[Adrien's POV]

I sit at my desk refreshing the LadyBlog page over and over. I'm so bored. Nothing has happened in ages.

"I don't know why you're moping around all grumpily, I'm having the time of my life." Plagg says as he downs a chunk of camembert. "It's nice to have a break and finally get some rest."

"You're always lazing around, Plagg." I reply. "What could you possibly need more rest for?'

"Eating camembert is extremely exhausting." Says Plagg.

"But I haven't seen Ladybug in so long..." I mope.

"Blech! Don't ruin my meal with your sadness." Plagg says in disgust.

I sigh and rest my head in my hand. It is then that something catches my eye—the Mega Strike 4 video game that Nino got me for my birthday! I should invite him over to play.

I get out my phone and open my messenger. But my dad doesn't really like Nino... I know! I'll just invite my other friends so it's like a group thing. I flick through my other contacts and create a group with Nino, Alya and Marinette.

"Plagg, go be lazy in my closet. I'm having friends over."

.

My heart skip a beat when the doorbell rings. My first guest! I rush over happily and pull the door open. Marinette stands in the doorway. She jumps a little when I swing the door open, looking at me like a deer in headlights.

"H-Hi Adrien!" She greets nervously.

"Hey Marinette! Welcome." I say, stepping aside for her to come in.

Marinette hesitates before stepping inside. She looks around at my house, fiddling with her fingers anxiously. It's probably intimidating walking into this big fancy house all by herself. But I invited her here as a friend, not a guest. I hope she doesn't see me as just some unapproachable, rich guy.

"It's not much..." I say.

Marinette looks at me curiously.

"I mean—it is a lot but, but it's too much." I continue. "It's a very big house but that doesn't matter, right? It's what's on the inside that counts—which is nothing...this house is very empty and lonely..."

What am I saying?

"I-I brought snacks." Marinette extends a shaky hand to give me a box of macaroons. "They're probably not that good...."

Oh no, she thinks she has to impress me!

"Everything you make is good!" I assure her as I take the offering happily. "Thanks, Marinette."

Marinette's spirits seem to lift a little. Yes, I'm getting through to her. Usually it takes Marinette a little while to warm up to a situation.

The doorbell rings again and Nino and Alya step inside.

"Yo yo yo, who's ready to get their game on!" Nino cheers.

"This is going to be sick." Alya says. "I've been so bored lately with nothing to record for my LadyBlog."

"I know right, I'm so excited! I don't have the new game for myself yet so this will be my first time experiencing it. It's gonna be awesome!" Marinette says enthusiastically. "I love Mega Strike!"

I smile to myself as I watch Marinette. It's fun seeing her get so excited and passionate. I only wish she would let loose like this around me too... Marinette is always on edge around me. I think I kind of intimidate her. It probably doesn't help that my father is her fashion design idol...but I wish she would look past that.

I lead my friends into my bedroom. They gasp in amazement as they look around.

"This bedroom is ridiculously awesome." Alya says.

"Yeah...I guess." I reply.

I begin hooking up Mega Strike 4 to the large television in my room. Nino approaches me while the girls walk around admiring my room.

"Hey wussup man, everything okay?"

"Do you think Marinette is scared of me?" I question suddenly.

Nino looks surprised, confused and slightly agitated all at once; it's a mangled expression that I can't depict. I suppose that was probably a really random thing for me to ask.

"I mean, I don't think she doesn't like me or anything. She just always seem so much more comfortable around you and Alya." I continue. "And it's a shame because she's such an awesome person. I want to be better friends."

Nino's expression twists into something that I think is happiness.

"Marinette totally likes you, she's just a timid person. You should definitely become closer with her."

"Really? You think so?" I ask. "But how? We don't really spend much time alone together..."

Nino taps his fingers together mischievously. "We'll just have to take every single opportunity to push the two of you together...yes, we'll call it: Operation get close with Marinette!"

"As cool as that sounds, I think it's a tad over the top." I reply.

"You want to be closer with Marinette, right? Well, today is the perfect practice." Nino says. "We'll start with physical closeness."

Nino gives me a strong shove.

"Woah!" I say as I stumble backwards and go crashing into Marinette. "Ah, I'm so sorry Marinette."

"That's okay, A-Adrien." Marinette replies kindly.

"Uh...I've finished hooking up the game if you guys wonna start.' I say.

Marinette and Alya rush over happily.

"How on earth was hitting her supposed to get her to like me?" I whisper aggressively to Nino.

Alya and Marinette begin taking their seats on the couch.

"Phase one, physical closeness!" Nino says urgently.

Alya is about to sit next to Marinette. I panic. Although it holds no logic, Nino speaks with such importance that it inflicts me to act. I quickly leap over the back of the couch and plonk down beside Marinette. Alya raises her eyebrow in a split second of confusion but quickly shrugs it off. Nino sits next to me and Alya next to him.

