Good news and bad news: The good news is that I'm ahead of myself and I have mapped out the entire story until the end! The bad news is that I haven't written the last few chapters yet and we all know what I'm like. You take that news as you wish. Take each day as it comes. Each day is a gift, or something.

~BH

Nino's First Big Night

"Do I wear one of my new designs to the party or is that overdoing it?" Marinette asked Alya, who had come over to hang out before Nino's set that evening. Alya was hoping Marinette would let slip some information about Adrien. Although she respected her best friend's privacy to the point where she wouldn't scroll through texts between her and her crush, she couldn't help but notice that the last interaction was littered with kisses at the end. Marinette NEVER sent messages with kisses, even if Alya herself had sent her one with a kiss at the end. She needed some sort of explanation.

She considered the past few days. She was still a stammering mess around him, and he was always friendly to her regardless of her crush. Also there was the fact that they hung out together a lot as a group anyway due to Alya and Nino's budding relationship. Although Nino was pretty good at noticing the finer details in situations while she charged ahead, he was convinced it was a coincidence.

"It's a teen disco. It's not a life changing event." Marinette raised her eyebrows at Alya's bluntness. "Like, I'm sure Nino will be great and it's a fantastic opportunity!" She back-pedalled at Marinette's expression, "You don't need to be dressed to the nines. Are you trying to impress Adrien?"

Marinette giggled nervously in mock admittance, but then looked startled as Alya strode over to her wardrobe and started rummaging.

"You've even got photos of him in your wardrobe?! That's insane." She exclaimed before pulling out clothes and examining them.

"That's for fashion inspiration actually. There's some of Eva Green too!" Marinette complained from the sofa, accepting defeat when it came to Alya choosing clothes.

"There's one. Right in the corner. It's half the size of the smallest Adrien photo." Alya said, emerging with a pair of black jeans. Marinette had recently embellished them with intricate red glittery thread she had received on her birthday a a few years ago, and amongst the flowers she had sewn she had hidden a small ladybug. Alya noticed it, of course. "These are perfect!" she insisted, throwing them at her. "It's your own design but more casual, and Nino reckons Adrien is obsessed with Ladybug." She continued, hoping to get a reaction from Marinette to confirm her wilting suspicion. Again, Marinette faked surprise.

"R-r-really?" She stammered, considering whether she was overdoing it. Alya confirmed that the design would be perfect in order to catch his attention, and threw over to her a plain dark red shirt to go with it. Although Marinette was the designer of the pair, Alya did have an eye for detail and was much more knowledgable when it came to attracting people. Or in Marinette's case, attracting Adrien.

"Although he already does seem to be attracted to you." Alya pried, watching Marinette closely like it was another journalist case. "He sure does stare at you a lot".

"He does?" She continued to feign ignorance as she got changed and looked at herself in the mirror. The modifications she had made were perfect, as the patterns wound up the one side of her leg and finished just below the waistline. They were a skinny fit to outline her toned figure and the shirt Alya had chosen complemented the jeans nicely, although the top was quite plain. It's not a life changing event. Marinette convinced herself, although she was genuinely nervous about hanging out with Adrien after school for other reasons. Almost-boyfriend or not, she was still a klutz and the embarrassing possibilities continued to poke at her in her brain like many tiny needles filled with mild anxiety. Alya gave her a thumbs up in approval before getting changed herself.

One walk later, picking up a nervous Nino en route, they arrived in plenty of time. Nino knew Adrien had a tight schedule so asked if he could do his set later on in the night so he would have more chance of being there, but as a result the anticipation had more time to build. He knew he could do it and he was proud of his setlist but he couldn't help but be nervous. Having Alya at his side was soothing though, as he knew she wouldn't hesitate to tell him if he was pursuing something he had no talent for. Although they weren't the most publicly affectionate couple, the secret glances they gave each other when they thought no one was looking was enough for him, there was a sense of intimacy upon seeing the softness in his girlfriend's normally-fiery eyes. Marinette noticed, and was once again wistful for the day when she and Adrien could act the same. She had what she wanted, she thought. It's just a little bit more complicated.

