"Now, be careful which ones you pick, Marinette," Sabine told her daughter seriously. "Make sure their ripe, and look carefully for holes," her father put in. "Yes, Papa," Marinette sighed.
She loved apple picking, but she wished she had a friend to do it with. Mama and Papa had trees to pick a little ways off, while Marinette picked a little tree that was more her height. Waving her parents off, Marinette set to work.
It was a perfect day for picking apples as the sky was painted a special blue from an artist brush with mare's tails streaking the sky like the artist was having fun. Marinette sighed and carefully climbed down with the first few apples, being careful not to drop them. Now, where had she set her wagon again?
"Oof!" Apples tumbled out of her hands as she collided with another person, making her sit down hard. "I'm so sorry!" A voice caused Marinette to look up in surprise.
A boy about her age held out his hand to her to help her up, and Marinette's heart gave a extra thump as she looked into his face. She could tell he radiated kindness looking into his emerald green eyes, which held mischief and mystery. He had buttercup yellow hair, and sculpted cheek bones.
Marinette shook her head, trying not to stare to long. "I should have looked where I was going," she said, standing up and brushing herself off. "I'm Marinette." "Adrien. And its not your fault, its hard seeing around the corner."
"Are your parents picking apples too?" Marinette asked. "Mine in a bunch of them for the bakery they run." "Yes, my parents are picking apples but they said I could wander as long as I didn't go to far."
"Would you like to pick apples with me?" Marinette asked the other boy, shyly. It would so much more fun with Adrien then by herself. "Sure."
"So, what do you like to do, Marinette?" Adrien asked, as Marinette sat in the small tree, handing apples down to Adrien after inspecting each apple carefully. Strange, the lonely feeling she had earlier had completely vanished now that Adrien was here. "Sew, mostly. I want to be a fashion designer just like Gabriel Agreste." "That's my father," Adrien said, a touch of pride in his voice. Marinette's mouth dropped open. "I have read his magazine since I learned to read!" "You can meet him later," Adrien promised.
She had read articles about Adrien, but she never thought she'd actually meet him. "And you? What do you like to do?" Marinette asked, climbing down. Walking over to the wagon, she offered Adrien some graham crackers and apple juice. "We can have a snack break," she suggested, as they sat down in a patch of buttery sunlight making Adrien's golden hair shine softly. He's beautiful, Marinette thought, but its not just his looks. He has a way of making me feel calm and peaceful.
"Well, right now I like picking apples and talking to my new friend," Adrien smiled at Marinette and she blushed a rosy apple red. "Mother and Father don't let me out of the house much, but I love having tea parties with my stuffed animals. Maybe you'd like to come sometime?" "I'd love to," she told him, reaching for another graham cracker and there hands brushed each others. This time it was Adrien's turn to blush. "You know, I just met you, Marinette, but I feel like we'll be very close friends. Partners, even. You think I'm silly, don't you?" Marinette shook her head. "I've always wanted a friend like you. Quiet and nice, and letting me speak my mind."
Marinette didn't care for school to much, expect for her art class where she could escape into the world of paints and brushes, letting her creative mind come to life. Her classmates had teased her about her sewing, and Marinette had kept to herself after that.
Suddenly, a black cat walked up to them, and Adrien smiled. "Hello, where did you come from?" he asked, as the black cat sat down in his lap. Marinette giggled at the loud purr, and started petting the kitty. "Its fur is so soft," she said. "I wonder if it belongs to the owners," Adrien wondered as the black cat trotted away. It stopped suddenly by a nearby tree, its long tail swishing curiously. "What's it looking at?" Marinette asked, and the two friends got up to investigate.
A small ladybug was crawling up the side of the tree, the black cat following its every move. "Marinette?" Marinette heard her mother's familiar voice and she and Adrien ran back to the tree. "Did you have fun? It looks like you found a friend," Sabine smiles as she saw Adrien standing next to Marinette. "This is Adrien," Marinette said, just as Adrien's parents stepped through the trees.
Introductions were made all around, and when Marinette met Mrs. Agreste's she was impressed how much Adrien resembled his mother. However, she felt a strange sadness when shaking hands, a sadness she couldn't put her finger on. She was thrilled to meet Mr. Agreste.
"A is for Apple and for Adrien," Mrs. Agreste told her son. "Yes, Mother. And F for new friend," Adrien smiled at Marinette.
Soon it was time to say goodbye, and Adrien gave her a small hug. "I'll see you soon, Princess," he whispered. She just nodded, feeling shy.
As her parents drove home, Marinette dreamed in the back seat. She dreamed she and Adrien were a cat and a ladybug like they had seen this afternoon, but they had special powers and were best friends.
She had the power to create, he the power to destroy. The dream faded and Marinette slept on.
Adrien watched her car drive away, as his family waited for their limo. "See you soon, M'lady," he whispered. He looked down at his shadow, and it was strange because for a moment he thought he saw his shadow with cat ears, a gold, and a long tail.
He dreamed of Marinette that night, dressed in a red-and-black spotted suit, a confidence smile to her beautiful face.