Chapter 4 - Consolation (from Adrien's POV)
I always enjoy walking with my friend Marinette. In spite of our sometimes awkward relationship I feel closer to her than anyone at school, other than Nino. Her smile always brightens my day, and it upsets me to see her without one.
"Thanks for coming with me, Adrien," she said to me. "That's really nice of you."
"Of course. I can't stand seeing you so down." I leaned toward her and whispered, "Want to hear something good? I was already going to come with you, but Chloé actually suggested it first! Pretty crazy, huh?"
She looked at me and smiled. "It makes me feel good to see her finally putting other people over herself. I know it's something you've wanted for a long time." I had to admit she was absolutely right about that, I think a lot of Chloé and knew she had it in her.
After a short pause, she turned back to me. "Adrien, what am I supposed to do? Alya thinks I'm taking sides with Chloé over her, and that I don't want to be her friend anymore. She probably hates me now..."
"No she doesn't," I assured her as we walked through the doors and down the steps.. "She's just confused by what's going on, like everyone else. When the school bully does a complete turnaround, it is pretty hard to believe. But I've known Chloé a lot longer than everyone else. I've always known that she has a heart but just hadn't figured out how to use it. Maybe becoming Ladybug for a day was just the push she needed to finally unlock her potential. You and I see her change as a positive thing, even if others won't accept it yet."
Of course, I wasn't going to mention that I'd personally witnessed Chloé's awakening during the battle against Eclipser. She got to become her hero, and it seems to have changed the way she views herself and other. I'm happy to see that Marinette has taken all of this in stride, and that two of my closest friends are finally at peace with each other. But right now, I need to help Mari with her BFF crisis.
"Look," I told her, "I'm not saying that I understand everything there is to know about your relationship with Alya. But I'm sure the two of you have bickered over things before, and you always came through them. This is no different. Alya loves you and knows you love her too. Once she thinks it over, I'm sure she'll realize she overreacted. Leave her alone for now and let Nino talk to her. In the meantime, just relax and think about what you want to say to reassure her that she hasn't been replaced."
"I'm worried though, I've never seen her this upset before." She started to cry again, and I gave her a hug.
She smiled at me. "You're such a comfort for me Adrien. Thank you for the advice, and for just being there." She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I guess that she's starting to feel more comfortable with me now after the kiss at the picnic.
As we looked at each other, my limo pulled up to the curb. I turned to Mari. "Say, do you feel up to riding along with me? Gorilla can drive you back to the bakery after we get there."
She looked at me with a wide-eyed expression and began stuttering again. "What? M-me? You? Ride? Em- no- I mean- Yes! Sure!" she said with a big grin. Hehe- back to the same awkward Mari. I couldn't stop thinking about how amazingly adorable she is. I thought, it's a shame my heart's already taken- it would be fun to ask her out on a date sometime.