The Bug Bites

22-Only me

Alya was frustrated.

Marinette hadn't made any romantic progress in relation to her and Adrien's relationship, and it had been four years.

They were almost in college, and there was no way in hell she was going to let her best friend move onto ESMOD without getting with the love of her life.

That was probably why when an advertisement for an app with a red background and a white fire emote appeared on her screen, she couldn't help but be enticed.

Alya clicked on the Download button on her screen and watched as the blue circle filled, tapping her fingers on the table impatiently. She'd never tried dating apps, but the app did have four stars..

Not five, but she'd try her luck.

Her eyes lit up as it fully downloaded, turning from a nearly opaque color to a vivid and bright one.

This was going to be fun.

-----

"Absolutely not." Marinette rolled her eyes as her best friend pouted, shaking her arm vigorously. "I thought we both established that dating apps are stupid and useless!"

Alya huffed. "But Marinette-"

"No! It's been four years, why are we still stuck on this?"

"Because you still love him?"

Marinette paused, looking away so that Alya couldn't see the blush spreading on her cheeks. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

In her defense, she had been a lot better about his crush, but recently she couldn't help but be attracted to him.

She couldn't help but be in love with the way he spoke so warmly to her, as though she was precious to him.

She couldn't help but be miserable that he still saw her as just a friend.

"We both know you're still infatuated with him, Mari."

Marinette gave Alya a light glare. "I'm not infatuated."

Alya shrugged. "You still have a crush, so why don't we try this dating app thing to help you get over him?"

Marinette stared at her for a few moments before sighing. "Fine-"

She's cut off by a squeal and being tackled to the floor. "Yay! Adrien and Nino will be coming over any moment now!"

Her face paled. "Adrien and Nino?"

She was cut off by the doorbell of her apartment ringing.

She was screwed.

-----

Adrien wasn't sure why Nino had frantically texted him on a Saturday morning to go to Marinette's place for an 'urgent matter.'

But the minute he saw the expression on Alya's face once she opened the door, he knew he was in for some trouble.

He could faintly hear Marinette groaning and held back a wince. Did she not want to hang out with him?

His worries were temporarily put aside as she walked out of her bedroom door, a smile on her face though it was quite obvious she was plotting something. He had learned far too many times that she had an ulterior motive most of the time.

"Welcome," Alya said with a smirk, gesturing towards Marinette's living room, which smelled like a mix of vanilla and strawberry. "Marinette's getting a candle from the back room, but she'll be back in a bit."