Though we ended up having a pretty good time at the pool, we knew it was time to hurry up and go back to the hotel room when we saw the pitch-black night sky turning midnight blue, indicating that the sun would be rising soon. 

We both tried to hold back laughter as we caught strangers staring at us-- a couple of dripping wet teenagers with rustled wet hair leaving water footprints along the hotel floor. 

To tell you the truth, I would've been really embarrassed and insecure if this happened a few years ago. But I had learned to slowly open my shell and loosen up a little. Mostly because Marinette really helped me with building my self-confidence back up again. 

But I'll talk about that later. Anyways...

We tried our hardest to try and sneak back into the hotel room without waking up Marinette's parents when we reached our floor. However, when we opened the door, we were shocked to find them standing a few yards from the door, fully dressed and with knowing smiles on their faces, as if they knew all along what we had been doing. 

"Consider yourselves busted," chuckled Tom. 

Sabine crossed her arms and grinned. "Did you two have fun?"

"How did-- what--how did you guys.." Marinette stuttered in confusion. 

"You guys weren't sleeping when we left, were you?" I asked, finally figuring out how they knew of our not-so-secret escape from the room.

"Not exactly..." said Tom. 

"The next time you two want to sneak of somewhere, try shutting the door a little more quietly," suggested Sabine playfully. "Anyway, both of you need showers and to get dressed ASAP. We're trying to get an early start on the road and leave Pennsylvania."

"Okay," Marinette and I both replied on unison. After our showers and getting dressed, eating breakfast down in the hotel lobby, and reloading our luggage into the car, we were finally on the highway and preparing ourselves for a very long ride through Pennsylvania. 

5 minutes hadn't even pass before Sabine asked me to continue my story. 

"Sure," I said, before passing Marinette a teasing glance and adding in playful sarcasm,"But as long as someone is willing to stay up and listen too."

She pouted before saying, "But I can't help it. Any part of the story without me in it automatically puts me to sleep."

I turned my head away, pretending to be hurt. 

She laughed before tapping my shoulder. "I'm kidding. Anyway, you better hurry up and start before my parents go bananas."

                                                                   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

    A few days after our hangout at Alya's house, I was sitting at my desk doing homework in the late afternoon while being half-asleep and math equations and formulas swirling around in my brain. 

Ever since the move...or rather, ever since Mom left, I haven't been able to sleep through an entire night. I would only sleep for about 2 or 3 hours...and I would spend the rest of the night either watching TV or reading. 

Which was really annoying, because I wanted to sleep a full night, and I often missed waking up in the morning without a headache. 

When my dad realized that I haven't had any sleep in awhile, he asked what was wrong. I told him I didn't know. 

The thing is...I probably did know the reason why, but at the same time I wasn't able to admit it. 

Presently, I pinched myself awake and forced myself to focus on my homework once more. A minute later, my phone vibrated as a text message from Nino popped up on the screen. 

New Message from Nino:

N: Dude, did you send me an email?

I gathered my eyebrow in confusion, wondering what he was talking about. 

What teenager in this day and age still sends emails to friends when there's such a thing as texting?

I responded saying that I didn't send him an email, then place my phone back onto the surface of my desk and resumed my work. 

My phone vibrated with a new message 5 minutes later. 

N: I just got this email from someone. Idk who. I asked Alya, Marinette, and everyone else from school. No one sent it. 

Sensing a conversation that would most likely keep me from finishing my homework, I rose from my desk chair, grabbed my phone, and sky-dived into my bed before tapping away on the keyboard glowing from the screen. 

A: What does the email say?

N: It says 'Grab a broom and sweep your own floor before cleaning someone else's house'. It doesn't have a title either.  

A: and you don't recognize the email address?

N: No...it's [email protected]. I don't have anyone in my contacts with that email address. wbu?

A: I didn't really have a change to put anyone's email in my contacts since I moved here. Maybe someone is trolling you. 

