Current One-Shot: Day One. Alya Cesaire knew it was a betrayal. A betrayal to Marinette, to Nino, to herself. But despite her best efforts, Adrien isn't going anywhere, and Alya knows she can't keep ignoring her heart for long. Very late response to Alyadrien Appreciation week.

Day One - Alyadrien

I just stumbled across the Miraculous Ship Fleet tumblr, and of course I got sidetracked with a new story idea because of it. XD I was initially going to just do one-shots for each, but I was able to come up with a way to make them kind of flow, so this will be my side project for a bit! And by side project I mean I'm going to periodically put the next part to it within these one-shots since each can technically be read alone.

The prompt this one follows: compliments.

Also, I realize now from rereading my last one-shot in this collection that it does come across as Marinette bashing, as many of you pointed out. So I'm going to take another shot at one calling Adrien out for some of his flaws soon, but right now, Alyadrien is going to get a turn.

Alya's Point of View

I'm an awful friend.

I stare at the phone sitting in my lap. Once again, I finally managed to write everything out. I worked so hard, poured all of my feelings into this message, and yet now all I can do is stare. Like always, I'm stuck with my finger hovering above the send button, unable to push and go through with it. Nino's contact picture stares back at me, so relaxed and cheerful and so gosh darn happy, causing me to cringe. With a loud groan I hit delete, effectively destroying my latest attempt to break up with him.

I drop my phone beside me and bury my face in my hands. What sort of cruel person am I, stringing Nino along like this? He's an amazing guy, and a great friend. He supports and encourages me; it's obvious that he really cares about me. I love him a lot.

But now the same way he loves me. Try as I might, all I can muster up is platonic feelings for him. For a while, I thought that if I pretended long enough, I eventually would grow to love him. But I've been sticking it out. I've been trying so hard to feel the same way that he feels. I've done everything I can to try and reciprocate his feelings. But I don't, and now I find myself feeling sicker and sicker from the guilt. We're like pieces of a puzzle, belonging to the same picture but not meant to be connected to each other. Being forced to try and connect even though we're to exist on opposite sides of the picture.

In the end, I've just been using Nino. I've ignored it for so long, trying to pretend that I wasn't really, because he was my friend and I didn't want to upset him and surely, deep down, I loved him back after our experience at the zoo. It was obvious, wasn't it? All of our class talked about how we had chemistry anyways, so maybe I was just blindsided and needed to have my eyes opened, right? But now I've been forced to come face to face with the cold hard truth.

I've been using Nino Lahiffe, using him to hide from my own feelings. The longer I try to hide like this, the worse it'll be when I'm eventually found out, and yet I can't help it. I can't figure out how to stop. If I don't hide behind Nino, I'll have to face my feelings, and I can't do it. I can't, because I'm an absolute coward and I can't handle them.

Not whenever I know how much they will devastate everyone.

How am I supposed to tell my boyfriend that I'm actually interested in his best friend? How can I tell my best friend that no, I don't want her to go out on a limb and ask her crush out on a date, because I selfishly want to be the one going out with him? How could I possibly confess to my friend that I loved him? How can I dare to be the one that ruins everything good within our friend group? How can I allow myself to be in love with Adrien? How can I do that to everyone?

Burying my face further into my hands, I let out a low-pitched whine of frustration. I'm in love with Adrien Agreste. Oh gosh, I love Adrien Agreste. I'm horribly in love with Adrien freaking Agreste, of all people.

I'm so screwed.

Moaning, I flop backwards onto my bed, arms flung out to either side of me. What's a girl supposed to do? The stupid blonde model just had to be a walking saint. I had always prided myself on being so different from other girls, and I thought that I proved that by not falling head over heels for Adrien when he waltzed into the classroom. Sure, I gushed about him with everyone else, because a girl has got to gush about a cute boy when he starts coming to school. Still, I didn't start drooling at the sight of him. No, I wasn't immediately smitten like everyone else.

Marinette? She fell in love fast. The moment Adrien apologized, it hit her full speed, and even bringing up that particular memory in conversation gets her acting like a complete love-struck doofus.

But me? I didn't have a lightning strike to suddenly inform me that I was in love. There's no moment that I "officially" fell in love with him. Sure, we hung out sometimes thanks to our mutual friend, Nino, and we talked because of my antics to try and set him up with Marinette, but there isn't a moment that I can officially say was when I fell in love with him. It was all the little things that added up over time, culminating into a result that I never would have seen coming, till one day I was slapped in the face with the cold hard truth: I'm in love with Adrien Agreste.

