(A/N) Sul Sul - as my sims would greet lol

Okay first off, the reason I'm late to post was because the next chapter is so freaking long. I didn't want to end it in the middle so I just kept writing and didn't know when to stop lol

Then I came to this chapter and realised it was so short so I added a few things in plus more to the end. (So sorry that wasn't In last chapter spoilers!)

Here's where things are not as it seems with Bethany... with Marinette feeling guilty of what she had done and it clouding her judgement towards the blonde. She starts to realise, maybe Bethany isn't a nice person after all. With a little push from Tikki of course.

Enjoy!


Bethany calling sent a whole new meaning to the boundaries Marinette had to set between her and Adrien.

She had counted her lucky stars how close she came to stuffing it all up for everyone. Adrien would never forgive her if she did and Bethany would be heart broken; most likely ruin her life as well, since she was high up in the world like Adrien.

She wouldn't blame her if it came to that.

Marinette had to accept she was a little too late to have a chance to win Adrien's heart now.

If only she had ignored those bad thoughts in her head everytime she tried to confess to him in their earlier days, then it would've been her preparing her own wedding dress right now instead of someone else's.

This arrangement though was really pushing her own working hours and weaving around all her plans but she made it happen.

At least she wasn't late to this.

Standing outside the building Bethany had described made Marinette feel a bit off. She was sure as hell she didn't get the address wrong.

Well she hoped she didn't.

It was an old style building, run down brick work on the outside but inside, she had no idea what to expect. It could easily pass an abandoned building to any by passers but maybe that was to put off people from disturbing the models being photographed inside.

Well either that or Bethany plan to murder her. It could be a possibility if she had somehow found out in the last two days about her and Adrien's affair but that was getting very doubtful by the second.

She took shaky steps towards the building, the sketch book gripped tightly in her hands as she proceeded to the large doors that looked almost like the fire escape exit.

Surely this was the wrong place to be meeting a girl like Bethany.

Nerves set in as the door creaked open slowly and before Marinette could even take in her surroundings a large male appeared in her way.

"Can I help you miss?" The man asked, staring down at her, making her feel much smaller than what she was.

"Oh!" Marinette squeaked, almost ripping her sketch book into two when her grip got tighter around the edges. "I-I'm here to see..."

"Sorry we don't have visitors or reporters in this facility." The man interjected.

How he manage to mistake her for a reporter was beyond her. Maybe it was the sketch book that made it look that way or the bun high in her hair. She really got to bring a brush to work from now on.

"But I'm not a reporter, I'm..." Marinette tried to explain again but was cut off for a second time.

"Look miss if you don't leave I'll have to call the police." The man started to raise his voice and Marinette shrunk into herself, taking a few steps back.

"You don't have to go to that extent Kev, she's with me."

Bethany appeared at the corner of the door, pushing the security guy away so Marinette could enter. Before the bluenette could breathe a word in thanks, the blonde dragged her in by the arm.

"Sorry about this." Bethany said. "I was meant to be done with the shoot ages ago but the photographer was late." She explained.

The security guy grunted as Marinette was hurled into the building, his face showing a bit of annoyance he had to stand down at Bethany's request.

"Oh." Marinette squeaked, looking back at the girl, almost feeling like her feet were being dragged in the process. "Thats okay, I had nothing on anyways."

Lies.

"That's great." Bethany chirped. "I was afraid I caught you at a bad time."

"Oh no, you didn't." She peeped.

More lies.

"I got ten minutes before I have to get dress for another shoot." She turned to explain. "Is that enough time or do you need more?"

Marinette attention was dragged to each room they passed, getting drawn to the blinding light of the photographers and the stylish outfits the models wore.

She had almost zoned out of their conversation from the mere excitment that was running through her veins.

Marinette was born to design and since she never followed that dream through she realised how much of it she had missed throughout those years.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Marinette squeaked and Bethany just gave her a smile and small chuckle in amusement.

"I know, it's amazing right?" She said, noticing how much Marinette enjoyed this scenery.

"You have no idea!" Marinette replied with her own smile.


"Here we are."

Bethany pulled her away from trying to squeeze another look at the room behind them to a much smaller room, looking more like a coffee lounge or a place where people come to unwind.