N: Smh. Whoever it is must be really bored then. Anyway, do you want to come over today?

A: It's kinda late. And I have to finish homework.

N: Okay then bro. Cya @ school 2morrow

A: Kks. Cya

    The next day at school, Alya invited me to eat lunch with her and Marinette. Nino had been called to the principal's office, so I accepted the offer since I didn't really know who else to eat with. 

At first, I felt a little awkward sitting with just the girls without Nino. No one spoke at first, and for the first few minutes it seemed like everyone was mostly focusing on their food than the silence between us. 

Though I caught Marinette casting a few nervous glances at me every now and then. But whenever our eyes met she quickly turned away. 

What was it with her?

Finally, Alya spoke. 

"Did you and Nino find out who that 'serial killer' was?" she asked me curiously. 

I raised an eyebrow. "Serial killer?"

"You know, the guy that was creeping around Nino's house."

"Oh," I said, remembering the mysterious stranger who was looking for Mrs. Lahiffe a few days ago. "I don't think he was a serial killer. Nino was being dramatic."

Alya sighed longingly. "I reallyyyy want to publish that story in the school paper. But Nino won't let me."

"I could help you find another story to write about if you want," I suggested. 

"It's okay, my team and I will find something. But speaking of help," she added, "Marinette and the rest of the fundraiser committee could use a few extra hands with planning for this year's fall festival."

The moment those words left Alya's mouth, Marinette send her a look of pure panic. 

"Are you okay?" I asked her. 

"Uhhh...yes! I'm totally fine! Super fine! Never been more fine before." She replied with a little too much enthusiasm and a feigned laugh. 

Alya chuckled. "Don't mind Marinette. She can be really shy at times, and the added stress from planning the fundraiser combined with loads of homework has made her into a complete wreck. Anyways, are you interested?"

"Sure," I said.

"Cool, then I'll have Marinette text you the details tonight."

Nino finally arrived, placing his lunch tray onto the table and sliding onto the bench beside me. "Hey guys. What are we talking about?"

"We were talking about how I'm the bestest friend you ever had and that you would LOVE for me to publish your story about the serial killer," smiled Alya with batted eyelashes. 

"That's not what we were talking about," said Marinette. "Well, we were talking about that, but just now we were talking about the fall festival."

Nino shook his head knowingly at Alya. "I said no, Alya. I don't want people knowing I have creeps lurking around my house."

"Technically, he wasn't lurking around. He was just asking where your mom was," I pointed out.

Nino shrugged before eating his granola bar. "Same thing."

It really wasn't though. 

(A/N):

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel a little...incomplete from not seeing any new episodes of Miraculous lately?

Thomas and friends really did spoil us last month smh...

Howdy, my fantabulous readers!

I'm FINALLY back with another chapter. Still working on my other fanfic (I've written like 5 or more pages so far and STILL need to edit) but hopefully that'll be finished soon. The good news is that I'm caught up on all my schoolwork, grades are pretty good so far, and I spent an entire weekend on anime #LivingThatOtakuLife

Oh! And I just found out that a new Miraculous ep is coming out on May 2nd (in Spain at least. I can speak a little spanish so I think I'll be fine) so that's something to look forward to. 

Lord knows how much I've missed my children T-T

Sooooo I might be able to post another chapter this weekend...or next Monday. I'm actually really looking forward to writing this particular chapter, so I wanna finish it as soon as I can.

Anyways, if you enjoyed this chapter, you know the drill XD Click that little star up in the corner, drop a comment, and feel free to share!

Love you guys and see ya in the next chapter! STAY MIRA--

Evil Unicorn: There's a rumor that a My Hero Academia live action is in the works...

WHAT?!?

Evil Unicorn: Yep. yOuR wOrSt NiGhTmArE

what the ************?!?!?!

Lol, as I was saying... See you guys soon and STAY MIRACULOUS!! <3<3<3