Waking up feeling a little less sore I open my eyes "Pluto what happened yesterday, I am in a lot of pain and no memory of why" Pluto wakes up and floats up off my chest and above my face "You saved LadyBugs life that is what you did" "Pluto next question. Why does saving lives hurt so much." Pluto chuckles at that as he grabs my phone "Hey Caleb come check this" sitting up I grab my phone and look to see Pluto opened the LadyBlog up, "What is so important that your making me move" I groan with a hint of humor behind it "Just look." Actually looking at what is posted to the blog I see Alya's face on the thumbnail of the most recent video, clicking it open it begins to play "Hello, this is Alya reporting to the scene of the fight between LadyBug and Televiser" the view shifts showing now, showing LadyBug run over to me "It seems once again that Paris's hero LadyBug once again has an idea on how to fight the akumatized victim" LadyBug is shown running over to me right when Televiser appears. I look at the video in disbelief as I see myself fall to the ground unconscious. Pausing the video "So that's what happened" "Shhh continue watching" Pluto chastises. Resuming it I hear a shriek as Alya drops the phone the video now only showing some clouds lazily drifting overhead, I can hear some footsteps in the background when all of a sudden Cat Noirs voice comes through "You have to go" "But Ruff Rider got hurt I can help, trust me" "Don't worry i'm a purr-fessional" after a few more comments that are too quiet to hear. The phone is picked back up with it facing away from Alya and the video ends. "Huh Alya did seem worried I wonder why, no one can hurt me" I say flexing and then flinching from the pain. "Except for Televiser, who knew apparently a remote can hurt me" "Caleb this isn't a joke you got really hurt" "I know but hasn't anyone told you laughter is the best medicine". Throwing my head back I start fake laughing which hurt my sides "Scratch that who ever said that never met Televiser, or was ever in pain."
By mid afternoon I was feeling a lot better and decided to go out as Ruff Rider, mainly because the suit would heal me faster or at least that's what Pluto said. Taking it relatively slow I walk around not even attempting to climb or jump on even the smallest buildings, "Hey is that Ruff Rider" "Hey look it's Ruff Rider" "Guess what it's Ruff Rider" where things I most commonly heard on my walk which was nice at first but got more and more annoying as it went on. My mindless wandering eventually led me to the bakery which I have aptly nicknamed "Macaron Bakery' because honestly that is all I will ever get there. Entering the store the first thing I spot are of course the Macarons, the next thing I spot is Alya in front of me with Marinette hanging out. "Hello hows your day going so far" I say totally caught unaware, okay when this is over I am so getting a book on how to start conversations I think mentally face palming myself. "How are we doing what about you, what are you doing here" Alya says with a concerned look. "Oh it was nothing I mean I was unconscious for most of the pain so I had that going for me." Judging by both their faces that was probably not the right thing to say. "So how about this place, me I think it's macaron's are divine." "Well I live here, wait stop deflecting the question are you alright" Marinette asks. "Yeah it only hurts a little but the suit helps, speaking of things that are broke hows your phone. I saw in the video you dropped it, did it crack" "Yeah but only slightly nothing to big." "How about after I get my macarons we go to a tech store and get it fixed, it is after all partially my fault" "I don't know i'm kind of short on money right now and" "I can pay for it no problem" I say cutting her off. Silently thanking my parents for an allowance and the fact I don't spend it, well except on macarons but that is a very good exception. "Well maybe but i'm hanging out with Marinette" "Alya using me as an excuse will not work, go, I have to work the bakery anyways. "Okay" Alya says finally "Great let's go"
