00 | Congratulations

Song | Good Things Fall Apart / Illenium ft. Jon Bellion

Marinette

Year : 2018 / Age : 18 / Day : Graduation

Please don't faint. Please don't faint. Whatever you do Marinette, don't faint.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" The principal called out, and I got up from my chair and started walking.

"That's our daughter!" I hear my father shouting as I walk towards the podium to receive my high school diploma.

"Go Marinette!" I hear Adrien yell.

"You got this girl!" Alya follows after him, not missing a beat.

"Good job dude!" I hear Nino's voice and feel a smile crawl on my face.

He's 21 years old and still calls everyone a dude!

I feel my confidence begin to build as I walk closer to the podium.

Almost there, just keep going.

No sooner than the thought is finished I fall on my face.

Dangit! So close!

I hear 'oos' coming from the crowd, almost as if they could feel my pain and my embarrassment.

But then I hear laughter.

"That's Marinette!" I hear Ivan call, and suddenly my other friends from class start joining in on the laughter.

Oh this is so embarrassing.

"She might be clumsy as hell, but everyone knows that girl has a heart of gold," Kim, surprisingly says from his spot next to Alex who's graduating with me.

"Ain't that the truth," Nino replies.

Soon everyone is following their lead.

I quickly get up from my spot on the floor, feeling up to speed again after my fall.

Just get to the podium Marinette.

Finally, I reach the podium and shake hands with the principal and grab my diploma before heading over to Ms. Bustier who's looking at me with a sympathetic smile.

"You did fine Marinette," She reassured me as I cringed inwardly.

"Even I could feel the crowd's pity," I muttered out before giving her a side hug and smiling for the photo that was being taken.

"And just like everyday back in my classroom, you managed to get everyone to smile," She said once the photo was taken, "And as usual, everyone only had nice things to say about you," She said smiling, "Marinette Dupain Cheng, you may not have a famous blog, or be a model, or a DJ, but you certainly have left a legacy at this high school, and I can't wait to see what you do in the future or to be one of your loyal customers when you finally release your first line!" She said, giving me a smile filled to the brim with pride.

"Thank you Miss Bustier," I said, tears filling my eyes at her kind words.

I give her a tight hug and make my way back to my spot, quickly might I add considering there were now two other students behind me.

I did it! Maybe not flawlessly but I still did it!

I sit down in my seat and let out a breath of relief.

I look behind me and see Alya, Nino, and Adrien all looking at me with smiles.

'Congrats girl!' I see Alya mouth to me and I smile back before turning my focus back to the state.

I did it.

"I'm so proud of you Marinette," My father says, walking over to with arms open wide, my father following close in pursuit.

"We're both proud of you, dear," My mother says, enveloping me in her own hug once my father releases me from his tight embrace.

"You did it!" Alya screams, running over to me, Nino and Adrien smiling at her antics from behind her.

Alya tackles me in a hug when she reaches me, my mother quickly scooting out of the way.

There's no stopping Alya Cesaire.

"We're going to go say hi to some of the parents, ok?" My mother says, her eyes filled with amusement as she looks at me and Alya.

I nod in response, and then turn my attention back to Alya.

I let out a loud laugh, "Thanks Alya," I say, smiling, "Too bad I fell on my face halfway through though,"

"Pfftttt," Alya says, waving her hand as she exist our embrace, "No even remembers that,"

"Are you ok Marinette?" Lila Rossi comes up, almost on cue, and ask me, her eyes filled with fake concern, "That was quite a fall. I was worried you got hurt," She says, her eyes glancing to Adrien who's watching the scene with mild interest.

Liar.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking Lila," I say, faking a smile.

Lila gives me a sickly-sweet smile, "Oh I'm so happy that you're not hurt!" She says.

"Lila!" A voice calls from behind, one I quickly find out is her mom.

"Coming mom!" She replies, then turns back to me, "Well, congratulations Marinette!" She says, then pulls me into a very, much unwanted hug, "I wish you the best for your future!" She says before jogging over to her mom, cap, gown and all.

"You too!" I call back.

Kill em with kindness Marinette.

I look at Alya to see her shaking her head, smiling, "That girl will never learn, will she?" She asks me, her eyes filled with amusement as Lila's lying.

"Probably not," I reply simply.

After all, that is the reason she received the nickname "Liar Wussy" instead of Lila Rossi, not that everyone said it to her face even if it was very much deserved. I don't think I'll ever forget how much trouble everyone got in because of her. Not to mention how many people got hurt.