I learned that, despite his obvious naivety, there is quite the mischevious side to him. He loves making puns, but only ever really makes them if he's feeling confident. When you get him to laugh, the grin that takes his face is so much more precious than any model smile he can try and give the camera. He hates giving autographs, but doesn't hate people for asking for them. Even though his father is practically never present in his life except to treat him as a possession and to lay rules down, Adrien still loves him. In class, when he's thinking really hard, he makes an adorable face of concentration. And he has the most compelling puppy dog eyes anyone could ever have; honestly, it's not even fair that someone has that power.

I'm crazy for even daring to think about getting involved in the tangled mess that is Adrien's love life, and yet here I am, stuck in the middle of it all.

My phone buzzes beside me, and I have a quick debate with myself over whether or not I should even check it. Even though I really want to continue to wallow in self-pity, I can't just mope around forever. So, with a resigned huff, I blindly grope around for my phone before sitting up to see who has decided to disturb me from my wallowing. The offender only makes matters worse, because the message blinking back at me in an almost taunting fashion is from Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Because of course it is. She's my best friend; obviously she's going to text me.

But did it have to be now?

Mari: ALYA

Mari: HELP

I swipe to the left on her message so I can respond, forcing myself to put on a smile and my best peppy attitude. Marinette is sweet, and it's not like she knows that she's unintentionally hurting me. That's why it's unintentional. Besides, she's the best friend a girl could ask for, and she deserves all the support and love I can give her. Even if it kills me to do so.

Momma Alya: girl calm down

Momma Alya: whats up?

Mari: IDK WHAT TO WEAR TONIGHT

Momma Alya: ?

Momma Alya: how about what u usually wear?

Mari: DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE DOING THAT

Momma Alya: geez

Momma Alya: whats with the capslock

Momma Alya: it hurts my eyes

Mari: THIS IS SERIOUS ALTA

Mari: *ALTA

Mari: **ALYA!

I shake my head, stifling a snicker as if she'll somehow be able to hear me if I actually giggle. Leave it to Marinette to make me laugh even when I'm at my lowest. Sadly, that thought shoves me right back into my pit of depression as I realize how that makes my feelings for Adrien even more of a betrayal to her.

I just can't do anything right, can I?

Momma Alya: why not ur usual outfit?

Mari: BECAUSE

I wait for the rest of her response, but after a full minute, decide that it'll be forever unless I prompt her for it.

Momma Alya: because?

Mari: It's a fancy restaurant

I raise an eyebrow. Does she actually think I'm going to buy that? Of course she doesn't, but she probably thinks it's worth a start. Right as I'm typing up a response to call her out on it, she sends the second half.

Mari: ...and I wanna impress Adrien.

Of course she does. It's the expected reason; I was literally trying to prompt her to admit that part of it. So why does my throat constrict upon reading it? Why does my heart hurt so much? I cringe, ignoring those feelings as I try to help her anyways.

I'm her best friend. I have to support her.

Momma Alya: got an outfit in mind?

Momma Alya: ur closet is too big

Momma Alya: so i cant just suggest one

Momma Alya: i gotta have something to work with

Mari: Calm down, calm down

Mari: I'm taking a pic right now

Mari: Okay, so I was thinking about this one. Thoughts?

Accompanying her last text is a picture of her in an adorable dress with thick straps and no sleeves. The top part is simple and black. I don't know much about fashion, but I at least have the sense to know it's not meant to be the focal point of the outfit. The bottom of the dress, however, looks more like a high-waisted skirt. It's red with small, black dots, and there is some sort of black underskirt that I guess might be made out of lace or something similar.

It's gorgeous, just like everything Marinette owns, - or makes, as I can't rule out that she might have made it - and the Ladybug theme makes it even prettier in my eyes. Adrien will love it, especially because of that. He adores Ladybug, although something tells me that's not why Marinette chose this outfit. She's seemed rather blissfully ignorant to her crush's crush on Ladybug.

Just like she's completely and totally unaware of her best friend's crush on her crush.

I distract myself by examining the rest of her outfit, smiling in spite of myself with how proud she looks, even if it's tinged with some nerves. She's obviously feeling confident, since she's wearing black heels. Even Marinette jokes about her notorious clumsiness - more often than not at her own expense - which normally means heels are out of the question for her. Honestly, her clumsiness was the main reason I crossed her out as a potential candidate for Ladybug's secret identity. There's no way Marinette could pull off the stunts that the red heroine can.

