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Marinette arrived at the arcade after school alongside Alya.
Marinette had tried to get in contact with Adrien once classes had ended but he was not responding. A twist of concern grew tighter in her chest. She wondered what dilemma he could be in right now.
Was he sick? Did something happen at home? Is he in the hospital? Why was he not responding?
Memories of her father laying deathly still on a hospital bed started to change with an unsettling image of Adrien in the same position. She couldn't go through that...not again. She didn't think her heart could handle someone else she cares for like that.
"No," Marinette denied in her mind, "I am just overthinking things. Mister Agreste is fine, considering how often he ended up in trouble before we bonded. I am sure he can handle whatever is going on with him."
"Adrien! There you are!" Alya's voice broke through Marinette's anxious thoughts. The class president perked up instantly when spotting the said blonde looking at the two of them.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" Adrien asked.
He had gone over what he learned before he tuckered out last night and rescanned it this morning. He even went the extra mile and studied some more stuff instead of going to school (which he hoped the information wouldn't get back to his parents somehow).
Luckily, he didn't have to work today so he can study whatever proper mambo jumbo Marinette desired. He was going to be the bestest gentleman Marinette's grandparents will ever see!
For some reason, something within Marinette began to rumble in anger. She scolded her close friend before hitting him a bit rough on the head.
"Ow! What was that for?" Adrien complained, rubbing the top of his head.
Alya looked between the two before pointing over at the counter.
"So, I've gotta go work. I'll leave you two lovebirds to figure out your issues," she said, scampering off. Adrien blushed and glared at the retreating ombré-haired girl. Yet, Marinette wasn't paying the slightest attention to whatever her best friend had said.
She kept a sharp eye on Adrien.
"Do not "what is up" me! Do you know how worried I was, you imbecile? We tried to get in contact with you but no one heard a word!" Marinette yelled at him. Adrien raised his hands up in defense.
"Sorry! I turned my phone completely off so I could focus!" Adrien tried to make her understand. Marinette raised an eyebrow.
"Focus on what-" she stopped when noticing the books and papers on proper etiquette. She was stunned. Then, she let out a long sigh and placed a hand on her forehead.
"You did not," she said in a steady voice.
"Yes, I did," Adrien said her silent answer out loud. He carefully watched for any signs of her righteous rage or murderous intentions.
He jolted when seeing her shoulders shaking. This startled him, making him stand up to aid his crush.
"Marinette, are you okay? Are you crying?" He quickly asked, trying to figure out the impossible—a woman's mind.
He wanted to comfort her but didn't have the slightest clue what was wrong.
That's when he heard giggling.
Adrien raised an eyebrow in confusion as Marinette slowly started to erupt with laughter. He just stared at her, unknowing of what was happening.
"Is she okay in the head?" Adrien questioned himself before speaking up, "What's so funny?"
"You truly are a numbskull, Mister Agreste," Marinette said after calming down, "Next time, please keep your phone on or tell us the reason why you are skipping school. Studying properness is not a good reason to skip though."
Adrien gave a suave smile, placing his hands in his jacket's pockets.
"Were you worried about little olé me?" he teased, bumping Marinette's arm. This earned a grimace from Marinette, who looked at the floor with a frown.
"Well...yes, I was," she replied, shyly placing some hair behind her ear. Adrien felt guilty for joking around when she was actually afraid something might have happened to him. He scratched the back of his neck.
He nearly forgot what she went through with her father. Adrien must have scared her with her tendency to overthink (and has every right in doing so).
"I'm sorry. I'll make sure to keep you in the loop next time," the blonde promised. Marinette smiled. She was not sure what loops had anything to do with this (it probably being another saying). But she felt reassured by it.
"Please do. Also, you need to stop this habit of skipping school just for the sake of practicing," Marinette rebuked less harshly this time.
"Yes, Princess," he said in an almost sarcastic way. Marinette just shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Alright, let us take a seat and show me what you have learned," Marinette stated, sitting in the seat across from Adrien's. The blonde joined her while she set up the tableware in their proper places.
"How how much tableware is used for a formal dinner place setting?" Marinette asked.
"23," Adrien immediately answered. Marinette nodded in approval before continuing the test.
"What is the first step before eating?" She asked.
"Unfold a napkin and put it on your lap," he said.
"Very good. Now, we shall move on to the harder part of the test. I would like you to name what every utensil is and what it is used for," Marinette said.
