Adrien attending school was more or less a formality at this point, but it was a formality that took up what was free in his already full schedule. It was also the only time he was really allowed to hang around his old classmates. He cherished his time there but right now it, and everything, just felt suffocating.

"Hey dude, what's wrong?" Nino asked him as they sat for lunch, "You've been sighing all afternoon. Not to mention the fact that you haven't answered any of my texts the past couple days."

Adrien looked at his friend and smiled weakly. Both boys had changed quite a lot over the years, physically at least. Nino may have grown his hair out and passed 6'3'' but music was still his passion, Alya was still his girlfriend, and Adrien was still his best friend. Adrien may have chiseled out his features and cut his hair a bit shorter but he still tried to look for the best in people, he still took his responsibility's seriously, and he still had trouble opening up to his best friend. But he was learning.

"I'm sorry Nino, I didn't mean to leave you hanging."

"It's fine man, I'm just worried about you. Tell me what's going on."

"I don't wanna bother you-"

Nino grabbed Adriens shoulder and looked him sternly in the face. "Dude. We've been over this. Bother me. I'm your best friend, that's what we do."

Adrien chuckled a bit and leaned into his chair, brushing his hair back while Nino let go and sat across from him.

"Thanks Nino, I needed that."

"You're welcome," Nino said, lifting his glass, "now what's up?"

Adrien sat back forward, clasping his hands together, expression falling. "Kagami broke up with me."

Nino spit out his drink. "Excuse me, what? That makes no sense! You guys have been together for years and never had a problem."

"That's what I thought too." Adrien didn't elaborate any further.

Nino looked at his distressed friend, sipping coolly at his drink. He didn't want to force Adrien to talk about it, but he didn't want to leave him so upset.

"You know what," he said after a minuet of the heavy silence, "we need to get you out."

"Nino, I can't. My schedule-"

"Is filled with pointless things that can be put off," Nino interrupted, "I'm not taking no for an answer dude. You don't have any photoshoots or interviews tomorrow night do you?"

"No, but-"

"Great," Nino said, tapping at his phone, "All set. Tomorrow night we're going bowling. You need a change of pace." His phone dinged. "There, Alya's already said she'll be there. Now I'm just waiting on Marinette. Ugg, but if she asks to bring Luka then we'll have an uneven number. I need a back up. Anyone come to mind?"

Adrien started to shake his head but stopped short, a face flashing through his mind. Nino wouldn't like that solution.

Nino saw his change in countenance, too familiar with his friend not to see the subtle change in Adrien's face.

"Who did you think of?" He asked, adjusting his cap a bit.

"No one," Adrien said quickly, straightening his back and taking a bite of his untouched lunch.

"Dude. I know you. Who did you think of?"

Adrien sighed and swallowed his food quickly, wiping some sauce off of the corners of his mouth. "Well, about a week ago I got a text from Choe saying 'I'm back'-"

"Imma stop you right there." Nino said holding his hand up. "I know you two were good friends when you were kids, but she's evil man. From what I've heard everyone in class got that text but only Lila and Sabrina ran have run into her. And from they've said it doesn't sound like she's changed."

Adrien chewed on the inside of his cheek. The very mention of Lila's involvement brought the story into question. But then, this was Chloe they were talking about. As much as he defended her, he wasn't unaware of how mean she could be. She had made a big mistake all those years ago. He had fought against her as Chat Noir, but he had also seen her self-destruct. Struggle in vain as she confused good and evil. He understood where Nino was coming from, but he still wanted to give Choe a chance.

Nino heard Adrien's silence and sighed. He may not know all that was going through his friends head, but he knew where his heart was. "Fine," he relented, "if Marinette decides to bring Luca then we can invite Chloe, but you have to be the one to invite her."

His phone dinged again and Nino started to massage the ridge of his nose. "Well look at that," he said defeated, "Marinette's bringing Luka."

Adrien smiled, chuckling quietly before turning back to his food. Nino may have been apprehensive, but he was willing. That was enough.

'Perhaps,' Adrien thought as Nino glared at his phone, 'talking to an old friend is exactly what I need right now.'


I KNOW THIS IS OUT OF NOWHERE, BUT WE NEED AN EXTRA PERSON FOR BOWLING. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME?

Chloe stared at the text for the hundredth time. Was it a joke? No, Adrien didn't think like that. But, but didn't he hate her? She chewed on her thumb nervously. Adrien had a habit of being too nice, what if she was just a third wheel? What if he was only being polite? She typed a response. She deleted it. She typed it out again. Finally she it send, her heart nearly flying out with the text.

ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER?

Ohhhh, why did she ask that of all things? She should have just said yes. Nonono, she should have just said no. Stupid, stupid! That's it! She'll just delete the text before Adrien's seen it. She glanced at the message.

"Ghaa!" she screamed, collapsing into her pillow. It was to late, a little read was right next to the text. A bar popped up showing that Adrien was typing a response.

DO YOU NOT WANT TO COME CHLOE? I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO CATCH UP.

Chloe pressed her face to her pillows again, screaming into them and kicking her feet. He wanted to catch up. He didn't hate her! But they wouldn't be alone. If Adrien was there, so was that dorky kid Nino. If Nino was there so was his antagonizing girlfriend Alya. If Alya was there then, so was Marinette.

Chloe stopped her squirming. She had stopped following her old nemesis around for the past few days, hoping to throw Hawkmoth off her trail. She had spotted the akuma following her on more than one occasion now. If she wanted to confirm Ladybug's identity, then this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

COUNT ME IN.