Today was the day!!!! Alya and Nino were coming to visit. Marinette had known Ayla would arrive for weeks, but it was a surprise when she said she was bringing Nino along. Even more when Adrien said he knew Nino was coming as well. She wasted no time planning tons of activities for the four of them. It would be just like old times.

Adrien woke feeling more excited than ever. He couldn't help but call his princess immediately to wish her good morning and let her know he will be by earlier than usual. Last night had been incredible. Marinette had paid complete attention to him and only him. Adrien smiled as he remembered how Alya and her parents had to call his cellphone to reach Marinette. He also remembers how Marinette jumped up and down excitingly upon the news that Nino would also be visiting.

Adrien bit his bottom lip as he remembered her beautiful smile and gorgeous bluebell eyes lighting up like Christmas lights. God, everything she did made him fall in love with her even more. If only he could be the guy who got to hold her and call himself her boyfriend.

Adrien couldn't wait for the car to arrive at the bakery. He felt like it had been hours since he left his house, and he still had not arrived yet. Luckily at that precise second, the car came to a stop. Not waiting for one more second, Adrien jumped out and ran towards the bakery. In a swift movement. The bakery doors swung open, causing the bell to ring and the Dupain Chengs to be alerted of someone's presence.

Adrien's eyes quickly roamed around the bakery in search of the secret love of his life. His smile widened as he saw the beautiful dark, almost blue hair of the future fashion designer herself, but it faltered as quickly as it arrived as his eyes caught the other half of the picture. There he was, the one boy he officially hated more than anything in the world. The same boy who now held the heart of his crush. Luka Couffaine. The couple was talking in one of the private corner booths, looking lovingly at each other.

Adrien's heart ached at the sight of Marinette and Luka. Marinette was looking at Luka the way Adrien hoped she looked at him. As if Luka was her entire world. Just like she was his. Adrien felt tears build up in his eyes. It hurt so much but yet he couldn't say a word. The blonde thought about it all night, ending with him being sure he would rather be Marinette's friend than nothing at all. He never had love or someone to care for him as she did, and he felt needy. Adrien knew that this was greedy and almost possessive, but he couldn't help it. He wanted Marinette. He wanted all of her and hated the fact that he had to share her with Luka. Especially in that type of way.

Mr. Dupain Cheng hurried to get out of the kitchen and help who he thought was a customer. "Welcome to the- Adrien, my boy," the calm giant called out. Unlike his daughter, Tom was not blind. He saw right through Adrien's just a friend charade. It was apparent the blonde model was in love with his little girl. Just as it is clear that Marinette was in denial as she too still loved the blonde. The two were soulmates, and it was a matter of time before they realize that.

At the sound of Tom's voice, the couple in the corner shot their heads up just now noticing, Adrien had been there watching. Adrien quickly tried to mask the hurt with his model smile, but it had been too late. Marinette had already seen it, and deep inside, it broke her. She knew Adrien still had doubts about their relationship now that Luka was in the picture, but she would make sure he knew he would always be number one in her book.

Tom quickly greeted the model with a giant hug which Adrien was quick to return. Adrien was like family to them. Tom would even trust Adrien to spend the night in the same bed as his daughter as he knew the blond was well raised and very trusted. As Tom hugged the model, he whispered the one thing he knew would make him feel better. "Don't worry, son. I am sure she will realize you are her soulmate soon." Adrien couldn't help but hugged the man tighter as he whispered a thank you.

Luka watched the interaction with jealousy. He was the one dating Marinette, not that blonde rich boy, so why doesn't he get greeted like that? He gets a simple hello and goodbye.

After breaking the hug, Adrien was sure he would get stood up by Marinette, asking him to go on without her, but to his surprised, she greeted him like she always did.

Upon hearing the blonde had arrived, Marinette jumped up from the booth. Without giving it another thought, she grabbed her things and ran towards Adrien's strong arms, surprising both the blonde and the boyfriend. Marinette jumped into his arms as if she hadn't seen him in years, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Kitty, you're early," she called out while still in his arms. Adrien smiled widely, feeling relieved. 'Maybe things wouldn't change after all. Maybe Tom is right, and she loves me as well,' Adrien thought to himself.

Luka was livid. Marinette never greeted him that way either. She would walk towards him, kiss him on the cheek, and whisperer a hi. He never received a nickname or ever saw her run to his arms, and it was boiling his blood. Being his jealous self, Luka purposely cleared his throat, earning the teen's attention.

At this point, Luka felt as if Adrien was making it obvious he was competing for his girlfriend's attention and had no plans on backing off, and somehow he was winning. He needed to do something to prove to Adrien that he would never be loved by the bluenette again. Marinette was his, and Luka would make that clear. "Babe, are w-" to his luck, Marinette had an idea what he was going to say, so she decided to interrupt.

