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Adrien felt like an alien.
While he was literally wearing an alien costume, he truly felt like an alien as he stood there, against the wall aimlessly sipping his drink away as countless conversations and laughter surrounded him in the small house. There were other alien costumes like his, yet all of them were happily engaged in conversations unlike him.
Coming to this Halloween party was a mistake.
It was a spur of the moment decision in accepting Nino’s invitation. At the time, he really thought this was the perfect opportunity to reach out and make new friends with people around his age. So quickly going out and buying a cheap green bodysuit, mask, and cheap antenna all behind his fathers back, he managed to sneak out to the party with full expectations of wonder and friends.
Oh how quickly those hopes were crushed.
Ever since arriving at the flat, Adrien has never felt so more alone than ever despite being smack in the middle of so many people. Worse yet, he hasn’t even seen Nino the full hour he was here leaving him entirely alone.
Staring into his empty cup, he idly pretended to sip out of the cup. Out of the 5 people he tried to talk to, they all soon left to mingle with someone else a minute later. Sure, the party was just as glamorous and exactly like the movies he watched, those same movies sure didn’t tell the full story.
Knowing no one but Nino, it was hard to even just approach someone let alone begin making friends. He chose quite an ironic costume choice.
After taking another sip of his empty cup, Adrien felt a tap on his shoulder. Nino had finally found him.
“Adrien! Glad you can make it! I nearly didn’t recognize you with your mask and costume!”
“Nothing much Nino,” Adrien replied in a slightly down trodden tone.
“Feeling like an alien, Adrien?”
“Haha. Very funny Nino.”
“Come one, Bro. You got to get out there and talk to people! Everyone is here to mingle, and who knows. You can find your Ladybug!”
“Ha ha, Nino. Very funny.”
“Oh come on, you know I mean the best, but you should really get out there and talk to people. Can’t just stand around here the whole time. That’ll bore you to death!”
“Yeah I know, it's just,” Adrien leaned in close to Nino making sure no one heard him, ”How do I exactly talk to people?”
Nino laughed at his question, replying with a bright smile, “Dude, you are already doing it! Here why don’t I introduce you to some of my other friends. They’d love to meet you! Consider it… an alien invasion!”
Nino’s smile quickly faded away as he spotted something happening the room over, “Wait, hold that thought Adrien. Someone is hitting on Alya. I’ll be back alright?”
As if he was never there, Nino disappeared among the crowds of people around here leaving him alone once again.
Staring back into his empty cup again, Adrien reflected and deep down, there was some truth about what Nino had said.
Feeling silly about just feeling down just because he hasn’t made any friends yet, he tossed the cup into a bin nearby and made his way through the house and towards the backyard. The one place he hasn’t visited in the house yet.
Lost in his own world thinking about potential conversation starters, he didn’t notice another figure quietly making their way outside until they were side by side standing out on the patio. Dressed in a Chat Noir costume, the girl looked just as out of place as he did.
Clearing his throat, Adrien mustered up the courage for small talk.
“Hey, uh, enjoying the party?”
She turned towards him and smiled, her eyes in slight defeat behind her mask.
“Yeah. Just looking for some fresh air right now though. How about you, um, Mr. Alien?”
Adrien couldn’t help chuckling at the nickname, “Likewise, Ms. Noir, I felt too much like an alien in there so I decided to invade the backyard instead.”
“Ms. Noir? Really? That’s the name you give me?”
“Says the person who called me ‘Mr. Alien.’ I’d say my naming sense is better than yours.”
“You’re kind of funny. Mr. Alien.”
“Glad to hear that I’m kind of funny. Ms. Noir. I hope to be the full funny one day.”
“Careful, I heard that if you get too full of funny, your funny bone needs to be surgically removed.”
Back and forth with easy banter, just who was this girl? Mystified that someone could that easily match his beat, Adrien had to keep talking to her.
“Hmmm, how about we talk about the procedure after you help my alien invasion on some snacks?”
Her eyes twinkled in response, “I don’t see why not, that sounds like a great idea.”
The next couple of hours were a blur of fun and laughter. Their easy back and forth with one another made Adrien forget about any reservations he had while at the party as they roamed about the house and backyard, grabbing and eating any snacks they could.
For the first time that night, he truly felt like he belonged somewhere, even if it was just with her.
As they chatted away about the most menial things, a voice called out behind them.
“Marinette! There you are!”
Who were they calling out? Who was Marinette?
Confused, Adrien turned around, and saw a girl, dressed in Ladybug’s spots behind them.
Ms. Noir replied back, “Alya! What's up?”
…Alya?
Approaching closer, the ladybug cosplayer noticed that ‘Marinette’ wasn’t alone.
“Oh! Hello! Sorry if I interrupted anything. I’m going to borrow her for a bit.”
“No, it was nothing really. We were just talking,” Adrien replied.
Pulling ‘Marinette’ closely to her, they began whispering to each other, making sure that he couldn’t hear anything. A moment later, a bright pink flush spread across ‘Marinette’s’ face. Breaking apart, Marinette, a bit frazzled from their talk, broke the news Adrien was dreading to hear that night.
“Mr. Alien, I’m going to head out now. It was really fun talking to you!”
“Likewise! It was really fun to talk to you Ms. Noir.”
“Wait! Alya! Give me a pen!”
Quickly scribbling her number on a piece of napkin, she handed it to Adrien.
“I’d love to talk to you more. Hope we keep in touch!”
She was gone, leaving him alone once again.
Staring at the scribbled number hastily written, Adrien’s mind began to piece together the familiar names. Taking out his phone, he quickly looked up the phone number in his contacts, confirming his suspicions.
The person he just talked to was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
What he thought was a new friend, was already a friend. Ironic. Yet, not at the same time. She truly was different today then whenever they talked.
Interesting.
A tap on his shoulder drew him out of his thoughts. It was Nino.
“Adrien! Let's bounce! We’re going to meet up with Alya and Marinette at the nearby burger joint. You’re good to go right?”
Oh, that was why she was in a hurry to leave.