I. Fresh start
The alarm rang at 7 a.m. on Monday morning. "What have I done to deserve this?" Marinette thought. It was the first day of lycée, but she needed to sleep just a tiny bit more. When the alarm rang again, a few minutes later, she remembered that, at least this time, she was not starting off the year alone. She had Alya, her best friend, by her side. She also had Adrien in the same school, alongside with some of her other friends.
Adrien... Her mind raced through the events of the last months... Adrien losing his own father so shortly after losing his mother. At least he had Nathalie and, thanks to herself, he now had the ring where is amok was hiding. He could finally be free to make his own choices. Despite everything that had happened to the boy she so dearly loved, he still had the light and cheerfulness that always characterized him. It killed her inside that she was forced to lie to him, but there was nothing she could do. She had made a promise to a dying man, his father, when she fought him below their mansion. Adrien could never know that his father was the villain that terrorized Paris for a year, nor could she tell him that he was created with the help of the peacock miraculous, or that her mother's death was the price to pay for his existence...
The alarm rang again. Adrien... The sooner I get ready, the soon I get to see him. She still struggled to get out of bed, but at least she had some motivation now. She carefully chose her outfit and quickly had breakfast. By 8 a.m. she was arriving at school and found Adrien waiting for her by the entrance.
"Good morning, my darling" he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.
She giggled at his words, "Good morning, Adrien."
"Ready to start this new school year?" Adrien asked.
"Alongside the most wanted teen celebrity/eye candy, how could she not?" Alya showed up behind them.
"Alya, come on!" Marinette exclaimed. "You make me sound like a horrible person. Also, I do not want to have all the girls hating on me on the first day just because of being with Adrien"
"Ouch" he said.
"Adrien, it is no secret that the news of you and Marinette being together broke the hearts of many girls in Paris".
"Well, I don't care about what these stupid magazines say... I just want everyone to know that I love her". Adrien said, as Marinette blushed.
"You're so smitten" Alya mocked him while the boy returned her look, proudly.
"Let's go inside, or we will be late." Marinette said, already stressing out about her first classes.
Adrien grabbed her hand, as Nino put an arm around Alya, and the two couples entered the school.
This year, they could choose most of their subjects, being in lycee. This resulted in Marinette having most of her classes with Alya, and a few with Adrien and Nino. During the day, they were given access to the new lockers. Nino and Adrien passed by theirs, which were close to each other. The lockers of the two girls were somewhere else in the school. They had quickly decided to check them out before lunch. Once they managed to put their belongings inside, they started walking back to the cantine, where they had agreed to meet Adrien and Nino for lunch.
"Marinette, this school looks so cool. Have you seen the paper room?! I will try to enrol for the school paper, what do you think?" Alya said with enthusiasm, as they walked towards the cantine.
"I think you should go for it, Alya! I am sure they have a good usage for your talent there..." Marinette stated confidently. "And have you seen the arts and craft room? It is so well-equipped. I am going to have so much fun..." the bluenette interrupted herself as she saw her boyfriend and Nino, already waiting for them.
"Did you already found a new boyfriend, Alya, now that I am not around you all the time"
"You wished you could get rid of me that easy, Nino" she flirted with her boyfriend.
After lunch, they separated again. Once the classes were finished, Adrien went to his locker once more to leave some of the books for the next day. That is when he saw a small envelope with his own name. Someone must have slipped it inside between lunch break and then. Below his name, a smaller font said "Open me when you are alone". A million thoughts ran through Adrien's mind, which were suddenly interrupted by his best friend.
"Dude, are you ready to go?" Nino asked him.
Adrien had no idea what that envelope could contain, but he felt so startled that he quickly shoved the envelope in his bag, without letting Nino see it.
"Yes, sure, let's go." He would have to check it when he was home. For now, he was going to enjoy some time in the park with his friends and his girlfriend.