Secrets, Lies, and Everything Else Chapter 14: "Of Models And Mishaps Part 1"
Gorilla pulled up in front of the studio, opening the front door for Nathalie. Nathalie got up and opened the back door, allowing Adrien to hop out.
"Adrien, you will be posing with Lila again for this photoshoot."
Adrien frowned. There was zero point in arguing with his father's assistant, but he still wished that he could pose with...well, someone that wasn't Lila for a change. His father, for some weird reason, loved having her around, despite that when they first met, he had been extremely angry to find out that she'd manipulated everyone to get inside the mansion. Who knows, maybe Lila just manipulated Gabriel AGAIN and that's why he relied on Lila that much.
The blonde shook his head. Sometimes, Lila was just too much. But whatever, he should be thankful: he'd wanted to avoid Alya's conversation. And he did, without spilling too much.
"OMG! Hi Adrien!" Lila had been waiting in the front office for them.
"Hello, Lila." Adrien waved politely.
"You came just in time!" The brunette smiled.
Gabriel entered the room, "Miss Ambroise," He gestured at a young woman dressed in formal clothes, "please escort Lila and Adrien out of the room for makeup. Nathalie and I have some things to discuss."
Ms. Ambroise nodded, leading Lila and Adrien into the makeup room.
"Aren't you excited to see me again?" Lila asked as they were walking together in the hallway.
"Uhhh...I kinda see you every day at school..."
"But now we're doing another photoshoot! Together! I wonder what the theme is this time." She gasped, "Do you know?!"
Adrien shrugged, "Dunno."
"Adrien, why are you being like this?! Are you mad at me?" She asked, a hurt expression on her face.
"What do you think? You almost got Marinette expelled. You lied to my father and Nathalie, and you somehow manipulated him so that he would allow you to model with me. And Mari-"
"Marinette, Marinette, Marinette. What is it with this Marinette? I noticed you talk about her a lot."
"She's my friend. Why wouldn't I talk about her a lot?"
"I think you mean 'she's just a friend.'"
"Yup...it's not like she's anything more than a friend, so if I say she is my friend, then she's my 'just a friend' but 'just a friend' as in she's actually 'just a friend', not 'just a friend' as in I'm nervous and have no idea what I'm saying, but like a NORMAL 'just a friend' who I definitely do not have any feelings for whatsoever and do not like one bit!"
Lila arched an eyebrow, "Wait, how is she your friend if you don't like her?"
Wow, this was becoming way more complicated than it should be.
"I love- UH, LIKE her! Platonically, of course, pfffffft who said I loved her HEHEHEHEEHEHEHE THAT'S RIDICULOUS-"
"You did...?"
"Hah I never said that..." Adrien was just randomly blabbing things at this point.
"You actually did-"
"OH LOOK A DOOR! WE'RE HERE!" The blonde said. He ignored the weirded-out look Lila gave him as he stepped inside.
Once Lila turned away, Plagg flew out of his owner's pocket.
"I hope that Lila didn't realize I have feelings for Marinette." It felt even weirder admitting that aloud, but Adrien continued, "Lila would be sure to tell everyone, and soon, it wouldn't be long before the word got out to Marinette, my father, everyone. And as far as the media knows, Kagami and I are dating. There would be a huge controversy."
Plagg grinned, "Just imagine the news headlines! 'Teen model Adrien Agreste cheats on girlfriend Kagami Tsurgi to be with classmate Marinette Dupain-Cheng'!"
"One, that's way too long of a news headline, and two, you need to hide!" Adrien told him. After a few minutes of preperation, he was ready to go to the photoshoot.
"Lila, it's time to go." Adrien told her. Lila was hunched over the trash can.
"Lila...?"
"Adrien, I don't feel good. Can you maybe tell your father to get someone else?"
Adrien wasn't surprised.
He was shocked.
One minute Lila was ecstatic to be in the shoot with him, and now, she was giving up?!
"You don't look very sick." Adrien argued.
