Chat Noir didn't visit Marinette that night.

She hadn't expected him to, she shouldn't expect him to, and it was ridiculous to expect him to, and yet….

He hadn't shown up at all.

And it bothered her.

It bothered her a lot.

Marinette should have been exhausted after a long day filled with her nerves getting frazzled every five minutes by Adrien followed by a tiring Akuma battle, and a mob of reporters, and then being interrogated by Alya over the phone. Yet when it finally came to going to sleep, Marinette found herself laying on her back with her eyes wide open as she stared up blankly at her ceiling.

She could smell Chat Noir on her bedsheets.

It made her heart do a weird flip-flopping sensation as her stomach clenched and her throat tightened to the point of soreness.

She missed him.

She missed him so ridiculously much! She missed his warmth, and his strong arms, she missed his annoying puns, she missed his deep, warm, chuckle, and she just missed him.

When it felt like she finally drifted off to sleep she was woken up by the blaring sound of her alarm clock as Tiki, once again, lifted the blasted thing to her ear.

"GAH!" Marinette yelled as she rolled out of the bed and landed straight on the floor. Her duvet was tangled up in her legs which made it an absolute nightmare to get back up. "Tiki!" she cried out irritably. "What did you do that for?!"

"You were going to be late for school," Tiki replied mildly, "again."

"Urgh!" Marinette groaned. School meant Adrien which meant awkwardness and polite rejection at best and outright disgust and a restraining order at worst. She really didn't want to deal with that. Not today. Not after Chat Noir ran away, and that was just with Ladybug. She dreaded to think how he'll be if he were to encounter Marinette anytime soon. "Do I have to?" she moaned childishly. "I can't I just sleep for a day instead?"

Tiki merely replied with a stern look that Marinette could never win an argument against.

It was the same one her mother would give her.

So unfair!

So, with the greatest reluctance, Marinette dragged herself through the motions of getting ready to school. As if they sensed her sadness – and they probably did, they always did – Marinette's parents prolonged their usual goodbye hug to a long, deep, embrace that Marinette didn't want to leave at all.

But she had to face the music eventually and it might as well be sooner rather than later.

So Marinette pulled away reluctantly and slowly made her way towards the school. She was keenly aware how alone and Adrien-less she was this morning. Her hand felt empty without Adrien's fingers entwined with hers. She missed him like she missed Chat Noir, like there was a huge gaping hole in her very soul. She shook her head fast and hard so her pigtails whipped her cheeks.

"Don't be ridiculous Marinette!" she quietly scolded herself. "You've walked to school without Adrien before and you can do it again."

She made it to school without encountering Adrien which only served to twist her stomach into knots out of nerves as she stood outside the school building. She couldn't stop imaging horrible, humiliating, scenarios. Adrien was nice, he was so very kind, but that doesn't mean he would be able to express his regret about yesterday without it hurting her.

She took a deep breath.

"Like a band aid," she murmured to herself as she balled her hand up into a fist in an attempt to steel her nerves, "just rip it off quickly and it won't hurt as much."

She took another deep breath.

And another.

And then another.

And then she might have started to hyperventilate just a little bit but with a light, almost comforting, pinch from Tiki, Marinette pulled herself together enough to finally walk up the steps to the school building.

She kept her head ducked so she was looking at her feet as she made her way along the familiar path to her classroom. Th plan had been to avoid any pitying looks or to accidentally meet Adrien's eyes and cause a confrontation.

The plan backfired immediately.

As she wasn't looking where she was going she had promptly collided into a firm body and staggered back. She teetered on the back of her heels on the verge of landing on her backside on the ground when the victim to her clumsiness reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her back to safety…

And pressed right up against Adrien Agreste as emerald green met sky blue.

She blinked, unable to believe her eyes or sense of touch.

He blinked, and then paled dramatically before he then suddenly flushed bright red. Marinette barely had time to blink again when Adrien suddenly whipped his hand off of her wrist and stumbled backwards until there was a good six feet away from her.

As if her very touch scalded him.

As if she was a disease.

Marinette tried to not let it hurt.

He must be horrified and humiliated to have woken up and realised he spent a whole day holding the hand of just a friend. He wasn't being mean on purpose. He was just trying to not let her get the wrong idea after yesterday. She knew this was going to be case since the moment she realised he had been hit by the Akuma. She was prepared for this…

It still sucked though.

"M-M-Marinette!" Adrien stammered. "I….I…I….you….I mean…"

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

They both nearly jumped out of their skins s they clutched their chests in unison. Marinette didn't know about Adrien but her heart had just missed a few beats and almost dropped into her stomach from the sudden fright. Though she couldn't help but be grateful for the shock since it saved her from what was going to be the most awkward and terrible rejection in all of the history of rejections.

Saved by the bell! She rejoiced silently.

"Bell! School! Class!" she garbled out humiliatingly. "Got to go!"

