The Waiting Game

Chapter Three - Repercussions

What brought her here?

Why hasn't she tried to contact me?

How has your life been?

Are you happy?

These are just some of the questions Adrien wanted to ask Marinette. After their awkward staring contest a few moments ago Noah had left them alone. Marinette asked how he was, Adrien stated that he wanted to talk. So there they were, sitting together at a small table in the back of the club. She was sitting right across from him and if he moved his foot he would tap the front of her shoes.

Adrien had thought about this moment for years. He had replayed it over and over again and now that he was here and living the very thing he thought was impossible he had forgotten almost everything. He had so many questions, so many things to say to her, but he couldn't decide where to start. He had thoughts buzzing throughout his head, but they were going too fast for his mouth to grab ahold of.

Luckily Marinette started the conversation. "How have you been?"

Lonely, upset, confused, angry, frustrated. That's how Adrien has been feeling.

"Fine." He lied.

Marinette awkwardly nodded her head, she still hadn't made eye contact with him. She was staring at the silver table instead. This gave Adrien a chance to take her in. He still couldn't believe that she came back, she was here, breathing the same air as him. He wanted to reach over and touch her hand, but he would have to settle for the brief nudges against her toes for now.

"Where have you-"

"I wish there was-

Both of them closed their mouths just as quickly as they opened them. Marinette could register the heavy atmosphere. It hung in the air like a damp cloth hanging on a thin wire. "Sorry." She said.

"I was just going to ask, where have you been all this time?" Adrien asked.

"Well, two weeks after I left," Marinette ignored the ongoing guilt. "I flew back to Paris to be with my mum, I only came back maybe 4 or 5 months ago."

She had been in Paris? Adrien knew she was afraid, but not the extreme of having to move away. "What were you going to say before? I didn't mean to cut you off."

"No, it's okay. I just wish we could have met under better circumstances." Marinette said. She couldn't seem to break this wall she had, almost as if it was built specifically for Adrien. She couldn't look him in the eye, she kept her arms wrapped around her and her legs crossed. She knew she was keeping herself away, and Adrien could sense that too.

"I don't, I'm glad to see you again." Adrien smiled at her.

Marinette giggled a little. "Me too." She smiled at him, the perfect smile that made his heart do flips. 

The more Adrien thought about it, the less it made sense. "Wait a second, you just left New York? What about your degree in fashion design? Don't tell me you dropped out." There was something Marinette wasn't telling him, and Adrien knew. She would never just fly back to Paris and quit her dream.

Marinette's bottom lip trembled slightly. "Well, you see..."

"Just tell me Marinette! Please, I'm tired of secrets-" Adrien begged.

Marinette wanted to sink into her chair and never be heard from again. "I can't, this is just..."

"What aren't you telling me? What's making you so reserved and quiet?"