Marinette

Marinette had almost forgotten about the promise she'd made to go on a date with Luka until he texted her a few days later. He was back from his trip and was wondering if they could meet the next day.

She couldn't find it in herself to refuse him again. Especially, not when there was a conversation that they needed to have. Luka was a good friend. The last thing Marinette wanted to do was hurt him, and continuing to string him along would do just that. She couldn't do that to him. Especially not when her heart yearned for another, no matter how impossible their future together seemed at the moment.

Shoes in hand, Marinette walked to the chosen place for their meetup. It was a little chilly to be walking around barefoot, but she didn't care. She loved the feeling of sand between her toes, the water splashing against her feet, the warmth of the setting sun on her skin. Her eyes locked on the sun hovering above the horizon line, trailed after the birds dancing across the sky, followed kids running along the shore. Marinette loved the beach. Loved it with her whole heart. Asking Luka to meet her here instead of the park they'd originally agreed on was the right decision after all. The familiarity of this place brought comfort. It gave her strength and courage. It made her feel secure. She needed that at the moment. She hoped Luka would feel it too.

A short distance from her final destination, a person came into her peripheral vision. Marinette froze in her tracks. That person shouldn't be here. Not him! Not the man who'd caused so much disturbance in her life ever since he'd walked into it. Not when she could still remember how strong and fit his chest was under her hands when she sat behind him on his motorcycle. Not when their kiss—granted, only a cheek peck—was still fresh in her mind. The feel of his skin under her lips, his stunned look, his excited cry when she hid in the bakery… Marinette wasn't ready to face him yet. Not when all of her plans to keep their friendship as platonic as possible were crumbling around her. Not when both Alya and her parents insisted he liked her as more than just a friend. And certainly not when she was about to break the heart of another man in little more than ten minutes.

Adrien didn't seem to notice her. His eyes were focused on the horizon, hands in his pockets. He bathed in the soft glow of the sunset, his skin radiant under its touch. The brilliant white of his outfit, the calm expression on his face, his confident posture. They mesmerized, called, enthralled. Marinette wasn't much of a poet, but just for a moment, she wished she could be the breeze that softly played with his hair. Or that bird in the sky gliding above the water, the one to whose song Adrien was listening to so intently with that tranquil expression on his face. Or maybe the sun, so he would look at her that way, and she could get lost in the green of his eyes, sparkling brightly even with the distance between them.

She had to move, though. She couldn't be caught staring. Keep it casual. Carefree. Act as if nothing had happened, as if he didn't mean the world to her already. As if his existence alone hadn't caused so much conflict inside her.

It'd be fine.

Everything would be just peachy. Just as soon as her heart stopped beating furiously in her chest.

Hesitantly, Marinette resumed walking. Posture stiff, but she marched on, trying her best to pretend she wasn't aware of Adrien's presence just ahead. Step by step, trying to control her breathing, she stared intently at the sliver of the water, at the waves kissing the shore, at the sun crowning the sky… Anywhere but at the man up ahead.

A sudden pain shot through her toes and echoed in her ankle. Marinette stumbled and dropped to the ground with an ugly yelp.

"Mademoiselle? Are you alright?" Adrien was already kneeling in front of her, reaching out to her with his hand. The moment their gazes met, he froze. "Marinette? What—what are you doing here?"

She had to say something. Anything. Anything but the truth.

Dang it! The truth shouldn't even matter because they weren't getting together, and she didn't owe him anything. She had a right to go on a date with whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted! It shouldn't matter if Adrien knew. It didn't make sense for her to keep it a secret. "Just… taking a walk?"

A smile twinkled in his eyes as he offered her his hand. "Let's get you up then so you can do that."

She took his hand and tried to stand. Sharp pain shot through her ankle. Marinette gritted her teeth together, trying her best not to show it. She was strong. She could deal with a bit of pain.

Crap!

Pain ripped through her ankle again, leaving a heavy dull ache in her foot. She'd broken an arm before, but that hadn't hurt as badly as this. Marinette gritted her teeth harder, trying her best to appear fine. It wasn't enough. The pain crossed into unbearable, her leg giving out from under her, sending Marinette down on one knee.

