Adrien exited the limo and Marinette did the same just as Nathalie closed the door. She just passed through. After everything they had talked about during the breaks at school, Marinette didn't stammer anymore. She got to learn a ton of things about him. For example, he didn't like to sign autographs and that his first reaction to Plagg was saying the Kwami was like the genie in the lamp. She had asked him why he was such a flirt as Chat Noir. Adrien then explained that he didn't flirt with every girl in Paris. He said that he had only flirted with Marinette and Ladybug. She chuckled when he told her that, since she is Ladybug. Then, she asked a question with an answer that would roam around her mind during the whole photoshoot.

###

Marinette chuckled. Why? Because Adrien didn't know that she was Ladybug. A question then poped inside her head.

"So why would you only flirt with me and Ladybug?" Marinette asked, making Adrien's eyes look up so he could think of an answer. After some seconds, he looked back at her.

"You... Because I simply wanted to see you behavior around Chat, since you always stammered when you were around me as a civilian, and also because I wanted to conceal my identity" he paused "Ladybug... Well, Ladybug... I, uh, I was in love with her".

Marinette felt her heart skip a beat with that last sentence. So Chat flirted with her because he was in love? She had always thought that he was just joking around! However, when she analyzed the sentence again, she realized he had talked in past tense. He said 'I was in love with her'. Was? He wasn't anymore? What could that mean?

###

What if he had fallen in love with another girl? Marinette hoped that wasn't the case. She had just learned to accept the flirty side of Adrien, which only rose when he used the black, tight cat suit.

She was taken out of her thoughts when Adrien got out of the dresser. He was using black pants, black elegant shoes, a black beret that had been placed slightly more inclined to the left, a dark orange shirt that he was using outside of the pants and a black vest that was shorter than the shirt. Marinette knew why he was using that outfit. She looked at the sky, then back at Adrien. It matches the colors of the sunset. She couldn't stop herself from smiling when Adrien started posing immediately. The vibe that the photographer, the model and the scenery wanted to transmit was calming. The poses Adrien did, made him look like some kind of artist looking for inspiration in a place as peaceful as the Louvre during a sunset just like that one. Marinette wished she was the one taking the pictures. The photoshoot went on for 30 minutes.

"No, no! This is not working as it should be! We need more spaghetti! Romantic... No! Something more discreet and deep... Mmhh..." the photographer exclaimed, making Adrien and Marinette sigh simultaneously. The photographer stared at Adrien, who turned to Marinette. She smiled at him and he gave her a sweet smile back, while still sitting in a modeling pose.

"YES! PERFETTO!". Then, the photographer moved his things and Adrien stood still, keeping the smile. The angle was one in which Adrien wasn't looking at the camera, but someone could still see his whole face.

"Now, wink as if you were doing it to impress a girl and to make her blush. Imagine that. On the count of three". Adrien thought for a moment and then knew exactly how to do it.

"One".

He didn't have to imagine it.

"Two".

He could easily do it for real if he wanted to.

"Three".

And he did it. He winked directly at Marinette in such a way that made her look away in embarrassment. The photographer started squealing in excitement since the photo turned out perfect. Adrien smiled at him and then at Marinette. She smiled back, still with a faint, not noticeable blush on her cheeks. She could swear she saw Chat wink at her in that moment, not Adrien. He acted perfectly.

Adrien's eyes read Marinette and he looked at her, his expression saying:

I wasn't acting.

###

After Adrien had finished changing, he discreetly called Marinette so they could both enter the limo and go home. Once there, Adrien tried to get to his room fast so she wouldn't see him, but that was always mission impossible.

"Adrien, go to the dinning room and wait for your father" Nathalie paused when she noticed that Adrien was confused. "You will have dinner together". With that, she left the room. Marinette noticed that Adrien's eyes were filled with some happiness that his brain couldn't process just yet.

"A... Adrien? Why are yo-" she cut herself off when Adrien literally ran to another room. She followed behind. Marinette saw him sitting patiently on the same seat he used during breakfast. Why on Earth was he so enthusiastic? He noticed that she was staring at him.

"Oh, sorry Mari... It's just that my father never has dinner with me, so it makes me kinda excited..." Adrien admitted, looking away. Marinette smiled sympathetically at him and sat down on one of the chairs.

"Don't worry, I understand" she replied, still with her pretty smile painted on her face. Adrien thanked her and they stayed there, waiting for Gabriel to appear.

###

Gabriel didn't appear. Not after 15 minutes. Marinette was starting to get impatient and felt a little sorry for Adrien, whose stomach was growling out of hunger.

Nathalie suddenly came in and with that neutral expression said "Adrien, your father called and informed me that he's having dinner in his office, so you can go to your room and practice piano while your dinner is prepared. I'll take it to your room once it's ready".

Adrien sighed as he stood up "Why does he make me wait if he isn't going to come anyways?". He then left the room. Marinette followed him, but before leaving, she undid Nathalie's bun.

###

Marinette entered the room and found Adrien looking for a song to play on the piano. Apparently he found one, so he sat down, placed the pentagram and got comfortable to start playing. Marinette enthusiastically sat down next to him.

"So, what are you going to play?" Marinette asked, looking at key notes. Adrien turned to her and forced a smile.

"It's the main theme from a movie titled Midnight Special" he answered. Marinette ooh-ed and waited for him to start playing. Adrien sighed and started playing.

(If you'd like to listen, the video is above)

Marinette was amazed. Adrien played it perfectly. She got closer to him so she could see better. Adrien noticed this and blushed a little. He then stopped.

"Do you want to try?" Adrien offered, and Marinette blinked before giving an answer.

"O-Oh... I don't really know how to play..." she said, shaking her head to the sides. Adrien got even closer to her, to the point in which Marinette's right hip and Adrien's left hip were pressed against one another. Adrien then carried Marinette and placed her in front of himself, between his legs. He reached the key notes, sliding his arms under Marinette's, which were there already.

"Then I'll teach you".

###

Marinette learnt the first part of the song, and could play it slower, but with no mistakes.

"Wow, you learn fast Mari" Adrien exclaimed proudly. Marinette turned her head around, and was now facing Adrien.

"Well, it's thanks to you" she smiled.

Silence.

Marinette got lost in Adrien's green eyes. Eyes that reminded her of a field filled with grass and trees, all painted with that clear shade of green.

Adrien, on the other hand, was thinking of the sky that was the perfect contrast to the green field. He imagined that sky being the exact color of Marinette's eyes.

Adrien grabbed one stray of hair and carefully put it behind Marinette's ear. Using that action as an advantage, he placed his hand on the back of her untouchable head and slowly pulled her to him.

Marinette, out of instinct, closed her eyes and didn't resist Adrien's grip. He shut his eyes once he could already feel her ghostly aura close to his lips. They were about to shut the space between them, which was less than an inch, when somebody knocked his door.

"Adrien? I'm here with your dinner" Nathalie informed behind the door. Adrien and Marinette immediately pulled back and the blond went to the door to receive the plate. After that, he closed the door.

"I'll eat, if you want some just ask for it, and then I'll do homework, alright?". Marinette nodded, and looked away. Adrien scratched the back of his neck.

That was close, she thought.

Damn your timing Nathalie, he thought.

###

Almost 2K!!! We're getting there peps!