Competitive Love

11 - Friends Again

Adrien was confused because of what Flora had said the day before. How did she know? She even knew that he loved Ladybug and another girl. Was that little girl someone who could read minds? Adrien wasn't sure of what to think of her, but he would surely ask her another day.
For now, he had a Marinette to impress.

###

Marinette was already up, and she was helping her parents with the bakery. Her parents were making the sweets, and she was attending the customers. Unfortunately, one blond boy with green eyes entered the bakery. She rolled her eyes, and waited for Adrien to order.

"Hey, Marinette... can I have cookies with chocolate chips, please?" Adrien asked, almost murmured. He really didn't want to go as Adrien, but he had to, at least, talk to her as his civilian self.

Marinette looked down and said "Right, how many?".

"Umm... I think 6 will be ok" he said, looking down as well. He really didn't like to see Marinette like that, so sad and cold... and cutting. It's official, he loves her. He doesn't love Ladybug anymore. This bluenette had won his heart. But he could see that Marinette was destroyed because of him. He really liked chocolate chips cookies, but he mainly went there to see her.

"So, you want half-dozen? Wait for me" Marinette said, and went inside. She came back with a bag of cookies "Here you go, now... BYE" she said, got payed by Adrien, he took the bag and started to walk towards the door. Marinette put the money inside the cash machine.

Adrien stopped his tracks. They weren't going to stay like this right? Not making eye contact, avoiding each other, not being friends anymore. And he loved her! He was going to get her as Chat, it's not like he had a rival or something. That would be crazy. And when he gets her, he will be forced to tell her who he really is, and maybe she will stop loving him because... of HIMSELF, because of Adrien. He was not going to let that happen. He turned around and started walking to Marinette, her expression went surprised.

"Listen Mari, you are my friend, one of my dearest friends and I don't want to lose your friendship" Adrien said, not letting Marinette talk. He continued "So please, forgive me for not being able to return your feelings. But I am really confused right now".

"Forgive me, I beg of you"

Marinette's heart stopped, abruptly. She couldn't believe that Adrien Agreste, the one that has never done something wrong; was asking for forgiveness. Besides, it wasn't his fault, but she was angry, destroyed, sad. He clearly didn't want to lose their friendship. Yeah, maybe they could be friends. She had another crush now, so she could act normal and cool around him.

"Adrien, I... You don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong, you just told the truth. Yeah, it hurt; but it wasn't your fault that your heart belonged to someone else. I don't want to lose your friendship either, so let's be friends, ok?" she said, finally looking at his eyes.

Adrien sighed and he hugged her. She hugged him back, and it felt... familiar. She felt like she was hugging Chat; the same warmth, even how he hugged her. But noooo, it couldn't be true, or she would have figured it out months ago. She couldn't be that oblivious.

"Thanks Mari, now, would you like to go eat somewhere?" Adrien offered, glad, extremely glad, that they were friends again. Now, when he confesses, maybe she won't stop loving him, maybe. Marinette nodded and told her parents that she was going to eat with Adrien, and her parents said yes.

###

They ate in a elegant restaurant, but not an expensive one. They talked about school; the projects, the teachers, and things like that. They were walking to the bakery, silent. Marinette broke the ice.

"So... how are photoshoots going?" she asked, looking at him. She was glad to have him back as a friend. Besides, she was developing feelings for two superheroes. Now, she saw Adrien as a friend, nothing more, nothing else.

"They are tiring, but fine" Adrien answered. He started thinking; they were friends again, and that's good news. But what if Marinette only wants to see him as a friend, like, only a friend? That was bad news. But he couldn't start flirting with her as Adrien, it would be worse and it would even increase the chances of her rejecting him, she was dating Chat, right? Well, they only went out once. But Adrien would take her out, again; that night.

"Oh, look! We reached the bakery" Adrien said, and it was true, they were standing in front of the bakery door.

"Thank you Adrien, for the meal and... for everything. I'm glad to have you as a friend again" Marinette said, and waved to him. He waved back, and saw how she got inside the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Adrien walked to his house with a smile on his perfect face.