(Thursday)
Waking up with sore muscles and an aching head I wonder why I am in so much pain as I slowly remembered the events of yesterday, it had its ups and downs that was for sure. No more Hawkmoth is clearly one of its ups, Alya knows who I am is either good or bad although i'm not ready to go down that road yet, getting crushed by a robot and blasted with the power of creation and destruction was clearly one of the downs that much I am positive. My stomach at that moment decided to remind me that it has been awhile since i've eaten anything, wearly I slowly get out of bed and into the wheelchair. Rolling into the kitchen I see a note from my parents.
'School is canceled for the day in honor of LadyBug and Cat Noir for defeating Hawkmoth and if you must leave it better be important also if you check by the door we were able to get you crutches so your not confined to a wheelchair' putting the note away I pour myself a bowl of cereal and I check the LadyBlog with my phone and see that Alya has already informed everyone that Hawkmoth was no more, about to set my phone down I see I got a message from Alya on the LadyBlog, it reads
'What time should we meet at the park'
Replying I write 'Around noon will be the best time' getting a response almost immediately it reads
'Any time with you is the best time'
Just reading that message causes my face to turn red and I can only imagine her smiling right now already knowing my reaction, checking the time I see I need to go ahead and get ready. Leaving my house I start towards the park slowly getting used to the crutches, on my way there I saw several people celebrating the downfall of Hawkmoth but one question I heard to many times was who finally brought Hawkmoth down, from what I overheard apparently a few rumors were going around. The US government was behind his downfall, LadyBug and Cat Noir saved the day like always but none of the rumors mentioned Ruff Rider and surprisingly I was okay with that, I was never doing it for recognition. At first it was an escape from being a nobody new kid but now I realize I continued being Ruff Rider because I met Alya and from that moment on I did it for Alya. Sitting down under a tree alone with my thoughts I don't notice Alya sit next to me until Pluto tapped my shoulder.
"Hey Caleb I missed you so much never leave me again" Pluto says so fast that I barely catch a word of it
"Don't worry little buddy I don't plan on leaving soon" I reassure the overly excited Kwami
"Hey Alya" I say awkwardly
"Hey Caleb, so how are you recovering" Alya asks with a hint of concern in her voice
"I'm doing just fine and you" I ask
"Me i'm great" Alya responds, after that the conversation drops off into a comfortable silence as we sit together in the shade. At some point Alya scoots closer to me and leans her head on my shoulder, gathering up the courage I finally ask Alya the question that has been bothering me all day
"Alya now that you know who I am do you think any less of me" I ask bracing myself for the truth, Alya lifts her head off my shoulder and laughs "What is so funny" I ask confused
"Caleb if I didn't like you would I have sat next to you and even still laid my head on you" Alya says playfully
"I don't know it's just that why would you like me i'm just Caleb" I say
"And that is what makes you amazing because you are Caleb" Alya says trying to alleviate my fears
"But you fell for Ruff Rider not me" I say outloud a thought that has been there since the beginning
"I didn't fall for you because you are Ruff Rider, I fell for you because you are kind and compassionate and funny" Alya says getting closer to me
"Ruff Rider was all that, me i'm socially withdrawn"
"You are all that because no matter what, I will always love you" Alya says bringing my face closer to hers until we are only inches apart
"Je suis amoureux" I say closing my eyes as our lips meet and in my mind fireworks are going off, our hands intertwine and for just second nothing more matters than just this moment. When we break the kiss off I open my eyes back up and get lost in her beauty "Alya you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen" I say out loud without realizing it
Alya blushing says "I guess we're a couple now"
"I'm not sure we might need to kiss again just to really cement our relationship" I say lightheartedly
"If you say so" Alya says with a laugh right before she kisses me again, it starts off light but begins to deepen as we forget about the world around us, after a few minutes pass of just talking and laughing I mention us getting some macarons and Alya immediately jumps on that idea. As we walk to the bakery Alya tries to return the necklace to me "I was thinking and I think it would be for the best if you took back up the mantle of Ruff Rider" she says trying to hand me the necklace
"Alya if I know anything it is that you are a better Ruff Rider than I am" I say refusing the necklace
"But you are the one who took down Hawkmoth" Alya says trying to persuade me to take it back
"You weakened him for me" I say remembering back, seeing Alya on the floor passed out, I take a step closer to her determined that nothing will ever hurt her again
Alya chuckles and says "Whatever you say but you are Ruff Rider and no one else will ever hold that mantle quite like you" after she says this she gives me big sad puppy dog eyes
"No fair you learned that from Pluto, well if you insist but only when my injuries are all healed" I say motioning to the fact I am using crutches right now
"Deal, now let's go get some macarons" Alya says quickly perking up, arriving at the bakery I see Marinette working the counter
"Hey Alya, hey Caleb" Marinette says my name like a question when she sees me
"Hey girl you will not believe this but me and Caleb are dating" Alya says a loudly while also excitingly hugging Marinette
"Oh are you know I believe Caleb owes me a little talk then" Marinette says looking at me
"I think I would rather face Hawkmoth again then have that talk" I say laughing while also internally screaming
"You better believe it" Marinette says
"Actually i've been meaning to ask now that Hawkmoth is gone what do you plan on doing" I ask Marinette
"Well me and Cat Noir, I mean Adrien are still going on patrols every other day" Marinette answers me back
"Speaking of which how did your talk with Adrien go" Alya asks Marinette eager to hear the news
"Well we decided to spend more time together as our civilian selves before we commit to a relationship" Marinette says wishing that her best friend would have done the same, getting our macarons I patiently listen to Alya and Marinette talk about all that has happened over the past few weeks and once in awhile they even ask for my side of the story. As we left the bakery I walked Alya back to her house and promised Pluto that I would see him again the next day, walking home I couldn't help but think about the future and all the uncertainties it held. Getting home I was about to head to bed when my computer beeped telling me I had a message from Alya.
'Hey Caleb it's Pluto, Alya is asleep right now so shhh. I just wanted to tell you are my number one holder and my number one human being ever, Alya is yelling at me to get off the computer now so bye' looking at the message I couldn't but laugh at the entire message from beginning to end. Going to bed that night I couldn't help but feel that the stars have aligned.
I may have to go through this crazy thing called life but at least I have Alya there to help me every step of the way.
Je suis amoureux- I'm in love
(And just like Caleb has Alya I have you guys and though I am sad to say it has finally ended I am happy that it has happened, please tell me your favorite parts from 'The Dog Kwami' and a personal thank you to everyone who has been here from the beginning. If you feel like I missed something or maybe had a loose end I didn't tie up please tell me, also if you want an epilogue please do tell and I will happily do one
-EdentonTeaParty)