"Marinette! Are you alright?"

She closed her eyes, not willing to meet his gaze. She was sure it was full of concern and worry and something she wasn't willing to admit to herself yet, despite everything that Alya and her parents had told her. It didn't matter. His hypothetical feelings for her would change nothing. "I think I sprained my ankle."

"Let me take a look."

In a split moment, Marinette was scooped and carried bridal style to the nearest bench. Her brain short-circuited at the first touch. His arms. So strong and yet so gentle. Warm and dependable. Why did she feel so safe against his chest? Why did it feel so familiar? And why in the world did he have to put her down so soon?

"I'm going to press lightly at first and a little harder later," Adrien said, crouching down in front of her. "Tell me when it starts hurting."

She nodded, finally allowing herself a glance. He was fully concentrated on her foot, looking absolutely gorgeous. "Looks like you know what you're doing. Was this also a part of your extensive education?"

Adrien chuckled, nodding. "The first aid course I took low-key qualifies me to be a general physician, though it mostly focused on treating injuries and survival."

"For your job, I guess?"

He nodded and turned his attention back to her foot nestled on his thigh. "It's starting to swell which is not good. Does this hurt?" His fingers barely trailed over her skin.

"Not where you're touching."

"How about this?" He pressed a little harder, moving his fingers carefully around.

The moment he reached one particular spot in the middle of her ankle, Marinette could hardly keep herself from flinging her foot in his face. She clenched her teeth together and howled. "Stop. Hurts. There."

Adrien sighed, looking up at her from his kneeling position. "You need to go to the emergency room. Most likely, it's broken."

She shook her head. "No. It'll be fine."

Adrien took off his sweater and wrapped it into a pillow. Setting it on the ground, he gently placed her foot on it. "Usually this kind of injury takes weeks, if not months, to heal. Depending on the severity, you'll need a cast or an air boot, so don't protest. I'm taking you to a hospital."

Marinette groaned. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to explain to the doctors once again something she didn't fully understand herself. She'd rather have Adrien think her crazy.

Perhaps it'd even work out for the best. She wanted them to remain platonic, didn't she? Surely Adrien would think twice about liking her after he found out how weird she truly was. Not that her secret was that awful, but it certainly was unconventional enough for no one but her parents and closest friends to know about.

"Adrien, really." She grabbed his hand before he could scoop her up again. "There's no need. I'll be like new tomorrow. I heal really fast."

His gaze intense, he watched her carefully, arching an eyebrow. "It looks serious. You'll need at least some kind of treatment."

She shook her head. "Not in my case. I always get better really fast on my own. Like, once I broke an arm and it healed overnight instead of five weeks as my doctor told me. I never get colds or the flu, and all of my scratches and burns vanish in a matter of hours."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Hours?"

Marinette nodded. "I have X-rays to prove the arm thing. The first one was taken at the hospital the day I broke my arm. The second one a few days later when I was due for my fancy cast instead of the temporary one they'd put on me. My arm was completely healed in two days, but the pain was gone the morning after I broke it. As for the rest… you'll have to take my word for it."

Adrien sat beside her. "How? Did you do anything?"

Marinette shook her head. "I've always been like this. The only explanation I can think of is qigong. Everyone on my mother's side has been practicing qigong for centuries, and she's taught me since I was a toddler. Maman says my body must have inherited the healing energy gathered by all of my ancestors through the centuries."

"Qigong?"

"An ancient healing practice that involves coordinated breathing, movement, and awareness, and is based on cultivating and balancing a person's qi, a vital force in one's body, the flow of which must be unimpeded for good health."

"So, you think this qi is responsible for your fast healing?"

Marinette sighed. Of course, Adrien wouldn't believe her. She'd think she was insane as well. Then again, she did want to push him away. This had to do it. "I know you don't believe me, but it is what it is. I'm not going anywhere but home. My ankle feels better already."

