Hey guys!
I'm kinda curious where everyone went.
Thank you to those of you who did stick around and read/review during the holiday!
I'm going to keep things short and skip over reviews this time because this story is over a whopping 2,000 words! HURRAY!
Some of you guys will notice that the content of this chapter is very similar to the original version.
That's honestly because I love the way I originally wrote this one. The next few chapters will have similar variations of their original counterparts but there will be lots of changes and editing before the story takes off into a new direction once more.
Without further ado, I bring to you! The next chapter in this series,
Different: Not Identical; different or distinct.
Adrien's POV
I sigh as I wait patiently for my Marinette's plane to arrive. I anxiously check the times listed on my phone screen.
I refresh the time again and again, shifting around in my uncomfortable plastic airport chair. I jump a little when a hand rests on my shoulder. I look up to see Alya with a soft smile on her face, sitting next to me. Her other hand claimed by one of my closest friends and her Fiance, Nino.
"Everything's gonna be fine Adrien. She's fine." She squeezes my shoulder before letting go.
I attempt to smile but I'm too nervous.
It's December 5th and I haven't seen her for nearly 2 years. I try not to focus on the fact that she'll only be here for a month before she's planned to fly back to the states to finish her last semester in New York.
Sure, we talked as much as humanly possible despite our classes, jobs, and time zone differences.
"What if she's different now? What if she doesn't want to be best friends anymore? Oh, God, what if I'm just a thing of the past now?"
Alya takes my hand. "I know it's scary to think things might be different, but you guys'll get through it, I know you will."
Nino laughs. "There aren't many couples out there that can go through what you two have and come out stronger than before. Anyone with two brain cells can see you guys were meant to be."
My cheeks flush. "We're not a couple!" I blurt.
"Yet." they say in unison.
I huff and turn my attention to my phone.
I refresh the airport's web page once more. It takes me a moment before I realize they've not only arrived but they're deboarding.
As if on cue the large metal doors open and people start to make their way inside after their long flight.
I jump out of my seat and make my way over to the door. I lean against a beam a little out of the way but still visible to the crowd.
I beam and bounce around nervously as people walk past me. At some point I'm joined by Alya, Nino, and Mme. and M. Dupain-Cheng.
Finally my eyes catch a familiar tuft of midnight blue hair. She looks my way as the crowd clears.
When I finally get a good look at her my heart stops.
Her blue eyes stare back at me and I swear she stopped time just for the two of us. She clutches her pink backpack and I see sparkling tears filling her eyes.
WIthout a second thought I jog over to Marinette and pull her tightly into my arms. I bury my face in her now long flowing hair.
"Mari," I whisper.
"minou." She quickly wraps her arms around my neck.
Tears stream down my cheeks and my breath becomes shaky.
"A-Are you crying?"
"No! Well, I uh, maybe? Don't judge me, I missed you, Okay?"
"I missed you too Minou."
I begin to notice little changes here and there. Subtle differences about her that make my heart race.
For one, her voice seems almost more mature, wiser.
She's still my tiny ladybug but it's almost as if she's fuller, like her body finally caught up with the fact that she's 24 already.
I flush as I become aware of her scent, like a calming smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns.
When I pull away I'm struck by how beautiful she is. I mean I knew she was beautiful but, wow.
Her cheeks are flushed from crying, her long hair cascades down to the middle of her back, her fair skin is dotted with millions of freckles, and her eyes… God, when did her eyes become so hypnotising?
My heart races as my eyes travel down her lightly glossed lips. I blink and take a deep breath to snap myself out of it, and for a moment I think I'm good, but I find myself pressing my lips to the back of her hand. With a smile and a whisper.
"I love you Mari."
Marinette's POV
The flight was long and annoying. I left with very little to do other than watch sappy romance movies I had saved to the extra SD card I placed in my phone. I cried several times and I think I pissed off the guy sitting next to me.
When I finally got of the plane I navigated out to the docking bay and into the airport. I frantically search for that familiar blond mop of hair.
What if things are different? What if he's not the same lovable dork he was when I left?
When I see him my eyes prick with tears and my heart swells. I imagined what it'd be like to see him again ever since I got off the plane in new york 2 years ago.
I imagined laughing, hugging, and storytelling, but that's not exactly what I got.
When I saw him my chest hurt.
I'll be honest with you, as soon as I heard him sniffling in my ear, my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.
How in the world did I not realize how much I had been hurting him?
As I cling to him I realize he must've gotten taller. I have to get up onto my tippy toes to hug him.
His hair looks shaggier, wilder, and I can smell a faint hint of cologne that had seeped deep into his clothes.
I feel safe and warm in his strong embrace.
When we finally let go it feels like half of me is being ripped apart.
