[Narrator's POV]

"Good morning." Alya yawns as she slumps into the kitchen.

"Mornin'." Nino gives Alya a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, come see this."

He leads Alya over to the balcony and pulls back the curtain. Adrien and Marinette are laying on the beach outside, fast asleep.

Alya gasps. "Haha, what?" She quickly takes her phone out and snaps a pic. "No way. This is too good. What are they doing out there?"

"No idea." Nino answers. "Should we wake them?"

Alya looks down at the sleeping couple. "Nah." She walks back to the kitchen and makes herself a coffee. "That reminds me, you seriously need to dial down your little 'wingman' moves. If Marinette finds out I told you her crush, she'll kill me. And then I'll rise from the dead to kill you."

Nino chuckles a bit before remembering what Adrien had said the first afternoon they arrived here. "About that...Adrien told me the other day that he is already in love with someone else."

Alya puts down her coffee. "What? Who?"

"I don't know, I didn't ask." Nino says. "He said it's 'complicated' though."

"Ugh, please tell me he isn't talking about Chloe." Alya replies in disgust.

"No way!" Nino denies.

"Well I don't know, they're childhood friends aren't they? Who else could it be?" Questions Alya.

"I don't really wonna think about it. Please, don't tell Marinette yet. I want us all to have this week to just chill and have some fun." Nino says.

"Alright..." Alya takes a sip from her coffee, her eyes lingering back towards the balcony.

.

[Adrien's POV]

My mattress is so soft and fluffy, like sand. I'm so comfortable. So warm and cozy...

I attempt to pull my blankets up some more but when I reach down to touch whatever is on my chest, it feels strangely like hair...

My eyes shoot open to see a clear blue sky above me. This isn't a soft mattress, it's real sand! I look down to see Marinette cuddling up to me, my hand currently on top of her head. I flinch in surprise, causing Marinette to stir in her sleep.

Ah! We must have fallen asleep on the beach. How many people have walked by us thinking we are total weirdoes?!

What do I do? She looks so comfy and peaceful...her sleeping face is kinda cute...

Argh—Focus on the task at hand! I have to move without waking her.

I slowly take my hand off her hair and I'm about to lift her arm off my chest when I notice something. I look down towards my feet to see the ocean waves inching closer and closer. The water level has risen! I can feel the water at my toes. If the tide gets any higher we'll be drenched, all it will take is a slightly bigger wave. And I think I see that wave on the horizon!

[Marinette's POV]

I snuggle up to something warm beside me. There is a soft beat against my ear, gentle and peaceful. It soothes me. I suddenly feel something cold and wet consume my toes, disrupting my warmth. The soft beat is now a rapid pounding. I open my eyes to find myself laying on top of Adrien's chest. Have we fallen asleep on the beach? My eyes widen and my cheeks grow hot. I look up to see Adrien staring in horror, though not at me...

I follow his gaze towards the ocean, where a large wave is breaking. It crashes down against the sand, sea foam flying everywhere, and a rush of water washes over us. We both sit up, sputtering salty water.

"I—I'm sorry!" I choke. "I fell asleep on you, I'm so embarrassed!"

"No, no. It's fine." Adrien says, waving his hand. "We both fell asleep, it's no one's fault."

He lifts himself off the ground and holds out his hand to help me. I stare at it for a second before slowly reaching out. Once I take his hand, Adrien pulls me up. He smiles and gently brushes some sand off my cheek, the touch of his fingers sending shivers down my spine.

"Woah, your cheeks are really hot." Adrien says. "Did you get a fever from sleeping out here?"

"Oh, no no!" I answer. "I'm fine."

I'm super flustered right now, of course my cheeks are hot. It's hard to stop myself from blushing. The more I focus on it, the more embarrassed I get.

"How about we head inside and get warmed up." Adrien suggests.

"Yeah, that would be good." I reply.

[Narrator's POV]

Adrien and Marinette trudge into the kitchen, their shoes squelching as they walk.

"Morning, lovebirds." Alya greets cheekily.

"That was some wake up." Nino chuckles.

"You guys saw that?" Marinette says.

Nathalie comes walking down the stairs and gasps at the sight of Adrien. She puts her hands on her hips sternly. "Adrien. Your father advised you not to get salt water in your hair on modelling days. You have a photoshoot in an hour, please get yourself cleaned up."

Adrien hangs his head and makes his way up the stairs glumly. Marinette smiles nervously and waves at Nathalie, who ignores her and continues her way into the kitchen.

"Well, I think I'll go and get cleaned up as well." Marinette excuses herself and hurries up the stairs, leaving Alya and Nino alone in the awkward presence of Nathalie.

.

An hour later, Marinette, Alya and Nino had gathered on the beach in their swimsuits to watch Adrien do his photoshoot. Marinette goggles at him—his toned abs, his defined biceps.

"Adrien sure looks good at the beach..." She says dazedly.

"Yeah and you're not the only one noticing." Alya jabs her thumb in the direction of a small flock of girls.

They are all giggling and pointing at Adrien.

"What are they doing, drooling over him like he's a piece of meat! Can't they see he's working?" Marinette scowls.

"Uhh, isn't that what you're doing?" Nino points out.

