Chapter Text
On the last day of school, all of them had gathered together in the classroom – Mademoiselle Bustier had entrusted them to lock up, and left them alone. Everyone was sprawled across the desks and on the floor, discussing their plans for the summer holidays – Max was going for summer schools for robotics, Kim said he had plans with Ondine for athletic meets, and Mylene was getting together with environmental groups all summer. Adrien said he had to model for his father’s new line (and blushed when everyone agreed he’d look fantastic), Max and Marinette made plans to get together for the new Ultimate Mechastrike game. They invited Adrien, who tried to say maybe – but Marinette seemed determined. “I’ll make sure you come,” she said. “You missed the last one too!”
“You’re an amazing friend, Marinette,” he said.
She smiled at him ruefully. Before he had time to decode the meaning of her smile, someone suggested they play a game of truth and dare.
“Boo!” declared Alya at once. “You all know everything about each other. Everyone takes dares here, and all the truth questions get sidestepped.”
“Okay, alright – let’s do only truths!” suggested Rose.
“How does that work?” Nino asked.
“Everyone gets to ask one question, and everyone has to answer.”
“Oh –” said Alya. “Pas mal. Let’s do that.”
Everyone argued all over again – Nino wanted to know more of the rules, Ivan was confused about what kind of questions they should ask, and Luka didn’t really want to play, but he was alright as long as he was allowed to strum his guitar alongside.
“It’s easy!” said Rose. “So – for example, I ask, ‘Who here has fallen in love before?’ And all of you answer.”
Everyone giggled – Ivan and Mylene simultaneously saying of course they were in love. Alya teased Nino by pretending she had never loved before, and he laughed. Kim said he never had, which was patently untrue but at least Ondine wasn’t here to hear it. To Adrien’s surprise, Marinette said yes, which made him wonder who she was in love with – he had to be brilliant, if Marinette had fallen in love with him. Tactfully, Adrien said no – he didn’t want to be questioned further, and he definitely didn’t want to say he had a crush on Ladybug. It reeked of being star struck.
Kim then demanded if anyone in the group had been drunk before. Juleka grinned and said she’d worked her way through her aunt’s wine collection one night with Luka. Rose and Alya said they never had. Adrien admitted that at some brand parties he’d had a bit too much wine – with his father’s permission, naturally! And all the boys said they’d tried alcohol together. Everyone turned to Marinette, who looked pink in the ears.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I have.”
“When?” demanded Alya. “Why have I not heard of it?”
“The question didn’t ask for details!” Marinette exclaimed. “I don’t have to answer you.”
To which Ivan promptly responded by asking everyone for details. Since everyone else had already given them, once again, all eyes swiveled to Marinette, who definitely looked very pink.
“Fine!” she said. “I did once sneak out with some of my cousins, and all of us polished off a large amount of wine. It wasn’t good wine, we were in the campagne, everyone got soundly scolded, and yes, I snuck out.”
“Damn, DC!” said Kim.
“Perfect little Marinette, eh?” Alya elbowed her. “I bet you were the one who organised it all.”
Everyone burst into giggles, while Adrien surveyed Marinette. She’d gone even pinker at Alya’s comment, which made him think Alya wasn’t off the mark. It was funny to think of Marinette as someone who snuck out of home, got drunk and fell in love with people.
But it was Mylene’s turn, and she had a question ready. “Who was everyone’s first kiss?”
Alya said she’d kissed someone from her previous school for the first time. Nino pretended to be outraged by this, admitting later that his first kiss was definitely Alya. Mylene and Ivan had no secrets to share, and neither did Nath and Mark. Juleka confessed that she’d actually kissed an upperclassman before she and Rose had gotten together. Kim’s ears went red and he fooled no one by saying he’d kissed someone from his athletic meets. Max was the real surprise, saying he’d found someone at his summer camp. Alix announced she had no intention to kiss anyone, and she wouldn’t do it for the future either.
Once again, Adrien said no. For one thing – he hadn’t been kissed as Adrien, and for another – he didn’t… remember it. And whatever was between Kagami and him… it had fizzled out with his superhero responsibilities. There had been no time for kissing.
Everybody once again turned to Marinette. Adrien looked at her curiously – sincerely hoping that he wasn’t the only one who hadn’t been kissed yet.
“Um,” she said, and she looked perfectly adorable. “I kissed a friend of mine from outside of school.”
There was a silence.
“Who?” demanded Alya.
“Wait, you don’t know either?” asked Adrien.
Marinette was blushing till the ends of her hair. “It was outside of school! And not important.”
Not important. Adrien wondered who Marinette could have kissed that was not important.
“Was it Luka?” demanded Mylene.
“Oh, no,” said Marinette. “We didn’t – we aren’t – well, the less said the better. It wasn’t him.”
“But if it wasn’t Luka,” began Kim, “Who was it, DC? You have to tell me, I have to threaten him for trying his moves on you.”
“Mon dieu!” said Marinette, alarmed. “It’s no one anyone knows.”
“Even I?” asked Nino. “We’ve known each other since we were kids, Marinette!”
“Believe it or not,” said Marinette, flaring up just a little uncharacteristically. “I have a life outside of school.”
“No, you don’t!” said Alya.
“Don’t I?” challenged Marinette.
“That I don’t know about?” she insisted.
Marinette huffed, and Adrien bit the inside of his cheek with his smile. Who could Marinette have possibly kissed that even Alya didn’t know about?
Marinette went pinker under his gaze. He didn’t turn away, looking at her curiously. She wouldn’t tell him – but she might tell Chat Noir.