Author's note:
Sorry I did not update sooner, I got hooked on someone elses FanFiction story and had to finish it before I came back to my own. Also I will be honest I have practically no sense of fashion so no judging my attempt at Marinette's.
Marinette, Nino, and Alya were approaching the shopping center. The whole walk (stumble in Marinette's case) to the mall they talked about what stores they wanted to go to. Things they wanted to look at a maybe buy.
Right before they entered the center Nino changed the subject. "So Alya, I saw the post on Lila's interview. The group text you sent out said a full explanation behind it will be posted tonight. I don't suppose you can give Mari and I a preview of that explanation; can you?" He asked.
Marinette looked at her BFF with a mixture of emotions. When she had first seen Alya removed the post she was very happy and excited. But as that wore off another set of emotions took its place. Hurt and fear.
She was hurt that nobody had believed her in the first place. And scared that Lila would make it all come back to bite her.
Alya locked eyes with Marinette then quickly dropped her gaze. "I would rather not. I promise I will go over everything later, but right now I would like to just have fun and enjoy my birthday out with my friends." Alya answered.
Nino raised an eyebrow. Alya had always boasted about her blog, and to be honest was way too stubborn to admit when wrong. That told him whatever new scoop she had would be momentous.
It also told Nino that everyone owed Marinette an apology. And judging by how Alya looked away guilty, she was not ready to tackle that task just yet.
"I think that sounds reasonable. So lets get going before we lose any more time." Marinette suggested with a kind smile. While she would never admit it she was as unprepared to deal with the Lila situation as Alya seemed to be.
Nino and Alya seemed to realised in that instant that their group had come to a stop just outside of the mall entrance. Shaking off the whole situation the trio entered the center.
They crossed under the metal arch way with little Eiffel Towers and the name of the mall welded into it. After they walked past some bushes lining the entry way thay came to a large round open area with an interactive fountain in the middle.
The outer perimeter of the fountain area has a few stores and several pathways that have crossroad signs, indicating the direction of major chain stores, the food court, restrooms, etc.
"Alright Alya, as the guest of honor; you get to pick where we go first." Nino stated to his girlfriend.
Alya smiled and looked at the different signs. "How about we just start going down that path towards the food court. That way by the time we reach it, it will be lunch time." She said pointing at said path.
"I like that idea. Besides, there is a clothing store down that path I love stopping at for designer ideas." Marinette said happily.
Nino and Alya both rolled their eyes at their friends enthusiasm for fashion, but smiled as they started down the path. While Marinette's world only seemed to revolve around Adrian and fashion they still loved her dearly.
The first few stores didn't catch any of their attention. There was an antique shop, a furniture store, a shoe shop, and an Office Depot. But then...
"Dudes! First one to the video game store does not have to buy their lunch!" Nino announced pointing to the store.
"Your on! Lets line up at that fire hydrant. Marinette said pointing. There was a competitive glint in her eyes.
"Fine but I get a 3 second head start." Alya announced as they all lined up. A mischievous smile plastered on her face.
"What!?" Both Nino and Marinette yelled together in disbelief.
Alya's smile widened. "As the birthday girl, I get a special advantage." She declared smugly.
"Dude, since when did you become that type of person. I mean seriously, you never demand an unfair advantage for anything." Nino wined.
Alya put her hands on her hips as she turned to her boyfriend in the sassy manner she occasionally displays. "So my exclusive interviews with Ladybug, that no one else seems to get; are not an unfair advantage?" She asked raising an eyebrow in challenge.
Nino stumbled back in response, but before he could say something Marinette started laughing uncontrollably.
Alya and Nino stared at Marinette in suprise as she doubled over clutching her side, tears running down her face, and gasping for air as she laughed at the irony in Alya's statement.
Alya would probably never know just how much of an advantage she had when it comes to Ladybug. And Marinette knew she should try to rein herself in but before she could her laughter became contentious.
Nino and Alya started to double over in laughter with their friend, even though they had no idea why. Which got Marinette going all over again.
Eventually they had to calm down so they could breathe. The three of them stood there still lined up catching their breath and letting their now knotted stomach unravel.
"I'll make... You... A deal.. Alya." Marinette said between breaths. "You can have.. Your head start. But if you don't win you have to buy all our lunches." She bartered.
Alya thought about it for a moment. With Mari's clumsiness and Nino almost equal in speed with her; the chances of her losing with a head start were very small.
"Deal!" Alya said firmly with a confident smile. Nino just sighed and resigned himself to pay for part of Alya's lunch. (Not that he actually had any intention not to do so in the first place.)