And with that she sped as quickly as she could – without getting into trouble for running in the corridor – past Adrien and into the classroom.

"…you're a disgusting creep and a perverted little sneak!" Chloe snarled furiously as Marinette stepped into the classroom. There were bright red blotches on her face as she tried to maintain her haughtiest, nastiest, sneer her arms were crossed and she kept herself half turned away from Kim who was literally on his knees begging. "How dare you take advantage of me while I was under a spell?! I ought to have you arrested for date rape!"

"I didn't take advantage of you, my love!" Kim said pleadingly. "We just cuddled!"

"I wasn't in my right mind!" Chloe shrieked. "It's still taking advantage of my innocent, pure, and beautiful body!"

Everyone snorted at that.

If Chloe was innocent and pure then Marinette was Hawk Moth.

"Dude!" Nino cried out exasperated. "She was all over you and all you did was cuddle?! You could have made her do anything you wanted and you cuddled?! What is wrong with yo-ouch!" Nino clutched the back of his head where Alya smacked him so hard everyone heard the clapping sound. "What was that for?!" he yelped.

"Don't be so crass!" Alya glowered at him. "I think it's sweet that Kim was a gentleman while Chloe wasn't in her right mind."

"It doesn't matter if he was a gentleman or not!" Chloe scowled. "I've still humiliated myself with that lug and he did nothing to stop it!"

"But Chloe!" Kim cried out. "I'm your Kim-Bear!"

"Urgh!" Chloe pulled a face as she tried to push Kim away from her. "Get away from me you brainless jock!"

Marinette bristled at that.

Poor Kim was already having his heart broken, he didn't need to be called names either. Chloe didn't need to make this situation any worse than what it is. Infuriated for her friend and indignant on his –and her own, for wasn't she in Kim's shoes apart from Adrien was genuinely nicer than Chloe could ever be – behalf, Marinette stepped forwards.

"Chloe!" she snapped. "That's uncalled for!"

"What?" Chloe sneered. "I shouldn't be expected to return his feelings just because of an Akuma."

"Of course not," Marinette agreed irritably, "but you don't have to be so cruel about it either!"

"Oh!" Chloe huffed. "Whoever asked you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" she drawled out Marinette's name as if it was a rude word which only served to irritate Marinette even more. "Have you decided now that Adri-kins has come to his senses and realised what a loser you are that you should poke your nose in other people's love lives?" Chloe asked sweetly. "I suppose it would be the only way you'll know love."

There was a sharp inhaling sound behind Marinette and she didn't need to turn round to know that Adrien was behind her. She could feel he was there. She felt him now from the moment he walked through the door mere seconds after her. It was as if her body was tuned into his warmth or something equally ridiculous.

She didn't even need to turn round to know that Adrien was upset with Chloe.

She didn't want to turn round and see how uncomfortable he was for having his problems aired out like this.

"Chloe!" Adrien said warningly. "That's enough!"

"No!" Chloe spat out. "It isn't enough! Just because she's so pathetic that she doesn't have her own love life – after all, who can love a sad, creepy, little thing like that? – doesn't mean she can interfere in my love life!"

Marinette felt the last frayed restraints on her temper snap at that as she opened her mouth to just say what exactly she thought about Chloe when the door suddenly opened and everyone turned round with their best angelic faces in case it was the teacher.

It wasn't.

And instantly Marinette felt her mouth drop open in surprise.

It was Rose and Juleka.

And they were still holding hands!

Rose's hair was sticking on end slightly as if someone had run their fingers through them while Juleka's cheeks were flushed, and both of their lips looked swollen as they smiled with shy, sweet, delight.

There was no doubt in anyone's minds that they had just been kissing before they got to school.

Kissing one another!

At first no one was able to say a single thing as they continued to stare at the two girls. Rose smiled back, sweet as ever, while Juleka was getting more and more distinctly uncomfortable the longer the silence dragged on.

"So, erm," Adrien coughed awkwardly, "the Akuma didn't affect you then?"

"No," Juleka mumbled, "we got hit."

Rose squeezed her hand comfortingly as she gave Juleka the sweetest, most loving, smile that Marinette had ever seen. "You see when the Akuma hit us it was like we were compelled," she explained, "we had to be together, we had to touch one another, we couldn't be apart, but it didn't make us love one another."

Adrien's eyes widened as his sun kissed cheeks suddenly turned a dusty pink. "I-i-i-t d-d-didn't?" he stammered out.

"No," Rose said firmly, "when Ladybug cured us it took away the compulsive need to be near one another but it didn't take away the love. I still thought all the things I always thought about Juleka. I just…finally had my eyes opened to what I've been missing, and we talked, and Juleka confirmed that the Akuma didn't make her love me either."

"Always loved you," Juleka murmured shyly as she looked down at the floor, "no Akuma could make me love you."