He looked at her pensively for a few moments before the corner of his lips curled in a smile. "Okay. We don't have to go to a hospital if you don't want to, but I'm making a temporary splint for you, taking you home, and checking up on you tomorrow."

What? Why wasn't he running away from her in horror and disgust? Why did nothing change in his gaze? She couldn't like him more for accepting her weirdness. She had to push him away. She had to, because… No! Marinette bit on her lip. She had one more card up her sleeve. "Thank you, but I must decline. I'm meeting a date here soon."

His lips popped in a silent "oh", the look of sadness descending on his handsome features. His gaze went back to her foot in his lap. "Then, I'll make you a splint and leave. I wouldn't want to interrupt."

Her heart ached. So that was it? Another guy was enough for him to give up on her?

Marinette shook her head and mentally slapped her own cheeks. Get a grip! She wanted Adrien to walk away because, let's be honest, she was already head over heels in love with him. But he was going back to Paris soon and never coming back. There can't be anything between them, and it was better to push him away now than to fall deeper and suffer more for it later.

"Do you have a handkerchief or ribbons?" Adrien broke into her train of thought.

Her hands shot to the two ribbons in her braids that she had spent quite some time making. "Only these."

"Can I borrow them?"

Marinette nodded and undid her braids while Adrien folded his sweater in a way that it hugged her ankle like a huge, fluffy pillow. He placed two sticks she hadn't even realized he'd found on either side of her ankle, and took her ribbons, tying the whole contraption in place before turning her around to place her feet on the bench.

"Mind if I stay until your date shows up? It wouldn't feel right leaving an injured friend alone, especially one that can't walk."

His gaze was so earnest and concerned, Marinette had no other answer for him but, "I'd like that."

He smiled, sitting back beside her. His gaze, though, was now on the sunset.

Marinette directed her eyes to the setting sun as well. The pain in her foot was slowly subsiding, giving way to the curiosity that finally took hold of her. It wouldn't hurt to ask him, would it? Especially now that they've established that friends are all they ever would be.

"Did your friend Ladybug tell you about this beach?"

He turned to her with a smile on his face. "She did. She said I could really use being here tonight around sunset. Though now I'm questioning her judgement on the matter."

"Oh, why is that?"

He shrugged, looking away. "She told me last night that if I feel restless and need a place to relax and calm down, I should come here. Something about sunsets being inspirational and serene and healing for the soul."

Marinette nodded, directing her gaze to the setting sun. "They are all that. I always come here when I need to find my inner peace."

The sun was half-past the horizon, painting the surroundings in all shades of reds, oranges and yellows, warming up the late October evening. Gentle sounds of waves rolling against the shore, the birds' songs gliding through the sky, dissolved the silence between them. Quite a few people walked past them, most in pairs, holding each other hand in hand.

Marinette curled her fingers, memories of their not-a-fake-not-a-date rushing in. Holding his hand was so nice… She had to resist, though. She couldn't reach out when she just pushed him away. And yet, despite everything, she yearned, desired to get closer, to touch, to find out everything there was to this man. The man who came into her world and turned it upside down, knocking the solid ground from under her feet.

There was something about him. She could feel it. Some mystery. Something that rendered her helpless, and left her forgetting all decency when kissing his cheek in the spur-of-the-moment or asking him questions before she could think better of it.

"So why do you question your friend's judgement in pointing you to this place?"

She was facing the water but clearly felt Adrien tense and turn to look at her. "I'm not sure it's the right place for me to be today."

"Oh? And why is that? If you ask me, this beach is the perfect place to be at any time."

He said nothing, looking away, his smile anything but small and sad.

Marinette bit her tongue. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. Ignore me."

"It's fine," Adrien said quietly after a short while. "It's nothing secret. I'm just not sure I should tell you. Not right now at least."

"Why?"

"It's… it may be a little awkward in the present situation."

"I can handle awkward." She really should knock herself unconscious and be done with it. How much lower can she fall?

Adrien turned to look at her with a pained smile on his lips.

