adrien could barely believe his luck.

"We are back up to two plans." Lila said calmly as she sat down beside Felix.

"Oh?" he mused. His eyes were on the blond in the first row again, and from Lila's perspective the light in them seemed to shift from predatory to desperation.

"Mine is very simple this time, a perfect back up to your convoluted mess." She shifted her bag and watched a small exchange take place in the rows below her.

Felix's gaze came around to observe her cooly,"Who do you plan on winding up in the scant time left?"

Lila folded her hands neatly in her lap,"Me."

That earned her a snort. "You? That seems a bit desperate doesn't it?"

Lila gave him the sweetest of smiles, and said in a voice as gentle as a dove. "Marinette has Adrien wrapped around her little finger. I will gladly bite it off." She even ended the line with a darling giggle.

Felix rolled his eyes,"All this drama over my cousin."

Lila lifted one hand to poke Felix's cheek with a finger. "All this drama over Luka's leftovers."

That got him. Lila drank in the anger in his gaze and fed it to the fires she was stoking inside herself. She turned her eyes back to the back of Marinette's head and used her imagination to envision scenarios of anger and revenge. A stock of films and a creative bent gave her no end of possibilities. She could torture herself for every waking moment until the bonfire. What would she become? It didn't matter, none of it would be her fault of course. Evil Shadowmoth took advantage of a poor distraught girl. Marinette's loss would simply be tragic.

Beside her Felix composed himself. "There are a few more details to work out before the show can begin."

Lila kept her face calm and her voice sweet. "I'm listening." She wasn't. She was destroying her rival a hundred terrible ways.