Only If I'm With You

Chapter 1

Nathaniel was walking to school, as usual. "Hey Nate! Wait up!" When he turned around to see where the sound was coming from, his heart beated rapidly. "Sorry for making you possibly late. I just thought it'd be fun to walk together" Marc came running up, catching his breath. "Oh yup.. No probs" Nathaniel shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. He signalled his friend to walk alongside him. For some reason, whenever he's with Marc, he starts blushing, and his heart begins to beat fast. Whenever they're just trying to make a comic together, he can't even concentrate properly. "..Nath? You alright?" Marc's voice broke into Nathaniel's thoughts. "Yeah, just uh.. Thinking it might rain today" The redhead quickly responded.

They both arrived at school, catching up to their other friends. "Nate! There you are! You haven't responded to any of my texts!" Alix came bounding along. Nathaniel was hesitant to follow her. Marc was a loner, so he didn't want to leave him, but the raven haired boy nodded, almost as if he was saying; "I'm alright. You can go". So he did.

Nathaniel had ear-plugs while sketching quietly at lunch in his classroom. When he did this, he forgot all about his problems, challenges, everything. He saw a figure nervously come in with a hoodie on. He knew very well who it was, so he took his ear-plugs out. "Hey Nate!" Marc waved shyly. "Hey Marc" Nathaniel waved back, tapping the spot beside him. The two met up because they needed to finish their Ladybug and Cat Noir comic. But.. Things seemed oddly tense, in a good way.

"S-so.. Why don't we have Ladybug going over to save Cat Noir, as the final scene for Chapter 26?" Marc suggested. "Nate?" Nathaniel was lost in thought, then he jerked up. "Huh? Sorry, I was uh... Daydreaming I guess" He mumbled, blushing a little. He started sketching the panels, while his friend started writing the story. Except, it was quiet. Maybe a little too quiet for innocent comic-making.

After a while, Alix and Marinette barged in the room. "Wussup Nate! And.. Is this the loner guy you're always with? Marc the freshman, right?" Alix winked, going up to the two. Marinette pulled her back. "Right! Alix, meet Marc! Marc, meet Alix!" She introduced innocently. Nathaniel cleared his throat. "Alix is my other best friend I was telling you about" He mumbled, looking a little flustered. Alix stared at him. "You're redder than usual. You have a fever or something?" She cocked her head, while Marc looked a little worried. However, Marinette looked more smug than ever. "I see what it is.." She smirked. Nathaniel immediately blushed even more, sinking in his chair.

Marinette bounced about in the classroom. "I know what it is~!" She teased. "You better not!" Nathaniel snapped, while Alix was chasing her, begging for Marinette to tell her. Marc just sat amidst the chaos. "Is there something I missed?" He blinked obliviously to his best friend. "Nothing.." Nathaniel responded, his face flushed. He didn't want to sound unfriendly, especially not to Marc. "Okay.." The raven haired boy responded slowly, still confused.