Marinette looked away. "Sorry. It's private, isn't it?"

His mouth opened, then closed again, then he whispered. "It is, but I promise to tell you one day. Just not now. It wouldn't be right for me to do that now."

"Marinette?"

She almost jumped out of her skin at Luka's voice. "Luka? Hi... I—"

"Hello." Adrien quickly stood up and stretched his hand out to Luka. "My name's Adrien. I'm Marinette's classmate."

Luka shook Adrien's hand a bit warily. "Hi. I'm Luka, an old friend of Marinette's."

"I'm sorry to impose on your date," Adrien said. "Marinette and I just ran into each other and she hurt her ankle pretty badly. I suspect it's broken, but since she refuses to go to a hospital, I didn't want to leave her alone until you arrived. She shouldn't walk. Pretty sure she can't even if she wanted to."

Luka looked at Marinette and crouched to inspect her injury. "It's pretty swollen."

"It's much better already." Marinette rushed to say. "You know me, right? Plus, Adrien made me a very warm and cuddly splint, so it doesn't feel too bad."

"I still wish you wouldn't hurt yourself right and left," Luka sighed.

"I'm sorry, but it's not like I wished to be a klutz."

"No, you didn't, but—"

"Sorry, but I think I'll be going now," Adrien interrupted, hesitantly raising his hand in a farewell gesture. "If you need anything—a ride home, food, musicians, candles, anything—Marinette has my number. Have fun, guys." He didn't wait for their replies, turning around and walking away.

"Hey, Adrien?" Luka called before the blond could escape.

Adrien stopped, half turning to look back. "Yes?"

"Thanks for taking care of her. See you around?"

Adrien nodded. "Of course."

"Thank you again, Adrien," Marinette added, her chest tightening. That look on his face… "I'll see you in school next week."

He nodded and walked away, never turning back. Not even a glance before he vanished from her view.

Marinette suppressed a heavy sigh, swallowing a lump in her throat. This was for the best. This was realistic. She might be hurting them both, but he'd thank her one day. That was if her parents and Alya was right, and Adrien did have feelings for her which was doubtful, but—

"Are you sure you're okay?" Luka sat beside her. "Maybe a hospital wouldn't be such a bad idea. It does look pretty bad."

It took Marinette a moment to remember the reason Luka was concerned. She could hardly feel the pain anymore. "Luka, you know me. It'll be brand-new tomorrow, and it's not bothering me as long as I keep it still. So let's stay here and forget about this little inconvenience for now. Tell me how your trip went."

"My trip?"

Marinette nodded. She remembered well how conflicted Luka was about going on a tour with his estranged father. If it wasn't for his twin sister Juleka, she wondered if he'd ever agreed to it in the first place. "I know you were a little apprehensive to go."

Luka closed his eyes for a moment, a barely-there smile sneaking onto his face. "It went well," he said quietly, directing his gaze to the sea. "I think we both are finally at the stage of our lives where we're willing and able to connect. And…" he paused, his eyes shifting to his hands in his lap. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about. Something that I… realized during the trip."

"Did something happen?"

Luka shook his head, shifting in his seat. His hands clenched in fists when he spoke. "You know how I always wanted to know who my father is? How I always felt like there was something important missing from my life because I didn't know him? And when I finally did find out his identity, how we both had such complicated feelings toward each other it made our reconciliation pretty much impossible?"

Marinette remembered that well. It hadn't been easy for either of the twins to come to terms with not only their father being a famous rock star Jagged Stone, but also to learn that he left them because he'd thought they would be better off without him. He was an unfit father, Jagged claimed. He didn't have time for a family and didn't want to half-ass it. His kids, though, weren't so sure they wouldn't have preferred an unfit father over an absent one. Long story short, all attempts to reconcile amounted to a few phone calls and a couple of short visits each year until a few months ago when Jagged offered to take Luka and Juleka on one of his tours. Juleka was excited. Luka agreed to go only for a part of it and only because his sister begged him to go with her.

