A/N: 'metal guitar' is a real music instrument shop in paris. i would know. i checked yelp. enjoy!
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chapter 2: customers and polaroidz
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Marinette watches the rain-slicked streets outside of the bookshop and sighs, seeing the cars driving past. The smell of wet gravel enters the shop as the bell atop the entrance door rings, with Marinette not looking at the customers walking in. Her lidded blue eyes are focusing on something else, something that happened a week ago.
Music Forecast. It was quite the place. Maybe it's because she doesn't go out much (it's always Alya inviting her to new hangout spots) that Marinette guesses why she is so spellbound by it. The blue disco lights, the rush and adrenaline of dancing without fear...it was only one night, but she felt the pull to go back.
It really has nothing to do with that guy asking her to come on the stage, holding her hand-
Marinette's cheeks flush as she snaps herself out of the memory. She had a good time was all. And she wanted to experience it again.
"You were wonderful, milady."
That's all it was.
She feels a buzz in her pocket, her cellphone vibrating. Her work ethics tell her to ignore it since there's customers around, but then she remembers that night at the venue, where Alya had suddenly fell sick. It's been a week since then, her best friend updating her on how she was feeling throughout. Marinette bites her lip when she sees Alya had sent her a text five minutes ago and her phone was just reminding her. She had to stop daydreaming; how had she missed it? She opens the text.
'Feeling so much better. Wanna hang out tonight?'
Marinette looks at the words, suspicious. Alya's infamous for finding excuses to go outside when she was sick. She's seen it first hand, nevermind Alya's older sister Nora warning her. Marinette texts her back, tongue poking out in concentration as she tries to not sound suspicious as possible.
'Sure. I'll come pick you up after I finish my shift. That ok?'
If Alya isn't sick anymore, she wouldn't have a problem with that, Marinette smiles a little smugly. She puts her phone down in front of her, right on top of her organic chemistry homework and she looks at it for a moment, realizing she had forgotten about it.
Organic Chemistry, her absolute nemesis.
She doesn't hate it and isn't bad at it either. It's just. A lot.
Add that to her parents wanting her to be a doctor, something they told her while she was just kid, making outfits for her dolls using her grandma's sewing machine. Me and your mother are nurses, Marinette, she could hear her dad's voice already saying. We just want you to be better than us, shoot farther in the stars than we ever can.
Marinette puffs her cheeks, annoyed. How about supporting me in whatever I want to do?
...But how could she ever say that?
Her parents work so hard every single day, leaving in the early hours of the morning and coming late in the night. She barely sees much of them these days, except for on their days off. Those are the days she treasures most, with her playing Ultimate Mecha Strike III with mom and baking some macaroons with dad...She couldn't possibly ever tell them that being a doctor is the most farthest thing in her mind.
Couldn't possibly.
Marinette distantly notices her phone illuminating. It's Alya replying back.
'Lol, Ok lemme know when you're nearby'
Marinette squints at the text. She doesn't exactly believe her yet.
"Earth to Marinette?" A high-pitched voice says and before Marinette could blink, there's a hand waving excitedly in her face. Marinette instinctively hides her phone, pasting an innocent smile as Rose giggles her at antics.
"It's just us, Marinette," she says and Marinette pauses, seeing the amount of books they have in their hands, Juleka nervously shifting her eyes to Marinette's homework that's covering the counter.
"Juleka, Rose!" She scrambles up her homework in utter embarrassment, "I'm so sorry, I was totally spacing out."
Rose beams, obviously not caring in the slightest, "How are you, Marinette? C'mon, Juleka. Put down your stuff."
"Kay." Juleka says with a small thankful smile.
Marinette sees all the books they've put on her counter, about ten divided between the two of them but it's not something she stalls on too long. She realizes all the books are fashion related, mostly textbooks and how-to guides. Marinette unconsciously frowns.
"I'm fine, Rose," she begins scanning almost automatically, "So, lots of books this term?"
"Yes!" Rose grins, looping her around Juleka's, "We have Ms. Dupont this semester. She's kind of extreme."
"So I've heard." Marinette says with a weak laugh, "Is her class all full already? It started a bit later this semester..."
Both Juleka and Rose blink at her as she continues scanning their books, oblivious to their specific attention.
"Alright," Marinette says with a bit of a forced smile, "Your total is-"
"Marinette," Juleka speaks up, "Ms. Dupont's class is still pretty empty, but…"
Rose catches her sideways glance and shifts her eyes to Marinette. "How did you know that her courses opened up late? Aren't you a Bio Science major?"
