Expect The Unexpected

Chapter 4 3/5

Marinette

The walls in the living room were so high that all of the students, except for Ivan, had to stand on ladders, wooden chairs, and white stools so they could paint without splattering paint everywhere. Adrien was standing beside her, his legs trembling from the effort of pushing up from the balls of his feet in order to reach and paint the top area of the wall that connected with the ceiling. His brow was scrunched up in concentration, lips twisted slightly as he took his time to make the wall look good. Mari was still gazing at him so when he seemed to realize that she was looking at him, he turned his head slightly so his eyes met hers and he smiled, his lips curved crookedly and for some reason, it reminded her of Chat's sweet but crooked smile he often gave her when she was Ladybug. Her heart thumped inside her chest and she managed a quick smile in return before whipping her head back to face the wall she was painting so he couldn't see her heated cheeks.

Why is he reminding me of Kitten when he does the simplest things? What is wrong with me?

Mari's thoughts tumbled around her, enveloping her in a turmoil of torn feelings, all arguing with each other. Her hand slowed as it rolled back and forth, slathering the lilac paint over the dusky brown that currently stained the walls of the Argent's living room. Mari's hand eventually stopped rolling the long paintbrush and she paused, glancing at Adrien, focusing on the little things, the small movements that changed his face in simple but different ways, making him more endearing. 

The eye squints, making sure he didn't miss a spot. 

The twisted lips, full of concentration. Even the raised eyebrows as he focused on the task at hand. 

Her heart cracked a little, torn between her first love and the fresh, new one she felt for her partner, the emotions swirling around her, hesitating, then gripping and almost suffocating her, hesitating, suffocating, hesitating. It was too much for her and her legs trembled, shaking the stool she stood on and she gasped heavily, her throat tight. 

Feeling a small tap on her shoulder, she turned to see Rosie's concerned face staring back at her. Mari tried to smile but her lips refused, unable to make the happy gesture.

"Are you okay?" Rosie whispered. 

Mari made the 'so-so' gesture with her hand, trying to blink back the tears that blurred her vision and turned away from her friend. Unable to handle the searing torture anymore, Mari carefully stepped off the stool, placed her paint roller back in the paint-covered pan, and ran out of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

Storming into an empty room, she slammed the door shut and slumped against the wall, the tears rushing down her cheeks, unrelenting and cruel. She buried her face in her hands, struggling to breathe through the pain as well as her hands, which were covering her nose and mouth, so she moved her hands to the sides of her face so she could breathe a little easier.

Somewhere through the noise, there was a soft knock on the door but she ignored it, not wanting to talk or see anyone at that moment. Mari heard the door creak open and slam shut but she refused to turn and see who it was, keeping her face in her hands and still crying. Someone knelt beside her, wrapping their arms around her from the side. 

Instinctively, she turned toward them and grasped their shirt, close to screaming but managing to control herself enough to just sob loudly, her body shaking and whimpering. They simply tightened their hold on her, gently rubbing her back, shifting so they were able to hold her in a more comfortable position. She simply sobbed harder, her wavering heart so shredded and divided that the pain gripped her like a hand, overshadowing her in nothing but despair.