"I know!" Rose beamed radiantly at Juleka. "No Akuma could make me love you either," she said reassuringly before she turned to face the rest of the class again. "So now, as you can see, we're a couple!"

There was a beat of silence as Roe's smile wavered slightly as her eyes flickered nervously across their fellow classmates. Juleka, overcome with shyness, kept her head firmly ducked down but her hand had tightened onto Rose's in an attempt to provide comfort and support.

Marinette only noticed because she was doing her level best to not look at Adrien.

And yet, she couldn't help but peer at him from the corner of her eye, and for a moment she could have sworn he was staring at her with wide eyes and red cheeks, but then she blinked and he was looking pointedly away from her.

She squashed down the little flutter of hope in her heart.

No!

She couldn't do this to herself, she just couldn't! It was a road to heartbreak to hope and see things that weren't there. And she really couldn't afford any more heartbreak these days.

Just because Rose and Juleka got a happy ending doesn't mean the rest of them will.

The silence dragged on a little uncomfortably and Marinette snapped out of her own turmoil to realise that someone had to do something before Rose and Juleka thought the worst and got upset.

So she pushed her own problems aside and plastered her best smile on her face. "Oh I am so happy for you both!" she cried out as she stepped forwards and hugged Rose. "I wish you nothing but the best!" she said as she turned and hugged Juleka.

She stubbornly ignored the burning sensation of emerald eyes boring into the back of her neck.

It's just my imagination! She told herself firmly.

Everyone else immediately jumped into congratulate Rose and Juleka. As soon as it became clear that no one had problem – apart from probably Chloe because she just couldn't stand other people being happy and was the only one that didn't say anything congratulatory – with Rose and Juleka being together, the two girls relaxed and cheerfully answered everyone's questions.

"So this would mean," Max said with a sly smile, "that either Chloe secretly loves Kim-"

"I DO NOT!" Chloe exploded. "I could never love a muscle-head like him!"

"- or that she doesn't actually love Adrien," Max continued as if Chloe had never spoken, "Because the way she was behaving with Kim was exactly how she behaves with Adrien usually."

"Hey," Kim brightened up, "you're right!"

"No he isn't!" Chloe shrieked.

"I don't know," Alya smirked, "I wouldn't call what you do to Adrien love. I think Max is onto something here."

"Well he's wrong!" Chloe said huffily. "Because I love Adrien! I love him with all my heart!" she then suddenly threw herself onto Adrien. The blonde boy yelped in surprise as he staggered beneath her weight. "Don't listen to them Adri-kins!" Chloe wailed. "These uncultured peasants know nothing of the depth of my love for you! I love you more than anyone else!"

"Chloe!" Adrien gasped. "I can't breathe!"

Chloe didn't relent whatsoever and spent the rest of the day plastered to Adrien's side as she desperately tried to reassure him that she truly loved him. It was incredibly cringe worthy to witness as all the girls in their class suddenly felt ashamed for sharing the same gender as Chloe.

And yet, it worked perfectly well in Marinette's favour as it made avoiding Adrien so much easier.

In fact she had manged to avoid him for almost the entire day until somehow, miraculously, Adrien escaped Chloe's grasp just as the school day ended.

"Marinette!" he called out softly. "Wait for a moment!"

Marinette closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.

She had been so close!

She was literally on the steps outside of the school when Adrien had finally caught up with her. She had been so very close to making a whole day without a confrontation!

But her luck had to run out at some point….

"Y-y-yes!" she stuttered and squeaked simultaneously. "W-w-what's up?"

Adrien opened his mouth only to slam it close as his cheeks flushed bright pink. "I, erm, you, well," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "about yesterday-"

"I'm sorry I took advantage of you!" Marinette blurted out before she could help herself. The words just tumbled out of her mouth before she could even think. "I didn't mean to!"

"What?" Adrien blinked, startled. "Marinette, what are you talking about?" he asked bewilderedly. "You didn't-"

And suddenly clarity smacked right into her as Marinette's eyes widened in horror.

"I have to go!" Marinette interrupted.

She just couldn't hear another word. She just couldn't! there were only two ways this could go, either he was going to reject her like she believed he would or suddenly he was going to declare his love for her, and now she was suddenly on the very precipice of either situation, she realised that she just couldn't listen to another word.

She didn't want to be rejected but she couldn't be with Adrien either.

For the first time, in what felt like forever, she was actually thinking clearly about Adrien, and in his presence, and she suddenly realised that she couldn't be with Adrien. With her duties as Ladybug it would be too dangerous for him but also because she really liked -

Fear flooded her system and before she knew what she was doing, she was running down the stairs to escape the awkward, horrible, situation.

"WAIT, MARINETTE!" Adrien shouted after her. "WAIT!"

