Chapter 17: Felicity
"Marinette. Wake up!" The haze slowly cleared.
"Marinette. You need to get up. We need you down at the bakery."
Oh, yeah. The bakery.
"I'll be there, mom." Marinette's eyes remained closed as an enormous smile spread on her face.
I'll be there if I come down to earth.
Mornings are amazing. How didn't she notice before? An entire day full of potential. Waking up with a smile, enjoying the warmth of your bed and the warmth in your heart.
Marinette felt behind her, disappointed to find her bed empty. For a split second, she panicked, worrying it was a dream. But no, she knew it was real. Adrien was here last night. Here with Marinette, calling her beautiful, kissing her, loving her.
He was right to leave. They couldn't have her mother find him when she woke her up. He must have slipped out during the night while her parents were baking. She wished he would have woken her for a goodbye kiss. No, she smiled to herself, that would not have been a good idea. She wouldn't have let him leave.
She had a lengthy shower, soaking in the water, rejuvenating her tired body for the long day ahead. Last night was not the dreadful party she expected, planning on leaving early. Instead, it was amazing and frightening, incredible and unbelievable. Everything moved so fast she lost control of the situation.
She regretted nothing.
Back in her room, she found the blue dress lying in a pile on the floor, dropped and forgotten in the heat of passion. She put it back in the closet and hesitated. She took it back out and held it to her body in front of her full-length mirror.
I would love to see you in it.
The memory sent a thrill through her body. The blue was too fancy for a day at the bakery, and besides, it reminded her too much of his touch - she would do nothing but dream about him. As it is, she did not know how she would manage any coherent thoughts. She pulled out a few outfits and considered each in the mirror. A full day dealing with customers merited a comfortable yet stylish sundress she made from light green material. She cut the dress to have a bouquet of red flowers blooming on her chest, with several flowers and dark green leaves spread over the rest of the dress. A choice inspired by a couch that helped start a conversation.
Her mother was sending off the delivery truck when Marinette came down. Her dad was already in bed.
"You can open in 20 minutes. Please check the register as I didn't have time to deal with it."
"It will be fine, mom, I'll do it. Now go to sleep for as long as you need. I've asked Alya to help, she'll be here later. Between us, we can manage until closing time."
"That's wonderful. I like that girl."
Sabine reached the door and stopped.
"I must be exhausted not to have noticed straight away."
Marinette's breath caught in her throat. "Noticed what?"
"That is a dress you made, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." Marinette span on the spot, showing off her dress. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful. I'm glad and proud that you're wearing it. You seem… happy."
A smile blossomed on Marinette's face.
"I am. Last night, after the party, Adrien walked me home." She bounced from one foot to another. "We played around in the park, and he kissed me."
She wasn't lying. She didn't need to share where they were when he kissed her. He almost kissed her in the park. He was so close and then he pulled away, throwing her heart into turmoil.
"Oh, my dear Marinette. I am so happy. Come here." She opened her arms and Marinette ran into her embrace, holding her close.
"Listen Marinette," her mom pulled back and held her at arm's length. "Adrien is a nice boy. He's taken years to finally see you as more than a friend. This is new for him. He doesn't have years building up to this like you. Don't give me that look, I know very well you never stopped liking him. So take this slowly, ok. Let this build up into something wonderful and don't rush things."
"Ok, mom. That's good advice."
Too late, methinks.
"Thank you for coming, have a good day."
Marinette sent off another satisfied customer and looked down at her silent phone in disappointment. The door opened as someone walked into the bakery. A big smile brightened her face as she looked up to Mr. Fredric coming to buy his usual cream puffs. With some effort, Marinette kept the smile from dropping. Mr. Fredric has been a good customer for a long time. She did not want him to notice her disappointment.
Dozens of customers passed through the shop while her phone was silent. Saturday mornings were slow, leaving Marinette with too much time to brood over her phone's inactivity. Restarting it five times made no difference. During the sixth restart, the door opened. She looked up with a hopeful smile, and for once, the smile grew.
"Alya! You came!" Marinette rushed from behind the counter, bowling over Alya with an energetic hug.
"Well, someone's over-excited to see me. Have things been that busy this morning?" Alya looked around the bakery. "There's no-one here, it couldn't have been that bad."
"It's my phone. It isn't receiving any messages." Marinette walked back to the counter and brought her phone. "I've restarted it and fiddled and still nothing."
"Is that so? Let's see," Alya pulled out her phone and within a few seconds Marinette's phone vibrated.
Marinette jumped from excitement, sending the phone up in the air, catching it, only for it to slip again. She dived towards it, catching it again, turning mid-air and landing on her back. Oblivious to any pain, she read the message on her phone: 'Your phone is working. He hasn't sent a message'.
"Oh." Marinette placed her phone on her chest and looked up sheepishly to Alya.
"Are you ok, my dear?" someone said. Alya moved to the side to reveal Mrs. Boucher, in her blue and white polka dot dress, standing by the door looking down at Marinette with worry.
