And That Makes Four Of Us

Those red cheeks

So I've just kinda noticed how scrunched up the text looks when I paste it across... Everyone's meant to talk on a different line is that clear? It's not so much on my phone that's all if someone could let me know if it's okay that'd be great 😊 hope you enjoy! Remember to vote and comment 😁

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“Hey guys!” Adrien called, waving at his friends from the main entrance of the school.
“Dude, where have you been? Lunch is almost over, you said you would come hang with us at the park.” Nino folded his arms, although he was a little annoyed he had a pretty good idea as to the reason why.
For once there was no akuma attacks during lunch, but Adrien had simply made the mistake of going home first. “You know what it’s like, sorry Nino.” He shyly rubbed the back of his neck. “As in, you know what my father’s like… I tried to get out but he actually came out of his office today, something about another photoshoot.” With his hunch confirmed Nino’s mood lightened and patted his friend’s shoulder.
“Whatever, just another excuse!” Alya winked playfully. She glared at Nino after receiving a small thump on the arm.
“Give the guy a break Alya.” Nino pleaded.
“I know I was only joking. The fact his dad came out probably surprised me as much as it did him!” Alya defended, rubbing her arm.
Marinette still hadn’t said anything by this point, and Adrien was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Was he usually this nervous around her? Did the fact he knew she liked him change anything? Even if it did he couldn’t let it show, Adrien wasn’t the one who knew, it was Chat Noir who she had told. “Hey Mari.” He smiled over at her. Uh oh. He could feel his own cheeks turn red as he realised his potential mistake; hopefully no one would notice.
“MARI?!” Well there went that idea. “Since when did you call Marinette, Mari?” Alya stared at Adrien, her jaw falling slightly.
Marinette blushed at the idea of Adrien talking to her directly. “Hi A-Adrien.” She said quietly.
“Oh um.” Think Adrien, think! “Since just now? It just made sense at the time, I don’t know… I can stop if you want Marinette, I’m sorry I didn’t think.” No kidding he didn’t think it through.
Marinette looked up at Adrien. “Uh no it’s okay.” She smiled. “It’s kinda cool, no one’s called me that in years.” Except for… She pushed that thought to the back of her mind and tried to smile wider. There was no way.
“Good!” He smiled back at her, letting out a small sigh of relief. “What did I miss?” Adrien turned his direction back to group. “So, what did I miss? Anything exciting?”
Alya was typing on her phone. “Nothing much, just me talking about my Ladyblog. We just sat on the benches, Mari had nipped home to grab some food for us and we just enjoyed the sun.” Marinette winced when her friend used her newfound nickname, why was it fine when Adrien and Chat used it but not her?
“Oh, about the cookie guy the other day? Wait… Food? What kind of food?” Adrien’s eared picked up at the idea of small buttery pastries from the bakery. Those croissants were his favourite after all.
Marinette, however, didn’t acknowledge Adrien’s question. “Ya know Alya, I don’t know why you call it the Ladyblog.” Three sets of wide eyes made their way to Marinette. “I know you like Ladybug and all, but Chat Noir does a lot for this city too!” Without thinking Marinette was defending her partner, and the idea of someone defending him caused Adrien’s cheeks to turn pink again.
“Well excuse me for focusing on the main super hero!” Alya moaned, rolling her eyes. Adrien’s mood quickly dropped.
“That’s not fair! Ladybug could never do what she does without Chat! Chat is always there when she needs him, he never lets her down. Yeah, okay she purifies the akuma, but Chat is there every step of the way.” Her mind was beginning to roll again, and she wasn’t in control. And Adrien’s heart was on a rollercoaster of its own.
Alya blinked at her for a few seconds before talking. “What’s got you all fired up?”
“Yeah, dude?”
The pair questioning her was enough for her to finally get hold of the reigns. “I just, um, think Chat is under appreciated that’s all…” She trailed off, realising what she had done.
“And since when were you on a single name basis with that cat?” Adrien flinched at Alya’s words.
Marinette’s cheeks were slowly becoming the same colour as Adrien’s. “I’m not, it’s just easier to say.” She wasn’t entirely convinced with her excuse but hopefully it was enough.
“Whatever girl, I like Ladybug and that’s that. All Chat ever does it flirt.” Alya was semi joking, but she could see her friend getting wound up and a small part of her was enjoying it.
“Does not!”
“Does too!”
“Um guys?” Nino interjected. Causing them both to stop and look at him.
There was a small pause again. “Soooo… You’re on Team Chat then are you Marinette?” Adrien broke the silence, intrigued as to what the blue-eyed girl thought of his alter ego. She was defending him again after all, surely it must be a good opinion?
“Oh, um yeah I guess I am?” Of course she was on Team Chat, he was her best friend, her partner. Plus, how vain would it be to be on the team that is you. Marinette’s cheeks had now moved beyond the shade of Adrien’s and would soon be matching her suit if she were wearing it.
“Of course she is! Look at those little red cheeks! They’re so red girl!” Alya chuckled. “And here I thought you were on someone else’s team.” She winked, nudging her suggestively with her elbow.
“ALYA!” Marinette cried, begging her friend to stop. It wasn’t long before Adrien’s cheeks had caught back up.
“Dude, why are you blushing? It’s not like she’s mocking you or anything.” Nino highlighted Adrien’s situation. And it clearly wasn’t helping the case.
“Oh. Um. Am I? Um. Must just be because it’s so warm. Yeah, I’m hot. It’s hot. Hot, hot, hot…” Adrien rambled. So much for not letting her feelings affect him. But why was he panicking so much? Marinette didn’t know but he looked cute, the green in his eyes accentuated against his new skin colour.
Nino just stared at him blankly. “Bro, you need to chill. Have some water.” He suggested, gesturing to his friend’s satchel. Adrien did what he said and fumbled around his bag looking for his drink. Nino turned to Alya and spoke in a hushed tone only she could hear. “I thought you said not to say anything about Adrien in front of Adrien!”
