Tuesday – 12th February
When the alarm clock rang, Marinette felt like pulling the covers over her head and pretending she was gone. Maybe that wasn't much of her maturity, but she was only fourteen! Who demanded a fourteen-year-old to behave mature? Well… Maybe her parents… Marinette sighed in resignation and got up.
Yesterday had been a nightmare. And today it would be even worse! Today she'd face Adrien. After that yesterday's compromise… Because it was a compromise, whatever Alya said about it. Marinette analysed this very carefully. Point by point.
She'd made the first mistake when she agreed to go with Alya to the park. Especially when she'd been informed who they would probably meet there. Or rather – who they would meet there for sure. In result, she was dragged there by force and put in front of Adrien, who was so embarrassed that Marinette felt sorry for him. Well… She was aware that he had tones of admirers around him. This compromising moment lasted and lasted. In the end, Marinette couldn't stand it anymore and just ran away. Of course, Alya ran after her, leaving the astonished boys. And today at school… Marinette knew that she would suffer the consequences of this retreat. So, it would be even more awkward than before.
She entered the class quietly, trying to melt into the crowd, the background, and best to vanish into thin air. But it was hopeless if Adrien was sitting right in front of her…
She sat down and began to review the notes from the previous French Literature lesson. She read them for the tenth time, when she noticed a move in the desk in front of her. Adrien appeared, and Marinette – even though she'd already known the notes by heart – began to study them with exceptional attention.
"Hi, Marinette…" she heard over her head.
"Uhm… hi-hi…" she muttered, not looking up.
In response, she heard a quiet sigh, but she didn't care. If he wanted to talk about her yesterday's behaviour, doing it in front of the whole class was too much for her. Especially, when there was too close to Chloe Bourgeois, who would do anything to humiliate Marinette. Never!
o o o
Tuesday afternoon – 12th February
"What happened to you today?!" Alya asked her friend with reproach just after school.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" Marinette muttered, curled herself up on her bed.
"You behaved like a pig! So as not to say a shrew! How could you treat Adrien like that?!"
"I didn't treat him at all."
"You totally ignored him, girl!" Alya was merciless. "It was very unpleasant."
"I… I didn't want to… be unpleasant…" Marinette stammered. "But… After yesterday… I completely didn't know how to behave."
"So, you chose the worst you could. Do you know what he could think about you?!"
"As you put it this way, I can actually start to imagine it. It's a complete catastrophe."
"Is it?" Alya replied sarcastically.
"So, what now?" Marinette asked helplessly.
"I'd say too late, girl." Alya really had to be angry at her friend, since she didn't hurry up with good advice.
"Alya…"
"Write him this goddamn valentine card! This is your last chance. You didn't see his face today! He looked all forlorn."
"Stop making me more upset."
"You deserve it. God, Marinette! You're not like that!"
"I know… It's all because of the Valentine's Day…"
"You have to pull yourself together." Alya sighed. "He must know you as you really are, not a neurotic idiot you have recently become."
"You called me a neurotic idiot?" Marinette jumped up from the bed in surprise.
"I had to shake you!" Alya crossed her arms and looked at her friend seriously. "You're a wonderful, lovely and friendly girl. You and Adrien are made for each other. But you can't act like an idiot every time he's around! When you took part in the election for the class president, you put your best foot forward. You really impressed several people. And one of them was Adrien. I know this for sure, because Nino told me what Adrien had told him about the impression, you'd made on him. And then you took part in the competition for the design of the bowler. You impressed him again with how you defended yourself against being accused of plagiarism and proved your copyright to the project. I thought you'd overcome your shyness. That it would be over the hump now. And you started this… uhm… comedy!"
"It's all because of the Valentine's Day…" Marinette repeated, surprised by her friend's speech.
"Pull yourself together, girl! I've told you that tones of times! That guy is practically yours. All you have to do is to take him!" Alya tried to encourage her friend.
"Okay." Marinette made a decision. "I'll give him the valentine card. But I'll follow your advice and I won't sign it. Let him figure out who's the sender."
"But… you're going to leave him a hint, aren't you?" Alya asked in a suspicious tone.
"I even have an idea what it could be…" Marinette smiled mysteriously.