The girls undress into their bikinis and lay down their towels within eyesight of Adrien.

"Oh so now they're setting up camp or something?" Marinette rages. "Those stupid, hormonal little—"

"Mari!" Alya interrupts. "Simmer down, girl."

Marinette growls angrily. "I'm gonna get a drink of water."

She storms up the beach to a small hut that sells food and drink. Sitting at the counter is a teenage boy about her age with brown hair and green eyes. He smiles as Marinette approaches the bar.

"Excuse me, could I please get a water?" Marinette requests the worker.

"Sure," She says. "That'll be four Euros."

"Oh, I wasn't aware you charged money for water. I've left my purse back with my stuff. I'm sorry." Marinette replies.

The brunette boy places four Euro's on the counter. "No worries, I'll get it for you."

"What? Oh, no. I couldn't." Marinette says.

"It's fine, it's on me." The boy smiles. "My name's Louis."

"Thank you. I'm Marinette."

The worker girl hands Marinette a bottle of water. Just as she turns to leave, Louis reaches out to stop her.

"Wait! Er...would you like to sit down and hang for a bit?" He asks.

Marinette looks over at Adrien longingly. Then from the corner of her eye she sees the swarm of bimbo fans he has riled up. Her blood boils. She doesn't feel like dealing with them right now.

"Sure, why not." Marinette answers, taking a seat next to Louis.

[Adrien's POV]

"Alright. Break time." The photographer says at last.

I turn to face the small crowd that had gathered to watch. My eyes skim over the many faces of girls until landing on Nino and Alya.

"Hey, where's Marinette?" I ask, looking around the crowd once more.

"She went to get some water." Alya answers. "Come to think of it, it has taken her a while."

For some reason I begin to feel worried and somewhat...detached. "I'll go get her."

I walk up the beach towards the food and drink bar. As I draw nearer, I see Marinette's figure get closer and closer. She is sitting at the bar drinking her water...and talking to a guy. Concern grows in my chest. Poor Marinette is so nice, she can't say no to people. What if she needs help? He is probably troubling her!

I pick up my pace. With each step I grow more restless. When I finally reach them, I reach my arm across Marinette and lean on the counter between them.

"Hey, are you bothering my friend?" I ask the guy, trying to sound as intimidating as possible.

"What? No, we were just talking." He answers. "Are you her boyfriend or something?"

My strong expression falters. "W-What? No, I just..."

"Adrien. Why are you acting so rudely?" Marinette says from behind me. "Louis here just offered to pay for my drink since I forgot my purse and then we sat down to have a chat, that's all."

I step back from in between Marinette and Louis. "S-Sorry. I thought...I thought he was troubling you."

Marinette looks at me uneasily. They both probably think I'm crazy, or stupid. I don't know why it appeared to me that he was harassing her.

"Well if everything's okay here then I'll get going...sorry again." I say awkwardly before heading back.

"Dude, what was that about?" Nino asks once I reach our beach spot. "I thought you said you didn't like Marinette. So what are you getting all jelly for?"

"Jelly? I am not jealous." I deny. "I don't like Marinette. I just felt, as a friend, that I needed to look out for her."

"K, sure dude." Nino replies.

I frown and continue on to my photoshoot. I take my place gloomily and the photographer begins taking photos again.

"Smile, Adrien, smile." He orders.

I look back to see Marinette introducing Louis to Alya and Nino. Something stirs inside me. It's that same worrying feeling, like I need to protect her. They might not see it but I know that guy is no good. Marinette is so sweet and kind, I don't want him taking advantage of her.

"Adrien!" The photographer yaps.

I snap my attention back to the photoshoot.

"You look miserable." The photographer says. "We need more passion. More energy. We need...a girl!"

The swarm of female bystanders squeal excitedly but I ignore all of them. I turn to my friends and call out,

"Marinette! Come model with me!"

Marinette points to herself in disbelief. I give her a nod and beckon her over. Marinette looks to Alya for assurance, who shoves her forward. Marinette makes her way towards me timidly.

"Adrien, are you sure? I-I mean...I don't know if I'm model material." Marinette says unconfidently.

"Don't be ridiculous, you're stunning!" I reply.

Marinette's cheeks flush a rosy pink.

"Besides," I quote the words Marinette had said to me during the car ride here, "The pictures will be really awesome, it's not every day you get to model on the beach and show off that summer body."

I give Marinette a wink, causing her to blush even more.

"O-Okay." She answers, stepping in front of the camera with me.

I wrap my arm around Marinette's waist and pull her in closer. I then throw my head back to look at Louis. My mouth stretches into a smile because, for some reason, I feel triumphant.

"Yes, that's it! I love the passion in your expression!" The photographer exclaims as he frantically snaps photos.

[Narrator's POV]

"It was nice meeting you guys but I think I'll head off." Louis says. He gives one last look at Marinette before walking away.

"Shame, Marinette could have hit it off with that guy." Nino says.

"Nah, Adrien will always be her boy." Alya replies.

"But what about when you tell her that he likes some other girl?" Nino questions.

Alya smiles as she watches Adrien pose with Marinette."I don't think we'll have to worry about her..."