Accident of the Evening

Truth

Adrien was still recovering from the tight hug Sabine had given him when they arrived out the front of Marinette's apartment complex.

"Do you need a hand taking them up?" Adrien asked as he held open Marinette's door. He gestured to her boxes of fabric but she shook her head.

"I got it," she smiled. "I left your cookies on the seat so don't sit on them."

"I'll take your warning," he told her.

"Good because I'm not swapping them with mine. I don't want butt cookies," she laughed as her cheeks turned red. She then turned away and made her way up the stairs.

"Mari, wait," Adrien said, deciding he needed to ask her. "Did I do anything? Do you hate me?" he asked. "Was it because of the kiss?" he added, feeling his cheeks heat up as the words left his lips.

"What?" Marinette blinked a few times. "I don't... It's not... I don't hate you," she told him quietly.

"Are you sure? It's just-"

"I'm sure," she nodded. "I'm just not sure what comes over me sometimes. I'm sorry if you think I don't like you."

"Oh, well, thank you," he replied awkwardly. He hadn't expected it to be so easy.

"Adrien," Gideon called from the car. He waved him off and looked at Marinette, wanting to say more.

"Adrien," the voice was more persistent, he held up his finger to Marinette, indicating he could be back and jogged to the car.

"Don't forget your package for Marinette," Gideon told him, handing it through the window. "And please be quick, your father has been trying to call." Adrien nodded and ran back up the stairs, glad he didn't trip.

He tried not to think of what a pair they would be if they both broke rare Chinese teapots.

"This is yours," he told her, carefully balancing it a box of fabric. "Now don't drop this one, okay?" he smiled at her and she blushed.

"Adrien, I-" she began but this time she was cut off, as Adrien was called by his driver again.

"I'm sorry, I really am, I have to go," he said, his eyes wide and apologetic before he made his way back into the car.

"Adrien, I do not expect to be kept waiting." Adrien's happiness was sucked away in seconds.

"Sorry father," Adrien replied, looking at his father in the screen in the back of the driver's seat.

"I do not allow you to study at University for you to waste your time with nobodies."

"Father, they aren't nobodies. They are friends."

"The same friends who encourage you go out without an escort?" Adrien saw his father raise an eyebrow.

"They just want me to be happy, father."

"And I want you to be safe, Adrien. I am your father and I know what is best for you." Adrien just rolled his eyes, careful not to let his father see.

"Yes father."

"Speaking of what's best for you, why did you withdraw from your savings?"

Adrien bit the inside of his cheek. He noticed much faster than Adrien thought he would. Though it was probably Nathalie who noticed.

"I broke something and had to replace it," Adrien said simply.

"Adrien," his father's voice warned him to speak but Adrien shook his head.