Hey everyone!

I know it's been a while, school and depression have been kicking my ass. I know this chapter isn't as long as they normally are, but I really just wanted to push this out for you guys.

I will try to update at least every 2 weeks, and I know that's a big disappointment, but in order to make sure my writing is quality and makes sense, that's the timeline I need.

You all have been so amazing to me, and so flexible with my writing schedule.

I know this is repetitive, but THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH.

Also I've been listening to Lotta True Crime by Penelope Scott and I'm obsessed. What a badass queen.

Thank you so much for

A big thank you to:

Animejunkie'smeow, Plasmarine, tohruyuya, The Queen of Valencia Torgue, sweetclemtines and mayuralover for following!

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An even bigger thank you to:

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You mean so much to me, and I love you all.

ADRIEN:

Adrien arrived at school conflicted.

He knew that Marinette had been keeping something from him, but he wasn't sure what it was.

And he had a strong feeling that it had to due with Luka Coufaine.

Luka and Marinette had been walking out of school together, sometimes holding hands. They talked during lunch, and he skipped over to him when he invited her to eat with him.

She even blushed when he winked at her in the hallway.

Whatever it was, it didn't seem good to Adrien.

And Marinette refused to open up to him. But no more.

Today, Adrien was going to get answers.

Adrien sulked in his math class. He slumped in his desk, taking meaningless notes on a unit he already knew.

This was pointless.

He hadn't seen Marinette yet, and he was getting antsy.

Why did he need to be in math class when his first friend was keeping things from him?

It was killing him inside, the curiosity.

Why would Marinette keep things from him? Why wouldn't she just talk to him? Didn't she think of him as a trustworthy friend?

Adrien buried his head in his hands.

"Agreste," Alya Cesaire, Marinette's best friend laughed as she sat down in her seat next to him. She smiled as she took out her notebook. "You good?"

"Yeah." Alya raised a suspicious eyebrow. She could always freaking read people. "Not really."

His nosiest friend softened. "What is it?"

Adrien looked at her. Even though Alya was a notorious chatter mouth, she was a damn good friend. Adrien liked talking to her, and he could trust her with this.

"I think Marinette is avoiding me."

Alya nodded. "I get why you could feel that way. But that doesn't sound like Mari."

"I know. But she just won't talk to me. And everytime I ask her to hang out, she says she's busy."

"Ohh," Alya nodded, understanding in her eyes. "She's probably just busy with Luka."

Adrien perked up. "Luka?"

"Yeah. Every girl gets a little caught up with a new boyfriend."

Adrien paused, shocked. "Boyfriend?"

Alya raised her eyebrows. "Yeah. You didn't know they were going out?"

"She didn't tell me," Adrien replied glumly. "We haven't talked in so long."

"That is weird," Alya said, frowning. "I'll talk to her about it, okay?"

"Thanks, Alya."

"No problem, Agreste."

"Marinette!"

She stopped to turn before leaving the school, frowning as she recognized him. Ouch.

"Hey, Adrien."

"Do you have a minute to talk?"

Marinette looked around reluctantly, and eventually nodded. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Sure."

Adrien took her hand and led her out of the building and towards the shade of a large tree, away from the crowd of students leaving school.

"What's up," Marinette asked, obviously faking polite happiness.

"Not much."

An awkward silence.

"Have you been keeping something from me?

No. He refused to let it end like this.

He reached out to grab her arm, and she spun back to him, eyes a little wild. She fell a little bit into him and he stopped her fall with himself, so that their faces were in close proximity.

He felt sparks between her skin and his, and although he knew he needed to eventually, he really didn't want to let go.

She struggled a little bit in his arms, but only ended up burrowing closer to his chest. "What? What do you want?"

"Come on, Mari. Talk to me."

She glared at him. He stared angrily back.

Their pupils dilated.

Adrien held her gaze firmly. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Marinette looked away for a split second, seemingly to get her ground, and tipped her chin up defiantly. She took a step away from him. "Why does it matter?"

Adrien scoffed, surprised how goddamn sad he realized he was. Why didn't she get it? How could she not understand how important she was to him?

She was one of the most important people in his life, and she was pulling away. And what for?

For a guy she kept a secret from him?

Adrien shoved away the guilt that came from being jealous, shoved away the voice in his mind whispering "what about Ladybug?"

Right now, Marinette and Adrien were the only two people in the world.

"It matters because we're friends. I thought we trusted each other."

His voice had lost all it's anger, all it's fight. Marinette tilted her head.

He saw her bluebell eyes fill with tears. He saw her choke back words, and he saw her choose to stay silent.

She was so upset. He wanted to make her feel better, but more than that he wanted to be close to her again.

He was closer to her than he had been in weeks, and he wasn't going to let her go now.

"I do trust you," she said quietly, stepping even closer to him, staring into his eyes.

Eight inches apart.

Five inches.

Three.

He could feel her breath on his chin and tried to ignore how fast his heart was pounding.

"Then why," he breathed, seeing her pupils dilate.

She shook her head slightly, her lids lowering. "I don't…"

Adrien felt his own eyelids lower a bit, and leaned down.

He knew he shouldn't kiss her, but his brain wasn't really working. He ignored it. He had better things to worry about.

All the reasons why they shouldn't kiss suddenly disappeared from his mind, and kiss was the only word that stayed.

He wanted to kiss her.

He needed to kiss her.

Honestly, if he didn't kiss her right that second, Adrien felt he might explode.

Their lips were magnets. Marinette kept pulling back microscopically and then leaning in even more than before.

Those full, pink lips…

Closer.

Closer…

"Marinette?"

Marinette jerked back, terror in her eyes as Adrien registered the voice of Luka Couffaine.

Marinette's boyfriend.

Because she was off limits. Right.

Adrien squeezed his eyes shut, and when he opened them, Marinette was already walking towards Luka. Walking away from them.

Not that they were ever a thing to begin with.

Marinette greeted Luka with a smile Adrien knew was fake, and she let Luka kiss her forehead.

And she looked back at him.

Those swirling azure eyes, with a million emotions locked inside of them, begging to be let out.

He searched her eyes for something, he didn't even know what he was looking for.

He wanted her to smile at him.

He wanted her to bound over to him, choose him, kiss him.

She didn't do any of those things. Instead, she gave him one last sad look, and turned away.

Luka frowned at Adrien over his shoulder before taking Marinette's hand and walking away.

Sad Adrien :(

I know this was short. I will try to do better.

I put myself into these stories, and sometimes I'm just really tired or sad, but you guys always make me feel better. Your feedback always makes my day.

Truly, hearing from you makes me so happy. 3

So, if you want, leave your thoughts in a review.

Also, I reached a milestone. 1,500 views! I still can't wrap my mind head around so many people reading my writing. It's crazy. I love you all.

Have a beautiful day,

-wdw