The ringing of Marinette's alarm matched the ringing in her ears. That was a lot to cover in one night - I'm glad we're only meeting three nights a week, because if I had to do that again tonight, I think my brain would burst. Let's see - we covered kwamis and their Miraculous, potion making, and reviewed infusing things with the potion. The girl groaned and turned off her alarm. Sitting up and stretching, she yawned, "Tikki, is there going to be a test on this?"
"Only the rest of your life, Marinette! Isn't this exciting?" The kwami beamed. "There's never been a Ladybug Guardian before! You'll be the first ever!"
"No pressure there, nope…" Marinette sighed. "Remember how I said I wanted something normal last night? This was not what I had in mind." She shifted out of her bed and began to make her way downstairs.
"I think 'normal' is coming over this afternoon, right? Or how did they put it yesterday…? Raw and impulsive, I think it was," the kwami teased.
Marinette groaned again and opened the door to the kitchen below. I have *got* to learn to say no to people.
Gabriel sat at his desk, reviewing proofs from the previous night's photo shoot. We were lucky to make it to the set for the Golden Hour - the way the colors reflect off Adrien's hair is magnificent. We won't have to redo any of these shots, and we can get back to Paris sooner rather than later. As if on cue, he felt another twinge from the Miraculous hidden underneath his cravat. I'll make it up to you, Emilie… when I get back to Paris, Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't going to know what hit them!
"How did you sleep, honey?" Sabine asked, pouring Marinette a cup of orange juice. "It's summer, so you can't be as busy as you normally are, right?"
"I did okay, but I think I'm going to be very busy these next few weeks, at least. You remember my friends' band, right?"
"Of course I do! Didn't they win the Loudest Band award at the music festival?"
"Something like that," Marinette laughed. "Anyway, there's a battle of the bands coming up in a month, and they've asked me to be an image consultant for them. Jagged Stone is going to be hosting the contest, so since I've done work for him before, the band wants my professional opinion."
"That's wonderful, honey! Just be careful about bringing Jagged Stone around the bakery again. I don't think your father has gotten over his last visit yet." Sabine sipped her coffee and winked.
"Don't worry about it, Mom. Today it's just the band. I've gotta get started sketching some preliminary ideas so I can show them when they come over after lunch." She grabbed a chocolate croissant, quickly drained her glass, and made to leave the table.
"Is that boy you like coming over today?"
Marinette choked on her juice. Sabine whacked her on the back until she was sure her daughter was breathing again.
"Um… the boy I like?"
"You know, the one in the band! The one you went ice skating with a while back. Tall and handsome? Does any of that ring a bell?"
"Oh… him! Ha… um… you know, I know that some people can't make it today. We'll just have to see who shows up!" Marinette sprinted up the stairs to her room before her mother could ask any more questions. Once the trap door closed behind her, Marinette whipped out her phone.
[Marinette] Help! Can you be at my house after lunch? Or maybe even before lunch? I've got a serious crisis situation going on here
She ate the croissant in three bites, staring at her screen. When the "Typing…" bubble came up, Marinette grabbed the phone with both hands and held it up to her nose, willing the sender to type faster. Come on come on come onnnn!
[Alya] I can make it at five, have to watch the girls until then since Nora's not here and parents are working. Sry girl. Can text tho if u need me to
In a house on the other side of Paris, two people were also enjoying a breakfast together.
"Peaches and cream? You shouldn't have," the man said.
"You haven't changed one bit," the woman teased in return. "I know you've always had a soft spot in your heart - and your stomach - for peaches."
"Indeed. One could say they keep me going," he chuckled.
They passed the next few minutes in companionable silence.
"We will begin phase one of the plan tonight, if you feel you are ready."
"I am ready," the woman confirmed.
"Good. Let's start at dusk."
Marinette sighed and sat down at her desk.
[Marinette] Thx where do I start? So the band is coming over for wardrobe consultation and measurement this afternoon
[Alya] i fail to see the prob - need Adrien's pics taken down again? ;-)
[Marinette] ha ha no everybody knows about them now, no point
[Marinette] and Adrien's not coming anyway he's out of town
[Alya] right, Nino told me that. photoshoot. still i don't see the prob here. what's up?
