•Afterglow• || Book of One-shots

4: You Weren't Mine To Lose

AN: This is based on the song August by Taylor Swift. So few things are a bit different here:
Adrien (he isn't a model) = James
Marinette = Augustine
Kagami = Betty
Chloe (she isn't as mean, she just likes to gossip around with everyone) = Inez

P.S. I have nothing against any of these characters. I was just having a little fun X)

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"Adrien!"

Silence. The girl knocked on the door again. The door had become somewhat rusty due to the moisture in the atmosphere. Over time, the door kept on rusting, and now Marinette's knuckles hurt when they scratched against the rough surface.

"Adrien!" She called out again to her beloved one. They had started dating a little over a month ago, in the first week of August. Since the past few days, Marinette hasn't met Adrien, not in school, not on the streets. And he hasn't come over to her house like he used to as well.

"Adri-"

"Dupain-Cheng?"

Marinette turned around at the mention of her last name. "Chloe?"

Chloe furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you searching for Adrien?"

Marinette nodded. "I haven't seen him this week at all."

Chloe seemed to wonder about something, and then beckoned Marinette to come closer. Once she was close enough, the blonde whispered, "Do you really not know?"

"Know what?"

Chloe's tone now became excited. "Adrien got back together with Kagami!"

Marinette, surprisingly, remained quiet. Tears were threatening to fall, but she managed to mumble a quick "thank you, Chloe" before running towards her home.

Once home, she fell face-first on her bed, wanting to cry, but at the same time unable to. She knew this would happen, but it still hurt. She knew Adrien didn't really love her. She knew that he'd go back to his sweetheart sooner or later. She cursed inaudibly for letting herself fall for a guy like him. Burying her face in a pillow, she recalled the memories she had with him. Looking back at them now, she felt stupid that she once believed Adrien to be in love with her.

"Are you gonna tell all your friends about me?"

"Hmm?"

Marinette huffed. He wasn't listening to her. "Are you gonna tell your friends about me when you go back to school?"

Adrien continued to stare up at the sky, not bothering to look at the girl laying beside him. "Do you want me to?"

Marinette ran a hand through her hair and looked up at the sky as well. "Whatever you prefer."

"Okay", Adrien muttered and got up. They had been laying on a mat in her garden, soaking in the warm sunlight of the summer afternoon. The sun wasn't too hot, but perfect enough to bask in its heat.

Marinette rolled over to lay on her stomach, looking over at Adrien who was putting on his shoes.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere." He said and went out the gate. He didn't return that day.

Marinette rubbed her eyes, which were now bloodshot. She recalled all those times she had cancelled her plans with her friends and parents just in case Adrien would call her and ask her out on a date. All of those times, he hadn't called. She'd wait hours beside her phone, jumping at any vibration or sound it made. And all of those times, after a few more hours her friends and family would return, only to find her still sitting on her bed with her phone beside her. She'd greet them cheerfully every single time, trying to mask her disappointment with a smile. The smile that everyone had fallen in love with, except the boy that she fell for.

Sometimes even at night after dinner, she'd stay up, hoping that Adrien would call to apologise and maybe make up for it the day after. He never did.

She recalled how once, she herself invited him out for a date. Initially he had agreed to pick her up, which she was really happy about. She spent the whole afternoon deciding which dress to wear, which hairstyle to opt for, and dolled up for her much awaited date. When the time came, she again sat beside her phone, waiting for his call to let her know that he had arrived to pick her up. He, again, didn't call. She refused to eat dinner that night.

When her parents' worries got the best of them and they came to check on their daughter, they found her sitting on her bed with a smile on her face, and her phone beside her. She was still hoping for him to call her, convincing herself that he was just a little late.

Marinette realised how they didn't really make many memories together. The only ones she could think of were of them laying in her garden or balcony, basking in the summer warmth, and of her staying back at home just in case he wanted to meet with her while her friends and family went out and had fun. She realised how stupid she had been, regretting ever falling in love with someone who didn't value her feelings.

Taking a deep breath, she smiled, partially at her stupidity, and partially about Adrien getting back together with Kagami, the only one he had ever loved. She was happy for him. Happy for them.

August had slipped away from her hands like sand, and she couldn't have done anything about it, for the month was never hers to keep. Adrien Agreste was her summer love, though he'd stay in her heart forever. Marinette realised that her hope for what they could've been was what kept her somewhat content this past month. She remembered thinking how she and Adrien were perfect, when in fact the reality was far from that. All along, the simple truth was that he was never hers to lose, and Marinette accepted that as she closed her eyes with a soft smile on her face.

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