13: New Year's

After my revelation about my growing unacceptable feelings towards Adrien, I did everything to stop it.

How?

Well, I treated Adrien like I always did. Even if I do have a crush on him, he's still my best friend first. And I don't want to lose that friendship.

His friendship… did save me. Just like what he wrote.

So I did everything I could to not let Adrien or Plagg know about my feelings.

My feelings didn't want to change. Even as I resorted to read those stupid erotica books Kathy gave me. But surprise, it didn't work.

So when I was finally in solitude, I would meditate about my problematic feelings and what I should do.

I was so tempted several times to ask Kathy or Dr. Babineux for advice, but I knew I couldn't. I could put Adrien's secret identity in danger. That mattered more than these feelings.

So I kept quiet. Bottling my growing non-friendship affections towards my best friend inside.

Pretended that I didn't want for him to see me the way he sees Ladybug.

Oh. My. God.

I'm a horrible person.

I can't do that to him.

He loves his heroine partner. I can't just ruin that for him.

So the best and only solution is to keep this quiet. No one will ever know. Another secret to add to the growing list.

"Jolene?"

I hummed as I continued to strip the chicken. Gabriel surprisingly let Adrien over from noon until noon tomorrow for the whole New Year's Eve and Day. Giles helped bring up Adrien's pack and came to my apartment for a check up. Based on his nod, it was approved and he left without a word.

Adrien is going to sleep in the empty guest room, while Plagg is obviously going to sleep in the dollhouse, renamed Chez Chat. It's still up to debate between the boys if Chez Chat will stay in the living room or the guest room.

"What color is your real hair and eyes?"

I stopped and looked at Adrien, who had also stopped what he was doing; grating the cheese.

"...Why don't you guess?" I offered and I continued what I was doing.

"Most likely dark, because of your eyebrows," Adrien points out.

I didn't say anything as I let him continue.

"And for the eyes… blue?"

"Why blue?" I was curious why he would think that.

"It was just a guess. So was I right?" Adrien smiles cheekily.

"Mmmm, can't say," I say casually. "How about for New Year's we set a type of resolution? I will stop wearing my wings and contacts while you…" I hesitate, hoping he doesn't get the wrong idea or that I'm hinting at anything. "You tell me what it feels like to fall in love with someone?"

He looked at me surprised, "Why that?"

I look away from him as I continue to strip the chicken, "It's just- I haven't fallen in love with someone. And I want to know how it feels. And the why are you in love? I just- I'm curious so when it happens to me… I'll be prepared."

Adrien didn't say anything, but he did touch my shoulder, "I don't need that to be my New Year Resolution to tell you that."

I smiled nervously and then said, "Wash your hands again before touching the cheese."

Adrien laughed and it was silently decided that we should finish making lunch's enchiladas before we talk.

Fully satisfied, we were both sitting on the couch.

"Love, huh?" Adrien starts as he then starts having a far-off gaze. "Well, I'm pretty sure that it's different for everyone, but for me… when Ladybug is next to me or even thinking of her, makes me feel warm inside.

"That all I ever want to do is be with her for the rest of my life."

"Was it love at first sight?" I ask.

He shook his head, "No. When we first teamed up, we both were still trying to figure out how the superhero gig was working out.

"It was when I saw her capture those thousands of akumas, and saw how brave, smart and confident she was. She's caring and just amazing."

My heart felt like it was being poked with thousands of needles as the seconds passed.

He sounds so in love. So unshakable in his emotions.

I already knew that I wouldn't stand a chance, but hearing this was what I needed. To make me realize that never ever would Adrien look at me with such a tender look in his eyes.

"And as the days went by, I was never disappointed. I love her and I hope she will one day, love me back the way that I do."

I quickly wiped away a tear that needed to escape.

"That was beautiful," I say as I try to cover up my moment of weakness. "I hope I can love someone like that."

Adrien smiled, another stab to the heart. "I'm sure whoever you fall in love with will be the luckiest guy out there. I'll be your supporter like you do for me."

I forced a smile, "Thank you."

A few hours later, I manage to control my feelings to just feel platonic friendship. We talked about new ideas about the roof, but really it will stay the same except the additions of new plants.

We moved the furniture in the living room so that we could play Twister, making Plagg spin the wheel for us.

It was an even score.

Adrien brought his video game console so that we could play Ultimate Mecha Strike III. He beat me big time. But when I put in my copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate… I barely won. He's really good with any character with swords, especially Chrom and Link.

We video called Nino for a bit and even talked with his little brother Chris. It was fun and I mentally promised to text him to wish him a Happy New Year.