She was a bit hesitant with this part. Yesterday, Adrien had a tough time finding most of the utensils, even the simple dinner fork. She was really pushing him with naming and explaining their uses.
Yet, she was running very thin on time. Her grandparents will be arriving in one day. Marinette needed to shove as much properness and gentleman-like behavior in this buffoon she deemed as her dearest partner.
Although, she has seen this buffoon do difficult things that have surprised her. The gaming tournament is a good example. Adrien can be extraordinarily determined when he puts his mind to something and accomplished it with flying colors!
Marinette believes in Adrien.
She has complete faith in him.
Adrien is due for greatness when he truly tries on a set goal.
And here they are, facing the odds once again, and Adrien is proving how astounding he can be. He was rattling off from all the forks to the glasses in detail on their purposes.
"Brilliant, Mister Agreste!" Marinette exclaimed, practically shining with joy, "I have one last question for you. Which one is the salad fork?"
Adrien's ego was through the roof at this point and his confidence spilling over the brim. He was so self-assured that he could find the right fork with his eyes closed.
And so he did. He continued to keep his posture straight and puffed out his chest. He pointed his finger down at what he undoubtedly knew was the salad fork.
"This one," he said.
Marinette raised an eyebrow.
"Mister Agreste?"
"Yes?" Adrien asked, still so high on confidence that he didn't hear the questioning tone in her voice.
"I do not believe the half-eaten, American ground beef sandwich with a slice of Camembert is a utensil," Marinette told the blonde.
Adrien opened one of his eyes to see that he was pointing at the half-eaten cheeseburger he ordered during their session.
"I knew that," Adrien quickly said, now with both eyes open, "Just...making sure you were paying attention!"
Marinette couldn't help the giggles that escaped.
"Or maybe you need to keep your eyes open," she retorted in a joking manner. Adrien huffed before looking over at the pretty raven-haired girl across the table.
"Believe me, Princess. You already opened my eyes," he thought.
"What was that, Mister Agreste?" Marinette asked, "I couldn't hear your mumble over all the ruckus."
Adrien's breathing nearly stopped, realizing he said that out loud. He began to inwardly panic but tried his best to keep his chill on the outside.
"I s-said let's play some games before we leave!" he lied, his cheeks flaring with heat.
"That is a marvelous idea!" Marinette agreed. Her features shifted into fondness, making Adrien wonder what she was thinking at the moment.
"It is crazy to think that you used to perform illegal acts and mingle with the wrong people," she spoke, genuinely.
"You have shown tremendous growth since the underground gaming tournament. I truly believe I am sitting with the real Adrien Agreste right now."
Adrien felt another arrow out of many others pierce him directly in the heart again. He couldn't lie. He felt a lot better than he did after his mother passed away. When he stole something from stores or vandalized stuff around Paris, guilt didn't trail too far behind him in his path of destruction.
He felt more...true to himself now like he was when his mother was around. It's as if his mother's presence had never left in the first place and guided him to Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The one who helped him out of the deep, dark hole he had been digging for years.
Even though that hole was still there, it was slowly being filled. Not only by Marinette but by everyone he cares for.
"A wonderful suggestion, Mister Agreste," Marinette replied, "But before we partake in such activities, I do have a question for you."
"What is it?" Adrien asked. He finally managed to calm himself down after that moment of panic. He was very lucky Marinette is completely oblivious to the obvious signs of his crush on her.
"I have a council meeting for the dance tomorrow after school that will take an hour. If you do not mind waiting, I would like to invite you over for dinner. We can practice your gentleman skills and rehearse with my parents," Marinette explained, "Is that alright?"
Adrien smiled until the moment she mentioned her parents. He was paralyzed. It was as if an icy bucket of water was poured over his skin but a little bit of sweat began to form on his brow.
"Oh God," he thought, "I'm already meeting her parents!"
On the outside, Adrien stood stock-still without a hint of worry on his face. But within his mind, there was complete and total chaos.
"This is moving way too fast! What should I do? Is there any way I can back out? No, this needs to be done! For Marinette!" he continued, frazzled, "Then, do I wear nice clothes, put cologne on, stuff a bag of breath mints in my inner jacket's pocket, bring flowers? I wonder if I'll need to gel my hair down?"
"Mister Agreste, you are looking a little pale. Are you feeling well?" Marinette asked, placing her hands on his cheeks and forehead. She was checking for any abnormal temperature difference.
This only made Adrien blush a deep red all the way to the tips of his ears from how cute Mari worried over his wellbeing.