"Alright on your mark." Marinette said and the 3 got in a running position.
"Get set." Alya continued in anticipation.
"Go!" Nino yelled. And Alya sprinted forward while Marinette and Nino stayed back counting.
"1..2..3.." They said unison, before sprinting forward to catch up with Alya.
The gaming store was 2 store fronts ahead of them. And to Nino and Alya's suprise Marinette was the one who managed to touch the front door first.
"Dude... Since when... Are you that.. Fast?" Nino asked Marinette as they all caught their breath again.
Marinette smiled. "I have... Always been.. That fast.. Its Just.. No one has ever noticed.. Because of how clumsy I am." Marinette replied.
Alya and Nino could not argue that so they just shrugged it off.
"Well that's nice to know. I just wish I had known that before I got stuck paying for everyone's lunch." Alya complained.
Marinette place both her hands on Alya's shoulders. "Alya. Do you actually think Nino and I would make you do that on your birthday. We both already set aside a little extra money to spend on you today." Marinette explained in a kind and understanding tone.
Alya smiled at her friend, then frowned in thought. "Does that mean you both were just messing around about the bet, or do I still have to buy you both lunch another day?"
"Oh you totally have to buy us lunch another day." Nino said teasingly giving Alya a light shove before entering the shop. A giggling Marinette and a scowling Alya following close behind him.
Alya was in a changing room trying on an orange and white sun dress with black arm straps and lace. Nino insisted he buy it for her since he never gets to buy her clothes. Courtesy of Marinette.
Alya loved the dress just as much as Nino and Marinette thought she would, especially since its Rena Rouge themed. (Though Alya doesn't know Marinette is just as aware as Nino, that Alya is Rena Rouge.) But she worried what Ladybug would say if she found out.
However being reminded of her other persona, seemed to reminded Alya of the kwami in her purse and the miraculous she had managed to tuck into her shirt after her shower this morning. (Just in case.)
That being said Alya agreed to the dress but insisted that she try it on first. Just so she could have a minute alone to check on Trixx.
"That's a pretty dress, and more appropriate themed then anyone else should know." Trixx said quietly as she poked her little head out of her purse.
Alya looked down at the kwami a concerned smile on her face. "Thanks, but do you think Ladybug would disprove of me wearing it?" Ayla asked as she hung her purse up and started to change.
"Not at all, the dress only themes the fox miraculous colors. It doesn't come with a mask and ears." Trixx said knowing full well that if Ladybug did have a problem with it she would not have encouraged Alya to get it.
Alya smiled at her kwami "So are you doing okay inside my purse, I hope you are somewhat comfortable?" Alya asked
Trixx smiled reassuringly. "Yes thank you." She said.
Alya nodded and stepped just outside of the changing room to show the dress to Nino and Marinette.
"Oh Alya! This dress looks so good on you. Although the straps would look better crossed in the back, and the seems need pulled together a little here." Marinette said pointing to different spots as she circled around her friend.
"Hmm. The front could use a trinket of some sort in the center below the neckline." Marinette continued as she came to a stop in front of Alya. "Let me go check the jewelry section." She said.
Before Alya and Nino could even comprehend what she was saying, Marinette took off to find the missing piece to Alya's new dress.
As Marinette was shifting through different brooches, pendants, and other pieces of jewelry she could alter to incorporate onto the dress; she failed to notice a certain Italian girl carefully creeping towards her.
"Perfect!" Marinette squealed as she came across an orange and white fox (the animal) belt buckle. The buckle was kids size so it was about the appropriate size.
As Marinette started to return to her friends she was surprised to have someone grab her wrist and yanked her behind a shelf then shoved her roughly into one of the buildings support pillars.
"Lila!?" Marinette said in suprise as she focused on who had grabbed her.
"Don't think for a second that Alya's new post counts as a win for you. I'm still going to make your life miserable, and unless you want Alya to join you in that misery I would suggest you rethink a few things." Lila said in a low menacing voice keeping Marinette pinned between her and the pillar.
Marinette's eyes narrowed anger. "I'm not going to keep your lies straight for you." She stated firmly swatting Lila's hand off her shoulder and standing up strait.
"I never said that, I just said you should rethink a few things. I would hate to see Alya lose all her hard earned reputation from her blog due to a simple misunderstanding." Lila said in false consern, a sly smile on her face.
Before Marinette could think of a remark a dark skinned hand grabbed Lila's arm and pulled her out from behind the shelf. Lila then came face to face with a very angry blogger.
