The Photoshoot

By: Alex Martin

Adrien was behind the camera in the park, giving his best model smile, bored out of his mind. They have been at this for hours, and he just wished it would end soon. Plus, he was hungry. All of a sudden, he saw a figure in the distance with pink pants. He knew it was Marinette right away, and his heart fluttered in his chest. He grinned, looking at her, walking in his direction, instead of at the camera.

He barely registered the flash of the camera before he said, "Vincent, can we break for lunch?"

The photographer followed Adrien's gaze to the girl, smiled knowingly at the boy and said, "Twenty minutes."

Adrien ran towards Marinette, and the closer he got, he realized that she was looking at her phone, not paying attention to anything around her. "Hey, Marinette!" He shouted once he got close enough.

Marinette looked up, locked eyes with Adrien, tripped and screamed. Luckily, Adrien was able to run over and catch her right before she hit the ground.

"You okay?" Adrien asked, holding Marinette in his arms.

"Fine I'm thanks," Marinette stammered, scrambling out of Adrien's arms.

Adrien chuckled. Marinette was always doing that. He didn't know why she mixed up her words around him, but it made him laugh. She also seemed to lose her balance quite often around him. He had to catch her a lot, but he didn't mind. He found her nervousness adorable.

"Perfect timing," Adrien stated with a smile. For the first time, he noticed Marinette's pink cheeks. Cute. "I'm doing a photoshoot, but we're taking a lunch break right now. Do you want to eat with me? And maybe keep me company for the rest of the shoot if you're not busy? Please? I'm so bored."

Marinette , who had been silent, just staring at him this whole time, said, "E-eat w-with y-you and k-keep y-you c-company? S-sure!"

Adrien just smiled in response, grabbed her hand and lead her to a bench not far from the set. He instructed her to sit down and wait for him. After leaving Marinette, he went over to the food table, filled his plate with yummy food and filled Marinette's plate with food he knew she liked.

Adrien presented the food to his dark-haired friend, whose eyes went wide. "How did you know I love this?"

"I pay attention."

The two friends ate together, talking and laughing as they did so. This was so nice. Adrien really needed this break, and he loved spending time with Marinette. There was just something about Marinette's presence that put him at ease. He was always happy around her.

"Time to get back to work, Adrien," said Vincent, suddenly beside the teenagers.

Adrien frowned at his photographer. He had been having so much fun with Marinette that he forgot he was supposed to be working. "Already?" Adrien practically whined.

Vincent must've heard the whine in the blonde model's voice because he smirked before turning his attention to the girl with Blue Bell eyes. "I remember you from Adrien's photo shoot with that little girl and when I took your class photo. What's your name again young lady?"

"Marinette," she responded.

"Marinette," Vincent started. "Could I get a few shots of you and Adrien? I've never seen him happier than when he's with you. It'll make for some great pictures."

Adrien was suddenly nervous. He looked away, too embarrassed to look Marinette in the eye. Why did Vincent say it like that? What was he implying? Of course he was happy around Marinette. She was a very good friend but just a friend. Still, he hoped she would say yes.

"S-sure," Marinette squeaked.

Adrien finally looked at Marinette's red face and smiled, feeling his own face heat up. Why was his face hot all of a sudden? It's just hot out. Vincent then lead the pair to the set.

An hour and many photos later, Vincent was satisfied with the pictures he got of Adrien and Marinette. He thanked Marinette for her time and said she could go home if she would like before walking off to inspect the pictures on his camera. Marinette and Adrien were standing across from each other in awkward silence.

Marinette was the first to break the silence. "Thanks for today."

Adrien suddenly had the urge to hug her. Would that be okay? He put his arms around her before he could talk himself out of it. He felt her stiffen at first but then relax and wrap her arms around him. "I should be the one thanking you. You made today bearable," Adrien stated. "You made it fun."

"You're welcome," Marinette responded.

Just like the time they slow danced at Chloé's party, Adrien felt comfortable with Marinette in his arms. She pulled away, too soon for his liking, said she'd see him at school tomorrow and left to go help her parents in the bakery.

Adrien decided to look at the pictures with Vincent and made it just in time to see the pictures with Marinette. There were several; the pair back to back and side-eyeing the camera, cuddled together on the edge of the fountain with water shooting up behind them, standing in front of a tree while holding hands and waving at the camera, etc.

Adrien's favorite though was the last picture when he decided to surprise Marinette by hugging her from behind. She was shocked at first, but Vincent snapped the picture a second later after Marinette recovered and the pair were starring into each other's eyes, smiling. Both of them had pink cheeks and genuine smiles in every photo, but this one was his favorite, even if he didn't know why. This was the best day he'd had in a long time.