Marinette's eyes grow wide. "Well, uh…"
Juleka watches her for a moment but then smiles. "Marinette, you're still the same." Her voice is low and very much monotone, but Marinette doesn't miss the warmness for a second.
Rose looks at them back and forth, confused.
"Remember?" Juleka points to one of their fashion books. "Marinette used to let us model the clothes she made during high school."
Rose's eyes widen, a smile on her face at the memory. "Oh yeah. I still have the shirts you let me keep!"
"Me too." Juleka says, and Marinette can't help but feel all fuzzy at the fact that her high school classmates not only remembered, but still very much kept what she would work hard on, night after night.
Marinette smiles at them, her eyes warm. "You guys are so sweet. I don't even know what to say."
Juleka can only chuckle as Rose proceeds to go around the register counter, telling Marinette she could give her a hug since they haven't seen each other in forever. Marinette's freaking out, because what if her manager came around and saw; It ultimately doesn't matter. Rose gets her hug and Marinette can't help hugging her back, realizing she misses her more than she thought. Although they attend the same university, it's always on different parts of the campus.
"Find anything?" She hears Juleka mumbling to someone.
Marinette steps away from Rose, wondering if it's another classmate.
"Nah."
His voice is soft. Marinette meets his teal eyes first, her mouth already open to say hello but she can't say a thing. Suddenly, she's looking away and her mouth doesn't want to seem to work.
"Are you sure?" Juleka's still talking to him. "Marinette can give you a discount."
Rose returns to the customer side of the counter, pointing at some CDs they have by the checkout, "They even have CDs and vinyls here. It's so awesome!"
Marinette looks up shyly then, noticing the guitar case he had over his back but that's a mistake, because their eyes meet again- only this time, he takes a step close to the counter, his eyes soft on her. Marinette feels her hands all sweaty.
She resists the urge to look away again, smiling tentatively. "Hi, uh. We sell pretty much everything here. Minus clothes and furniture, that is."
Duh, you absolute idiot!
He smiles. "Cool. I'll get something next time."
It's something about him. Marinette doesn't know what's making her heart pound the way it is. Maybe it's her stupid anxiety, acting up sometimes when she meets someone new.
He's looking at her, his small smile still there, and Marinette realizes she was staring at him this whole time. She blinks after a moment, mortified.
"Can I?" He asks.
"Sure! You can come anytime!" Marinette nods furiously with a blush over her freckles. He chuckles lightly, shaking his head.
"No, uh," he says, "Can I pay?"
In his hand, hovering right over the pay machine, is his debit card.
Marinette nearly yells in total embarrassment, readying up the terminal for him as Juleka comes up then, her brow raised in concern. "You don't have pay, Luka."
"I have work soon," he inserts the card, looking over at her. "It's the least I can do since I can't help you guys carry it over to the apartment."
"It isn't even a lot to carry." Rose pouts, "Luka, you're too nice."
Marinette is bagging the books with sneaky glances at Luka every five seconds. So that's his name, but...who is he to Juleka and Rose? Luka catches her eyes and Marinette eeps, bagging the books faster. He blinks at her for a second before chuckling in his hand.
"Marinette, right?" His voice pulls her eyes to him again and she can't fight her blush this time. She nods, shyly handing him the bagged books.
He takes it, their hands brushing slightly and Marinette suddenly finds the carpet flooring of the store really interesting.
"Ni-Nice to meet you." she stammers. This draws a gasp from Rose and confused eyes from Juleka.
"You never met Juleka's brother?" She asks, "But, Marinette, you've been to their boathouse all the time when you came over in high school-"
Luka blinks at that, now looking at Marinette with parted lips and Marinette tilts her head, drawing her brows. Wait-
Luka's phone pings and everyone looks at him. His face falls and he sighs. "Work."
Marinette's heart weirdly thuds at that, but she offers a smile to him. "You better go before you're late?"
He meets her eyes, and Marinette can't seem to describe the look he gives her. Before she could try to think about it a second longer, he nods affirmingly.
"Right. I'll see you Marinette," he turns to Juleka and Rose, handing them their bags, "Juleka, I'll stop by Metal Guitar after work. Text me what you need."
"Will do." Juleka smiles and Rose hugs him, saying a couple of things about not wanting him to go.
"Gotta go Rose," he pats her head, "Text me when you get home, okay?"
Marinette watches, with slight awe, as he turns to give her another one of those smiles that make her heart do a weird dance. Trust her to raise a hand goodbye, only right as he's already walking out the door.
