Please, Forgive Me || ADRIENETTE

1. I won't fuck up

I stared at the board that held all my heartfelt letters and screenshots of conversations, stapled to the wall as everyone from school gathered around and started to read them one by one.

I began to hear whispers and chuckles surrounding me. "Wow, she's pathetic." It started.

"That's so embarrassing,"

"Good for her, she was annoying,"

"Jeez, I feel sorry for her.."

I furrowed my brows and shut my eyes tightly, releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding, trying to ignore the sounds of the people mocking me.

I clenched my fist and reached for the letters, ripping them out one by one, hearing laughter taunt me as I did so.

A lump formed in my throat as I could feel the gazes of everyone watching my every move.

Once I reached for the last piece of paper, I could see in the corner of my eyes, a lock a blonde hair smirking at me with his arms folded in front of him. I glanced at the boy, the main culprit who could've done this, and gritted my teeth in anger.

I gathered my belongings and began walking towards the blonde, who held the grin of victory. I shoved the letters that I wrote for him against his chest and felt my lips begin to quiver.

"You win Agreste," I had finally felt the tears I was holding for my dear life slide down my face, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. "I fucking hate you."

•

I felt a slight buzz in back left pocket, indicating someone was calling me, bringing me back from my trance of the past.

I let go of my luggage and reached for my phone to reveal it was Alya calling me.

Before I could answer it, I could see my reflection through my phone screen showing my glossy eyes and red-stained cheeks.

I was.. crying?

I hadn't cried in over five years. And what the hell was up with that memory? Jeez, ten minutes of being back in Paris brought some unwanted memories real quick, huh?

I quickly wiped my tears away and cleared my throat before answering my best friend's call.

"Hello?" I asked.

"WELCOME BACK TO PARIS GIRL!"

I chuckled lightly, remembering how hyper and energetic Alya was. We hadn't spoken since I moved from Paris to live with my uncle in China. But I finally reconnected with her once I told her I was moving back to Paris for a job interview.

"Jeez Alya, I've only been back for ten minutes and you're already wearing me down," I joked. "At least wait until I get to my new apartment."

Yes, new apartment. You'd think I'd at least move back into the bakery with my parents. But they had moved to New York after earning recognition from one of the top cooks from all over the world for my dad's great baking skills.

"Oh girl, don't call a taxi yet. Let me and Nino pick you up." I sighed, another name I hadn't heard or talked to since the second I left. "Which terminal are you at, we're on our way."

•

It wasn't long till the pair had reached the airport pick-up station. Skipping the reuniting cries and bear hugs, they quickly took me to a cafe, our hang-out spot we used to go to many times as teenagers, to catch up with life.

"Jesus Mari, you've GROWN!" Alya exclaimed holding her arms out as if showing a prize. "I've tried to look you up on social media to see what you look like, but I could never find you! But I never expected you to look like.. THAT!"