"You...You like me? You like me? You like me !? Y-"

"I won't if you keep repeating it like a parrot or something! There, you heard me say it. Happy now?"

"I...Yeah, I guess I am…"

What am I supposed to say to her no-

"Well?" She cuts through his train of thought, "Are you going to tell me you like me back, or do you think I should just, like, wait until you scream at me again?"

At this point, he had moved a distance away from her, avoiding the inevitable. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he felt it was either too cheesy or too soon. Then again, he had kissed her in the past, but this time it was different.

"I...I like you too?"

"Really? You don't sound so sure about that. If I'm going to be in a relationship with someone, I don't want it to be a liar!"

"Wait, relationship!? Slow down, slow down! You literally just told me you liked me, and now you want to be in a...relationship?"

"Well, duh! What did you think was gonna happen? I confess my undying l-... like for you, and then you say the same and then we act like it never happened? Haha, no."

As he tried to piece together what led up to this confession in his mind, the boy went to pick up the sweat absorbed towel from the ground, "I didn't plan on forgetting everything we just said. All I mean is, how do we do this? When? No one even knows you like me besides, well, me...right?"

"It's not like I would tell anyone, right?"

"What, because you're ashamed?"

Here he goes again with the whole "I'm-Nathanaël-and-you're-ashamed-blah-blah-blah" whine. Honestly, what do I see in him? He's not Adrien, he's not popular, he's not rich, he's not attra-...okay, maybe he's attractive, but still.

"I'm not ashamed! I'm ashamed I had to tell you myself because you wouldn't say it! If you want me to prove to the world that you're... with me , then why don't you come by my house later? Then you'll be able to prove it, and I'll prove I'm not ashamed to have you as a...a...a-a.."

"A boyfriend?"

"Yeah...what you just said. And when you come, wear something nice."

"But you didn't even say why I'm going there! How am I supposed to know what to-"

"Oh, do you hear that? That's my limo honking for me! You better look rich when you get there!"

She left him standing in the courtyard, silent and confused, wonder what she could even prove by him coming to her house. Either way, he'd still go.

No...No, not that. Oh, maybe th-no, it has paint stains on it.

Nathanaël knew that he wasn't much of a fashion oriented type of guy, but at this point, he wasn't afraid to try. He just knew that wearing clothes he knew Chloé classified as "rags" would get him kicked out before he even went inside.

In the end, the boy ended up awkwardly asking Adrien for a casual outfit he could borrow that the blonde wouldn't sneer at. Needless to say, it was one of the most awkward dealings of his life, but he was glad that the model had a kind heart and a charitable nature.

He at least expected her to be impressed that he showed up in something that was formal, but was sorely mistaken.

"Why is it so big on you?" She asked judgingly as she walked to meet him at the front of Le Grand Paris.

The way she swayed her hips as she moved caught his attention more so than before now that she donned a knee-length summer dress that was black and gold. It truly showed her queen bee personality. The only thing that snapped him out of that trance was the clicking of her heels.

"Why is what so big on me?"

"Your suit. It's, like, two sizes too big. Is this even yours?"

"Y-Yes! Why wouldn't it be!?"

As she straightened his jacket, a blush formed on her face, "B-Because you stole it or whatever! I don't know! There...It suits you."

"Well, it's a suit. It'd be pretty useless if it didn't suit anyone."

"I'll give you less than five seconds to forget you ever thought you could tell me a joke. We have to go upstairs or daddy will be worried I got kidnapped again."

Wait, who!? Daddy!?

Racing to catch up with Chloé who began walking away from him, Nathanaël was on the verge of an inner panic attack. Was this why she made him dress up? Either way, he was still chilled to the bone just thinking of meeting with the mayor of Paris in person.

"You never said anything about him, Chloé."

"I thought you'd, uh, figure it out! Why else would I make you come here in a suit?"

"Maybe you just like suits?" He guessed, clueless as he once again stepped into the golden elevator, "Whatever the reason was, you could've been, I don't know, a little bit clearer with what you said."

"It's not my fault you're stupid...sometimes…"

"Sometimes? Well, it's good to know I've been promoted from all the time to only sometimes."

God, he is so whiny.

The two bantered, voices bouncing off the four walls surrounding them, before noticing the doors opening. They did, however, continue to quip back at each other until Chloé's butler stood before them and cleared his throat.

"Madame Chloé, is this a friend of yours?"

"Yeah...I guess he's a... friend ."

He remembered the hotel well enough to know they were headed towards her room. The long winding hallway always irked him. He expected to walk into the large area with couches and a large television, but she made another turn, working her way to the door at the end of the hall.

These doors are so... tall . So, this definitely isn't making me feel nervous. Nope, not at all!

