A/N: Three chapter updates in one day? Granted, the first of the three was very early in the morning, and I really wasn't planning on writing the third until at least tomorrow, but inspiration comes when it wants to come! Better take advantage of it rather than let it fade!

Again, I'm really sorry about what happened in the last chapter, and I understand perfectly if anyone wants to strangle me. However, I promise you all it will get better!

Chapter 44

~Marinette's POV~

"I can't believe I really let myself believe that Adrien could see me as more than a friend." I stated crossly. "I knew that letting myself hope would only bring me pain, and I was right."

"I know." Kagami said with an annoyed tone. "It's his fault for leading you on."

The moment I walked back into my house, Alya could tell that something was really bothering me. She pulled me off to the side so Nino could finish with the camera. I had quickly told her what Adrien said to me, and I was immediately wrapped in her arms. She apologized to me about for what happened and for not being able to stay with me.

So I decided to give Kagami a call instead. Something told me that she'd be someone I could talk to about my frustrations and heartache, and I was proved right. Barely a second passed after I sent her a text about what Adrien said before she responded, "On my way." Before I knew it we were both sitting in my room, me on my chaise and her on my desk chair, eating ice cream in winter.

"I just don't understand why he'd have to go against the script like that." I frowned then paused as I ate a spoonful of my chocolate ice cream. "I told Alya to get rid of the kiss because I didn't want he and I to kiss just for the stupid movie."

"And he had to kiss you anyway." Kagami sighed heavily as she put down her small carton of vanilla. "Just because he thought the movie would be better with a mistletoe kiss."

"You thought a mistletoe kiss would be a good idea too." I pointed out though I didn't look at her as I got another spoonful of ice cream, though I just stared at it instead of eating it.

With the slight moment of silence I could feel Kagami giving me a look. "Okay, yes, but not at your expense." She argued. "He shouldn't have kissed you like that unless he meant it."

"Oh he meant it alright." I said crossly again. "He meant it for the movie and only the movie."

"What an idiot." I heard Kagami mutter crossly. "I never thought he was so dense that he would pull something like that."

My attention immediately snapped up towards her after hearing her first three words. "Don't say that!" I said defensively. "Adrien is not an idiot. He might not be the brightest at times, but he's smart."

Kagami looked at me and shook her head slowly while giving me a small, sympathetic smile. "You must really care about him even though he's hurt you."

I hesitated as I looked down and poked at the ice cream in my carton. "I love him…" I said in a quiet voice. "And I still love him even after what he said to me. Besides, I don't think he's realized he's hurt me. I've never told him how I feel about him."

"Maybe you should." Kagami told me determinedly. "Maybe you should let him know how badly he's hurt you."

"But that would hurt him." I protested. "I don't want him to hurt too just because I am."

"Let him hurt." Kagami argued. "It's about time that he realizes that you see him as more than a friend and the way he's treating you isn't right."

"Kagami, I don't want to hurt him." I said pleadingly as I looked back down at my ice cream. "And I can't tell him how I feel because I know it will hurt him."

Kagami looked at me for a long moment without saying a word. When seconds passed without her saying anything in reply, I looked up at her and saw her giving me a small smile. "You are way too kind to him, you know that? He doesn't deserve you."

I didn't say anything as I looked back down at my ice cream and slowly ate another spoonful. I know that he hurt me, but that didn't mean I wanted to see him in pain too. I loved him too much for that.

I stepped out of the silver car and turned, looking at the building as "Joy to the World" was being sung near the door by carolers in Christmas dresses and nice black suits. I wore a smile on my face, actually feeling rather happy since that conversation with Adrien.

It was the night of the day following that incident and I looked towards the door seeing other students from my school dressed in formal attire walking to the front door of the Le Grand Paris hotel where a Christmas party was being held in the main lobby. I myself was wearing that really nice black dress that was given to me by Gabriel Agreste with black heels, earrings of my mother, and my hair was pulled up to a nice side bun with a black clip holding it in place.

Holding a small red clutch in my hands, I walked past the carolers who were just members of the school choir then into the hotel lobby. It was fully decorated with beautiful Christmas decorations. Already this had to be my favorite scene of this movie.

I walked around a few people and turned to see Kagami and Luka standing not very far away from me talking to each other. As I grew closer, Kagami smiled brightly at me. "Hi!"

