"No, I don't want a hug thank you Jake, I'm fine!" Marinette huffed with an exasperated sigh, not even bothering to take her eyes off what she was doing to reply.
She was a nice person, honestly and normally very patient. But two weeks at her new job and already she was sick of the attention from her older co-worker.
At the start she had assumed it was just friendliness towards the newest team member, trying to make her feel like part of the family. Typical Mari, she chided herself. Always trying to see the best in people. But the longer she was at work the worse it got.
"Come on, let's get lock up done, I'm meeting Alya after work and I don't want to keep her waiting." Mari tried to encourage her less than enthusiastic team member, while filling in the end of day report, she was beyond eager to be done for the day.
Really, unless there was a customer still in store there was no reason they shouldn't get out of work on time. With Jake though that never seemed to be the case.
"Oh, what, aren't I invited?" Jake laughed as he wandered over towards Marinette, not in the least bit concerned with finishing up his jobs. "You know I'm always happy to keep you and your friend company"
Marinette paused her report to glance up at the voice, only to notice Jake was now standing uncomfortably close to her. His short dark hair was peppered with gray around his ears, thin lips smiled at her but his brown eyes still looked sad. Sad, but still hopeful that she might take him up on his offer.
"Oh… umm thanks, but I think she had something important she wanted to tell me. Plus I haven't seen her in a few days so I'm really excited to see her and catch up. Even Nino says he feels like an outsider sometimes when we get talking. Maybe another time."
With that Marinette spun sideways in her seat and lowered herself carefully to the ground. The high stools provided to them by the company were perilous for the uncoordinated -aka Mari. They were made even more treacherous by her work uniform.
A black knee-length, pencil skirt, coupled with a pair of leather slip on shoes, which of course sported small heels. This was Paris after all. Her top a simple, white collared blouse, with sleeves ending just above the elbows. It was topped off with a big pink silk ribbon tied around a high messy bun in Mari"s dark hair, adding a touch of her own personality into the look.
Jake didn't comment as he followed Mari to the back room where she retrieved her handbag -always hovering a little too close for comfort.
"Ready to go? I'll set the alarm." Mari questioned, in a rush to leave. It had been a long day, and she wanted nothing more than to get into a comfortable pair of pyjamas, eat her weight in cookies from her parents bakery and vent with her best friend.
Life was busy these days, adjusting to a new job and schedule changes brought more stress then Mari had anticipated. Not that she was unhappy, but she was definitely feeling the pressure from all her responsibilities, civilian and otherwise.
So, without waiting for a response Mari had punched the code into the pin pad on the alarm system and headed for the door. Leaving Jake no choice but to follow, lest he wanted to set off the alarm. Once outside Mari said a quick goodbye and hurried off towards her car, leaving little room for further conversation. Which she was more than happy about.
……
"Girl you will never guess! I have the most exciting news!" Ayla gushed enthusiastically before she was even all the way in Mari's room. Pillow shoved under one arm and a backpack slung over the other shoulder, Ayla's head popped up through the door. A huge smile was plastered across her tanned face, hazel eyes wide and sparkling with warmth.
Mari rushed over to grab the pillow off Ayla so she could climb the rest of the way into the room. Marinette's room had plenty of advantages; privacy, her own bathroom and a balcony with a beautiful view, but the trapdoor which led to her room wasn't one of them. It made entering difficult when your hands were full.
Once inside and unloaded from her baggage, the girls hugged before moving to take a seat over on the daybed.
"Ummm your parents brought you a car? Wait no! You got a promotion at work? Or you got a video of Chat Noir being chased by a dog on the way here? Or-" Marinette fired the questions off in quick succession, holding her finger to her chin emphasising her thoughts. Ayla battered Mari's hand away playfully, interrupting her dramatics.
"I got a new job! No more stupid ice cream scooping in a freezing cold shop all day!" Ayla shuddered while rubbing her hands up and down her arms as if to chase away the non-existent cold.
"And! You will never guess where! None other, then the very same news station as Nadja Chamack!" Ayla finished proudly, before Marinette had a chance to hurl more guesses at her.
"What? That's amazing!" Mari beamed at her best friend, giving her a slight shove to emphasise her point. "Doing what?"
