Tales Untold

The Disappearing Act 9

Adrien

"No worries Marinette. I was actually quite flattered."

That is, before she had also asked Chat.

"I'm glad. Anyway, I wanted to thank you. For covering for me, I mean."

He nodded, glancing over in her parents direction. They were both passed out in their seats, leaning against each other. He wondered if the bakery could actually afford being closed for a day.

"It's no problem. You would have done the same for me."

"Yeah... but how did you know to cover for me?"

He thought for a moment, before giving her a small shrug.

"Wasn't going to admit I lost you the first time they gave me a chance?"

"I'll let that lame ass excuse slide for now. If you tell me what's going on between you, Alya and Nino."

"There's nothing to tell."

Just talking about them would rile him up. And he just wanted to enjoy today.

"I want everyone to be friends again."

"Well I don't. They don't-"

He forced himself to swallow his words, giving a frustrated shake of his head.

"It would make me happy." She mumbled, her gaze flicking to the window.

He turned to her, his glare softening.

"Marinette I know that's what you want. But I... I can't. You can be friends with them. I can understand why you would want to be. But not me."

"Why? Don't you miss the old times? The last thing I remember was us being happy. All of us. Our group was perfect."

Yeah, it was. And sure. There were times he missed those days. But he couldn't forgive them for what they did.

"A lot has changed."

"But you said some of it was for the better. This isn't. We were happy back then, we-"

"You were still there back then. Don't you get that? You were the reason our circle was created. It was all you. When you left, so did they." He snapped, and she seemed to shrink away from him, making him turn his attention to the aisle.

"The difference is... that I'm here now. We could patch things up. I know you miss having them as friends."

"Friends do nothing but turn their backs when you need them most."

"So I should expect you to do the same?"

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the seat.

"Mari-"

"You're going to leave then?"

"No. I-"

"You left them."

"I wasn't the one that left!" He snapped, and she stared at him in wide eyed shock.

He groaned, rubbing his face. He didn't want to fight with her. She just got back. He just wanted to enjoy spending time with her.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so exhausted."

"No. No, I get it. You're mad at me."

"What?"

He wasn't mad at her. She didn't understand what it was like with those two after she disappeared. She didn't understand why he couldn't be around them.