Viscous Cycle

• In A Good Place •

"A what now?"

"A date. You know... I pick you up and you wear something that leaves me tongue tied. Then, I'll hand you obligatory flowers and give you a ride over to a nice place and-"

"I know what a date is, Adrien. That's not the problem. The problem is you and I out on one. Together."

"I don't get it."

Mari rolled her blue eyes, rubbing her temples as a headache overcame her composure. "You, me, we don't make sense." Adrien still looked confused. "I just don't understand why you won't go out with me. I thought we were in a good place here," Adrien was growing heated in his words and mannerisms, even going as far to stomp his foot into the hot cement.

"Take a breather. Let's not fight again."

"How can you expect me to not? I finally gather enough courage to ask you out and you turn me down because I drive a motorcycle and you have a weird new girly image or some dumb crap like that." She sighed. "It's not like that and you know it. You know what? I'll go on the stupid date with you if it makes you happy!" Mari was growing increasingly annoyed at him. At this point, it was better to be coerced into having an unenjoyable time than having another useless argument.

"No! You don't get it! I want you to go because it will make you happy, too! Just forget it. I knew I should have never said anything." He turned his back to her in the slightly busy school parking lot. There was a traffic line forming at the exit of the lot already, promising a long ride home. His clompy boots scuffed the loose gravel as he took his leave. "Adrien! Wait!"

With a glare, he turned back around to the girl. "What do you want?" he glowered at her. "I'll go out with you. But promise me one thing?"

He motioned for her to continue. "No obligatory flowers. Chivalry's dead."

••••••••

Alya was utterly floored. "Adrien asked you out? Finally! I was starting to worry for the poor boy's health. So tell Momma Alya everything! Was it romantic with a sweet look on his face or a cute present to seal the deal?"

"Nope. We got into a fight and I found myself saying yes even though I know it will end in disaster."

Mari and Alya were fiddling and rushing to get the former ready. Well, Alya was the one hurrying, Mari was seated in a vanity chair seeming indifferent to the whole situation. She had reached her arm over to snag a bite of a ham sandwich.

"Careful! I just painted your nails!"

Retracting, the dark haired girl scoffed. "Aren't you guys going out to eat at a fancy place anyway? Why are you eating now?" Alya seemed to be full of questions. "Everyone knows that expensive places are known for racking up the bill and serving tiny portions. Besides, I'm starving and a grumbly stomach isn't attractive, not that I'm in the mood to stop Adrien's heart with my appearance." Alya rolled her eyes, returning to apply blush onto the apple of her friend's cheeks.

"You may not be, but I bet your bottom dollar that that boy of yours is nervous as all get out because he's trying to look his best. Now hold still and quit your squirming, unless you want to sport a pink nose."

"I don't know, I've heard the circus clown look is in," Mari said, drawing a blank face. Alya deeply sighed. "You're next to impossible." Shrugging, the blue eyed girl removed herself from the hair she was poised upon, and headed toward her closet. She had assumed that Alya had completed her hair and makeup and needed to put together an outfit. Something that Mari could ride Adrien's ridiculous bike in, but still be dateable. A dress or skirt was out of the question.