Marinette watched him leave. 'How did he know…' She continued to look in the direction he left as his image disappeared. "Shit!" Marinette wasn't late, not if seven minutes and thirty-...one second was late. The designer ran up the steps to get to the sixth floor. Now she could've taken the elevator; however, the stairs seemed faster. The sixth floor never seemed this far away; however, now it was like a neverending climb. Finally, she regained her energy to continue to her class on the sixth floor. She burst into the studio space, not even considering the consequences. The room was vast, with tables in rows with mannequins next to each table. Each table had the designs of the students working on their assignments. The room occupants turned to her, including her instructor, who was not pleased with her tardiness.

"Next time you're late for a project presentation that will be a write up. Now please prep your mannequin quietly and quickly."

She continued to her station, trying to draw as little attention to herself. She put her purse and the fabric bag with the rest of her assignment by her chair. Like the other students, her station was organized chaos with all her material right where she left it. On her mannequin was the rest of her project. An extended collar and lantern sleeve and felt rose pink fedora with a maroon suede band.

Marinette began to fiddle with the clothes on the mannequin. Other students were finishing up their assignment set up as the instructor started to talk.

"As I am sure you remember the assignment. However, I want to review what the assignment is and how I will be grading these pieces." Some students stop prep to give their attention to the teacher. "You don't have to stop, I just want to make sure we are all clear about this." The chair she was sitting on buckled as she stood up from her desk. With everything set up and said, the instructor started to make her rounds to get her first impressions of the work. Next, she asked questions about the pieces on the mannequins. Though this wasn't Marinette's first time, it was with this instructor. She wasn't sure how this teacher graded or what she was looking for in the project. So to put it lightly, Marinette was stressed. Slowly the instructor made her way towards her station. Double checked her mannequin, 'I'm screwed.'

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, madame." The instructor's eyes narrowed at her and her station. The teacher fiddled with the garment. She was examining the pieces to find errors in them. Then, without raising her head to Marinette, she said, "It is adequate so in french," She shot up to hold Marinette in an intense glare. "I know you can and in this class will do better."

Now she was facedown in the university cafe next to the bookstore. Telling her woos to her BFF. "You didn't see her, she was terrifying." She lifted herself from the table and stood with her arm wide stretched out. "Her eyes turned red, Alya. This semester will be hell. She's going to make it Hell. What I'm going to do now." She collapsed onto the table and began to groan from the impact and her first class with this instructor.

"Sweetie, look at me."

Marinette looked at her. Alya had a dopey smile that said she was going to ask something stupid. Then she opened her mouth and said,

"Tell me about the messenger bag guy again."

"Really Alya not the time."

"But he's coming here."

"He was supposed to already be here. Do you see him?"

Alya looked around the cafe, its rugged modern vibe that all university cafes embodied. A counter lined the windows with wooden stools. Many more wooden tables around. They sat at the table closest to a window counter table. There was a blond sitting there typing at his keyboard. With everyone Alya noticed, she did not see a black-haired tips dye cyan. Alya's brow knitted in frustration as her friend very rarely engaged with the dating scene. It hurt that he was not here. She decided then and there that if messenger bag guy didn't show up before they left. She would find and drag him to her best friend.

"Let's give it thirty more minutes. Okay–," She reached her hand to rub up and down Marinette's arm. "Mari?"

"Yeah, Okay—Thirty more minutes. He is so lucky you're here."

Marinette set a timer, and they sat watching all the students come and go. Then from the side of her eyes, she noticed a cafe apron. A deep but soft voice said,

"Can I get you two lovely ladies anything?"

Marinette turned her head up and saw black hair dye blue at the ends. The light created a blue halo over his head. Her jaw dropped at the sight of him. Marinette heard Alya say fuck under her breath.

"You know I've been waiting." She said, propping her head on her hand.

"Oh, I know."

"So, it was intentional."

"No, it wasn't. My mom needed my help at home. So, I had Sean–," The smirk that she had disappeared as he gestured with his head over to the cashier. "watch for a pretty girl with bluebell eyes and adorable pink cheeks."

