Marinette walked into class late, not her usual few minutes late but a whole hour. Alya and Nino both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw their friend finally enter the class. They were beginning to feel antsy since she never responded to any of their texts but their relieved faces suddenly turned back to an expression of worry.

Marinette wasn't wearing her usual hairstyle, it was 2 pigtails but they were braided and the couple knew immediately that something was wrong. Marinette never wore her pigtails in braids unless something was up, it was a habit of hers because they took so long to do that it would take her mind off things.

Marinette handed Mlle Bustier her late pass and went to sit down. She took a short glance at Alya whom she knew would bombard her with questions later. Marinette was still upset about the fight her and Chat had the night before. He was her best friend, and to loose someone that close was just heartbreaking. She just wished Chat would let her in on his problems, she wished that he didn't have to wear an emotional mask to cover up the way he was feeling. Was she that untrustworthy?

"Where's Adrien?" Marinette asked as they headed out to Lunch.
"My dude's stuck at home, sick with the flu," Nino answered.
"The flu in summer, that doesn't sound right."
"I know, he has only gotten sick once since I've known him and it was only a small cold."
"Is he immune or something," Alya joked.
"Well apparently not if he has the flu in summer," Nino replied.
"I was joking captain obvious."

'Odd' thought Marinette. She knew he could have come down with something but where would he have picked it up from? Unlikely at school she knew no one that had gotten sick over the past month. He surely couldn't have lied, Adrien loves school it would be so unlike him.

"Maybe we should go to him after school to check up on him, just in case it is anything serious," Marinette said as a list of deadly virus's came to mind.
"I would Dudette but last time I went I was kicked out, plus my old man's taking me to a DJ concert and workshop."
"Alya?"
"Sorry girl, I'm Nino's plus one."

"That's okay, I'll go then," Marinette concluded.
"W-woah hold up girl y-...."
"Yes I know Alya but I really want to make sure he's okay," Marinette said cutting her friend off.
"Ok then, your call."

The three friends made their way over to Marinette's bakery and sat down in their usual spot by the window. Alya talked about the akuma from the previous night and how she managed to get some really good shots of the superheroes fighting. The thought of Chat Noir slowly trailed back into Marinette's mind.

Gosh she was such an idiot last night. 'Friends with your superhero persona great cover up now look where it got you' she thought. Chat must definitely have problems at home and now she knew why he came to visit her all of a sudden 3 months ago, but the same question still lingered in the back of her mind. Why her?

It was quite unusual that Chat chose to hang out with her of all people, she was sure there were other girls that would pay millions just to have the flirty superhero at their house for one night, yet he visits her every Friday, well visited. Unless, Marinette frowned in concentration, unless he knew her in civilian form. Now that was a stretch, she couldn't think of anyone with green eyes and the messiest blonde hair she'd ever seen. Plus no one she knew had that much of an ego, no one made stupid puns and no one was that flirty. Chat was simply a mystery to her.

"Thank you for those croissants Tom, those were delicious," thanked Nino.
"No problem my boy you are always welcome here, take some food for Chris I know he loves those chocolate eclairs," Tom offered.
"Thanks Guys, Au revoir."

"Your parents are the best," Nino said.
"You say that every time we go there," Marinette replied giggling.
"But it's true."

"I thought my parents were the best," teased Alya.
"They are, but with cooking, baking is different."
"Point taken."
Marinette giggled at the two, they were so perfect together.

"You know what girl, you should take some croissants to Adrien later."
"That's a good idea."
"Oh, don't forget to hide them from Nathalie, he's not supposed eat that stuff," reminded Nino.
"Noted."

Marinette walked at a pace to Adrien's house, a box of croissants and an assortment of macaroons were neatly placed in her bag. They were always Alya and Nino's favourites when they were ill, so she thought Adrien would be happy with the ones she had chosen, Marinette made sure she included passion fruit.

Her braided pigtails swayed slightly as a warm summer breeze drifted through the streets. Marinette didn't realise she did her hair in braids, she just woke up and started beating herself up about her encounter with Chat. Alya and Nino must have seen that something was up. Luckily they didn't push it but they sure would tomorrow.

