The students from the school where our heroes studied will have a trip to the beach. They would stay there all weekend and do all the beach fun activities like swimming, diving, walking around on the sand with their feet in the water and all the other stuff they like and they could think of, including taking pictures with the surfboards, swimming in the ocean, and getting caught by the waves and surfing.
"Alright students, pay attention." Miss Bustier said. "Tomorrow, as you know, we will have a trip to the beach and we have already made a reservation, so I want you to bring permission from your parents that they let you go on the trip."
As the Teacher explained about more things to be found, the students started talking to each other, discussing how they would spend their time at the beach and what would be the most fun thing they could do.
Marinette couldn't help but stare at the handsome blond boy who was a few meters away from her. He was just so wonderful, kind, thoughtful, charming and... perfect. Oh, she couldn't wait to see him walking across the sand and her looking into those beautiful eyes. She sighed dreamily and Alya giggled next to her.
"Marinette it's going to be a lot of fun to all be at the beach." Adrien said and his angelic voice brought her out of her trance.
"Uhh…hehe. Yes, it will be a lot of fun to be with you, I mean with my classmates… hehe". Marinette muttered as she stared at the floor in embarrassment.
"How will you survive this excursion? You're a hopeless case." Alya laughed after Adrien turned around.
"I'm not!" Marinette protested.
"It's just…" She stopped before continuing her sentence.
"Just what?" Alya asked curiously when she noticed a slight change in her friend's behavior.
"You're right." She whispered, then added louder. "I'm a hopeless case, but you'll be with me and I'll be fine."
Alya smiled and patted Marinette on the back.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'm sure everything will be fine." Alya tried to reassure her best friend, but it wasn't very convincing. Marinette felt like she couldn't believe herself. She was used to being insecure, but Alya always encouraged her to take risks, live in the moment, and not worry about small things. So maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad for her and they would have fun together.
"Let's hope so." She finally said, smiling shyly.
"So Adrien, are you excited for tomorrow?" Nino asked.
Adrien nodded impatiently. "Of course! I've never been to a beach like this…or any beach, really. What's the first thing you're going to do when we get to the beach?"
Nino chuckled. "Well, if I had to choose a specific activity, I would say swimming in the ocean or watching the waves crash into the shore. How about you?"
"Well, since I won't swim or watch the waves, I'd rather walk around the beach and eat some food." Adrien answered with a shrug.
"Sounds like a plan to me, man!" Nino said enthusiastically.
Adrian and Nino continued to talk and discuss what they could do on the beach. While the two boys talked excitedly, Marinette was busy daydreaming. However, they weren't the only ones having an interesting conversation.
"Hey Zack. What are you going to do when we're at the beach." Scarlett said.
"Scarlett, you knew I love the sea. I love the sea and especially watching sunsets. Seeing this endless landscape of water and this bright orange ball disappearing from the horizon. It's really beautiful, but I have one problem, I can't swim and I kind of don't like going in the water much. And about your question about what I'm going to do at the beach. I'm going to listen to a nice audiobook on psychology. And what are you going to do on the beach, Scarlett?" Zack said.
Scarlett thought for a second. "Well, first I'm going to walk on the beach and then I'm going to go in the water for a swim, but of course it's not too deep and then when I get back to my room I'm going to play a little violin."
"That sounds good to me. Can I stay in your room while you play the violin." Zack asked.
"Of course Zack. I didn't know you loved violin music so much." Scarlett said curiously.
"Yes, I really like violin music. Although you know perfectly well exactly what kind of music we listen to in my country, you really can find it strange." Zach said.
"It may be true that indeed the music in your country is strange, but basically any country when you listen to music that they are not familiar with, it seems strange to you." Scarlett said.
"Thank you Scarlett." Zach said and loudly showed his Bulgarian cent. He knew that his half nationality had its problems. He was half Bulgarian, half French, he was very proud of his countries, but sometimes he had the feeling that he could not be so proud of Bulgaria. He had once asked a question to his father and why he was so proud of Bulgaria. His father answered the question with a big smile and saying that in every country there will be good and bad people, there will be good and bad things, but what makes a country beautiful. Not the wealth and authority it has over other countries, but the people in this country. Indeed when he heard this he understood what his father wanted to say. The Bulgarian people have suffered many problems in their history but they have always stayed united and helped each other no matter what, they are still here.
"Zack can I ask you something." Scarlett said because she remembered something that struck her as odd.
"Sure Scarlett, ask me." Zack said and thought he knew what Scarlett was going to say.
"Where exactly did you get that audio book you'll be listening to on our trip to the beach?" Scarlett asked.
Yes Zack was right in his guess and said with a smile. "Unfortunately, Scarlett, I can't answer that for you. But I'll just give you a hint of where I got it from with a Bulgarian proverb, and it's 'The Bulgarian will become a great citizen of the world the day he abandons his lowest quality — to always look to pass thinly, and not to pay fairly for what he gets.' You know me well enough to know exactly how I got this audio book."