The blonde sat on the couch with her legs crossed while Marinette just lingered at the doorway, still taking in her surroundings.

"What do you want to start with?" Bethany asked, patting down the seat next to her so the bluenette felt more welcome to sit down. "I was thinking about going for a ball gown dress, oh or maybe even a Mermaid style. What do you think?" She asked in excitement.

Marinette weaved her way through the room and sat on the other side of the three seated couch and pulled her sketch book open to a new page.

"I guess Mermaid style..." She pondered on that reply.

The pencil lingered over the blank pad, while Marinette furrowed her brows in deep thought.

"Can you stand facing me so I can look at your body shape." Marinette squeaked, thinking that sounded a bit forward. "I-I mean for the design... w-what would suit y-you... best."

"Sure."

Bethany smiled and got up off the seat, standing straight and facing the designer who started sketching what looked to be the shape of her body.

"I'll need measurements but now I just need an idea first." Marinette explained, not making eye contact at the girl while she sketched.

The blonde nodded without saying a word.

"Turn to your left." Marinette asked and Bethany complied and turned, facing the wall.

Silence fell in the room and the only sounds that could be heard was the scratching of the pencil against the page as it drew a design and the faint sound of cameras clicking in the other room.

"So..." Bethany peeped, feeling a bit awkward the room had gone quiet. "Are you and Adrien close friends or did you ever date..?"

The pencil drew a sharp line as Marinette choked on her saliva, almost splattering her cough all over the page from the out of the blue question.

Bethany looked to her side with a worried frown on her face, watching the bluenette struggling to breathe.

"N-no!" She tried to squeak out, trying so hard to get the air back into her lungs properly. "We've never dated." Marinette stated quickly. "He's just a friend."

As unsettling as that word always made her feel when it came out of Adrien's mouth, that word seem way worse coming out her own. It was practically forced out and left a bad after taste.

"Turn, so your back is facing me." Marinette asked, trying to get some decency back into her voice and Bethany's prying eyes away from her redden cheeks.

Bethany turned again, peeping over her shoulder briefly.

Marinette retrieved her pencil that had dropped on the ground after her spontaneous coughing fit and began drawing again like nothing happen.

"How did you meet Adrien?" Marinette asked, trying to get the spotlight off her and Adrien's relationship.

Even if the girl had no idea what was going on she still had a way to make Marinette uncomfortable and guilty.

Bethany began to laugh and Marinette snapped her attention up at the girl thinking how her question was even funny.

"We met twice actually." Bethany explained, hearing a heartfelt sigh escape her lips. "The first time was funny. Adrien got lost the first week he arrived." Laughing, She continued. "I was out on my morning run, normally I'm very well aware of my surroundings, I knew the place like the back of my hand." She continued to explain. "Well that morning I didn't expect Adrien to stop dead in the middle of the street and let's say I went head over heels for him... Literally."

"That sounds... romantic." Marinette hummed.

Thinking that would be something that she would done if that were her.

Wait she already did that the other night.

Now those memories were hunting her every thought. Could she ever think or speak without something reminding her of the bad deed she had done?

"It was but it was a bit embarrassing as well." Bethany brought Marinette out of her thoughts. "Straight away we were both apologizing. I felt horrible for knocking him flat but of course he was sweet and made it up to me over a coffee."

"Adrien always loves to make it up to someone, even if it's not his fault." Marinette told the blonde, making her peak over her shoulder. "Turn and face the other wall." She asked.

Turning, Marinette could see a gleeful expression form on her face. "I know right." She squeaked. "I tried to tell him he didn't have to but he insisted. Adrien was attractive, kind and sensitive, you rarely find any man in this world that has all those qualities."

"Y-yeah."

Oh how Marinette felt guilt bubble in her stomach and bile sit in the pit of her throat. There was no way Adrien would pass as a kind person now, thanks to her.

"At the time though, I just thought he was eye candy, just a passing through type of guy so I didn't think anything of it. I ended up pointing him in the direction he was going and left from there."

"How did you meet the second time and know it was him?" Marinette asked.

"Work." Bethany replied rather fast, too fast for Marinette's liking.

"Work?" Marinette repeated, stopping the pencil from moving and snapping her eyes

Up towards the blonde.

