Chapter 2

2 weeks later

"Marinette...Marinette...MARINETTE!"

Slowly her eyes focused on the shouting floating pink spot in front of her.

"Mmm" she hummed, pulling the comforter above her head. her mouth was dry, and her eyes felt swollen and heavy. "It's Saturday" she mumbled sleepily before closing her eyes again.

"No, it's Friday" The angry Kwamii tugged at the comforter "Marinette! Its Friday and you're already late."

Snapping out of the dazed state, she gave the most inhuman squeak and rushed down the ladder. The frustrated Kwamii watched her human run around in circles, throwing on clothes, brushing her teeth, and collecting her bag all in one chaotic half naked mess. As she ran down the stairs into the living space, she threw on a light jacket as the weather had decided it wanted to be cold today. Grabbed a couple of cookies for Tikki who would be staying in her purse and rushed out the door before either of her parents realized she was still home.

She did not slow down her run until she reached her classroom door. It appeared class had started already. With a deep sigh she accepted her fate and walked in, turning to apologize to her teacher before heading to her seat next to her best friend.

"Hey girl, how are you feeling today" the brunette reached over and squeezed her hand. Alya had asked her that same question, every single day for the past two weeks since Adrien's engagement had been announced. At first Marinette thought it was some sick joke the universe was playing. Perhaps the tabloids had run out of gossip. But when Adrien arrived at school the next day, and everybody was congratulating him, the harsh reality of it sunk in. The love of her life was suddenly forever and permanently out of her reach. She had cried for hours, days even. Refusing to leave her room. Alya had held her for most of those days. She had stopped her from ripping down the hundreds of pictures that littered her walls. "you can still be his number one fan" she had tried comforting, rubbing circles on her back. When Alya had left though, she quietly stood and took down each picture. Each poster, every schedule and threw them away. She cried throughout the night, and the next day, and the next. Really the first week and even into the 2nd she would find herself tearing up anytime she thought of him or saw him. She'd avoided him the first week of his engagement completely, too sad too look at the object of her affection. She thought that Adrien could love her, that one day, when she had gathered the courage, something could happen. Of course, she'd planned their entire future out already, even though nothing was set in stone. This engagement however, confirmed her biggest nightmare, Adrien would 1 billion percent never be hers.

On Monday of the 2nd week she'd built up the courage to congratulate him, they shared the same classes, and she knew how rude she was being by running out any time it looked like he was heading in her direction.

"I just...wanted to say...that I'm really happy for you Adrien" her eyes casted low, looking at the neckline of his shirt, afraid if she did look up, she'd be a crying mess all over again.

"Thank you, Marinette, that means a lot" she risked a peak at his face, avoiding his eyes but setting her gaze at his mouth, he was smiling, that beautiful boyish grin. She quickly ducked her head down again, turning and quickly rushing to her next class. Had she looked up, had she met his eyes, perhaps she would have seen the signs. The sad and terrified look in his eyes that was beginning to be a lot more difficult to hide.

She'd run home and cried after school. The constant thought of him forever being out of reach still caused the sobs to rock her body. She'd gotten angry, she gripped her sheets and screamed into her pillow. She wanted the bed to open and swallow her. Perhaps she was being too dramatic, I mean she'd known Adrien since when? 2-3 years ago. In all that time the most she ever got from him was that she was a good friend. Just a good friend. It had gotten slightly easier to talk to him; she didn't stumble over her words completely. He'd been her first love though, the only boy who she had envisioned a long future with.

"Marinette, hello girl" Alya's waving hand brought her back to reality.

"I'm okay" she sighed, "I'm better, just a little tired" rubbing her hand on the back of her neck. She'd cried a little last night. After finding an online article about the engagement, it wasn't even for another year and a half. But apparently, word was that his father was planning to drop a line of wedding dresses and tuxes. It would be a collaboration between the two uniting families. Her heart broke all over again and Tikki was left with the task of giving Marinette another lecture on life and positivity.

Class droned on. Only half awake, and half paying attention, she continued to poke and prod at the small crack in her desk. Looking up would mean seeing the back of Adrien's head. If she looked, then she would begin to stare, and if he were to turn around and catch her, she would have to meet those green eyes. The ones she desperately wanted to avoid.

When the bell rang at the end of the school day she didn't wait around for her group of friends. She ran home and busied herself in the bakery, needing to keep her body and mind distracted in order to avoid thinking about the engagement any longer.

Around 8 her parents banned her from the bakery, saying she looked tired and to relax, as she hadn't had any break since she got home from school.

Tikki poked her head out from the neckline of her shirt, nibbling half a brownie. "You really do look tired Marinette, are you going to turn in early?"

"No, I don't want to sleep just yet..." she trailed off. Sleeping meant dreaming, and these past few days her dreams had centered around Adrien. "I think I'll sketch something out first" Despite the weather having been unusually cold today, spring would soon be turning into summer, and she wanted to come up with a few designs she could make and wear before then. "I need some air" she mumbled. Gathering up her Ladybug/Chat noir inspired blanket, she swiped her sketch book off her desk and climbed up onto her balcony. She'd improved the small space over the years, expanding her small garden and adding an extra lounge chair for when Alya would come over. Nestling into her chair and wrapping the black and red blanket around herself, she opened to an empty page, Tikki quietly and comfortably resting on her shoulder, half covered by the blanket.

"You haven't sketched in weeks." Tikki commented from her spot.

"I know...I just haven't had any motivation."

Tikki knew not to push the subject. Marinette was so fragile these past few days. She would take any action that wasn't wallowing hopelessly.

Her pen hit the page; it's tip ready to illustrate what her mind was visualizing. It continued to wait and wait. Until the ink began to run, slowly spreading and staining the page and pages underneath. The blotch grew, black consuming white. Its advance only increasing in speed when salty tears splashed onto the page and in its path.