I allowed myself to show Adrien and Plagg some of my old sketchbooks. Mainly they were how I started to figure out how to draw the human body. Making sure to stay away from nude drawings.

But I stuck mostly when I was practicing how to draw animals. Birds and dogs in particular being my most frequent subjects.

"These are the same dog," Plagg notices.

I pointed to the Golden Retriever's collar, "It was my sister's dog. Her name was Sandy." My sister had huge anxiety about socializing with strangers or being around people in general. Before Sandy, I had to calm down my sister as we attended school and I had to be there all the time. Even when going to use the restroom.

But when we reached second grade, my sister's therapist recommended a service dog for her. Just for the sole reason so that I could have a regular education since I didn't have the same high anxiety level that impedes me from interacting with kids my age.

I did have some anxiety, but not the mental breakdowns my sister had on the first days of school.

I actually could make small talk with others, where my sister could not. I would be considered the shy kid for many years until fifth grade, but I had a group of small friends that I was happy to be with.

"Sandy calmed down my sister," I added as I showed them a rough sketch of both of them together.

They were sitting on the couch. My sister's face didn't have any features as I was more focused on the way her fingers were laced in Sandy's fur. Sandy was laying across my sister's lap, her eyes closed, taking a brief nap.

I think I was nine years old when I did this. It was before my mom suggested that I write the dates in the sketches.

We didn't speak more about my family.

But I did show him some of my concept art of how Sea Queen would have looked.

And little known facts that Sea Queen was going to be Sea Dweller or Starfish Student.

Personal stories that I didn't reveal in my videos. But it was interesting to see their reaction. Especially that instead of Ariel-esque red hair, I was going to have seaweed hair with a barnacle headband.

Then we started to prepare the dinner.

The three of us had jobs to make things easier. Plagg was in charge of setting the table. While Adrien and I, the food.

Today's dinner is honey glazed ham with garlic mashed potatoes with Parmesan cheese. With the first course being a simple Caesar Salad. Then for dessert, I made cannolis beforehand.

Both of the boys were happy.

And last and not least our refreshments were simple watermelon flavored Kool-Aid.

Hey, I know it isn't fancy, but I was craving it. Don't judge.

"What's with the grapes in the cup?" Adrien asks as he opens the fridge to get the cider out for the ice bucket.

I blink for a couple of seconds, "You French people don't eat grapes when midnight comes?"

Adrien slowly shook his head. "Americans do that?"

I smiled sheepishly, "As far as I know, Mexican."

And so I explained to both of them that when midnight strikes we have to eat twelve grapes as fast as we can. Making a wish or resolution for each grape eaten.

"Oh, here we make as much noise as we can when midnight strikes," Adrien says simply. "I have an air horn ready for that."

"And I have a whistle!" Plagg adds as he shows me the whistle.

"Does loud music count?"

Adrien nodded, "Make sure to blast it."

"And I know just the song." I just hope my neighbors aren't going to be bothered.

I had the TV on, all of us keeping an eye for the countdown.

Pots and spoons were out so that I could bang on them for extra noise.

Plagg was ready to turn the speakers to full blast to play the song, whistle close by and a stick to bang against the coffee table.

And Adrien had two air horns.

We were ready to make noise.

"What are you going to wish for?" Plagg asks me.

"To hope that my videos are still successful," I answered. "It's what allows me to stay in this nice place and food and the other things that I buy."

"Oh," He hums as he has a thoughtful look on his face. "What about you, Adrien?"

"To hope that Ladybug will return my love," He sighs.

I hid my sorrow and instead gave him a supportive smile, "I hope that comes true."

"Ten, nine, eight-"

We went to our places, had the cup of grapes and sparkling apple cider in our hands or in front (Plagg's case).

We count down and when it is time, we eat our grapes as soon as Bon Jovi's 'New Year's Day' blasted through the speakers.

One: My videos continue to be successful.

Two: That I continue to be in good mental health.

Three: That I continue to be in physical shape to defend myself.

Four: To keep my friends.

Five: To visit Disneyland Paris.

Six: That my muses won't disappear.

Seven: To keep playing the violin.

Eight: To find the motivation to try new things.

Nine: To get rid of my paranoia and stop wearing wigs and colored eye contacts in public.

Ten: To get rid of my romantic feelings for Adrien.

Eleven: To never lose my friendship with Adrien.

Twelve: For Adrien's and Plagg's wishes to come true.

The three of us finished eating the grapes at the same time and we made the biggest racket we could. Joining in the neighbors of this building and basically all of Paris.

When a minute passed, Adrien and I sent messages to our friends and other loved ones.

