Miraculous Tales

23)♭αк℮ ﹩αℓ℮

It was the end of class for the day as Marinette slung her backpack over her shoulder with a big smile on her face. She was going to hang out with Alya today to do the preparations for the fundraiser tomorrow, Saturday, where she would also get to see Adrien.

Just before students could file out the door, Mrs. Bustier called for their attention. "Just a reminder, class, don't forget to be here at ten in the morning, sharp, tomorrow."

Léa hastily crunched her papers in her bag and slapped her binders shut. "What's the rush?" Marinette asked.

"I have a new babysitting job and I have to be there right away and of course it's on the other side of Paris!" She rambled before making a beeline for the hallway.

"Good luck!" Marinette hollered over the loud chatters around the room.

Alya finally turned to her friend and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry, Marinette, but something came up. I know I said I could help you and your parents for the bake sale, but a family matter just came up," she explained. As a certain blonde model was gathering his books, he couldn't help but overhear.

"What do you mean?" The designer asked, eyebrows wrinkling as her heart sank.

"My big sister is in town only for a few days and it's not often I get to see her...I know it's short notice but she surprised us. I'm sorry, girl, I promise I'll make it up to you."

Nino was listening in as well and cut in. "I didn't know you had a big sister, Alys!" The blogger nodded before turning back to her bff. "Yeah...sorry again." Marinette only nodded back. "I understand, don't worry about it. I'll manage," she sighed.

"Maybe I could help?"

Marinette perked at the voice and spun around to see Adrien waiting with his best pal, Nino. He noticed how her face immediately brightened at his offer, which made him glad that he could help. "That is, if you want me to-"

"Yes!"

Marinette became a little flustered at how desperate she may have sounded, but it only made her beloved crush chuckle. "I'd love that...er-I mean, it'd be great!"

"Great, my photo shoot is pretty short today, how about I drop by in an hour?"

She gave him a meek nod in response.

Nino looked up from his phone. "Hey, I can help too-" Alya bore a forbidding stare into his skull "-...if only my cat wasn't sick," he fibbed, eyes nervously darting away. Adrien raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have a cat?"

"Yeah, Nino, you don't have a cat," Alya reminded, her threatening stare fixed on him as if he were a chicken, and she, a fox. "Maybe I am going to get one," he muttered with gritted teeth.

"But you hate cats," Marinette pointed out.

"Yeah, Nino...you hate cats," the brunette repeated lowly, telepathically screaming at him for his sucky excuses. Her stare intensified. Nino broke into a cold sweat. He suddenly threw his hands in the air. "Look, dudes, I just got stuff to do!!" He exclaimed in a panic, then scrambled out of the room. Adrien and Marinette eyes met before they shared a look of confusion.

"What was that about?" Adrien asked.

Alya shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'll go ask him." She neatly folded her hands in front of her and calmly exited out the open doorway, leaving her friends the only two there.

"Um...uh, okay then," Marinette awkwardly said to break the silence. "I, uh, I'll-uh...I guess I'll see you later, huh?"

Adrien nodded with a bright beam. She felt her mind melt into a puddle of goo at his adorable smile and couldn't help but reflect it. "Yeah, I'll see ya," he confirmed, giving her a friendly wave after slinging his bag onto his shoulder. While he was walking towards the door, a lovesick Marinette was busy blowing him tons of kisses behind his back.