The university gym was packed with students for the first party of the year. So much so that it began to leak out onto the lawn nearby, with the student council setting up lights outside.
Alya and Marinette were off to the side on the dance floor, dancing the night away, along with Alya's friend Sabrina, who was a business major. Alya and Sabrina had roomed together their freshman year before Alya met Marinette. Even though Alya was now off campus, she and Sabrina kept in touch.
From their spot, Alya could Rose and Alix were the center of attention, admired by all the boys present. On the sidelines, Juleka conversed with her old roommate, Mylene, who was waiting for her boyfriend to bring them some punch. Closer to snack bar, Alya could see Plagg monitoring the activities, making sure no one spiked the punch bowl while sampling some cheese. Tikki flittered around all over the place, probably inquiring after Adrien Agreste. She efforts must have been rewarded when as the song changed, Tikki raced to Marinette and Alya.
"Come one girls, Mr. Agreste is here," Tikki grabbed Marinette's hand, who grabbed Alya's, who grabbed Sabrina. Juleka, noticing what was going on, politely left her friend to join the group. Plagg, fearing the worse, hastened towards his wife.
"Ah, perfect, just whom we were talking about. Mr. Agreste, this is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. One of my most talented design students," the group stopped, Tikki pushing Marinette a bit forward towards Adrien Agreste.
Alya would admit, Adrien was a very handsome man, with perfectly groomed blond hair and sparkingly green eyes that seemed to dance at the introduction.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Agreste. I'm a big fan of your father's work," Marinette extended her hand.
"I'm pleased to hear it, and please call me Adrien."
"Thanks Adrien." Marinette felt a nudge from behind.
"Oh, this is my house mother Tikki Miraculous, her husband Plagg," Marinette turned to each person as she introduced everyone.
"My roommate Alya, her friend Sabrina, and Juleka who also lives with us."
"Sound like quite a full house."
"It is, but it's a lot of fun."
Alya looked between the two, to see Marinette turning slightly pink as Adrien continued to smile sunshine on her.
"Oh, this is my sister, Chloe," Alya noticed that beside Adrien stood a blond girl with blue eyes, her look disapproving of the whole event before shaking Marinette's hand.
"And my best friend Nino Lahiffe," Alya turned to see standing beside Adrien a young man with black hair and tan skin. He stiffly accepted Marinette's hand and shook it.
"Are you enjoying your new place?"
"Very much. Despite it being a small town, I can really see the Agreste branch starting something here."
"That would be wonderful. I originally lived in Paris before coming to school here, so I had hoped upon graduating I could work at the Paris Branch. But I love the people so much here, working in this town would be great."
A slow song started, couples pairing up to dance.
"May I have this dance," Adrien asked with a bow. Marinette smiled and nodded, as he escorted her onto the dance floor.
"A match made in heaven," Tikki leaned over to Plagg, who had already returned to the snack table. Tikki chased after her husband.
"Excuse us," Alya pulled Juleka and Sabrina away.
"Well that went good," commented Sabrina as they made their way to a way, and Juleka retreated back to Mylene.
"For Marinette perfect, our baby girl is growing up and entering the fashion world."
"If she plays her cards right."
"Nothing much to play at this point. She's already charmed the sock off of him it seems."
"Still, better to be careful."
"Stop worrying, Marinette's got this in the bag." Alya looked over to see her roommate laughing at something Adrien said. Her eyes danced with his as they moved to the music. reluctantly parting when the song ended.
Marinette giggled on her way over as Adrien made his way back to his professor and friends.
"Someone seems happy."
"Oh Alya, it was wonderful. Adrien is so nice. He said he will be stopping by a couple classes next week, so I can show him my sketchbook. I'm so excited!" Marinette could barely contain her excitement.
"Good job Marinette," congratulated Sabrina.
"Girl, you rocked," Alya gave her friend a hug, "Come on, lets dance."
Alya pulled her friends onto the dance floor, enjoying the music.
Alya stood along the wall along with Sabrina behind the stacked bleachers near the snack bar, sipping some punch, while watching Marinette dance again with Adrien. The slow song had long since ended, and they were dancing to something more fast-paced, but both seemed to be enjoying themselves. Alya looked over to see neither Adrien's sister or his friend, both scowling with disapproval.
"What's eating them?" Sabrina turned to where Alya gestured with her cup.
"Who knows. May they don't like parties."
"Should have stayed home then." The music stopped and Adrien left Marinette to get some drinks, his friend approaching him.
"Can we go yet?"
"Why? Aren't you having fun?"
"Not especially."
"Is it the sound quality? I know the music isn't that great, but it's fun. Try dancing with someone."
"Because you found a good partner for dancing?"
"Marinette is amazing, absolutely beautiful, and she has a real eye for fashion." Alya and Sabrina squealed in delight at the young man's praise.
"Congratulations, you found a pretty girl. Can we go home now."
"Come on Nino, just dance with someone. What about Alya, Marinette's roommate."
"She's decent. Tolerable at best. But not worth my time." Alya scowled.
"I'll take Chloe home, and send the driver back for you."
"You sure?" Without another word, Nino went off to Adrien's sister, while Adrien returned to Marinette, who introduced him to Mylene and her boyfriend, Ivan.
"Decent," Alya chugged her punch in one gulp.
"Alya..."
"Tolerable." Alya clenched the empty cup in her fist and tossed in the trash.
"Alya, don't do something you'll regret."
"Oh, I won't regret this," Alya pulled out her phone and opened to her blog, furiously typing as she spent the rest of the night fuming in the corner.
"Alya, what's this?" Marinette entered their bedroom, brushing her recently dried hair as Alya sat on her bed, watching cat videos.
"What's what?"
"This," Marinette tossed her phone onto Alya's bed. It was opened to Alya's blog post.
"Sorry, that guy just made me so frickin mad..." before Alya could further, Marinette wrapped her roommate in a hug.
"Alya, don't let one boy's opinion of you define you."
"I know, he just pissed me off. The nerve of him, thinking he is better than anyone else."
"Don't worry Alya, someday you'll show him how awesome when you are on his TV doing coverage for France 24 News."
"You know what, I don't even care. He's stuck up, rude, and prideful. Why bother my time with him?"
"Well you did spend an hour ranting about how terrible he is on the internet."
"And that's all he is going to get."
Marinette smiled and gave her friend a squeeze before returning to bed.
"So, how was the rest of your night with Adrien?" Marinette's checks turned bright pink.
"Oh Alya, he's absolutely wonderful. I mean everything I said and so much more," Marinette flopped on her bed as Alya rushed over to her side to hear all the details.
"He's kind, thoughtful, considerate. He aims to see only the best in others. He loves puns, especially cat puns. He use to model, but now his father is training him to take over the business. He plays piano, can fence, and speaks Chinese. He wants to move the Agreste branch out her to create a relaxing work environment for the staff out of the city. He loves cats," Marinette rambled.
"Girl, this sound more like you like him rather just potentially working him. Marinette's blush deepened as she started to trace little cats on her blanket.
"Maybe, maybe I do like him."
"GIRL!" Alya squealed and hugged her roomie.
Whose Who:
Elizabeth - Alya
Darcy - Nino
Jane - Marinette
Bingley - Adrien
Mr. Bennett - Plagg
Mrs. Bennett - Tikki
Lydia - Rose
Kitty - Alix
Mary - Juleka
Charlotte - Sabrina
Caroline - Chloe