Hey everybody! Y'all get the new chapter a day early since I will be WAY too busy to post anything tomorrow. Enjoy!
While it was later than most people were usually out, the teens found an outdoor café that remained open. Everyone ordered food and coffees. They all wanted to stay awake for what was to come.
"So…" Alya was the first to break the awkward silence that had settled. She took a sip of her hot drink before continuing. "You're… them?" Despite wanting answers, Alya knew better than to blurt out something this sensitive in a public place. She may have issues with her friends, but they were still her friends.
"Yeah. We are." Marinette had not taken her eyes off of Alya. To Adrien, this seemed like something serious between the two girls; he decided to keep quiet unless his input was needed. "What did you mean earlier when you said, 'I knew it'?"
Alya mumbled into her beverage. "Ever since the summer when I got an anonymous tip that lead to Chat Noir asking out Ladybug and then you sent me a text the same night about Adrien finally asking you the same thing, I've been suspicious that both couples had something in common." She smiled wryly. "I guess a reporters' instincts are never wrong."
"Wait a minute!" Both girls turned to Adrien at his outburst. "Marinette, you sent her the text the same night I sent the tip? I thought we agreed to do them several weeks apart!"
Marinette huffed. "Well excuse me, Mr. My-Life-Is-So-Scheduled if I wanted to tell my best friend that the guy she's tried to get me together with for YEARS finally asked me out properly… even if it was a bit late. I didn't think about it being the same night." She gripped his hand in hers. "Sorry." He merely shrugged.
"Nothing to be sorry about, Bugaboo. Because now, we have a new ally!" He gestured excitedly to Alya. His smile quickly diminished at the scowl on the reporter's face. She pointed the spoon from her soup at him fiercely.
"Don't think I forgot about the whole dating my best friend as Chat Noir behind my back, Agreste. I'm going to give you the same speech I gave you at her house, because now it's more important." She slammed her palms to the table, leaning in towards him. "I don't have a problem with you two dating. However, I willhave problem if you ever hurt her. Marinette has lots of friends who care about her. Now, her best friend is a superhero. I don't care if you're one too; NO ONE will find what happens to you if she gets hurt somehow. Clear?"
He nodded fervently. "Crystal." He has now had that same speech twice in less than a year. It would be etched in the boy's memory for life.
Marinette reached for Ayla's hand. "Is this why you've been weird and distant these past few months? I just thought it was that we weren't spending enough time together…" As Alya returned to her seat, Marinette and Adrien noticed a few tears pooling behind her glasses.
"I guess that was part of it. But what also pained me was how instant you were together. Nino and I aren't anywhere close to your level. There wasn't even an awkward stage. You two just… clicked." A tear snaked down her cheek; Alya stubbornly wiped it away. "That was one of the things I observed that made me think that you were Ladybug and Chat Noir. I was so certain I knew what was going on, but like I told that guy earlier, heroes aren't supposed to reveal their identities. Even if I KNEW my best friend was Ladybug, we could never talk about it." She scoffed at how childish she was being. "This is stupid, I know"
"No!" Marinette moved to the seat beside Alya to wrap an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Nothing that makes you this upset is stupid. I've felt the same way." Alya glanced over as Marinette's eyes glistened as well. "Do you have any idea how many times I've wanted to tell you about a new maneuver I worked on to take down akumas or a dumb pun that Chat made?" A grumble came from Adrien, but the two ignored him. "Alya, you're my best friend. There's nothing I wouldn't share with you… My hands were tied on this matter."
The dam holding back tears burst as the young women embraced, tears flowing down both of their cheeks. Adrien quietly excused himself, so he could go deal with the bill.
Both girls released a shaky breath as they separated. "Are we okay?" Marinette inquired, wiping her tears from her face.
"Yeah. We'll be okay." Alya fingered her new necklace. "I promise we're good. I might just need some time to myself for a while, until I get a proper grasp on things. Maybe I'll do some training with Trixx." She rested a reassuring hand on Marinette's arm. "But if you guys need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be there in a flash."
As Marinette yawned, Alya checked her phone. "Yikes! I need to get home before I'm grounded for life! And you need to get that one," Ayla pointed at Adrien as he returned to the table, "back home before his Father sends his personal army all over the city."
The group thanked their waiter for such great service. Adrien made sure to tip him well. The girls embraced one more time, Adrien fist-bumping Alya.
"So, what should we call you?" One final question before they split for the night.
Alya thought it over with a smile. "Call me… Rena Rouge."
Now that we've seen Alya, maybe we check back in with our other new heroine...
STAY CREATIVE!