"Daddy!" Her voice rang out like chime as she shoved the two oak doors open, "Daddy?"

"Is something wrong, Chloé? Do you need me to recharge your credit card?"

Sitting with perfect posture in a, no doubt, expensive leather office chair, the mayor of Paris laced his fingers together and smiled at his daughter before his eyes lingered onto the boy next to her.

"Ye-Wait, uh, no. That's not why I came in here."

"Who is this boy? Is he one of your friends who does your homework for you?"

She has more than one person doing her homework!?

"No, Daddy! Don't just, like, assume everything. Gosh, just let me explain. This is Nathanaël. He's my-"

"Research partner for science class?"

"Daddy, no! Ugh, just let me finish! He's my boy…..friend?"

The artist wanted to ask why she spaced it out so much, but the eyes of her father glaring at him were enough to occupy his attention.

"Is he? You don't seem very sure of this, darling."

"Wha-? Of course I'm sure! I mean, look at him! He's standing, like, right in front of you!" She pouted, lips pursing up and eyebrows furrowing.

The whole conversation seemed to spiral into whether or not Chloé's father actually believed her or just couldn't conceive the idea of his daughter finding interest in any boy besides Adrien Agreste. As much as he hated to speak out, he had to at least save himself the embarrassment.

"Chloé, I think he understands now. We should let him work and do his...mayor things…?" He suggested, lightly tapping her shoulder, "I don't want to cause any trouble."

"Fine! Ugh, just ruin the rest of my plans, why don't you! It went pretty well, you know!"

"Oh I know...how bad it was going. I've been standing right here next to you, Chloé."

"Well, duh! Obviou-"

Both the teens halted their bickering when they heard the sound of her father rolling his chair out from his desk and walking towards him, extending a hand.

"Anyone who is able to keep my Chloé happy and can calm her down is approved by me. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nathanaël."

Shyly taking the man's large hand in his own, the red head couldn't shake the feeling of eeriness in his head. He sure did have that bravado he had on news interviews, but his words felt hollow.

"Okay, you met now, blah, blah, blah. Can we go now? I'm getting bored just standing here!"

"Sorry, Chloé. N-Nice to meet you as well, sir," He faltered, slowly parting their hands and absentmindedly holding hers as they walked out.

Nathanaël wasn't sure whether or not he felt at ease that he finally got past the meet the parent stage, of if he was just happy that holding her hand in his didn't hurt anymore. But for some reason, he could feel her father's judgemental gaze on him as he left with her in tow.

After returning to her room, the two of them ungracefully slouched down onto one of the couches.

"That went...better than I thought it would. Is he always that charismatic?"

"Only when he's faking it."

"Faking it? Faking what?"

"I guess his interest in something? I don't know," She sighed, "You can take off the jacket now."

"I...can't exactly do that."

"Why not? You have a shirt under it so I don't see the problem."

"That...kind of is the problem. I don't have a shirt under it…"

This situation could've been taken in many ways, but of course how it panned out just had to be Chloé hitting his shoulder and trying to rip it off of him.

"What were you thinking!? You can't just wear a suit without a shirt! You'll stink it up with sweat and other body stuff! Haven't you ever worn a suit before!?"

"Well, yeah! To, uh, funerals and weddings?"

"Without a shirt under it? Take it off!"

Blushing up a storm, Nathanaël tried to hold the jacket close, but Chloé straddled him on the couch and used all her strength to tear it off which, ultimately, was enough. As soon as his arms were out of the sleeves, she grasped it and tossed the garment across the room.

"How does it feel ruining nice clothes!? Not so good, huh? You should kn-"

Her words caught in her throat as she looked back at him, shirtless with beads of sweat still on his chest. The jacket must have been too hot for him.

"Can...Can I have the jacket back now? Chloé? Hel-"

"Go take a shower!"

"What?"

"Y-You heard me! Go take a shower, like, right now!" The blonde stammered, unmoving.

"You're still on top of m-"

"Then take me with you! Wait, no! I don't mean like tha-"

The moment his hand cupped around her cheek, she calmed, his light-hearted chuckle filling the silence.

"You're pretty cute when you're flustered. Who would have thought."

"M-Me!? Flustered!? No way! Nuh uh! I don't get fl-mphm!"

Moving his thumb to cover her lips so he could finally get a word in edgewise, Nathanaël scooted away from her and stood.

"You lie too much for your own good, Chloé. Just accept the fact that you, like every other human, has feelings. Try to find them by the time I finish in there."

"F-Finish!? Finish what!? That's disgu-"

"Taking a shower. Just calm down and breathe, okay?" He smiled warmly, heading towards the bathroom.

He's so infuriating! She thought, and yet she found herself gazing at his bare back as he left the room.