"You like him." Rose says immediately, all twinkly-eyed.
And Marinette drops her hand like she's been burned. "As a customer."
Juleka and Rose smile at each other as she clears her throat, (desperately) looking around for any shoppers in need of assistance.
Before meeting up with Alya, Marinette decides to head home and take a fresh shower, washing off the entirety of an eight hour shift away, and when she steps out, she's all glowy and pink, with her hair smelling of berries and mint. She figures Alya wants to go out to a bar or something, so Marinette doesn't hold back on finding something cute to wear.
She looks at herself in the mirror, nearly done, just fixing her hair in its usual pigtails as she took in her outfit. It's a scoop neck black shirt with a pink flare mini skirt and for shoes, she decided on some converse to look more laid back. She smiles at herself, proud to have gotten ready in less than an hour. By the time she's out the door, throwing her keys in her saddle bag, Alya's already calling her.
"I'm on my way," Marinette answers, "Just went home to change real quick."
"Good," she could already hear Alya's smile, "meet me at the place we went last week."
Marinette stops in her tracks. "Alya, what."
"C'mon, I know you want to see the black cat again, and I'm not talking about the band."
Marinette's face pinks, vividly remembering all of Alya's little comments throughout the week about him. Yesterday, she'd been totally radio silent, not asking her anymore about that night- Marinette narrowed her eyes. Well, now I know why.
"I thought we were just going to hang," she groans, "and I keep telling you me and him just danced, that's all it was."
"I'll be waiting for you inside!" Alya sings before hanging up and Marinette can only stare at her phone with a suffering look.
You're acting like you don't want to go when you really want to, her inside voice grumbles. You know you want to see-
"Oh, shut up." She tells herself, briskly making her way to the place.
Thankfully it's a lot emptier tonight than last time.
Marinette enters the venue, the blue lit hallway behind her as she looks around, thumbing her saddle bag strap nervously. It's still pretty loud, with some guy with a black cap and oversized hoodie tuning their guitar on stage, and with most of the crowd tucked in the corners of the venue talking amongst themselves. Marinette bites her lip, seeing no sign of Alya anywhere-
"You made it!" A body tackles her. Marinette yelps, hearing Nino's laugh.
It's Alya on her, giving her a tight hug. Marinette smiles. "I'm here. Ta-da."
"Girl, you smell good." Alya sniffs her, giving her a simpered look, "For who, huh?"
"For myself." Marinette says in a duh tone. She looks over to Nino who's already motioning them to follow them up to the front, "Alya's been telling me you've been taking care of her since that night."
Nino freezes, with Alya suddenly in a fit of giggles. "Oh, yeah?" He says, turning slowly with a flush on his face, "She told you that?"
Marinette nods, approving of him officially. "Thanks for taking care of her. I usually do all the work, so it's nice to see someone that can handle Alya for a change."
Nino goes full red tomato at this point and Alya is full on guffaws. Marinette looks them, puzzled but, Nino just mutters for them to keep going so he can set up his drums. They reach it quickly enough, and just like last time, Marinette had to be careful with the amount of cables thrown everywhere on the ground. The stage lights are dim despite the stage not ready yet for a performance and Marinette draws her brows, wondering why, and noticing the guy in the cap and hoodie still there. His head is hung low as he's sitting, tuning his guitar.
"He doesn't like bright lights," Nino says next to her, "So we gotta keep his cover low." Marinette gives him another confused look and Nino's face goes panicked for a second. "I mean, uh, our maintenance guy, for our instruments. He's like, you know. Super lightphobic."
"Oh." Marinette simply, looking back at him. "That's very considerate."
"Yeah," Nino just says as Alya stifles another laugh, "Yeah, super."
Marinette smiles as she watches the guy really trying to make sure all the guitars were tuned properly. Something takes a hold of her then, and all the sudden she's feeling really brazen, but more happy than anything else.
"Does the maintenance guy have a name?" Nino blinks at her and he shoots Alya a scrambled look for an answer.
"Dave." Alya says, her eyes coy under her glasses. "His name is Dave."
Nino throws a confused look at her as Marinette beams. "Okay!" She turns back to the stage, waving her hand high, "Hey, Dave!" she shouts, cheery, "You're awesome!"
Dave pauses, appearing to stare straight down at his guitar before slowly raising his head up. Marinette can't see his face because of how dim the lighting is, but still, her smile doesn't falter; the glow of some fairy lights by the wall make her face visible, so she's sure he sees her face.