"But I am!" Lila wailed, swinging over dramatically and pretending to faint, "THE PAAAAAAAAIIIINNN!" She held her hand up to her forehead as she swooned.
She is so faking it. Adrien thought.
"Lila, Adrien, you- WOAH, what happened here?!" Nathalie asked upon seeing Lila lying on the floor helplessly.
"Lila's apparently feeling sick. She wants someone to replace her."
"We don't have time! Audrey's supposed to arrive in 30 minutes to asses the shoot! We told her that there would be two models!"
"Who else is there as a replacement?" Adrien asked.
"Oooh, how about Marinette?! The person who designed Adrien's feathed-hat?!" Lila was suddenly conscious.
"Didn't you pass ou-"
"OH! I mean- " She dropped down on the floor again and closed her eyes.
"Marinette actually wouldn't be a bad model." Nathalie said.
WAIT, Nathalie was actually considering this?!
"I'll call her."
Adrien opened his mouth to protest, but Nathalie had already walked out of the room.
"What did you do?!" Adrien snapped at the brunette. Lila lifted her head and got up, dusting herself off.
"Yuck, this place needs way better cleaning."
Adrien crossed his arms.
"I did you a favor, Adrien. You get along well with Marinette, so you'll love to get the chance to model with her."
Not like this! I'm not ready! Adrien thought, panicking.
"Why do you look so scared?"
Adrien didn't answer, running off and slamming the door behind him. "I need to make a call." He ran into an empty storage room and locked the door behind him, then shakily typed in Nino's number. The phone rang before he finally picked up.
"Yo dude, where are you?" Nino asked.
"That's not relevant, where's Mari?"
"Who's Mari-?"
Adrien groaned, he was using the same stupid nickname that Luka called her!
"Marinette." Adrien corrected, "Where is Marinette?"
"Eh, something about modeling. She left like 5 minutes ago with Alya and Luka."
"WHAT?!"
"Dude, chill-"
Adrien was hysterical, "SHE'S GOING TO MODEL WITH ME!"
"And-?!"
"I'M NOT READY YOU HAVE TO SEND HER BACK!"
"Bro I said she already left-"
"Call Alya and tell her to turn back!"
Alya Cesaire has been added to the call.
"I DIDN'T SAY ADD HER-!" Adrien shrieked.
"Alya? Who are you talking to? What was that sound?!" Marinette's voice came from behind Alya. Adrien dropped the phone.
"Kid, just pick the phone up and speak to them." Plagg said.
Adrien muted himself. He said in a calmer tone, "You don't understand! If I can't even keep myself from saying embarrassing things to Lila, how am I supposed to refrain from saying embarrassing things to the one person it's all about! I know what you're thinking: Marinette came over to the mansion and she goes to my school, I know, but this is different! It's just the two of us. Together."
"You've even danced with her Adrien. Twice, actually. This shouldn't be that hard."
"It is-!"
"Just be honest with her, and be yourself."
Adrien took a deep breath and picked up his phone, pressing the unmute button. His camera reappeared again.
"Hey Sunshine boy! What's going on?" Alya asked.
"I was going to say- that maybe you guys should-"
Plagg gave him a look.
No turning back! Adrien reminded himself.
"- nevermind."
"Good." The sound of a door opening caught Adrien's attention.
He'd seen that door before...
The studio door!
The color drained from Adrien's face. They're here! Marinette's HERE!
;.;.;.;.;.;. ❤️ LILA ❤️ .;.;.;.;.;.;
Lila smiled, scrolling through her contacts to find the user named "UNKNOWN." She clicked on their name, typing a message:
Lila Rossi: I have a new idea. Is the promise still valid?
Unknown: Mhhhm, you already get so much from this arrangement. I'm not sure.
Lila Rossi: I'll only do it if the promise is still valid. So, do we have a deal?
Lila waited for them to type back:
Unknown: ...Deal.
Oooh! Anyone know who Lila was texting? ;3