"We have to go, but I'll call you later. Alya and Nino are visiting, and we are staying at Adrien's this weekend. We got a lot planned. I'll see you Monday, bye." Marinette then ran to kiss his cheek and proceeded to say goodbye to her parents, promising to call every day. "Come on, Kitty. Let's go!"

Luka was livid! This was getting old quickly. Now he was sure Marinette was not over Adrien, whether she knew that or not!

Adrien's heart pounded at the speed of light, and his face could easily be compared to a tomato. Marinette had not let go of his hand since pulling him out of the bakery. This was not the first time she had done that, but for some reason, after realizing his feeling, the more it meant to him. He loved every touch, every nickname, every time their eyes met, and simply everything else.

"Adrien, are you okay? You are really red. Are you getting sick?" Marinette asked, noticing his flushed skin. Adrien blushed some more. "N-no, I-I'm okay. Just a little hot," he lied, hoping she would believe him and drop it. Marinette gave him a small nod and proceeded to speak of how excited she was to meet up with their friends later.

"About that, father only had an extra room available. The others are in the process of being renovated. So we will have to share rooms. I was thinking. Since Alya and Nino are dating, we let them share a room, and you and I could stay in mine. Y-you know if Luka is o-okay with that. I d-don't want you to get in a fight," Adrien stuttered. Why was he stuttering?

Marinette seemed to catch his constant stutters and wondered what was happening. It was as if they had switched spots, and Adrien was now the awkward one. Marinette sighed as the blonde mentioned her boyfriend. Normally, Adrien would say things confidently and not caring how flirty they sounded. A week ago, Adrien would have said something like, "We have two rooms. Alya and Nino in one, and you and I in mine, cool?" So why is he acting that way now?

As Adrien finished, the duo arrived at school, being that Marinette only lived across the street. Marinette looked and her watch and saw they still had 20 minutes before school started. "Okay, let's talk," Marinette said while pulling Adrien to school steps and sitting down. Adrien gulped. He already knew when a girl said 'let's talk' it was never good. Marinette hated the way Adrien had been acting. It was as if for some unknown reason, as she and Luka started dating, Adrien lost his confidence. Adrien had stopped acting like himself, and she hated it.

"What's going on with you? I feel like all suddenly, you are changing. You hardly look me in the eyes, and you question every small thing. You said you were afraid of me changing how things are between us, but I feel like it's you changing them. Just yesterday, we agreed that things would remain the same. But now you seem afraid to talk to me. My best friend is Adrien Agreste, the confident, flirty, pun-loving, almost a cat model. I don't even know who this is right now," Marinette finished while pointing at him.

Adrien flinched at the word friend. Why was it that every time she used the word it felt like a knife at his heart? Adrien had not made eye contact with hey yet. He couldn't. Even though it felt as if he was lost in a deep blue sea, patient, and serine, and at home, the blonde couldn't. Every time he did, he felt as if he would confess at any second. The blonde remained quiet, not sure of what to say. In his mind whatever he said would end up turning this conversation into a bad thing.

Marinette let out another loud sigh at his silence. "Adrien, look at me. You have always told me everything, so if you don't right now, I am going to believe that it is you who wants things to change between us." Marinette spoke quietly. For some reason, her words hurt Adrien. 'Him changing things? She is the one who needed more. She is the one who thought their relationship wasn't enough that she had to go and get herself a boyfriend.'

"Because I Do! I don't- Uhhh, I don't know, okay?" Adrien grunted, standing up hastily, making Marinette flinch. "I don't know how to talk to you anymore. I don't know how to act around you. I think twice about the things I can say and do now. All because of you and your new boyfriend!" Adrien let out all his bottled-up emotions. He knew he was almost confessing at this point but he didn't care anymore.

"Marinette, I don't know what things I can or can't say anymore. I don't know if I'm allowed to touch you or hug you, and I don't know if I am allowed to tell you how beautiful you look like I used to because, damn it, you do! So you tell me, how am I supposed to act now?"

"Like you always had, Adrien! Like yourself. I told you before, Luka changes nothing between us. I like it when you hug me or when you say your crazy puns. I love your confidence and your flirty attitude towards me. I don't understand why you have to doubt your actions with me. I don't care what anyone thinks. Luka knew how you and I were before he decided to date me, and he should know that won't change. So yes, I can share a room with you, and no, I don't care what he thinks because you are more important to me than anything else."

Adrien felt his heart soar at her words. Marinette always knew just what to say. Adrien almost felt the words I love you come out of his mouth, but he bit his lips, attempting to keep them inside. He felt horrible for making Marinette upset, but everything that was happening and him finding them together this morning was getting to his head.

"I'm sorry, princess. I am just scared. I don't want to lose you. You mean more than everything to me too. You are my world, and I am terrified of losing you to Luka. I know it's not the same, but I can't help it. Please, bear with me. Don't leave me," he begged while pulling her in for a hug.

"Never, Kitty. Never."