"I don't know how you're still standing, dude." Nino, Adrien's best friend, commented from the other end of the blonde boy's phone, "You must be some kind of superhero or something." He joked.

"If only." Adrien sighed.

After he managed to escape the clutches of his maniac fan-base – mind you, it wasn't easy avoiding those crazies' sharp talons – he had jumped the security gate, dashed up the front steps and barged through the grand doors to find his father's disappointed glare from the top of the stairs in the foyer. The following conversation was one he'd rather forget.

"Nino, what am I going to do? He's not ever going to let me leave." The boy mumbled dejectedly.

"Adrien, dude, listen me. You can do this. Don't give up!" The tanned boy encouraged.

On Adrien's end of the line, the young model was continued to kick of his walls as he effortlessly glided across his room on his wheelie chair that usually sat at his desk. His father had grounded him to his room. Not like it made a difference anyway, Adrien was always stuck in his room – grounded or not.

"Easy there, Nino, who said anything about giving up?" a Cheshire-like grin brightened the unusually dull features of his face as he continued to kick from one wall to the other.

"That's my man! You just have to think outside the box, like, what wouldn't your old man expect you to do?"

A minute passed as Adrien thought, "Walk down the streets of Paris in knock-off clothing."

"Noooo!" Nino's exasperated cry was heard from Adrien's phone, "To be honest, I would be surprised if you had any clothing that wasn't 'Gabriel' in that gigantic wardrobe of yours, let alone a knock-off. But that's beside the point!" The green-eyed boy rolled his eyes as his friend continued, "What wouldn't your father expect you to do, in this situation, ADRIEN!"

"Well." Replied said boy, "I have a couple of ideas, but is it really worth it? I mean, I only have one year of school left, why go through all the trouble for just one year?"

"But dude, it will be the best year of your life! We could hang out every day, just like we used to!"

"We do hang out every day now, Nino." Adrien rebutted.

"Yeah, 'cause talking to you through a piece of scrap metal or via online is totally hangin' out with my best bud." The darker skinned boy replied emotionlessly.

That was how the two re-acquainted. Approximately three years ago, Adrien had signed onto an online medieval game involving knights, vivid battles and damsels who wore very little clothing – something his father would never have approved of if he knew what his son was playing, Adrien's own little revolt against him – under the username 'Felix'. It was several sleepless nights later, due to the boy's new addiction with the game, that Felix met 'Bubbles'. After teaming up, the two low-level players had later out-ranked every other player in their lobby, defeating the game shortly after.

Their adventures didn't end there, however. Bubbles had given Felix his email address, so they could still talk to each other and discuss what games they could play together. After some very long conversations – often dragging into the late night and early morning – Bubbles had revealed to Felix his first name (nothing too personal in case Felix turned out to be a predator).

'I'm Nino.'

Despite being a mere two words, they sent a 14-year-old Adrien off in a fit of triumphant screams around his room. Once calmed down, Adrien had replied with a hasty:

'NINO ITS ME ADRIEN!'

And the two had kept in touch since, whether it be via phone call, text message, video game or skype, and that made Adrien the happiest boy in Paris. He wasn't alone anymore. Sure, they hadn't reunited in person yet, but it was number two on his 'To-Do' list. Right after '#1: Go to school'.

"C'mon man, you know you want this! Besides, if you want to get into a University, or even a job other than modelling, once this year is done a graduation certificate would be kinda handy."

Adrien, once again, went over his options. He didn't really want to get in trouble with his father at this point in his life. If he messed up now, the chances of his father letting him leave the mansion and live his own life would significantly shrink. Eighteen or not. But on the other side of the coin, if things went to plan, Adrien would be able to live a life semi-normal life – a life like that of every other teen. The possibilities would be endless. He could make friends – other than Nino and Chloe – and interact with them daily. He could have fun! Could he find his other old friends, if he were lucky? Maybe even go to a party? A girlfriend, perhaps?

The blonde quickly shook away the thoughts that accompanied the last one. It would never become a reality unless he acted now.

"Dude, you still there? Hellooooooo?" Cooed Nino.

"Alright. Let's do this."

There was only a week left of Summer, one more week and school would start up again. This meant the boys had to work fast.

A week from now, Adrien would be in school. A week from now, he'd reunite with many a friend he'd thought he'd lost. A week from now, Adrien Agreste would become Chat Noir.

A/N: A short chapter, I'm sorry, but my gut told me to leave it here (as my gut can talk, obviously). However, I did update somewhat shortly after the last chapter, so I hope that makes up for it! But anyways, what did you guys think of my little Adrien and Nino interaction there? Was it good? Bad? Do you want more chapters at this length? Less? Don't be shy. Reviews = fuel for anti-writer's-block shield :P