Still, the fact that she's trusting herself to wear heels, especially around Adrien, is a big deal.

The other clue to her confidence - and probably another reason she's nervous to pick this choice for tonight - is the fact that she has her hair down. I always find myself raving to her about how pretty it is in and out of pigtails. We've had plenty of arguments - all in good fun, of course - where I have done my darndest to try and get her to wear it down just once to school, but she always chickens out at the last minute. I guess something about changing her style up for one day freaks her out, not that I blame her. The simple, black beret resting on her head and the red scarf wrapped around her neck seal the deal. This is definitely the one she should wear if she's wanting to catch Adrien's attention.

Momma Alya: u look beautiful girl

Momma Alya: adrien wont be able 2 take his eyes off u

Mari: You really think so?

Momma Alya: of course

Momma Alya: definitely wear that tonight

Momma Alya: ur momma alya may not know fashion

Momma Alya: but she knows cute (;

I squeeze my eyes shut. I don't understand how I manage to pretend like I'm so happy for her in these moments. This whole mess would be so much easier if Marinette weren't such a Marinette. I wouldn't care that I was in love with her crush if she were an awful person like Chloe. But no, just like Adrien, Marinette has to be a perfect saint. And a perfect best friend.

That's probably why they're so well-suited for each other. The ache in my chest worsens. But I force myself to power through it, gritting my teeth in spite of the pain. They're my friends, and I'll support them.

Even if it means destroying myself in the process.

Because they mean everything to me, and I would break my heart in a heartbeat to spare theirs. I want to see them smile. To see them happy. To hear them laugh. To watch them fall in love and have a happily ever after.

I never believed in soulmates as a kid, but seeing Marinette and Adrien, my beliefs have changed. They're like two parts of the same soul, fighting to find each other because they're destined to be. Especially now that Marinette is actually starting to get articulate sentences out around him.

But if that's the case, where does that leave me in this mess called love? Where is my soulmate? Being with Adrien feels so right; everything about him feels so right. But if he's Marinette's soulmate, he can't be mine, can he? And if somehow he is, where do I fit in? Does that mean I don't have a soulmate that is matched to me?

Why do I have to be the one with a one-sided love?

It's hard, grinning and baring it as I litter my friends with compliments to cover up my own pain. It's like I seem to think that if I support them enough, perhaps it will eventually stitch the hole up in my heart. Perhaps, with enough time, I can change how I feel. Rework destiny. Alter fate. Align the stars. Of course, deep down I know I'm setting myself up for failure with this false hope, but right now it's all I have. And so I cling to it, because if I don't, I'll have no tether to any sort of happiness.

Opening my eyes, I realize there's another text from Marinette. Taking a deep breath and gathering what remains of my moral, I swipe to read it.

Mari: Aw thanks (:

Mari: What are you going to wear?

Momma Alya: u mean i cant just wear my usual?

We both know I'm just messing around. It's a fancy restaurant, and even if I suggested that Marinette wear her usual outfit before, we were both going to be wearing dresses in the end. This is a fancy dinner and we both want to look our best, especially since both of us have a guy that we're interested in coming.

Even if it's the same guy and only one of us realizes it.

Mari: ALYA

Momma Alya: eh its not fancy

Momma Alya: just a dress

I glance at the dress hanging on my closet door. It's short, shorter than Marinette's. While hers ends at her knees, maybe the tiniest smidge above, mine ends a good few inches up. Despite all her fashion knowledge, Marinette would never be caught dead wearing a dress this short. I always tease her about it, but she did help me pick this one, so I'll give her a bit of a break tonight.

The top of the dress is white, fading into a yellow and then orange, barely even shifting to red before the dress ends. It reminds me a lot of a sunset, or fire, or anything warm really. Ironic, since it's pretty cool outside right now. Cold enough that I need my white sweater jacket, which thankfully looks nice in this outfit combination. On the ground, sitting right in front of the closet door, are my white heels, shorter than the ones Mari seemed to be wearing since I have a height advantage on her.

Mari: Let me see!

Momma Alya: nah u can see it later

Mari: Are you kidding me?

Mari: Send me a picture?

