Adrien sprinted down the hallway, not wanting to be late for class. Oh why had he thought they could go to the cheese shop and Starbucks all before school? Well, first off, it was the only way to get Plagg to stop whining, and Adrien had been up late looking at the Lady blog.
Straightening his hair so it didn't look windblown, he walked into the classroom with composure. Alya watched Adrien drop into his seat with a whew. Marinette had told her all about "Buttercup" and wanted to have some fun. She ignored Marinette as she leaned over to talk to the boys who were doing a fist bump. "Late again, Buttercup?" she sang.
Seated next to her, Marinette wanted to die and slowly sank lower in her seat. Adrien went rigid. How did Alya know about that? With lack of sleep, Adrien answered. "Yeah, I….?" Wait. Buttercup. That was Marinette's code name for the boy she liked, right? At least, that was she had told him as Cat Noir. "What did you just call me?" "Sugar and icing," Marinette mumbled, now curled on the floor.
"Buttercup," Alya said, casually. "Don't you like the nickname?" "Kitty" yes, and sometimes "Fur ball" because that's what he was when Naughty Tail Mode activated. But Buttercup?! "Do I look like a buttercup?" Marinette gave a small giggle, suddenly picturing Adrien as a buttercup flower, waving in the sunlight. She climbed back in her seat. "Your hair is as pretty as a buttercup!" "I mean, your not a flower but…." Marinette blushed hard as Adrien stared at her. She played with her fingers as she mumbled, "So, no you aren't a flower but it does suit you."
Wait, was he Buttercup? As in Adrien Agreste? Or as Cat Noir? Why were girls so confusing? "I'm sorry, Marinettte, I missed all of that." "If I were a flower, why Buttercup?" Way to go, Agreste, er, Buttercup. Curious Cat Mode On.
Marinette squirmed. "I-guess...because I've been called Bluebell?" she squeaked. "Cool."
After class, Adrien caught up with her in the hallways. "Marinette?" Marinette turned. "If I was a Buttercup, I'd love for the Bluebell to be my best friend." He gently stroked one of her pigtails and walked away.
He still wasn't sure who Buttercup was, but it was started to grow on him.