22. Know what you are doing
"Have any of you seen Adrien and Marinette?"
Alya Cessaire looked at Kagami Tsurugi suspiciously.
"I was not aware of your friendship with Marinette."
Kagami glared at her.
"Because it is not of your concern."
Alya jumped to her feet.
"Yet, here you are, demanding information of me. What Adrien and Marinette are up to is no matter of yours."
"You do not decide that. Tell me where they are at once."
Before Alya could jump to her neck, Luka Couffaine appeared beside them smiling.
"Is something a problem, Alya?"
Kagami glared at him too.
"Mind your own affairs, Mister Couffaine."
"You see, dear Miss Tsurugi, I am in great depth of honor with Adrien Agreste, so if he wishes to remain hidden with the lovely Miss Lenoir for a day, I will do everything in my power to contribute to that cause."
"Do you realize what you are saying, Mister Couffaine? You are suggesting that both of them are attempting against decency and decorum right now."
Alya went pale.
"Take that bad at once, Kagami! It is not Marinette's fault that Adrien has never so much as looked at you."
"You do not know what you are talking about…"
Luka cleared his throat, clearly angry to those who knew him well, but perfectly calmed for those who didn't.
"There they are, go and find out for yourself where they have been."
Adrien and Marinette were at the main entrance, close to his carriage, holding a lively conversation.
"I really appreciate the trust you have put in me tonight by sharing you story with me, Marinette."
"And I really appreciate the trust I feel when I am with you."
Luka, Nino, Alya and Kagami reached them before they could climb into the carriage.
"Marinette may I speak to you in private?"
Kagami and Marinette held a serious glance between them.
"I am sure that we can leave it for tomorrow. Pay me a visit and we can discuss it."
"I cannot leave it for tomorrow because I cannot be sure that you will not make another mistake until then."
Adrien glared at Kagami. Given the stories he had just heard of Marinette, he could understand the impact this statement was going to have on Marinette.
"Whatever pressing matter you have, Kagami, it will have to wait. I must take Marinette back to her family."
As for Kagami, she had known her all her life and she knew what Adrien could be like when he was angry. She looked at Marinette.
"I hope you know what you are doing, because none of us does."
She turned around and left in the direction of her mother.
Marinette watched her back as she walked away and felt her heart sink.
"What on earth is the matter with Kagami?"
Adrien bid them all farewell and helped Marinette into the carriage.
They didn't say a word on the way to the Lenoir Household. Marinette spent the entire trip looking through the little window. She seemed terribly sad, her eyelids fell almost enough to hide her blue eyes, her lips pursed together and the curls of her hair were suddenly much less lively.
Suddenly, the phantom of a picture crossed his mind: it was her, just like that, but wearing a white nightgown with blood stains.
He blinked and grunted, almost scared.
Marinette turned her eyes to him, alarmed by his sudden jump.
"What's the matter? Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes of course, I just— I think I had a…" he shook his head. "Just forget it."
She giggled softly.
"Thank you for the night, Adrien. I hope I can have fun like this with you again."
"So do I."
He kissed her hand and walked with her inside the house.