Secrets, Lies, and Everything Else Chapter 12: "A Not-So-Surprising Revelation"

'Ello people! 😃

So...about the cover.

*sigh*

You know when you do something, and you're like "Omg yay! It's perfect!" Then you stare at it for WAY TOO LONG, and you start finding these TINY flaws that get on your nerves?! Yeah, that's exactly what happened. I've lost track of how many times I changed the cover, and it STILL bugs me! I don't even know why, but the cover art for this fic is giving me a lot of trouble... :/

Important Notice: I went back and deleted all the copy and paste fonts and replaced them with the normal font so hopefully the people reading from their phones can see it! C: I read stuff from my iPad or laptop so I didn't even know about that issue O-O

Tell me if it still doesn't work 'cause imma figure something out UwU

~ Reviews ~

Agiani: Yup, things really are heating up! :)

Guest: Hehehe thanks! ;D

Toshiro of the Eternal Dream: I agree, Alya pays too much attention to Marinette. Honestly, I feel like she should spend more time with Adrien. If she wants to bring Adrien and Marinette closer, than she should get to know Adrien and his personality. Sure he's in the same class, but that doesn't mean Alya really KNOW knows him.

Retrowolf123456: Thank you so much! ^v^

mayuralover: Thank you! Also about the mistakes, oof. XD I went back and edited the chapters so they should be gone. :3

Enjoy! nwn

(That Sunday...)

Marinette waited at the front gate nervously, rocking herself back and forth on her feet.

Luka closed the car door from behind her, "It was nice of your mom to give us a ride here, Kagami." Alya, Nino, and Kagami herself also emerged from the car.

"Don't mention it."

"Ok-"

"No. Seriously. Don't." Kagami deadpanned as the guitarist clammed up.

"I still can't believe that we were invited to Agreste Manor, much less allowed in the mansion at all, especially considering the last time we were here didn't go so well..." Nino winced, remembering the past disaster with the akuma.

Alya waved a hand dismissively, "Ehh, Chat Noir and Ladybug saved us, that's all that really matters." She added, "Oh, and did you see Rena Rouge and Carapace? They were super awesome too." She winked at her boyfriend.

"Yup! Sure were!"

"So Marinette, are you excited that we'll get to spend time with Adrien?" Kagami asked.

Before Marinette could respond, the gates opened. She yelped, falling back.

"Gotcha." Marinette noticed that Luka had caught her. The bluenette stood up, embarrassed. They walked to the front door and pressed the doorbell. A small camera came into view, inspecting them.

"I assume you kids are Adrien's classmates?" Nathalie's voice came from the speaker.

"Yes ma'am." Marinette said politely.

"Very well. I will unlock the doors." The doors opened with a soft "click" sound. Marinette tugged on the door handle, "I thought she opened it!"

Alya laughed, "Girl, you're supposed to push the door handle, not pull!"

"...oh."

"Hi." Adrien greeted them, "Come inside."

Nino was the first to come inside, "Duuude, how did you get your dad to agree to this?! He asked, looking around the mansion in awe. Even though he'd been inside before, there were new things added.

"He...doesn't exactly know..."

"Woah, so you're going behind his back?"

"That doesn't sound very nice." Luka muttered.

You don't decide to decide what's nice and what's not. Adrien thought. It's not like he's wrong though.

Whatever, it'll only be for one day. The blonde reminded himself.

"Come on dude, chill out a little, he barely gets to have any fun when his old man is aroun-" Nino gasped, "Is that a super rare golden vintage vase?! Can I touch it?!"

"Be careful with the stuff on display." Adrien warned. The last thing he needed was to get scolded for breaking something.

"I can hold open the door if you want." Luka suggested when Marinette was about to come inside.

"I CAN DO IT!" Adrien said a bit too loudly, forgetting all about the vase situation. He cleared his throat and repeated in a softer tone. "I can do it."

"I kinda said it first soooo..." Luka searched Adrien's gaze.

"No, really, you're my guest."

This.

Was.

WAR.

"We're not at a formal event or anything." Luka retorted sharply.

"It's fine, I'll open the door for Marinette."

"I was actually thinking-"

"I will, I insist."

Kagami managed to stop the bickering by pointing out, "There's a doorstopper right next you. Just use that if you two are going to be so indecisive. Problem solved."

Marinette awkwardly walked inside, followed by Alya, Luka, and lastly, Kagami.

The bluenette fidgeted with her thumbs. Just treat him like a friend. He's just a friend. Treat him like...like Chat! Like a nice, normal, cute, not cute, uhhhhh cool, amazing, handsome friend! Wait not handsome...he is handsome, but not REAAAALLY handsome, just like a tiny bit...I MEAN, he's not handsome...GAH-

"Girl, do you mind if you and Luka hang here for a bit? There's something Nino, Kagami, and I have to ask Adrien upstairs." Alya said.

"No, not at all." Luka responded for her.

"Great!" Alya motioned for Kagami and Nino to follow her.

;.;.;.;.;.;. ❤️ ADRIEN ❤️ .;.;.;.;.;.;

"What's going on? Why are we ditching Mari?" Adrien was confused.

"We're not ditching her, like I said, we just need to ask you something." Alya looked around the hallway, "Which one's your room?"

"This one." Adrien answered, leading them into a room on the right.

"You guys ask him, I'll go get some snacks." Nino said.

"Sounds good." Kagami agreed.

"Anyways, what were you going to ask me?"

"This might sound weird, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut..." Alya's voice trailed off.

"But...?"

"We think you're crushing on Marinette!" Alya grinned.

"..."

Alya bounced around the room, "I know, it's totally crazy, but you can blame Kagami for it."

"So? Are you?" Kagami pressed.

"Was it that obvious?" Adrien asked quietly.

"OH MY GOSH, IT'S TRUE!" Alya shrieked.

"Not so loud, my father's going to hear us-"

Alya ran around the room in circles, "IT'S TRUEEEEEEEEEE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Kagami watched as she bounced up and down giddily. She shook Adrien, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?!"

"...no...?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I CAN'T AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"I'm back!" Nino exclaimed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Alya was screaming at the top of her lungs, while Adrien looked slightly annoyed. Kagami seemed completely uninterested in the whole event.

"...I feel like I missed something important..."

"WE HAVE TO TELL MARINETTE!" Alya blurted out.

"NO!" Adrien stepped in front of her, blocking the way out.

"I don't want her to know yet, alright?!"

"Why?! She lo-" Alya stopped herself. Marinette was the only one who could tell Adrien. Not her, not Nino, not Kagami. Marinette.

"I just don't!" Adrien couldn't think of anything. If he told Alya about Ladybug, she wouldn't understand.

"Will you ever tell her?" Alya asked.

"I don't think so." Adrien admitted, "She has Luka."

"I knew it! That's why you were looking at him all weird!" Kagami was suddenly interested in the conversation.

Alya poked Adrien teasingly, "Are you jealous?!"

"Duh no! I am not jealous! In fact, I could not be more un-jealous! I am the least jealous person you will ever meet!"

"He's very jealous." Kagami smirked.

"I-"

Someone knocked on the door.

"Hey, can we come in?! Mari and I are getting kinda bored..." Luka's voice was heard from the other side.

Again with the "Mari"!

"Yeah, just a sec!" Adrien turned to glare at his friends.

"Not a word about this to either of them!"

Alya dissolved into a fit of obnoxious laughter.

"Sure Adrien, sure."

Next chapter will probably come very soon since it's Spring Break and I have no school... (again 😂)