Tuesdays. Alya hated Tuesdays. Most people hate Monday, having to go back to work or school from 48 hours of relaxation, but not Alya. Mondays were when all of the weekend gossip came in from her friends. Such examples consist of: Ivan and Mylene's dates; the shenanigans of Alix, Kim, and Max(who would've rather been coding); and Marinette's failed attempts to woo Adrien Agreste. On Tuesdays, however, nothing interesting ever happens. No dates, no dares, and her BFF is typically too embarrassed from yesterday to talk to the blond model. Even akuma attacks were a rare sight on Tuesdays. That's why Alya, head lying on her desk, was going into the day expecting nothing interesting to happen. That was exactly when Ms. Bustier made an announcement.
"Class, I have come up with a project for all of you to do!" Caline told her class. "As you have noticed, it seems that our classroom is the only one with the christmas spirit." She gestured to the decorations adorning the classroom. "I talked to Mr. Damocles, and he let us decorate the rest of the school. We'll be the hosts of a Christmas Eve ball also!"
The expressions on the students of Ms. Bustier's class ranged from excited to annoyed, some loving the idea of decorating the school, others, namely Chloe, weren't that enthused. Ms. Bustier then spoke again.
"I've already chosen your groups for this project. The first group will be Rose, Juleka, Mylene, and Alix. The second group will be Nino, Chloe, Alya, and Nathaniel. The th-"
"Ms. Bustier, I want to be with Sabrina!" Chloe complained. She then felt a sharp sting to the leg. Looking down decretley, she saw Pollen eyeing her. "Actually, I am fine where I am!" the blonde said, correcting herself.
"I am glad we can agree, Chloe," responded Ms. Bustier. "As I was saying, group three will be Kim, Sabrina, Ivan, and Max. Group one will take the rear of the school, group two will decorate our side, and group three will decorate the opposite one. Ms. Mendeleiev's class will decorate the forward section, as well as the library and cafeteria. This will begin tomorrow. For today, we will spend the rest of the morning in the art rooms making decorations.
Alya leaned down to move her head closer to Nino. "If Marinette and Adrien were here, she would simply combust when Ms. Bustier would be like 'Marinette and Adrien, decorate the bathrooms together!' I can imagine the look that would cross her face!"
"If you two don't mind, I would like to get moving. Our group is the only one left in the classroom," Chloe commented, hands on her hips. Nathaniel stood behind the blond, both hands wrapped around his bookbag. He was looking between his other group members nervously.
"Well?" Chloe repeated. Not waiting around for an answer, she walked out of the classroom, and set out towards the art shops. Nathaniel quickly followed her. Alya and Nino finally got up and followed the secret superhero. The four made their way across the school campus and into one of the empty art rooms. Putting their stuff in one corner of the room, they sat down on the work table centered in the classroom.
"Do any of you have any ideas for this stupid project because I don't, and don't eant to think of one," Chloe said, idly scrolling on her phone.
"This is a group project Chloe. We brainstorm and work together. Like it or not, we are going to be making these decorations for the rest of the school day. If you're just going to complain, Ms. Bustier's office is waiting for you," Alya remarked. She stared at the blonde, only to have Chloe look up from her phone, scoff, and annoyingly shove it back into her purse.
"In case you didn't know, I'm rich. Rich people don't make decorations, they buy them. I've never made a single Christmas decoration in my life," responded Chloe, gesturing to her golden handbag as an example.
"We could bake red and green chain links," Nino said. "Those are easy to make, and don't take any focus."
"We could also make snowflakes, although the Mayor's daughter will have to be taught how. It's a skill learned in peasant class," remarked Alya. "I can also hook my phone up to the projector so we can watch something."
"I was thinking that we should make some menorahs and other decorations from different religious-" Nathaniel said, before he saw someone through the courtyard window. At the sound of the redhead dropping his pencil, the other three teens followed his gaze. Outside the window, they saw Marc in an embrace with a boy from another class, Claude. Marc noticed the eight eyes on him, glanced at Nathaniel, then ran away. Claude followed behind, not daring to look into the classroom.
"I think- I think I'm going to take a walk," Nathaniel said. He got up from the desk he was sitting at and turned to the classroom door.
"Narhaniel, wait!" Chloe called. "I mean, we need to finish this project, and you won't be slacking. You can deal with him later."
"Chloe, are you actually showing compassion for Nath? Never thought you had it in you. Or maybe you're secretly happy that Marc is out of the way. You'd have tomato head all to yourself," Alya commented. Nathaniel turned as red as hair after that comment.
"A- As if I would want that! Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!" Chloe stammered, a hint of pink crossing her cheeks as well.
"Your blush suggests otherwise," Nino observed. At this point, Nino was the only one still working on the decorations; many chain loops lying on the table in front of him. "My suggestion, however, is that we get back to work. I would like to finish sometime this year."
"That's the first smart thing to come out of your mouth in a while, Lahiffe," remarked Chloe.
"Now there's the Chloe we all know and love to hate," Alya said, earning a laugh from the target of her jeer.
The group fell into a comfortable silence and continued to work on the holiday decorations. Both Nino and Alya could obviously see Chloe and Nathaniel stealing glances at each other. At some point the young journalist put a movie on, and the group worked without conflict for the rest of the day.