"I hope that changed over your trip." Marinette could swear she saw Luka's eyes light up for the first time in her life as he smiled and placed one of his hands over his heart.

"You know, part of the reason why I went was because Jules asked me to come. But I also wanted to see what was so great about the life Jagged chose over us. And…" He halted his words, closing his eyes.

"And?"

"I loved it." Luka turned to her, his smile wistful, eyes full of fire. "I've always loved music. I have a special connection to it. It's my soul, my heart, my everything. It's how I connect with this world, and how the world talks to me. Up there on a stage… Marinette, it's so much more than I can express. It's like opening myself up and letting my soul shine. It energizes and gives me life. I saw something I never thought possible, and now… now I want to explore that part of me. To find out who I truly am."

"Who you truly are?"

Luka nodded, excitement spilling out of him as he tried to express something so much bigger than himself, something that meant the world to him. "This time away from everything, from everyone, reconnecting with my father, getting to go on a stage with him, even just as a supporting guitar… it showed me just how much I don't know about myself yet, my dreams, my aspirations, my goals!

"Marinette." He reached and grabbed one of her hands, squeezing it. "I thought I knew who I was. I thought this was it, but…" he fell quiet for a moment, inhaling deeply as he let her hand go. "I was simply Luka Couffaine, the son of Anarka and the brother of Jules. Not that anything is wrong with that, but I'm also the son of Jagged Stone. I want to connect with that part of me, to discover myself, to finally feel whole. Does it make sense?"

It did. It made perfect sense. Marinette was lucky to not only have both of her parents in her life but also to clearly see her goals and dreams and know who she was and what she wanted…

Adrien came to mind. Marinette bit on the inside of her cheek and dropped her gaze to her hands. To be fair, she knew what she wanted there as well. Didn't mean she could have it. So, if Luka could have what he needed right now—if he finally had a chance to learn and explore the side of him he'd always longed for, she'd support him all the way.

"It does." She reached out and placed her hand on Luka's. "This is a great idea, and I'm very happy for you."

His smile turned weak and pensive. Luka's chin dipped slightly as he glanced at her. "Is it too much to hope you'll wait for me?"

There it was. She couldn't avoid it anymore. Her throat suddenly dry, Marinette lowered her gaze to her hands, biting on her lip. "Luka, I… I'm…"

"You're in love with that guy I just met, aren't you?"

Marinette stilled, her eyes widening. How… Why would he say that? She didn't want to talk about it. Not now. "Who? Adrien?"

"Yeah, the one who was just here. Your classmate? He likes you too, you know."

She could feel even the tips of her ears going crimson but she still shook her head. "No! Of course, not! There is nothing between us! I barely know him, and no one is certainly in love with anyone. Him or me."

A slight sigh slipped his lips. "You always were a bad liar."

"I am not! I'm a great liar!" Marinette huffed. "I can lie all I want, and people will believe me. I can—"

"No, you can't." Luka shook his head, chuckling. "You hate liars, and you can't lie, Marinette. Your soul is too pure for that. I have eyes, you know. I could see you two as I was walking here for a whole two minutes before either of you noticed me. And even that happened only because I called your name. You two like each other a lot."

"No, we don't! We're just friends."

"Though, I do wonder how much of a coincidence it was for him to be here at this specific time. Even if he wanted to stroll on a beach, there are many other beaches in Dupont."

Marinette shook her head. The thought never crossed her mind, but even if it did… "He didn't know. He couldn't have. No one knew I changed the location last night. If Adrien was aiming to crash our date, he'd either have had to follow me—and that's impossible because he was already here when I arrived—or he'd have had to ask Alya, and Alya still thinks we're at the park right now."

"So, a coincidence, huh?"

"A coincidence," Marinette assured. There was no way Adrien would intentionally do anything like that. From what little she knew of him, it was obvious he was not that kind of man.

"Or maybe fate?"

Marinette glared. Luka couldn't be serious! Here he was asking if she'd wait for him, and now he was turning around and saying Adrien and she were tied by fate or something?

