Nothing more fun then running to school in the rain. Haha, nope. Due to a lovely power outage last night, both of Alya's alarms didn't go off. So naturally, she got up late, which was, you know, "PERFECT" as that meant she had no time to find her umbrella.

At this rate, Marinette is going to beat me to class.

----

Nino was getting a little antsy. Alya was usually at school by now, and she wasn't answering her phone. He practically flew out of his seat when Adrien placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Dude, chill. She has time. Marinette isn't here yet either."

A "What?" from the door followed his statement.

"Oh, never mind."

"Does this mean I can panic now?" Nino asked, burying his hands under his hat. Adrien didn't reply, he just gripped his friend's shoulder tighter.

----

One minute before the bell, Alya busted in. Her shallow breathing causing her clothes to stick to her body and normally curly hair to adhere to her face in thick, straight, stands.

"Alya!" Nino and Marinette exclaimed as they ran from their seats to her.

"Don't." was all Alya said with a sigh as she walked past them to her seat, her arms covering her chest.

"Alya..." She turned to Adrien who slid his over shirt across his desk to her.

"Thank you, Adrien."

If anyone saw the twinge of jealousy pass across Marinette's features, no one said anything. However, she did get a smirk and a raised eyebrow from her best friend. Marinette acknowledged it by unmistakably mouthing "shut up."

The day passed as quickly as a school day could, Alya's mood slowly returning to its normal teasing self. Her hair... took longer. Over the hours it transformed from a wet blob, to a frizzy mess until finally, after a quick bathroom trip, it finally conformed into Alya's typical style. It was all looking up from the horrible start to the day. That was, until they realized they'd be walking home in the rain.

"Come on," Alya said defeated leaning into Nino. "I mean," she continued with a fake laugh,"I finally got my hair to cooperate with me."

"Hmm." Nino murmured out as he slung his arm over her shoulder, tangling his fingers in her locks. That is, before an idea suddenly washed over him. Pulling Ayla closer to him, he called out to Marinette as she was about to follow Adrien out of the school.

"Yo, Mari, you got an extra hair-tie?"

Totally, not because she was in a rush to catch up with Adrien, Marinette ripped out one of her pigtails and sling-shotted it over to the couple. She barely remained long enough for Alya to chuck Adrien's over shirt at her with a quick, "Get'em girl."

"Okay, what was that about?" Alya quipped, ever sharp, as she turned back to Nino.

"Just turn around."

She gave the boy a look, but obliged.

With no sisters, it took Nino a while to figure out how to put Alya's hair into a messy ponytail. It took him even longer to swirl it onto a cinnamon bun. However, it took him all of a second to ceremoniously plop his prized cap over it all.

Admittedly, it wasn't perfect. A tendril or two had refused to stay under his cap, but it was close, and the look of appreciation and love that washed over her face almost made him fall apart. It didn't help that something about seeing her wear his clothes gave him a whole new, indescribable, feeling.

"Come on," Alya whispered as she lightly shoulder bumped him. "Walk me home."

----

The next day, Nino was completely caught off guard to see Alya sitting outside the school wearing his cap. Her hair was down this time, spilling out of the hat in silky waves. The memory of the kiss they shared in her doorway came back to the forefront of his mind.

It hadn't left sense it had happened, mind you, but seeing her like this made him want to run up to her and just do it again. Darn, if anyone saw. Somehow, miraculously, he managed to calmly walk over to her.

"Hey, stranger."

"Strangers don't kiss like we did last night, Nino." Alya said with a unique combination of smugness and flustered.

"Hey! You started it!" Nino accused sitting down beside her.

"YOU deepened it, checkmate."

"Ah, from strangers to mates. At this rate I might just have a chance."

The pair quietly laughed as the school doors opened. Nino forced himself up and offered his hand out to Alya. "Shall we go in."

"We shall. By the way... CATCH!" Nino's hat flew over his head, but he did manage to snag it as it sailed to the ground.

"Really?"

"I like keeping you on your toes." Alya couldn't stifle her small laugh as she came up to stand by his side.

"You always do," and with that, Nino's arm snuck around her waist and he planted a light peck on her cheek.