The Summer Festival // A Lukanette/Adrinette Story

Chapter 5: As long as the stars light up the night

Marinette's POV: 

"...What?"

That was all I could manage as I stared at Nino incredulously. Everything had gone quiet and all eyes were on me, my cheeks on fire.

"Yes, you heard me. You gotta kiss my bro Luka here on the lips. Not a peck. Solid ten seconds...or are you gonna change to truth?" Nino challenged and I could feel myself gaping for a second before nodding my head slowly.

"So...you want to change to truth then?" Nino asked and for a split second, I thought I could hear Alya sigh in relief next to me. However, I hadn't nodded cause I wanted to change to a question. I had nodded to the challenge. Once again, a thought invades me that this party atmosphere had affected me in unimaginable ways, but I knew better. I didn't want to feel like "just Marinette" anymore. The scaredy, nervous girl who ran away from her reality instead of facing it.

I wanted to be like Ladybug.

Not wanted, in fact, ...

I needed to be Ladybug.

Just for this once I'd show Adrien and the rest what I was made off.

"No, I wasn't nodding for a change. I'm down for the dare...under one condition." To this I feel Alya choke on her drink, her eyes turning as wide as my own. Nino has a similar reaction too, his grin wavering as he runs a hand through his hair.

"What...what...is this condition?" Nino asks bewildered and I stand up looking around at the speechless group, making a special pause to look at Adrien who's drink was frozen mid-air as he stared at me and then at Luka who, for the first time in his life, seemed caught off guard.

"Let us do it in private. I wouldn't want the younger kids here to get any ideas." I joke and Kim immediately shakes his head, laughing loudly,

"No that isn't how this works if I had to run in front of everyone..." He starts, but Nino interrupts him nodding to me,

"Fine, but you gotta bring proof. One picture. Otherwise, the challenge is off."

"Deal." I immediately reply rather loudly and walk over to Luka, offering my hand,

"Marinette...umm..." He says his eyes wide, but I just giggle softly, pulling him up to his feet as the group of teenagers begins to cheer, my name echoing throughout the night.

"Just lead the way, Mr. Couffaine. We will be back guys, I promise." I holler to the crowd, which is met with another round of cheering and then as if to add a little touch, I end my show by winking at Alya, who immediately loses it leading the Marinette chant.

Luka doesn't let go of my hand as we walk out of the deck and proceeds to lead me to his room, my eyes never looking back as we walk towards our destination. In those moments, I felt as if I was in a play somehow, as if I was acting as my alter ego of sorts.

To add to that, there was a strange energy coursing through my body, as if every step and outlandish comment charged me up somehow. To my surprise, however, I found myself enjoying it.

First of all, I had never been this outgoing before, unless I was in the Ladybug suit, I had always maintained myself detached from this type of behavior. Somehow believing that bad decisions were directly linked to bravery and boldness.

But as I had stood in front of everyone I realized I loved the attention being brave got me.

More than that, I adored the thrill associated with the challenge, the exhilarating fear mixed with joy as I put myself at this kind of risk.

Nonetheless, none of that truly seemed to mean anything at the end since as soon as we entered Luka's room my bravado disappeared, the sound of his door closing returning all of my previous pain and anxiety in waves.