h-hello.. does anyone remember me and this story? lul
its been too long and im afraid that no one will read this anymore but i guess i just want to finish it before i can finally start a new story! ;v;
im not sure... if you will like this.. im really scared D: but yeah! have fun reading!
Chapter 8
Fighting for love
It was hard not to be influenced by the negative thoughts, but Marinette tried to keep going.
Only the sight of Adrien's arm, embraced by a beautiful brunette, wasn't something she wanted to look at. It's not like she wants to be in her place - maybe a little bit - but does she have to force herself over him that way?
What she couldn't see, since Adrien's back was turned to her, that he felt so much more uncomfortable than Marinette did in the moment.
Rose and Juleka walked beside her, unaware of the dark cloud which flew over her head. They talked about how beautiful the new creations of Gabriel Agreste were.
He was one of the greatest fashion designers of the century and there were not many of them… so he was probably one of the most famous as well.
"Adrien, I just bought this dress for you. Do you like it?" Lila asked with a smile, her brown hair wafted gently in the warm wind.
"Uh," Adrien cleared his throat, "indeed. It's charming." Of course he only talks about the dress, which Marinette didn't pay attention to at that moment. A knot formed in her throat and her eyes turned to the ground, which suddenly seemed quite interesting.
Rose and Juleka noticed this after a while and the small blonde carefully took her hand, stroking the back of her hand with her thumb. "Is everything okay, Marinette? Are you not feeling well?" She asked softly.
Marinette was surprised by this gesture and nodded hastily. "Yes, I apologize. I was lost in thoughts. It's my first time traveling like this."
Rose gave her best friend a questioning look and then turned back to Marinette. "Did your parents lock you up?" She asked in surprise, placing a hand over her mouth.
"Not at all," she shook her head slightly, waving with her hands. "Not locked up... but... something like that. I never had the opportunity to see this world with my own eyes!" She pointed at everything around her. "That's ... just beautiful. I've never seen anything like that.."
Juleka nodded, while Rose just laughed. "I know what you're trying to say, I feel the same!", she said cheerfully.
But did she really do that?
After a few minutes of Lila's affection and Marinette's inner threats, the group has finally arrived at the store of Adrien's father.
The door opened with a cheerful sound of the little bell over the frame, which immediately caught the attention of an older man with a fine suit. He turned around, an icy look embellished his face and he studied the whole group.
Only after a few seconds he sighed, his arms crossed behind his back. He turned to his son. "Adrien... you're late," he said quietly, but you could hear in his undertone the slight annoyance.
Or Adrien just assumed that, like he always did.
"I apologize, father," he replied quietly, his green eyes no longer shining as before. "I was delayed by some visitors."
"Hello, Mr. Agreste," Lila beamed instead and smiled at his father with the most beautiful smile, bending in front of him with an elegant gesture. "I am so sorry that we're late... but I can assure you that it was not because of me." Lila looked over at Marinette, gave her a reproachful look and then smiled again.
Marinette felt that look on her and actually wanted to say something, but preferred to behave like a good girl. "Good afternoon," she said, too, to appear polite.
Rose and Juleka also greeted the hard-working man in the suit.
"Hello," Gabriel replied, his eyes stopped at Marinette, since he did not recognize the girl. "And you are?" He pointed to the dark-haired beauty.
"Uh...", Marinette brushes a strand of hair behind her ear because of excitement and swallowed the knot in her throat, "I'm... Marinette. I'm really pleased to meet you."
Still confused, he looked at his son, who answered only that it was a friend he wanted to help. "I understand. It's also a pleasure to meet you, Marinette," the successful father turned around," but I hope you remember our promise, Adrien."
The pretty boy felt the pain go through his whole body and he remembered his words. These words which have robbed him of sleep one night. These words which where stuck in his mind the whole time. These words which took away a future with the love of his life.
Lila was his future bride.
"Of course not... father..." he mumbled, all shine disappearing from his eyes. Marinette was finally with him. She was even a human. She certainly had to go through so much to be where she is now, and Adrien could not be more thankful, but apparently luck in his life is not on his side.
Or the luck of his father.
"We have no more time. The shop will open soon. Get dressed," Gabriel pointed to some clothes neatly folded on a wooden table. Adrien just nodded, took the clothes and went to another room to change.
The stylist duo followed right away with a small bag in which they needed their tools for the hair. "See you soon," Rose breathed to Marinette, who was alone now with the future wife of Adrien.
Marinette was fascinated by the clothes hung in this little shop. Everything was so creative and detailed. She had never seen anything like that before. The colors of the clothes seemed to resemble each other - everything was rather dark - but it had a certain style.
The dark-haired girl looked around the room and her eyes fell on Lila, who was impatiently tapping her foot on the floor, looking at the door into which Adrien had disappeared. Then she noticed that she was being watched and looked Marinette straight in the eyes.
