Adrien stifled a breath. In the distance, walking up the stairs and full of laughter, were Alya and Marinette, unaware of his presence by the school entrance. He inched toward the shadows of the door, ignoring the blush creeping up his neck as the girls walked past him toward the stairs leading to their classroom.

As Chat Noir, knowing Marinette liked him was awkward.

As Adrien, it was overwhelming.

He felt so silly. He had spent all weekend trying to process what Marinette had told them on their rooftop date and promising himself that he wouldn't act any differently with her. But now what? He wasn't sure how to make her feel comfortable, considering she turned into a flustered avalanche of words every time she ran into him. It all made sense, looking back on it. For years, he had assumed that the reason she didn't talk to him the same way she did to others was that she hated him. Apparently, it was just the opposite.

He had thought about confronting her about it because he didn't want to lead her on. He valued her friendship too much, especially after their "date." It had given him another glimpse into her real personality, and he was dying to have that kind of easygoing relationship with her as a civilian. Marinette was sweet and funny, and it pained him, knowing that her feelings made it difficult for them to connect. However, Plagg had convinced him out of asking Marinette. If Adrien had no intention of pursuing a relationship, it might look arrogant and insensitive on his part.

How long?

How long had she liked him?

Why did she like him?

He couldn't deny the warmth in his chest at the thought. Even though he didn't like Marinette in that way, the crush flattered him. Marinette could have anyone she wanted in the entire world—nearly every boy in their class had crushed on Marinette at some point—and yet, she chose him.

"What are you doing there?" someone asked, prompting him to jump. His eyes fell upon a bob cut of pink hair, and he held his breath once more. No words came out. A moment of silence passed between the two of them before Alix raised an eyebrow and waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello? Earth to Adrien?"

"O-oh, hey, Alix! Nothing! Just, um, just hanging around. How are you? And your family? Your brother and dad?"

Smooth Adrien.

She didn't answer for a second, staring at him with furrowed eyebrows. "Um... they're fine? I guess?"

Of course, she thought they were fine. What was wrong with him? He resisted the urge to throw his face into his palms and instead shot her what he hoped was a charming, innocent smile. "That's awesome! Glad to hear it. Anyway, we better get to class, or we're gonna be late!" he said, zooming past her to the stairs. If he was red before, he was a tomato now.

Adrien felt Plagg nudging him for his idiocy. Why did he ask her that? Even if Hawkmoth was her dad, he was Adrien right now, and Adrien had no right poking his head into Alix's personal life. In his frazzled attempt to get out of there, he dared a single glance back at her, but that proved a big mistake.

The impact was so quick it hurt.

He hadn't noticed Marinette at the top of the stairs, but she had seen him coming just in time enough to turn her body in his direction as he crashed into her. Adrien stumbled over the last step as Marinette somehow managed to catch him in her arms, and he whimpered as a sharp pain shot through his foot.

"Adrien!" she squeaked, sinking with him to the ground as he rested his knees on the last few steps. She let go of him to let him sit on the stairs, but one of her hands rested on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he mumbled just as a fire spread around his ankle. He contained the yelp crawling up his throat, but his friends didn't notice.

"Usually, Marinette's the one falling," Alya giggled, and Marinette scrunched her nose in irritation at her best friend. Alya's amusement faltered when she noticed Adrien holding his foot and wincing. "Oh, no. You're hurt?"

He didn't want to admit it. Not when Marinette's ridiculously blue eyes widened at him with concern. "I think I'll be okay," he assured them, ignoring his sudden shyness in Marinette's presence. Just act normal, he told himself.

"Jeez, what's gotten into you this morning? You're acting like a mess," Alix said as she reached the trio on the stairs. Marinette raised an eyebrow at that, and Adrien suppressed a sigh. The three girls hovering over him was starting to overwhelm him.

As if reading his mind, Marinette said, "C'mon. Let's give him some space." Still, she walked down a few steps to stand in front of him. "Can you get up?"

"Yeah, I'm good," he answered, but the moment he tried raising himself and putting pressure on his foot, he collapsed into Marinette's solid arms once more. "Oh! I'm sorry!"

"No, no. It's okay. Let's sit back down, okay?" She helped him back into his previous position. "Do you, uh, do you think you broke your foot?"

