warning/s: language!

////

The next day had arrived. 

Adrien Agreste opened his locker to reveal stuffed toys, love letters, snacks and sweets, and other memorabilias piling up inside. He hummed his favorite songs as he reached for the newest gift he had received. It was a chocolate cupcake with icing and a cherry on top. He appreciate the gifts, he really do, but sometimes it can be quite overbearing and suffocating receiving this many presents. 

Meanwhile, you and Nathaniel were huddled by the corner, watching Adrien's every move. You couldn't actually see what he was doing because it was hidden by the locker door. You looked at Nathaniel nervously, not really sure if you could do this. You told yourself a hundred times that you could face him without your heart beating fast, but right now, you're not even facing him yet your heart is already speeding up. 

"Hurry up," Nathaniel whispered beside you. You sighed in defeat. You trudged towards his locker. The cold crisp of air hit your skin, and it made your legs shiver. You squeezed the end of your shorts. 

You were now a foot away from him and you just need to announce your arrival. Should you clear your throat? No. Should you say hi? Ugh what if my voice cracks? Should you just run away and waste this precious opportunity? Yes. 

So you turned around and went to escape, but you didn't expect Nathaniel to block your way and pushed you harshly towards Adrien's locker door. It caused a loud ruckus. You quickly stepped back. You heard a continuous beep. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no! 

121, 122, 123- 

With your mouth agape, you swiftly hid your device behind you. You waited in panic. Adrien's head popped out of the locker door and turned to look at you. You noticed that he has a bit of icing on his nose. "Did you change your mind?" His eyes seemed to smile at you. 

You managed to give him a nod. You tried to subtly slap the device in your wrist to make it stop but it was no use. 

Adrien nodded happily. "What's your name, miss?"

"Y-Y/N..."

"Okay. So, Y/N, where do you wanna run in the relay?" He asked you as he placed something inside his locker. "I have to know where to place you." 

You just stared at his doings, not getting a single thing he's saying. 

He saw your blank face and began to laugh sheepishly, his hand combing through his hair. "I'm sorry I don't make any sense." You just smiled a little at him. "So-" A stick slipped from his fingers. The stick fell to the ground and made a clank noise. 

You only realized that this stick was a metal baton. 

Metal. 

You're doomed. 

"Let's go to the field, shall we?"

////

Kim readied his position; he was kneeling on one knee and hands were forward. He was holding the baton in his right hand. 

"You ready, Kim?" Adrien called to him. The brown-haired guy called back to him. He then turned to you. "Ready?" You nodded. "Alix, are you ready?" She nodded as well.

Everything seemed to go into places so Adrien reached for his whistle hanging around his neck. He blew on the whistle, signalling 'go'.

Kim started to run like the wind. You watched him going from point A to you. You wearily glanced at your device at its number 84, 85, 84, 85, 84

Is it possible to pass the baton to Adrien without your heart speeding up from the running?

"Y/n!" Kim yelled, cutting off your train of thought. You looked behind you and saw him, already nearing you. You nodded in determination. You can do this.

You practically bounced in your heels and took off slowly, reaching your hand out to him to receive the metal baton.

You took it and sprinted off. You were only halfway towards Adrien when you decided to check on your watch. 117-118-120-127 !!

"Focus, Y/n!" Adrien called after you. You kept running even though you could already feel electricity coursing thorough your veins. You panicked as you hear the familiar beep pattern. You checked your device once again and it was already on 135!

Before the last minute of passing the baton, you retracted your hand from it and ran outside the field. Adrien looked at you confusedly, his mouth slightly agape.

You slowed down, letting go of the baton to the grassy fields. You placed your hands on your knees and tried to catch your uneven breaths. You bowed your head down as you could hear your heart beating in your ears.

Adrien walked towards your side. "Y/n, what happened?"

beebeebeebeebee-

You heard another set of footsteps behind you. It was Alix's. "Why didn't you pass the stick?"

The beeping went decreasingly slow. You stood up straighter. "I..." You stole a glance at the short, messy-haired chick before facing Adrien. "Alix should be the one passing the baton to you..."

Beside you, she raised an eyebrow in offense but decided not to say anything.

The boy in front of you scrunched his face in both worry and confusion. "Um, why?"

"I want to be the last runner."

You heard Alix gasped behind you and marched towards Adrien. "But the last runner should be the fastest one, Adrien!" She basically whined.

Before he could respond, you chimed, "...How do you know you run faster than me?"

You might've snapped a nerve.

Kim widened his eyes in surprise, surprise that this quiet girl could make such a savage comment.

Alix slowly turned around, her cheeks slightly red. "Wanna bet?" She grumbled.

"Let's settle this on the field, okay?" Adrien tried to calm the adrenaline junkie but it only drove her to a more challenging state.

///

Alix lowered herself on the ground, kneeling on one knee and her palms forward. She looked at you with sheer rage and determination to destroy you in this race. You looked back at her awkwardly and just decided to avoid her sharp gaze.

"Be in position!" Adrien called from the finish line. He stood besides Kim. "Ready!" The both of you went from crouching to bending.

You let out a deep breath. You have to win this, or you'll just hurt Adrien with your ability. This is for him.

You then heard the whistle. You instantly stood up and ran and ran and ran. The girl beside you seemed to be filled with passion and fiery anger.

She took in long, heavy steps, while you run in short yet quick strides. You realized you couldn't see her in your peripheral vision, meaning you ran past her.