She clicked her tongue and threw her hair back. "What is it?" She asked, crossing her arms. Marinette was surprised and took a step backwards. "Nothing," she mumbled, looking away.
Lila sighed and raised her finger to say something else to her, but then she heard the door open and a blond young man stepped over the threshold. He was dressed like a noble man, his hair styled backwards.
Marinette gulped. He was too handsome. Is this even legal?
"Oh, Adrien!", Lila cried out loud and ran over to him. "You look fantastic!" Adrien was taken by surprise, but was still pleased about the compliment. But he would be even more pleased if he could hear a few words from Marinette.
Hopefully, he glanced over at her, but that certain girl looked away in embarrassment. He literally took her breath away.
Gabriel also entered the room. "You look good, son. I did not expect anything else from you though." He briefly straightened his suit and then looked at the group of friends. "You may stay here, but please behave properly." These were his last words before he opened the door.
Marinette was surprised, because a lot of people had gathered in front of the store to be part of the new collection. Gabriel really had a good reputation in this city.
„Welcome. Please come in," he made a polite gesture and the people entered the room, excitedly whispering. And a few seconds later, one heard astonishment and admiration for the artist.
"This is my son, Adrien. Today he presents a very special work of mine," with an elegant movement he points to the blond boy in fine clothes, who turns around once and is greeted with applause.
"Such a handsome boy!" shouted an older, more corpulent woman wearing a designed dress from Gabriel.
"Just like his father!" laughed an older man with a full beard.
"Thank you very much indeed," Gabriel grinned into the crowd and leaned forward to thank for the lovely words, one hand on his chest and the other behind his back.
Even Adrien could not help smiling. The people in this city have always been so warm and friendly. He did not go to the town often, but when he did, he was always happy to be in company and to meet more people. New friends.
For a brief moment the whole room was silent for her. Marinette only saw Adrien in front of her. The Adrien, who danced in front of the people and presented the outfit of his father.
That was a nice sight for her. The gleam in his emerald eyes was back. His smile lit up the room, awakening hers as well. She was happy for him, a warm feeling spreading in her big heart.
After a while full of joy and compliments, Mr. Agreste cleared his throat to arouse the attention of all the people in the small room, which was also successful. All eyes were fixed on him, and he thanked him for allowing him to speak.
"While some are already gathered here, I have an announcement to make. It concerns my son Adrien and his future," he said in a calm voice, the corners of his mouth moving upwards.
Adrien was probably just as confused as the rest of the group, only Lila seemed to rejoice. You could see that because of the big smile spreading across her face and putting a hand to her reddish cheek.
After Mr. Agreste called the fair-haired beauty with a wave of his hand, Lila stepped out, swinging her magnificent hair back and forth and standing next to Adrien. Tenderly her hand embraced his and she pressed against him. Like a girlfriend.
Adrien was surprised, wanted to resign first, but Lila's hand was stronger than he had expected. And his father next to him was like a weight on his feet that made him cling to this spot.
"And next to him is his charming girlfriend, Lila Rossi. And I also like to emphasize his future wife. You are all welcome to the wedding, which will take place in two days", with both hands he pointed to the crowd standing in front of him.
Everyone cheered and rejoiced, clapped their hands and whispered that it would be the most beautiful celebration of the year.
Marinette had not really realized what was coming out of his mouth. Those words flew back and forth in her head until they finally reached the brain and her eyes opened wide. She took a step back, her knees suddenly felt soft and shaky, and she felt a pressure in her heart.
Almost exactly like Adrien, but he pulled himself together and also opened his mouth: "F-father!" He freed himself from Lila's firm grip, who took the opportunity to tell a lot of romantic stories about him and her so that she even more is loved from the society. Whether much of it was true or not, they did not have to know.
At least that was her opinion and since Adrien was already too busy to discuss it, she told cheesy love stories as if they had really happened.
Adrien turned to his father, trying to ignore the crowd, which was getting louder and louder. "What is the meaning of this, father? I can't understand.. why so early? You haven't told me a single thing about this! ", he gestured wildly to express his feelings, but that did not impress the businessman.
"I told you that she is going to be your future wife. You accepted it. I, as your worried father, have taken all the trouble out of planning a wedding. Besides, the wedding was already planned longer."
"I beg your pardon? You asked me a few days ago if I would agree with that!", Adrien was even more shocked than before. Everything was going too fast for him.
"You still remember the business trip to Italy? This wedding had been going on for a year, ever since I'd done business with Mr. Rossi. Miss Lila was just busy in the last year that she did not have time to visit. But she assured me that the few days would be enough to convince you", the father answered calmly.