"I don't know."

Her shoulders slumped in sympathy, and something about the gesture made him sad. The only reason they were able to talk so freely right now was that he was injured. He wished Marinette felt this comfortable with him all the time.

"Why don't you take him to the nurse? I would go, but I really wanted to ask Ms. Bustier some questions before class about the reading assignment from last night," Alya said to Marinette, prompting both Adrien and Marinette to freeze. Had she told Marinette that just a few days ago, Adrien would have thought nothing of it, but now he heard the teasing lilt in her voice. Marinette's sucked in a breath, and her arms flailed in the air.

"Oh! Um, well, I-"

"Alya's right. I'll let Ms. Bustier know," Alix offered, waving goodbye. She had an odd gleam in her eyes that was a little too unnatural. Did she know, too? Did everyone know but him? "See ya. Feel better, Adrien!"

"Thanks..." he mumbled, too embarrassed to look at her anymore.

"I should go, too. Text me if you two need anything!" Alya said in a singsong voice.

"Alya!" Marinette called, but her best friend was already gone.

Great. Marinette looked like a scared mouse as her eyes darted between Adrien and his sneakers, and he felt guilty about the situation. It was clear that Alya had left that alone in hopes of some romantic progression, but he knew he couldn't give that to Marinette. After all, they were just friends.

"You don't have to take me to the nurse," he said to her, trying his best to smile despite the pain. "I don't want to burden you. Besides, class is about to start."

She almost looked offended. "What? You are not a burden!" she said, crouching down in front of him once more with her bright, round eyes. They burned into him.

"I haven't even asked you if you're okay. I ran into you pretty hard."

Wrong thing to say. Her cheeks glowed pink immediately. "I-I'm pine. Fine! I mean, fine." She shook her head. "I'm more concerned about you, anyway. You can barely stand. Here." She offered an arm to him, and he accepted it as he got up, making sure not to step with his left foot.

"I'm a little heavy," he said, but the moment he said it, a faint smirk touched her lips.

"I think I can manage," she replied, pulling his side a little closer so that his weight rested on her. He recalled how much he'd underestimated her when he asked her to carry the basket during their date on Friday. He was starting to wonder if she'd swoop him off his feet if he asked her, but the thought flustered him. Marinette slung his arm around his shoulder and offered him an encouraging grin. "Let's take it one step at a time, okay?"

"How's Adrien?" Alya asked Marinette the moment Ms. Bustier dismissed them for lunch. The two girls joined Nino waiting for them at the door, who had also looked concerned ever since Marinette had returned from the nurse's office without Adrien. They left the classroom to head to Marinette's house.

"The nurse said she doesn't think he broke his foot, but she said it's likely sprained. She called Natalie to pick him up and take him to the hospital to get it checked out. I'm sure he just needs a cast."

"Aw, no. I was so worried when Alya told me he got hurt," Nino said, and Alya placed a comforting hand on her boyfriend's arm before shooting Marinette a mischievous look.

"You didn't try to kiss him all better?" Alya cooed, and Marinette at the taunt.

"What? Absolutely not! We're just friends!"

Nino and Alya looked at each other and sighed, but Alya's smirk returned.

"Shifting your sights to Chat Noir then?"

Oh, God. Marinette had woken up to Alya waiting for her in the bakery to talk all about the date. She had avoided discussing it with her all weekend and refused to look at news outlets regarding the ordeal. Even when her parents had asked her about it, she shot them down immediately—as soon as she convinced her dad that she had voluntarily gone and that she wasn't in love with Chat Noir anymore and that yes, he wasn't going to break her heart, and no, he still wasn't interested in working at the bakery.

"I am not! Chat and I went as friends. I already told you the details of our 'date,'" she wailed.

"Right. The paparazzi photos of him giving you an aerial tour of Paris with his hand around your waist say otherwise."

"How else were we supposed to travel from rooftop to rooftop?" she asked, becoming embarrassed.

"Whatever. At least you didn't miss out on hanging out with Adrien since his dad had scheduled a random photoshoot that night. If I hadn't received updates from the Kitty Noirs saying that you were the lucky girl, I would've thought you and Adrien had ditched us to go on a date together."

Marinette's shook her head, but her mood plummeted at the comment. "Like that'll ever happen."