"Tiki is still not back yet?" Nathaniel asked as his face molded into a frown. Marc shook his head at the question. "Wait, I'm going to look for her."

Nathaniel dropped his pencil on the table before he started leaving the class. I know she said she was going to meet someone and talk to them, but it's been over 30 minutes. Am I just worrying about nothing? 

But who did she go to meet? The boy she's going out with? Who is that boy anyway? She never told me his name. 

"Hey," He stopped a random boy in the hallways. "Do you know if you saw any redhead girl around?"

The boy seemed to think about it before he nodded. "I did see one rushing out of the school, but I'm not sure if that's the girl you're looking for."

"Thank you anyways." Nathaniel walked past him. Tiki ran out of the school? What happened now? She could be anywhere! He groaned and walked outside of the school, looking around. 

He then saw a figure far in the distance. He started walking up to the person, planning on asking him if he had perhaps seen Tiki around here or knew where she was heading to. 

As he got closer, he realized it was a girl, and the closer he got, he started to realize it was Tiki herself. 

"Hey Tiki," He sat down next to her. "What have you been doing here? Weren't you going to go back to class?"

Tiki lifted her head up a little and wiped her eyes. "Oh, I. . . I'm sorry."

"Tiki?" Nathaniel frowned as Tiki covered her face. "Have you been. . . Crying? What happened? Who hurt you?!"

"It's nothing. I'm fine. Let's go back," Tiki stood up to leave but Nathaniel dragged her back down. 

"No, you're not fine. Stop lying to me, Tiki. Just tell me what's going on!"

"I . . . I really don't want to talk about it!" Nathaniel could tell she was trying not to break into tears again. 

"Maybe talking about it would make you feel better?" Nathaniel suggested, but she only shook her head. "Alright then, let's head back." He stood up and waited for her to do the same. 

"Wait, Nathaniel?" Tiki looked up at him. "Do you think there's still a chance of going to that date?"

"What?"

"You know, that date you asked me out on?" Tiki reminded him. 

"You want to go?" Tiki nodded. "Why do you suddenly want to go?"

"I just. . ." Tiki looked down again. "I just want to give you a chance, is all."

"I, okay," Nathaniel wasn't sure but he just shrugged. "But what about the date you're going with someone else?" He watched as she stood up. 

"It's over," She muttered, but loud enough for him to hear. "Let's head back." She took Nathaniel's arm and started walking back inside the school. 

                                                                                   ❣❣❣

Alya stretched her back as the final bell went out. Finally, classes were done for the day. Alya couldn't wait to get home, sleep in all day and forget about all her problems. 

Before she could stand up from her seat, her phone buzzed with a new message. Chloe, who also happened to be in her class, turned to her with a smirk. 

"Who is that? Your new secret admirer?" The blonde laughed, but Alya only rolled her eyes as she took out her phone and tapped on the message. 

                                                                                        ☆☆

                                      ☆☆3:31pm| N - I've been thinking about it for an entire class, but I've                                                                              finally agreed. I'll be waiting for you at the back of the school if you're                                                                                                                           still coming.☆☆

                                                                                          ☆☆

                                                                                          ☆☆

                            ☆☆3:31pm| A - alright, I'll be there soon. Thanks for changing your mind☆☆
                                                                                          ☆☆

                                                                                          ☆☆

                                      ☆☆3:31pm| N - no problem. Can't wait to see you as well☆☆
                                                                                          ☆☆

Alya didn't know why she blushed deeply at the message, but the redness was still very visible on her cheeks. Before she went over to meet her secret admirer, she still had something else to do. 

"Tiki, wait!" Alya caught up with her friend that was leaving the classroom. "Can we talk?"

"I will if it's quick."

"Oh don't worry, it will be," Alya nodded with a promising smile. "I just wanted to ask why you're so mad at Marinette?"

"That's your question?" Tiki sent her a little glare, but then she softened as she thought more about the question. "I would say it's because my crush likes her, but now that really sounds stupid."

"Plagg likes Marinette?!" Alya widened her eyes. "Oh my goodness, Tiki, I'm so sorry to hear that! But really, do you think that's something to be mad at Marinette for?"

Tiki bit her lip, then slowly shook her head. "I was just so mad about it, and I got even madder once I found out he agreed to go out with me only to make Marinette jealous. Now I've come to believe that it wasn't Marinette that I should have been mad at. I shouldn't have been mad at Plagg either because it wasn't his fault that he liked Marinette, and I wasn't one to control his feelings. Though I'm still mad at him because he asked out on a fake date!"