"Okay! Okay! A coincidence." Luka laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Good to know the guy you like isn't a stalker."

Marinette turned away, her chest constricted. If she could, she'd walk away right now, because, in the grand scope of things, her feelings on the matter were not relevant. "It doesn't matter how I feel about Adrien. Even if I did like him, there can't be anything between us. He's going back to Paris around New Year's, and you know I can't leave Dupont."

Luka paused, watching her closely for a moment. "Won't. Not can't."

"Luka, please."

Standing up, Luka sadly smiled as he watched the waves. "We're more alike than you think. I spent my whole life thinking I was fine. I thought I knew myself. That's how it was supposed to be. I was happy in a way. I felt fine. But, you know, once I left on this trip, once I got to experience new things and started to discover sides I didn't even know I had, I felt alive for the first time in my life." He took a step closer to the water but turned back to her as he continued. "Perhaps you need to step outside your comfort zone as well. And I'm not talking about Adrien. I think there is a lot more to you than even you know, Marinette. Your song was always soft and gentle, but there were always undertones of a great epic in there. Don't you want to find out what that's all about? You can be great. Why settle for decent?"

Marinette looked down, her shoulders slumping a bit. She caught the hem of her shirt and started to fiddle with it. Marinette the Great? She could hardly imagine what that would look like. As long as she kept the bakery successful and maybe had an online fashion boutique, she'd be satisfied. "I don't think there is anything about me I don't know yet. I'm happy with my life. I have my dreams and my goals, and I'm slowly but surely walking towards them."

Luka's head dipped into a slight nod as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "I always loved your determination, and perhaps you're right. Maybe it isn't such a bad idea to walk the path you chose without straying to see if there is something better on the other side of the fence."

"I did choose my path carefully, and I'm very passionate about it." She braved a smile.

Luka returned the gesture. "You did, and you are." He glanced around their darkening surroundings. The beach was almost empty, only a few tourists still loitering around. "Should we head out? It's getting late."

"Sure. How—"

"May I borrow your phone for a moment?"

Marinette's eyebrows knitted in a frown at the sudden change of the topic. A welcome change but she had to ask, "Why?"

"I need to make a call."

She pulled her cell phone from her bag and gave it to Luka. "Did you forget your cell phone at home?"

He shook his head. "No. Mine just doesn't have the number I need."

"Which is?"

"Adrien's number."

Marinette almost snatched her device back. "Luka, no! Don't you dare! You are not calling Adrien. I do not like him. You aren't telling him anything!"

He laughed in that quiet way he always did. "Don't worry. It's not my confession to make."

"Then why are you calling him?"

"You can't stand on your foot. I walked here, and there is no way I'm leaving you alone to wait until I go get my bike. Adrien couldn't have gone too far yet. And he did offer you a ride, so why not?"

"Luka, no! I can walk."

He glanced at her foot, wrapped in Adrien's makeshift splint, then back at her phone. "In that thing? You'll ruin his sweater."

She grabbed his hand. "Luka, please. Don't call him. I can't be alone with him right now."

Luka's face instantly darkened as he put the device down. "Did he do something?"

Marinette shook her head. "No, it's not him. Well, it is, but not what you're thinking. It's—" She took a deep breath. How could she explain what was going on in her heart and her mind for the last couple of weeks? She could hardly grasp it herself. Though, there were a few things that were clear to her.

"Okay, fine. I do like him. A little too much for my liking, because when I'm alone with him, I act like a fool. It's like my mind just shuts down, and I forget everything that's important to me, everything I worked so hard for my whole life. I lose my reason and all of my resolve. I do stupid things and ask all the wrong questions. I can't afford to be so reckless. I can't throw all of my hard work down the drain just because of some guy. Especially a guy who's leaving in a few months."

Luka stared at her for a hot minute before sighing. "Sounds like you're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Overthinking."

"I am not!" Marinette huffed. "I kissed his cheek yesterday! For giving me a ride to school and back."

"Oh wow. That is a dumb thing to do. Why would you ever kiss a man's cheek for giving you a ride? So reckless of you indeed."