I'm startled when I realize how deeply he's staring at me. His green eyes remind me of a warm summer's day, like the meadows that stretch through the quiet countrysides of france.
I flush when I catch him staring intensely at my lips and I look away, ashamed of my racing heart.
He's my best friend! We love each other platonically! That's it!
Then he takes a hold of my hand and does something he's never done before.
He bows and kisses the back of my left hand, right over my ring finger.
"I love you Mari."
He grabs my bag without another word and takes a step back allowing my family and friends to hug me.
I'm not even able to question him before he disappears behind everyone else.
Suddenly I'm drowning in questions about my flight, if I'm hungry, do I need anything, and why are you crying?"
My flight was fine.
I am not hungry.
I need my best friend.
I am crying because I missed him.
When everything settles down we head to baggage claim and then to the parking garage.
Nino and Alya get into their car, my parents into theirs, and finally I settle into the passenger side of Adrien's.
We all agreed that I needed some rest and so we decided to meet up at the bakery in the morning.
I would be staying in my old room in our apartment.
Adrien's POV
I have a hard time keeping my eyes on the road on the way home. Everything feels so surreal to have her here.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I want her here. It's just, well… It's like a dream.
I didn't sleep much the night before she landed in Paris. Anxiety and excitement kept me up through the long hours of the night.
I reach my hand over to my thigh and pinch hard. I wince and try to come to terms with the fact that, yes, this is real.
Marinette rests a hand on my thigh right over my hand. I wrap my fingers around hers as we travel through the night.
The drive is calm and quiet. Despite the stories I'm itching to trade we fall into a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's presence.
When I pull into the parking lot I shut down the engine and take a deep breath.
When I glance over to the midnight haired beauty seated next to me I find her softly sleeping.
A soft smile graces my lips as I quietly climb out of the car and walk over to her door. After opening it I unbuckle Mari and gently nudge her, soliciting a moan from the girl.
"Come on Mari, wake up for just a sec so we can get inside. Then you can go right back to sleep."
Another moan, this time slightly more irritated, slips past her lips.
"I'll give you a piggyback ride." I coo to her as if speaking to a child.
I smile when this finally gets her to peak open an eye. She holds out her arms and mumbles a nearly incoherent 'Okay'. I turn around and she wraps her arms and legs around me.
My heart jolts at her touch. I hike her onto my back and wrap my hands around her lower thighs so she doesn't fall off.
After successfully lifting her out of the car I shut the door and make my way inside the building with my keys. I decide to leave her luggage in the car until morning. I'd rather focus on not dropping Mari. I make my way up the stairs, take a left and wander down the hall until I reach room 3H
I dig my keys out of my pocket and with a slight jingle I open the door.
When I walk inside the main room that serves as a living room, dining room, and kitchen I realize just how cluttered everything is.
Papers that have yet to be graded are strewn across the coffee table, My filing cabinets still have yet to be reorganised for the new semester, empty coffee cups rest on every surface showing just how hectic things have been over the last week. I sigh and turn towards the hall making my way to Mari's room. I sigh as I shift Mari around in my arms and lay her down on the bed. Once safely tucked in I step away. I'm surprised when I'm stopped by her hand wrapping around my wrist. I look over my shoulder to see my best friend looking up with tired eyes.
"You okay princess?"
"Don't go." She pleads with a whisper.
I take one look at her shimmering eyes and I know what I have to do. I turn out the light and climb into the bed and lay down under the covers before wrapping my arms protectively around her waist. I nuzzle my head into the crook of her neck, letting her hair cover my face.
As I rest comfortably listening to her quiet breaths as she drifts to sleep I realize a few things.
First of all I am screwed. I don't know if my heart can handle being so close to the woman I love even though she has no clue how I feel.
Second of all I'm falling asleep with my best friend nestled in my arms. My best friend who not only is beautiful, kind, and brave, and who ever manages to snag her heart will be the luckiest man alive, but she's also the girl who vowed to wait until after college to ever consider dating.
After Nath and Kagome we knew that dating in highschool would never work out. And we didn't want our friendship to end because of a silly highschool romance.
Now, after 8 years after that promise we're on the brink of graduation. I'll be finishing my bachelors degree majoring in physics and education and Marinette will be graduating with a degree in fashion design.
What if Marinette wants to pursue a relationship?
By heart jumps at the thought. Marinette, my luck ladybug, my best friend, my princess, my partner in crime, all of these things fit comfortably in my mind, but my girlfriend? My lover? It'd be nothing but a dream come true, but I've never been that lucky when it comes to anything.
I shove the confusing thoughts aside and focus on the rhythmic sounds of our mingled breaths. Eventually my eyes grow heavy with exhaustion and my world fades away so that the only thing I'm aware of is the warmth of Marinette safely tucked away in my arms.