"Just desk work for now, answering phones, sending emails, going on coffee runs. But in an actual real life news station! Actual real industry exposure, that's huge for a first year journalism student, I will have a massive leg up on the rest of the students." Ayla was gushing excitedly. Her happiness brought a soft smile to Marinette's face.
"Look at us! Stepping up in the world Mari. Proper jobs, University, bills. We're proper real life adults now. Next we will be living in our own apartments, buying our own groceries...getting married…" Ayla raised her eyebrows suggestively at Mari before breaking into a fit of giggles.
"Ha! Ha! Maybe you will be. But my life is severely lacking on that front, thank you very much for reminding me, bestie." The smile tugging at Mari's lips softened the sarcasm dripping from her words.
"Oh come on, I'm sure that will change soon, honestly Mari you're too picky! What about the tall, dark, handsome and let's not forget older… and talented Luka that you've been spending an awful lot of time with?"
"You can't tell me there isn't at least a little something going on there?" Alya leaned in towards Marinette, fixing her with a scalding look, giving her what could only be described as bedroom eyes.
Marinettee stood up, dragging a pillow with her and promptly whacked Ayla in the face with it. Sending both girls into another fit of giggles.
"I've told you before. Luka and I are just friends, strictly platonic…But should Nino be jealous? With a description like that, maybe you were just hoping to live vicariously through me huh?" Marinette drawled cheekily as she walked away from her friend. In the direction of the open door of her bathroom, to flick on the kettle, which rested on the vanity.
After one too many disastrous late night trips with hot cups of tea or coffee. Sabine had decided that buying Marinette her own kettle for her bedroom would be safer and cheaper than constantly having to replace broken mugs. after they, and occasionally Mari took a tumble down the staircase.
"Oh girl, trust me! If Nino wasn't on the scene I'd be all over that boy like stripes on a zebra! But as it stands Nino and I are very happy together, so unfortunately poor luka misses out on all this"
Ayla gestured towards herself with a flourish of her hand, as she stood from the day bed. Then stalking over to Maria's desk she snatched a famous Dupain-Cheng cookie off the tray that Mari had previously carried upstairs for the girls to devour.
The dark haired young woman shot Ayala a look and scrunched up her face at the theretics her friend was blessing her with. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind" Mari rolled her eyes. Secretly enjoying The extraness that was her best friend.
"But despite the lack of romance between Luka and I, he will be joining us for breakfast tomorrow. Is Nino still coming as well?"
Sunday mornings, or midday depending on the time they woke up,had become a somewhat unofficial breakfast date tradition for the gang. Being one of the only times they all got a chance to hang out together, now their lives were filled with part time jobs and a full time uni load.
It was a tradition Marinette eagerly looked forward to every week. She had never missed a breakfast since they started it at the beginning of the uni year.
"Of course he will be there. Could you think of a better way for him to spend his Sunday then with his fabulous girlfriend and her equally fabulous best friend?" Ayla retorted, taking the coffee cup her friend passed her and snatching another cookie. She then followed Marinette to their favourite place in Mari's house -the balcony.
Below them street lamps began to flicker on as the sun slowly sunk below the skyline, setting the horizon ablaze in streaks of pinks and oranges. Together they watched, talking about work and study, everything and nothing. It was hours later before the two girls climbed back inside, settling down for the night. Each curled up in Mari's bed discussing what they would order for breakfast, eventually drifting to sleep.
…..
The next morning the girls strolled leisurely into their favourite cafe, scanning the occupied tables for Nino. Who had already messaged Ayla, saying he arrived and was starving so they had better hurry or he would be ordering without them.
Ayla found him first of course, sitting down the back end of the narrow cafe, waving enthusiastically at the girls once he spotted them.
As they approached, Marinette noticed someone else at the table with Nino. Even with their back to her it was easy to tell it certainly wasn't Luka.
Where Luka had long dark hair with the tips dyed teal -coloured by Mari herself, no less. The back to her sported almost chin length blonde locks.
Their shoulders were also noticeably broader than Luka's, and very clearly defined, Mari mused to herself. The black tank top left more than enough skin for her to take note of the curves that outlined each muscle that banded down his arms.
