A Winter's Tale

Chapter 8- Friendly confession and family diner

His heart was beating at the speed of light. He held the phone tightly, staring at his best friend's name on the screen. He was taking Mr. Dupain Cheng's advice to talk to Nino. He just hoped his best friend would understand. It wasn't like he meant to fall for the bluenette, but he did. She was one of the kindest, sweetest girls in the world. It was difficult not to.

Adrien's hand began to shake as his thumb hovered over the call button. Dear God, why was this so difficult? It was probably the fear of losing his best friend or maybe the fact that he could be chasing after a girl who might not want him, but after what happened in the kitchen earlier, Adrien knew he had to try.

He would try to win her heart at all costs. Marinette was the girl of his dreams.

Pushing the call button, Adrien waited for Nino's response.

"Hey, dude. What's up?" He heard his best friend's voice from the other end of the phone.

"H-hey, man. I- umm- nothing. Are you busy?" Adrien stuttered over the phone as his nerves got the best of him.

"Not really. What's wrong? You sound weird. Don't tell me you are freaking out about being there with Mari?" Nino asked.

"I- No. It's not that," Adrien responded, closing his eyes to help him think. He needed to find the right words to confess to his best friend that he had feelings for his past crush.

"Then what's up, dude" Talk to me." Finding no way to say it, Adrien decided to rip off the bandage and hope for the best.

"Look, don't be mad at me. I swear I didn't mean for it to happen. It just kind of did. I wanted to tell you before, but I didn't know how you would take it," Adrien stammered.

"Wow, breathe, dude. What are you saying? What am I supposed to be mad about?"

"I'm really sorry, man."

"Adrien, what the hell are you talking about?" Nino's worried voice sounded.

"I- I have feelings for Marinette." There, Adrien had confessed. If he was honest, he felt like a huge load lifted off his shoulders, but there was still the weight of how Nino would take the betrayal.

Adrien's heart ached as the phone turned silent. He believed he had just lost his best friend. He had to fix it. Nino was like a brother to him, and he couldn't lose his friendship.

"Nino, I am so sorry. I never meant to betray you. I know you had feeling for Marinette before, and I swear I tried to fight it and stay away, but I couldn't. I tried. I really did. I even dated Kagami for a while, but I- I," Adrien hesitated.

"I never meant to fall for her, Nino. I don't want to lose your friendship. That is why I am talking to you about it. I love you, man. You are like a brother to me. So if you don't want us to happen, I will stay away, I swear."

Nino couldn't believe his best friend's words. He was angry. Did Adrien think that Nino was that selfish? How could he believe he would make him sacrifice his happiness for their friendship? Hell, he and Alya had tried to get them together for years, but his friend's fear was dumb and aggravating!

"Are you serious right now?" Nino asked, allowing his anger to be known.

Adrien gulped as he heard the tone is his friend's voice. Adrien knew he fucked up, but it wasn't like he could control his heart. If he was honest, he had felt things for Marinette since day one when Adrien gave her his umbrella, but never having felt it before, he had no idea what to do with it and pushed it aside.

"I- yes. I'm so sorry, Nino."

"For how long?" Nino asked coldly.

"W-what?"