Momma Alya: girl calm down

Momma Alya: honestly its not that exciting

Momma Alya: like i said

Momma Alya: its just a dress

Mari: Oh come on, aren't you going to take this excuse to dress up for Nino? (;

Oh poor, sweet, naive Marinette. Bless the poor girl's heart. She's a great friend, but she's absolutely hopeless when it comes to picking up on clues and piecing things together. Such an adorably oblivious idiot. She has completely missed the cracks in my relationship with Nino, though since even Nino doesn't seem to realize they're there, so I guess they aren't that obvious.

Still, you'd think your best friend would notice this sort of thing, even if I'm glad she doesn't.

My phone buzzes again, and I resist the urge to chuck it across the room. I love Marinette, I really do, but I didn't respond because I'd rather not continue the conversation. What more is there to even say on the subject? She's tormenting me and I can't even be upset with her for it because it's not her fault.

Stupid kindness. Can't she be a jerk just once, so that I don't feel so bad?

Groaning, I force myself to check the message. As I swipe to respond without bothering to actually read what it says, I realize too late that it isn't from my bluenette bestie. No, of course it has to be stupid Adrien with his stupidly cute profile picture. I let myself briefly entertain the idea of just ignoring it, but I have read receipts turned on. Adrien will know I read it, which means I can't pretend that I didn't.

Curse the read receipts! Marinette was right; one day turning them on would come back to bite me. I should've taken her advice and turned them off before it came to this.

Sadly, now it's too late, so I decide to embrace my horrible fate.

A-ADork: Hey Alya! It's me, Adrien.

Momma Alya: i know dork

Momma Alya: u and i texted before

His responses always take a bit longer than other people's. Sure, he and Marinette both have the habit of capitalizing and using punctuation, but Marinette has it down to an art. Her fingers fly across the keyboard. Adrien though? He seriously takes forever. It's super stupid...

In a totally endearing way.

A-ADork: Haha! Ya, I guess we have.

A-ADork: Sorry, it's just a habit.

Momma Alya: u type like an old man

Momma Alya: should make your contact name that

Momma Alya: "old man agreste"

I chuckle, actually considering the option. Ultimately I decide against it, because his dork side is way more common than his old man side, but it's still a fun thought. Besides, I can remember it as a threat for the future, though with my luck, Adrien would be amused if I did.

A-ADork: Hey, just because you can't be bothered to text properly doesn't mean you can call me names.

Momma Alya: youre sooo slooow

Momma Alya: my way is so much faster

A-ADork: I don't care, my way looks better!

Momma Alya: faster to say idc

A-ADork: ew

Momma Alya: calm down

Momma Alya: i dont even use all the shortcuts Nino does

A-ADork: I know, he's even worse than you. :p

Momma Alya: wow thanks -.-

Momma Alya: whyd u text me anyways

In all the teasing I nearly forget that Adrien had instigated the texting. Even though I wish we texted just for the sake of texting each other, neither of us ever texts the other unless there's a reason. So what is it this time? I can't think of anything Adrien would need from me, unless he's hoping to hear about some new Ladybug photos, or asking for any of the ones I don't end up using on the Ladyblog. Still, we're going to see each other at dinner tonight. So what's so important that it can't wait till then?

A-ADork: Your boyfriend is running behind.

Momma Alya: nino?

Momma Alya: running behind?

Momma Alya: no way

A-ADork: I know, shocker, right? XD

I snicker to myself, hoping my parents don't hear me and think I'm crazy. Nino, for all his complaints about Marinette showing up late to school, is quite the slowpoke himself. There are plenty of times he's kept us waiting. Such a hypocrite.

A-ADork: Anyways

A-ADork: He told me he should see if you'd be alright with getting picked up first.

A-ADork: He said if I pick up you and Marinette first, then we can come back for him on the way to the restaurant.

Momma Alya: do u have mari yet?

A-ADork: No, not yet.

A-ADork: You're closer to Nino's house.

A-ADork: It's easier to pick you up next, but I can get Marinette first if that's easier for you.

Of course he has to be all sweet and say that. He's told me what's easier for him, but then says he'll do something else if that's not easy for me. Again, things would be so much easier if he weren't so nice. He and Marinette should both just start acting like jerks. Then this wouldn't be a problem.

What do I say? I don't know if I can handle being in a car - well, limousine - alone with Adrien. I mean, sure, technically we won't be alone; the Gorilla will be there, because of course he is. He basically never leaves Adrien's side. Still, he never bothers to speak a word, so it's practically the same thing as being alone. Can I handle that? My feelings are going to end up going absolutely haywire.

Still, I don't want to make things any harder for him.

A-ADork: Alya?

A-ADork: Is everything alright?