Adrien actually made a phone call to his Dad and it was heartwarming to see my best friend smile.

"Now for the group hug," Adrien says, however I stopped them.

My fingers expertly took my contacts off and closed my eyes after. Slowly I dug my fingers under my blue wig cap and pulled.

I took a deep shaky breath and opened my light copper eyes.

"Happy New Year's," I say softly as I let the wig drop carelessly to the ground. I pulled back some strands of my dark brown hair away from my face before I was pulled into a fierce hug.

"Happy New Year's," Adrien says just as softly. Plagg joined soon and it felt right. And I felt safe and warm.

"You look really pretty, Jolene. With or without wigs and contacts," Adrien says as we pull apart.

"Thank you, but I don't wear those for that reason," I smiled sadly. "But anyways," I clear my throat. "Let's go to sleep so that we can watch the parade early. Okay?"

"Okay," he nods.

Morning was filled with the scent of cheesy omelets with bacon and freshly made orange juice and glorious coffee.

"I'm just saying that you should sing more often," Adrien points his fork in my direction. "You're a really good singer."

"I know that," I answered simply, "But I'm not going to join the school's choir at all."

"But you'll be good. The best even." He's not going to give up, is he?

"My dream career is in animation, not singing," I point out. "Plus, I might accidentally sound too much like Sea Queen."

Adrien's eyes light up before looking at me sheepishly, "I didn't think that."

"But it was nice for you to tell me that," I offered.

To be honest, I didn't realize I was singing along my good morning playlist until I saw Adrien and Plagg grinning.

It was a little bit embarrassing for the fact that I was singing 'Party in the USA', but then I got over it. It's not like I'm horrible. I'm very good, going by the millions of loving messages that my fans give me when I make covers for songs.

"But would you sing more often here?" Plagg asks. "I really like hearing you. It makes me happy."

Awww…

"Sure, I just have to be in the mood, though," I smiled.

"Good enough!" They both said and I laughed.

Once breakfast was finished, Adrien helped me clean up while I put on some music.

And based on popular demand, I was singing along to every song that went through.

But on the condition that next time we have a karaoke night. Including Plagg to participate in at least one song.

The doorbell rang.

We looked at the clock and Adrien frowned briefly.

"You get your stuff while I get it," I say as I take off my cobbler apron.

I open the door and see Giles.

"Good morning and Happy New year. Come on in, Adrien is getting his stuff," I greeted as I moved aside for him to get through.

He gave me a small smile before he walked in and waited by the couch.

A minute later, Adrien walked in.

Giles' face softened and he took the pack in his hand.

"I'll talk to you soon," Adrien offers.

"Okay, you both take care," I reply as I look at him and Giles.

Then they walked away and I closed the door after them.

My music was still playing, but now instead of bringing me comfort, it was a reminder that I'm alone again.

I gently slap my cheeks, "Get a hold of yourself. You have things to do."

So I went to take a shower before I start working on my new video and my new short film.

I'm still working on the script and the details, but it's going to be about service dogs and their humans.

Omake 6

Adrien and Jolene are my best friends. It's like having the best of both worlds.

But sometimes I feel that they are closer than they are with me.

However, when I feel that, they do something to get me out of that funk.

We hang out at arcades.

The three of us compete against each other in ski ball, DDR, PAC-Man and more.

We go to the movies. Though we learned really quickly not to go to any horror films unless we want to be the victims of Jolene's impressively strong grip. She's a lot stronger than what her shortness suggests. I swear my hand couldn't hold a pencil without aching.

We go out to eat whatever comes to mind.

And they are pretty chill when I bring Chris over.

I'm starting to think that my little bro has a crush on Jolene. He acts so friendly with her. Not like the babysitters he's had before.

But to be honest, Jolene just has this cool and chill vibe. Especially around kids. She entertained my little brother by teaching him how to properly draw robots and telling him stories when I asked her to help me babysit him.

But I think the real hooker was when she made those bomb chocolate chip cookies. They're the most delicious cookies I have ever tasted.

It's fun to be with them. And it's my duty as their best friend to make sure that we are all happy. It's already a bummer that both of them were lonely before me.

So I'm going to be there to help them realize that we are going to be for each other no matter what.

AN: Thank you to PrincessJV, Sarcastic Black Cat, Shannon the chameleon, RavynKitsuneHu, and Shadowing for following/favorited this story. I'm so happy to see that people are still interested in this story.

Thank you so much again, you guys are amazing.

And as an apology for this short chapter, I drew to the best of my ability how I imagine Jolene. So she's officially on this story's cover image. And let me tell you, respect and admiration to the people who are professionals using digital art.