Dave sits there for another moment before setting the guitar on its stand and standing up. He puts his hands on either side of his mouth, and Marinette's disappointed she still can't still see him.
"You're awesomer!" He yells back.
Marinette giggles, looking over to Alya. "He said awesomer. That's so cute."
Nino and Alya can only innocently grin at her. "That's Dave." Alya says.
"Yep." Nino agrees after saying nothing for a moment.
Marinette looks back to the stage and only to find the guitar he left on the stand in his place.
"He'll be back after the show." She hears Nino say. "Like always."
"I can't believe I said that," Adrien mutters to himself with Chloe looking at him weirdly, "I can't believe I said that."
"Said what?"
Adrien looks at her, stopping his pacing. "Something totally dumb, Chloe."
"Impossible," she waves a hand, "You always say the right things, Adrikins. Who told you otherwise?"
He shuts his eyes, shaking off his hoodie and removing his cap. His blond locks were flattened, much because of the hat.
"We have to get you styled up, straight away." Chloe points to the dressing chair by him. "Sit."
Adrien sighs, throwing himself on the seat without much of a struggle. Usually he does this part himself, but Chloe's in a weird mood today- he can just tell.
Still. He can't believe he said that.
"Awesomer?" He says out loud, eyes cringing. "Really?"
Chloe snorts. "Is that even a word? Who's the idiot that came up with that?"
Adrien stares ahead at the dressing mirror, silent.
It's when the show is about to start, t-minus maybe five minutes that Nino bumps her shoulder.
"Uh, FYI, my man's on his way to you," is all he tells Marinette before going back to his pre-show cuddlefest with Alya. Marinette just blinks after him under the blue disco lights, her head tilted curiously.
"I think he was talking about me."
She follows the voice, facing the front of her. Without even hearing him arrive (because how could she, with the noise), Chat Noir is standing there, leaning against the stage wall. His arms are crossed, almost like he didn't know what to do with them, and a sort of shy smile is on his lips.
Marinette can only stare at him, a blush low under her freckles.
"I didn't mean to scare you." He starts.
"You didn't." Marinette cuts. "I was just-um, surprised….Hi." She finishes lamely.
Chat simply smiles wider, uncrossing his arms. "It's nice to see you again. Kind thought I wasn't going to." Marinette raises a brow at that and he waves his arms to correct himself quickly. "That is, erm, you didn't come to our other show last week? Or, I didn't see you."
"Oh," Marinette throws him a sad smile, "I had to go to work probably. Or, maybe I was studying. College student life, you know how it is."
Chat looks to the side at that. "Tell me about it. My dad throws a fit if I'm not doing either."
"Your dad?" Marinette says, "Overbearing kind of parent, huh?"
"To the max."
"I can sort of relate?" Marinette smiles comfortingly at him. She watches him smile back to her, his green eyes warm and Marinette feels her shyness telling her to look away. It's like deja vu all over again...what's with her today?
"So, where's Dave?" Alya says, literally walking right into their convo. "Have you seen him? My girl here was talking to him and he up and left. Kinda rude, y'know."
Chat Noir looks at her, an increasing look of panic coming on his face.
"Well-"
"Let's go guys." Max calls through the mic, Nino and Chat meeting eyes just then. "The crowd's already forming."
"Right, uh, that's my cue." Chat says.
"Our cue, bro." Nino is already walking ahead, "Let's go and kill it."
Chat follows for a second but then stills, turning quickly to Marinette. Marinette doesn't know why her heart pulls the way it does.
"I never got your name." His voice is different somehow.
Marinette blinks before sliding him a look. "When I know yours maybe? I know black cat isn't really it."
Chat's lips spread to a coy smile. "It could be. But touché, milady."
"Chat." Max deadpans over the mic.
"Coming!" He's still looking at her, his eyes daring, "Can you meet me backstage, after the show?"
Marinette's eyes grow wide. "What-"
"She'd love to." Alya cuts in, "Now hurry up, 'cause Max looks like he's about to kick you a new one."
Marinette feels the adrenaline coursing through her, much like the other night she came. The only difference being that this time, she stays for their whole set.
She dances and sings to words she can only guess as the crowd moshes in waves, all cheers and happy yells, and making her and Alya follow suit as they accidentally step over each others toes, laughing apologies. It's only until she would catch Chat Noir's eyes a couple of times, catch the small tug at the corner of his lips that Marinette would look away in a moment of shyness, falling into a weird rift where time stops all the sudden, where all she could hear is her heart, pounding-
But then, just like that, it's Alya again. Pulling her out her daze and putting an her arm over her shoulders, swaying her back and forth to the wave of the crowd until she's dizzy, her shyness forgotten as she can't help but laugh deliriously at the madness of it all. Her throat hurts, her cheeks ache, and Marinette just feels she's just reached a high she didn't know was possible.