A-ADork: Honestly I can get Marinette first, I promise it's not a problem.

Momma Alya: no its fine

Momma Alya: just let me finish getting ready while u come

A-ADork: Alright! See you soon! ;)

Resisting the urge to melt at the winky face, I set my phone down on the bed so I can get dressed. It doesn't take long - though the drive from here to Nino's isn't that long either - to get the dress and heels on, and I pop into the bathroom to quickly reapply some of my makeup from earlier today. Satisfied, I plop back down on my bad in a most un-ladylike manner and wait for Adrien's text telling me he's here, fiddling with my sweater on my lap.

I'm nervous. Oh gosh, I'm so nervous. Why am I so nervous? I wasn't nearly this nervous when Nino took me on a date. Sure, I didn't care nearly as much about what Nino thought of me, especially when compared to how much I care about what Adrien thinks of me, but shouldn't this be less nerve wracking? This isn't even a date!

Adrien doesn't even see me that way. I have no reason to be nervous.

The doorbell rings, and I jump to my feet, frowning when I notice there's no new text from Adrien. I shove one of the twins out of the way with my hip, giving her a meaningful look before reaching the door. My sister does not get to embarrass me in front of Adrien. They were already embarrassing enough without anyone being around to witness it.

I open the door, opening my mouth to speak, only to quickly shut it to keep my jaw from dropping. There's Adrien, rubbing the back of his neck. It's his usual nervous tick, but it's an adorable one nonetheless. His hand falls to his side as the door stops, and as I work to try and get my jaw moving again, he grins. Stupid Adrien Agreste in a stupid suit. Why, oh why, does he have to be so pretty? I never thought any outfit could make Adrien appear any more charming, but apparently I assumed too much.

"Alya!" He extends a hand, looking for a high five, and I manage to get the order to my brain to actually give him one. The sting that hits my hand tells me it was a good one.

Come on, Alya, play it cool. I'm the cool one. I don't get tongue tied over Adrien Dork Agreste. Sure, he's so incredibly sweet and charming and unfairly handsome, but I am Alya freaking Cesaire. I do not get tongue tied over boys.

Ever.

Even if they're adorably dorky models. That's Marinette's forte, not mine.

"Adrien." I say with a nod, adjusting my glasses and flashing him a bright smile. "How are you, pretty boy?"

"I told you to stop calling me that." He groans playfully, nudging me in the arm and grinning even wider. "I'm doing fine. Happy to be out of the house. I'm actually surprised my father didn't suddenly make me cancel."

"Would've looked bad to the restaurant thanks to our reservations, wouldn't it? The Agreste name and the Gabriel brand could never be salvaged if Adrien Agreste, the angelic model himself, canceled a dinner reservation!" I wave my arms about at my dramatic claim, pausing only to wiggle my eyebrows at Adrien in a silent attempt to ask if I got it right.

Adrien actually guffaws at that, and I try to keep the wonder I'm feeling from flooding into my eyes as I watch this moment where he, for once, forgets how his father has groomed him to act. The moments are hard to come by, though growing more common as Adrien grows more and more comfortable with school. I treasure the ones that I get to witness.

Shaking his head, Adrien manages to calm down so that he's only snickering a bit when he says, "But how are you, Ladyblogger?"

I shrug, ignoring the erratic beating in my heart reminding me of what I was dwelling on only minutes prior to this. "Eh, I could be better, but I also could be worse. I will admit, and I know it sounds awful, but I wish there was another akuma attack, or at least something for me to put on my blog. I'm running out of analysis and trivia to stick up. Am I awful for saying that?"

"I mean, you probably shouldn't be actively wishing that someone becomes an akuma...but I get what you mean. Maybe I can organize an interview for you to put up?"

"Wait, really?" I don't even bother to hide my enthusiasm.

Adrien shrugs. "Why not? Chat Noir and I have talked on occassion, and I think I might know a way for me to contact him. I don't know if he'll be able to get Ladybug in on it, but I'm sure he'd be willing to do an interview solo. He's a real cool cat." The blonde adds a wink in at the end for good measure, and my heart does its all too familiar and annoying pitter patter in my chest.

"Adrien, that would be amazing! Thank you!" Without thinking, I throw my arms around him, only to quickly spring back and release him from my hug. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, I just got really excited-"

"You're fine, Alya." He laughs, waving my apology off. "I seriously don't mind. We should probably get going though, or else we'll be late. Ready?"