"Oh!" Marinette scrambled to get up, her phone dropping to the floor. "Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just dropped my phone." She picked it up. "How can I help you this morning, Mrs. Boucher? The apple strudel came out perfectly this morning. I know how much you love them."
While Marinette helped Mrs. Boucher, more customers came in. With Alya's help, they survived the midday rush with no incidence and no chatting.
"A watched phone never receives messages."
"Ha, ha. Alya, the hilarious comedian."
The activity had died down, so the two friends sat down for a well-deserved coffee break.
"So? Can I consider last night to be 'mission successful'?"
"And then some." Marinette still did not take her eyes off her phone, watching for the notification icon.
"Really? Do tell."
Marinette looked up and gazed into infinity.
"Ah. Alya. He is so amazing and interesting and intelligent and beautiful and oh so… Aaaaaah." She went silent, lost in her mental image of Adrien.
"I saw. The two of you were cozy on the couch. I didn't want to disturb."
"I enjoy talking to him, in full sentences. It was so much better than my stuttering self. I spoke so much I expected him to lose interest. Instead, he gave me his full attention the whole time. I was blissfully drowning in too much attention."
"Nino texted me that Adrien was walking you home. That sounded promising."
"Nino texted you? When did that start?"
"Em… This week." Alya shifted in her seat, taking an interest in a man walking past the door. She seemed disappointed he did not enter.
"So you're texting now, that's progress. You talk a lot?" Adrien has distracted her this week, to the point she might have missed something developing with Alya and Nino.
"Not really. If you must know, it's mostly about you and Adrien. We have been keeping each other updated since he organized Adrien to tutor you. That was a shot of brilliance, and from what you're telling me, it worked."
"Great. Now I feel guilty for calling him an idiot."
"Oh no. You were right, he was an idiot. You saved him there. That was quick thinking and impressive."
"Alya?" Marinette had to be careful about how to approach the subject. "Was I wrong to save Nino?"
"No way. I don't want him to break up with Cheriss for a stupid reason, like calling someone sexy. Even if it was me he thought was sexy," her eyes lost focus as she was re-living the moment.
"So, you would like them to break up for a good reason?" Alya's eyes snapped into focus. "Such as him wanting to be with someone else."
Alya looked away. She picked up her teaspoon and stirred her coffee. Finally, she slowly nodded. "Yes, I would."
Marinette studied her best friend, the strongest person she knew. Even for Alya, the heart was a fragile thing. Now that Marinette was getting her heart's desire, she felt horrible that her friend wasn't.
"I am sorry for helping him with their relationship."
"Don't be," Alya gave her a weak smile. "He's your friend and you must do right by your friends. Anyway, I want him to leave her for me, not come crawling when she dumps him. Who am I kidding?" Alya brought her hands to her head as if to pull out her hair. "He won't leave her. She doesn't push his buttons as I did. She worships him and does everything in her power to be the best for him. He is too much of a nice guy to break up with her."
"He broke up with you," Marinette reminded her.
"No, he didn't."
"You broke up with him?" This was new. They called it 'mutual breakup', but Alya always made it seem that he instigated it. It was the main reason she thought Alya did not truly want to break up.
"We were fighting, a lot. I told him 'If you can't handle me then maybe you should leave'. He did not want to leave, preferred we should work it out. But I was adamant I won't change, so he might as well look for someone else. So he did."
Alya was stubborn, she knew that. It had its benefits, such as forcing her to go to the party dressed up as Ladybug.
Stop it. Focusing on Alya now.
"What's different now?"
"It taken me a long time to admit it's my fault we're not together. I always blamed him for being so selfish and needy. Now I watch him with Cheriss, how she behaves and I realize - I was the selfish one. I think I should learn from her."
"Are you serious?" Marinette could not picture Alya worshiping Nino or anyone, besides Ladybug. "Alya, the renowned reporter, creator of the Ladyblog, the only person without a Miraculous to run towards an alumna, will follow Nino like a lost puppy?"
Alya rolled her eyes.
"You won't hang onto the arm of anyone as if your life is secondary to theirs. Cheriss has no life besides Nino. Even he is finding that too much. You are a strong independent woman."
"Strong, independent and single." She put up her hand to stop Marinette, who already had a response halfway out her lips. "You're right, I am too independent to be a 'Cheriss', but I pushed Nino away because I didn't appreciate him enough to change my independence to accommodate him. It was always what I wanted, how I wanted. I promise you this, if I get a second try, I will be more flexible to his needs and not always force him to bend over for mine."
"So now I have to make sure you get a second try."
"We were talking about your 'try' with Adrien. Stop changing the topic."
"I did no such thing." The door opened. "And now I have to serve this kind gentleman."
More customers arrived, and the pair were too busy to talk.
"Come on, leave the macaroons. Everyone's gone, now tell me what happened when you left the party."
