Scene 14 - *Nino outside Françoise Dupont

Nino rushed down the steps of François Dupont to catch up with Adrien.

"Dude!" he shouted after his friend.

Adrien turned around and smiled, stopping to wait for Nino to catch up.

"Hey Nino, what's up?"

"What's up, dude, is that we haven't hung out in ages! Your dad is working you to death, you need time to relax and hang out with the gang."

Adrien chuckled.

"Yeah it has been a while. We've been really busy with my father's 100th collection coming out. Thanks, by the way, on that one."

Nino paused. "Thanks?"

Adrien leaned in close and spoke softly so no-one would over-hear.

"Yeah I saw on the news," Adrien said. "You saved the day! My father's premiere event would have been ruined by Pognak if Carapace hadn't been there to save us."

Nino blushed. He was pretty proud of that mission. He was glad he had told Adrien his secret identity, although he did feel a little guilty about disobeying Ladybug's instructions. It was nice to have someone to confide in about his worries, especially the ones he didn't want to bother Alya with. She had enough on her plate with the increased responsibility Ladybug had given her.

"Aww, dude, that was nothing," Nino said, trying to play it cool.

"Nah, you were awesome, I saw the footage," Adrien continued. "You did more than that louse Chat Noir," he joked, jostling Nino's shoulder.

Nino felt bad for turning Adrien against Chat Noir. Sure, Nino had had his issues with the cat, but he had worked through it and now he supported Chat more than ever.

"Nah, dude, Chat Noir had other things to be taking care of," Nino came to the defense of his teammate.

"Is that what Ladybug told you?" Adrien said, raising his eyebrows.

"You're just jealous I know Ladybug and you don't," Nino joked, trying to change the topic. "Anyway, back to what I was saying, we need to hang out more!"

"I suppose now that the collection is released, I can talk to Nathalie about giving me more free time in my schedule," Adrien suggested.

Geeze, Nino thought. I can't imagine having to schedule free-time. Sometimes Nino got jealous of Adrien's big house or his expensive things, but he was never jealous of his friend's lifestyle. What a nightmare.

"You should come to a jam session on the Liberty," Nino suggested. "Me and Alya will be there Thursday, and so will Rose and Juleka, and Ivan and Mylane, and… Marinette."

He put extra emphasis on that last name, hoping his buddy would get the hint. Not that he had ever picked up on any hints about Marinette.

Adrien made a strange face.

"I don't know if Marinette would want me to be there, she's been acting kind of weird around me all week," Adrien admitted.

Nino rolled his eyes. So now he notices.

"Dude, she acts weird around you all the time."

"Yeah, but this is different weird. I think she's avoiding me."

Nino could not believe his friend was this oblivious. How could he not see!

"Why do you think that is?" Nino prompted.

Adrien scrunched his mouth in thought.

"I'm not sure, did I do something to upset her?"

Nino couldn't take it anymore. He'd been watching these two dance around each other for months! Alya had insisted to him that they would come together naturally, but surely it was his responsibility as Adrien's friend to help a dude out.

"Adrien, buddy, I'm going to let you in on another secret"

Adrien gave him a concerned look.

"Marinette," Nino continued, "she acts that way because she likes you."

Adrien looked confused again.

"Well, I hope she likes me, she's a very good friend of mine,"

Nino covered his face with his palm in frustration. Not this again with the 'very good friend' routine. Adrien really needed to get out more.

"No, dude, like she like likes you. Marinette is totally in love with you!"

Adrien looked at Nino, eyes wide with shock.

"Marinette… she's in love with me?"

"Yes, dude! She has been for a while. You're literally the only one who hasn't noticed."

Adrien clearly was not expecting this. His eyes were out of focus like he was thinking through their every interaction.

"That's… unfortunate," he finally replied.

"Unfortunate? Dude are you serious, you mean you don't like her back?"

Adrien had a guilty look on his face.

"Nino, it's not that I don't like her, Marinette's amazing, but you know there's this other girl…"

Nino threw his hands up in frustration.

"Not this again!" Nino exclaimed. "Is this 'other girl who doesn't go here' even real? Are you serious right now?"

"Keep your voice down!" Adrien grunted. "And yes, she is real, and yes, I still have feelings for her."

"You said she wasn't interested in you," Nino argued. "Why keep chasing someone who doesn't want you when there's the perfect girl right in front of you!"

Adrien pulled away.

"Things have changed," he said. "I think now… I think I can convince her to give me a chance, once she gets to know the real me."

Nino rolled his eyes again.

"You're as bad a Chat Noir."

This comment clearly hurt Adrien, but he didn't argue.

"Besides," Adrien said, "Marinette is one of my best friends. I can't imagine my life without her. I wouldn't want to mess that up."

Nino shook his head.

"Whatever, dude"

Adrien gave him an apologetic smile.

"I'll see you on Thursday at the jam session," Adrien promised.

"You better be there!" Nino said, pointing at his friend.

"I will!" Adrien laughed, as he turned to walk toward his car that had just pulled up.

Nino sighed. He hoped Adrien knew what he was doing with this other girl. If he wasn't careful, both she and Marinette were going to slip through his fingers.