Part 4: Valentine's Day
Nathan woke up early the next morning. He stared at his clock, 14th Feb. He heaved an exhausted sigh. He changed his clothes and went downstairs for breakfast.
"Morning…" he greeted his parents.
"Good morning, Nathanael," his mother replied.
Nathan reached for the cereal box. He started to munch on his breakfast. His mother approached him with a glass of orange juice. She put it beside him.
"So, any plan for Valentine's day?" the woman asked.
The boy almost choked his food. "W-What? Why?" he asked.
The father chuckled at his reaction. "Don't get us wrong, but we started to believe that the girl you always draw is real and that you've met her."
"Yeah, you drawings and paintings of hers are the most beautiful ones we've ever seen," the wife agreed.
Nathan blushed at their statement. He continued eating without countering their words. The parents were even more convinced that he knows the girl. After breakfast, Nathan took his stuff and rushed to the college to meet up with his art teacher.
"Good morning, Nathanael," the teacher greeted him.
"Good morning, Sir. I came here for the assignment you told me about," Nathan said.
"Ah, yes. Have a seat," the middle aged man gestured to a chair.
Ashley kept on pestering Katherine to teach her how to make chocolates. The older girl just laughed at the sight. Ashley seemed so desperate. Dylan coaxed her too, trying to reason with her.
"Fine, I will teach you...only if you listen properly," Katherine said to her soon to be in-law.
Ashley nodded rapidly. She followed every steps Katherine told her diligently. In two hours, a chocolate shaped like a ribbon was done. The oranged haired squealed at her success. Katherine smiled at the girl. She turned to look at her fiance who nodded to her.
"Well, we're off now," Dylan announced.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Ashley asked.
"I need to see the location of my next concert, which is tonight…" the brother replied.
Ashley nodded. "Good luck!"
"Stay out of trouble," her brother reminded her.
The girl nodded once. She got ready to head out herself. Adrian's bodyguard was going to pick him up from the college. She decided to tag along. Nathalie noticed the box she as holding.
"Who's that for?" she asked curiously.
"Adrian's friend…" the girl replied, faintly blushing.
They reached the college. Adrien and Marinette were already at the front gate. Ashley greeted her cousin with a hug. Her eyes darted around in search of someone. The young couple smiled at the girl. Adrien spotted a certain redhead which he knew that his cousin was looking for.
"Hey, Nathan! Got a minute?" he called.
Startled, the redhead froze. He looked over his shoulder and saw Adrien and his fiancee, and another girl. He made his way to them, walking rather awkwardly. Ashley blinked at him before looking away. Adrian nudged his cousin to start talking. Marinette pulled Adrian to the car, leaving Ashley and Nathan alone. Nathan felt even more nervous.
"I think I should go…" he muttered.
Ashley grabbed the hem of his jacket before he could go. Nathan looked at her. She shove the chocolate into his hands and ran back to the car. Nathan took some time to process what was in his hands. He blushed furiously when he found out what it was.
"Satisfied?" Adrien asked Ashley.
Ashley nodded rapidly. "We need to get to Dylan's concert…" she changed the topic.
Adrien suddenly received a text message. He quickly replied it. They headed straight to the funfair where Dylan's second concert was going to be held. Adrien and Marinette enjoyed the rides at the funfair while Ashley played some of the games at the booth. It was soon time for the concert. Of course, the three and Katherine got VIP tickets. A few people who recognized Ashley started asking for her autograph and pictures. Adrien had to be her bodyguard but that turned out for the worst. He was caught in their trap too.
"Sorry about this…" Ashley sighed.
"That's a lot of chocolate…" Marinette remarked.
In Adrian hands were dozens of boxes of chocolates from his fans. He chuckled nervously. Ashley suddenly had an idea.
"We can use it to make chocolate cookies, chocolate cakes and cupcakes?" she said.
All of them laughed at her statement. Marinette patted the girl's head.
"That's a great idea! I'll ask my Papa to do that…" she said, still laughing.
Ashley sat down on the sofa in Adrien's room, drying her hair after a bath. Plagg flew up to her, resting on her lap. The girl smiled at the kwami.
"No scouting tonight?" she asked him.
"No, they're both pretty tired," Plagg replied.
Ashley nodded. Her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up.
"Hello, Ashley speaking," the girl greeted the caller.
"H-Hello...it's me…" a familiar voice was heard.
Ashley's face fumed up of embarrassment. She didn't realize she was squeezing Plagg.
"Nathanael?" she blurted.
"Yeah. S-Sorry to bother you…" Nathan said.
"Oh, no. Not all…" Ashley replied in a stutter.
Meanwhile, Nathan was in his bedroom. He sat on the bed, mesmerized by Ashley's voice. He waited for a few minutes before saying what he wanted to say.
"I heard that you have a painting session coming?"
Ashley lied on the sofa. "Y-Yeah. I asked the art teacher at Adrien's college to find me an artist."
"Ummm...I sorta took the job…" he said.
Ashley sat up so abruptly that Plagg fell of her lap and onto the floor. "R-Really?!"
"Y-Yeah. So can we...ummm...meetup to discuss further?" he asked.
"Yes, yes. Of course! I'd be happy to!" she replied, excited.
"Then, tomorrow noon at the park? I don't have class that time," Nathan blurted.
Nodding, Ashley replied, "Yes, yes! I will meet you there!"
They both hung up. Adrien was standing at his door. He smirked at the girl's excitement. She hugged him. Knowing Adrien, he must've been the one who gave Nathan her phone number.
"Thank you for this opportunity," she hummed.
Ashley put on her best dress that day and wore knee-high boots. She asked the bodyguard to send her there. Dylan insisted on coming which actually amused his fiancee. She decided to head out with her future mother-in-law for a shopping spree.
"You don't have to come you know," she complained.
"Of course, I do. To scare him," Dylan joked.
Nathan was there with a small sketchpad, probably to jot down notes. He froze when he saw Dylan. Ashley made an apologetic face.
"Sorry, he insisted in coming," she said.
"I understand," Nathan muttered.
Dylan smiled. "I'll go get myself some ice-cream. Don't do anything to her," he pointed a finger at Nathan.
"Yes, sir…" Nathan replied, nervous.
"So, let's discuss," Ashley said.
They both sat down on the bench he just sat. Ashley started talking about the painting session. Nathan's eyes caught the wristlet she was wearing. He looked up. Their eyes met. Ashley looked away immediately. Nathan stared at his sketchpad.
"What was it again?" he asked.
"Uhh...on the last day of the funfair, in front of the fountain," she said.
Jotting everything down, he replied, "Right, right. Concept?"
"A girl who is falling in love...with the funfair, the people there…" Ashley explained.
"In...love…" Nathan jot down.
He stole a glance at her and blushed. Ashley blushed too. Before she could say more, her brother shoved a vanilla ice-cream cone in front of her. He handed Nathan the chocolate flavour. He sat beside his sister.
"Let's take a break," Ashley said, smiling.
"Okay…" Nathan replied.
They sat there and ate their ice-cream quietly. Dylan was amused at how awkward the two young lovebirds were.