AN: Sorry if this chapter's a little short. I worked on it after a long day and so it's not my best writing, but I wanted to keep up the story. I'll try to get you a solid chapter 3 tomorrow or the day after!
Chapter 2
-Adrien-
When the bell rang for lunch, Adrien grabbed his bag and started for the door with Nino. As he started up towards the lunchroom, he remembered the excitement of Marinette's new tattoo. He and Nino got their lunches and seated themselves at the table, waiting for Marinette and Alya. "Marinette's tattoo was so cool, wasn't it?" Nino was saying, and Adrien smiled, his best friend reading his mind. "It was!" Adrien answered, "I've never seen one so beautiful." Nino nodded in agreement, "I've never seen one with words before, so hers is really rare!" Adrien swallowed as his friend made the comment. He glanced down at his own hand, but remembered that he'd never told Nino. When Adrien's tattoo had first appeared, there had been one word underneath the rose, directly below the intertwined ribbons. It was in the same kind of gold script as Marinette's, but his one word read simply: Heart. The mysterious word of a thousand meanings bothered him, but what bothered him more was that no one else could see it. He'd tried to show it to Nino, but his friend said he didn't see any words. Only Plagg had been able to see it too. Adrien guesses it was just one of the many secrets of the tattoos, certain features that only the one person could see. He just wish he knew what it meant.
Adrien snapped out of his dreamy phase as Marinette and Alya walked over to join them. Marinette was carrying a thin box in one hand next to her lunch tray, and as she sat down beside him, she turned to him and opened the box. "Do you want a macaroon, Adrien?" She asked. Adrien's mouth watered as she held out the box of tasty treats. She and her parents made the best sweets. "I'd love one, thanks Marinette." He grinned, selecting a treat. Marinette offered the box to Alya and Nino, then stood and wandered around the lunchroom, offering the treats to all of their other friends. She even held out the box to Chloe, who at first looked bitter, but she saw Adrien staring her down behind Marinette and accepted a macaroon, and ate it, trying to hide the fact that she was actually enjoying its taste. As Marinette circled back to their table and sat down, Adrien couldn't help himself, he had to say something. "That's really awesome of you, Marinette. I mean, it's your birthday and you're giving a gift to all of us." She blushed a deep pink before she answered, "You're all really awesome friends, I-" but she didn't get I finish whatever she was saying, because Chloe decided to come over and throw herself all over Adrien.
-Marinette-
She could have cried. She was so close, she had almost gotten to the point of using her tattoo, to get some sort of answer of if Adrien could be her soulmate or someone she'd be happy with, when Chloe got in the way again. By the time, Adrien managed to extricate himself from Chloe, the moment was gone. Marinette stood up to put away her lunch tray, and when she returned to the table, Alya and Nino has slipped away, leaving just her and Adrien. She sat down nervously, and decided to try one more time. "Adrien, what was your 16th birthday like?" He didn't answer right away, he seemed to think for a minute, "It was pretty good, I got my tattoo, but I've still never really used it." He admitted. "That's okay," Marinette answered, "You don't have to use it right away, it'll work when it wants to." Adrien smiled and she felt insides melt just a little, "Thanks, Marinette."
As the conversation grew silent, Marinette felt a tense feeling grow in the pit of her stomach. Adrien pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked for any texts, then shoved it back in. He looked up and saw Marinette watching him, but her expression must have been concerning, because he gave her a puzzled look. "Are you okay, Marinette?" She nodded quickly and swallowed hard, the sensible part of her brain arguing with the new thought that was slowly starting to take over. "Is there something wrong?" He asked, his face inching closer. "No- yes!" Marinette sputtered and he remained focused on her, but after a moment, she cracked. "Yes-there's-something-and-I-don't-know-how-to-say-this-but-" she paused, stopping herself before she could finish her sentence. Adrien still looked concerned. "Is there something you need to tell me?" He asked, and Marinette took a shaky breath, giving herself a little more control. "Now isn't the perfect time, but it's about time I said it anyway." She took another quick breath before she spit out the sentence she'd thought in her head every day for years, "I'm in love with you Adrien, and I have been for a while."
Adrien didn't say anything for a second, his brain was probably in overload from what she'd just said. But when he did speak, Marinette wished he'd remained silent instead, "I'm so sorry Marinette." He said, almost whispering the words, "But I don't think I feel the same way. You're an awesome person, you're so sweet and kind to everyone, but I'm in love with someone else." Nothing could have hurt her more. She couldn't help herself, and she felt her face fall in disappointment. He was smiling sadly at her, and he was so good, he didn't want to hurt her, but nothing else could have made it hurt more than it did now. There was nothing else Marinette could say. "I'm gonna go," She said, picking up her bag and the leftover macaroons before Adrien could say anything else. She heard him call her name as she hurried out of the lunchroom, but she just wanted to be alone.
She was so unfocused as she ran down the hall that she ran right into someone, and they both fell over. Marinette opened her eyes, dazed and looked up to apologize to the person who she'd just rammed into. Luka. "Sorry about that," she muttered, "I'm such a klutz." He held out a hand and pulled her to her feet, "Don't worry about it. Life's like that sometimes, there are ups and downs. Are you okay?" He asked. She bit her lip as she contemplated her answer, "Not exactly, but I think I'll figure it out." She felt a prickle on her hand and looked down and saw her rose flashing a brilliant pink, as though it was being brought to life. Then she remembered what she had in her hand, "Would you like a macaroon?"
