The Identity Problem •Luka x Reader x Adrien•

Loop

I take a deep breath, readying myself to navigate through the crowd of socialites and low-level celebrities. When a man in a tailored suit approaches me.

"Can I help you to your seat ma'am?"

"Oh yes, let me check what number I am."

I take out my phone and check the message from Caleb, which is a simple number six.

"I'm table six, I believe."

"Right this way ma'am."

The man leads me down the grand set of stairs into the thick of the party, narrowly avoiding a waiter with a tray of drinks. Swiftly moving around the dance floor to a table on the outside of the dance floor.

'I don't even want to know how much Poppy paid or who she sweet-talked to get these seats.'

Luka and Caleb are notably missing when I arrive, just Juelka sitting pretty at the round table. I thank the usher before he can run off to help others, he offers a polite nod.

"The boys ditch you?"

She nods as I slip into a seat next to her, she seems a little anxious but I can't blame her. This environment is overwhelming at best. I stood up as abruptly as I sat.

"Come on, let's do a turn of the room."

I hold out my hand cheesily to Juleka, bowing slightly.

"Shall we?"

The tension loosens in her shoulders a bit and she takes my hand with a giggle. I link arms with her and use my other hand to grab my dress and we begin to promenade for lack of a better term. Making our way through groups of people, I whisper to her about each, especially the ones our age.

"That's August Redmond, son of a billionaire. His mother hit it big in the medical field, she owns the largest production company of vaccine glass vials in the world. Her son unfortunately has the personality of a brick and the attitude of an entire anger management class."

Juleka conceals her giggle behind her hand. We both quickly glance at the boy at the table, he has curly ginger hair gelled into strict ringlets and a Rolex that will blind you if the light hits it the right way. There's a girl to his right with long black hair expertly pulled into a high ponytail.

"Vivian Miller, her family dominates the medical services field in the United States. She is as uptight as her slick back. I saw her purposely step on a girl's dress last year."

"She doesn't look very nice."

"Best to stay away."

She looks around wearily, subconsciously pulling me tighter to her side.

"Is there anyone here that is nice?"

"Don't get me wrong those other ones will be nice to your face, but there are a few chill ones like-"

"Y/n!"

As if I conjured him up by mere thought. Tai glides to the two of us from where he stands against the wall with a few friends who are somewhat familiar to me.

"It's been forever, how are you?"

He brings me in for a polite hug, I smile politely and follow the societal script.

"I'm good, I hope things haven't been too crazy while I was gone?"

"You don't even know the half of it. Who's your friend?"

I pull the purple-haired girl closer to me at the mention of her. She smiles shyly at the boy.

"This is my friend Juleka, we go to school together."

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Tai."

Tai Lockridge to be exact. The son of a computer hardware company CEO, lower on the totem pole than Vivian and August. Which is probably why he isn't completely grating to be around.

"We're currently promenading around the room. Would you like to join?"

"Would I? I think you mean, shall we?"

He matches my accent and begins to walk in step with us. We aren't even a minute in and he starts to gossip.

"You've been the talk of the city recently, lots of gossip after you posted those pictures with the Agreste kid."

"That's all anyone will talk to me about. Teen Connection Weekly was trying to interview me about him."

"All this over Adrien? Sounds like they're in on the bet too."

Juleka spoke to me in sarcastic French, much to Tai's dismay. I stuck out my tongue at her.

"Unfair, I want to know what you guys are talking about. Gossip isn't fun unless you're in the loop."

He barely dodges a waiter in his path. Spinning on his heels then spotting a separate group sitting closer to the walls of the hall. His eyes light up, his interest caught.

"Hey, keep me in the loop, will you? I'm going to go say hi."

"Sure thing, go get yourself a man."

He shook his head with a bashful grin, giving my arm a pinch then gliding on to his next conquest.

"He's...interesting, but nicer than I expected."

"See nothing to worry about you are doing great! Your brother, however..."

She punches my shoulder lightly but can't conceal the giggle that escapes her lips. We've made a full circle around the room and as we approach I can see there are multiple other people sitting at our table now. Adrien, Felix, Mrs. Fathom, Mr. Agreste, and Poppy. The latter three are chatting it up, drinks in hand.

"Let's steer this ship to the bar."

"What don't want another awkward conversation with Adrien's family?"

Juleka snickers and blows a strand of purple hair out from between her eyes."Let's try to keep those at a minimum tonight."