[Marinette] mom thinks I like Luka
A pause, then:
[Alya] u do like Luka
Marinette boggled at her screen, then furiously started mashing the phone with her thumbs.
[Marinette] WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
[Alya] sure ever since we were on the boat that one time. capt hardrock. it was clear u only had eyes for him. girl your compass was spinning and it wasn't to our blond sunshine boy
[Alya] plus u went on a date w him already
[Alya] didn't u tell me he literally swept u off your feet? ;))))
[Alya] AND that u kissed him? :-****
All efforts at grammar and coherency left Marinette as her brain started slowly switching off. How could Alya be doing this to me?
[Marinette] NOT HELPING
[Marinette] u r supposed to b telling me that adrien is the 1 for me and i need to focus on him :(
[Alya] girl i'm just telling u things u should already know by now. brb, girls up to sthg…
Marinette started texting back, and stopped. She typed something else, and erased that too. Defeated, she put her head on her desk and groaned. "Tikki, why do things have to be so complicated?"
"Marinette, weren't you just complaining that you were doomed to be 'just friends' with every boy you came in contact with? It sounds like you're more than 'just friends' with Luka - let me finish, please! - so why don't you see if there's anything there? Worst case scenario is you get some practice for your dream date with Adrien; at best you'll have a good time and maybe cross having a boyfriend off of your bucket list!"
Marinette's retort was interrupted by the alert on her phone.
[Alya] gtg sry… just see what happens girl, u got this
"Why is everyone giving me the same advice?!" Marinette yelled to nobody in particular. She tossed her phone aside and slid her sketchbook in front of her and began angrily sketching designs.
A few hours later, with the only interruption being her mother bringing her a sandwich and fruit, Marinette set her sketchbook aside.
"Honey!" Sabine called from downstairs. "Your friends are here! Should I send them up?"
"Yes, please!" Marinette yelled back. She swiveled on her chair and turned to face Juleka, Rose, Ivan, and Luka as they came one-by-one into her room. Luka was carrying his guitar. "Hey, guys! Glad you could come! I hope you like what I have so far!"
"This is going to be amazing!" Rose squealed. She sat down on the chaise and pulled Juleka down next to her. Ivan and Luka each sat on the floor. Ivan immediately pulled out his phone and began tapping the screen.
"So, here's what I was thinking…" Marinette turned the pages in the sketchbook to her first design, and flipped it around to show the assembled group.
"WOW!" exclaimed Juleka.
"Wait, there's more," Marinette grinned, flipping to the next page.
"You definitely nailed 'raw and impulsive', Marinette." Luka scooted forward to get a closer look. He looked at her and smiled. "These are amazing designs. I wish I had half of your talent."
Marinette flushed and flipped to the next page. "Uhh… thanks! You're pretty talented yourself, you know. Don't sell yourself short! I can't even play an instrument."
"Do you want to learn? I'll teach you how to play guitar," Luka offered. He played a couple of chords. "I'm sure you'll pick it up in no time."
"He's good, he taught me," Juleka confirmed.
"Oh, um… sure! That sounds nice!" She closed her sketchbook and stood up. "Let me get all of your measurements real quick, and then we can talk more about these designs." Producing a measuring tape seemingly from out of nowhere, she asked, "OK, who's first?"
Rose bounded up. Marinette began holding the measuring tape up to her friend, and started jotting numbers down. "OK, that's great… turn… hold still just like that for one more second please… great. You're done, thanks!"
After Rose, Juleka and Ivan took their turns to be measured. Throughout the whole process, Luka sat on the ground, picking a melody on his guitar as he watched. It took Ivan a bit longer to be measured since he insisted on staring at his phone the entire time. Must be an important conversation with Mylene, Marinette thought idly.
When Ivan was done, he sat back down without a word and Marinette motioned for Luka to stand up. "Last but not least," she smiled. Luka stood up, handed his guitar to Juleka, and walked over to Marinette.
"How do I do this? I've never been measured for anything before."
