Chapter 2: #marinettechallenge

"Adrien, your bodyguard will pick you up 20 minutes late today. Your father has some urgent business to attend." Nathalie's sternly told him, from the other end of the phone.

"Urgent business? What does father need to do?" Adrien asked her. Father barely came out of the house and when he did, it was an important matter for sure.

"Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. It's just a casual discussion about some paperwork, your father won't even be directly present in the room."

"Of course." Having meetings from his tablet had become a very ordinary matter to his father…ever since his mother disappeared…

"I'll do my homework in the library."

"Excellent, Adrien. I'll let you know when your bodyguard has arrived." And without further ado, she hung up…

He drew his books from his locker and started heading towards the library. Obviously, the day that he could stay late at school, nobody was free to hang out. Nino had a date with Alya, something he didn't want to third-wheel, and Kagami wasn't there either.

And other than that, he wasn't sure what everyone else was up to. Plus, he didn't feel very comfortable hanging out with everyone else without Nino (and maybe Chloe was there too, but honestly they would never actually 'hang out'); he maybe could've just played video games with Max or contacted Kim for some basketball but…even though he knew everyone and got along with them well. Adrien didn't have that Cat Noir confidence to interact with them by himself, he didn't have the time anyways. The only other classmate that Adrien felt comfortable enough to interact with alone was-

Ah…speak of the de-wait-she wasn't a devil-she was more like an angel and he couldn't say otherwise. Anyhow, speak of the angel, the pigtailed bluenette sat on one of the desks in the library.

A smile bloomed his features. Looks like he won't be alone. Although, he couldn't really interact with her because she appeared to be asleep.

Adrien moved towards her table and took a seat beside her. He turned himself towards her, leaning his head forward.

Marinette's head lulled on her sketchbook as she faced his side. Her hair was slightly ruffled and her mouth hung open almost comically, but her eyes were shut quite peacefully, her breath was heavy as her chest rose up and down. His smile widened at her sleeping form. It wasn't perfect but it was so Marinette. Something that was even better than perfect.

He didn't want to interrupt as he knew Marinette's sleep was important. Alya's Instagram proved that. Marinette wasn't a big fan of Alya's teasing comments online though. Especially not #marinettechallenge. It was a little sort of thing his classmates had between them, where they would pose and take a pic next to a sleeping Marinette.

He sort of wanted a part in #marinettechallenge. He didn't want to make Marinette feel uneasy though…their friendship wasn't as strong as it was now…what changed? He really wish he knew. But he was happy to have a good friend like Marinette, and he was determined to keep that friendship going.

A quick thought crossed his mind. He was isolating himself from class activities a bit too much, sure, he couldn't do anything about it most of the time due to his strict father. But when he did have the chance to take part in something, he was always too shy to do so, unless his friends asked. #marinettechallenge was only a fun joke, Marinette didn't seem to look like she minded despite her banter with Alya, plus he wasn't going to make her feel uncomfortable. Her friendship was important to him.

Before, he went into the actual thing, he took a picture over her current sleeping form and smirked. He wasn't going to post this picture; it would just come useful soon.

Then, he gently closed her mouth for her, and softly tucked the loose strands of her hair away so it looked much neater. Marinette wouldn't be too comfortable with the fact that he had posted a pic of her on his Instagram when she had messy hair. It didn't look bad, she was beautiful nonetheless, he just didn't want to do anything that made her feel anxious.

Then he took his phone out and reached out his hand so both their faces were visible in the selfie.

Adrien's eyes shifted towards her angelic sleeping form. He smiled. Snap!

There you go, the picture was taken. He then went onto Instagram to enter the caption, he was cautious with his words, making sure not to sound teasing, they were genuine though.

He smiled as his next post was sent. adrienagrestebrand had officially taken part in the #marinettechallenge.

He hoped that she wasn't too mad at him.

Marinette groaned as she heard the ringing of her phone. Ugh…who I was calling?

She reached out for her phone drowsily and answered the call; not bothering to look at the caller's name.

"Helloooo." She mumbled with a heavy yawn.

"Girl! Marinette, you're wake now! That's great!" Alya's exuberant voice boomed from her phone. Wait…she had been asleep? She swore she only closed her eyes for a few seconds…Oh god! She glanced at the clock; she had slept for an hour! She better get home soon.

"CHECK INSTAGRAM, GIRL! CHECK IT NOW! BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, I SWEAR! CHECK IT NOW! PLEASE CHECK IT!" Alya said very enthusiastically.

"Okay. Okay. Fine. I will." She opened Instagram casually and checked her notifications. It was probably just a-WAIT!

Adrien posted something new! And he…tagged her?

She swiped to his Instagram quickly as she clicked on his latest post.

It was a picture of her and him…except she was asleep…Wait? When was this taken? Well…it was definitely today…definitely under an hour ago…definitely in the library…and he definitely was sitting right next to her!

adrienagrestebrand: Took part in #marinettechallenge. Where you pose around the sleeping classmate 😉 But don't get me wrong marinettedesigned deserves that sleep! She works hard day and night, and always looks out for others. She's one of the most kind, generous and hard-working people I know! I'm glad to have her as a friend 😊 Sleep well then, our everyday Ladybug! (Also, please don't be mad me!)

Marinette grinned. How could she possibly be mad at him when he throws such sweet words at her! It makes her heart tingle in ways it shouldn't. He was just so wonderful, and considerate, and caring. That's why she fell in love with him in the first place…

"So? I assume you looked at the picture then!" Marinette jumped at Alya's voice. She'd forgotten that she was still on dial, "look at how adoringly he's looking at you." Alya pretty much cooed.

He was looking at her, and to say the least, his gaze was adoring. But that was just how Adrien was, there was nothing specific about the way he was looking at her, it was just who he was. Besides…

"It's not what you're thinking, Alya. There's Kagami, remember. He only sees me as a friend." She sadly smiled.

"Maybe things aren't what they seem at first sight." Alya's hopeful and interrogative voice piped in.

"I just don't want any false hope, I gotta go now, I'll talk later." Marinette hung up, she didn't want to hear Alya's pep-talk. It wouldn't work anyways.

Adrien was dating Kagami. That was a fact. She couldn't deny it even if she wanted to. She just had to accept the truth, support both her friends in their relationship and get over her feelings for him. She wasn't doing so well now; she still felt the racing of her heart in her chest as she gazed at the picture. It wasn't supposed to be there. It wasn't meant to be.

Her phone beeped again interrupting her little meltdown. Surprisingly, Adrien had sent her something privately.

She went onto her DMs and found another picture. It was of her sleeping again. And in this one…she looked like a hot mess. Good thing that he didn't post that.

Adrien: Told you I'd come back at you! Now, I have something to show your future children and grandchildren! And we're even 😉

She beamed. This was how it was meant to be. Friends. Nothing what her head hoped for. In the end, they would be showing pictures to each other's children and grandchildren. Not their own.

Adrien and Kagami would probably get married; live in a huge house; have three beautiful children; have the cutest pets and they'd probably be the most perfect couple ever, to the point they'd be hogging the media's attention constantly. Kagami could give him much better than she ever had. As Kagami said. Her and Adrien were made for each other. Who was she to come in between?

She'd always be there for Adrien. As a friend. Maybe a godmother to his children too. But that was all she was. A friend. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Him and her only existed in platonic forms. As much as it pained her.

So, she'd have to rid the tingle in her heart for him. It was the right thing to do. And Marinette always did the right thing. Even if it hurt her completely. That was all she was meant to be.

Just A Friend.