She ignored him as she purposely dashed past the Gorilla – she really needed to learn Adrien's bodyguard's name – so before Adrien could even think of running after her, the man would catch Adrien and shove him into the limo for Adrien's classes or photoshoot. She then continued to run until she was back into the safety of her bedroom.

That was when she collapsed onto all fours, her face flushed bright red, as she panted like a dog. Thank God only Tiki was there to witness such an embarrassing sight!

"I don't understand," Tiki said softly as she watched Marinette try to catch her breath again, "Adrien didn't say anything before you ran away. He might not have been rejecting you, so why did you run?"

"Because!" Marinette gasped out. "He might not have been rejecting me!"

Tiki blinked her lovely big blue eyes bewilderedly. "I still don't understand," she murmured, "isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes!" Marinette cried out. "And no!"

Tiki blinked again. "Words, Marinette!" she chided Marinette gently. "You need to use your words."

"You remember when Chat Noir told me that he loved me the other night?" Marinette said quietly. "And I sort of just squeaked in reply?"

"Yes," Tiki smiled, "another perfect example of your inability to use language."

Marinette ignored the teasing jab. Any other day and she would have pouted and reacted to Tiki's teasing and let the mood lighten up and her worries melt away, but today she needed someone to talk to.

"I couldn't tell him that I don't love him back," Marinette confessed in a whispered, "but I also couldn't tell him that I did love him back."

Tiki's eyes widened with realisation. "I see," she said as her eyes twinkled merrily, "you like both Adrien and Chat Noir. That's not something to be ashamed of or scared about Marinette," she said comfortingly, "you're not in a committed relationship with either one of them. It's okay to like two people at the same time. It's what you do with those feelings that matter."

"Oh Tiki!" Marinette wailed. "That's exactly the problem! I don't know what to do!"

"You'll figure it out," Tiki said reassuringly, "there's no rush."

"But…but….but…"

"I wouldn't worry about it, Marinette," Tiki said gently as she nuzzled Marinette's cheek, "these things tend to work themselves out, you'll see."

Marinette smiled weakly back.

She didn't know how it work itself out. Her head and heart was so very confused and muddled, and she was so very scared about everything. She tried to push it all out of her mind though as she made an effort to tackle her homework.

After what felt like an eternity struggling to get through her algebra equations, Marinette threw her hands up in frustration as she dropped her pen. "I can't think!" she declared irritably. "I'm going to get some air!"

Tiki murmured something in reply but it came out rather muffled as her attention was absorbed by the chocolate chip cookie in her hand.

Marinette wished she could be so easily distracted by chocolate chip cookies especially those freshly baked by her parents.

Instead though her head was fuzzy with confusing thoughts about beautiful green eyed blonde haired boys who have smiles that were far too charming for her own good.

The air was cool that evening and Marinette savoured every deep breath as she savoured the feel of the breeze as it tickled against her skin. The fresh air didn't do much for her in the grand scheme of making an actual decision of the heart but it certainly helped her headache lighten up and the tension in her shoulders loosen up.

Idly, Marinette plucked a flower from a nearby pot and twirled the bright pink thing between her fingers as she sank down on the deck chair.

The last two days had been so exhausting!

She had been so flustered, and confused, and overwhelmed with all of these feelings. Chat Noir had made her melt in his embrace while Adrien had made all of her dreams come true by just holding her hand. Her heart ached at the thought that they were only doing it all because the Akuma and yet she was terrified they might return her feelings because she couldn't pick between them.

"Urgh!" Marinette groaned to herself. "I hate Hawk Moth!"

And she really missed Chat Noir.

And she really wanted to see Adrien.

And she really wished she knew her own mind.

Marinette plucked a petal off the flower almost absentmindedly. The petal itself felt like velvet beneath her fingers before she let it drop onto the floor. Adrien! She thought to herself before she plucked another. Chat Noir!

Adrien.

Chat Noir.

Adrien.

Chat Noir.

Adrien.

Chat Noir.

Adrien.

Chat Noir.

Adrien.

There was a soft thumping sound just as Marinette plucked the last petal of the flower. Her eyes widened as she took in the black leather boots that were perfectly balanced on the edge of her balcony. She could feel her eyes getting wider and wider as she let them sweep upwards the firm, slim, well defined body practically painted in the black leather as she let the last petal drop the floor.

Chat Noir…

He looked more nervous than usual but that didn't stop him from giving her one of his easy, charming, grins. "Hey," he said quietly.

"Hi!" she squeaked back.

There was a long silence as Marinette felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment and shyness. "Can we…?" Chat licked his lips nervously, "I mean could we…?" he trailed off again as he swallowed loudly.

Marinette flushed as she felt a pulse of desire thump inside her. She was completely enraptured at the sight of his Adam's apple bopping up and down as he tried desperately to get his words out.

Oh! She thought in dismay. Why does he have to be so beautiful?!

"….can we talk?"