Then
"There's a new hero?" You asked with a gulp, sitting behind your easel in the art room, hoping that Nathaniel's eyes wouldn't catch your own. If he saw your expression now there would be no way to lie around it.

"How have you not heard?" His exclaim quickly dragged out into a sigh. "She's been helping out Ladybug and Chat Noir and she's...shes..."

"She's what?" You whispered, staring down at your shaking hand that was gripping your pallet and brush a little to hard.

"The most beautiful girl I've ever seen." He was staring up and out of the window as if he would see her rush by, gripping his shirt with the most marveled expression.

You sputtered out a laugh, not believing for a second that your best friend could find you beautiful—even if he was crushing on your alter ego.

"What's so funny?" He spun around with his hands on his hips, brows furrowing.

Shaking your head, putting your hand up as you laughed you finally calmed yourself. "Dude!" You wiped away a tear. "You had a crush on Marinette yesterday!"

"This is different!" He demanded with a weird shake of his hands. "That was simply childish desire, but this Y/n, this is different."

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" You asked with a hum, deciding it was time to pack up your things for the day. Class was over and it seemed no one else, other than Alix who was invested in her street art, was coming to the club today. "You don't even know this girl."

Nathaniel pursed his lips and glanced to the floor. "You wouldn't understand."

"You're right I don't understand. You don't know this person and you claimed that Marinette was it for you, yesterday."

"You won't know until you experience Y/n. Who knows? Maybe one day Chat Noir will save you and you'll feel the same way I feel for (hero name)!" He pointed at you with a smug smile on his face as he made his declaration of sorts.

Just at the mention of the perverted hero, your body felt physically ill. "That will never happen." You turned around, sticking your tongue out and gagging dramatically.

"Never say never." He let out a low chuckle as he began shoving his supplies in his school bag. "I'll be the one sitting back and laughing when you come back starstruck."

"In your dreams." You grabbed your own bag and shoved it on your shoulder, storming out of the room and slamming right into someone.

"Shit." You grumbled under your breath as this person's grip on your wrist stopped you from falling over.

"Didn't think you missed me this bad, Y/n."

You hated that stupid voice and all the things it did to you.

With a quick glance up you saw Adrien Agreste with a smug smile dancing across his lips. His hair was messy, a bit damp around his hair line, but you found you liked it better than the way he typically wore it.

"What are you still doing here?" You forced yourself out of the quick trance his small change in appearance put you in.

With a quick straightening of your clothes and bag, you began walking down the hall again, knowing the boy would follow.

"Had fencing." He motioned down to the main area with his thumb. "Art club?" He asked with a hum.

You glanced up at him quickly, realizing you never told him that you were in that club. "How did you-?"

Adrien stopped abruptly, causing you to as well. Turning to face him you noticed he had a small smile on his face as he began to lean in closer to you.

Your first instinct was to jump back. "W-What are you doing?" He reached out and grabbed your wrist to ensure you stayed in place.

You slammed your eyes shut, not understanding what was happening and had no desire to see that stupid look on his face anymore.

Until, you felt his thumb slowly stroke your cheek.

"Relax." He mumbled.

Your brows furrowed and your eyes opened again, seeing immediately that they weren't even trying to look into yours, but fixated on that spot on your face.

"You have paint on your face." He let out a low chuckle and held up his hand to show you the streaks of blue that now painted his light hand. "What did you think I was doing?"

You slapped his hand away and began walking off once more. "You could have just told me that." You grumbled and tried not to notice how he quickened his pace to keep up with your angry stomping.

"Sure." He hummed with a quick shrug of his shoulders as his hand made its way to the strap of his bag, holding it tightly. "But then I wouldn't have seen that reaction."

You stopped, wincing at the way your sneakers made an obnoxious sound as they collided with the floor.

"You seriously piss me off."

"Oh here we go again." He rolled his eyes.

"No I mean it!" You pointed your finger against his chest. "Stop fucking around like that with me."

Adrien flashed a dramatic pout at you. "Oh but Y/n." He drew out the syllables of your name.

"You're such a pest." You scrunched your nose. "Don't talk to me until our next study session. I'm going to kick your ass on this next test." You began to storm away again but he grabbed your wrist a final time.

"So you're just using me?" He asked with the sweet boy voice he used with everyone but you.

You pushed him off you. "Don't act like that's not the reason you hang around me either." You slitted your eyes at him. "You just want me because you know I can help you be the best. You're always gunning to be the best, don't act like it's not true."

Adrien simply shook his head and took a step back. "I don't care about anyone else, I just want to beat you."

You nodded, humming slightly as you thought back to that night where you two laid on his floor, hands interlaced.

"Right. Glad things are clearer now." You took a step back and tried not to notice how he did as well.

He nodded curtly. "Right. Crystal."

You both hated yourselves in that moment, all the pettiness and unnecessary arguments.

Because the truth was, you two weren't made for each other like the bedtime stories told. Adrien was in love with someone else and simply liked using you for academics and getting a laugh at your reactions from his insanities.

Figuring out where to draw the line between friend and foe had been difficult for the two of you. There may be a line there now, but that line had been erased more times than you could count.

You had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before you needed to draw a new one.