When Is It Love?

Chapter 4

Alya continued to jump around like a child as her phone was clutched tightly in her hand.

"Did you meet Gabriel? What did he want? Will he come to your house again? What if-" Alya's face was shoved back my Marinette's petite hand, her palm square on her nose.

"He wasn't stalking me. They just want a new story." Alya huffed under the soft hand that was small compared to the other seniors in their class. Marinette was pretty tall, just extremely skinny. It sometimes scared her friend that she was undernourished and unhealthy. It was the same argument that gave the hint Marinette hadn't gone to a doctor since she was a kid. Alya never told her she knew about that, but she had suggested seeing her doctor soon would be wise.

Alya sighed and lightly pushed on Marinette's hand, her palm crunching into a fist and pulling it to her side. She waved to her midnight-haired friend and motioned her head to the doors of their high school.

Marinette was soon bombarded with questions of why some famous designer would be outside her shop.

"I don't know. They're just looking for a pathetic story." Marinette retorted, her nose scrunching at the mention of Gabriel.

The rest of the day was spent with Alya helping Marinette push off the overwhelming fans of Adrien, asking if she was in a secret relationship with the millionaire's son. Marinette grumbled responses that were unrecognizable to anyone and trudged past them. If she wanted to be in a relationship, she'd go with Nathaneal or someone along those lines. He had always been a cute kid who adored a sweet girl like Marinette. Everyone knew that they'd probably end up together, but after her father's disappearance, Marinette had no interest in a boyfriend.

Alya was a different story, falling in love the first day she arrived.

Nino, an average boy, was fairly tall and always wore a red cap. Marinette knew little about him, always pestered with Alya's questions about him. She wasn't scared to make the first move in junior high, like Marinette said before--she isn't scared of anything.  Although when she attempted to get the kiss she's dreamed since they met, he was completely dense and greeted her with a hug when she leaned in. It's been like that ever since.

"Hey ladies, whatcha guys doing?" Nino came from behind Alya and wrapped an arm around her neck, the crook of his elbow embedded in her soft locks.

Except that.

Alya pushed up her glasses and lodged her arm in his ribcage, complaining about his sweaty arm. He explained he just came from third hour which was gym.  Alya yelled back, now both standing with their arms flailing. Marinette sat and giggled to herself, enjoying the tiny feud between her two best friends.

The argument died down and eventually both sat down, arms crossed over their chest.  Alya was the first to open her eyes from her pout and let them widen as she pointed behind Marinette. She raised an eyebrow and spun her head slowly at the limo parked a few yards away from the soccer field, pretty fuzzy but recognizable to see the emblem of Agreste on the side.

"You've got to be kidding me." Marinette whined as she watched the slender man get out from the white vehicle. His eyes wandered till he found the unforgettable blue of a teenager's hair.

The girl wasted no time to turn back and shove her notebook into the pink bag she had. She could just feel Gabriel's eyes locked on the back of her head, not sure if he had moved from his spot or not.  Alya also got up with her friend and put a hand on her lower back, guiding her to the inside of the school. This wasn't cool, Nino had figured this was what everyone was talking about. Marinette was truly being stalked by the Agrestes.