And as the last song finishes, Marinette can only grin at the stage, her hair loose and her clothes disheveled. She's breathless, still in the post-mosh high when their show concludes, with a venue staff member quick on the stage, announcing the next band for the night. Chat Noir is still there, throwing waves of goodbye to the crowd, running to each side of the stage. He stops in the middle, almost like if something, or someone, makes him stop in his tracks and Marinette realizes it's her that he's looking at. She can only watch as he crouches in front of her swiftly, most of the crowd by this time oblivious and readying for the next band.
"What?" she asks when he just stares at her, them being only a few feet apart. She can see the perspiration on his skin, his eye mask a little lopsided because of it. He's smiling at her, shy and hopeful.
"Are you still coming?"
"Uh," Marinette hears Alya trying to hide her laugh and she blushes, embarrassed, "We'll be there."
He shifts his eyes, nervous. "Alya's wonderful, milady, but I think Nino would get jealous if I took her time. Just you, if that's okay?"
Marinette's incredibly thankful for the dim-lighting of the place as she nods jerkily. And when he leaves, promising her he'll be there in a second, it's Alya already grabbing her hand, leading her there.
"The quicker you meet up with him, the quicker you can avoid Chloe." She says with a roll of eyes. "And you do want to avoid her, trust me. She was on my case before Nino could introduce me to everyone."
Marinette looks at her funny, about to ask several questions to that, but Alya's already using her back to push the backstage door open, leading her in. Suddenly the loud noise of the crowd becomes a murmur and she looks around to see a well-lit, wide hallway with equipment and chairs strewn about. There's a vending machine down the hall, right by another door (to which she can only assume leads to the dressing rooms), and Alya walks to it, muttering something about being thirsty. Marinette follows her, automatic, until something catches her eye on the left wall.
It's a bulletin board.
On it, there's pictures of bands that Music Forecast held through the years, just as the banner above it exactly says. Marinette's eyes look in wonder, taking her a moment to catch a picture of Le Chat Noir , right at the lower corner. Five band members stand together, smiling and huddling close as Marinette instantly recognizes Chat Noir in the middle with a peace sign. There's Max and Nino on either side of him, and...Marinette steps closer, narrowing her eyes.
There's Chloé. With a taller, black-haired guy standing by her side. Before Marinette can scrutinize the photo a bit more, a hand lands on her shoulder.
She yelps, swiveling around with wide eyes.
"Sorry," Chat already looks apologetic, his hand frozen in the air. "Didn't mean to scare you. Again."
The bell from his suit is missing, with his collar now zipped down slightly to reveal his collarbones. Marinette shoots her eyes away, not trusting herself to say anything.
Her face grows only hotter when Chat tilts his head, trying to follow her eyes.
"I'll be in Nino's dressing room, girl," Alya calls from the end of the hallway, "Meet me there so we can go home together, 'kay?"
Marinette throws a panicked look in her direction, but Alya hums innocently, walking away with a soda can on her lips. Slowly, as she hears the click of the door, Marinette trails her eyes to the ground, feeling her nerves heavy.
"So," she gives a nervous laugh, "Why did you want me to meet you here?"
Chat stares at her and decidedly takes a step close. "One reason."
Marinette peaks a look up at him and he crinkles a smile at her.
"I want us to be friends."
Her lips part. "Friends?"
Chat nods, a little flush growing on his cheeks. "I mean, can we be? Am I, uh, being 'pushy' or something? Nino told me to just-" Marinette sputters a laugh all the sudden and Chat gives her a withered look. "So I am being pushy."
"No, no," Marinette tries to talk, "It's-I thought-well, I don't know what I thought! I really worry for nothing all the time," she gives her head a little bonk, "You weren't being pushy at all, kitty cat. Here."
She extends her hand, flashing a timid smile. "Friends."
Chat blinks at it, jaw slack but he snaps out it, reaching to-
Marinette pulls her hand away. "You have to tell me who you are first."
It's maybe her warm blue eyes that makes his shoulders relax after his heart does weird flip in fear, as if she didn't just ask to expose his identity. Maybe it's her smiling lips, still holding traces of her laughter that has him look at her endearingly, without his control. For one split second, Adrien doesn't care. If that's what it took, showing who he is…
Marinette steps right in his face, laughing again, and Chat can count the light freckles on her cheeks. "Kidding," she says, "I'm kidding. Tell me whenever you're ready. I'm having too much fun calling you kitty cat."
