Miraculous The In-Betweens

The Plan

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Plagg asked, peeking out from Adrien's jacket. 

"It'll have to. Besides, Chlo and I go way back, I'm sure I can convince her to help me out for once." Adrien said without looking down at Plagg. "Now hide before someone sees you." Plagg rolled his eyes and hid back in the jacket as they neared the school. Adrien hopped out of the car he'd been riding in and raced up the steps to meet with Nino like he did almost every day. And, as he did, waved at Alya, who was always by Nino's side. "Hey Alya, no Marinette yet?" He asked, which was probably the most obvious question seeing as how it was rare of Marinette to ever be on time. Sure he missed a couple days every once in a while, but that was only if there'd been an acuma, and he definitely couldn't be in class and fighting the acuma at the same time. Marinette always seemed to make it to class around the same time he did when that happened...hmm, something to think about later. 

"Nope, not yet. I swear I need to get that girl an alarm clock." Alya said laughing and shaking her head. 

"Adrikiiiiins!" Alya's face drops as she hears the yell of the mayor's daughter. Adrien just turns to face his oldest friend bracing himself for the launch on his face he knew he was about to get. True to form, Chloe jumps on Adrien wrapping her arms around his neck and kisses his cheeks in the usual french greeting. "Did you miss me?" She asked him. Sabrina stepped up behind Chloe as if to make her presence known, but her eyes stayed on Chloe like a puppy afraid their owner would leave them in the woods.  

"Hey, Chlo. Actually, I needed to ask you for a favor, think you'd mind helping out an old friend?" He asked her as he waited for her to release him. 

"Well of course not Adrikins, I'd do almost anything for you." She smiled at him. He knew she was telling the truth, after all, if it hadn't been for him threatening to leave her in their friendship, she wouldn't have been nice and threw that party, and he never would've danced with...

"Right," Adrien said snapping himself from any more thoughts. "Here, let's go somewhere a little more private." He said glancing up at Alya and Nino of whom one was giving death glares, and the other was just watching the routine. Chloe just smirked as if it were obvious he was just wanting alone time with her. 

"Of course, we wouldn't want any vagabonds interrupting us would we?" She said looking straight at Alya, who looked like she was about to put Chloe in a chokehold. Adrien just looked between the two girls confused, that is until he saw her. Marinette had just wandered into the room after Chloe but had stopped short when she heard Adrien say he wanted to see her privately. Marinette got out of her stupor though as soon as she saw Adrien making eye contact with her. Quickly she raced up to Alya, as if for protection. 

"Hey Marinette," Adrien said to her, then turned to Nino, "I'll see you in class okay?" Nino just nodded and the trio of friends watched Adrien leave with Chloe, Sabrina trailing ever so slightly behind. As soon as they were out of sight Marinette deflated. 

"Marinette, you're on time today!" Nino said to her, clearly missing the point of the situation. 

"Yeah, I guess I am." She responded still out of it, "Alya, where are they going and why?" She said hoping to find answers on why Adrien was wanting alone time with the terror that was Chloe. 

"I wish I could tell you, but honestly, I've got no clue girl," Alya said shaking her head. "If it were up to me though, you'd be the one in her place. Maybe he just needs something from her or something like that." Alya watched as some color returned to Marinette's otherwise very pale face. Marinette just stared after the two who were in deep conversation on the other side by the brick wall. "Let's just head on to class, you can spend the time staring at him after he gets back. Ok?" Alya said hoping Marinette would respond. Though it wasn't a verbal response, Marinette's nod was enough for Alya to take her friend and drag her up to the room. 

On the other side of the building, Adrien was making his demands to Chloe while also trying to not give away too much information of what exactly he wanted. Seeing Marinette had made him want to double the efforts of his search. He wasn't sure why he didn't want it to be so obvious, maybe because it would've made him seem dumb, but really it wouldn't be terrible if she was Ladybug. After all, he liked both of the girls. The only real problem he was facing, was Ladybug's disappointment that her identity was easily found out, especially after all the effort he put in to make sure she knew her identity was safe after her miraculous had given her back the full mask. He had to be sure. But there was really no way to tell if the list went too long. And that would mean he was safe from knowing for sure. Sure, he could have his ideas just like Alya probably did, but beyond piecing together small bits of evidence, he shouldn't be too quick to assume as Alya often was.