Can You Keep It A Secret?

Chapter 42: Hair

I walk into the restroom and start getting ready for the school day. After I brush my teeth I move on to brushing my hair.

After a few strokes I see blue fall to the floor. I lean down and pick it up. "No" I mumble. I put my hand in my hair and when I pull it out a clump of hair comes with it. "No no no." I feel hot tears stream down my face. I rush out of the bathroom and grab a hat from my room.

"Hey Mari, breakfast is ready." Adrien say as he stands at the doorway of my room. I immediately place the hat on my head. "Okay I'll meet you downstairs." I say as I pretend to rummage through my drawers so he can't see me crying.

"Is everything okay m'lady?" He takes a few steps into my room. "Y-yeah I just need to find a shirt to wear." "I can help you." "No! I-I mean- I'm fine. Thank you though." "You sure you're okay Mari?" "I'm fine." "Mari-" "I'll meet you downstairs. Okay?" "Okay then." He mumbles as he walks out.

Shoot. I shouldn't have snapped at him. He's only trying to help. I quickly wipe my tears and change my shirt. I walk in front of the mirror to make sure you can't tell I was crying before I head downstairs.

"Honey I made you guys some pancakes." Emilie says as she places a plate down in front of me and Adrien. "Thank you." We both say. "I like you're hat. Trying something new?" She asks. "Hmm? Oh yeah. Something like that." I mumble as I poke the pancakes with the fork.

"Is everything okay honey?" "Yeah everything's fine." "You sure?" "Yeah. I'm just not hungry. I'm actually going to go to school right now. I don't want to be late. Thank you so much Emilie." "You need to eat something honey." "I'll eat an apple." I say and walk out of the house.

"Mari wait up!" Adrien shouts as he rushes out after me. "Go finish eating Agreste." "What's wrong?" "Nothing is wrong." "Mari, I can always tell when something is bothering you, so what is it?" "My parents." I lie.

"Your parents?" "Yeah I just miss them." He stands there staring at me. I can tell he's studying my face. "You're lying." "No I'm not." "Yes you are. When you lie you tend to leave your lips slightly parted. What's going on?" He asks as he takes my hand.

"You can talk to me." "I know I can Agreste. It's just nothing is going on." "Mari-" "We should really start walking to school before we're late." "We'll take the car." "Agreste-" "Get in the car and we'll talk on the ride there." He says as he opens the door for me.

"I want to walk today." "Then tell me when we walk." He says as he holds out his hand. "Oooh! You know what we should do! We should see that Jagged movie later today." "Changing the subject won't work Mari."

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"Hey girl. I like your hat." Alya says we walk over to her and Chloe. "Thank you." I mumble. "Something is going on with her and she won't tell me, so please help me get it out of her." Adrien says.

"Well if she doesn't want to tell you then stop trying to pry it out of her. It'll only end up annoying her." Chloe says. "She'll tell you when she's ready." "Fine I'll wait for you to be ready to talk about it." He says and gives me a quick kiss.

I won't even have to tell him. In a few days he'll notice. "Hey dudes." Nino wraps his arms around Alya's waist. "Nino and I were talking about how we should hang out this weekend." Luka says as he puts an arm over Chloe's shoulders.

"No can do Luka. Us girls are going dress shopping." Alya says. "We are?" I ask and Alya nods. "Of course we are Dupain-Cheng. Prom is a few weeks away and we need the dress asap." I nod.

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"You've barely talked all day Mari." Adrien says as we walk home. "Really? I didn't notice." I mumble. "Are you sure everything's okay?" I nod. "Yep. I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is just-" "Fine?" "Exactly." I say with a forced smile.

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"Mari it's been like 3 days and you've barely left your room. All of us are getting really worried." He says as I lay on my bed not facing the doorway. "I'm sorry for worrying you guys but I'm fine Agreste."

"Well at least get ready then Mari. Alya and Chloe will be here to pick you up any minute." "I'm not going anymore." "What? Why not?" He sits beside me. "I'm not in the dress shopping mood."

"Is all of this because you don't have enough money for the dress? I already told you I want to buy it for you." "No it's not that. I have enough money for a dress but thanks for the offer." "Then what is it Mari?" He asks as he reaches to stroke my hair.

I swat his hand away before he touches it. "Did I do something to upset you? We can talk about it Mari." "No, no. It's nothing you did." "So what is it?" "I told you it's nothing Adrien." "If it was nothing then you wouldn't be all mopey."

"Is it something with the cancer?" He asks and I stay quiet as a tear slides down my face. "It is isn't it?" "It's nothing. Really." He sighs and lays beside me. He turns me around so my head is resting on his chest. Instead of stroking my hair, he runs his hand up and down my arm.

"You don't have to say anything. Just know that I'm here for you no matter what." I slightly smile and bury my head deeper in his chest causing him to chuckle softly.

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A/N: Sorry this chapter was kind of repetitive but I promise the next chapter will be better!! (hopefully)