BlackLynx17: Late update, I've been really busy. I now know why some fanfictions only update like once a month! It's a lot of work updating weekly.
Scratching The Surface.
Chapter 10.
"Mom! I'm leaving now!" Marinette yells out.
"Have a good day dear!" Her mother calls back after her.
Marinette runs down the stairs and hops on her father's back, giving him a quick peck on his check.
"Bye Dad, see you later." She says.
"Have a good day at school Marinette and be careful." He calls after her as she runs out of the store.
Marinette checks her watch and slows her run to a jog, and then a walk. Is her clock broken or did she actually wake up and leave on time? For the first time in her life in... ever?
"Meow."
Marinette stops and turns her head, seeing a black cat yawning on a wall. The cat opened up it's eyes revealing sharp dark green ones, his tail waving back and forth as he stares right at her. Those eyes... they look strangely familiar. Marinette remembers her own little cat, her little cat that she hurt, her little cat she hasn't seen since the last time they fought together. Adrien mentioned him yesterday and just... she misses him.
Not him, not misses him as in wishing she could see him everyday, but more like misses what they use to be, their partnership, how well they use to work together. Tiki said to give him time but... is there really nothing else she can do?
"Meow."
"Ah- kitty." Marinette calls out reaching her hand out.
The cat hisses lightly and jumps off of the wall to the other side, disappearing from sight.
"Marinette?"
She blinks and turns around, seeing a limo behind her with the window rolled down revealing-
"Adrien? What are you doing here? I mean- good morning." Marinette blushes nodding at him lightly.
"Morning, I thought it was you. I'm fine right here Hank, I can walk the rest of the way to school." Adrien says to his driver grabbing his bag.
"But your father-"
"Don't worry about him, if I don't tell anyone and you don't tell then he'll never know, right? I'll see you after school." Adrien waves opening up the door.
Marinette takes a step back and watches her boyfriend step out of his car, waving at the driver to drive off before turning back to her.
"You didn't have to do that- I mean, I could have seen you at school and now you have to walk instead of getting a ride." Marinette mumbles, feeling bad.
"It's good to exercise every now and then; next time I'll give you a ride there though if you rather." Adrien says.
"No, no, no, no thank you! I wouldn't want to impose on you like that and I love walking to school. You never know what you're going to see, like just a few seconds ago I saw a black cat. Luckily for me it didn't cross my path or else I would be having bad luck today, but since it didn't I actually had good luck meeting you here."
"You believe in superstitious stuff like that?"
"Yes and no? Well, I don't really consider black cats bad luck at all, but I do believe in breaking glass and walking under ladders."
Adrien chuckles, "black cats are where you draw the line though?"
"Exactly, is that weird?"
"No, I feel the same way. Wish I could have seen that black cat with you, then again I consider myself lucky for being able to spot you here. Shall we walk to school?"
Marinette blushes and nods her hand, staring at the hand he extends to her. She hesitates for a second, but they are girlfriend and boyfriend and they have kissed before. What could holding hands do? It's not like she's trying to keep their relationship a secret either, and judging by how bold he's being right now, he isn't either.
She grabs his hand and holds it tightly, smiling at him. Adrien grins back and pulls her close, holding his phone up.
"Alright, our first walk to school for our personal collection. Say cheese."
"Huh?" Marinette asks.
He snaps the picture leaving her blinking as he checks it, chuckles at her surprised expression on her face.
"I like this one."
"What? No, I look completely out of place! Erase that and take another one!" She says reaching for his phone.
"No way, this is adorable. I'm not erasing this, but we can try again."
This time she's pouting at him in the picture, which she demands for him to erase again, in which he laughs her off and saves it to his personal collection. Slowly it's starting to grow more and more each passing day.
"I hope you know this means war; get ready for me to start taking pictures when you least expect it."
"Thanks for warning me, I'll be expecting them now."
She puffed out her cheeks at him making Adrien take one more picture of her, laughing as he sees this one holding his phone over her head. Now if she were Lady Bug she could easily kick the phone out of his hand and catch it, but since she's normal Marinette who takes no special classes on why she's able to kick her leg up that high she has to settle for jumping up and down... which does absolutely nothing for her.
