"It's been two days, Marinette, why are you avoiding me?" Alya complained, following the girl in question to their next class. "It's not like I said anything that wasn't true! You and I both know it's true! I-"

Marinette stopped, causing Alya to walk into her back.

She took a deep breath in and turned around, eyes ablaze with anger. "True? You think it's all true? And on top of that, you think I believe these baseless rumours fuelled by hate and jealousy?"

"Mari I-"

"Why are you so quick to only believe one side of the story and not the other? Why is it that people have the power to twist someone's words, to meddle in their lives? Are you not wanting to be a journalist? Do journalists not check their sources? Who are you to say it's all true?"

Alya flinched, taking a step back. "How could you? I said what I said for your benefit, not for anyone else's! I don't want to see you get hurt, Mari."

"It's not only that," the bluenette stated softly. "It's the fact that instead of supporting me and consoling me, reassuring me about the way I feel, you judged me." She looked up into the brunette's eyes, a single tear falling out of her eye. "You're the last person I'd have expected to do that." Marinette turned around and started to walk away.

Alya blinked her tears away, mouthing words but no voice coming out.

"I'm sorry, Marinette," she sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I just wanted to say what I thought of the situation. I didn't think about how you would feel, and I'm sorry."

The bluenette stopped again. "I'm going to need some time alone. I would say sorry," she added, looking back at Alya. "But I don't think I truly am. My actions are justifiable. I'd like you not to approach me for a while."

Adrien flopped onto his bed, sighing. He hadn't had a chance to properly talk to Marinette at school, and the situation with his father wasn't any better.

"Adrien. Open the door." His father's voice boomed behind the door.

"Why? Don't you have hands?" The blond retorted.

The door burst open and Gabriel marched in, scowling. "If I tell you to do something, I expect it to be done."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "What now? I thought you made it very clear this morning that you didn't want to speak to me."

Gabriel sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't have time for your idiocy, Adrien. You still haven't answered my question. What is your relationship with that baker's girl?"

"Okay, first of all, she has a name. Marinette. Second, she's my friend. Third, I don't understand why you're asking me as if you suddenly care about my life." Adrien snapped, now facing his father.

"Adrien, she isn't doing you any good. I need you to cut ties with her immediately."

The blond scoffed, rolling his eyes. "No, it's not because she's not good for me. She's not good for you. Because you only want me to associate with people of high status, who are rich and who will get the most media attention."

Gabriel hesitated before speaking. "That is correct. You know better than anyone that media attention brings up the sales in my company."

"Have you ever, even for just a second, thought of the impact that it had on me? Has it ever occurred to you that I was suffering in every relationship you set me up for? Or that every time I dump someone, it's because the relationship was toxic, not because I'm a bad person? Do you know what people say about me? Every time I walk past someone, they're always talking behind my back about how much of a scumbag I am. It hurts!" Adrien screamed, tears pouring out of his eyes. "Just because I hold it in doesn't mean the hurt isn't there."

"What's gotten into you? You're just being emotional. Calm down and we'll talk later, when you're not too sensitive."

"Sensitive? Emotional? So what? Both feelings are valid. How can you have the audacity to come in here and tell me to stay away from the one person helping me get my life back on track? Haven't you noticed that I haven't been kicked out yet?" Adrien laughed bitterly. "That's new. You always seemed to care for your reputation before anything."

"Adrien Agreste. Don't you dare talk about my reputation. I am telling you to stay away from the baker's girl and I expect you to obey. As long as you are under my roof, you will live by the rules I have set, do you understand? Failure to listen to me will result in you getting put into another school."

Gabriel nodded and left the room, leaving Adrien alone, seething with rage.

"Fine," Adrien muttered, getting out a big duffle bag. "I wont have to live by your dumb rules if I'm not here, right?"

Marinette yawned, rubbing Tikki's belly. "There, Tikki, you're all relaxed. Let me sleep now."

"Marinette! Someone's here for you! I'll send them up now."

The bluenette groaned, burying her head in her pillow. "I was looking forward to sleeping today," she whispered, before opening the trapdoor. A mop of blond poked out, his face wearing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. Marinette blinked a few times before he spoke, laughing nervously.

"Surprise?"

~.~.

Author's Notes:

ahem so maybe i died for a year and let's say i'm alive now :D

yall lemme tell you its just all fun and games till you lose interest in the fandom and then lose your motivation. it is hard but i'll try my best from now on. in the most important year of my life as well ㅠㅠ

anyway i am so so so so so sorry yall, there's just so much to do.

by the way i lost the charger to my old laptop so my WIP's ;-; they're all gone...

it's ok. i have you guys. thank you for still being here if you are and i hope you sit tight~

stay safe y'all mwah