(A/N):

Me: So Luka, apparently you have a pretty huge fan-base

Luka: *Plays guitar*

Me: And people are literally head-over-heels in love with Lukanette. How do you feel about that?

Luka: *plays guitar*

Me: I mean yeah we know you have feelings for Marinette, but we don't actually know what you feel about you guys being shipped like crazy. 

Luka: *plays guitar*

Me: AND you have competition. I mean, of course you probably already know that Marinette likes Adrien, which means you're part of a love...pentagon I guess? Do you think you have what it takes to sweep Marinette of her feet before Adrien does??

Luka: *plays guitar*

Me: .....Stop trying to hypnotize me with your guitar. You may have half the fandom in love with you, but I'm not gonna be convinced that easily -_-

Welp, while i continue to interview Luka, you guys can get started on this new chapter! 

Hope you enjoy!

  After school that day, Nino invited the girls to walk home with us, and it was at this point I realized that Nino, Alya, and Marinette were actually really close and usually did most things together. When you're with them, you could sense they have a strong bond and were on the same wavelength most of the time. 

I really wanted to hang out at Nino's place again, because I was tired of coming home to an empty house knowing that Dad was spending every second of every day with Natalie. Sure, she helped us moved and helped my Dad get a new job working as a salesman for some company, but would it kill her to let me spend time with him for just a few days?

And even when he was home in the evenings, all he wanted to talk about was Natalie. He would constantly tell me he wanted to talk about her, and it got to the point where I snapped at him and told him to quit bringing her name up every time I was with him. 

I immediately regretted it later. I was always a calm person. I never lashed out on anyone, no matter how upset I'd get. I hated conflict and always wanted to find the solution to every problem. 

But ever since Mom left us, it was as if a thunderstorm went off inside me. I became uneasy, irritated, and upset with almost everything...but most of all with myself. I could feel myself changing...becoming someone entirely different than the Adrien my mother left behind. 

I didn't want to change. 

I didn't want anything to change. 

    A sudden poke on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. As I looked around in surprise, my mind shifting back into the present, I saw Nino standing next to me holding a small twig with a raised eyebrow. 

"You good, dude?" he asked almost a little worriedly. "You've just been standing there with this weird look on your face."

I gathered my eyebrows in confusion. "Weird look?"

"Yeah," added Alya. "Like you were angry at something."

I shook my head and started to walk again, my eyes downcast. "It's nothing. Let's go."

I sensed the three of them exchanging glances behind me before following my lead to Nino's house. 

None of us bothered to get a conversation going, so for the entire walk we were all silent. I knew it was because my dazing out had made the atmosphere somewhat awkward, and I began to wonder what they would do or say if I wasn't there. 

When we finally arrived at Nino's place a few minutes later, we found Mrs.Lahiffe on the living room sofa, dabbing her eyes with a tissue and a Kleenex box beside her. 

My heart sped in alarm. "Are you okay, Mrs.Lahiffe?" I asked, my voice revealing my sudden concern. 

Everyone else just stood around, as if they all were used to finding Nino's mother on the sofa crying.

She just smiled and said, "Oh, I'm fine. No need to worry." She rose and placed the Kleenex onto the oak table that stood between the sofa and the TV. "You guys are free to have whatever you want in the kitchen. I'll get started on dinner."

And with that, she turned and headed for the kitchen. 

My mother had done the same thing. Awhile ago after I came home from school, I found her sitting in the floor in her room, a laundry basket of unfolded clean clothes beside her. But instead of folding clothes, she was crying. 

I immediately asked what was wrong, but she waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine." before asking me to wash the dishes in the kitchen sink. 

But I did worry, because I knew she wasn't fine. 

And neither was Mrs.Lahiffe. 

"Come on, guys," As Nino led us up to his room, I wondered why his expression was so disinterested by what he'd seen. It was as if seeing his mother on the sofa with tissues was a part of his daily routine. Did it not bother him? Didn't it make him concerned?

And Marinette and Alya's faces were just as nonchalant as his was. 

We spent 30 minutes in Nino's room quietly doing homework-- Nino sitting at his desk, Alya lounging on his bed, and Marinette and I on the floor sitting on opposite sides of the room. Every once in a while we would shoot math questions at each other and discuss the reading passages in our history books, but what I appreciated the most was that no one started any side conversations while we studied. I was grateful that I was able to concentrate on my homework while also hanging out with my new friends. 

