Chapter Text
“Alright, everyone,” Mme. Bustier said, well aware that none of the students were paying attention, “make sure your lockers are cleaned out before you go, and don’t forget that you’ll have a substitute teacher for a few months when we get back.”
As the teacher continued to rattle off reminders, the class kept their eyes on the clock above the chalkboard. The second hand ticked on, marking the passing of another minute - only one left until the bell rang, releasing them for the summer.
“Okay, then,” Mme. Bustier continued, glancing at the clock, “that’s about all I’ve got for you -”
The shrill sound of the bell cut her off, and everyone jumped to their feet, gathering their things.
“Bye, Mme. Bustier!”
“Have a nice summer!”
“See you in September - err, I mean, October!”
Their teacher waved them out with a smile, returning their salutations.
“It’s finally summer,” Rose squealed as they walked into the hallway. Juleka smiled down at her.
“Hey, we’re all still on for tonight, right?” Alya turned around to make sure that Mylène, Rose, and Juleka all nodded before turning to her best friend with a semi-threatening gaze.
“Of course,” Marinette reassured her, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world - it is mine and Luka’s last date before he leaves for the tour.”
“Good,” Alya nodded, linking her arm through Marinette’s, “then, to the locker room, girls!”
Their group of five made their way through the crowds of students hurrying to leave the building. After grabbing the last of their things from the locker room, they joined the flow of people heading for the front doors.
“Hey, girls,” Nino said as he and Ivan fell into step beside them. He snuck a kiss to Alya’s cheek, slinging his arm around her shoulder before he continued, “Are all of you coming tonight?” When everyone nodded, Nino grinned. “Great!”
They had reached the bottom of the steps at this point, and Alya ducked out from under her boyfriend’s arm. “See you tonight,” she said, blowing him a kiss as the girls and the boys went their separate ways. Ivan kissed Mylène’s forehead, and she beamed at him before the girls headed across the street towards the Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie.
“I’m so excited for tonight,” Marinette said as they moved through the bakery, sending her parents quick greetings.
“Any particular reason?” Alya raised a brow at her, hefting the strap of her overnight bag further up her shoulder. “I mean, I get that it’s the last time you’ll be seeing Luka until he gets back from the tour and all, but you’re not excited about him leaving?”
“No, I think ...” Marinette stopped to open the front door of her family’s apartment, ushering her friends in before closing it and looking around dramatically before leaning in. “I think he might be proposing tonight,” she said in a hushed whisper, before adding, “well, not proposing, but like, a promise ring, or something like that.”
“Oh my god,” Alya burst, dropping her bags on the floor to hug Marinette.
“This is so great,” Rose squealed, “it would be so romantic!”
“Wow,” Mylène added, “it would be really fitting!”
“I don’t know anything for sure, though,” Marinette told them as she led them up to her room, “it might not be tonight.”
“Are you crazy, of course it’s going to be tonight,” Alya said, “he’s just graduated, and he’s about to leave for the entire summer - why wouldn’t he propose, or promise-prose, or whatever?”
“And at our monthly triple-double-date together, too,” Mylène added.
“I still can’t believe we didn’t think to pair the two seventh wheels up sooner,” Alya shook her head, and then, upon seeing Marinette’s room, “whoa.”
The usually somewhat neat room was in a total disarray, fabric covering every available space. The doors to Marinette’s wardrobe had been flung wide open, and only a few articles of clothing remained on their hangers.
“I was trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight,” Marinette sighed, setting her schoolbag down on her desk chair. “But I think I need help.”
“We’d be glad to,” Rose chirped, reaching for a cream-coloured dress at the top of a nearby pile. “What about this one?”
“Mm, too bridal,” Marinette said.
“How about this?” Mylène held up a white t-shirt and a pair of pink overall shorts.
“Too casual,” Marinette shook her head.
And so it went - Juleka offered a red skirt paired with a black sweater, Mylène found an orange bomber jacket and some dark jeans, Rose dug out a pink dress. Each of the options wasn’t the perfect outfit Marinette was searching for.
It wasn’t until Alya emerged from a pile of clothes with a crow of victory, holding a blue dress aloft for them to see, that the search ended. The moment Marinette saw it, she leapt to her feet.
“Yes, that’s the one,” she cried, and a cheer went up as the girls ushered her into the bathroom, urging her to try it on.
Marinette wore the dress beautifully - one of her own creations, it flowed down to her knees and the dark blue of the fabric was offset by the silver embellishments she’d added.
As the rest of the girls had gotten dressed during the hunt for Marinette’s perfect outfit, they were quick to lead her over to the vanity, sitting her down and pulling out makeup and hairties.
By the time they had to leave and meet up with the boys, the girls all looked stunning. They tried to get Marinette’s room back in order and passed through the bakery again, waving goodbye to Tom and Sabine.
Nino, Ivan, and Luka were going to meet them at the Trocadero so they could all hunt down André and his magical ice cream cart together. As usual, Nino had ditched his cap, the one time a month he was without it, opting for a green hoodie instead. Ivan had on a flannel, which usually ended up around Mylène’s shoulders before the night was over. And Luka had on a blue button-down instead of his usual band t-shirt, his guitar nowhere to be seen.
As their eyes met, Luka pulled his hands out of his pockets to push himself off the wall he’d been leaning against. Marinette felt as if a magnetic force pulled her closer to him, and when they reached one another, Luka placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“Hi,” he said, smiling down at her softly.
“Hey,” she smiled back.
It took them half an hour to track André down to the Pont des Arts. As always, he beamed upon catching sight of them.
“My favourite dates of the month,” he called, making sure that no other couples were within earshot, “who’s first? Step right up!”
Chocolate, praline, and white nougat for Ivan and Mylène, coconut, banana, and passionfruit for Nino and Alya, pineapple, cookie dough, and marzipan for Juleka and Rose, and blueberry, vanilla, and candy floss for Luka and Marinette. They took their cones and went to sit on the edge of the pavement, dangling their legs above the Seine. The sun was beginning to set, bathing everything in a soft golden glow.
Marinette had just taken her first spoonful of ice cream when Luka turned to her. “Marinette, I have something I’d like to say.”
“Of course, Luka,” Marinette said, smiling at him. “You can talk to me about anything.”
“I think you know what’s coming,” Luka began, “I can see it in your eyes - I like that we’ve always been on the same page.” Marinette nodded encouragingly. “For a while now, the song of our hearts has been changing. The rest of our lives are going to be starting soon - I’m going on tour this summer, and you’ve got that internship with that fashion house.”
“And I’m ready,” Marinette beamed.
Luka took one of her hands in his, breathing deeply before he looked right into her eyes and said, “I think we should break up.”
Marinette’s sunny smile froze before starting to slide off her face. “...What?”
“I don’t think a long-distance relationship would work for us,” Luka said as Marinette’s hand fell out of his. “And - and I don’t want to keep you waiting all summer - you should be free to go after your dreams, not sitting around for me.”
“I,” Marinette began, but then she floundered for something else to say. “I … I thought you were proposing.”
A brief look of shock passed over Luka’s face before he blinked and slowly shook his head. “I … you didn’t … know this was coming?”
“No,” she breathed.
“Marinette,” Luka said, his brows beginning to furrow.
“Luka, I’m in love with you,” Marinette pleaded, but he only shook his head again.
As he reached out to touch her shoulder, Marinette leapt to her feet and fled.