She blushed as he smiled. It was just them. The world went black; all that remained was him and the halo. She was trapped in his ocean eyes. They seemed to move, becoming muddy, and she wanted that, but reality came back. The sounds of the door opening and the bell attached to it ringing. The cashier rang up another customer. Her phone beeped and vibrated against the table. Still, in a daze, she shifted her gaze to the object. Then Marinette picked it up to silence the disturbance. The soon-to-be designer needed structure and order. A boyfriend would fight against that structure. She turned to Alya and said with all seriousness,

"Can you give us a moment?"

She seemed startled and stubbled, grabbing her phone, which was in her hand angled at the both of them. She stuffed it in her purse and blurted out a "Sure, no problem." And left them to their own devices, but Marinette was sure she heard Alya say, "You saw that right." He sat down across from her.

"Have I wowed you yet?"

"Ye–yes, I just—," She said, almost melting at his smile.

"You just–?" It became a more wolfy grin as he left the question hanging.

"Look—"Marinette angled her head down. "I've been focused on school and I'm still like super focused on school so this I don't know."

His grin shifted to a pleasant smile. "Okay, give me your phone."

"My wha—?"

He held out his hand. "We don't have to date but I want to get to know you better. Plus, I give free coffee to all my friends."

"Really, cause I like coffee." He laughed as she gave him the phone.

"So, Friends then—," The bluenette paused and read his name tag. "Luka."

"I would like that Marinette." He gave her back his phone then shook her hand—the business of a new friend. Marinette looked at the contact Luka Couffaine. She messaged him, Bonsoir, friend. Luka's phone buzzed in his apron, and upon reading the message, a soft grin graced his face. He messaged back, Bonsoir, friend. From the corner of his eye, he saw the cashier wave at him.

"Well, Marinette, I need to get to work." He said, raised from his seat.

"Bye."

"Bye."

As he walked away, he turned back to her. "Oh, I almost forgot about the free coffee."

"Oh n—,"

"Friends means free coffee."

She chuckled at him. "Okay."

He walked away. Then her phone buzzed, showing a message from discord. She opened the app and opened the direct messages. Kitten had messaged her about possibility of gaming tonight.

LadyBug
Chat I'm not sure I have a project in color theory class

Chat Noir
BUT ต( ິᵒ̴̶̷̤ ﻌ ᵒ̴̶̷̤ )ິ my ladyyyyy yourrr always sooo busy whats a cat going to do with all this pent up energy

LadyBug
Go outside kitten

Chat Noir
But that means dealing with life, and I won't be able to cope

Marinette pulled out her stretch book and her art supplies. One of the pencils fell on the floor as she did that. The blond that was sitting at the counter picked up her pencil. He was tall and had emerald eyes that shined through his messy bangs. Before he could speak and give back the pencil, a cup was sat down on the table. The blond grew smaller with the presence of another person. Finally, he gently sat down the 2B pencil and returned to his stool. Marinette was about to say thank you but was interrupted by Luka.

"I made this one special, something that reflects you." Dazed, she glanced at the blond then at the cup. She gingerly grabbed the cup and took a cautious sip. It was a beautiful mix of bitter coffee and sweet chocolate. She smiled down at the cup then up to Luka.

"Luka, thank you."

Her smile was infectious as it lifted his own. "Well, Marinette, you know where to find me. See you around." She continued to sip on the drink and opened her book. 'He was nice.' She forgot about the nervous blond. When she remembered him, he was gone before she could express her thanks. Her phone beeped. She stopped stretching another piece.

Chat Noir
ฅ(= ͡༎ຶ ᆽ ͡༎ຶ =)∫ buggyaboo your so mean to me well I got stuff which requires meow to go outside don't forget meeoowwww

LadyBug
Good luck say hi to the world for me

Alya run back to her chair and almost dropped her phone on the ground.

With a grin said, "Nino approves."

Marinette raised her eyebrow at her bestie. 'Well that answers that.' Then she laughed at her friend's enjoyment of a possible suitor. "We are not dating."

"Yeah, Yeah. I heard but still."

'But still indeed' She turned to see the black hair enigma creating foam. 'I want to know about you as well,' She look over to the barista a he made another drink. 'Luka.' Then took a sip of the bitter, sweet concoction.

SO I post this but I am not sure about it not writing wise but something else. I feel better posting on archiveofourown for obvious reason however I will see with this...