This certainly wasn't how Marinette planned to spend the night. She breathed in the fresh air from the balcony to the hotel room. Her eyes glossing across the gorgeous view in front of her. Displaying a lit up Eiffel Tower and a sky full of stars.

She heard footsteps behind her, turning around and leaning her back against the railing of the balcony with a small smile. "So, you've found me." She said, Adrien chuckled. "Well, I had some help. Alya knows you well."

There was no denying that one. "Why'd you come to find me?" She asked. "That girl seemed really eager to talk with you." Marinette said, Adrien shrugged. "I'd rather talk with you." He said simply.

Marinette blushed, as Adrien joined her side. Marinette frowned and stared at the ground, "I-I don't understand..." She said, looking up at him just as he looked down at her. "Understand what?" He asked, she sighed. "Why all of a sudden?"

"Just last week you were so plain and simple to me. You were my enemy, and now I'm not so sure what you are. You're always teasing me and stuff, so why all of a sudden do you want to hang out? Give me your hoodie and take me to watch the sunset and to your favorite cafe?"

"Because I've wanted to that stuff with you for so long, and I've realized I'm running out of time." He said, she furrowed a brow. "What is that supposed to mean?" He propped himself off the railing and stood in front of her, caging her between his arms.

"It means that..." He closed his eyes, sighing. "Why can't you just get it? I wasn't trying to be mean all those years Marinette, I promise..." Her lips parted as he opened his eyes, revealing an emerald green, looking down at her and placing his thumb on her chin.

He brought her face closer to his, "I just... You mean everything to me... You're so beautiful and sweet a-and..." His breath hitched in his throat as he caught a glimpse of her eyes, they were so close. Her lips merely an inch away from touching his.

Marinette felt her chest tighten and her heart pump erratically in her chest. How could she be so blind? This time, she was the one who was speechless. And suddenly their lips were getting closer and closer to touching.

Her breath hitching in her throat, as she wondered what it'd be like to kiss Adrien Agreste. Almost there... Just as their lips were about to brush, they jolted away from each other as soon as they heard someone speak. "Adrien!"

Was it a habit for Kagami to interrupt? "And you again..." Kagami said with a grimace, looking Marinette up and down. Marinette suddenly felt so small, so embarrassed. Was Adrien embarrassed of someone seeing him almost kiss her?

Is that why he jumped away once they heard the door open? She felt her eyes water and her heart felt heavy, what was she thinking? This was Adrien Agreste... She was just Marinette Dupain-Cheng... She looked at Adrien one last time before leaving the room.

She dashed out of the hotel, she didn't care if Adrien chased after her either. She didn't deserve Adrien, he deserved someone like Kagami. Someone beautiful and elegant, who could give him everything he wanted. Who was up to his level, and Adrien was way out of her league.

But he only ever wanted her.

***

Alya listened to Marinette's rant at their sleepover the next day. As Marinette confided in her chocolate truffle and caramel ice cream for comfort. Alya was jealous of her friend, in a good way.

How could she eat all these sweets and still have such a nice body? Did God give her some special consideration for her metabolism? Anyways...

"I just don't get it Alya! I'm so stupid! I can't show my face in front of him after what happened!" Marinette said, taking another spoonful of ice cream. "Girl he obviously wants to be there for you so why don't you just let him be there for you?" She asked.

Just as Marinette got another text from Adrien.

A: Marinette are you okay?

A: What happened?

A: Did I do something wrong?

Marinette shook her head. "I don't need him. Besides, I have you." Alya groaned, "You don't need him, but you obviously want him. You said it yourself, you almost kissed him before Kagami came in and ruined everything."

"Yeah but I don't want to want Adrien... Almost everyone's after him." Alya sighed, "Yeah but Adrien doesn't want everyone else that's after him. He wants you, girl." Marinette looked to the side, "It's better if we just forget every that happened and go back to the way we were. Enemies."

Alya perked a brow, "Yeah, enemies with benefits." She added.

"No benefits!"

"Yes benefits! You both like each other and it's so obvious. You guys almost kissed, and enemies don't do that. So yes, enemies with benefits, no exceptions." Well, once Alya had made up her mind it took everything to change it. And Marinette couldn't deny that she agreed with Alya even just a tiny bit...

His words played in her mind over and over again, she knew what it meant but at the same time she didn't. Beautiful, sweet? She meant everything to him? He wasn't trying to be mean all those years? With every word he had gotten closer and closer to her face and-- no.

She didn't want to make a big deal out of it! They hadn't even kissed. Still, Marinette couldn't help but think what could've happened if they had kissed. If Kagami hadn't gone looking for Adrien and never interrupted them. Would they have gone further?

Would she have stopped him, stopped herself? It boggled her mind, what was it like to kiss Adrien Agreste? After being so close to kissing him, she was almost there. Of course she was curious, she just wanted to deny herself over and over again.

She didn't want to be curious about kissing him. She wanted everything to go back to the way it was, it would be better for everyone including Adrien. Right? Yes, right. She had every intent on keeping it that way. Enemies.

Without benefits.