Miraculous

11 - Lashanie

Varian scanned the crowded hallway, his heart thudding a nervous rhythm against his ribs. Today was the day. Today, he was finally going to ask Lashanie to the upcoming Corona High Spring Fling.

He spotted her in the distance, her vibrant hair catching the afternoon sunlight. But his smile faltered as he saw Cami looming over her, a cruel smirk playing on her lips.

From where he stood, Varian could only hear snatches of their conversation. "...such a pathetic excuse for a drawing," Cami sneered, snatching the sketchbook from Lashanie's grasp.

Lashanie, however, held her ground in a way Varian had never seen before. Her shoulders were squared, her voice firm.

"I'm done being your little object for entertainment, Cami," she declared, her eyes flashing with a newfound defiance. "And for your information, it's called a 'sketch,' not a drawing. Perhaps you should invest in a dictionary, or better yet, a comb for that rat's nest you call hair."

This unexpected display of confidence left Varian speechless. He had always admired Lashanie's kindness and intelligence, but seeing this fire ignite within her sent a thrill through him.

Cami, however, seemed taken aback by Lashanie's outburst. Her face flushed red, and she stammered incoherently before storming off, leaving Lashanie's sketchbook crumpled on the floor.

Varian rushed over to Lashanie, concern etched on his face. "Lashanie! Are you okay?"

Lashanie, surprised by his sudden appearance, quickly picked up her notebook. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, brushing off a stray leaf that clung to her shirt. "Just... dealing with some... unpleasantness."

Varian, emboldened by her courage, decided to seize the opportunity. "Lashanie," he began, his voice slightly shaky, "there's... actually a reason I was looking for you."

Lashanie offered him a curious smile. "Oh? What is it?"

Taking a deep breath, Varian blurted out, "The Spring Fling is coming up next week, and I... I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go with me?"

Silence descended upon them. Varian's cheeks burned with anticipation, as he waited for Lashanie's answer. Finally, she spoke, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

"Varian, that's really sweet of you to ask," she began, "but... I'm actually seeing someone else."

Varian's heart sank. He had anticipated a million reasons for her rejection, but this wasn't one of them. A pang of disappointment washed over him.

"Oh," he managed to say, trying to mask his disappointment with a smile. "That's... okay. Who is it?"

Lashanie hesitated for a moment, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Well," she whispered, a playful glint in her eyes, "it's a guy who's incredibly brave, witty, and has a knack for stopping akuma attacks with a yo-yo."

Varian blinked. A slow smile spread across his face, warmth flooding his chest. "Really? You mean... Mr. Bug?"

Lashanie chuckled, a light blush creeping up her cheeks. "Maybe. Maybe not. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone to go to the Spring Fling with."

Varian laughed, a genuine, heartfelt laugh. "Actually," he said, his voice filled with newfound confidence, "I think I already have."

Lashanie raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in her eyes. The awkwardness had vanished, replaced by a comfortable spark of understanding. As the bell for the next class rang, Varian knew this was just the beginning of a new chapter in his relationship with Lashanie, a chapter filled with secret identities, blooming feelings, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to dance under the spring lights.