The time to change.

Running and Fighting (الجري والقتال)

Ali ran up the stairs and threw the bedroom door open and saw exactly what Layla said.

His window was open with his curtains blowing out with rain from the thunderstorm soaking in and there was a bit of dust on the floor by his bed, Ali grunted as he knelt down and saw the book not there.

"Crap, he took the book." Ali whispered to himself as his phone rang.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Ali? Nino's at my house! He's in tears! He has a weird book with him as well!" Marinette said.

"Thank you! Keep him there!" Ali said as he ran back down the stairs.

"He's at Marinette's!" He said as he grabbed the keys.

Parwiz scoffed, "So? He'll come back and then I'll teach him a lesson. As you obviously failed."

Ali turned around fastly as he glared hard at his father, "You will stay far away from my son."

Ali threw the door open and left, running down the hallway and through the deserted streets, being soaked in rain.

Ali heaved in air as he threw the Dupain-Cheng's bakery door.

"Ali?! Thank god!, Nino came in absolute tears, he's with Marinette in her bedroom. Although I think he fell asleep a little while ago." Tom explained as Ali nodded, "Thanks, Tom."

Ali walked up the stairs to Marinette's room and smiled as he saw Nino sleeping in Marinette's bed.

The blanket was pulled to his chin, he was on his side with his arms wrapped tightly around his belly with his book next to him.

"Aww." Ali said and startled Marinette a little as she was on her desk doing homework.

Marinette chuckled, "He's a deep sleeper."

"Oh-oh, I've noticed." Ali agreed.

Marinette instantly looked worried, "He came in tears, screaming he was fat and everything, I quickly took him up here as Dad closed the bakery for a few hours." She explained, Ali nodded sadly.

"Do you remember his Grandfather? Have you met him?"

Marinette shook her head, "He never let me met him and he always got scared and tense when I mentioned his grandfather so I never brought it up."

Ali nodded, "Okay, thanks, his grandfather is not a nice person."

Marinette looked worried, "Do I need to protect him? I'll punch his grandfather for him! Just give me the word!"

Ali laughed, "No, Nino would not be happy with that."

Nino groaned as he shifted onto his other side and all of the happiness Ali felt dissapeared just as quickly.

"His grandfather -- my father, said he looked fat and that eating will only worsen it. He was so close to eating but after that he ran off and I guess he's here instead." Ali explained.

Marinette turned to another level of red.

Ali snorted, "Mad?"

"Oh yes. Are you sure I can't punch some sense into his grandfather?" Marinette asked.

Ali laughed again, "No, I think Layla wants to do all the punches."

"I can help her!"

Ali just continued laughing, "No! No! I am just barely keeping Layla from going to prison cause she wants to attack my father. Nevermind you joining in."

Marinette snorted before sighing,"I've been friends with Nino since we were both six and he's had Anorexia since 8, he kept asking me if he looked fat and I always said no but he kept asking in fear. I always saw fear in his eyes when he asked me. So when we were both 9 I decided to ask him and all he said was Anorexia. But he's never told me why either." Marinette explained.