Chapter 2

Adrien got up early in the morning. He saw the time and checked the date on his watch to verify that he was not wrong: He had to go back to school. He got ready and went downstairs for breakfast. Nathalie had mentioned to him in later days that she would not be able to accompany him, but he told her that it was fine. But still, Nathalie promised that she would pick him up to take him back to the mansion when he got out of school.

He went to school, driven in the car by the Gorilla. The event in Vienna would happen soon since it was only a few weeks away and he was feeling overwhelmed already. But he knew his father needed him more than ever. He wouldn't let him down, or at least he'd do his best to avoid it. That event was very important to his father and he just wanted everything to turn out as he planned. When they arrived at the front of the school, Adrien got out of the car taking his bag and saying goodbye to Gorilla, he entered the school.

When he did, he realized that they had everyone gathered in the courtyard. He glanced over and saw his friend Nino waving to him. Alya was with him, looking at her phone. She looked up and also greeted him. Adrien approached them, smiling.

"What's up Adrien!" Nino and Adrien clashed fists "Nice to see you, dude."

"Hi Adrien." Alya greeted him.

"Hi Nino, Hi Alya." He looked around and notice that something or rather someone was missing.

"Where's Marinette?"

"We don't know, although it's most likely she fell asleep again. You know how she is" Nino scratched his head, grimacing.

Soon as if they were the ones who summoned her, they saw Marinette appear through the door, just before it was closed. She leaned down a little and put her hands on her knees, tired of how fast she had to run to get there in time. Marinette looked ahead, noticing where her friends were.

"Hi guys," she said tiredly and out of breath.

"Girl, you almost didn't make it." Alya said, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, I've been very busy these days."

"Busy with what? We were on summer vacation" Alya put her hands on her waist with a reproachful face.

"I have a lot of orders from the girls with the new clothes they ordered me. Besides I had to help my parents with the bakery yesterday. I've been pretty busy with so many responsibilities" Marinette sighed.

"Okay, but you should have some time to yourself, you know?"

In those moments, Adrien felt a lot of empathy with Marinette. He also had many responsibilities. Like her, he was very busy on vacation time and at his house they did not give him permission to go out with his friends. He sometimes wondered if his father really cared about his mental health. He was going to go crazy if he kept up the same routine.

Also, he was not counting the fact that he had his own duty as Chat Noir, because apparently Hawkmoth doesn't take vacations. Adrien didn't know how he had managed to do everything, because in the past he would surely have collapsed.

Suddenly the sound of the microphone on the school platform caught his attention. Mr. Damocles along with the other teachers, were waiting for the student's attention. Mr. Damocles cleared his throat.

"Good morning students, as every year I welcome you to the second cycle of the year. We hope you had a great summer vacation."

All the students greeted in courtesy.

"This time we'll start with one of last year's events. You have to bring your parents or other family member to talk about their profession. Your teachers will give you the respective dates for the presentations. Also, with regard to your grades, I expect a good academic performance from you this cycle..."

Mr. Damocles continued talking while giving his indications. Adrien stopped paying attention to him, as he got excited in a certain way. But then he remembered career day last year. He couldn't get his father to give the talk, and he knew he wouldn't this year either, after all, this time Gabriel's firm would participate in the Vienna fashion week. Adrien knew from experience that something so important took up all of his father's time. His look of joy vanished at that thought. The only one who noticed the change in his expression was Marinette, who was walking beside him as they headed towards their classroom.

"Is something wrong Adrien?"

"I don't think my father can participate in career day this year. And I was really looking forward for him to do it" Adrien said, looking with disappointment at the floor.

Marinette walked over to him to try to comfort him.

"Don't worry Adrien, I'm sure there must be a solution to this."

"I wish so, Marinette."

They entered the classroom last and sat in their respective seats. What they didn't notice was the way Lila had seen them when they entered together. Soon Mrs. Mendeleev arrived, who would give them their first-class hour. Just to the bad luck of the class, the teacher decided to assign the first project they had to deliver. And it wasn't exactly an easy job.

When the first day was over, Marinette and Ayla left the class for a little break. Lila followed them from a certain distance and she overheard Marinette saying she was going to the bathroom for a moment. She smirked wickedly. She would wait for Marinette to come out of the bathroom when everyone had returned for class to clarify some things with her.

Marinette went into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Tikki came out of her bag, looking at her, worried.

"Are you ok? I see you are somewhat stressed."

"I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed that's all Tikki." It's the same as always.

"If you say so, but you know I'm here to help you" and with that Tikki returned to her hiding place.

The girl splashed water on her face to cool herself a bit and she left the bathroom. But only to find the one she least wanted to see that day: Lila Rossi.

"Hi Marinette."

"Lila." Marinette gritted her teeth. "I've seen you tend to get very close to Adrien, Marinette, maybe a bit too much..."

Marinette saw her intentions so she decided to face her. "Whatever you want to do, Lila, it's none of your business, you can't force me to get away from Adrien."

"Oh, but I'll do it. I will have Adrien in the palm of my hand ..."

Adrien was about to enter the classroom at that moment. He saw Marinette and Lila who was literally almost on top of Marinette, in a threatening way. He didn't like that one bit, so he took long and hurried steps closer to both girls.

"What is going on here?" Lila turned quickly recognizing Adrien's voice.

"Oh, nothing Adrien only asked for help with the homework of the teacher Mendeleiev to Marinette."

