"Late! Late, again! My parents are gonna kill me, Tikki!" she screamed as she rushed down the street, soaked in rain. She still had the umbrella her love had given to her, unable to figure out how to give it back without sounding too stupid.
"You're fine, Marinette."
"No, I'm not! Mom said she had a surprise for me today," Marinette explained, hurriedly. She thrust open the door to the bakery, and her house. Her parents' shop.
It was funny, her parents telling her excitedly that she would like the surprise. Was it a present, a guest, or a vacation? She couldn't tell. "Mom? Dad?" she called when she got past the bakery.
"In your room, sweetie," she heard her mother call from upstairs. She grew curious.
She dashed up the stairs, running into her room past the trap door. "Mom?"
"Hi, Marinette," a voice answered. One that didn't belong to her mother or father. But she knew who it did belong to.
She lifted her eyes to meet the emerald green ones staring at her from where she stood. His blond hair was swept out of his face, as always. He smiled at her, and she could feel the heat on her face rising, forcing her to look down.
Her eyes rested on his pecks. When did they get so...? She couldn't find a word. They were amazing, if anything. She looked up at his face and tried not to think about it.
"A-adrien? What are you doing here?" she asked shakily. Why did it have to come out like that? Stupid, stupid Marinette. Why did you do that?
"Your parents said I could crash here for the next few weeks. My dad... he's on a trip in England, said he didn't want me along to ruin it. I would have been staying with Nino, but he's got family over. Alya went camping, and since your mom gives me my Chinese lessons-" Adrien gestured to Marinette's mother, smiling, "- she said it would be okay to stay with you guys."
"Oh, I was so excited when he told me you were friends!" her mother squealed excitedly. She made the same pose as Marinette did, she was so excited.
"Great! So, where are you going to be sleeping?" Marinette asked, curious.
"In the guestroom, silly," her father said. "Did you think we could let him sleep on the couch?"
Oh, dear. Next to my room? What about Chat's visits? Would Adrien be able to hear me? I can't tell him that I know Chat Noir better than him in some ways, or he'll be suspicious, and then my secret will be out! This could be the end of meeeeee...
She didn't realize that she was whimpering out loud as much as she was on the inside. Adrien put his hand on her shoulder. "Marinette?"
"YEAH?" she asked a little too loudly. "Is something wrong?"
"Well, I was just about to ask you-"
"I'M OKAY, EVERYTHING'S FINE!"
"You're shouting, dear," her mother said, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Is this because your excited?"
"Believe me, this is a dream come true," she mumbled a little too audibly.
"Do you have everything, son?" Marinette's father asked, concerned for thier almost-month guest.
"Yes, sir, I checked. Thanks again for letting me stay," Adrien answered, smiling shyly.
"You're quite welcome," husband and wife said together. "We'll leave you two to talk. I'm sure you have a lot to say about this."
Marinette almost died of embarrassment, surprise, and joy. What an odd combination.
Her mother and father slipped through the trapdoor, leaving Marinette and Adrien, well, trapped in her room. No doubt listening in, Marinette thought suspiciously.
She smiled awkwardly, knowing she couldn't get away ever again. She was just about to say something when Adrien beat her to it.
"I like your posters," he said, his blush going right down to his shoulders.
"Oh! Those. I'm sorry, I needed them to... study your father's designs and I also have a gift for photoshop. Since I already had a couple pictures of you, I just used them. I keep them up for reminders of my goal. Alya thinks it's silly to use a classmate, but it's the easiest to get pictures of you online."
"Oh. I thought you were like the other girls. The ones who have a crush on me just because I'm a rich model."
"No! Really? I could never just like you because your rich. That's horrible!" And she meant it.
"Well, since I'm stuck here for three weeks, we could get to know each other. What are your favorites, Pr- uh, I mean, Marinette?"
"I hope I didn't just hear the word Princess almost come out of your mouth," she teased.
"No. I was going to say Pastry Girl. Did I ever tell you how much you smell like cookies?"
As soon as he said it, she gets a flashback of the night before:
"You know, Princess, you should tell me more about this boy you like."
"Well, he's smart, handsome, and he's caring. What else is there to say?"
"There's probably a hundred smart, handsome, caring boys in this city. What are his interests?"
"I don't really know, I can't seem to talk to him. Everything I say comes out as something stupid. In fact, he doesn't really seem to notice me. He just, I don't know, ignores me."
"Well, Princess, it seems like this guy isn't worth your time. What's his name anyway?"
"Do I really have to tell you, Whiskers?"
"Do I really have to ask, Princess?" he said, leaning in close. Marinette blushed, wondering why it felt so right, him being so near. All but the smell, anyway. Was it... camembert?
"Have I ever told you how much you smell like cheese?" she said, pinching her nose. She felt the desire to kiss him. No, Marinette. You love Adrien.
"Have I ever told you how much you smell like cookies?" Chat said, brushing her bangs out of her face. He kissed her forehead.
"Shut up, you flirt." She wanted more, but she knew Chat Noir's character.
"Of course, Your Highness," he joked, bowing.
"No, you haven't. People don't tell me that often, but someone did last night. A friend of mine."
"Is he tall, mysterious and handsome? Let me guess, he wears leather, doesn't he?"
Marinette gaped at Adrien. "Um, not really. He is tall... and mysterious... and maybe a bit handsome."
"He spews puns like none other?"
"Always."
"Chat Noir, right?"
Marinette bowed her nead nervously. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Adrien smiled slyly, and crossed his arms. "Of course." The way he said it was confident, but his eyes were full of some kind of worry.
"I thought I had a crush on someone, but I think I might be falling for the stupid cat. He sort of grew on me."
"You like Chat Noir? But you barely know him. He would never give out personal information to a civilian who could be put in danger by knowing who he was."
"I know his favorite pastry is croissant, he loves a good story. He tries to joke around because he can't stand seeing people upset. When he makes a friend, he can never let go. He has a crush on Ladybug, but she never really gave him the time of day. I know a lot more, but I can't put it into words."
"How do you know he likes Ladybug?"
"Pretty obvious."
"No, I mean, how do you know he still likes Ladybug? Why is he visiting you?"
"We're friends. And how do you know he visits me?"
"He told me. He tells me everything. In fact, he's crazy about you, Marinette."
