2. Chapter 2

Adrien wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

The bright side of having an Akuma attack was the opportunity to be with his Lady. Call him insensitive, but Papillion's ploy was something he looked forward to every day.

Any day but today.

Which was why the bad side of having an Akuma attack was the timing.

Since all villains don't live with schedules or leave clues about their attacks, Adrien began to develop a talent called bluffing.

Unfortunately, his current situation can't be resolved by a mere bluff.

He was really looking forward to his first school field trip.

It was supposed to be his so-called Freedom day, a no-bodyguard/no-paparazzi kind of day with zero obligation except to hang out with friends.

Instead, he ended up with a friend - singular - who happens to share a similar demise.

Adrien wasn't completely wrong - his friend was also looking forward to their school field trip...just to be with him.

While Marinette once wished to have an all-day alone with her crush, she never for the life of her expected that it'd be today, of all days, and with a setback.

Au revoir, field trip.

"Marinette, why are you -"

"Adrien, what are you -"

Both were flustered then shyly gave the other a time to finish their sentence.

"Adrien, why are you -"

"Marinette, what are you -"

The model frowned. They would never understand each other if they continued to clash their words.

"Ladies first." he offered.

She waved her hand shyly as she stuttered "Ah - no, no, no. You go first."

"No, you go first."

"I insist. You go -"

Their short debate was halted when their cellphones rang simultaneously.

The designer raised a palm halfway with I-need-to-take-this-call gesture, which earned an approval look since the model will be doing the same thing on his phone.

Adrien made a few steps away to give her some privacy.

Clicking the Answer Key button without preparation was something the blond regretted a second later.

"Where the hell are you, Adrien?!"

He cringed when Nino's booming voice reverberated. "Uh...in our school campus?"

"What?! Why the hell is you there?!"

He had to yank his phone away from his ear before he replied: "Uh, because...the bus left before I could ride it?"

"Then why didn't you take a ride in the first place?"

"Because of an Akuma attack...?"

Nino sighed exasperatedly on the other line, which told him that his best friend was starting to lose his patience. "Then why didn't you ride the bus during the Akuma attack?"

"Because I'm on a toilet...break?"

"Wait, what?! Peeing during an Akuma attack? You?!" he bellowed as if his mental strings finally snapped. "Are you dimwit crazy?!"

Adrien winced at the DJ's words. He immediately checked his phone screen if perhaps his friend's angered face would pop out there and then.

Marinette was having a similar phone conversation with Alya, with 'you're such a clumsy, air-headed girl' told in various phrases.

When all of a sudden, her line went dead.

The designer had to check her phone screen if the call got disconnected, only to see that her best friend placed the call on mute.

A minute later, the aspiring reporter returned.

"Is Adrien there with you?" she asked.

"Erm, yeah..?"

Then the call was placed on mute again.

Marinette looked back and saw Adrien mouthing 'What's going on' while waving his phone. The girl only shrugged and mouthed 'I don't know'.

She pondered if Nino was also placing his best friend's call on mute like Alya, and if he was then there's a possibility that their best friends were discussing their miserable situation.

Alya was the first to return to the conversation. "I don't know whether to be happy for you or be pissed off at you."

"Don't worry, our feelings are mutual," she remarked dryly.

"Hey, why don't you place this call on a loudspeaker so that I can also talk to Adrien?"

She managed not to freak out when the model suddenly patted her shoulder. For how long he was standing there, she got no clue.

When she activated the loudspeaker mode, she realized that their respective best friends were likely sitting beside each other.

[Hey Adrien, are you there? ] Nino's voice immediately blasted on Marinette's phone.

"Yes. I can hear you." was the blond's reply.

The DJ narrated that since all students were confirmed as present during the assembly, the faculty decided to leave the school's premises as part of their evacuation plan and instead went on to their assigned itineraries.

But because of the panic, there were some mixed-up on the bus arrangements wherein some students ended up joining a different class.

Which means that none of the staff found out that Marinette and Adrien were left behind.

Yet.

[I've heard that we'll be having a short stop at the nearest town so that the students can switch back to their assigned places and do a proper head count.] Alya explained. [I'm not sure if we can find an alibi why your seats are empty.]

[Chloe aside, but most of our classmates will notice that you two are missing.] Nino added.

[So, what's your decision?]

The ideal answer would be 'go home, report to school, then brood over the entire summer break'.

Which was fine for Marinette, she can somehow manage it begrudgingly, but not for Adrien.

Once Natalie finds out their situation, he knew that she'll revert his canceled schedules and force him to accept more pending projects. She'll swamp him with modeling gigs and private lessons enough to make him so busy he'll have no time to wallow in his classmates' summer spree.

Marinette was a bit self-centered there for a moment.

Despite the twist of events, she was happy that she was alone with Adrien. No paparazzi, no raging fans or a Jealous Chloe that could kick her away from him. She could invite him over to her house and play video games there, talk random topics, share ideas about the fashion industry, or have some fun in the bakery. And if their stars would permit, she might get a chance to have a 'date' with him.

But she wasn't that selfish.

"Alya." the designer finally talked. "How long does it takes for the class to arrive at the hotel?"

[In Normandy, you mean? Well, approximately three hours. But since we might have a shortstop, could be four hours minimum. Why you ask?]

Marinette nudged her blond classmate. "Erm, what are the things that you have there right now - aside from cellphone?"

"Just my pocket money. Why?"

The designer looked at her things. All she got was her cell phone, her purse, and her undisclosed kwami.

When she asked him about his cash, the model handed her his wallet and credit card without considering it twice.

After she checked her own pocket money then made some mental computations, she asked their friends "Do you guys know what town will be your next stop?"

[As what I've mentioned, we 'might' have a shortstop. Might. If I don't know the possibility, then, of course, I don't know the location...] Alya paused for a moment, then gasped upon realization. [Oh. Oh, my. Don't tell me...]

[What are you talking about guys?] the DJ asked in confusion. [Alya, you're scaring me.]

The brunette cut him out with a groan. [Shut up, will you? Hey girl, are you sure about this?]

"You only live once, remember?" Marinette took a deep breath then gave her companion a comforting smile. "If I may ask, have you been to Northern France?"

Adrien tapped his chin as if contemplating. "Selected places, but never stayed there for more than a day. But then, I have Geography lessons."

"Same." she nodded as she formulated a plan. "I think we can apply the lessons we learned in real life."

If they failed to reach the bus, at least they can possibly meet their friends to their final destination.