"To convince me...?", lost in his thoughts, the blonde man repeated only the last sentence of his father, who sighed in disappointment.
"Please behave properly, Adrien," Mr. Agreste said quietly, then turned back to the crowd to answer some questions about the wedding.
Adrien stared at the floor, every hope in him now gone. And only then he realized that the love of his life was also in the room and had listened to everything. He turned in a flash, only to see the empty space where Marinette was a few minutes ago.
He ran to the two girls, Rose and Juleka, who stood near her and asked the two nervously where she had gone. Juleka answered with a shrug.
"She looked a little pale, so I told her to go outside to get some fresh air," Rose said in an innocent voice, unsuspecting of what happened. "But congratulations, Adrien!"
"We did not know that you were already engaged," said Juleka, surprised by the loud atmosphere here in the little shop.
"Yes, that would be three of us then," Adrien laughed and put his hand on the back of his head. That was an embarrassing answer, but the truth.
"You did not know anything about it?!" the small blonde asked in surprise, holding both hands over her mouth.
"No... but... I apologize. Can we talk later? I'm going to look for Marinette," he said hastily, already on his way to the door. Lila followed his gaze with her eyes and clicked her tongue again, but before the people around her could guess, she smiled back at them.
Adrien ran out, looking first to the left and then to the right, but the crowd that had gathered in front of the store was too big to discover the love of his life. Where? Where could she have gone? There were not many places she could be.
That's why Adrien went to the one place that came to his mind first. He made his way in the direction of the lighthouse, where the beach was located. The beach which kinda was their secret hideout.
But even if he stood right in front of her, what could he say to her? He could not jump into the water and tell her that they can abscond together. Unlike her, he could not transform into a being of which people had stories only in fairy tales.
Only now he realized that his life is painful but also special in a way. Who had the chance to meet a mermaid? And in addition the most beautiful and charming of them all?
If he had not completely lost her now, then his life would be even more special. He does not want to lose her, not again he wants to lose a person who is important to him. A person who had a firm place in his heart. And this heart has been hurt often enough that it did not endure much anymore.
"Please," he whispered as his golden hair picked up the first grains of sand that the strong wind threw around. "Please, do not let her be gone." He clenched his hands into a fist as he ran along the water's edge. The beach was empty, as usual, and yet he did not see her.
The beach was probably really empty this time.
He stopped, his eyes caught in the horizon. The sun kissed the sea tenderly as its color slowly runs into the dark blue. And suddenly he felt his heart exert pressure. As if his heart would want to tell him not to give up. That she is right here.
"There," he mumbled, his lips rough from the colder air. He looked at the lighthouse, which in its full glory was ready to give light to the sailors for the night. It was like a pathfinder you could trust. And he was the one who kept a mermaid hidden from him.
Adrien climbed the slope, up to the lighthouse. His footsteps slowed, as if he was sure he had found her. The uncertainty in his heart was still there, but he wanted to see her now. He wanted to be sure she was still there.
"Marinette," he whispered as he stopped in front of the lighthouse, his eyes drenched in a pale green. "Can my voice reach you?"
Please be there. Please, dear God, let her still be there. Let her be there.
A dark-haired girl emerges from behind the lighthouse, staring at the blonde in wonderment, a tear rolling down her cheek as she realized his presence, wiping it quickly with her hand. "A-Adrien?!", she squeaked in surprise.
When he saw her standing there, the wind playing with her hair, her eyes shining with the tears she shed, he was happy. He was so damn happy that she stood before him, that he went to her without thinking and put both his arms around her. He gently pressed her head to his warm chest, burying his head in her dainty shoulder.
She was fighting so hard to be here. She had become part of his world and now she cried for herself behind a lighthouse. How could he still claim that he wanted to be by her side?
Marinette was surprised by the action, so surprised that she could not move. The tears kept rolling, dripping on the young man's shirt, which hugged her tighter as he felt it.
"Why are you here?" The girl sobbed, barely comprehensible in her words, but even though he did not quite understand her, he just knew what she had said.
"I wanted to see you," talking was difficult for him. He did not know what he could tell her. He could not even think clearly. In retrospect, this action was not the highlight of his life. She was hurt and he came just to make it clear that he had no idea what he could say to her?
The silence was unbearable. It was only, when a stronger wave splashed against the slope and a few drops of water drenched both of them, that he let go of the hug and looked into her pale, weeping face to which some strands of her hair got stuck.
A few drops rolled down her face and he could not decide if that was her tears or just water from the sea, but he gently brushed it aside. A gesture that made Marinette twitch and look down embarrassed.
She was beautiful. Did she even know that? Did she know what she looked like in his eyes? He could tell her that every day. No - he wanted to tell her every day.
But how? How could he convince his father that he does not want to marry a stranger?