I nod, taking a deep breath and stepping out the door with him. We walk in a comfortable silence to the limo, where Gorilla seems to melt in relief upon seeing Adrien. He was probably preparing himself to break in just to make sure Adrien was okay before we came back. Hey, at least the guy is dedicated.

I do have to wonder why he never gives his name though. Adrien always refers to him as Gorilla, and I guess our friend group just picked it up as well. No one knows what to call him and no one ever wants to ask, plus he never comments on the name choice. Besides, we have to refer to him by something.

Adrien holds the door open, letting me get in and adjust to a seat before getting in himself.

"Ah, where are my manners today? Alya, I forgot to say this earlier, but you look beautiful tonight."

"You flatter me, Agreste."

"No, I'm serious. You look amazing." His gentle, genuine smile reawakens the butterflies flitting around in my stomach. "You look prettier than any model I've seen."

I fix him with an intense stare, though my attempt to look scary is ruined by the silly faces he makes that cause me to crack up a bit. "Woah, careful there, or I might have to think you're flirting with me. I have a boyfriend, remember?"

He raises an eyebrow, reclining back and fixing me with a serious, contemplative expression. "What would you do if I was?"

"Wha...What?" I sputter the words before biting my lip, not sure what the proper response is to this.

Before I can figure out what the heck I'm supposed to say, Adrien doubles over with laughter. "Oh my gosh, no need to look so serious, Al. I'm just messing with you. I wouldn't take my best friend's girl from him. I'm just here to look pretty, remember?"

I give a weak laugh, shaking my head and slouching down a bit. "Yep. No brain or brawn in you."

Adrien chuckles, wiping at his eyes, and I try not to linger on the joke for too long. It's not like he knows it hurts. It would be funny, if it weren't for circumstances out of either of our control. Still, his statement is one that I'm sure will haunt my mind for a long time: I'm just messing with you.

What would he do if he knew I felt that way about him? He wouldn't pull something like that if he knew I did, would he? The thought makes my head hurt on top of my heart.

"Crap. My jacket." My eyes widen and I suddenly sit up as straight as a rod, looking backwards in the direction of my house. "I forgot my swearter jacket."

Looking to Adrien, I see him bite his lip in thought. "Is it going to be cold tonight?"

I nod, glancing between him and the back window. "According to the weather app, yes. Crap. Ugh, I'm sorry. I'm so stupid."

"Alya, relax." Adrien shakes his head at me, regaining my full attention. "Here, just take my jacket for now." He slips it off and, taking it in his hand, extends it out towards me. I freeze, staring at it almost fearfully. I want so badly to take it because it feels so right - I'm over the moon about him even thinking to offer it - but actually reaching my hand out to take it feels so dang wrong. "I swear, I don't need it. Nino always says I'm basically a natural heater."

"But-"

"If you're worried about Nino, don't be. He knows I'm not trying to steal you from him. My heart belongs to Ladybug, after all." I wince, doing my best to smile and nod as if he hasn't just crushed me yet again with that statement. "Come on, I don't want you to be cold and miserable. If Nino gets upset, he can just give you his jacket when we pick him up and I'll take mine back."

To seal the deal, he thrusts the jacket at me. I let it land on my lap, and it takes me a moment to get over my fear to actually, willingly touch it. Still, Adrien is watching me like a hawk, so begrudgingly I give in to the selfish little voice in my head and carefully put it on. It fits surprisingly well, and I can't help nestling into its warmth a bit. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that it smells like Adrien. Nope. Not at all.

"See? It looks good on you."

He is going to be the death of me, I just know it. He grins at his compliment, looking so pleased with himself, and I find myself melting once again. It's not fair! Guys are only supposed to be this swoon worthy in movies and books, not in real life. Why did the universe have to go and make Adrien Agreste so absolutely perfect? Better yet, why did the universe have to go and make Adrien Agreste end up coming to the same school as me? It's not fair that he can be so sweet and look so pretty but I can't have him. In fact, it absolutely sucks.

I'm completely and utterly screwed.

And there we go! This is my first attempt writing Alyadrien, so how did I do? It was quite fun, I'll be excited to do some other one-shots connecting to this story later.

Also, I have a question. Should I stop responding to every review in the author note, and just respond by PM? Or not respond at all? If I go the PM route, I'd respond to just the guests at the bottom of these sections, but I feel like it'd be better if I didn't respond to every single one at the bottom as it means the length will be more accurate? And might mean I end up writing more in a chapter.

Let me know!

~ Dagger