A day. A week. A month.
.
.
.
"Marinette? Are you okay?"
Marinette snapped out of her daze and stared up to her caller. There stood Luka, dressed up alll crisp and clean, studying her with a worried expression. Again.
"Oh - um... I'm all right. Just thinking. About new designs." she murmured hesitantly, biting her lower lip. Luka met her gaze, and he stared into them intensely to find a hint of what she was really thinking about. He didn't say anything - but his expression pleaded her to let him know her true thoughts. But after a few moments of pointless staring, he gave in.
"Okay, then." He said, breaking into a bitter smile. "Do you want to check out that shop over there?"
He pointed to a fancy shop covered with pink and gold, it's windows covered with lace curtains.
Marinette shot him an apologetic and grateful smile. "Sure, it looks pretty interesting."
The two were at 'Avenue des Champs-Élysées'; their 3rd date since their first at the river. People from all around were assuming that the two were a couple, but Marinette wasn't \so sure yet. Their relationship started as Luka helping her to get over Adrien and look at someone else for a change, but the two hadn't made it official between them. It was their 3rd date already - was it wrong to say that they weren't dating?
Luka trudged on to the frilly shop, apparently hurt that Marinette wasn't being particularly honest. But she really couldn't tell him the truth. Because the truth was she'd been daydreaming again about what Chat had told her weeks back.
"I love you, m'lady."
It wasn't the first time he'd said those words to her. He had confessed his love to her more than a few times. But that time - that last time he said them; it was different. They were laced with hurt, bitterness - but so very raw and sincere. His plain naked heart cut open for her to see.
The message had actually hit her for the first time.
How could she ever tell Luka - that she was daydreaming about another boy when she was on a date with him? Especially when he was helping her to get over another boy who wasn't who she was daydreaming of?
No, no, no, no, no. Not ever.
A bell chimed as she followed Luka into the small shop.
Adrien sipped from his glass of 'Chateau de Fleur - non-alcoholic sparkling wine champagne' and set the glass back on to the table with a soft 'clink'. He gently picked up his knife and fork in each hand, and pierced his medium rare steak glazed with the chef's own Chimichurri sauce sitting in front of him. He wore a black tuxedo as his father insisted - and a spot under his armpit itched like crazy but he dared not to scratch. The velvet tablecloth didn't help as it brushed against his ankles - and Adrien, who wasn't the religious type - begged to God to at least to give him comfortable circumstances if he was going to be forced to dine at the most fanciest restaurant in the middle of Paris.
Heck! He was 15 years old!
"You don't seem too happy back there,"
Adrien's eyes flashed up from his meal to a pair of amused grey eyes. Kagami - in her red Kimono again, as poised as ever. A scarlet Tsubaki flower pin rested at the top of her ear, and her lips were smiling softly as her eyes observed every curve and angle of the blond boy's face from across her.
She looked so comfortable, so fitting as a high class person. She belonged there.
Unlike him. All he wanted to do right then was bolt from his chair, out of the restaurant and onto the Eiffel Tower - with the fresh air and wind - with that spectacular view you couldn't compare from what you could see on any diner in France.
Adrien smiled weakly and indicated his meal with his knife. "I wonder when I'll ever get used to this kind of stuff."
Kagami poked at her roasted asparagus with her fork thoughtfully.
"You will, Adrien, it's nothing to worry about - it just takes some time."
Adrien shook his head feebly and shoved a piece of tender beef into his mouth. It melted in his saliva as he chewed - and the taste could've made anyone gasp - but his frustrated expression didn't change.
"I've been coming to places like these... since I was six years old, Kagami. And nothing has gotten any more 'comfortable' since then."
He set his fork down and ran a frustrated hand through his gel-streaked hair. Blond locks stuck out in random places, and Kagami gave him a warning look; but he didn't care. He just wanted everything to get over with.
Kagami sighed. "Don't you think we have to finish at least half of our meal?"
Grumblng, Adrien glared at his fancy dish. He wondered how much money this cut of meat would've cost. It was the best restaurant in Paris - Natalie had told him. 70€? 80? With that money, a poor family could've enjoyed quite a few good meals, rather than a rich boy having unwanted steak that he'd already had about a few hundred times before.
"Kagami? Do you happen to know how much this is?" Adrien questioned as he jabbed at his plate with his fork.
"Um... my mother said 80€ a plate, and 30€ for the reservation?"
Adrien gawked at her, bewildered. "What about the Champagne?"
"It is non-alcoholic so it should be cheap - but since the chef worked his magic on it... 25€ at least?"
215 euros. At least.
Some people could survive a few months with that amount of money.
"What? But that's... are you serious? For one puny date?" Adrien's voice wavered as he eyes the food.
He hated it. Everything. From being the center of attention all the time and being so rich that his father would let him eat meals this expensive at the age of 15.
"Hey! I-I don't think it's puny!" Kagami said, frowning. "Maybe it is a bit much for the two of us, but don't you think it's worth it?"
Adrien shook his head wearily. "Oh, no - I don't think so, Kagami. It is never worth it."
He stood up to leave.
This was way too much for him.
Kagami's eyes widened and she lunged forward to grab his wrist. She looked into Adrien's eyes with a stern glare.
"Where the hell are you going?" she asked through gritted teeth. She squeezed so tightly on to his wrist, he was sure that if she gripped any tighter his wrist would snap.
"Cut that out, Kagami!" Adrien grunted and pulled his wrist out of her grip.
Kagami pulled back into her chair and crossed her arms, her eyes burning with fire.
"Sit." She ordered him so sternly that he was reminded of Mrs. Tsurugi.
Adrien sat down with a soft thump.
His adam's apple bobbed as he gulped. He had no idea what this girl could do to him.
"Tell me, Adrien." Kagami stared hard into his eyes, her eyes glaring in to his like an X-RAY. "Why are you here, with me, enjoying this meal?"
Her hands were now folded on her lap, and she was so still that he might've thought she was a was figure from the museum.
Adrien bit his lip nervously.
Kagami's gaze analyzed him - algorithms probably whizzing in her brain to find a hint from his face to see what he was thinking about.
Inspecting. Analyzing. Like a true fencer should.
"I don't know." he murmured hesitantly, though he knew perfectly why he was there.
She leaned forward and cupped her hand over his ear, her mouth hovering next to it.
"Remember, Adrien." Her voice was so soft but her words carried through the air so very clearly.
"You're switching targets."
"Love is like a war: easy to begin but very hard to stop." - H. L. Mencken
Adrien and Marinette are slowly understanding that fact, I guess.
A very short chapter; and not much content or information - but I'm working on it. My dad went on a trip to Paris for a conference a few weeks ago, and he says the food really is expensive there. Some place had charged 10 euros for a glass of water!
Also, thank you for all the positive comments! You all have earned me a big smile to start the day :)
-estherjoy0525