But this girl. This girl, who stood wet in front of him, her eyes red from crying.
"Is it... the truth?" Marinette asked, her lips trembling with fear and cold.
Adrien nodded.
"I... I'm so gullible. How could I just think that there is a future?", her words trembled now, but she tried to smile at him. But Adrien knew that the pain was too much. That her smile was just forced. "I should never have come."
Adrien shook his head.
"It must have been uncomfortable for you to keep me with you," her eyes dropped and she tried to hold back her tears.
He still shook his head.
"I'm... so sorry, I-" she was interrupted as Adrien's strong hands settled on her shoulder. "Please... do not talk any further. Marinette. I do not know what to do. I can't- no... I want you- ", he could not go on, as a silhoulette in the shape of a girl reflected at the lighthouse.
"Adrien?" resounded a familiar voice, irritated in her undertone. They both looked at Adrien's fiancé, Lila, as she was standing in front of them, not pleased with the situation in which she found them.
"Lila?!", the blonde man suddenly cried loudly and let go of the mermaid's shoulders in fright. "Surprised to see me?", she smiled at him, but you could tell it was not a friendly smile that she had this morning.
He remained silent when he realized again that he could not have the special life after he had so much yearned for. He was hit hard again with reality.
"And you are?" she pointed at Marinette as she laughed and snapped her finger. "Yeah, you're that weird girl from earlier. I do not think it's good to see you alone with my fiancé anywhere."
"Uh?", the mermaid looked at her puzzled.
"I said you should not be alone with my fiancé!", the voice grew louder. Marinette winced, but then the brown-haired cleared her throat again.
"I apologize. Since today is a big day for all of us, I do not want to be the one to ruin everything. That's why I generously invite you to my wedding. "
"I beg your pardon?", Adrien tried to talk against it, but Lila only held a hand in front of his face and showed him that he should not get involved.
"I realized that she is a good friend of yours. And after all, I want you to enjoy our wedding as well," she smiled sweetly, leaving the blond man speechless. She could not mean it. Behind this smile was clearly a lie!
"So?", she turned to Marinette, who was still standing there, shocked. That was a challenge, she knew. And when she said goodbye to her family and best friend, she knew it would not be easy in this world. She knew she could not just walk out of the water and be with him.
She was not allowed to lose it. She just can not lose it. How would her heart endure knowing that the person she loves above all else is taken away from her?
Theoretically, he did not belong to her. Actually, he did not belong to anybody, because he only belongs to himself. Egoistic thinking, Marinette. But she still did not want him to become the husband of this girl. She wants to describe Adrien as "her" love of life!
Marinette clenched her fists and bit her upper lip. But what should she do when she's at the wedding? Speak up against his father? It was all official and she could not raise any objection, but her gut told her to go.
If she turned her back on her now, she would regret that for a lifetime. She had stay till the end, at least until the very end, giving everything before she could give up. It was difficult and she did not even know if there would be a good end for herself in this situation.
But... she had promised the turtle that there would be no bitter end.
"I would like to come," it fell over her lips, as if it had been easy. But she had forced herself to. After all, she had to stay strong in the eyes of the beautiful boy.
"Wonderful!", Lila clapped her hands and smiled at her, "Then we'll see each other at the wedding. Come on, Adrien, we still have a lot to do."
But before she left, leaving the poor Marinette there, she turned her head to hers and smiled at her in a way where a cold shiver ran down the back of the mermaid.
It was definitely a fight and Lila was sure she would not lose it.
Then she headed back in the direction of the town without turning back, every step radiating success.
"I... I'm .. so sorry," Adrien stammered, his heart overflowing with grief and sorrow, and he could not think clearly what the right words were in this situation. To apologize was definitely not one of the good options, but he needed rest. Silence. He had to think.
As a farewell, he wanted to squeeze her hand at least one last time, having that feel that she could be at his side, but from behind Lila's voice was heard again, who seemed to have turned around when she realized that her future husband was not behind her.
He hesitated briefly, his hand outstretched, but then he took his hand back and walked away slowly.
Marinette looked after them and sighed, now biting her lower lip to hold back her tears. She had really agreed to attend a wedding and torture herself by seeing Adrien promising this... girl to be by her side for the rest of her life. How could she stand it?
At the mere thought that it might happen, her whole stomach turned and she felt sick. She would love to go to Alya and get a comforting shoulder from her best friend.
And without even the least thought, she jumped down the slope. In flight, she removed her earrings and a bright light enveloped her body. Her long, elegant legs had become a caudal fin, to which she had to get used again.
But after a few seconds, she plunged into the depths of her home, enjoying the light current that continued to give her strength and the feeling of salty water on her skin. As fast as she could, she whizzed to the only place she wanted to go.
To her best friend.
