CHAPTER 20: Gamer

Marinette sighed, a lovestruck expression upon her face as she stared at Adrien's picture on her computer screen. She leaned her face into her hand, tilting her head as her eyes softened more with the thought of the day's events.

"Marinette? Maarineettee!" Tikki flew in front of her face, only to cause the girl to nearly fall out of her chair.

"Oh, Tikki, you scared me," Marinette breathed, laying a hand on her chest.

The red sprite flew closer to the girl's face with a smirk. "Hmm, I wonder why you're so lost in dreamland, huh?" the kwami teased, giggling.

Marinette, used to Tikki's jabs now, barely managed to give her kwami a look before melting again at the boy on her computer screen. "I touched Adrien again, Tikki."

The kwami giggled in encouragement. "I know. I was there," she reassured.

"And it was multiple times today too!" Marinette cried, popping out of her desk chair and reaching up to her shelf. "I gotta make sure I write it down!" She grabbed her diary box and unlocked it with the key, flipping to a half-filled page with a list.

Times Adrien and I Have Touched

-When he gave me his umbrella the second day of school (two times, technically)
-When he took the bowler hat I made in his father's competition (still feel so guilty about making him sneeze, #FAIL)
-The day after Evillustrator, when he held my hand after school, right before he got all sad and distant for those few weeks (still never figured out why he was like that)
-The day Adrien invited us to the zoo, we hit heads reaching for that magazine (ugh, so embarrassing…)
-When he asked me to sign the album cover I designed for Jagged, our hands briefly touched!

Marinette sighed again at all the reminders of the spark that had passed between her and Adrien. Not only had they touched a lot, but recently she had also spent a fair amount of time with him outside of school. Two weeks ago had been the Jagged Stone concert, and just last week he had helped translate during her great uncle Cheng's visit to Paris. Just how long was it going to take before they changed into their soul animals and knew for sure that they were soulmates? Almost half the school year had gone by already and nothing had come of it!

She flipped to the next blank page in her diary and set her pen on the paper. Tikki, while concerned about the secrets Marinette could be writing down, floated away as she knew the girl liked her privacy.

Dear Diary,

Today Adrien and I touched again! And not just once, but 4 times! He came over today so we could practice for the UMS III Tournament, and there was a bit of confusion over what controllers we were using, so our hands ended up touching twice! I could barely focus on the game after feeling "the spark" two times in a row, not to mention Papa was being nosey again. But apparently I still ended up playing well enough, because Adrien totally complimented my gaming skills! (Although in a way where he was putting himself down, sadly.) He asked why I was so good, and I was able to give him my lucky charm (Touch #3!). Papa interrupted again at that point to offer us some pies, but since Adrien wanted one, we ended up going to the park to eat them. It was so amazing to spend those few minutes in the park together, and I actually talked to him for once! #WIN as Alya would say. But that was when Max showed up as an akuma, so Adrien and I quickly got separated from each other. But we were able to hold hands for a little bit when we were running away! (Touch #4!)

Considering how many times we touched today, I know I'm not imagining it! I feel the spark every single time I touch him, and since there's no one else that I've experienced it with, I'm positive that Adrien is my soulmate. Like Tikki told me way back when, the miraculous is interfering with the actual soul animal transformation. I just have to trust that it will happen in time, because fate and all that. Hopefully this time we actually transform though, because touching four times in the space of a day- that's gotta be enough, right?

I do feel a bit guilty about taking Max's spot in the tournament, and it sucked that he was so upset that he turned into an akuma over it. Maybe I should give up my place in the tournament this weekend and give it back to him. He's been working so hard on this and he really does deserve to play! Ugh, but it would mean not being on a team with Adrien, which I'm not sure I'm capable of giving up! I can't make a decision yet… Guess I'll just have to sleep on it.

Anyways diary, thanks for listening as always. Bug out!

Marinette

Satisfied with her new journal entry, Marinette flipped back to the page that listed all the times she and Adrien had touched. She added a sixth entry that read: When Adrien came to my house to practice for the UMS III Tournament, and we touched 4 times that day! She then closed up her diary, relocked it in its box, and put it back on the shelf where it belonged.

"All done?" Tikki asked, flying back closer to her owner.

"Yeah, and ready to tuck in for the night." Marinette stretched her arms up and yawned, a relief after sitting for so long. "It's been a long day, Tikki."

"It sure has," the bug agreed.

Marinette quickly changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and took out her hair ties before crawling into bed with a sigh. As always, thoughts of Adrien swirled around her head, with an increasing focus on the feeling of warmth she felt between them, since it was fresh in her head after the day's events. Waiting for their soul transformations sucked, but for now she could be content with getting to know him better and feeling the spark when they touched.

She couldn't help but feel a bit discouraged, though.

A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Haha, it's New Year's Eve where I'm at, but I have the day off work, so I thought I'd post this for the holiday!

This chapter is a bit short and makes me cringe a little bit due to how obsessive Marinette is, but that's just how her character is... in both the actual show and in this story! She's just a tad bit more obsessive here because she also thinks Adrien is her soulmate. So, I hope you cringed along with me!

And as we cringe or smile back at what was 2019, I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful 2020. You could bless my year by leaving me with comments :D lol

Starlin's Ghost