"Tiki, I'm really sorry this is happening to you, and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you either." I was so busy thinking about my problems that I didn't come to wonder if Tiki or Marinette were doing okay. "If you want, I can't give Plagg a taste of his own medicine!"

"It's fine," Tiki shook her head. "I don't care anymore. Besides, I'm going out with a different guy!"

"Oh," Alya frowned. "I didn't expect you to find another date right after the first one didn't work out. Who is he anyway?"

"Nathaniel."

"Nathaniel? You do know that guy also likes Marinette too, right?"

"Gee, thanks, Alya," Tiki rolled her eyes. "And yes I'm aware that he used to like Marinette. He told me that he lost feelings for her now and has feelings for me! It'll be a great distraction from Plagg anyway!"

"If you put it like that, don't you think you're sort of using him as a rebound?" Alya folded her arms, having the look of Alya-knows-best on her face. "I know you still like Plagg, Tiki."

"Well yeah, crushes don't disappear in thin air."

"Then why did you agree to go out with Nathaniel?!" Alya asked, trying not to yell. "I feel like you're literally acting like Plagg. Are you only dating Nathaniel just so Plagg would notice and regret his decision of ever planning on fake dating you?!"

"What?! No, I just. . . No!"

"Tiki, don't lie to me," Alya glared at her. "What's the reason why you decided to go out with Nathaniel?!"

"Why do you care?! Maybe it was better that I never spoke to you at all. You're just making a big deal out of everything. You don't control my life, Alya. Stop acting as if you know everything!"

Alya stopped for a few seconds, then she spoke up again. "Okay then. Maybe you'll have better fun explaining it to Nathaniel himself!"

"N-Nathaniel?"

Alya pointed at the boy who had been listening to their conversation. Tiki turned to Nathaniel and gasped. "N-Nathaniel, what are you doing here?"

"I just. . ." Nathaniel looked down. "Nevermind, I'll just leave."

"No, wait!" Tiki ran up to him, stopping him from leaving. "Listen, Nathaniel, don't listen to Alya. All the words she just said now wasn't the truth."

Alya glared at her. "Whatever, fine. I'm going to go and leave you two to talk. After all, I have someone more important than you to meet up with!" Tiki glared at her as she walked away. 

I can't believe Tiki. A boy breaks her heart and she plans on breaking another boy's heart! Alya stuffed her hands in her pockets. Or maybe I'm wrong and what I'm thinking isn't the truth at all. 

She sighed and stepped out of the school. Clearing her mind, she walked to the back of the school and looked around there. Just like she had thought, a boy was sitting, waiting for her. 

Alya walked up to him. "Hi. I'm sorry if I took so long. I had to talk to someone first before I head over here."

"It's okay." The boy stood up and shook hands with her. "I'm just glad you came."

Just like she had thought—just like she had imagined, the boy was exactly the person she had in mind, and it brought a smile up to her lips. 

"I don't really think we've properly met before. I'm Alya."

The boy smiled at her. "Hi. It's Nino."

                                                                                    ❣❣❣

Marinette walked faster, wanting to reach the door. Her main goal was to get out of this school and just try to find somewhere to stay that wasn't her house. She finally made it to the door and was about to step out when someone tapped her on her shoulder. 

Marinette turned around, a little surprised at who it was. "Adrien, what is it?"

"We're going to be handing in our art project next week Friday. Maybe we should work on it now."

Marinette looked down, knowing that Adrien was right. Besides they were almost done the project; she just wasn't sure if she would be able to work with him after what happened between them. 

But maybe I can explain to him again. 

"Alright fine."

"But we're not working at my place again," Adrien quickly spoke, disappointing Marinette. "My father wouldn't like it. How about your place?"

"No! Let's work outside or something, but not my place," Marinette quickly shook her head. "Maybe we can work at a res-?"

"No, not a restaurant!" Adrien exclaimed before she could even finish. "I still don't feel comfortable with people staring at me, and besides, people might take pictures again!"

"You're right, I don't know what I was thinking!" Marinette groaned. "Fine! We'll work at my place. You take your limo; I'll take my car. I'll see you there in 20 minutes!"

Adrien nodded, before walking to his limo that had been waiting for him. He got inside and told Gorilla to drive. 

"We're not going back home, Gorilla. We're going somewhere else," Adrien spoke. He gave Gorilla the address for Marinette's place, which Marinette had told him when she had come over and stayed the night. "Once we get there, you can go, and pick me up when I call you. Once Father asks where I am, tell him I'm at Nino's. Okay?"

Gorilla didn't say a word, but he nodded. 

                                                                                       ❣❣❣