"Okay." Chat can only croak. She reaches her hand then, up to his face and fixes his crooked mask. His face grows an unhealthy shade of red.
"That was bothering me, sorry- Oh. My name. It's Marinette." She scoops his hand in hers, giving it an easy shake, "I seriously don't know why I was so shy earlier. I can be kinda-"
"Awkward?"
Marinette looks at him sheepish. "That obvious?"
"No!" He yells, holding her hand with both of his, trying to reassure her, "I mean, what I'm trying to say is. I get you, Ma-Marinette."
She beams at him, not noticing his stammer. "Overbearing parents and we're both awkward. Perfect set-up for a friendship, huh?"
Chat feels his heart thud weirdly at that. "Friendship. Right."
A bright flash causes them to blink then, following the sound of a camera shutter. Marinette shakes her head, trying to blink away the light as Chat turns to look at the source.
"Payback," Nino says, with Alya at his side holding a polaroid camera, "You two just looked so-"
"Friendly." Alya edges, throwing him a hard look. Nino grins sheepishly.
Two pictures print out, one of them mid-talking where Chat's holding her hand, and the other with them looking at the camera in confusion. Alya takes the photos, pen in hand and walks to a wall to lean on as she writes something on them. Chat and Marinette look at each other, a weird mix of amusement and confusion on their features.
"Where's Max and Chloe?" Nino walks up as Marinette goes over to Alya. "They should've been here by now."
"Think they're fighting," Chat says, eyes on Marinette, "seriously this time, at least."
Nino shakes his head. "She needs to admit she likes him already. She's like, frustrating herself at this point."
Chat huffs a laugh at that, not believing that day will ever come. Chloe has had a crush on Max since high school, and well, Max not being only super smart and patient, knew right away, naturally. But that patience's been stretching for two years, wearing thin and him, and it doesn't help that Chloe doesn't say anything either, expecting him to make the first move.
Both of them are something else, Chat mentally sighs.
"Okay." Alya smiles. "All done. Here, one for you, Marinette," Marinette blinks owlishly at the photo, not seeing any writing on it, "and here, one for Ad-er, Chat." She hands him one with a wink and whispers. "Look at the back."
He flushes, seeing he got the photo where he's holding Marinette's hand. They look so close to each other, almost like a…
Chat hurries in turning the photo before he can finish the thought. A messily written phone number greets him.
When he looks at Alya, she's raising her brows up and down, looking back and forth at him and Marinette. Before he can open his mouth to ask if the number is what he think it is, Alya gives a fake yawn, stretching.
"Well, I have morning classes and it's getting late. Gotta go."
Marinette looks up from the photo, still confused, "No, you don't-"
"Ridiculous," Chloe storms the hallway, letting the stage door slam behind her, "he's just so ridiculous. If he wants to talk to me, then he should just do it already-"
Marinette catches her eyes almost immediately as Alya tugs her arm. "Morning class," she repeats, eyeing the emergency exit.
Chloe stares at them for a moment, mouth open. And then, in absolute disgust, she curls her lips. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Oh yeah," Marnette's already saying, taking several steps back, "Me too. Morning class, yeah. Totally forgot." She looks over to Chat, who's giving her a run expression. "See you, kitty cat, Nino."
"Just leave before she kills all of us." Nino says, accepting his fate.
"We'll sacrifice ourselves." Chat Noir winks at her. "See you. Marinette."
He doesn't miss her smile at him, not for a second, as he watches her run to the emergency exit then, with Chloe going on a whole rant, her hands on her hips. Adrien takes off his mask when Marinette's figure disappears, the emergency door closing behind her.
"Are you even listening to me? Adrien?"
"Hi, Chloe." He says, eyes still on the door.
She looks at Nino, who has amused look on his face. "You did this."
"Me?" Nino grins, "No way. I know who did though."
Chloe rolls her eyes angrily, giving him a hard look. "So do I, you weirdo. But this, this is mostly your fault."
"Eh..." Nino takes off his cap, scratching his head to think about it for a moment. "Oh yeah, I get it. You got me there."
Adrien mentally thanks Nino for the diversion as he quietly folds the picture in his other hand, pretending to still look dazed.
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A/N: my writing is kind of...not the best lately, so i appreciate any reviews thrown my way. thanks for reading ;_;