With his father's permission – and unprecedented advice – Adrien rushed to Marinette's. She should be home for lunch by now, he told himself, heart pumping as he raced up the stairs. He avoided going through the bakery, taking the door straight to the stairs around the side. It was hard enough going to speak to Marinette, he didn't think he could handle speaking to her parents just then, both of whom were in the bakery.

He didn't quite know what he was going to say, but he did know that he had to talk to her. He had to get her to see, somehow, that he really loved her. He just needed to explain what had happened, tell her the truth, and she would understand. It was the only hope he had.

He reached her front door and knocked tentatively. What am I going to say? he wondered, what is she going to say? How will she feel seeing me again? After a minute without an answer, he tried knocking one more time. Maybe she's not coming home today? I should've waited before coming…

"What are you doing here?" came a voice from behind him. He turned in surprise to see her standing there, arms crossed and glaring at him. Marinette. Ladybug. My love.

Marinette headed back home for lunch. As she ascended the stairs to her apartment, she heard a knock on the door. Looking up the stairs she saw, standing at her front door, none other than Adrien. Immediately her grip tightened around the banister and she found herself unable to move. What's he doing here? she asked herself. She had half a mind to go back down and ignore him, but decided against it. She would not be controlled by him.

Marinette ascended the stairs quietly, standing right behind him, and crossed her arms. "What are you doing here?" she asked, making no attempt to keep the anger out of her voice. Adrien turned around suddenly, looking nervous. Marinette just glared at him.

"Hey, M-Marinette," he stuttered, "I just came by… to talk to you."

"I don't have anything to talk about with you," Marinette told him sternly. She was not interested in hearing whatever excuses he had imagined. She was done with him.

"Please," he looked at her desperately, his green eyes pleading with her to listen, "just let me explain…"

"Explain what?" Marinette asked, jabbing her finger toward him as she listed her accusations, "How you let me think you cared about me? How you pretended to like me? How you took me out on a date when you were in love with someone else? Is that what you want to explain?"

"No, I…" he seemed taken aback and looked away, embarrassed. She saw his cheeks grow red as he searched for words to say.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," she dismissed his stuttering, walking around him as she took her house key out of her purse and moved to unlock the door. She paused with her hand on the handle, not turning to look at him as she added, "I don't want to see you again." With that she opened the door and slammed it shut behind her.

For a moment, Marinette stood just inside the door, breathing hard as she tried to calm her shaking nerves. She felt her anger start to rise and a tear formed in the corner of her eye, but she calmed her temper and wiped the tear away.

"Why didn't you give him a chance?" Tikki asked, flying out of her hiding place. She looked worried.

"I want to," Marinette admitted with a sigh. She turned back, reaching out a hand and placing it on the door, feeling the need to reach out, but not sure what she really wanted. "I'm just… not ready yet."

Adrien stood alone in the hallway again, feeling lost. His lady was finally so close, but at the same time, she had never been further away. Her anger frightened him. He had never seen Marinette so mad before. It seemed like nothing he could say would get through to her. How can I get her to listen?

"I just wanted to tell you," Adrien whispered, reaching out a hand to rest on the door, tears streaming down his cheeks, "that I love you, Marinette."