Nino had just left to set up when Adrien arrived, a little flustered but still perfectly styled. He smiled apologetically at both of them.

"Sorry, I can't stay for long. My father found out and he's not happy and if it wasn't for Nathalie I wouldn't be here at all. Have I missed Nino?" He said in a rush, trying to convey the apology in his expression to a slightly more deadpanned Marinette.

"Luckily for you Nino thought ahead and is just about to get started." Alya smiled with understanding, knowing that he had a difficult relationship with his father. Marinette didn't respond, partly out of anger at Gabriel Agreste for not barely giving his son an ounce of freedom that he deserved, but also out of fear that Alya would be more suspicious than she already was. It's not because you don't want them to find out, it's because of the potential connection between them and Paris' heroes, she insisted to herself for the millionth time before smiling shyly at Adrien. That's when he noticed what she was wearing.

It wasn't fancy, and it wasn't glamorous, but he couldn't help but stare at her legs in awe. It was just a simple embellishment, sure, but he noticed the ladybug straight away.

"Your jeans are amazing!" Adrien gushed before realising how risky that was. Composing himself, he continued. "I mean, the design is incredible, my father would love the simple elegance of it." Marinette beamed and it looked like the sun was shining in the dark hall they were half heartedly dancing in. Alya smirked, knowing he probably just made her best friend's year. The sound of Nino's voice cut through the fast becoming awkward silence between them.

"Hi guys! I'm Nino, this is my first time playing here and I hope you enjoy it so it won't be my last time! Um… I mean… here's some cool music."

Energetic electronic music boomed through the room, and although people were first curious at the alternative style rather than enthusiastic, it wasn't long before everyone was dancing, as Alya knew would happen. Her and Marinette started bouncing on the dance floor immediately, not just in support but in excitement for his excellent taste in music. Adrien was a little more tentative due to his normally more reserved nature, but he soon decided to channel some Chat Noir and joined in. Dancing in an loose triangle, the trio faced eachother, all feeling a sense of pride for their friend up on the decks.

Nino was delighted to see Adrien in the crowd, and after he stopped concentrating so much on the sound equipment in front of him out of nerves, he looked up in time to see an equally delighted Adrien twirl around a blissfully happy Marinette. He met Alya's gaze and she winked at him, dancing at him in a way that made him want to abandon his post and spend some quality time with his girlfriend.

Marinette was blissfully happy. As planned, Adrien did pay a lot more attention to her, but he felt like he couldn't take his eyes off her anyway. She looked effortlessly gorgeous in a way that he could never imagine the more innocent bumbling Marinette, but maybe that was the Ladybug that was always in her. He waited a few minutes into the set before suddenly grabbing Marinette's hand and spinning her around quite innocently. It wasn't difficult for Marinette to be surprised or excited at the sudden gesture and took it in her stride for once. The expression of glee on Adrien's face was one that was a signature Chat Noir grin, and she still couldn't quite comprehend how Adrien was always Chat Noir.

When Nino's set finished, the room was full of teenagers having the time of their lives and when Nino returned to his friends he was ecstatic. They loved it, he thought with joy. Alya didn't hesitate to greet him with a lingering passionate kiss which Nino enjoyed just as much as the past half an hour. He looked up to see that Adrien had already gone.

"He had to go as soon as you had finished" Marinette said, sounding a little disappointed. Nino felt for her, knowing how much she adored him, although it seemed like the feelings were no longer unrequited. "He said it was brilliant though, and that he's very proud of you, and he's going to show videos of your set to his father in the hope that he'll understand the importance of coming out to see you play your music".

"I'm surprised he managed to be able to say that much to you without you crumpling to the ground" Nino grinned, glad that he had such supportive friends. He shared a knowing smile with Alya who squeezed his hand, aware that he would feel a little gutted that Adrien couldn't say it in person. At least he made it, even if he did anger his father. He reminded himself.

Although Marinette enjoyed the rest of the night without Adrien and her other two friends didn't make her feel like a third wheel, she couldn't help but feel like something was missing. I guess that's what happens when you fall in love with the same person twice.