Adrien stood in front of jewelry display, admiring a silver ring on display.
"Would you like to see it sir," asked the man behind the counter.
"No, thanks, just looking," answered Adrien. If the man was disappointed in losing a sale, he didn't show it as Adrien walked back to where his friend Nino Lahiffe stood, panicking over the women's rings.
"See anything she'd like," asked Adrien, looking over the rings.
"Yes. Maybe. I don't know. Why does it have to be so hard to pick out an engagement ring," whined Nino, Adrien patting his friend's shoulder comfortingly.
Even though they rarely saw each other, since Nino was moving forward in his career working now on a tv show as director of photography, and Adrien's time occupied with either modelling or Chloe; Adrien was overjoyed when Nino confided in him about his plans to propose to his girlfriend of two years on Christmas Eve. Adrien even offered to help Nino search for a ring, Adrien's family background in fashion able to help Nino focus on the task at hand without being too overwhelmed by the pressure of picking out the perfect ring.
"Well, would she want something gaudy or simple," Adrien quizzed.
"Simple, enough to show off, but not enough to get in the way of her work," Nino answered, shifting to look over at some simpler rings.
"Gold or silver."
"Gold, to go with her eyes."
"Does she want a diamond or another gemstone?"
Nino began panicking again.
"I don't know bro. A part of me says she would like one of the purple or orange ones. Another part says keep it a diamond so she can pick another gemstone on the wedding rings."
"Go with option number 2 then. The more stones, the more it will get in the way," suggested Adrien.
"Right," Nino nodded, the panic in his eyes lessening.
Adrien looked around the small store. Definitely on the cheaper side of things when it came to jewelry, but their products were definitely simpler than the ones Chloe bought. Chloe wouldn't even be within a mile of this store. He wondered if Marinette would come here to get her jewelry for the ball.
He quickly shook his head to get that thought out.
"You alright," asked Nino, looking up from his intense study of women's jewelry.
"Just thinking something, don't let me bother you."
Nino stood and walked back to his best bro. He lifted his glasses to rub his eyes.
"My eyes are getting tired, I need a break," responded Nino. They retreated to the outside of of the store, loitering around the window.
"So, what were you thinking about," inquired Nino before blowing into his hands to warm them.
Adrien frowned. Curse Nino's girlfriend for being so inquisitive. It had made Nino more observant in the past two years.
"I got invited to some Christmas Ball. Not for my father or anyone important, at least I think."
"And you're stuck being Chloe's arm candy for another holiday party," asked Nino. Nino had openly disapproved Adrien's relationship with Chloe from the beginning, causing some strain during the first few years. Now Adrien could see why Nino was against them dating. Still supported him, but thought he was insane for not breaking up with her when it was obvious Adrien no longer cared.
"Actually no."
Nino leaned in for more details.
"They refused to give her a ticket. Instead I'm going with another girl who also wasn't going to know anyone there," Adrien smiled as he reached for the scarf Marinette gave him. He hardly ever left home without it.
"Adrien, you sly dog," Nino elbowed his friend.
"We're just going as acquaintances, nothing more. She insisted on that since she already knows about Chloe."
"Get wrecked bro," Nino slumped against the wall, "so you are going to a mysterious ball with a girl you've only met probably once just so you both aren't entirely alone."
"Pretty much."
"What's this ball called anyway. Maybe my girl can get you more details."
"Miraculous Christmas Ball," answered Adrien, noticing Nino's eyes going wide at this information.
"What?"
"Dude, you got invited to the Miraculous Christmas Ball?"
"You know about it? No one I've talked to knows about it."
"Dude, of course I know about it. It's where I met Alya," answered Nino.
"What? You told me you two met at work"
"Technically. I had seen her at the TV station a couple times before we actually talked at the ball. She found me listening to the band playing that night and… asked me to dance," Nino's face tinged pink at his confession. "We found each other the next time we went in for work and things took off from there."
"You would meet your fiance by the band section," joked Adrien.
"Stop joking bro, this is serious," Nino nudged Adrien, who nudged him back.
"Well I'm glad you found Alya. From what you've told me, she sounds great."
"She is. That's why I'm proposing Christmas Eve, since it was the first time we officially met."
"And here we thought I was the one for cheesy romantics."
"You have taught me well master," Nino teased with a mock bow.
"But in all seriousness, good luck bro. Maybe you should finally take this as a hint to dump Chloe. Give even this new girl a chance," Nino retreated back into the jewelry store, Adrien following behind lost in thought.
Adrien gently reached for the fringe on his scarf, thinking fondly of the small woman who had had been so kind to him after knowing for only half an hour at most. But she only wanted to be acquaintances, maybe friends by the end of the ball, especially if he was still dating Chloe. If he wasn't, then where would their relationship go?
"I'll think about it," Adrien mumbled. Nino gave him a reassuring pat on the back before turning once again to the jewelry display case.
Adrien felt his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to find a text from Marinette.
"Just bought my dress. And I told my mom about the ball and you. She wants to meet you. Would you be able to come for dinner tomorrow?"
Adrien turned red at that as he re-read the text.
Her parents want to meet him. The giant man and pixie woman from the photo on her phone.
Wasn't this the first start of a relationship, meeting the girl's parents.
He knew Chloe's parents long before they started dating, so this was entirely new.
Adrien thought Marinette only wanted to be acquaintances.
"What do you think about this one," Nino pointed to a ring, holding up beside it a picture of his girlfriend.
Adrien looked at his best friend, panic settling across his face as he showed Nino the phone. Nino looked down at the phone and gave a goofy grin and a thumbs up.
"I think the best thing to do right now is respond," chuckled Nino as he turned to wave over a salesperson.
Adrien nodded, turning back to the phone and typing a hurried response.
"Yes."
