Miraculous Startline

Problem Party

~hello hello besties! huge thanks to my editor OlivierBlackwood  for the amazing work on this chapter! if you want the full experience... when a song is mentioned, play it as you read (if you can read with music of course)... bugout!~

When the doors opened to Adrien's house, Marinette immediately knew this was going to be one of the best nights of her life. The entire ceiling was decked with glittering disco balls and flashing lights. Groups of laughing teens passed by as spotlights lit their neon streaked hair. The music pulsed through them, like its own heart beat, sending rushes of adrenaline and excitement through the party goers.

Marinette and Alya entered the lounge, stepping over soda cans and avoiding a huge flying beachball making its way through the sky. The air was tight and hot, the aroma of perfume and deodorant lingering from the busy teens. The music shook the window panes, the bass vibrating deep in their chests. Alya was already bouncing to the beat, despite the dance floor being in the next room over. By the time Alya made her way to the middle of the lounge, she was full-on dancing.

Colored lights threw flashes of light across the room, highlighting the faces of cheering teens.
An electrifying atmosphere flooded the room as Marinette followed her friend. At every party there are two kinds of people- those who watch, and those who don't, problem is, they're usually best friends. So while Marinette observed the room, Alya had other plans. Dancing her way past a couch full of classmates, now including Chloe, she ushered Marinette to follow her.

Crisps crunched under their feet and laughter erupted in the room. A few snickers were heard behind them, followed by an object hitting Marinette's back. She spun around, looking for the assailant, only to find empty space, and hear the clatter of crisps as they fell to the floor. She rubbed her back, mentally hoping there were no grease spots on the back of her top. The clicks of pool balls hitting each other grew louder as they made their way to the dance floor.

'Bubblegum Bitch' began and screams of teens erupted. They were lucky these walls were pure concrete, or the police would've shown up from the sheer amount of noise. With a final tug from Alya, Marinette let loose on the dance floor, dancing her worries away. Arms flailing in the air above her, she whirled, her clumsy feet dancing unknown patterns on the floor. She couldn't remember the last time she had fun like this, the last time she had really let loose.

A hand grabbed her waist, swinging her backwards and dipping her, making her stomach take an unexpected flip. She was pulled back swung up into the air- flashing colours complimenting her beauty as eyes landed on her from the crowd. Held by her waist, she was brought down to face her partner. Her hair was held up in a clip with her bangs swept to the side, showing off her eyes. Adrien stood in front of her, smartly dressed in formal black trousers, and a smart black shirt. With his sleeves rolled up his hands gripped tightly onto Marinette's waist. He smiled, one side of his mouth crooked up as he took Marinette's hand and pulled her close.

Marinette swayed her hips to the beat, Adrien rocking along with her. They were so close together Marinette could feel his breath grazing the top of her head. Focused on each other, they ignored the prying eyes. A fire raged between them as the room began to spin. They were entranced by each other, their eyes full of desire. He pulled her closer, his breath on her neck, and melted into her. It was them. Marinette and Adrien. It was always them, they were endgame.

"They're looking at us." Marinette said, as her eyes floated across the room over Adrien's shoulder.

"Let them." Adrien said simply, spinning Marinette around and pulling her back into their embrace.

As more eyes landed on the pair some people cheered, some people scowled and some looked away. Chloe had gotten used to seeing Marinette and Adrien together, and as much as it pained her- she was moving on. But watching them in that moment sent jealousy though her, so she left. Pushing through the crowd, she barged through the door into the foyer. A wave of relief went through her as she took a breath of fresh air.

"Luka?" She asked as she noticed the blue-haired boy staring back at her from the staircase.

"Couldn't watch them either, huh?" He replied as his eyes trailed over her body.

Walking up the steps towards him, Luka studied Chloe's outfit. She wore a black pleated skirt and a yellow tube top, lined with sparkly jewels- complimenting her diamond earrings. She sat down next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder,

"Do you think letting them go was the right thing to do?" She asked nervously, reaching out and taking Luka's hand. She fiddled with his ring as he watched her.

"Chloe Bourgeois, doing the right thing?" Luka teased.

"Hey! I'm trying to change here, cut me some slack." She snapped, pulling her hand away from his. Instinctively, he grabbed it back, causing Chloe to lift her head off of his shoulder and look at him. When his gaze met hers, a spark lit, and for a moment- Marinette and Adrien were forgotten.

"I think it was the right thing. If you cared for Adrien like I did for Marinette, then if they're happy, it was right. I don't think keeping them from each other for selfish reasons would be worth it" Luka said, eyes locked on Chloe.

"Wouldn't you rather be with someone who truly loves you..." He leaned in closer. Their mouths only inches from each other, Chloe felt his breath on her skin and her gaze fluttered to his lips.

"Someone who..." He put his hand on her cheek as he softened his words to almost a whisper.

"...wants only you." He leaned in.

SLAM! The front door flew open.

"LILA?"

Chloe and Luka both turned at the shout, their meaningful moment all but forgotten.

"Surprise."

Suddenly the door to the lounge swung open, and in walked a pissed Marinette, Adrien, Alya and Nino.

Without hesitation, Marinette walked up and shoved Lila out of the door and onto her ass.

"Get the hell out of our lives," Marinette snarled. "That's not too difficult to understand is it?" She mocked, looking back at her friends who all shook their heads in agreement.

"Exactly." She emphasised, reaching for the door and beginning to close it.

"WAIT!" Lila shrieked, stopping Marinette in her tracks. "Please, I promise I'm not going to lie. I'm all alone at home, and I heard- about the party, so I thought..."

Adrien stood next to Marinette, they both looked at each other- as if communicating without words, and then looked back at Lila who was getting up off of the floor.

"What do you mean alone?" Adrien asked firmly.

"My mother- she works, all of the time at the embassy. She's never home, that's why I used to lie, for the attention she couldn't give me." She pleaded.

Adrien knew the feeling. Being alone. The overwhelming desire to be noticed, appreciated or even just considered. Marinette knew the feeling, not in the same way, but she knew it, all of them had felt alone before. And despite everything Lila had lied about, maybe they shouldn't have trusted her, maybe they shouldn't have let her inside the house that night.

But they did.