This is how Nino and Alya found them waiting at the steps in front of the school. Alya had her camera on video mode recording already while a sly smirk made it's way across Nino's face. He whistled really loudly catching everyone's attention.
"Make way for the new couple everyone! Flirting so early in the morning with your NEW GIRLFRIEND Adrien? You sly dog you," Nino teases.
Marinette immediately pulls her hand away from Adrien's and starts blushing ten shades of dark red, placing her hands over her cheeks to try and hide it. Alya giggles getting a close up of the blushing girlfriend while Adrien uses his now free hand to scratch at his cheek.
"Enough of that Nino," he says.
"Nah man, I always knew the two of you had a thing for each other. Nice work though Marinette, I heard you made the first move." Nino chuckles punching her shoulder lightly.
"What? Huh? Oh, um, thanks," she whispers quietly, trying to hide behind Adrien.
What is with all the eyes staring at her right now? Sure this is a dream come true for her, but all this attention definitely isn't. She isn't Lady Bug right now, she isn't a beautiful majestic super hero, she's just her plain old self and she doesn't want people noticing that about her.
"Nino, quit teasing her. Only I'm allowed to do that," Adrien lectures him.
"Oh man, my boy is already sticking up for his girl. That's what's up," Nino grins.
"Marinette, you just walked to school making your grand debut as Adrien's girlfriend boldly holding his hand in front of everybody. Your thoughts?" Alya asks holding her phone closer to her.
Marinette suddenly sees it and jumps up, "Alya! What are you doing?! Put that away!"
"No way, this news is going to make front page. Would you mind sharing a little kiss between yourself and Adrien? That is sure to get my views up." Alya teases.
"ALYA!" Marinette screams.
She starts chasing her best friend around in circles, trying to get her back. Adrien smiles to himself as he watches, Nino sighing out as he leans against his shoulder.
"Bro, you've really changed. Getting a girlfriend all of a sudden and not even telling me... we're still homies right?"
"Of course Nino, we're friends for life. Marinette is... she's..."
"No need to say it bro, while we may be best friends, even best friends need someone they can hold and cuddle, and let's face it. I'm not all that squishy and huggable." Nino laughs.
"Exactly. You have nothing to worry about losing my attention; you're cool with Marinette, right? I'm sure we'll all get to hang out together."
"Yeah, Marinette's really a sweet girl. I had my suspicions she liked you, but since you never showed any interested I never put two and two together. I honestly didn't even know you had a crush on anyone in this school. What changed bro?"
Adrien looks at his girlfriend's crying face as she grabs her best friend, "a lot's changed. I've set my priorities straightened and learned that this is my life and I should live it to the fullest that I can."
"True that brother, I like your style. I can't wait to see what Chloe does when she hears about this though."
"See Chloe do about what?" Adrien asks looking at him.
"Come on Adrien, I know you're dense, but you can't be oblivious to the way that girl struts herself around you."
"I'm aware of Chloe's... infatuation, but what is she going to do about me dating Marinette? It has nothing to do with her."
Nino whistles lowly, "man you don't know a single thing about women, don't you? I wouldn't be surprised if a cat fight broke out, or maybe she'll just get her Daddy to throw her in jail. A broken hearted woman with her kind of influence, there's no telling what she can do with that kind of power."
"Nino, tell me you're joking right now. Should I be worried?"
Nino scrunches up his face and shakes his head, "you? Nah, she loves you. Your new girlfriend though? I hope you've made some nice memories with her."
"Nino! Tell me you're joking!"
"Alya!" Marinette whines.
"Alright, I think that is enough footage for today. Filming you two holding hands was a goldmine though, a complete goldmine." Alya grins to herself.
"You're so mean, you're suppose to be helping me with Adrien, not riling me up." Marinette frowns controlling herself now.
"I am helping; this footage is for your future kids to watch how their parents first started dating. Trust me, you'll thank me when we're older." Alya says putting her phone away, "now stop pouting and go walk to class with your boyfriend. I promise not to take anymore videos or pictures... for now."
"Alya!" Marinette calls her name out.
"Hey Adrien! Come pick up your girlfriend and walk her to class before she's late!" Alya continues the relentless teases.
