Miraculous Mermaids (discontinued, but check the last chapter for extra info!)

6

We walk over to the gift table and see Alya with a big, dorky grin in her face. "Ok, we'll start with the cards first." she says, picking a small yellow card out from the stack. Behind me, I hear Chloè snicker.
"It's...a gift card to Hot Topic?"
"Yeah. I figured that that's where you get your trash clothing from. Trash person, trash clothing." Chloè remarked.
"...Thanks Chloè. I've actually been meaning to go there for a while."
"Hmph!"
As Alya reaches for the next card, I hear Alix yell.
"Just get to the good stuff already! At this rate, we'll all be 90 by the time we actually open a box!"
"Your gift is that special, huh Alix," Alya chuckles. "Alright, I'll get to the 'good stuff'. She reaches for a pink bag and I feel my mouth coming up in a smile. She chose my gift first! I watch as her smile progressively gets bigger and bigger.
"Wow! Ladybug merch! I've had my eyes on these for a while!"
"I know." I say smugly.
Alya giggles. "Thanks, Mare, you're the best bestie!"
I grin. "I know."
"Whatever." she smiles reaching for a blue box. Adrien's gift. I notice him tense up beside me.
"Hey, relax!" I say elbowing him gently. "She'll love it. If she doesn't, I'll give you free cookies and crossoints for a week." Of course, I'll give him free things anytime.
He relaxes a bit. "Thanks, Mari."
Mari.
I feel my cheeks heat up and I look down.
"...I'm sorry Adrien, but I don't like this." Alya says.
What? How does she not like that beautiful necklace?
"Guess i'll be getting some free food for a week huh, Marinette?" Adrien asks glumly.
"I LOVE IT!" She shrieks.
"Wait, really?"
"Of course, Adrien! How could I not? It's so beautiful!Y'know, i've always seen myself as a fox if I were an animal. Thank you soooo much!" Alya gushes as she quickly puts on the necklace.
"Told ya." I smirk.
Adrien only grins in response.
10 gifts, and 100 thank yous later, and everyone is leaving. Well, everyone except for Nino, Adrien, and me. We all agreed on taking Alya to a suprise dinner.
"Uh, guys? I appreciate your company, I really do but, shouldn't you all be heading home now?"
"Yeah dude," Nino begins. "But we've decided to take you out to dinner!"
Alya's eyes grew wide. "Really! That's amazing!"
"Yeah, I've decided where to go and Adrien's paying!"
"What about Marinette?"
"She's...I actually don't know? What did you do, dudette?" Nino asks, looking at me.
I turn my attention to Alya.
"Go to your room and find out."
Faster than the speed of light, Alya dashes up the stairs and immediately shrieks.
"OH MY GOSH, MARE, YOU DIDN'T!!!"
2 minutes later, Alya is coming down the stairs in the dress that I made her.
It's a simple orange dress with a lace flower print.



"Wow. Mari. You...you made that?"
"You bet!" I grinned.
"Wow, dudette, you have some mad skills." Nino remarked.
"Thanks Nino!"
"Wait, Mare," Alya interfered. "The boys didn't know about this?"
"Nope." Adrien said.
"No way." Nino added.
"It was my own personal flair for tonight. I asked your mom to put it in your room."
I stated, still grinning.
"Well, what are you guys waiting for? Go change!" Alya exclaims, pushing the boys toward the restroom and dragging me upstairs to her room.
I shower and change into my clothes-- A white blouse with a sky blue skirt.

I decided to let my hair down for this occasion as well.
When I step out of the bathroom, I hear Alya gasp.
"Marinette, you look...you look beautiful."
I feel a light blush dust my cheeks. "R-really? I'm not upstaging you am I?"
"You're close." Alya jokes.
"C'mon," I giggle. Let's go downstairs. Can't keep the boys waiting!"
"You just want to show off in front of Adrien, don't you?" Alya smirks.
"A-Alya! It's--it's nothing like that!"
"Hey, I'm not mad. Let's go." she winks.
As we make our way down the stairs, I trip and stumble down the last 2 steps.
"Woah, dudette, be careful," Nino starts. "You look good by the way."
"Right? I still can't believe she let her hair down for me." Alya interjects before I can say anything. "Doesn't she look great, Agreste?"
"Uh...yeah, yeah. You look...you look great M-Mari. You made that too, right?" Adrien stutters before going completely red. Why on earth is he stuttering? Why is he red? Does he possibly like me? No. Impossible. Improbable. This is Adrien 'just a friend' Agreste. No way in this life does he like me like that.
"Yeah, I did."
"Why is it such a big deal that she lets her hair down anyways?" Adrien asks.
"Seriously? Are you blind, Agreste? Marinette NEVER lets her hair down.  Never. She only lets her hair down for super-duper special occasions. Even at last years class Christmas party she didn't let her hair down."
As Alya rambles on about the importance of me letting my hair down, I feel Adrien's intense gaze on me. I look down to hide my blushing face.
"C-c'mon, Alya," I begin. "I think he gets it. And of course I let my hair down for you! You're my bff! Anyways, we're running late. Let's go.
Soon enough, the four of us are laughing and heading out the door.