Even though I was dying to ask what was the deal with Mrs. Lahiffe and why nobody seemed to care about her. I felt it was too sensitive of a topic to bring up. 

At last, I rose from my position on the floor and lifted my hands to the ceiling, stretching out all the tension in my limbs. "I'm done. Anyone else?"

Marinette closed her math book shut. "Same."

"Ditto," chimed in both Alya and Nino. 

Alya let out a yawn and checked the time on her phone lazily before jumping off Nino's bed with newfound energy. 

"Nino!!" she gasped. "The new issues of Rena Rouge and Carapace are finally out!"

Nino's jaw dropped to the floor. "Are you serious?"

"They're having a crossoverrr," squealed Alya in excitement.

With a raised eyebrow, I turned to Marinette in hopes that she could translate what the heck they were talking about. 

"Comic books," she told me. 

Oh...so they're comic book nerds, I thought in amusement, remembering how in my old school my former classmates would trade comic books left and right. 

Alya and Nino raced to the door. "We have to go to the comic book store ASAP!!" Alya yelled to us.

"We'll be back in 2 seconds!" promised Nino. 

 They both left, the awkwardness between Marinette and I intensifying. Marinette quietly sat down at Nino's desk and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and started to draw something while I gathered all my textbooks off the floor and piled them into my backpack. But a second later, I became curious and asked what she was drawing.

She hesitated before reluctantly handing me the paper. 

I gasped. She had drawn a beautiful landscape surrounded by trees and the sun setting beyond the horizon, a lake reflecting the entire scenery. The whole drawing looked so well done and lifelike it was as if I was staring at a professional's artwork. 

"Wow, Marinette," I said, nearly struck speechless as I handed back the paper. "You're extremely talented. It looks amazing."

Marinette brightened. "You really think so?"

I nodded. "Absolutely."

She smiled and placed the paper back onto the surface of the desk on front of her. "I thought I'd practice for the art competition the fall festival is hosting," she explained shyly. "Even though I probably don't have a good chance of winning..."

"Of course you do," I laughed. "You're definitely going to win. I'm surprised your not submitting that drawing to an art gallery."

She giggled. "I don't think I'm THAT talented, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to practice." Her smile faded from her face and her expression became less enthusiastic as she realized something. "You're probably wondering why we acted the way we did when we saw Nino's mom."

I nodded before sitting down on Nino's bed. "Kind of."

Marrinette bit her lip before responding, "Well, the thing is...this isn't the first time we've seen her crying."

I raised my eyebrow curiously. "What do you mean?"

"About a month ago," explained Marinette, fiddling with the pencil in her hand, "When Nino and I came here to work on a science project, we saw her crying while she was making dinner. We kept asking her what was wrong, but she told us she was okay. But I was so worried that I begged my mom to call her, since they're both good friends. She said the same thing to my mom. 

When Alya and I visited Nino again a few weeks later, we saw her crying again, and that time we asked if she was okay too. And every time after that. But she always brushed it off and said she was fine."

"Does Nino know why she's always crying?" I asked. 

Marinette shrugged sadly. "He doesn't like talking about it. If we bring it up, he gets really angry."

I knew the way Nino and his parents acted around each other was somewhat peculiar, but now I realized there was something really wrong with their family. 

Or rather, at least something wrong with Mrs. Lahiffe. 

(A/N):

Apparently, Luka had to leave the interview for a band rehearsal, so unfortunately I wasn't able to ask all the questions i had for him. 

I still have his stupid guitar music playing on repeat in my head...

What's up, my MARVELous readers? XDD (sorry, just watched captain marvel and endgame a few days ago)

Hope you guys enjoyed this chap, as well as the mini Adrienette scene at the end :) Feel free to drop a comment, share with a friend, and click that little star up in the corner to let me know. 

Ughhhhhhh exams are coming again X-(( It's like everytime i plan on writing they keep coming back. 

At least summer is around the corner :-D Istg as soon as school as over I'm going to watch as much anime and write as many fanfics as I want while being in total miraculous bliss. 

Oh..and apply for jobs ad fill out college applications...but TOTALLY ANIME AND FANFICTION amirite?

For those of you who're waiting for the new part of "Torn and Conflicted", it shall come very soon, my friends. I'm actually going to start on it after I finish publishing THIS chapter, so stay tuned.

Thank you guys so much for all the love and positive feedback on my mini fanfic. I'm so glad you all enjoy it!

See you guys in a few, and STAY MIRACULOUS!!! <3<3<3