Can You Keep It A Secret?

Chapter 17: Surgery?

I walk back into my room. "Adrien was looking for you again." Alya says as I walk in. "What did you tell him?" "I told him you left cause Nino came over. I think he was a little hurt because you usually go to his room." I stay quiet and sit down beside Alya. "Marinette I know you don't want to see him hurt but your hurting him more by avoiding him." "I know. I just- Nevermind. I can't keep making up excuses. I'll talk to him. I promise." She nods.

I feel my chest tighten up again. "When are you going to talk-" She stops when I start coughing. "Marinette! Are you sure your okay?" She gets up and runs to grab a bottle of water. She tries to hand it to me but I swat it away. As another cough comes out of my mouth blood follows it. I run to the bathroom and she follows me. "Oh my god! Wh-what do I do?" She shouts. "Want me to get help?" She asks. I shake my head.

"Marinette I need to talk to you! Please." Adrien says from outside our room. "Um now isn't a good time Adrien!" Alya shouts. "What do I do? Do I make him leave?" She asks. I quickly nod my head still coughing. She runs and answers the door. "She'll talk to you later. Okay?" "Please I just want to see her." "A-adrien it's not a good time." "Is she okay?" Alya looks towards the bathroom then back at Adrien. "She's- fine." "You're lying." Adrien barges into the room and rushes to the bathroom.

"Oh my god! Marinette! Why didn't you call me." He grabs a piece of toilet paper and wipes the blood off my hands.

I finally stop coughing and he wipes my mouth. "I'll leave you two alone." Alya says and walks out of the room. Adrien takes out his phone and starts typing. "What are you doing?" "I'm texting Plagg and Tikki." "Wha- No! Don't tell them. Please." He presses more buttons and puts his phone down. "I already told them." "Agreste-" "Has anything else happened?" "No." I lie. He studies my face. "Don't lie to me Mari. What else happened?" I sigh. "This is the second time I've coughed up blood this week." "When was the first?" "2 days ago." "And you didn't tell me?" "I didn't want you to worry."

"Get your stuff." "Why?" "We're going back home." He gets up and starts walking to the door. "We still have 1 more day." "Not anymore we're leaving." "But Alya hid my suitcase." "Why would she do that?" "Um- Because I was going to leave." I say as I nervously scratch my neck. "You were going to leave? W-why?" "I didn't really feel like being here." Adrien nods. "I'll go ask Alya where she hid it." I nod and he walks out of the room.

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We get to the airport and Adrien pulls out my suitcase. "But what about your photo shoot?" "They'll be fine with a few less pictures." "What about Nino and Alya?" "I told them they can stay the extra day." "They can stay but I can't?" "Well they're not coughing up blood are they?" I roll my eyes.

"So since we have a few hours, can we talk please?" Adrien asks as we find our seats on the plane. "We are talking." "No but I mean like talk about- well you know." I turn my head to face him. His face is full of hurt as if he's reliving that night. "Adrien I-" "Before you say you don't feel like talking about it please let me say what I have to say first." I nod.

"I know you've been avoiding me because you feel awkward but I don't want that. I don't want it to be awkward between us. You've been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember and I don't want that to change just because of what happened." "I don't want that either." He gives me a weak smile. "Since I did tell you we'll pretend like nothing happened if you said no, can we forget about it?" I nod. "I'm sorry Agreste." "It's fine Mari."

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"My favorite patient!" Tikki says as he walks into the room. "My favorite doctor." She smiles and sits down. Plagg walks in after. "My favorite couple. How was your trip?" He asks. Adrien and I awkwardly look at each other. "It was good. And we aren't a couple. Unlike you two." I say and give them a smirk. She sighs and Plagg laughs.

"When are you going to start dating? We all know you like each other." Tikki says. "Give them some time Tikki. They'll get together sooner or later." Plagg says as he types on the computer. She nods and looks at my chart. "We'll need to run a few tests so you're going to need to spend the night again." I nod.

"Do you want me to call your parents?" Tikki asks. I shake my head. "You don't want them to be here Mari?" "I texted them already." "Are they coming?" I blink back my tears. "No."

"How can they do that to you? You need them more than anything right now." "Adrien it's fine." "No it's not fine! Family needs to be there for each other." "It's fine. I don't need my family. I mean it would be nice to have them here with me, but I have you." I say and give him a smile. He smiles and hugs me. "I'm sorry Mari." "Don't be Agreste. Thank you for always being here with me." He nods. "Of course."

"Sorry to break up your moment but we have to take her to get tested." Plagg says as he gets up from the computer. I nod. I get up and turn to Adrien. "Don't try to talk me into leaving. I'll be waiting here until you get back." I sigh and roll my eyes. "Get something to eat then please?" He nods.

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Tikki and Plagg walk me back to the room. Their faces are serious. It's making me nervous. We get to my room and I sit beside Adrien. "Your condition is serious Marinette. We need to take you into surgery first thing tomorrow morning." "Surgery? Is she going to be okay?" "It's a pretty invasive surgery but she should be fine. We'll do everything we can to make sure nothing happens. But Marinette don't eat anything for the rest of the night." Tikki says. I nod and they walk out of the room.

I walk over to my bed and take a seat. "You're not scared Mari?" I turn to Adrien and give him a fake smile. "I'll be fine Agreste." "Promise?" "I promise." He holds his pinky out once again. I giggle as I lock my pinky with his. We bring our thumbs to our lips to place a kiss on them then we press our thumbs together.