"Hi." I responded with a smile of my own as I stepped in closer to give her a hug. In the background Nathaniel sat at a piano with his back to the camera playing "The Twelve Days of Christmas", though he was only pretending to play. It was actually a prerecording of Adrien playing the song on his piano, but I really didn't want to think about him at the moment until I had to.

"You made it!" She said happily then pulled away from the hug.

"Hi, how are you?" I said as I gave Luka a hug as well.

"You look great." He complimented as he returned the hug.

I felt myself smile a little bit more genuinely despite what I knew was to come, feeling flattered by the compliment even though I knew it was the line Alya gave him to say. "Oh, you—thanks."

Both of them looked at me with wide grins. "So," Kagami continued, looking at me curiously. "Where is he?"

"Yeah." Luka added as my smile fell. "Where's Green Eyes?"

"I'm sorry." I said, shaking my head slowly. "He couldn't make it. He had a—um—a work thing."

"Oh." Kagami replied her smile wavering slightly as she and Luka exchanged a look. "That's too bad."

"I'm sorry." I repeated and Kagami shook her head in disappointment. Her eyes lifted a moment longer and looked at someone over my shoulder.

"Oh," She said, causing Luka to look at her before he glanced over me and saw the same people. "They're our clients. Will you excuse us for just one second?"

"Oh." I said, turning to glance behind me then looked at Kagami again, giving her a small smile. "Yeah. Yeah, sure."

I waited as she and Luka walked around me then turned around and stared after them for a moment. "I'll just um…" I trailed off from my muttering to myself and watched as they started to talk with a couple other students that I didn't know but recognized as students a year or two older than me.

After a moment I smiled again before turning in the previous direction I had been facing and continued to walk through the crowd of students. I tried to mentally and emotionally prepare myself to see him, but I knew I wouldn't be ready enough.

After walking past a man dressed as Santa Claus, one of the teachers I think, and a couple other students, I turned my attention to a golden Christmas tree. I smiled to myself and couldn't resist touching a bough. Christmas trees really were one of my favorite things about Christmas.

Though my mood instantly changed when I look forward again. Despite telling myself to be ready for this part of the scene, I was far from prepared. I was still smiling as I took a few steps forward and looked around at everyone, then looked ahead. My smile slowly vanished when I saw him.

Adrien was standing across the opening in the crowd from me with Aurore Beauréal, a girl in our grade. Her long hair that was usually tied back into long pigtails was down and straightened, and she wore a very pretty red dress.

I watched as Adrien, smiling widely, leaned down closer to her while she kissed each of his cheeks, slowly leaning in and pulling away for each. Then they both turned away from me, facing two others they were with, and I watched as Adrien put his arm around Aurore's shoulders.

It was easy for me to look hurt and confused as I looked towards him, playing Marilee as she caught Zachary at the very party he had turned down the invitation to for work. I still wasn't quite ready to face him again after what he said to me.

I started to walk backwards to get away from him, though I walked straight into one of the others from my school. I turned around quickly and gave him an apologetic look with a quick "I'm sorry!" then continued to stumble through the gap in the crowd. I bumped into another when I glanced over my shoulder towards Adrien, and caused many eyes to fall on me.

I didn't care that the people were watching me leave, obviously knowing that I was distressed. But no one said anything to me as I walked by everyone and out the door, standing just outside the hotel's door. My breaths were coming in quick as I mentally panicked, feeling overwhelmed, and I fought the tears that threatened to ruin my makeup. I looked around a few times then motioned to a nonexistent cab driver before I started to wipe at my face just under my eyes.

When I heard Nino call the end of scene and told me I did a good job with the one take, my eyes instantly traveled to Alya. She could see how distressed I was and instantly rushed to my side, putting an arm around my waist.

"I'm so sorry…" She said to me gently as she hugged me from the side. "I know it hurt to see him…"

Nino, obviously pretending not to see us, quickly packed up the camera the fastest I've ever seen him do it and leave the two of us alone outside.

"I'm just not ready to talk to him yet." I choked out, still trying to hold back my tears that I was fighting harder to hold back.

"We know." Another gentle voice sounded at my other side and I turned my head to see Kagami had left the party to come and see me. "Come on, let's get you out of here. You did a good job for the scene."

"And you only have to do two more scenes with him." Alya added. "There's that one tomorrow and the very last one. You think you'll be able to get through them?"

I nodded as I looked at Alya, then at Kagami. Both were looking at me with concern as they led me away from the hotel and to Kagami's car. At the moment I really couldn't ask for two better friends to help me though this. I just hoped all this pain I felt would end soon.