Secrets, Lies, and Everything Else Chapter 9: "More Than A Friend Part 2"

Me: says I will update fast

Also me: *updates one eternity later*

RIP SANITY

I'll post three chapters this time to make up for it :)

~ Reviews ~

MiraculousUser: Lol 😂

Toshiro of the Eternal Dream: As much as I like Luka, I'm also sorta creeped out by him. It's weird that he barely has any flaws (or at least, in canon) Also yes, Nino and Alya will have to tell Adrien at some point...

Miraculousfan: Guess you'll find out what Mari thinks about him in this chapter! :D

Agiani: Thank you :3

Enjoy! :)

Kagami caught up with Adrien, a playful smirk on her face, "I thought we weren't friends?"

"Yeah...well..." Adrien couldn't think of anything, "Ugh, why is this so complicated?!"

"What happened back there anyways?" Kagami leaned against the wall.

"I embarrassed myself, that's what. Everything went so fast, I don't even know what happened! I felt like I was randomly blurting stuff out!"

"Which you were." Kagami deadpanned.

Adrien stared at his fencing helmet, "I have to win this fencing match."

"Why? What's so different about this time that you put so much pressure on yourself?"

Adrien put on the helmet, "Marinette will be there. And Luka."

"So?"

"I want to make a good impression on Mar- uh, them."

"You've known her for over a year now, why do you suddenly feel the need to make a good impression on her?" Kagami challenged.

"I- wait, why am I explaining this to you?! I need to practice." Adrien realized, grabbing his saber.

"Practice what? Your flirting skills?"

"My FENCING skills!" Adrien corrected.

"Right."

"Anyways, me practicing has nothing to do with Marinette. I always practice." Adrien and Kagami were now walking to the gym together.

"Okay...?" Kagami said questioningly.

Honestly, all this stuff about Marinette was just getting weird. One second he was calling her a 'just a friend', the other, he would be dancing with her. (and yes, Kagami had seen Marinette dancing with Adrien in New York thanks to Alya, who had posted the whole thing on social media.) She frowned. She'd spent so long trying to get Adrien's attention, but she was always like a third wheel. What had Marinette even done to make Adrien like her? What similarities did they share? Adrien was the definition of perfection. And so was Kagami. Kagami took interest in everything Adrien did. She did everything to the best of her ability.

It wasn't her fault. She'd tried to convince herself so many times that it wasn't her fault. It was Adrien who didn't love her. Even though she was the one who broke up with him. She just didn't feel comfortable.

Maybe this would be good for them. Maybe it would benefit her in some way that she and Adrien would only be friends now...that is, if he wanted to be friends...Kagami knew that he was probably still upset. She knew that he'd get over it.

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

;.;.;.;.;.;. ❤️ ADRIEN ❤️ .;.;.;.;.;.;

(Time skip)

Adrien looked around. He was standing in front of his opponent, ready for his teacher to start the fencing match. The gym was nearly empty, except for a couple fencing students. Marinette and Luka were sitting in the back on the bleachers, along with Alya and Nino.

"Whooo! Go dude!" Nino cheered.

Adrien smiled and waved at him. His eyes shifted over to Marinette and Luka. Marinette, upon seeing him, also waved, which just added to Adrien's anxiety.

It's okay...it's like any other fencing match. Except Marinette will be there. Watching you. Judging you.

Yeah, that didn't help a bit.

Mr. D'Argencourt blew his whistle.

"En garde!"

Adrien readied himself with his saber in front of him.

"Prêts?"

Adrien held the saber at his side.

"Allez!"

The opponent tried to touch him with his saber, but Adrien held his own saber out in front of him to prevent him from doing so. The white-dressed boy didn't give up, trying countless other times to touch Adrien. Adrien moved backwards, trying to distract the other fencer while coming up with a good tactic.

His saber still in front of him, Adrien moved to the side, touching the other fencer with the end of the saber at the same time his opponent did.

Mr. D'Argencourt narrowed his eyes, "We will have another round, as there is no clear winner."

As soon as D'argencourt said "allez", Adrien sprung into action, the clinking sound of his saber echoing throughout the gym.

He will win this.

;.;.;.;.;.;. ❤️ MARINETTE ❤️ .;.;.;.;.;.;

Marinette slumped in her seat, looking down at her lap.

"Hey girl, why aren't you paying attention to the match?" Alya snapped her fingers in front of the bluenette's face to get her attention.

"Why should I? Adrien didn't even pay attention to me. Face it Al, he probably doesn't even want me to be here. You know Kagami had to practically force him to let Luka and I come."

"Maybe he was feeling nervous." Nino suggested.

"He waved at you." Marinette pointed out.

Alya groaned, "Are we seriously arguing about waving?! Just enjoy the match! You should be happy! Your crush invited you here!"

"Involuntarily." Marinette reminded her.

"So what! You're here, and that's all that matters. I can set up a date for you guys if you-"

Marinette groaned, "No, please don't."

"What do you mean?"

"I just can't, Alya. I can't say a word to him without messing up. I can't look into his emerald eyes without getting lost. And I never seem to find my way out. I just stay lost, forever, like, in trance. Even if I plan out everything ahead of time, even if I know exactly what I'm going to say, I always somehow screw things up." Marinette wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself.

"Mari, I-" Alya began.

"You didn't let me finish. I always tried to be happy for him. I always tried to support him and Kagami. But I just can't pretend anymore. People say fake it 'till you make it. But what if you fake it, and you still don't make it? What if you fake it, and you just hurt yourself more?"

Marinette's voice cracked as she held back her tears, "I've been faking everything for so long. Yet I'm still just a friend to him. I can't change the way he sees me, and I never will. Because I'll never be able to confess to him. He'll never know how I'll feel. And even if he somehow finds out, he won't care. After all, he said it himself: that they were as close as they could ever be. Kagami doesn't stutter. She never hesitates to take a chance. Me? I always hesitate. Because I care about the consequences. And I don't want to break my heart any further. I don't want to hear him say the words: 'I'm sorry Marinette, but you're just a friend in my eyes.' So I'd rather not know. I'd rather not take the risk."

Alya was speechless. Actually speechless. She opened her mouth and closed it several times, unsure what she could possibly have the courage to muster up after that.

"...we can leave if this is making you feel uncomfortable." She finally said.

"No, I'll stay. I'm Adrien's friend, after all. I can't just leave." The bluenette focused her eyes on Adrien. The blonde moved swiftly as he avoided getting touched, and prodded his opponent with the saber, this time, before the opposing fencer.

"Marinette! Did you see that? Adrien won!" Alya grinned.

"Great." Marinette said unenthusiastically, standing up. Luka did the same, following her down the bleachers.