But soon, you noticed her hand attempting to pull your hair. You ignored it for a few seconds, focusing only at the finish line.

A hand grabbed your shoulders. You shook it off frantically, then magically, Alix was at your other side now. You carefully glanced at her, waiting for her motives, but you just looked forward.

Suddenly, your right arm lifted up and was held by two hands. What the heck, Alix?! Shouldn't Adrien and Kim be seeing this stunt?

You arm was still grasped by her hands so you looked behind you and saw Alix opening up her mouth and went for a bite.

You yelped loudly and you could feel your heartbeat escalating. Alix kept on munching on your poor arm.

146, 147-

She decided to take a bite again, not until she was sent back by electricity. She flew on the grass, rolling around.

You crossed the finish line, Adrien and Kim watched in concern as Alix spasmed on the ground. After a few moments, she slowly sat up. "I-It's nothing, I'm fine!" She breathed heavily. She then stood up shakily. "I didn't cheat, alright?"

You looked at her, irritated. You carressed your bitten right arm and hissed as you traced the bite marks. Hurts like a bitch. Guess she got what she deserved.

////

"But, Mr. Damocles-!"

"Marinette," said teacher as he placed his hands on her shoulders firmly. "I trust you to lead this stand for our tournament. The team needs support, you know? And I heard you are the most cheerful girl in school, so I know that you will be able to lead these children to cheer for the school. Got it?"

She didn't know what to say. On the one hand, it was nice hearing the owlish teacher say that she could be trustworthy for this position, but on the other hand, it might distract her from her dream of being a fashion designer. She didn't want to lead a bunch of junior students to a cheering stand! She wants to make designs and send them to a company or something!

Nonetheless, she just couldn't say no to a favor. She's just that kind. So she nodded her reply, earning a smile from the principal in front of her. "Good." He made his leave.

////

Before the next day, she already contacted Alya for extra help to the stand. After all, she matched the same energy as Marinette.

Because of her best friend, Marinette managed to talk to the junior high school students and tried to convince them to join the cheering stand.

"We'll start tomorrow after class, okay?"

She reminded them with a big, welcoming smile on her face.

Right now, as she walked inside the stadium, looking at the incomplete occupied seats, her heart was full of sorrow.

She almost paused in her steps, but she decided to just walk towards Alya, who was standing in front of the benches.

"Where are the students from Class 1?" Alya questioned, seeing only 3 students participating.

Marinette frowned deeply. "Let's reschedule our practice for today." She tried to smile, but it almost looked like she's giving up. She wants to give up.

They all stood there hopelessly, unaware of someone listening to their conversation.

Alya tried to cheer her up. "It's no problem, Mari. We can practice with the students we have right now."

"But the stadium has been queued by the teachers for next week. We don't have enough time."

Mylene stepped up and gave the bluenette a hug. "It's okay, Marinette."

The guy crouching behind the benches frowned at her sullen face. Don't worry, Marinette. I'm going to fix this!

////

His feet lead him to the hallway of junior high school rooms. He looked through room and found one that says Class 1.

That's where he's going.

Suddenly, he heard something fell on the floor. A pencil. It came from a middle-aged man. He wore a simple attire, but he was carrying sketchbooks and a pencil case full of art materials. He must be the new art teacher.

He was shaking in his boots as he stared towards the door of Class 1.

Nathaniel slowly approached the instructor. "Aren't you going in?"

He shook his head frantically. "Students from Class 1 really scares me." 

The red haired boy looked at him confusedly.

"They're only doing what they want. I can't even teach them how to draw." Then he said something in Japanese Nathaniel couldn't decipher. Maybe a silent prayer.

He looked back at the door leading to a bunch of junior high school students who don't know how to draw and are just little kids. He can do this. For Marinette!

Nathaniel gulped as he eased his shoulders and stood up straighter. He busted open the door and shouted, "Hey, you all need to go to the stand and practice--!"

Everyone raised their head to face him. It was quiet, too quiet. Nathaniel thought that inside this classroom were energetic and hyperactive students wrestling on the floor or kids on their phones. He didn't expect them sitting on their desk, actually studying.

It was still silent, until one of the students leaned forwards and flailed his arm. "Hey, don't cover the screen!"

Nathaniel easily followed and stepped aside. He just noticed a banner on a ceiling, stating that, 'I want to be an engineer!' 'I want to be a doctor!'

He took another good look at the students writing notes on their table. He already know that it's going to be hard convincing smart kids to join an after-school activity.

The bell rang, interrupting his train of thoughts. All of them stood up instantaneously.

"Hey, wait! Where are you all going?" Nathaniel asked but no one listened. They still went ahead and packed their bags, heading outside. "H-hey! What about the stand?"

A girl halted before him. "It's a waste of my time. I have to study in New York because in 4 years, I am taking my CAT exams."

They all left him inside without another word.

Nathaniel looked around the room. They can be so arrogant.

He sighed and went to take a seat on the teacher's table. He wanted to get himself comfortable until he accidentally sat on something sturdy. Surprised, he looked at the table that were piled with sketchbooks.

The teal-eyed boy picked one up and examined it. He opened it and found that it was blank on every page.

He picked up another student's sketchbook and explored the also blank pages.

Another one. Nothing.

Another sketchbook, blank.

He has an idea.

end of chapter five

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sayonaraaaaaa~!

KimmiePines