Scarlett gave him an amused look and then began to laugh. "Okay, well, but I'm pretty sure even a person who knows you would need a long time to understand you."
Scarlett and Zack continued to talk about some general things and what they wanted to do when they got to the beach and Zack said that he would find out what specials to eat there. Scarlett knew perfectly well that his friend could cook far better than she could. Although she tried many times, she couldn't even boil regular eggs and all her attempts were a disaster, so she always ordered ready-made food. The rest of the students continued to talk to each other until finally Mrs. Bustier released them, reminding them to bring their parents' permission to go on the field trip. All the students quickly started packing their things in their bags and left the room and went to their homes to get ready for their trip to the beach.
Marinette had come back from school and immediately went to her room to get her things ready for the beach. She frantically and nervously started going through her clothes and didn't know what to choose to wear so that Adrien could see her and spend the whole day with him. Her kwami just looked at her from the side, wondering what her owner was doing and why she looked so nervous and worried. Tikki knew very well that she had to do something or Marinette could get hurt. Marinette was a good friend, she cared deeply about her and her feelings but sometimes she just needed help.
Tikki quickly flew towards her and stood right in front of her face. "Marinet calm down there's no need to mess around you have all day to get things ready."
When Marinette saw her kwami in front of her and what she heard she immediately fell to the floor and let out a loud groan. Tikki saw her owner turn gray and put her hands to her head so no one could see her because she was ashamed of herself. Tikki knew very well how important the trip with Adrien was to Marinette, But Marinette couldn't control her anxiety when it came to it.
"Oh Tikki. I don't know what to do. I want to look good in a bathing suit so Adrien can spot me, but I don't know what to wear." Marinette said
Tikki was shaking her head slightly because she knew Marinette had similar situations when it came to impressing Adrien. She knew that her human girl couldn't think straight with her crush so close by, but there was something else she couldn't figure out either.
"Marinette, I don't know what to do in situations like this, it's weird for me, but..." Marinette lifted her head and looked Tikki in the eyes. "… I'm starting to worry about you." Tiki finished.
Marinette sighed and covered her face in shame. "I'm sorry Tiki, I know I'm being silly and I'm just scared. Whenever I'm around Adrian or thinking about him I act without thinking and without being able to control myself."
Tikki smiled at her owner. "Don't feel guilty Marinette, just remember that everything will be alright. Remember that this trip is going to be amazing and if you start worrying about everything now you won't have any energy for later. Just enjoy this moment while you can and try to relax."
Marinette nodded and looked at her kwami with wide eyes. "How am I supposed to relax knowing my crush is nearby? This is going to be one hell of a vacation."
Tikki smiled again and gave her owner a comforting pat on the shoulder. "You just focus on one thing today. Don't be too worried about anything else okay?"
"You're right Tikki, I need to stop worrying and focus." Marinette said.
"I'm glad you're better now." Tikki said and she was pleased with herself for helping Marinette feel better.
Zach was in his room packing his bag for the trip to the beach. Even though he still had time to prepare, and even though Zack often waited until the last minute to do some things that didn't seem so important to his attention, this was different. He began to arrange his things that he would need for the trip. He put in his bag a folding shovel and a metal detector he had bought at half price, it was indeed a very good buy, a belt that has very deep pockets and a straw hat. His kwami were circling around a lot wondering what Zack was doing. Halub who had spent much more time with Zack also wondered what he was doing because sometimes even to him the things his owner was doing seemed unclear and confusing. What was left for Labag, who was much more confused and also did not find any logic in the things his master put in his bag. Although he had not been to the beach, he remembered that one of his previous owners had taken him on a trip to the sea and they had to take a boat, but then the master took with him a bottle of water, tools to repair the boat if any need, a harpoon, and a fishing-net, but Labagh had never before heard such articles as his master enumerated, except the spade, but not the other implement.
Halub wanted to know what was going on around the head of his owner and so he approached him and in a curious voice asked. "Zack, what are you doing?" Halub trying hard to understand what his master was trying to accomplish.
"I'm preparing the things I'll need for the beach." Answered Zack, who clearly didn't understand Halub's hint, because he had to explain the strange things he was putting in his bag.
"Zack, I know you're packing your beach bag. I mean, why do you need a shovel, a mental detector, and that weird belt." Halub said, trying to be specific because he knew that sometimes Zack gave literal answers to rhetorical questions and had to be told directly to understand what they were trying to tell him.
"Oh, I understand you now. I'll definitely need this. I really need the paw, a metal detector and a belt with pockets. Because this beach we're about to visit has probably been visited by many people before and someone dropped something valuable that only me waiting for me to pick it up." Zack said in an excited tone and he smiled widely.