"Let's play boys versus girls!" Alya says determinedly.

"What? Babe, don't you wonna be on my team?" Nino protests, elbowing me in the ribs.

"Oh, uh, yeah—I want to team up with Marinette!" I speak up.

"Y-You do?" Replies Marinette.

"Of course!" I say brightly. "We were partners once before in the Mega Strike tournament, don't you think we make an awesome team?"

Marinette smiles bashfully. "Y-Yeah, okay. I'll do my best!"

"Psh, whatever then. Nino and I will take you losers down." Alya says.

"Bring it on." Marinette replies, her voice suddenly strong with confidence.

As the competition goes on, Marinette's competitive nature gets her more and more fired up. She is soon more energetic and outgoing than ever. Usually when we're having a good time she gets caught up in the moment and relaxes her defences a little. Nino was right, we're having tones of fun together. I knew being closer with Marinette would be awesome, because she is awesome. I hope we become good friends so that we can have this much fun all the time.

"Booya!" Marinette shouts after our eleventh win in a row.

Marinette and I fist bump each other, almost instinctively. We really do make a great team.

"Alright, alright. I think I'm getting tired of getting wrecked." Alya says. "I'm going to go to the bathroom, and then how about we call it a day?"

"No problem, I'll show you where it is." I reply.

"No, no! You stay here with Marinette, Adrien. It's rude to leave your guests. I went to the bathroom earlier so I can totally show Alya where it is, don't worry." Nino steps in.

Before I have the chance to argue, Nino grabs Alya's wrist and hurries out of the room. I'm grateful for his efforts to get Marinette and me alone together but I don't think he even knows where the bathrooms are.

Marinette looks confused by their abrupt exit. I hope she isn't on to us...

"They're probably sneaking off to have a secret meeting." I say. "Trying to discuss tactics to beat us for next time."

"Ha! As if that'll help. We've won twenty-three out of thirty games." Marinette replies.

"That many?" I say in surprise. "We've been playing for a while, huh?"

"Yeah, I should probably be heading home. Let's go find the others." Marinette says.

Aw man, I don't want to go back to being bored. Marinette has so much energy. Just being around her lifts my spirits. I don't want her to go.

I get up off the couch and Marinette follows. All of a sudden, a weight pushes me to the ground.

"WAH!" Marinette squeaks as she lands on top of me with a thud.

"Ouch..." I groan.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" Marinette panics. "I tripped over the game controller cord! I'm so sorry!"

I look up at Marinette, who currently has me pinned on the ground. Her face is turning red with embarrassment. Her eyes are wide with panic. She is getting flustered. She is slowly slipping back into her timid shell. I don't want her to go.

I smile calmly, easing the situation to something light-hearted and humorous. "Why is it we are always tripping over each other?"

Marinette startles. She stares down at me with her bright blue eyes, and slowly begins to smile. A small giggle escapes her lips.

"I'm such a clutz..."

I hear my bedroom door open and watch the colour drain from Marinette's face. I look over to see Alya and Nino standing in the doorway, both grinning widely.

"Are we interrupting something?" Alya teases.

"Phase One: Complete." Nino says.

"What?" Says Alya.

"What?" Nino replies quickly. "Nothing...didn't say anything."

Marinette quickly scrambles off of me. "I-It's not what it looks like! I tripped over the game controller cord and fell on top of—of A-Adrien..."

"Suuure..." Alya mocks as she slowly backs out the door. "Well, if you'll excuse us, we'll give you two some privacy."

"Alya, don't be cruel!" Marinette cries as she chases Alya out the door. "Waaaiiit! I swear it's not what you think!"

I haul myself off the ground and fix up my hair.

"Didn't expect you to ace physical closeness in one day." Nino says.

"I didn't do it, Marinette did—and it wasn't on purpose!" I reply. "You know that's not the type of closeness I was talking about."

"Well, don't be getting all cocky. I still don't think you're ready for phase two, which is emotional closeness." Nino continues as if he didn't even hear me. "For now let's just stick to baby steps, but don't you worry, I've got many plans in stall. Like, summer vacation is coming up, right—"

'Nino." I interrupt. "It's fine. I think we've made enough progress today. I know that Marinette wants to become closer friends too and that's why I think we should let her take her time to get more comfortable around me. You can't force relationships, so how about we put this whole secret mission business to rest."

"Right." Nino says sarcastically before giving me an over exaggerated wink.

"Nino I'm serious." I say. "No more meddling."

"Yeah man, I totally got it." Nino replies with a stupid smirk.

He sniggers mischievously under his breath as he turns to leave. Something tells me this is not the last I have heard of Operation: get close with Marinette...