Marinette took in the cold sight of the Agreste Mansion. The architecture on the outside was intricate and beautiful, she wouldn't be surprised if Gabriel designed the mansion as well despite not being an architect. The design was simple yet elegant just like all Gabriel's work. Marinette admired the choice of the colour but the fact that Adrien had a hard home life made the bright cream hue sink into a dull, ominous shade.

Marinette rang the bell silently praying that she and Nathalie could come to an agreement.
"Hello."
"Hi um my name is Marinette I'm uh a friend of Adrien's from school, he called Nino to say he was sick and I just wanted to check up on him."
Nathalie had a quick mental debate. Gabriel was down in his lair tending to his Butterfly garden and Adrien has had a tough time these past 3 months, letting Marinette in couldn't hurt. The only thing that confused her was that Marinette mentioned Adrien was sick. Adrien told her he didn't want to go to school because he was tired from the photoshoot they had that morning.
"Uh yes, but only a few minutes he has a Chinese lesson soon."
That's odd, Marinette thought. Didn't he have the flu, shouldn't he be resting not studying.

Marinette entered the house and walked up to Adrien's room. She took a deep breath and expelled any feelings of nervousness. She knocked softly and heard him shove something into the cupboard.
"uh come in."
She entered the bedroom slowly.

Marinette took in the sight of his room, it was slightly different. The few photos that usually sat on his desk were now gone and the cupboard in which she heard slam had a bag half dangling out the side.

"M-Marinette, uh hi what a-are you doing here," Adrien stuttered.
"You told Nino you were sick, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I uh brought you some croissants and Macarons from the bakery, I know you have a diet but I thought it would be okay just this once," Marinette explained.

"Oh um thank you."
Marinette drew her attention back to the backpack which she noticed Adrien pushed with his foot further into the cupboard.
"Are you going somewhere?"

"No I'm just clearing up."
"I thought you were sick."
"Uh I'm feeling better, don't worry."

Marinette looked at Adrien sceptically. His expression didn't seem to agree with what he was saying, it was almost a look of dishonesty. She was quite observant thanks to Alya.

"Adrien you can tell if something's wrong, I'm always willing to listen."
Adrien sighed, he was sick of people asking what was wrong, no one needed to care about what was happening in his life.

"I said I'm fine, I appreciate you coming round but I have fencing soon."
Marinette knew his schedule only too well to tell that he was definitely lying.
"No you don't, you do fencing on Fridays, you have Chinese on Mondays at 4:30 which should have started 5 minutes ago."
"How do you.."
"Nathalie told me," Marinette responded, crossing her fingers that she didn't reply too quickly.

"Right." He should have known that Nathalie would inform her that she can't stay too long. He had purposely canceled his Chinese lesson and told his tutor not to mention a word of it to his father or Nathalie.

"Adrien this isn't like you to make excuses."
"I'm not making excuses," Adrien countered.
"Oh please I am the queen of excuses I know one when I see one."

Adrien felt defeated but he wasn't going to tell anyone, especially Marinette.
"Thanks for dropping those off but your right I need to go somewhere," he replied gently taking the box out of her hands.

Adrien then quickly grabbed his backpack and ran out his room. Marinette chased after him calling his name. As the two ran down the stairs Gabriel came out his lair and was startled by the scene.
"Adrien Agreste come back now!" The bluenette shouted.

Damn Marinette was fast, who knew the clumsy girl could run Adrien thought as he ran down the stairs. Marinette ran in front of the boy trying to stop him in his tracks but his cat like reflexes kicked in and he just swerved round the girl and out onto the streets.

Adrien suddenly felt a hand pull him to a stop.
"Adrien where are you going!?" Marinette asked him. 'Since when did she catch up?' He thought. Adrien turned around to face her. He embraced her in a tight hug.
"I'm going away, far away from here, tell the others I'll miss them, and don't you dare follow me." He whispered in her ear. Adrien pulled away and then bolted into an alleyway where he transformed into Chat Noir and jumped onto the roof tops before disappearing from view.

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-Paris07_49🐞😸🇫🇷❤️