After purchasing the macarons we head out of the store "Wanna macaron, there the best" after a quick second consideration Alya says "No thank you I just ate" "Well more for me." Eating all but one I try and start another conversation. "Well i'm not one for walking in silence, let's gossip" I say teasingly, "Okay have anything juicy for my LadyBlog" "Well I don't know if I can confirm this but I heard that Ruff Rider isn't fluent in French" "You're not. That's interesting maybe I can use that against you sometime" Alya says hiding a laugh. "You know ever since you tricked me the first time I have become a lot more observant, if you want the last macaron just ask. Staring at it won't move it" I say opening the box showing the last macaron. Alya at first looks like she is going to so no again but this time she reaches in and grabs it. Eating it in one bite "Thanks, that was really good" "Well if I eat all of them they just go straight to my thighs." Alya points at a store "There it is" walking inside they said it would take ninety dollars to fix it, "Ruff Rider you know it's not too late to say no" "C'mon Alya when are you going to accept that I might just be a nice person." Turning back around to hand the person the phone I miss the slight red that creeps up on Alyas face. After that was done and her phone was fixed she waits outside while I pay for it, that is until I notice a high-def camera phone attachment. "So will that be all" "Actually how much is that" I say pointing to it "That is twenty dollars" hmm that would be the rest of my money but it would be the perfect accessory for her phone. "Okay add that to the total" After purchasing the attachment and paying for the new screen I walk outside to see Alya and Nino talking to each other. "Hey, Ruff Rider and you are" I ask sticking my hand out for a fist bump "Nino" he replies bumping my fist. "So Alya when did you and Ruff Rider become friends" Nino asks teasingly "I'm not really sure but it probably started when he decided that walking around Paris transformed all the time was socially acceptable" Alya says after a moment. Looking at Nino and Alya I ask "So are you to a thing, C'mon spill the details. First I saw you hanging yesterday and now you just happen to be here together now" generally curious, they look at eachother and start laughing. Which confused me. When Alya and Nino pulled themselves together Alya spoke up "We're not dating, you see LadyBug locked into a cage together at the Zoo last year. Long story short we ended up becoming really great friends" "Yeah, plus I don't have time for a relationship I like to keep all options open on the Nino love train" Nino chimes in after Alya.
After Nino left it was getting late so Alya decided it would be best if she went home "I can walk you there if you want" Alya stops for a few seconds and thinks "Okay but only if there are more macarons and fixed phone screens in my future" "I can make that happen" I reply what I would call smoothly. "Ruff Rider i'm curious what do you do when your not saving Paris or running into walls" "Not much between school and learning French, sometimes I will go and explore as my normal self but mostly I am kept busy as Ruff Rider, so what do like to do in your free time" "Well running the LadyBlog requires a lot of time but when i'm not doing that I hang out with Marinette" Reaching her house I walk her up to the door "Goodnight Alya, don't go breaking your phone again" "If I do will you fix it." Leaning in a little "I can fix anything." Her cheeks turn a little pink before she walks inside. About to leave I realize I never gave her the camera attachment I bought. Looking back at the house I see a light turn on through a window and hear Alya say something to her parents as she closes her bedroom door. Testing my sides to see if they still hurt I notice the pain is gone, jumping up to her windowsill I knock on it. As the curtains draw back the look of surprise on her face is worth it, "What are you doing" "I forgot to give you this I got it at the tech place" I grab it from my pocket and hand it to her "For the LadyBlog." Alya is suddenly very glad that it is dark or else the blush creeping up on her face would be very obvious. "T-t-thanks how can I repay you for this" "How about we hang out another time" "Deal" as she shuts her window I jump down and start jogging home.
Climbing through my window I detransform Pluto lands on my bed and says "When did you get a crush on Alya" "I do not, we're just friends" "Yeah you're red as a tomato because you're just friends" Pluto just laughs"Whatever" turning off the light I go to bed. My cheeks still burning bright red.
This might now be home yet but at least I have someone in my corner.
(Ha you thought Alya and Nino were a couple I had everyone fooled even myself. On a serious note they were but I instead after thoughtful consideration decided that it would be Ruff Rider and Alya. Not only do I think that it will better the story but it allows me to do a lot more with Alya. Also the weekend is over for Caleb so that means bigger Adrien and maybe Marinette parts next chapter. Thank you all for reading I can't even express how much it means to me when I see people are reading my story.)