Kagami's brokenhearted face flashed in my mind as I thought of what happened to her last year.

I look at Adrien and smile, a slightly bitter one, but nonetheless a smile.

Luckily, though, they're still friends.

"What did Lila want?" Adrien asks, his eyes piqued with interest.

I would be too if I were him. Lila was a sly as a fox.

"She just wished me good luck for the future," I replied smiling.

Adrien looked in my eyes and nodded.

"That's good," He said, then smiled, "Congratulations Marinette," He said, quickly bringing me into a hug.

I felt my cheeks heat up slightly, "Thanks Adrien," I say, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"I think I'm gonna miss you the most," He mumbled, then pulled back from the hug.

I looked up at him confusion, "Wh—"

"Hello M-M-Marinette," I hear a familiar voice, and feel arms wrap around my waist from behind me.

Immediately a smile overcomes my face and I turn around.

"Hi Luka," I say, smiling up at him as his blue eyes pierce down into mine.

"Congrats babe," He says before pressing his lips to mine.

I close my eyes and lose myself for a minute.

"Get a room you two!" Nino calls, and immediately both of break apart, my cheeks heat up with a fire hotter than the pits of hell.

"You're one to talk Nino," Adrien says teasingly, "Wasn't in senior year that all of found you and Alya in the janitor's closet making out," He says, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Nino's ears turn red as Alya's cheeks could compete with a tomato, "It was one-time dude!" Nino defends him and Alya poorly.

"Are you sure about that?" I ask, putting a finger on my chin as if I were thinking,

"Actually, I think I can remember a time when I found you two in the basement one time, and outside the school, oh and not to mention when you two-,"

"Ok!" Alya screams, her face beat red, "We get it!" She says, then buries her face in Nino's chest, who's for some reason smiling like the devil himself.

"Well at least we weren't as bad as Chloe and Kim," Nino says, causing all of us to laugh.

"Oh my gosh!" I laugh out, "They were awful!" I say.

"Remember that one time when we caught them behind the school?" Alya asks, a bright smile on her face.

"Oh my gosh!" I repeat my earlier statement, "That was a scene I never want to relive,"

"She was practically eating poor Kim's face off," Nino says, laughing uncontrollably.

"We've got a lot of good memories here," I say, Luka's arms still wrapped tight around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"Now that you're graduated, I guess there's no reason for us to come back, huh?" Adrien asks, his eyes filled with something that I can't quite put my finger on when he looks at me and Luka before returning his attention to the school.

"As weird as this sounds, I'm actually going to miss this place," Alya says, her and Nino mimicking mine and Luka's position, "Especially considering it's where I met you guys," She said, looking around at me, Adrien, and then her eyes finally landing on Nino, their eyes meeting in some unspoken conversation.

"Me too," I whisper out.

I really am going to miss this place.

"Ok, nostalgia time's over, let's go get this party started!" Nino says, pumping his fist in air.

"I didn't know you knew what that word meant," Alya says, her eyes filled with mock shock.

"Oh be quiet you," Nino replies, bumping her gently.

"Make me," She challenges, taking a step towards him.

"Ok you two," Adrien says, intervening.

Thank you.

"Let's keep it pg," Adrien says.

"What?" Alya says, her journalist side coming out, "Jealous Adrien?" She asks, "I mean you are the only one who doesn't have anyone," She says, pointing out the obvious.

Adrien's eyes darken for a second.

Something's wrong.

"Ok Alya," I say, walking out of Luka's embrace, "Interrogation later, party now," I say, smiling, and then I grab Luka's hand and make my way towards my car.

"You guys comin?" I toss the words over my shoulder cheekily.

Alya shrugs, "What the hell," She mutters out, "Let's get crazy!" She shouts, and then grabs Nino's hand and runs towards us.

Someone's missing.

"Adrien?" I say, stopping when I realize he isn't following us.

"I'll see guys later," He says, "I have something to do tonight,"

"Oh," I say, my spirits dampening a bit, "Ok, see you later?" I ask hopefully.

"Later," He says, nodding in response, "Again, congratulations Marinette!" He says, giving me his signature smile.

Goodbye Adrien...

Author's Note

Hey My Lil Donuts!

I am so flippin excited to write this story!

I am so excited to share it with you!

I hope you like it!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Thanks for Reading!

Buh-bye My Lil Donuts!

Rissa