Chapter Eleven – Habits
Over the next week, Marinette's morning routine changed dramatically. Instead of lurching awake at her alarm, only to turn it off and fall back asleep instantly, she would now open up her secret texting app and look at what Cat Noir had sent her. It turned out, he was an early riser, and she had woken up every morning to see a cute message or a silly joke. Delight bubbled inside her to know that he sent her these things just because he wanted to make her smile.
This morning, a simple text waited for her.
The Dork: Good morning! I miss you! You are the best part of my day. ❤️
"Aww!" Marinette ducked her head under the covers, though with Tikki still asleep, no one was around to see her crimson cheeks and radiant smile.
This was another thing that had changed, though it had developed more subtly. Before, she'd only blushed when he was around. In the past few days, she had started to blush and giggle to herself whenever she got a text, or even when she was only thinking about him. And it was happening more and more often.
This... this wasn't "friend" behavior.
She didn't make it a habit of getting up early to check Alya's texts or Nino's messages. They couldn't make her blush. She didn't spend the hours she was away from them missing them. No, this was definitely not how she treated a friend. Her heart did a little flip at the realization.
Before she could change her mind, she wrote back, "Aw, you're cute. 😊" and climbed out of bed.
The cold rungs of the ladder on her feet helped wake her up, physically and mentally, and she thought maybe she should tone it down with the texting. They'd been friends for too long for their relationship to change so dramatically. And after all, she was still 100% devoted to Adrien. Whatever feelings she had for Cat Noir were probably going to pass in a few days.
I think.
At the bottom her ladder, she yawned and stretched and looked up. It was only then that she realized what she was standing under. Adrien's schedule. The one she used to check every day. Her habit of reaching for the cord every time she walked past had evaporated without her noticing, and she couldn't even remember when she'd last checked it. A week ago? Two weeks? She didn't know.
A thought, which sounded very much like Cat Noir, asked, Is that a purr-oblem?
No. No puns. That was habit she was never going to start.
She reached for the cord, then lowered her hand slowly, leaving the calendar hidden where it was. She felt no desire to check it.
Author's Note: So... she finally admits it.
Hey, real quick, I need a building or monument that's close to Marinette's house where two people could sit for an extended period of time and not be bothered. I'm taking suggestions.