Marinette stood by the display cabinet, lining up the macaroons on their tray. A neat display is as important as the taste of the pastry.
"If you insist."
"I insist!" Alya even stumped her leg for effect.
"We didn't go home - Adrien wanted to go to the park. Then, the most amazing thing happened… " Marinette stopped for effect.
"He kissed you!" Alya could not hold it in.
"What no! He held my hand." Alya deflated. "Come on. Don't belittle it. His hands were so soft and smooth. I didn't want to let go."
"Ok, holding hands in nice. Then you got to the park. Go on."
"Stop being impatient. You want the story or just the last page?"
Alya stopped to contemplate. Marinette turned back to the macaroons.
"Ok, ok. Tell me the story."
They sat back down at the table and Marinette continued.
"We ran to the park, holding hands."
"You ran! Why did you run to the park?"
"Once we decided we were going to the park, we couldn't wait to get there, obviously." Marinette shook her head at Alya.
"Yes, obviously. You two are weird."
"So we got to the park and Adrien ran on the bench. I have never seen Adrien so carefree before, he's usually so careful in how he acts. It was so invigorating I just had to join in."
"You ran on the bench?" Alya was shell-shocked.
"And on the fountain. Adrien chased me around the trees, poles and throughout the park. It was exhilarating. He did not catch me, of course." Marinette stared off into infinity with a grin stuck on her face.
"Couldn't you do what normal people do, like ride on the carousel?"
"We did that too, although it wasn't working, so we hopped from one chair to the next. Then we stopped to breathe and talk. It was strange, we spoke about Ladybug and Chat Noir. I felt as if I was missing something very important but couldn't figure out what. But then he was leaning towards me and banished all other thoughts. I leaned in, then he leaned closer…" Marinette stopped for effect.
"He kissed you!" Alya burst once again.
"No. He didn't," Marinette pouted. "He was so close I was sure he was going to. Instead, he gets up and says it is late."
"Oh, no. Marinette. I'm so sorry. That must have been terrible. But I don't understand. If that is how the night ended, why are you surgically attached to your phone?"
"Well, you see. I thought that was the end of it, until he asked to come upstairs."
"He what!" Alya was on her feet. "Adrien? Our Adrien was that forward?"
"He wasn't that forward. He said he wanted to see my designs. In fact, he might have meant 'sometime' in the future, and I only heard what I wanted to hear." Marinette blushed profusely.
"I see." Alya gave Marinette an apprehensive look. "So, did you peruse your designs?"
"Yes, we did. I happened to take out the dress I made for going out with him. He liked it. He… He said it was beautiful…" Marinette got the faraway look again, her lips curling up. "He said I was beautiful. And then…"
"He kissed you!" Alya cried in triumph.
"And then some…"
Her parents arrived in the afternoon so the girls could have lunch. They spent it talking about boys. Two boys specifically. She was disappointed Adrien hadn't contacted her. She told Alya he must be busy.
Or, still recovering, she thought with a smile.
It was closing time at the bakery. She was clearing the display while her mother was singing something in the back. She packed away the few remaining pastries they would give to the needy. There was often someone from the children's center who came to pick up the box of food. Marinette always enjoyed seeing his smile grow when she handed him a large box of baked products.
She was taking items off the display window when she glanced outside. Adrien was standing across the street. Marinette jumped with delight. At last, he has arrived. The love of her life was here, come to sweep her off her feet and take her to his magical kingdom, where he was the prince. They would marry and rule the kingdom together for many peaceful years. They would raise two princes and a princess and, of course, the royal hamster.
Adrien has not moved. What was keeping him so long? There is just so much fantasizing she can handle before she explodes. He must come here and be her prince.
Adrien was standing watching the bakery without crossing the street. Was he spying on her? Worried that she was hanging out with some other boy? Could Adrien be the jealous type?
"You have nothing to worry about," Marinette said under her breath and opened the door. Their eyes met and Adrien quickly dropped his and focused on the road.
Even from this distance, she could see something was wrong.
Why was he still wearing the pants from last night's costume? He wore a green T-shirt, which looked just as crumpled as he did. What happened to him?
She was ready to run to him, help him, see what was wrong. Adrien crossed the street, coming to her while she was holding the door open. He was not looking at her, keeping his eyes on the floor.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I've made a mistake." He shuffled his feet. "I didn't realize what I was doing. I got confused. You looked just like Ladybug." He looked up to the sky then back to his hands, holding them together, "and Ladybug, well, you know Ladybug. While you, well, I didn't mean to hurt you."
They stood, neither saying a word. Adrien attempted to talk a few times, but no sound came out.
"I… I think…, I didn't want to. And, and I never wanted to, not you. I couldn't. Not ever. You are important to me."
He never looked up, not once. There was nothing to say. No way to respond to this. Marinette took a step back, into the bakery, and closed the door.
A/N Next Chapter: "Mistakes"