"Yeah, he was partnered with me for a shoot. After that I became Gabriel's new muse. His father adores me." She stated.

Marinette went quiet, not waving her eyes away from the blonde.

Bethany didn't wait for her reply, instead she continued. "I don't know a thing about design but the way everything is working out I'm sure after the wedding I'll be taking over the business."

"With... Adrien?" Marinette had to ask. Why? she wasn't sure what prompt her to question her.

"Of course." Bethany replied, her tone sounding unconvincing.

But before the bluenette could question more about it a lady had entered the room in a frantic rush, the sign of relief hitting her as her eyes drifted to Bethany.

"There you are." The lady huffed. "Where have you've been? We've been waiting for you for over twenty minutes now!"

Bethany whipped around so fast when the lady had entered the room, pink spreading across her cheeks from being caught out.

"S-Sorry." Bethany apologised. "I've must've lost track of time."

Marinette looked between the two, confused in the whole matter. Bethany had told her they had time, why on earth would she lie?

"Sorry Marinette, I have to go." The blonde finally turned her way but didn't make full eye contact towards her. "But I'll get Adrien to send you my size if that's okay?"

The mention of the man's name made her feel uneasy yet again. She wanted to protest so badly not to make Adrien go out of his way, especially with the situation they were in.

It was bad enough she would have to see him this weekend with everyone, she wasn't up for seeing him alone.

Marinette didn't trust herself anymore.

But of course Bethany had rushed out of the room, leaving her speechless and a bit frustrated.

"I have a bad feeling about this girl." Tikki peeped from inside Marinette's clutch. "Just be careful what you say around her."

Marinette glanced down at Tikki while she collected her stuff and made her way towards the exit.

"So do I." Marinette replied.

"You should speak to Adrien and explain your worries." The kwami suggested.

The blunette gasped as she was almost at the door. "No, I can't do that... uhh." The security guy gave her a strange look, his eyebrow raised in Marinette's direction. "I-I can't do the door, I mean... open the door." She tried to say instead.

The man walked to the door and opened it for her, still staring her down on the way out.

Finally they got out of ear shot of the guy, making Tikki to be able to reply again. "Why not?"

"Because he will think that I'm crazy, that I don't know... lost my mind." Marinette replied sarcastically. "Adrien will never know."


As her back side hit the couch and a sigh escape from her lips, Marinette's phone began to ring. Disturbing that little bit of peace she thought she would have when she arrived home.

"What now?" She grumbled and answered the phone, not bothering to see who was calling. "Yes?" She answered instead of a greeting.

"Bad timing?" Adrien laughed from the other end.

Marinette perked up by the sound of his voice, a smile spreading so wide she could feel her face beginning to hurt.

"N-No! No!" The bluenette repeated. "Perfect timing actually, I just got home!"

She could hear a small chuckle sound before he replied. "Well that is perfect. You don't mind if I come up?"

He was here?

"S-Sure." She answered almost immediately until she scanned the state of her apartment. "Just give me a second."

Hanging up without saying goodbye, Marinette ran through the place in a frantic state. Trying to clean and throw her clothes back into the cupboard before he came through the door.

Her eyes then fell on her messy bed, remembering what had happened between them the last time he had came up into her apartment.

There was no way she was going to let that happen again.

She stripped the sheets off and chucked them in her laundry, feeling proud she had terminated any advancement it would prompt them to do.

Once he leaves she would make it again but for now that room was off limits while he was around. Besides he was only here for one thing.

*Knock, Knock*

Stopping in her tracks, she made her way to the front door, fixing her clothes and hair before grabbing the handle and turning it slowly.

It almost felt like an entirety before she saw his figure come into veiw. He was looking down her hall, starring into the distance at pretty much nothing.

He only turned when he heard the sound of her voice. "Hey." She greeted, almost breathlessly.

"Hey." He replied back, rubbing his nape. "Sorry that I showed up last minute."

Marinette quickly interjected. "No!" She almost yelled. "No." She said again but more quietly. "Come in."

Stepping aside, the bluenette let the blonde pass, closing the door behind him and watching as he began to pace her lounge room floor.

