True selves

Chapter Three

"You can do this, Marinette!" Alya encouraged her nervous friend.

School was over in an instant, Marinette dreaded of giving the gift and was even considering to chicken out when Alya pulled her behind the staircase.

Her grip on the present tightened, mentally cheering herself to ignore the doubts swirling in her hand.

Adrien was talking to Nino about his father near the staircase.
"Nino, I don't think my dad is going to allow me to have a birthday party."

"Come on! It's your birthday! You just have to pester him."

"Even if I do that, I'll get nothing but another furious scolding from him."

"How about I try to persuade him?"

"You could try but I don't think he will give in."

"Never fear, Superhero Nino is here to help!"

Their conversation was cut short when Marinette appeared in front of the two of them.

She seems to be nervous. Adrien thought.

Marinette was indeed nervous, she opened her mouth to say something. Adrien was waiting patiently for her to talk even though he was mostly looking at her azure blue eyes, not noticing that his best friend had disappeared.

Alya grabbed Nino the moment she pushed Marinette towards Adrien. He was in surprise, grumbling about how painful his arm was thanks to Alya. She silenced him with a look making no room for arguments.

Marinette took a deep breath, and said, "I just wanted to..."

Adrien edged closer to hear better because she was speaking softly. It was too much for Marinette when she accidentally met his eyes when she prepared herself again to spit out the next few words.

All of a sudden, Chloe burst out of nowhere, pushing Marinette away almost making her fall to the ground. Adrien went to help Marinette on instinct but Chloe locked him in her serpent grip again.

"Adrikins, have you received my present yet?" She looked at him with her dull blue eyes.

The poor boy only shocked his head in answer, only concern for Marinette running through his veins.

The girl who was rudely interrupted was fine but underneath she was boiling with anger. Bristling, her hatred for Chloe grew.

Alya noticed her stiff stance and quickly whispered, "Ignore her, Marinette. Focus on giving it to him!"

Once again, Marinette was in a clutter of emotions. Her anger had subsided, replaced by sadness. She knew it herself, she couldn't talk to Adrien without zoning into space. Why can't she talk to him like a normal person?

Frustrated, Chloe contacted the mailman. The worker was struck speechless from her rapid-fire.

A car turned around the corner heading straight for the school. It arrived just in the nick of time for Adrien to escape from Chloe who was trying to kiss his cheek and listening to the mailman's reason.

(Apparently it was too heavy)

Marinette got back into her senses after being ranted by Alya for almost an eternity. She ran a few steps forward to the car but it was on the road back home.

Shoulders slumped, Marinette fell to the ground. Her precious gift was hugged to her chest, wallowing in her misery.

Alya had her thinking face on, her foot was tapping rhythmically on the school ground.

An idea sparked into her head, a mad-genius smile plastered on her face.

She ran up to Marinette, lifted her up and set her on her feet. Alya rejoiced,"There's another way to give it him!"

Marinette's head perked up and looked at her best friend with hope-filled eyes.

Clearing her throat, Alya revealed her plan. She suggested going to Adrien's house to personally deliver the present.

It was a good plan, Marinette had to admit but Alya seemed to forget a teeny tiny problem. She does not have the courage to talk to him again!

The school's head reporter face-palmed herself on the forehead, before dragging Marinette to his house. Then she realized Nino was no where to be found. But she brushed that thought aside as she focused more on the task at hand.