Chapter 3: Two Lies & A Truth

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Adrien's POV...

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I was at a photoshoot.

Yes, I still do those.

Not as much as I used to, of course. I do them once and awhile on a Saturday or Sunday. I don't get pulled out of school early anymore for them. Mom doesn't do that. She knows how much I love my classes.

The camera lights flashed right in my face as the photographer, Samuel, yells at me over the camera clicks to do many different poses. Mom was nearby, chatting with one of the editors that added lightening to my photos if Samuel didn't like how it looked in the original picture. Her laugh rang through my ears.

"Face left! No right! Ugh," Samuel grumbled. "I've lost my touch. I'm too parched to think right now. Take five!" He spoke in a thick French accent, pausing as his phone rang from his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the mobile screen. "Make that ten. It's the wife."

I watched as Samuel walked off before turning and getting ready to walk towards my bag. But none other than Chloé bumped into me, wrapping her scrawny arms around my neck as she clung to me.

"Adrikins!" Chloé yelled, squeezing me so tight I was wondering if she was hugging me or trying to hurt me. "You look so handsome during your photoshoot!"

I laughed awkwardly. "Thanks, Chloé. But, I only have five minutes, so-."

"Perfect! Just enough time to chat with moi." She put her hand over her collarbone as she said the last word, adding emphasis and sounding like Samuel when she spoke the French word.

"Uh.." I trailed off as my phone dinged from my pocket. It was Marinette. Seeing her name made me smile and feel warm in my stomach. Chloé raised an eyebrow and looked at my phone screen.

"Ew! Mari-trash?" Chloé scoffed. "Why is she texting you?"

My smile flipped, turning to a frown. Marinette? Trash? That was the stupidest thing I've heard in my whole life. And I live with Plagg.

"She isn't trash, Chloé," I spoke, my voice harder than usual. I could see how it surprised Chloé for just a moment. "Don't talk about her that way. She's my friend."

"Your friend?" Chloé spat. "She doesn't deserve to be your friend, Adrikins. She's just a baker's daughter. Nothing special."

"Stop," I spoke, my voice raising a little. Mom looked over at me from the corner of my eye. "Marinette is special. She deserves so much. She deserves everything! She doesn't deserve to be talked about like this, Chloé. I'm not gonna stand for it. I think you should go."

Chloé's expression flattered. She huffed then stormed off over to Sabrina who was waiting for Chloé off in the distance. I turned around, right into Mom.

"Who's Marinette?" She spoke. Mom still hadn't gotten a chance to meet all of my new friends. She knows Chloé, and she's meet Nino and Sabrina.

"She's a friend from school," I spoke casually, catching myself smiling at the thought of Marinette.

"A special friend?" Mom spoke with a soft smile that seemed like a smirk. I felt my blush that was appearing on my face go from cheeks all the way to my ears. I rubbed the back of my neck.

"She's a friend, Mom. Just a friend," I said, grabbing a water bottle from my bag. I saw a glimpse of Plagg eating Camembert. I mentally rolled my eyes.

Mom laughed gently. "Whatever you want to believe. But you just said it yourself, Adrien, this girl's special," She placed a hand on my shoulder. "And from the way you just spoke of her, standing up for her like that, it seems like you care about her deeply. And, yes, you care for all your friends. But would you call Nino special and say that he deserves everything?"

Mom patted my shoulder before walking away to chat with Samuel. I stood there for a good minute, thinking her words over and over again in my head.

"Would you call Nino special and say that he deserves everything?"