"Oh my, your face is extremely warm and your face is all flushed," Marinette pointed out his "symptoms."
Adrien practically stopped for a split second. Stopped moving. Stopped breathing. Stopped his racing thoughts. Heart stopped beating. Stomach stopped in mid-flip.
"N-No! I'm okay! It-It's all good! I'm completely normal! I don't have any feelings—sicknesses!" the blonde scrambled his explanation.
Marinette's wide eyes blinked from Adrien's sudden jumpiness. It was as if he was hiding something from her but it was an odd way of denying his hidden thoughts. She decided not to go any further to question his strange behavior.
They are already short on time as is. She really wanted to play some games with her best friend before possibly never being able to again.
Still, she did not want to overexert Adrien if he was sick and lying to her just to make her happy. So, she asked again out of concern, "Are you sure you are okay?"
Adrien took a deep breath in and released it.
"Yes, I'm positively pregnant—perfect! I meant perfect!" Adrien stammered again. He must still be reeling from his moment of panic. Marinette chuckled at her friend's behavior. Adrien knew just how to make her laugh and reassure her that everything would be okay.
They had each other's back and had trust in the other. That's what makes them an awesome team.
"Okay, I believe you," Marinette gave in, "I am going to go get a few tokens. I shall be right back."
Once Marinette had left, Adrien hit himself in the head.
"Wow, I didn't think you had it in you to lie to Marinette," Alya said, having heard the entire conversation and trying very hard not to laugh. The blonde narrowed his eyes at the ombré-haired teen.
"I didn't lie!" He replied, feeling accused for no reason. He wondered how long she had been listening and how much she heard. Knowing his luck, she probably overheard every detail. It was the reporter in her.
Nino walked over with a water bottle and Lunchables. Alya had forgotten to bring some supper and her boyfriend offered to go get something for her at a nearby store. He gave the necessities to her before looking between the two.
"Thank you, babe," Alya said, gratefully and pecked his cheek. Nino smiled, his cheeks growing rosy.
"What'd I miss?" He asked his girlfriend, wondering why Adrien was giving Alya the stink eye.
"Adrien lied to Marinette," she explained, earning a gasp from Nino.
"No way," he dramatically replied, catching onto the teasing game.
"I did not!" Adrien scoffed.
"Yes, you did! You are sick! But I can't tell if it's from love or maybe it's from your morning sickness. You did say that you were positively pregnant," Alya teased, a sly smirk on her lips.
Nino cackled and Adrien glared daggers at the she-devil standing behind the counter. That woman was pure evil!
"So, is it a boy or a girl?" Nino laughed.
"Nino!" Adrien whined, betrayed by the DJ.
"I have returned!" Marinette announced her return. Her excitement was made evident, practically radiating off the raven-haired teen. However, her cheerful smile when noticing the situation.
"Did I miss something?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. Adrien couldn't help finding it adorable.
"Nothing much, girl," Alya shrugged, "Why don't you and Romeo go play some games?"
"Romeo?" Marinette questioned, raising an eyebrow, "Who is that?"
Adrien had to hide his face in the palms of his hands from how crimson his face was turning once again. Couldn't he just get a break? Alya and Nino had to do everything in their power not to let a laugh slip.
"Forget what I said. Run along and play to your heart's content!" Alya said, shooing her best friend. Marinette narrowed her eyes in suspicion at all three of her friends before finally deciding to go play some games.
Adrien took a moment to calm down, letting his face cool and heart return to its normal pace. He was about to follow Marinette when Alya spoke up again. Yet, she had a serious tone laced in her voice.
"You better tell her how you feel, just in case your plan fails."
Adrien froze, a frown now etching his lips. He bowed his head as an already knotted ache tightened within him.
The dreadful thought of failing and watching Marinette leave had plagued his mind. He tried to ignore that thought. But it always came around again and again and again as a reminder of what would happen if they were caught.
Those thoughts twisted and tangled together, creating tight, painful sensations in his abdomen.
Alya was right. If they did fail, it was now or never to tell Marinette his feelings. He'd regret it if he didn't get it off his chest.
"Yeah, I know," he murmured before joining Marinette at the Space Invaders game.
Adrien softly smiled, watching her gleefully play the game. She was trained on the screen and he could tell she was focused due to her tongue poking out from the side of her mouth.
He placed his hands in his jacket's pockets and leaned up against the wall nearby.
"So, are you trying to beat your high score?" he asked.