"Sorry I came here." He said again and Marinette waved him off and smiled. "I just... needed to see you."

The words took Marinette by surprise as she blinked towards her guest. There was no way he had said that, her mind was surely playing tricks on her.

Not again.

"Coffee." Marinette squeaked, quickly walking over to her kitchen to prepare a beverage for the blonde.

She had to get her shit together and her mind out of the gutter.

Grabbing the coffee cups from the sink Marinette had used earlier that day, she took a quick glance at her kitchen window the dark sky making the light in her house reflect back at her.

She could see Adrien's Silhouette stop pacing and turning towards her before making his way slowly behind her.

"I'm not here for coffee Marinette." He spoke softly, almost too soft for Marinette's liking.

She had shivered before he even touched her, already knowing the feeling that ran through her body when his fingers would linger on her skin.

But before he made any contact she spoke, still watching his reflection through the window. "We can't." She said quietly, placing the mug down.

She watched him hesitate to move another step, Making her let out an audible sigh of relief when he didn't.

There was no way she was going to crumble now, not after she had stripped the one thing that would prompt her to go through with this.

Who was she kidding? It was only one of the many places that sort of thing could happen. She didn't think about all the other areas when she had made that decision.

"But you want to?" He questions her instead.

The bluenette turned his way, anger seeping through her tone. "It doesn't matter what I want Adrien, it's the fact that you're getting married and I shouldn't be getting involved with you."

"Why not?" He challenges back, reaching to grab her hand.

It almost made Marinette give up her fight to stand her ground right then and there. "Because I'm dating someone now as well."

It was a lie but he didn't need to know that. Besides it was a way to get him to give up the chase, there was no way she was letting Adrien Agreste cheat on his fiance again, no matter how much she wanted him.

"Really?" He didn't believe her.

"Y-yes!" Her stuttering betraying her.

Taking a step in her space, Adrien looked down at her, threading his fingers between hers and bringing her hand up to his lips for a sweet kiss.

Marinette couldn't make eye contact with him, afraid she would crumble. She wanted this so badly but knew it was wrong on so many levels.

"Marinette." Her name sounded so good on his lips though. She almost squirmed at the calling. "Look at me."

A speck of dirt on the floor seemed more interesting to Marinette then looking at the blonde in front of her. Quite frankly she didn't trust herself to look his way.

He placed his hand under her chin and brought her face up to look at him. Marinette had tears brimming in her eyes when they locked onto his green orbs.

There was no way to survive this feeling now.

"Please?" He begged and started slowly going down to her level.

Pausing halfway, he watched her carefully, waiting for her to pull away from his touch. Instead Marinette almost leapt into his arms, crashing her lips onto his.

Last time they had kissed it was passionate and blissful. This time however it was hungry and lust driven.

Adrien place his hands on her hips as they deepened the kiss and Marinette tangled her hands in the back of his hair.

"We shouldn't be doing this." Marinette said between heavy breaths and hungry kisses.

"I know." He panted back but didn't break the kiss, instead hoisting her up onto the kitchen counter.

Their kiss broke for a spilt second and Marinette placed her hands on the sides of his cheeks, feeling the smooth skin that ran under her touch.

"Then why are we doing this?" She asked before reconnecting back to his lips, now tugging at the ends of his blonde locks.

Adrien pressed his body into her and groaned. The sound was almost sinful, making Marinette let out a little gasp in responds.

"I just can't stop thinking about you." He replied with all honesty. "I need you!"

Why did he have so much effect on her? Why couldn't she just have some self control? All these questions still lingered in the back of mind since that very night.

Then It all dissolved so quickly.

I can't stop either, She wanted to reply but it ends up being drowned by kisses and silent pleas.

They had crossed a new line together and there was no going back from here. Too much emotions were invovled now and as much as Marinette wanted to protest she can't help but feel a little bit selfish and just forget everything else in the outside world.


(A/N) 3400 Words

Coming up next...

• "I know you took turning twenty five pretty hard but I didn't expect a midlife crisis this early."

• "It was way worse than this I can assure you."

• "Would of been nice to know my best friend has come home."

• "How long do you want me to stay?"

• "I'm really not concerned with you at all or what you do with Bethany!"

Shaz Out...