Marinette scrambles to the bedroom, blood pounding in her ears. Her pursuer, hot on her heels. She rushes to the bathroom and slams the door as he reaches the door. Then, with shaky hands, Marinette locks the door.

*Bang*

"Open the F~ucking door Marinette!"

His deep voice unnaturally strained as he banged on the door again, demanding she open it. His voice, which once sent a pleasant warmth over her body, now causes it to shake uncontrollably. Unconscious, she walks backwards until she reaches the wall. Her clothes almost covered nothing as she was preparing for bed when all of this had started. Marinette's body touched the cooled wall, and she collapsed. She did not have her phone; there were no windows. She was a trapped mouse, and he was a cat ready to torment her. So small, and everything else felt so big. A soft, sultry voice came from behind the door.

"Babe, I am not going to hurt you. I just want to talk. I...you know, I love you. Right?" He said as he leaned his head on the door. Marinette's eyes locked on the door as silences rang throughout. Her mouth was dry. "Right, Mari?" She has to answer; Marinette could feel him growing impatient.

"Yes, I know…I just need–" Her voice broke as bluenette tears finally fell. She frantically wiped them as they fell. She noticed that her eyes were more blurry than before she started to wipe them away on her shirt. Marinette looked at her right hand and noticed that her hand was bleeding. It painted her white cami in scarlet red. She felt the stabbing pain.

"You need…"

He was loving and caring once. He was her life, so why was she sitting on the bathroom floor afraid of what might happen next. When she met him, he was a dream, but now he was her waking nightmare. She tried to keep her voice firm as she spoke her following words.

"I need–"

It was at the beginning of the fall semester. It was a beautiful morning; the light flowed into the room, framing it in a hue. Fabric and thread cascaded down the loveseat. The mechanic hum of a sewing machine occupied the space. A girl sat at her desk, her eyebrow knitted in concentration as her loose blue blackish hair framed her face. Above her desk was a corkboard cover with sketches of her designs, fabric, and tulle layered on top of the drawings to bring them to life. The girl stopped the machine and carefully removed her work, examining the stitches, looking for any error in her work. The item of clothing was a peacock blue pleated trench coat with storm flaps. At the bottom were embroideries of Magnolia flowers. Pleased with her work, she grabbed the last piece, a cerulean belt with a steel belt buckle. Carefully, she put the items in a fabric shopping bag that was under her desk.

Finally done, the bluenette stood up from her workstation, stretching out all her limbs. Now all she needed to do was to get to school on time. The bluenette took a shower and put on a stylish outfit. A red long and wide sleeve dress shirt with horizontal white stripes and dark blue jeans with flowers on the side of it– which she had detailed. Lastly, she tied a black string around her neck to become a Choker and put her hair in pigtails. Grabbing an oversized black purse and the fabric shopping bag, she climbed down her ladder as fast as she could, just as her alarm went off, reminding her that she only had forty-five minutes to get to her university.

"Good Morning sweetie, you're up earlier." Her mother said, putting a plate of fresh croissants on the table with jam and tea. "Actually, I didn't go to sleep." The designer said sheepishly as she sat down at the table to consume the food resting there. "Well, at least you're up. I am going down stairs to help your father—" Pointedly, her mother turned to her and finished," Please don't forget to lock up Marinette." Her mother gave Marinette a quick hug and left through the shop entrance. After polishing off all her food, she put on her black ballerina dress shoes and ran out the house, locking up behind her. She looked around and saw her bus about to leave. "Hey, Wait!" Marinette ran as fast her legs would carry her as she waved her arms to get the bus driver's attention. The bus stopped as she got closer to it. She threw herself into the bus and put her bus card into the machine as the bus driver gave her a side-eye. The bus was nearly fully packed. Marinette walked near the second exit of the bus, grabbed onto the strap hanging from the ceiling, waiting for her stop to arrive.

Marinette pulled out her phone to find that she had seven minutes to get to class. Her hand clenched around her phone as she started to run to the college of arts and humanities. A large modern building with mostly glass windows on the front side and banners hanging down the sides advertising an art exhibit coming up soon. Of course, Marinette did not see or pay attention to this as she was run to the entrance, and of course, she did not see the person who was exiting the door she was run to until she collided with them. The designer was falling, and she did even know why. She prepared for the impact of the cold concrete. However, it never came; instead, well-toned arms encircled her body, keeping her upright.

The bluenette pulled her head up to apologize for bumping into the person holding her up. She was met with a strong jawline and a slightly turned-up nose. Marinette continued upwards until she met beautiful ocean blue eyes that stole her breath away. She was struck. "Umm… are you okay?" a deep but soft voice said to her. Marinette continued to stare wide-eyed until she realized the voice was talking to her. She slightly righted herself than she realized why she was running in the first place and upon that realization said, "I'm late–." Puzzled as he saw her mouth move but didn't hear what she said, he asked, "What did you say?" He felt her warm hands move to his chest, "I'm late–!" She exclaimed, pushing the person holding her up away from her body. "I'm so so sorry for colliding into you but I have to go."

As she was about to run off, he stopped her and said, "You're forgetting something and," The man said, extending his arm holding a fabric shopping bag and continued, "also if you are truly sorry you should buy me a coffee sometime. Though I don't drink coffee, I just want to get to know you." She looked at him as a blush started to form on her face. The bluenette noticed he was dressed in a spruce-colored short-sleeved shirt that showed a little of the body under it, ripped black jeans, and gray messenger bag. His black hair was dyed at the end the same color as his beautiful eyes. "I...I don't even know your name.?" Stammering out as she grabbed her bag. "Luka, Luka Couffaine, and if you want to apologize, I will be at the university's cafe all day. Good luck with your," He paused to look her over he continued, "... fashion class." Luka turned as he lazily waved his hand goodbye, walking away from the girl with all-consuming bluebell eyes and adorable pink cheeks.