"What do you think you are doing?" Alya hissed. A very displeased Nino standing behind her with his arms crossed.
Lila quickly changed her demeanor. " Oh Alya I'm so sorry I just wanted to ask Marinette for some advice privately." Lila said quickly in an innocent tone.
This caused Marinette to roll her eyes. 'Here we go again', she thought to herself.
"So you grabbed her, and pinned her against a stone pillar?" Nino asked rhetorically in disbelief.
"I swear that's not what it looked like. I just didn't know how much time I would have so I might have been a little hasty. I'm sorry Marinette if I offended you." Lila's fake sincerity made Alya and Nino hesitate unsure, but Marinette's eyes narrowed and even Trixx peaked carefully out of Alya's purse in suspicion.
"What exactly did you want to ask Marinette about that you could not do it like a normal person?" Alya asked her tone almost reprimanding.
Lila looked down in fake guilt as she spoke. "I wanted to ask Marinette about a gift idea for your birthday. But I did not want you to know about it so I tried to figure out a way to get her alone." She explained like a child who just got caught with their hands in a cookie jar.
Nino seemed to buy this story but Alya was still unsure. Trixx telling Alya about the illusion Lila makes around herself flashes through her head. As much as she wanted to just believe what Lila said, she knew she needed to do what she should have done from the beginning. Dubble check everything.
"Marinette, is that true?" Alya asked looking at her best friend.
Both Marinette and Lila looked at Alya in suprise. Nino raised an eyebrow confused, it dawned on him in that moment that no one ever asked Marinette's side of the story regarding Lila; they just assumed she would react in jealousy whether it made sense for her to so or not.
"You are actually asking me?" Marinette asked in disbelief. This caused Alya to become confused.
"Well yeah I want your side of the story as well." Alya said slightly uncertain.
Suddenly panicked Lila spoke before Marinette could even process how to begin. "Oh Alya you know Marinette will only lie about me because she is jealous. I don't know why we can't get along, but I do know she will only try to turn what I say against me!" Lila cried (both literally and metaphorically).
Marinette grounded her teeth in frustration but stayed silent. Experience told her lashing out at Lila's lies would only work against her.
Alya glanced back and forth between Lila and her BFF. Normally she would just agree with such a statement since Marinette can be over the top jealous, but this time she forced herself to think critically about it.
Marinette IS an extremely jealous individual, but she never before let that affect her friendships. In fact, the memory of Marinette agreeing to go on a double date with Adrian and Kagami as support for Adrian made itself present in Alya's mind.
"That doesn't sound like Marinette." Alya said firmly causing the fake tears to stop suddenly as Lila looked at Alya in suprise.
"Marinette may be extremely jealous when it come to Adrian, but she has never let that interfere with be a good friend to me. She would have no reason to lie about helping you with a birthday gift for me, and even if she did it would not be because she was jealous. Adrian has nothing to do with mine and Mari's relationship or my birthday." Alya continued, her voice becoming more agitated with every word.
Nino seemed to catch onto Alya's line of thinking. "Yeah, and why would you ask Marinette for help at all if you truly thought she would try to sabotage you in the process?" He asked suddenly suspicious of what was going on.
Lila suddenly became furious, the 3 friends could hear her teeth snap together as she sneered at them. "You're going to regret this Dupan-Cheng!" She practically yelled before she stormed off.
"As I said before Lila, we'll see." Marinette said calmly to herself as she stared after Lila.
"Dude, what was that about?" Nino asked as he and Alya looked at Marinette startled and confused.
"Don't worry about it right now. What do you say we pay for our items and head over to the food court. We can either talk about it there or drop it for the day." Marinette suggested.
Both Nino and Alya nodded in agreement and the group started for the check out counter.
"Oh Alya, I found this fox belt buckle to go with your new dress. If you want to I can modify it to fit onto the dress nicely." Marinette said trying to get everyone back in a good mood.
Alya looked at the buckle and almost panicked. "As nice as that would be I kinda like the dress how it is. But you took off before I could say as much." Alya said adding a little bit of teasing in her voice to mask her discomfort.
"Oh sorry, I guess I went all designer mode on you." Marinette said sheepishly.
"Its okay we love you no matter what." Alya replied.
The group was about to head out when a clothing rack was suddenly thrown at them. Nino grabbed Alya and dive bombed out of the way, while Marinette quickly jumped over the check out counter ducking for cover.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng! I am going to make you pay for challenging me." Yelled a familiar voice.
Everyone in the store turned to see Volpina standing in the doorway.