"Yes. I have not played this game in many years. I wanted to return to it and beat my last high score to see how much I improved," Marinette explained, eyes still trained on the screen. The blonde teen hummed in acknowledgment before a wicked idea clicked in his brain.
He casually moved to Marinette's side, trying to not look suspicious. Yet, he didn't have to try since the class president was entrapped in the game. With a smirk, Adrien poked her side.
Marinette jumped a few feet in the air at the sudden touch. This resulted in losing her concentration and the game. Marinette stared at the screen in befuddlement before narrowing her eyes at Adrien, who was trying not to laugh.
"How dare you interrupt a lady trying to beat her high score, you dolt!" she growled, earning a few chuckles from Adrien.
"Oh m-man, you practically fl-flew through the air," Adrien laughed, "Are you that ticklish?"
Marinette stopped. Her bluebell eyes expanded and she closed her mouth. That pretty much gave Adrien all the answers he needed. Another devious smile appeared on his face.
"You do not dare, Mister Agreste," Marinette warned. Yet, it was a feeble warning when she began backing away as the blonde slowly approached her with wiggling fingers.
"Don't dare me to what, Princess?" Adrien asked, innocently. Marinette tried to make a run for it but Adrien had fast reflexes. He caught the raven-haired beauty around the waist and entrapped her in his arms.
He began to scramble his fingers at her sides, making her yelp with laughter. She tried to use whatever strength she had (considering she was weakened by laughter) and free herself from his grip.
"Mister Agreste! Stop...stop this at o-once!" She squealed. Adrien couldn't help chuckling. His smile was like a stubborn stain that wouldn't wipe off his face.
Alya and Nino watched their best friends fondly from the sidelines. They couldn't help feeling light at the sight of the two being goofy (especially the supposed prim lady). Yet, a bit of a sorrowful worry lingered in the air as well.
"I hope it all works out in the end," Nino spoke with concern, "I'd hate to watch Adrien fall back into his old, damp hole after finally crawling out of it. It's all thanks to Marinette he came out."
Alya hummed in agreement, "I'd hate to see Marinette go too. She is finally living a normal life and it could all be taken away if their plan goes amiss."
"Hopefully, things will turn out for the better in the end," Nino said, earning a nod from his girlfriend. The two silently watched for a minute Adrien and Marinette.
"Ten euros Marinette accidentally hits him in the balls somehow during their tussle," Alya betted, sipping her water bottle.
"Deal," Nino replied.
Not even a second later, Adrien is bent over in pain. A sporadically apologizing and scolding Marinette helped him to a nearby table.
And poor Nino had become ten euros less.
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"What do you think?" Marinette asked Alya, showing her the layout for the dance. They were currently in the cafeteria for lunch.
Marinette and the rest of the council members managed to finish the plans early and will be starting to gather the supplies at the after-school meeting.
Alya scanned the layout in approval.
"It looks really good, girl," Alya complimented, "I can't wait to go! This'll be my first school dance! Plus, I've got a hot date."
"I assume you are referring to Mister Lahiffe as your "hot date?" Marinette said, air quoting Alya's words.
"Of course it is! Who else do you think I would be talking about?" the ombré-haired teen questioned. Marinette shrugged, unknowingly.
"Well, don't you have a date too?" Alya asked. Marinette grimaced at her best friend's words. Finding a date for the dance was the last thing on Marinette's mind. She had more things to worry over than such a trivial thing at the moment. She might be in China the day the dance commences.
"My search for a date is the least of my concerns at the moment...unfortunately," Marinette bitterly spoke, "It would have been my first school dance too."
Alya frowned, feeling sympathetic for Marinette. Before the problem of Marinette's grandparents coming for her birthday week, she was ecstatically overjoyed to attend the dance. She had been looking forward to it so much so that she spent months designing and sewing a dress for it.
All the enthusiasm and hard work could possibly be all for nothing.
Yet, Alya wasn't going to let Marinette give up on that dream!
"Don't worry! You two got this and you'll be walking hand in hand into the dance with blondie," Alya reassured.
Marinette felt assured before raising an eyebrow, "Who is this "blondie" character you speak of?"
Alya shrugged, hiding a grin, "Don't know. I just imagine your date being blonde, I guess."
Marinette hummed in acknowledgment. Speaking of blondes, bluebell eyes watched the brattiest one practically jump onto the one in a black leather jacket.
"Adrikins! Do you want to be my date to the dance?" Chloe asked, trying to sound flirty but ended up being annoying. Adrien had a look of discomfort on his face while keeping his lunch tray steady enough not to spill his lunch.
