Adrien's kiss makes me feel light and happy, and I hum to myself as I do the chores and cook supper that evening. However, I don't get my hopes up that he likes me, likes me yet.
My dreams are pleasant, a welcome change from a few nights ago, where I dreamed I had a mountain of fabric to stitch and every time I reached for a new one, the pile would grow larger. However, my last dream of the night confuses me as a blonde haired woman from a distance smiles at me.
"I'm so glad your helping me with the plants, Marinette," Adrien says, when he picks me up later the next morning and we wait for our usual coffees. "For I have a black thumb."
I peer at one of them, looking up into emerald green eyes. "Looks like an okay color to me. And water and sunlight helps. Now, if only that worked for humans…" I sigh.
Adrien laughs heartily as we shuffle around to wait for our order. "Your not short, your cute-sized," he assures me. Cute? Adrien Agreste thinks I'm cute? Squee! Okay, calm down.
"I know its an old wives tale that coffee stunts your growth," I tell Adrien as we leave Starbucks and merge into Parisian traffic. "But I'm not giving up my coffee for anything." "I can see that, by the way your possessively clutching your cup." "Am I? Oops, I mean, I'm not worried you'd steal it…."
"When I was younger, I thought my father's coffee cup was permanently attached to his hand. Mother laughed once when she saw the shocked look on my face when he didn't."
"She sounds like she was a wonderful person," I tell him. "She was," Adrien affirms, and I'm relived when we approach the front steps of the library. Walking up the steps past the lions, Adrien and I enter.
The library is massive with old bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, and the smell of old books is captivating. We head up to the front desk. "Do you have any books on beginners plant books?" I ask.
"Second floor, aisle five. Good luck!" The staircase is winding, and I feel aloft above the world. "Here we go," I stop at aisle five.
Some are kid beginner's books, and I think Adrien can handle a little more advanced. I stop at one as my fingers trail over the spines.
"Plants and You?" I pull the book out. "Marinette, I'm not dating a plant. I want a book where they won't be brown by morning," he chuckles. "Silly, that would 101 ways to Date A Plant, or maybe Plants For Dummies?" Adrien cracks up, but since were in a library, our shoulders move up and down silently. "Oh, you make me laugh," Adrien wipes a tear from his eye. "And I thought only Mother could do that."
I frown as I pull out a book called The Beginner's Guide To Plants, blowing away the dust on the front cover. "This looks perfect, even though its in pretty rough condition," I tell Adrien.
Even the librarian is surprised. "No one's checked this book out in years. Its almost like they're afraid…" her voice trails off.
"Are you sure we chose the right one?" Adrien follows me down the steps as I clutch the book to my chest. "She was probably just being superstitious," I assure him.
On the way to Adrien's, we pass the small coffee and plant stand we had our hang out yesterday. "Good morning," I call to the girl. She waves, then gasps, racing out from her cubby.
"Is that the book I think it is?" she asks. I show her, and she nods. "Hold on, don't go anywhere." What is with this book?!
"Here," she comes back, handing me a wand? Stick? "You'll know what to when you open it. Would you like some coffee on the house?" I smile at her. "Well, since you offered…" "My name's Libra, by the way." "Marinette, and that's Adrien, who needed the plant book."
Adrien waves, then shoves his hands in his pockets. After I get my drink and say goodbye to Libra, Adrien laughs. "Goodness me, Marinette! Two coffees?" "Hey," I nudge him playfully, "It will be put to good use, don't worry."
I gasp as I stare up at the Agreste mansion through the iron gates. "This is where you live?" I ask. "I have my own place too, but for now living here is easier. Come on in."
I try to wrap my mind around the vastness of the large foyer, heading up the steps after Adrien. "Here it is," he stops and opens a door, "my room."
The room is huge, and I feel like a small ladybug as I step inside. I can see what Adrien meant now about it be sterile.
"Do you like it?" I ask. "No," Adrien says, surprising me. "Its to cold, and without love, there's no warmth." I step closer. "I….don't understand." "Father's to busy working to notice me. We might live in the same house, but we don't talk much. Come on, let's open the book!"
Clearly there's more to Adrien Agreste that meets the eye, but for the subject is firmly closed. I flip open the book. "Is there supposed to be a huge hole here?" I frown. No wonder no one wants the book. So why didn't the librarian say so? "Try fitting the wand into the slot," Adrien suggests.
I do as he instructs, and its a perfect fit. "There are some words written here," I say.
"With this book and wand to guide you,
Magical plants will soon grow up beside you.
Climb the stalk and make a friend or two,
Beware of giants, maybe two!
As the words leave my mouth, the room starts to shake violently like a earthquake. "What is happening?" I yell over the noise. "Grab on to me!" Adrien yells. Holding each other, we watch as Adrien's room is transformed into a magical garden, complete with beanstalk.
"Well, no where to go but up," Adrien says, once the shaking stops.
"Adrien, wait!" I call, but its to late, he's already gone, and I must follow.