(1524 words)

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

*1:25pm*
*school*
Today was the last day at school before Thanksgiving break kicked in. And because it was so close to the end of the day, Miss Bustier had decided to give them all an even earlier break, by sharing their plans for that week with the class.

Mylene raised her hand eagerly.
Chloe then jumped up and was about to lay her own plans out. But Miss Bustier waved her hand to signal her to sit down.

"But I was first!", Chloe pouted.

"Chloe, we've talked about this. You didn't raise your hand. Please take your seat.", the slim teacher replied soothingly.

Chloe sat down as she was told, but crossed her arms and tilted her nose up.

"Go ahead, Mylene."

Adrien stared wide-eyed at the chalk board. For the past few days, he had done everything he could to avoid this topic. And he had succeeded. Least ways, to the point where he wasn't having to share HIS plans.

He already knew what all of his friends were doing. It was the same oh same oh, really. A special meal that was shared with their immediate family. With a few minor details in between that would make for the differences.
But his would be... Well... The way he figured, it would be like last year. Except for last year, he had had the flu. So he had been able to skip out on any Thanksgiving discussions with his friends.

But last year, he had made sure to eat basically anything that was known to be eaten at Thanksgiving. That way he wouldn't be left out in speaking of the meals they all had.

Adrien felt his heart rate increase as Mylene started speaking.

What will I say?? What CAN I say?? That my father works every chance he gets?? That he won't join me even at regular meal times, let alone Thanksgiving?? WHAT??? That I intend to go catapulting through the city as Chat Noir??

He softly blew his pent up breath from the corner of his mouth.
Calm down. Panicking will get you nowhere.

He forcefully removed the expression of fear from his face and plastered a fake smile on. Then he gently turned to stare at Mylene, as though he was thoroughly enjoying listening to her. Ah. The benefits of being a model. He then shut the world out just enough so he could think.
The only ones that know how my father is, is Nino and Marinette and Alya and Chloe. Chloe.

He glanced over at her real quick. She was intentionally ignoring Mylene.
If I need to lie, all I have to do is involve Chloe. When it comes to trickery, shes always so reliable.

His eyes squinted ever so slightly, before his expression fell back to his modeling mode.
Do I really want to do that, though? Is it really worth risking Chloe's affection? The others. They would help. I know they would. They would be confused at first, but they would help. And the teacher- why should she question anything we have to say about our holiday plans?

A surge of reality washed over Adrien. Enough reality, that his modeling face fell away to be replaced by an anxious expression.

He turned away to stare at the chalk board again.
Who am I kidding?? If I'm willing to lie about my friends, then why not just lie without them being invloved?? What's the point???

He groaned internally.
Arghh!! But what could I say??

As strange as it was, he found it more difficult to lie about what he and his father would be "doing", then to lie about being with any of his friends. And to involve Nathalie and Gorilla? Oh joy. What wonderful family plans THAT would make.

Lame! Lame! LAME!

Hearing Miss Bustiers' voice brought him back to the discussion.

"Chloe, you may go ahead now."

The blonde beauty, with her legs crossed and using a nail file, managed to murmur demurely, "Hmm?"

Miss Bustier glanced at the ceiling in a vague expression of annoyance. "Would you like to share your Thanksgiving plans with the class now?"

Chloe tutted. "No, I'll just let everyone die from curiousity."

Alya snorted. "As if.", she mumbled.

Nino and Marinette turned red in the face from restrained laughter.

Adrien rolled his eyes upward.
Not again, Chloe...

"Alright. Who would like to go next?"

Marinette raised her hand.

To Adriens' amazement, he found himself distracted from his current problem as he heard Marinettes' voice. He turned around to watch her with a genuine smile.

"We usually start the morning with a cup of hot cocoa and any Thanksgiving specials that are on the tv. Then we spend most of the morning cooking whatever wasn't cooked during the night. And shortly before the parade starts, we step outside to watch."

Directly after this, she began listing their top choices that they would be eating on Thanksgiving night.

Adriens' expression softened as he recalled how Marinette had helped him to get to the Theatre.
Shes always so willing to help. And their food is always so delicious!

A twinge of guilt bubbled up in him.
No. No, I can't do that to her.
His ears had flushed slightly as he recalled Heroes' Day.

Another surge of panic began to settle in, as his probems became real again.
What am I gonna do?? Arggh! I so need to get out of here!

His eyes widened.
That's it!

He then relaxed and waited through a couple more of the sharings before raising his hand.

Miss Bustier smiled. "Go right ahead, Adrien."

He almost hopped out of his seat to run out of the room. But then he realised what she really meant.

"Uh-. Um, I need to go to the restroom?", he asked a bit sheepishly while pointing at the door.

She blinked. "Oh."Her face pinched questionably.

He knew that look. She was recalling all the times he had left on that pretence, and yet never returned in time for the rest of the classes' session.

The woman inwardly sighed to herself.
Its not as if he's missing out on anything to learn this time.

"Well. Go ahead then."

There were a few chuckles from his classmates as he shot out the door.

In the bathroom, he cautiously checked the stalls before letting Plagg out.

"I'm STARVING!", the little kwami declared.

Adrien rolled his eyes. "You're always starving, Plagg. What news is that?" But he tossed his friend a slice of camembert anyway.

Plagg watched as his owner paced the bathroom floor. He knew what bothered the young model. Or for that matter, EVERYTHING that was bothering the young model. But he wasn't entirely for sure which one it was this time.

He hardly ever listened to what was going on in class. And today, he REALLY hadn't been paying attention. He had slipped away to visit Tikki. She occasionally had a cookie or some other sweet treat that she could share. And too, they enjoyed their chats.

Plagg frowned, then sighed. "Alright, so what is it?"

Adrien stopped to pat his pockets. "My cell phone! I must have left it in my satchel."

Plagg tilted his head. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well, i can't keep track of time for one thing."

"Oookay. Is there an akuma or what?"

Adrien gave the kwami a look of disbelief. "what?? No! You really DON'T pay attention in class, do you?"

Plagg waved one hand dismissively. "Hey! I've got more important things to do then- then- well. Then to listen to whatever that woman has to say."

Adrien blinked. "Yeah. Okay. Whatever. Anyway, I left because they were discussing Thanksgiving plans."

"Oooh. THAT one."

"What?", Adrien asked questionably.

"Nothing. Look, why don't we just kick back on the floor and take a nap?"

"Ew! No! And besides, naps don't solve everything."

Adrien scratched his forehead with his thumb in a thoughtful manner. "Hopefully, Nino will grab my stuff for me. I'd hate to have to go back into class. Directly after class was just dismissed."

Plagg flew over and settled down on top of his owners' hair. "Naps don't solve everything, huh? Well, it sure got rid of that old geezers' nagging wife!"

"Do you mean, Rip Van Winkle?"

"How should i know??"

Adrien laughed. "So for some reason, you were paying attention in literature. Go figure. Besides, his wife DIED, Plagg. I wouldn't consider that solving a problem."

"Eh. But hey! If someone makes mention of a twenty years nap, of course they're gonna catch my attention! ... I could use a twenty years nap..."

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Ok, so i don't know how realistic it would be for Adrien to have an anxiety problem like that. But i recalled that he is suppose to be "reserved". Which, to me, sounds like , "i don't really like sharing my problems with anyone." Which also made me feel he might would fight to hide his problems. Idk.