The Line Between Love And Hate

Chapter 51: Fresh Start

~3 days after Marinette left~

~Adrien~

"Have you seen Mari? I feel like she's been avoiding me." I ask as I join Alya and Nino at the table. "You still don't know?" Alya asks. "Know what?"

"I thought you were going to tell him Nino." "I thought Marinette said not to tell him." "She meant not to tell him before you idiot!" "Tell me what?" Alya and Nino stop arguing and glance at me.

"Did I do something to upset her? I could've sworn we were on good terms now." They stare at me. "I'm serious guys. What is it?"

"You can't get mad." I furrow my eyebrows. "No promises." Alya and Nino take a deep breath and look at me.

Whatever this is. It's bad. I have a feeling my gut was right the last time we hung out. That really was a goodbye. Please tell me I'm wrong. God I hope I'm wrong.

"What is it?" "Remember how Marinette got offered to finish her training in New York?" I nod. "Yeah. The United Heroes have been bugging her for years to go." "Adrien."

The realization sets in. She hasn't been answering my calls. She wasn't at her dorm. She was crying when she hugged me. She was crying.

"No." I shake my head. "She told me she'd never accept their offers. She said she could never leave here. She wouldn't just leave us." "She didn't leave us. It was a good offer Adrien."

"This isn't funny guys." I stand up. "We're not joking." "When did she leave?" "3 days ago." "And when did you find out she was leaving?" "About 5 days before she left."

"She told you guys? And you didn't try to talk her out of it?" "We couldn't! She wanted to go Adrien." "There has to be another reason. She wouldn't just leave. We only have a few years left."

"She said she'll be back by graduation." "That's years from now!" "They gave her a good opportunity. She had to take it." I shake my head.

"Look don't be mad-" Alya starts as she stands up. "Don't be mad? How can I not be mad? How could she have been such a coward and not tell me she was leaving? I'm her best friend!"

"Dude we get how you feel but-" "No Nino. You don't get how I feel because you got a fucking goodbye! You both did. I didn't even know she was leaving! We hung out the day before she left and she couldn't even tell me!"

"Adrien-" "Why the hell didn't you tell me?" "We couldn't. She made us promise." "I don't give a damn about a promise Alya! If Nino was leaving and didn't tell you I know you wouldn't care about a promise I made to him!"

"That's not the same thing Adrien and you know it." "How is it any different?" "Nino and I are in love. The two of you aren't." "And how would you know? Did you ever ask me if I'm in love with her?"

"I didn't think I'd have to. You have a girlfriend." "I was only with Chloe because I knew I'd never have a chance with Marinette." "Well why the hell didn't you tell her that?"

"I tried! Stuff would always get in the way." I pace back and forth. "2 years. 2 fucking years. I can't do 2 years!" I pull out my phone.

"What are you doing?" "I'm booking a flight. I'm going to New York." "Adrien you can't. She has to be able to adjust over there. She can't adjust if you're there."

"And I can't adjust with her gone. We're supposed to stick together!" "She's not gone forever Adrien." "I can't just sit around and wait for her to come back."

"She can't think I don't care about her. I need to tell her how I feel."

"Adrien you're being selfish." "So was she! She didn't tell me she was leaving because it would've been too hard for her!" I can feel my blood boiling.

She slipped through my grasp. She left. She's gone now. Dammit Mari. What the hell am I supposed to do without you? Why couldn't you just fucking tell me?

I feel my knees give out. Suddenly I'm on the floor and tears are sliding down my face. Alya and Nino rush to my side and wrap me in their arms.

"You should've told me." "I know dude. I'm sorry." They squeeze me tighter as I continue to break.

I can't go on without her. I can't.

~Marinette~

I scheduled my flight 3 days early. I'm supposed to move into my new dorm today. I wanted to use the 3 extra days to explore the city, but instead I spent it crying in my hotel room.

I feel bad. I feel guilty. Adrien deserved a proper goodbye, but I know if I gave him one I would've stayed.

I'm on my way to United Heroes right now. I've heard stories about people getting stuck with horrible roommates when they go off to college, I was lucky enough to not get a roommate. But here I wasn't so lucky. I hope they're nice.

The cab stops in front of the dorms. I pay the driver before getting out to grab my bags. When I walk in I see two girls look at me and whisper to each other.

Please don't be my roommates. Please don't be my roommates. Please don't be my-

"Are you Marinette?" Shit. I nod. "You're late." The one with the braids eyes me. "I'm Aeon and this is Jess." "Jessica to you." She says coldly. "We're your roommates." I smile at them. "Follow us to our room." Jessica holds no emotion in her voice.

Aeon smiles at me before saying, "I know she seems like a bitch right now, but don't worry, she'll warm up to you. Soon she'll even let you call her Jess." She follows after her. She seems nice. I let them lead me to the dorm.

They unlock the door and Jessica tosses me the keys. "These are yours. If you leave them in the room you're locked out. I'm not getting up to open the door." "Noted." She raises an eyebrow. "She talks."

"Duh." I can see a faint smile on her lips. "Whatever. Don't interrupt my sleep and we won't have a problem." She climbs into one of the beds.

Aeon grabs one of my bags and places it on the empty bed. "This ones yours." I smile at her. "Thank you." "The restroom is right through that door." She points behind me. "We have snacks in the pantry."

She leans into me and whispers, "Just don't touch Jess' goldfish. You'd throw away any chance of getting on her good side."

I laugh. "Got it." "If you need anything-" "Ask Aeon." Jessica says from her bed. "Ask me." I smile at her. "You can set your stuff in the drawers and we cleared out a third of the closet for you." "Thank you." She smiles and nods.