“Oh, it’s fine he has no idea. Look at him.” They both turned their heads watching him finish his bottle. “Okay maybe he’s not fine but he has no idea what I meant by that. But you’re right I’ll be more careful next time, I guess I just got carried away.”
Marinette was starting to get a tiny bit worried about her crush. It was her role in the group to be the awkward one, not him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah must have just been a hot flush.” He smiled awkwardly, trying to shake what had just happened. Whatever it was that just had just happened, why was he getting so flustered knowing she liked him.
Alya and Nino were ever so separate from the other two. “And anyway, you know I love Chat Noir too Nino, but he just doesn’t fit nicely into ‘Ladyblog’.” She waved her hands imagining the title was in front of her. “It’s just more for convenience of the blog name that’s all. Even that weird pun master couldn’t think of a good one with it in. He doesn’t seem to like being in the limelight either, he tends to focus on the victims or something behind the scenes. Everyone wants to see Ladybug.”
“But that’s what Marinette was saying, and she has a point. He is kind of an unsung hero. Yeah he’s got a balloon in the parade but.”
“Alright, alright, next time I go out I’ll make sure I try and get an equal amount how’s that.”
“That’d be good.” Nino smiled back at her. He knew how much this blog meant to her, but he wanted her to be safe whilst recording. At least when Ladybug gave him his miraculous he truly could. “Plus, it’d keep Marinette happy.”
“You’re right.” Alya sighed. “But I’m not gonna tell her that, she can find out when she watches it.” She grinned. “I mean, did you see her face light up when she spoke about Chat Noir? I am not going to her live that down!”
“Alya! She’s your best friend.”
“She knows I love her. How much have I helped her with Adrien after all? But this way I can do it, keep everyone happy and not admit she was right...” She looked back over towards her best friend and Adrien. “Oh, and with Adrien now giving her nicknames, pure gold! I just can’t give an opportunity like this up and you know it.”
“You know for her best friend you are kind of mean to her. Playing!” He raised he hands surrendering. “Besides I know you care, just be careful. But anyway, let’s go.” He gently kissed her forehead, the peak of his cap brushing against her hair. “They haven’t even noticed we’re not talking to them.” Nino giggled. Alya beamed seeing her boyfriend join in on the antics of leaving them alone together, it wasn’t often he had a plan of his own. They casually strode away leaving the other two oblivious and alone.
Marinette and Adrien were still trying to overcome his mini meltdown. “So, Team Chat then. Aren’t black cats meant to be unlucky?” Adrien asked, trying to sway the conversation away from him, and yet back to him: as Chat.
“I think they’re just misunderstood. All the black cats I’ve met are so sweet, all soft and fluffy.” She beamed, pretending to cuddle the imaginary cat in her arms. “With their big yellow eyes, and little jelly bean toes.” She scrunched her face up in joy.
She was really cute like this; when she was able to hold herself together. Maybe cats were the way to get to her? Marinette soon realised he was staring and stopped. After what felt like hours, Adrien finally spoke. “What about those with green eyes?” Green. Really? Did he really have to talk about green while she was currently lost in a sea of it?
“Green is good.” She spoke quietly. Although they had both returned to a relatively healthy shade of pink, their hard work was slowly being undone.
“Do you really think Chat is that good though?” If only Alya would moan at Adrien for single name basis.
“Of course he is! Like I’ve said before, even in the car, he’s always there for her, she couldn’t do even half of what she does without him. I’m proud to have him as one of Paris’ superheroes! He’s fearless, he believes in her… he’s always there.”
Once more Adrien could feel the prickle of heat returning to his face. She really meant it. Every word. She believed in him. “Well I’m no Chat but, I’ll always be there for you Mari.” He smiled, placing an arm around her shoulders. If only Alya had her phone poised. But what was he thinking? Was he being like Chat? Was he flirting? Was he just being a good friend? What was he doing? What would she say if she knew?
“Thanks Adrien.” She could feel him trembling slightly on her shoulder. “But um speaking of ‘being there’… where are Alya and Nino?”
Adrien looked up. “Huh? How long have they been gone?”
“So much for the four musketeers.” Marinette mumbled to herself.
“What was that? Four what?”
“Oh, four musketeers. I know it’s meant to be three but there’s always the four of us so I just.” Marinette laughed awkwardly.
Adrien pretended as though he was hearing her say that for the first time. “No way! I thought the same thing the other day!” Just play it cool, everything is fine.
“Careful Mari, Chat Noir will end up getting jealous.” A voice cooed from beside them. Adrien and Marinette both turned their heads following the sound, to see the one and only Alya, phone in hand. Careful though? Why did she need to be careful? Alya could clearly tell the lovesick girl was confused, and so was the boy beside her. “Erm, the arm?” She gestured to the arm that was still hooked around Marinette. A surprised Marinette and Adrien quickly looked towards each other, and he pulled his arm away. Why did it feel so natural to be next to her like that? He was in love with Ladybug not Mari.
And with that the bell rang sounding the end of lunch. “Come on leave them alone.” Nino sniggered. “We’re gonna be late for Miss Bustier’s lesson.” He grabbed Alya’s hand and led her towards the stairs.
Adrien hesitated before heading the same direction as his friends. “You coming Mari?”
“Y-yeah.” She looked down at her feet to hide her face, but she was sure she was positively luminous by now. Marinette coyly followed a pace behind Adrien. At least she was a bit more comfortable with him today. But now she had to face the wrath of Alya. It was going to be a long afternoon.