Marinette slept at night thinking and actually believing that she was over him. Over a week's worth of text messages were right there, unreplied and unread. Curiosity didn't kill her this time, not even when she thought about how Adrien got her number.
But she woke up that morning, and suddenly she remembered something he had told her as Adrien. It wasn't anything in particular, just a normal conversation out of the countably finite ones they had. But it made her laugh, and it made her want to see him in the light he used to be as opposed to what he was to her now. She had the urge of going back to the way things were before. To return to school instead of doing all of her work online and through emails with her teachers.
As her phone lit up in front of her, she had to fight the urge to let warm tears wet her cheeks. She had to fight the urge of unlocking her phone and calling him up. She had to fight the urge of admitting to herself that she wasn't over him. Call her crazy for reacting the way she did… Tell her it was unfair of her to ignore him… but she was allowed to be hurt. Especially because he knew. He knew she was ladybug. He knew that she was infatuated with Adrien. He knew and he didn't even hint at her.
"I hate him," she swore, looking at Tikki. And her hands clenched into fists, so tight that her nails dug deeply into the palm of her hands.
Tikki looked at her, a sad expression spreading across her face. "Don't say that, Marinette. Even you didn't want to tell him your identity. Can't you just be happy that you don't have to choose between them now?"
Marinette shook her head. "I hate him." She promised, her hands shaking so violently that she has to unclench them and grab onto her desk to steady herself.
"I hate him," she repeats. Once, twice, three, even four times. "I hate him."
But Tikki could see by the fire in her eyes that she didn't hate him. She could see by the marks made on her hands that his name was scrawled into her skin. Mari didn't hate him, but she wanted to. Oh, she wanted to.
Adrien was disappointed when Marinette didn't show up at school yet again. It was his fault. He knew it. He just couldn't bring himself to see her face to face… but he knew he would have to. He knew that he would have to tell her something… he would have to fix this. Ladybug hadn't been seen in the streets of Paris for a week and he was exhausted after having to fight akumas… especially since he couldn't purify them. He could, of course, get them out of a person… but they just moved on to another. He would've assumed that Ladybug would've put her duty as a hero over her heart… but he tended to see the best in people. She was really letting his reveal get to her, and he couldn't be half of a duo without her.
He couldn't help but feel like Marinette deserved better. She was perfect, as herself and as Ladybug. Marinette deserved someone who was actually worth something. As Chat Noir he was a superhero that had Ladybug's back… but what was he as Adrien? He was just Adrien, a model… that's all he was known for. Nobody, except for Nino, knew what his real life was like. What his family was like… And it wasn't as if anyone cared. And now, more than ever, he had to deal with Chloe. He tolerated her for his father, but lately all he wanted to do was be with Marinette.
He had expected Marinette to accept him, but instead she was like everyone else… they all pushed him away.
"Marinette, someone's here to see you…" Sabine pushed open the door, and looked at her distraught daughter. She didn't know what happened the night of the ball, but it was bad enough for her to be moping for over a week.
"Send them away. I don't want to see anyone," she mumbled, running a hand through her hair.
"You need to see people, darling. You can't be isolated for the rest of your life. You know I won't pressure you to talk to me about what happened, but I think you should try to move on from whatever it was."
Marinette took a deep breath, focusing on her desk. "It's not that simple."
"Of course not, love, but you should still try. At least see this person for a couple of minutes."
Marinette nodded. "Fine. But only for you…"
Sabine nodded, and closed the door. She walked downstairs and smiled at the worried boy in front of her. "She'll see you."
Adrien sighed in relief. "Thank you so much." Sabine nodded again, gesturing to the stairs.
"First door on your right."
Adrien nodded again, and took off up the stairs. His heart was pounding as he reached her bedroom door. He raised his hand to knock, taking a deep breath. He knocked once, before twisting the doorknob and pushing the door open. He glanced around the room, eyes finally settling on her.
She was staring at him, eyes wide.
"Why did you stop talking to me?" He asked, green eyes darting wildly across hers.
"You were my best friend," her lips began to tremble as she slowly stood up. Her stomach began to turn and she couldn't find air to breathe. What was she supposed to tell him? That he wasn't just a best friend to her? That her soul ached for him every time they weren't together?
"I didn't do anything wrong… I just told you what I've been wanting to tell you for so long…"
"Which one is the real you?" She asked, voice cracking.
"What do you mean?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you Adrien or are you Chat? Because you're so different as both of them…"
"I'm both… I'm Adrien and Chat." Adrien sighed, taking a step towards her. His heart hurt as she took a step away from him.
"You're not serious, are you? You can't be both. You're too different. One has to be a façade."
"It's not like that. As Chat I'm more free… mostly because I'm around you."
"You have got to be kidding me!" She snapped. "You can't just flirt with me! You were so uninterested in me as Adrien, but as soon as I'm Ladybug you're in love with me! I'm sorry that the real me, the girl behind the mask is so disappointing!"
"Marinette, that's not… that's not true at all…"
"Don't say that. You wouldn't be interested in me if you didn't know who I really was, and you know it. If I wasn't Ladybug, you wouldn't even look at me. I'm just another classmate to you. And that's all I ever would be."
"That's not true! I saw you! I wanted to be friends with you! You're not just a classmate to me… you said so yourself! We were best friends! The dynamic duo! And let's not forget about how you thought you were high and mighty as Ladybug. You were too good for me. I could never measure up to you. In your eyes, I was nothing but a flirt. But I only ever flirted with you! I've only ever seen you! As Ladybug and as Marinette. My soul recognizes you. Even if I was too dense to realize it before. I know now how I really feel."
"Stop… There's nothing left to say… it's best that you just go…"
His eyes widened. "What? But I… I love…"
"Just go, Adrien! I can't do this anymore! I need time to think…"
Adrien nodded slowly, a hurt expression covering his face. "It's best that I leave then."
Marinette nodded, staring at him. And she let him go. Because what do you say when the person you love more than anything was not who you thought he was? What do you say when you realize how much a week has changed both of you? What do you say when you crave his touch more than anyone else's? What do you say when your heart's breaking, and all you want is for him to come back and hold you?
She didn't know.