To Be a Hero | MLB

32: The "Date"

The next day in school, my mind begins to slip to thoughts of Antoine... pretty often.

I start zoning out during class, lunch, and conversations with Lila, which makes my only friend very upset. I try to apologize multiple times, but I can barely even get out a complete sentence.

I've only known this boy for a week, and he's already turning my brain to mush.

Once I get home, I'm practically counting down the seconds until five o'clock, when Antoine and I decided to meet. I pass the time by unpacking my entire closet and trying to find something decent to wear. I'm trying to decide between my black jeans and my blue ones when I hear a suspicious scuffle outside my door, and I step open to crack it open.

All five of my brothers are standing right outside, and I stare at them all. "What are you guys doing?"

"Are you going on a date?" Ian blurts, and I turn to glare at Jakob.

He shrugs and mouths sorry, and I sigh, starting to close the door again.

"Tori, answer us!" Isaac says, and I roll my eyes.

"No, I'm not going on a date." Am I?

"Well, given that this is her room, I'm sure she wants some privacy," Jakob adds and starts to usher my brothers away.

"Thanks," I mutter to him, and he nods, grabbing Isaiah before he can slip into my room.

He starts to walk away, then leans against the doorframe and asks quietly, "Actually, where are you going? Mom said if you want to go anywhere from now on, you have to tell me where."

"I'm just going to meet up with someone in the park."

He narrows his dark eyes. "It's that boy again, isn't it? Antonio?"

"It's Antoine. And I only have, like, five minutes before I need to leave, so... aurevoir!" Then I close the door and lock it, sighing. I return to my jeans decision, and just as I'm about to pick the black jeans, my phone pings. I pick it up eagerly, hoping for a text from Antoine, but instead, I get an akuma alert.

I roll my eyes and watch Ladybug and Chat Noir fly around on my phone's screen. "They just think they're so cool, don't they?" I mumble to myself. "They think they're the heroes, but maybe they're wrong. Maybe these 'villains' they fight are just using their powers to get what they want because the world is so unfair, and they can't get it any other way—"

I can not wait to see you today.

My train of thought drops off abruptly as I read my incoming text from Antoine. back at you, I type, then delete it. That doesn't even sound like me.

u too! That looks too eager.

yup. Too... unenthusiastic.

I finally settle for same here! and change into my black jeans before grabbing my phone and wallet and heading for my room's door. I rush past my annoying brothers and head out of our apartment, not stopping once until I reach the entrance to the park.

I scan the scene, and sure enough, Antoine is sitting on our usual bench, hunched over his phone. I walk over and slide onto the bench beside him. He looks up, then smiles as he realizes who I am.

"Hello, Tori."

"Hi, Antoine." We grin stupidly at each other for a few minutes before I add, "So... how's your day going?"

"It is all right. You?"

"Pretty good."

Antoine stands and helps me up. "I was thinking maybe we could just... walk today? Maybe I could give you a tour of my city. If that is okay with you, of course."

"That sounds great, actually." He moves to slip his hand out of mine, but I squeeze his fingers gently. He grins at me and links his fingers with mine.

We walk out of the park together and start down the street, our linked hands swinging between us. I take in the shops and bakeries lining the street, and Antoine clears his throat softly.

"So... I have been thinking. About you. And me."

I crack a smile. "Go on."

"Do we... do we want to label this? What we have? Or should we just stay... friends who make each other happy?" He cringes. "Sorry, that came out wrong."

"I know what you meant," I laugh. "And I'd really like to... label this, but... I honestly don't know anything about you."

Antoine glances over at me. "What do you want to know?"