A Little Too Soon for Goodbye

13 -Project

Over the next few weeks, I slowly recover and spend the time staying home, doing homework, and hanging out with Adrien.

Today, the last day before Christmas break, I force myself to get up and get ready for school. It will be the first time in a month I've gone to school.

I get dressed in leggings and a sweater, and stare at the wig that's on my desk. I look at it for a second, and lightly touch the hair on my head. It is short, but it is growing in again. My eyebrows have grown back, along with the beginning of my eyelashes, but that's it.

I put the wig on, slightly running my fingers through it, and look in the mirror. I put on fake eyelashes, fill in my eyebrows, and I see a girl I don't recognize.

I see the version of me that wasn't dying. The girl that was living with cancer. I see a version of me that was certain that she would have a long, fulfilling life.

I walk down stairs, grabbing my bag, and make my way down to the bakery. Half way down, I get winded, and have to wait a minute so I can catch my breath.

This has been happening a lot lately. Tikki told me some of the symptoms that will probably happen as I get closer to the end. She said the earliest sign is going to be shortness of breath doing normal things. Like going down stairs.

I haven't told anyone.

I make my way down the rest after I catch my breath, and grab a muffin out of the bakery. "See you later." I say to my parents. They each give me a big hug, holding me for longer than they used to.

I make my way to the school, holding my jacket close to my body in the cold weather. When I get inside, I see Adrien talking to Nino and Alya. I frown at the three of them. After that day at the hospital, she ghosted me. She was being serious when she made it clear she didn't want to be friends anymore.

I decide to approach the trio anyway, and snake my arm around Adrien's waist as I stand next to him. He looks at me, smiling, and puts his arm over my shoulders.

Alya completely ignores me, still telling her story about the dream she had the night before. When she finishes, Nino greets me with a fist bump, and I smile at him. "How are you feeling?" He asks, and I think about it for a second. "I'm fee-" but suddenly Alya interrupts me, saying, "I'm feeling fine, why do you ask Nino?"

He gives her a weird look, and says, "babe, that's not cool. I understand that you and Marinette got into a fight, even though she literally did nothing to you, but that doesn't mean you can treat her like this."

Alya glares at him, and just sighs, walking off in the general direction of our class.

We act like that didn't just happen, and Nino turns towards me. "I'm feeling a lot better. No more hallucinations, which is amazing, and I am almost completely recovered from my surgery. It was hard at first, and spent the first two weeks on the couch in Adrien's room, but I'm feeling pretty good, all things considered."

He smiles at me, and says, "that's great." I nod, smiling back at him. Adrien looks at me, and says, "you look so different." I laugh, and look up at him. "Makeup makes someone transform." "Apparently." He responds, pulling me closer into his side.

"When are you two gonna get together?" Nino asks, and I feel as my face goes a bright red. I feel as Adrien shifts, slightly laughing, and rubbing the back of his neck. "We're just friends Nino." He responds, and I nod.

"Okay... but tell me you two have at least hooked up once." I turn my head into Adrien's chest, laughing. "No." Adrien says, laughing too. "At least kissed?" Nino sounds desperate at this point.

"Yeah, one time, but she was freaking out and I did it to distract her." Adrien says, and I look at Nino, no longer hiding in Adrien's chest. He is smirking at the two of us, and says, "let me know when you two finally get together."

We both laugh, but I can't help but feel a little sad. Adrien didn't hesitate at all about us being just friends, which is what we are, but still. Some part of me still has a crush on him, even if it isn't as strong as before.

I roll my eyes, and the first bell rings. We make our way to class, and I get winded going up the stairs. When we get to the top, I have to stop and take a few seconds to breathe. Adrien looks at me, concern written all over his face, and asks, "Is it starting?" I take a few deep breaths, and Nino asks, "Is what starting?"

I stare at Adrien, and slightly nod. "It has been for the past week now. I need to tell Tikki or Plagg."

"What started?" Nino asks, and I look at him. "My symptoms for death." I look at Adrien and his eyes have tears in them. I walk over to him, reaching up and wrapping my arms around his neck. He leans down, putting his face in my neck. I comfort him, and Nino heads to class. He keeps his head down and wipes his eyes, and I can tell that he is crying now too.

"Shhh," I whisper to Adrien. "It's okay. It'll be okay. It's one small thing. We knew this would happen eventually. I was going to tell you today after school, I just wish you didn't find out like you did."

He holds me tighter, and the late bell rings. He stands up a second later, his hands still around my waist, and I look up into his sad eyes. I give him a small smile, reaching up and wiping the tears on his face. He sniffs, taking a second to compose himself, and we walk to class together, hand in hand.

------

As people present their projects, all of them based off of a different emotion, Adrien leans his head down onto my shoulder. I can tell that he is still sad, and that he wants to cry. I hold his hand in silent comfort, and pay attention as people talk at the front.

When it is our turn, he starts off speaking, and half way through he looks at me. He freezes for a second, his eyes filling with more tears, and I take over what he has to say. I finish his part and mine, gently reaching over and grabbing Adrien's hand as we walk back to our desk.

"Good job Marinette and Adrien. If I could, I would like to speak to the two of you after class," Ms. Bustier says. I nod, and Adrien leans his head on my shoulder again.

When the bell rings, dismissing us for lunch, I grab my bag and Adrien grabs his. We wait until the classroom empties, and go up to the teacher's desk. "Is everything okay?" Her gentle voice asks, and I shrug. "I'm getting worse." I say, and her eyes widen. "He found out this morning, even though I was going to tell him after school, but he asked me and I didn't want to lie."

She gets up from her desk, and comes around. She gently hugs me, and afterwards hugs Adrien. "For what it's worth, Marinette, you don't deserve this at all. You are an amazing person, and I wish this didn't happen to you."

I force my eyes to stay dry, even though they sting with the want to cry. "Thank you." I whisper, genuinely meaning it.

Adrien and I walk out of the class hand in hand, and stay silent as we walk out of the school. We get into his car together, and he still tightly holds my hand.

When we get to his house, he guides me inside, and we go up to his room. He leads me to his bed, where he lays down and pulls me down next to him. He goes to pull me to him, but I pull away, taking off my shoes. I take off his too, and then lay down next to him. He pulls me into him immediately, holding my body close. He takes a deep breath, and when he lets it out a small sob escapes his lips.

I stay quiet, and allow him to hold me as close as he needs me to be. 20 minutes later, there is a knock on his door, and he says, "come in." "Adrien?" His mom asks, and I hear as her heals click against the floor.

He sits up, and so do I. She sees his tear streaked face, and she looks at me.

"Oh." The small sound escapes her lips, and she gives a sad smile to me. "You're worse." I nod, and she sighs. "I'm sorry darling."

"It's alright. We knew it would happen soon."

"How much time do you have left?" She asks, and Adrien pulls me into him. I am sitting in his lap, and his chest is pressed against my back while his head is buried in my neck. His arms wrap around my waist.

"4 months."