Mari's step faltered, she was sure she didn't know the person sitting across from Nino and had no idea who it could be. Or even, where Nino had no doubt dragged the poor soul from to join them.
Bless his heart. Nino had a tendency for acquiring people wherever he went. Always adopting those who looked a little out of place or unsure of themselves.
Offering a warm smile or words of encouragement and more often than not they ended up staying, becoming a permanent fixture of their group. Mari smiled to herself as she thought about her friend's kindness.
While she had faltered and slowed her pace, Ayla had no such qualms and was now sliding in beside Nino. She leaned in, to give him a quick kiss on the nose in greeting. "Ewww! You stink!" Ayla wrinkled her nose in faked disgust at her boyfriend.
"Sorry babe, we came straight from the gym." Nino gestured towards the other person sitting at the table. "Dude, this is the one and only Ayla that I was telling you about and this is Marinette. One of my best friends. I'm telling you man, the Jasmine Dragon is one of the best cafes around! We come here every Sunday without fail! I can't believe you've never tried it."
Nino was still gushing when Marinette walked around the table. Finally coming face to face with the newest addition to their Sunday tradition. When she did eventually set eyes on his face, she gave a small strangled hiccup of surprise in the way of greeting.
The person sitting in front of her was striking to say the least. That silky blonde hair hung loosely, framing his face. His jaw was strong and defined without being sharp, full dusty pink lips, slightly parted, gave a brief glimpse of the white teeth hidden within.
Nice as those lips were they looked slightly chapped, Mari watched as a tongue darted out and licked them. A nervous habit perhaps? She pondered, while she continued to study his face.
Long dark lashes framed his eyes, vibrante green and deep. They held an almost familiar warmth to them that seemed to swallow Mari whole. Enveloping all of her, causing the breath to catch in her throat.
Quickly she darted her gaze away, dragging it up higher still to his brows, a few shades darker than his hair. Ridiculously well groomed brows, Mari thought, suddenly self conscious of her own.Oh God,when was the last time she had done her brows, a week? Three?
What the hell? Since when do I care so much about eyebrows, or even at all? She briefly cursed herself internally for such ridiculous thoughts. All the while continuing her, somewhat invasive
evaluation of the man in front of her.
Only then did she notice the single imperfection on the otherwise flawless face. A white scar marred his left brow running through it diagonally, leaving a line where the hair no longer grew. Perhaps it was a stretch to call it an imperfection, in Mari's opinion it only seemed to enhance his features, giving a somewhat daring charm.
The young woman realised she was openly staring, and that the remainder of their group was, in turn, staring at her. Quickly she darted her eyes downwards as a soft blush rose to her cheeks.
Thankfully Ayla chose that moment to speak up. "Hey, nice to meet you. Sorry, I don't think I caught your name." Ayla stuck out her hand with enthusiasm.
"Oh yeah, ah, I'm Adrien. Nice to meet you too. I hope I'm not intruding?" Came his soft reply as he awkwardly shook Aylas' offered hand.
"Not at all! The more the merrier, right Mari?" Ayla shot Mari a sneaky wink. Good lord help me, I may just bludgeon her to death with the salt shaker.
Mari inhaled through her nose ridding herself of her violent thoughts, trying to compose herself before speaking. "Absolutely! So how do you know Nino?"
"Oh well, I guess I don't, not really," Adrien replied, sounding almost nervous.
"Yeah, well I'd seen him around the gym a few times. I needed a spotter and Adrien was nearby. We just got to talking and hit it off, so I invited him along this morning. Since we were both STARVING!" Nino exaggerated.
"So, please Mari hurry up and sit down so we can order!" Nino whined at her.
"Umm oh yeah right. I guess I'll just sit here then? If that's alright with you?" Mari mumbled, grabbing her elbow with her opposite arm, as if she was trying to shield herself. Something she always did when she was nervous.
"Yeah sure, umm sorry if I smell." Adrien glanced back at Ayla remembering her previous comment to Nino.
"Nino was in a serious rush to get here, he wouldn't even give me a chance to shower." Adrien gave Mari a lopsided smile while running his hand through his hair.
"Here let me." Adrien stood and pulled out the chair beside him gesturing towards it.
"Oh no, that's fine I don't mind smelling you. What?! No, I mean. I don't mind if you smell!" Mari quickly tried to correct herself, flailing her arms in embarrassment, before huffing in defeat, taking the offered seat.