Chloe wasn't angry with Adrien for very long after learning of his and Marinette's friendship. In fact, it only did the complete opposite. It made Chloe more determined to keep Adrien wrapped around her finger.
Marinette didn't have a clue why watching this display bothered her. She had seen Chloe drape herself on Adrien a million times before and felt nothing. Now, something bubbled within the bluebell-eyed teen's stomach.
Adrien had said something to Chloe, going unheard by Marinette due to the distance. Chloe pouted before stomping off with Sabrina in tow.
Adrien finally arrived at the table and sat down.
"Chloe is just something else, isn't she?" Alya said.
"Yes. I do not quite understand why you deal with her now when you could not stand being near her before," Marinette added on. She had been really curious since Adrien shifted to better himself why he was trying to be nice to Chloe.
Adrien let out a sigh as he stabbed a cooked carrot with his fork.
"Chloe and I used to be childhood friends," he explained, "Nino is the only person who really knows that though."
Both Marinette and Alya gaped like fish out of water. Alya added to the dramatic effect with her spoon slipping out of her hand and clattering onto the tabletop.
"What?! Okay, now I need the deets," Alya said, intrigued, "What happened?"
Adrien scratched the back of his neck and glanced over where Chloe and Sabrina sat.
"Hey, dudes!" Nino greeted them until noticing Adrien's odd behavior. Nino sat down in confusion, "What did I miss?"
"Mister Agreste was just about to tell us about him and Chloe's past friendship," Marinette explained, earning a wide-eyed look from the aspiring DJ.
"Well, you see. Chloe and I used to be really close when we were younger until...something happened that sort of slowly tore me apart from her. She's been trying for ages to rekindle our friendship but I kept pushing her away..." Adrien explained, wistfully.
He slumped a bit in guilt, "I guess, I'm just trying to fix what I broke and be a better friend to her now. Although she's not the easiest person to deal with, Chloe's been there for me through some tough times when nobody else was. She was my only friend at that time. So...yeah..."
Adrien awkwardly shrugged after trailing off. He stared down at the lunch he barely touched, unable to look at his friends.
It was never easy for him to share his feelings like this with anyone. But he was still getting used to the concept that he could be vulnerable with his friends without receiving any backlash. It has been years since he was able to feel this kind of safety and lay down his shield.
Marinette's face scrunched up in wonder. What Adrien had dealt with in the past that he relied on someone like Chloe as a friend? She wanted to ask and know more. Yet, she knew that he would have said so in his explanation if he did want to share.
She bit down on her tongue, holding in her curiosity from escaping.
Marinette didn't miss the look Nino gave Adrien. It looked like sympathy, only making Marinette's curiosity itch more.
However, Marinette did smile.
"I think it is nice that you want to mend your broken bond with Chloe, even if she is...Chloe," Marinette explained, trying her best not to make Chloe sound unpleasant, "It is very sweet of you."
"Do you really think so or are you just saying that and are actually thinking that I'm nuts?" The blonde questioned, though it didn't stop the tint of pink that painted his cheeks.
"I really do believe so," she spoke, genuinely, "Maybe, you could teach her to grow as you did."
Adrien smiled at that. He could always rely on Marinette—the one person to cheer him on in a stadium of people against him.
Marinette not only believes Chloe can change to be better, she believes Adrien can be the one to teach the impossible to happen.
"She really is something special," Adrien thought, practically gazing at the raven-haired girl across from him with hearts in his eyes.
"I guess I better start searching for another gaming tournament," Nino joked, scrolling through his phone.
"Shut up, Bubble Boy," Adrien snickered, earning a look from the girls and a betrayed one from Nino. He narrowed his eyes at the blonde, silently accepting the challenge.
Nino scoffed, "I will not, Kitty Noir."
The boys glared at each other while the girls watched on in amusement.
"Mind laying down the details on those adorable nicknames?" Alya asked in a teasing manner. Marinette was doing her best not to laugh.
"It was our superhero names when we were younger but we swore never to speak of them again, you traitor," Nino said, pointing an accusing finger at Adrien, "Besides, bubbles are really cool."
"Yeah, your boyfriend had an obsession with bubbles...pretty sure he still does," Adrien explained.
"Careful, dude. Or I might let your secret slip too," Nino warned, earning a sharp look from Adrien. Yet, they both knew Nino would never rat out Adrien like that.
The two females could only shake their heads as the boys continued to butt heads until the end of lunch.
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