Can You Keep It A Secret?

Chapter 9: Bugaboo

"So I noticed you didn't really touch your food tonight." Adrien says as he walks me home. "I just wasn't hungry." I say as I stare at the floor. "Is everything okay?" "I don't feel like talking about it. Let's talk about something else." "Like what?"

"Like you." "What's there to talk about? Nothing interesting has happened to me." "Are you saying lighting the lanterns and getting into a food fight with me isn't interesting? You've hurt me deeply Agreste." I say in a teasing tone. He laughs and rolls his eyes. "That was fun but you were there with me for all that."

"Okay but something else has to have happened." He shakes his head. "Nothing that you don't know of." "Well your mom is back home isn't she?" He nods. "I know you were only home with her for a few hours but how is it having her back?" "It's good. I've missed her being home." "I'm glad she's back. I know how much you missed having her with you." "Yeah I have." "How's you dad been? You haven't really been talking about him."

"That's because I haven't really been talking to him. He's been trying to get me to go to America for a photo shoot even though I told him I don't want to." "You don't want to go to America?" "Well I do but not for a photo shoot. I'd have to watch what I eat and I'd be to busy to even enjoy it."

"What if I were to go with you?" "You'd really want to go?" "Yeah and you can tell your dad you'll only go if he gives you at least a week to relax." "That might work." "And it can cross off another bucket list task. Oh and we can invite Alya and Nino!" "How would you guys pay for that?" "Agreste do you even know who you're talking to? I've been saving for a big trip since I was a kid. I have enough money for all of us."

"Or I can just make my dad pay." "No that's way to much money. We'll make him pay for the hotel and food." Adrien laughs. "Sounds good. I'll talk to him about it when I get home." He says as we walk up to my house.

"Okay well I'll see you tomorrow." I nod. "Thank you for walking me home." He smiles. "Stop thanking me already. You're my friend it's what friends do." I roll my eyes. "Just be happy that I'm grateful." He chuckles. "You're welcome then." I smile and kiss his cheek. "Goodnight Agreste." "Night Mari."

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"Agreste? What are you doing here? It's-" I pause to look at the clock. "6:00 in the morning? Are you crazy?!" He laughs as I open the door wider for him to come in. "I came to tell you that after a few hours of trying to convince him my dad finally gave in. We're going to America and I even talked him into paying for everything including the flight." I pull him into a hug and start squealing. "That's amazing! I just have to ask my parents first." "You think they'll let you go?" I nod. I'm sure they won't even care.

"What's all the noise?" My dad asks as he walks out of his room. "Can I go to America with Adrien, Alya, and Nino?" "Yeah sure just quiet down please. We're trying to sleep." I roll my eyes as he walks back into his room. "He let you go just like that?" "My parents haven't exactly been the same since we found out." I say trying to shrug it off. "Why-" "Please don't start. It's still 6:00 am and I want to try to get some sleep." He laughs. "Okay I'll see you later then. Bye Mari." He says and places a kiss on my cheek. "Bye Agreste." I say as he walks out.

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"Oh my gosh that's amazing!" Alya says as Adrien tells her the news. "I know but thank Mari. She's the one who gave me the idea to talk him into it." "No don't thank me thank Agreste he's the one who did all the convincing." "Can we just thank you both?" Nino asks. Adrien and I chuckle softly. "So when are we going?" "Some time this week."

"Wait before or after Thursday?" "After. Why?" "Because of the-" I cut myself off remembering Alya and Nino are with us. "Don't worry I made sure it was after. There's no way we can miss it." He says knowing I was talking about my check up. I smile. "Thank you Agreste." I say as we both look into each other's eyes. Why am I feeling butterflies? Marinette stop! He's only going to get hurt. "Wait miss what?" "Yeah I'm lost dudes." They say making me look away and focus on them. "Just plans Mari and I have."

"Plans? Like a date?" Alya says with a smirk. "Oh will you stop with that." "I actually recall a time when you wanted me to help you get Adrien to like you." Adrien laughs. "Don't laugh at her I remember you asking me to dare you to kiss her." Nino says. I laugh. "At least I never wanted you to kiss me." I say teasingly. "That kiss in 3rd grade begs to differ." "For the last time. It was just a peck. It doesn't even count as a kiss." "Yeah yeah whatever you say bugaboo." I slap his arm. "I didn't like that name in 3rd grade and I don't like it now." He laughs. "That's what makes it funny." I roll my eyes.

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I wake up in the morning and start walking to school. Not bothering to eat something or telling my parents bye.

"Here Mari." Adrien says as he hands me a donut. "What's this for?" "I bought it for you so now you have to eat it." "Thank you but it's early so I'm not hungry." He rolls his eyes. "Why haven't you been hungry?" "I don't know. I just haven't." I shrug. "When was the last time you ate?" "I ate a cookie this morning." I lie.

He stares at me for a while reading my face. "You're lying. Eat it." He says pushing the donut closer to me. "If I eat it will you shut up?" "Yes." I roll my eyes as I grab the donut from his hand and bite into it. "Happy?" He smiles. "Very. But at your next check up we'll bring up your loss of appetite to Tikki and Plagg." "It's fine. I'm still eating." "You're lying to me again Mari! Aren't your parents making you eat?" I nod. "They bring food up to my room and they think I eat it." I lie. I still haven't had a proper conversation with them since they found out.

"So how many rooms is your dad booking?" Alya asks as she walks up to us. "He figured since its two boys and two girls that we'll just need two rooms." Alya nods. "Please don't tell me you're going to use our room as your make out space." I tell Alya. "No I wouldn't do that to you girl." She says as she turns to Adrien. "Oh no I don't think so. I need my beauty rest for my photo shoots." "Whatever." She says and rolls her eyes. "How much you want to bet it's going to be room?" I whisper leaning towards Adrien. "10 bucks it's mine." "Deal." I say and shake his hand.