Nino and Ayla shared a pointed look between themselves. "Okay gang what are we thinking? I'm getting a double shot long black with allll the caramel" Ayla beamed, already excited at the thought of coffee, so much coffee. "Anddd scrambled eggs with a side of bacon of course."
Marinette couldn't help but snicker to herself, she loved the way Ayla exaggerated her words, drawing them out much longer than they needed to be, it was one of the many ways she expressed her very extra personality.
"Ahh I'll get the French Toast and Blueberries."
"Yeah wow Mari, big surprise there." Nino teased Mari's choice of breakfast. "Don't try anything different, I think I would die of shock" he quipped, in the good humoured way, that was only made possible due to years of friendship.
"What, I know what I like! There's nothing wrong with that! At Least I don't take forever to decide, unlike luka." Came Mari's smart retort, so used to Ninos constant teasing.
"Hey yeah speaking of where is he?" Nino looked around the coffee shop, craning his neck to see.
"Oh, sorry I forgot to say, he sent me a text. He's not going to make it this morning, he's been taken by the muses and didn't want to risk losing inspiration for his latest piece so he said he would catch up with us later." Mari waved her hand dismissing Nino's concern.
All three of the friends had their own unique art form and understood the rush that came with being inspired and the need to roll with it when the creativity was flowing.
"So dude what were you thinking? The big breakfast is awesome, especially for a post gym recharge, that's what I'm getting! Plenty of protein and heaps of sweet, sweet, delicious carbs!" Nino spoke, looking almost dreamy at the thought of his breakfast.
…
"Oh umm, I better not. I'm kept on a pretty strict diet actually. So I was thinking I'll just get some poached eggs with maybe some avo on the side." Adrien murmured, still shy as he adapted to the group's dynamics.
Meanwhile Ninos face fell, "What? Are you kidding me?" He practically spat.
Adrien looked up from the menu in alarm, not sure what he had done to cause such offence to the guy that had been kind enough to invite him out to eat. It wasn't something he had really done before and the last thing he wanted to do was upset him.
He had been granted a new found freedom and he so wanted a friend or two to indulge that freedom with. When almost out of nowhere he'd stumbled upon Nino, who was so easy to get along with and had been more than ready to welcome Adrien into his social circle.
Adrien could hardly believe his luck, which really wasn't something he had in spades. But apparently it seemed his short spurt of good luck had come to an end.
Nino was still staring slack jawed when Ayla's laugh interrupted the silence.
"Don't mind Nino, food is the other love of his life." She ended with a friendly wink at Adrien as she rested her hand on Nino's shoulder.
"You should see him in the kitchen, he's a whizz! I tell you once we are married I don't plan on cooking a day in my life!"
"Yeah, that's purely for everyone's safety babe" Nino added gently, patting Aylas hand which was still resting on his shoulder.
Adrien had relaxed slightly at the banter, glad he hadn't upset Nino too much. He was still watching the two interact and so, was slightly startled when a voice spoke beside his ear.
"We were baking cookies one day, for Nino's birthday and Ayla managed to catch a tea towel on fire. Luckily we were in my parents' bakery and had a fire extinguisher nearby." The girl sitting beside him whispered softly trying to contain her giggles, clearly remembering a fond memory.
Her soft words danced around Adriens mind. He had been so nervous when the two girls first arrived that he hadn't even really looked at her, until that very moment. Now that he was looking he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed her instantly.
Deep red lips pulled up in one corner into a playful smile, a smattering of light freckles graced her button nose and the tops of her high, soft cheekbones. Inky black hair was pulled up in a high messy bun. Her fringe covered her forehead, sitting just level with her eyebrows, longer stranded framed the sides of her face with adorable bouncy curls, reaching down past her chin.
From his position beside her Adrien could see more escaped curls trailing down the back of her neck. Drawing his attention back to her face he noticed her eyes.
Large bluebell eyes, that sparkled much the same way that sunlight did when trying to reach its fingers into the vast depths of the ocean. Once his gaze landed on them he felt himself pulled into their intensity. They enveloped him in a shower of warmth, creating
a calm in his soul like he had never known.
…