Caught In A Storm

Chapter IX

Previously:

~ He nodded at the old man and bid his good-byes. He hadn't made one step out of the door, that somebody crashed into him. ~

Nino's POV:

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

He looked down at the figure who was now sitting on the snow-covered ground. Furious hazel eyes met his gaze and he could have bet his heart stopped right away at the beautiful furious expression in front of him.

He quickly shook his head, trying to stop staring at the young brown-haired woman in front of him. His hand shot towards her, nearly slapping her in the process, making her growl. Her delicate hand took his and he helped her up, nearly slipping on the ice at the same time, but managed to steady himself on a nearby railing.

"I-I- I'm terribly sorry Miss. I d-didn't see you." He stuttered.

"It's okay, you surprised me more than anything." She looked at him curiously. "I never saw you here, did I?"

She cocked her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at him as she took in his unkknown features. Her brain was buzzing, thinking of every person she had encountered here. It was a small village, everybody knew everyone and there weren't many visitors.

"I am travelling with a friend and we got caught in the snow..." He scratched his neck, fidgeting under her intense gaze.

"Okay, see you!" She waved briefly.

His eyes widened in surprise as she whipped around and walked down the empty street. Nino stood frozen for a few seconds and then darted after her.

"Hey! Wait!" She didn't even look behind or acknowledge him as he started walking next to her and kept looking straight on front of her.

"Where are you going?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why would you like to know?"

"Ummmmmmm- I-I- um- hehe..." Nino found himself completely dumbfounded, completly taken aback by her witty responce. The auburn-haired girl burst out laughing at his facial expression.

"You may be weirder than my best-friend." Still giggling, she continued and turned at the next street corner. He quickly ran up next to her, slightly embarrassed.

"G-good thing I have to go the same way..." They continued walking down the stress of the small village.

The girl interrupted their silence.

"You are really starting to weird me out... why are you following me?"

"W-well it's my way so... sorry?" His voice ended on a pitch.

Suddenly, the young woman started to sprint away from him. Nino stood still where she had left him, completely dumbfounded and surprised at the turn of their small conversation. His eyes were wide-open as he continued to watch her running away from him.

He stood still for a few minutes, his body swaying with the howling wind. He sighed, before starting to march towards the bakery once again.

A warm gush of air greeted him as he opened the bakery's front door.

"Mari! I'm telling you. This man was following me." Strangely, this voice was familiar to him.

"Alya, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about." Nino careful walked towards the back of the bakery, making sure to make no noise. He leaned against the door, eaves-dropping. He tried to lean in further, when he suddenly lost his balance and fell against the door, opening it in the process and knocking a few things over in his way towards the floor.

The kitchen was dead-silent as he lay on the floor. Two heads pooped up in his field on vision. A blue-haired girl and one familiar auburn-haired girl. The second one suddenly gasped loudly, before dashing over to pick a frying pan and held it close to his head, threatening him to smack him if he dared to move. Nino was frozen in shock. While Marinette could only stand there confused as to what had happened the last minute.

"You! Why are you following me?" Alya demanded. Nino only gaped.

"I-I-I... I w-wasn't following you." He said not very convincing. Marinette's brows furrowed, before she burst out laughing. Alya looked at her dumbfounded, while still holding her frying pan threateningly. Marinette clutched her belly as her muscles ached, but she couldn't stop laughing.

After having heard the loud noises downstairs, Adrien came downstairs, his head only showing through the back door of the kitchen. He slowly entered, confused as to why Mari was laughing and who the other young woman was. Alya's head whipped up to meet his curious and confused gaze.

"And who are you?" Adrien halted abruptly, surprised by the harshness of the newcomer.

"I-I'm Adrien." After throwing a quick look at Nino, Alya made her way up to Adrien still holding the pan tightly in her hands.

"What are you doing here? Did you kidnap my friend?" Adrien's widened before he took a small step back, nearly tripping over his own feet, but Alya stepped forward, slowly closing the distance between them.

"I-I.. NO! Nonono, this is a mis-misunderstanding." He explained waving his hands in front of him.

Mari had now calmed down, she was holding herself on a nearby table as she took deep breaths. She walked up to her friend and rested her hand on her shoulder.

"Alya, stop harassing my guests. Adrien and Nino."

Alya turned around and looked at her friend with wide eyes. Nino, who had inally stood up from his position on the floor, approached them as he scratched his arm.

"We got caught in the snow storm and... well... we kind of ended up here." Alya could only nod slowly. "I-I'm sorry if you thought that... I was following you." Nino finished awkwardly.

Marinette clapped her hands.

"So! Now that everything is clear. Nino, Adrien. This is my best-friend Alya."

Nino's jaw instantly hit the floor, whereas Alya grew confused.

"And how do you know them? What are they doing here?"

"We got caught in the snow-storm and landed in Marinette's stall, where she found us. She took us in." Adrien smiled at Marinette, making her blush bright red, as he explained their situation to Alya. Alya stayed silent before humming thoughtfully. Suddenly out of nowhere, she grabbed Mari's arm and dragged her out of the kitchen to the second floor, so they could talk without the two boys hearing them.

"Are you out of your mind?" Alya started as she tapped her friend on the forehead. "You invited two strangers in and your parents aren't even here to protect you." Mari groaned.

"Alya! They're harmless, look at them! Nino only sleeps the whole day, and Adrien..."

Her heart warmed as she said his name out loud, which of course Alya noticed.

"Adrien helps me baking the whole day. They are only here for a few days, until they can start their trip across the kingdom again."

Marinette explained finally, a hint of sadness in her voice. Alya grinned internally as she caught on her friend's growing feelings towards the cute blond. Although she was saddened by the fact that he would have to go soon and that she might never see him again. She let out an inaudible sight, letting Mari figure out her feelings by herself at first. Alya hoped her friend would realise her feelings soon and do something about it before the snow storm stopped, which would be soon. Mari had already made her way back downstairs to prepare dinner as the sun had already set behind the horizon.

So another character appears in the story ;)

Eat chocolate!