Halub understood completely what his owner meant with his course Labag didn't understand what Zac meant and Halub had to explain it further because it was very difficult to understand the strange things Zac was doing, especially when you're still new.
"It's really very strange, I still can't understand some of the things people do." Labag said
"You're really right Labag. People really do do strange things that I can't understand. However, I've learned that with a little patience you can understand some of the things people do, but still. Zack is very different from other owners who we probably both have. He acts so strange sometimes I can't understand him." Halub said watching Zack place jars full of food into his backpack to take to the beach.
Labag agreed with Halub's statement, but he still wasn't sure how he should feel about their master, but he was aware of one thing he was sure of; Zack wasn't like the other owners he'd had, and he loved seeing his master so happy. And though his master didn't realize how much happiness he brought to his kwami . Labag, he knew full well that most kwami owners didn't treat them very well, but Zack was different. He treated them as if they were his friends and Labag really felt happiness. Halub and Labag continued to talk to each other as Zack prepared his luggage.
Zack finished packing and turned to the kwami who were still talking to each other. "Halub, Labag, get ready for dinner."
"Yes Zack!" Both kwami answered in unison.
The other thing Labag also liked about his new owner was that he didn't hide his superhero identity from his parents like others did. Labag asked Zack how his parents knew he was a hero. Zack explained to Labag that when he got the owl miraculous for his birthday, his parents were by his side when Halub came out of the miraculous. However, his parents did not try to persuade him or try to take the miraculous by force. They encouraged him to be a hero, yet they told him not to be reckless and not abuse the power he has. His parents taught him self-control and self-discipline, the things needed to be a hero.
The students were in front of the school waiting for the bus to come. They were talking about what they were going to do on the beach. The bus came and after several hours they finally reached the beach. Everyone got off of the bus and looked at each other smiling. Marinette walked along with everyone as they went to check the area.
Almost all the students have already found something to do. Juleka and Rosa were making sandcastles, Kim and Alix were competing to see who could run faster on the sand, Nathaniel was painting the beautiful view that the sea had shown him, Chloe sat on one of the chaise longues and drank an expensive cocktail that she had ordered. Marinette looked at Adrien who was talking to Nino and wondered how to confess her true feelings to him. She was paralyzed as she looked at him and her legs wouldn't listen to her. She was looking at Adrien and his perfection and she didn't know what to do, then dark thoughts started to appear in her head. She thought that even if she confessed her feelings for him, he might reject them and that would break her heart. Marinette remained motionless, more bad thoughts popping into her head. Marinette finally snaps out of her trance when she feels herself fall to the ground.
"Marinette, sorry they didn't see you." Zack said.
Marinette looked up at him and was somewhat embarrassed that she hadn't seen him because she was too busy thinking bad things. "No problem." She replied, trying to recover from her embarrassment. Zack helped Marinette up and she noticed he was holding a metal detector and wearing a belt with pockets.
"No, I'm sorry Marinette. I was so focused on looking for things with my metal detector that I didn't notice there was someone in front of me and I didn't look around to avoid hitting you." Zack said.
"Yeah…it's fine," Marinette said, embarrassed by the fact that Zack wasn't apologizing for anything that was her fault because she wasn't looking to see if anyone was coming her way because she was busy thinking about Adrien.
"Okay, I'm glad you're not hurt." Zack said with relief in his voice because he thought that
"So where did we find the metal detector and where did you find the belt?" Marinette asked Zack curiously, wondering what he was looking for.
"I bought this metal detector very cheaply only second hand at half price and found a lot of interesting things with it." Zack said and started showing the things he found. "I found a few, coins, various trinkets and a couple of rings, which at first I thought were valuable, but then realized they were cheap. And what are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing important anyway. Just enjoying the beauty of the sea." Marinette replied while trying not to stare at Adrien and hoped Zack wouldn't notice, but Marinette failed at it and Zack noticed it.
"Marinette, if I want you to be with Adrien so much I'll give you a very good piece of advice. Just tell him directly how you feel about him." Zack said and he knew perfectly well that now Marinette would try to deny it.
"No, I'd better not tell him anything." Marinette answered and tried to change the subject because she really couldn't discuss her relationship with Adrien with Zack.
"Why? Because you're afraid he'll reject you?" Zack asked, laughing as he said it.
"Well, yes, you're probably right." Marinette said and looked down to avoid looking at Zack.
"But he won't reject you or accept you if you don't tell him how you feel." Zack said, hearing his stomach growl. "Okay, now I'll have to find something tasty to eat."
Marinette just watched Zach leave and then looked at Adrien. She didn't know what to do and her emotions and couldn't understand them. The rest of the days Marinette tried to say her feelings but to no avail and still she and her classmates had a great time at the beach.