"Yeah Adrien, be a good boyfriend and carry her books while you're at it," Nino laughs, joining in.
"Alya!"
"Nino!"
The blushing couple look at each other and sigh, the two of them sharing a similar thought about friends. They find themselves being pushed together until their face to face, both of them smiling awkwardly as their best friends wink and shoot thumbs up.
"Best friends," Marinette rolls her eyes.
"What can you do?" Adrien shrugs at her.
"We heard that," Alya and Nino say at the same time making everyone start laughing.
Their laughter is broken by a loud screech in the air though; this screech has Marinette jumping up in fear clinging to Adrien, Alya flinching, Nino and Adrien looking around trying to see who died. No one had died, but someone was soon going to. Chloe appeared at the top of the stairs with Sabrina cowering behind her, a phone tightly clutched in her hand as her eyes scanned the area.
"What's wrong with her?" Marinette asks.
"Ah- judging by the phone in her hand, she might have seen the video I just posted up of you two." Alya says.
"You posted it up Alya! You told me those were for my children!" Marinette screams.
"MARINETTE!" Chloe yells out at the top of her voice finally spotting her.
"Hope you made good memories," Nino hums patting Adrien's back.
"Who do you think you are? WHO IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! ADRIEN IS MY BOYFRIEND! I'VE CALLED DIBS ON HIM FOR YEARS NOW!"
Marinette flinches, blinking a couple of times at Chloe. It takes her a moment to grip herself, but right now she realizes that her worst enemy who always use to flirt with her boyfriend now is trying to stake claims on him. If Marinette lets her walk over her right now, who knows how many other girls are going to come after her doing the same thing. Chloe is the head boss for Adrien's heart, if she stands up to him all the other fans and lackey's are sure to back away.
"Who I think I am! Is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Adrien Agreste's girlfriend!"
"Well you can't be Adrien's girlfriend!"
"Says who?"
"The thousand of girls who love Adrien way more than you do!"
Marinette's eyebrow twitch, "no one loves Adrien more than me; my love for him greatly exceeds everyone elses, including yours too Chloe!"
She boldly confessed her love for him without even realizing or remembering that he was still standing right beside her, now covering his mouth to hide his blush while Nino's jaw goes slack and Alya's phone almost slips from her hand as she records.
Chloe turns red in frustration and almost raises her hand to strike; Adrien, already prepared for something like this because of Nino, came between the girls and hold Marinette safely behind him.
"Chloe, hi, good morning."
Chloe blinks and quickly fixes herself up, "oh Adrien! Hello there darling, I'm glad you're here right now. Can you please tell that delusional girl behind to stop spreading lies about you? If you want you let me handle all of this while you go on your merry way to class."
"They aren't lies Chloe, I'm dating Marinette. I like her," Adrien smiles lightly peeking behind his shoulder.
Marinette doesn't hear his confession as she stares at Chloe's defeated face, even going as far as sticking her tongue out at her.
"So please, don't be mean to her. Nothing she's saying are lies, it's all the truth. We're together, like together together."
He grabs her hand to reinforce his point and it's that where Chloe finally breaks. She screams out in frustration to herself before turning around, huffing and stomping as she walks away. Marinette is laughing at her leaving while Adrien sighs out in relief, pressing a hand to his chest.
"Now that was scary."
"I could have taken her," Marinette huffs out nodding her head.
"Wow, go Marinette! First girl to ever stand up to Chloe and live! That's got to feel good, right?" Nino laughs wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Exactly, tell the world Marinette. Thousands of crying fans right now are wondering how it feels to be dating the love of their lives." Alya says scooting the camera closer to Marinette's face.
"Guys! Stop teasing me!" She whines out.
The warning bell rings again making all the students still up and turn their heads to the school.
"Oh no! We're late!" Nino yells running up the stairs.
"Saved by the bell it seems Marinette, until next time fans!" Alya giggles putting her phone away.
"Come on Marinette, let's go." Adrien says holding out his hand for her.
If they didn't believe the video on Alya's site, that's how the nonbelievers found out that it was official. When Adrien and Marinette ran into class together hand in hand and stared at all the open wide eyes and dropped mouths of their classmates.