Adrien glared at her. In those moments he showed that look that he inherited from his father, which made Lila take a step back.

"Well, on a second thought I think I already know how to do it."

With this the Italian withdrew, giving a look of disgust over her ruined plan. Adrien watched over her until she had withdrawn from her. He put his hand on her shoulder to Marinette, who jumped a little at the touch.

"Are you okay, Mari?"

"Yes, thanks to you. But what did you call me?" She looked at him strangely, it was very strange that they referred to her by that nickname.

"Mari? Don't you like it?"

"No, I don't like it ... um no, I'm not saying I don't like it, it's just that years ago nobody called me that way."

Adrien was thoughtful for a moment, he didn't want to leave her alone, especially with Lila loitering around.

"Do you want me to take you home? I could convince Nathalie so I can accompany you."

Marinette thought about it for a moment. She didn't know if that would be a good idea, but on the other hand, Gabriel's assistant would be there, so it shouldn't be so awkward.

"Okay Adrien," she replied a little nervous. "I'll do it for today."

Adrien smiled.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you towards the exit, see you later."

Adrien returned to the classroom. Marinette sighed and did the same.

When the school time was over some hours later, Marinette sat on one of the benches of the courtyard.

"Wow Marinette, Adrien just invited you to go with him in his car!" Tikki looked at her excitedly from her bag.

"I know Tikki. But I don't know if it's a good idea, you know what Gabriel's assistant is like."

The girl was worried that Adrien would get in trouble for that proposal he had said to her.

She didn't notice when Ayla sat down next to her. Marinette decided to tell her that she would not go with them.

"Alya I'm going to go with Adrien to my house," she said so that he wouldn't hear them. She is raising her eyebrows in a mischievous way. Marinette rolled her eyes.

"It's not what you think" replied the pigtails girl. "He'll only take me to my house, it's nothing to worry about."

Ayla saw the expression on her face.

"I don't see you very convinced to go."

Marinette shook her head.

"It must be your imagination, well, just leave today without me, okay?"

"Sure, you'll tell me how it went later."

After they finished their school day completely, everyone went straight to her house. Adrien finished packing his things into his bag when everyone had left. Marinette was waiting for him outside. He texted his bodyguard and received the reply that they would be there soon.

"I haven't told Nathalie if you can go with me yet " the boy said, scratching the back of his neck as he sat next to Marinette on the stairs outside the Françoise Dupont. "But I'm sure Nathalie won't be able to refuse."

They waited a bit until the car that was picking up Adrien arrived at the front of the school.

"Wait for me."

Adrien approached the car and Nathalie opened the door from inside when she saw him.

"Hi Nathalie, could we take a friend to her house?"

The woman looked at him seriously.

"You know what your father thinks about taking friends in the car."

"But it's not just any friend, it's Marinette I would like to take to her house."

"Miss Dupain-Cheng?" She asked, a little calmer."

"Yes, it's her." Adrien made that little angel face in supplication that he always had every time he wanted something. Worthy of a model like him. "Please, Nathalie."

She was going to say no, but with that look it was impossible. Nathalie sighed, defeated.

"Okay, but none of us will say a word to your father, okay?"

Her face lit up with joy.

"Thank you very much, Nathalie."

Nathalie got out of the back seat and got in the front. She made room for the girl so she could get into the back seats. Adrien opened the door for Marinette. The girl greeted them when she got into the car.

The gorilla started in the direction of the girl's house. Since they already knew where she lived and the place was not that far away, they arrived there quickly.

During that short period of time, Nathalie noticed the atmosphere between the two. It was similar to the one between her and Gabriel. The way they both looked at each other, their body language, everything was very similar.

In a way, she felt sorry for the girl.

They parked in front of the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Adrien as a true gentleman got out of the car and helped Marinette out of the car.

"Thank you very much for bringing me."

"You're welcome, if you ever need me, send me a message."

Marinette stared at the car until she disappeared from her sight. She entered the bakery with a sigh and a small smile on her face.

Adrien stared in the direction of the bakery, until it disappeared of his sight.

"Adrien."

Nathalie was watching him from the front.

"Adrien we've already discussed it before; you know we can't take more people in the car. Your father has forbidden you from it."

"I know," he crossed his arms annoyed. "But for once, I wanted at least one of my friends to accompany me."

The woman did not leave her stern gaze, but she knew they were being very unfair with the boy. She was silent for a moment thinking about her next words.

"I'll see what I can do." She looked out the window for a second. "You know very well that your father is a tough nut to crack."

"It doesn't hurt to try."

When they got to the mansion. Gabriel was already waiting for them.

"Adrien, I need you to try on some items from the next collection to make some adjustments."

"Does that mean I won't have Chinese class?"

Gabriel shook his head.

"Yes, you will, but your schedule will change. I can't let you fall behind in your lessons."

That made Adrien felt frustrated and answered in a discouraged way.

"Yes father."

The woman looked with a neutral gaze, but deep down she felt useless. She could feel Adrien's unhappiness. And she was sure that Gabriel could feel it through his Miraculous. If Emilie saw how her husband treated her son, she would be furious. After years of knowing her, she had a certain temperament, especially if she had to do with the well-being of her family.

And she also had to say that she didn't like to see the Agreste family in the situation they found themselves either.

She was willing to give everything for her family that had given her a place in their own home, when her own family had abandoned her. Them who welcomed her as if she were a member of her family.

Even if the cost was her life.

New chapter after some months. I hope I can update more frecunently now that I have more time