Marinette frowned, glaring at his sarcasm. "He made me consider leaving the bakery behind for the first time in my life without even saying anything. Do you really want me to be the girl who followed a guy to Paris, throwing her family's heritage and her own ambitions out the window, because she fell in love? Because if this continues the way it's going, I'm not sure I won't follow him and then… then, I'll never forgive myself for it."

Luka crouched beside the bench. "Really? Marinette, you never do anything without overthinking it. So, even if you do end up going to Paris, I'm sure it will be because of your own ambitions, not because you'll be following a guy there."

She wasn't so sure. She could hardly trust herself around Adrien these days.

"But that's an issue for another day," Luka continued. "Right now, we need to get you home, and asking Adrien to drive you is our best option. It's already dark. It'll take me at least half an hour to walk back home to pick up my bicycle and another ten-fifteen minutes to get back here. I know you're a strong woman who can take care of herself, but I'm not leaving you alone like this in the dark on a public beach, unable to walk, for almost an hour. It's unsafe and would make me a shitty friend if I did that, wouldn't you say so?"

She didn't have the strength to protest. And, perhaps, Luka had a point. She was tired and her ankle, while less painful, still hurt a lot. And it wasn't like she hadn't ridden with Adrien before. She'd survive. Most likely.

"Would one ride with him really affect you that much?" Luka asked, tilting his head to the side.

Usually, it wouldn't, but not tonight. Not when Marinette started to suspect she wasn't alone in her feelings. Enjoying the company of someone who you know sees you as a friend is a lot different from spending time with someone who everyone keeps telling you has feelings for you.

"Can I call him for a ride, Marinette?" Luka asked.

She closed her eyes and deeply inhaled. Did she even have a choice? Not if she didn't want to inconvenience and worry a whole lot of people for nothing. "Alright."

Luka stood and pressed the Call button. It didn't take long for his intended recipient to pick up on the other end. "Hello, Adrien? Yes. It's Luka. I hope you aren't too far away yet. No, everything's fine. Marinette just needs to get home, and I, well, I don't have the means to get her there at the moment unless it's a piggyback ride, so—Okay. Sounds good. We're still at the place you left us. Yes, I'll wait until you come. See you soon."

He hung up, giving the phone back to Marinette. "He'll be here in about ten minutes."

Marinette looked away, something stirring in the pit of her stomach. She'd get to ride with Adrien on his motorcycle again. He'd most likely carry her in his arms. She'd be so close to—

Luka's laughter broke her little bubble. "You're blushing at just a thought and expect me to believe you have no feelings for the guy?"

Her glare was epic just like the undertones in her melody. One Luka should remember forever and, hopefully, one that would show him just how much she didn't want to discuss her wreck of a love life anymore. "Again, it doesn't matter how I feel about him. He's going back to Paris in a few months."

Luka sat beside her, a little smile on his lips. "I'm sure you'll be alright. Just focus on achieving your goals, and the rest will fall in place. And you never know, maybe your feelings will change in a week or two. Maybe this whole thing won't even matter in a month. Don't stress over it. Take a step back and get some clarity on what it is you truly want. What will be worth it all to you."

Marinette looked away, wringing her hands. What was it that she wanted above all? Founding her own fashion line, if she was being honest. She had the talent to succeed, but the bakery was one of her major dreams as well. It had been ever since she'd learned its history as a child. She loved it with her whole heart, yet was it worth sacrificing everything else in her life for? Would running the bakery be enough to make her happy and not leave her struggling with 'what if's and 'if only's for the rest of her life?

To her horror, Marinette couldn't answer that question as confidently as she used to.

Ten minutes later, Adrien came back. His clothes were a bit out of place, hair dishevelled, cheeks reddened, eyes eager and shining. He looked adorable, stirring those damn butterflies at the pit of her belly. And perhaps Luka's question had something to do with it, but Marinette wasn't so sure anymore Adrien hadn't snuck onto her Most Wanted list—and hadn't slowly but confidently climbed its ladder to the top.