"Oh, it's simple, really. Just stand there with your feet about shoulder-width apart, and relax. I'll tell you if you need to move. Hands at your sides for now, thanks." She put the end of the measuring tape on his shoulder and ran it down to the tips of his fingers, noting where his elbow and wrist were. After writing the three numbers down, she asked, "What was that you were playing earlier? I really liked it!" She moved behind him and put the end of the measuring tape on the back of his neck.
"I'm glad you like it, Marinette. You know… I'm kind of embarrassed to mention it, but remember when we were at the ice rink and I mentioned I thought I had a brand new song to write? Turns out I did after all."
Marinette completed the measurement and wrote another number down. "Wow, that's amazing! Arms out, please. Does it have a name?" She placed the measuring tape across his shoulders.
"I'm thinking of calling it Ice Princess, actually." He peeked over his shoulder at her. "What do you think?"
Marinette dropped the measuring tape. Picking it up quickly, she stammered, "Um, yeah! That's a good title! But maybe a bit, um, cold? That sounded more like a... " Her voice dropped. "...love song," she said slowly. She measured his shoulders and then stepped in front of him, wrapping the measuring tape around his chest.
"A love song, huh?" He chuckled. "It could be a love song, sure. I haven't decided yet. You think it could be?"
Marinette finished measuring his chest and dropped the measuring tape to his waist. Blushing, she said quietly, "Maybe. Does… does it have any words?" Not looking him in the eye, she got her measurement, then wrote the three numbers down.
"I'm not really good with words, Marinette. Music is the best way I know how to express myself. To be honest, I feel naked without my guitar."
She gulped and knelt down to measure from his hip to the floor. "Naked? You don't say," she babbled.
"Sure! I bet you feel the same way without your sketchbook and a pencil. Am I right? Like you're not complete, or that you're missing something. I guess that's the same thing, though. I told you, I'm not good at words." He looked down and smiled at her.
"I… um… yeah, I guess you could say that," she noted the number on her paper.
"I don't like that feeling. I like feeling complete. Like there's nothing else I need, you know? My brain tells me that all I need for that is my guitar, but my heart told me something different recently."
Marinette looked up at Luka's face and softly asked, "What's that?"
"My heart told me that with just my guitar, I'm still missing something. I need someone to share my life's music with. My hopes, my dreams, or maybe just my lazy Saturday afternoons. Have you ever felt that?"
Marinette nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Rose and Juleka holding hands and listening intently.
"Have you ever felt so comfortable with a person that you could just tell them anything and know they'll be OK with it? I don't mean bad stuff, I mean really opening up with your fears. Your insecurities. What keeps you up at night, and what keeps you going during the day. Sure, it's easy to sit there and crush on someone and imagine your 'happily ever after'… but that's just a crush. I want to love somebody, and I want somebody to love me."
Rose squeaked quietly.
"I thought you said you weren't good with words," Marinette gently teased.
"I'm not."
"But… all that…"
"That wasn't words, Marinette. That was music. My heart's music. Maybe your heart has a song, too."
Marinette looked in Luka's eyes and blinked. My heart's music… I thought that my heart was a one-note symphony of puppies and hamsters whenever I thought about Adrien, but… what he said just now made a lot of sense. What if Adrien's just a crush? What if I never get comfortable enough around him to open up like that? Sure, I'm his friend, and he needs friends… but what if he needs something more than what I can give him right now? I'm sure he wouldn't have lots of fun listening to me stammer and stutter around him for the rest of our lives. He deserves more than that.
Maybe what Tikki and Alya said is true: At worst, I get some practice actually talking to a boy, and at best, I get a boyfriend! I've crushed on Adrien for months now, and I know what it's like to have boys crush on me, but I've never had anything beyond that. Maybe this is my chance right here.
She stood up and smiled. "I think it does, Luka." She reached out and put her hand on his arm.
He smiled back. "I'm glad. Now, about that guitar lesson… will this Friday night work?"
Marinette mentally checked her schedule. If today's Tuesday, then… no, wait, I'll probably be at Master Fu's on Friday night. "I'm booked then. Family stuff. Saturday afternoon?"
"It's a date! I'll meet you here at three."
"Perfect, one lazy Saturday afternoon it is. Now, in the meantime, let's talk more about the sketches…"
Coming up next:
*"Here comes the tricky part…"
*Kissing noises
*Someone makes their presence felt...