Persona

You're Better Off...

Marinette

This was right.

This is what I had dreamed.

This is what I had hoped for.

But I couldn't shake this bad taste on my tongue the entire time Adrien was holding my hand.

It gave me a whole new definition to the phrase, "bitter sweet."

I couldn't help but watch his eyes as we walked down the halls to the room where our movie was playing.

He just looked so nervous, which was weird to me since he had never showed any interest in me before earlier today.

I was nervous too, but not as nervous as I had bee around him before, which also felt strange.

I was on a date with him, yet I felt completely comfortable.

I kept trying to think about why while we walked through the halls of the theater, but all I could think about was how Adrien's fingers were intertwined with my own.

It was such an amazing feeling, but at the same time I wanted to rip them away.

My mind was at war with itself, and I didn't know what side I wanted to be on.

So I just continued to paint a smile on my face and walk with him.

I figured that was a better idea then storming off for no reason whatsoever.

Finally, we reached room number four, where our movie was playing.

We walked inside, seeing a family at the front row, but the rest of the place was empty.

I smiled as I remembered coming here with my family when I was a kid.

I had always wanted to sit at the very top, and would sit in a little booster seat so I felt like I was in  the movie.

And it seemed like Adrien wanted to go to the top, but we didn't get booster seats.

We walked to the very top and sat in the middle of the row of black leather seats.

Great, more black leather to trigger my memories.

Adrien didn't let go of my hand as he silenced his phone and reached into his pocket.

I looked at him funny as he fumbled around in his coat for something.

His face lit up as if he had just found gold when he pulled out a box of Junior Mints.

Yup, this date was the right idea.

"I don't buy candy at movie theaters, it's way too expensive," he whispered, leaning close enough to my face I could feel his breath.

"I don't either, it's just been a long time since I've been to the movies," I said, and then proceeded to tell him my top-row-booster-seat story.

He laughed a little and said, "I feel like very kid wanted to sit at the top row as a kid, I know I always did. But my dad never let me, he liked having his face as close to the screen as possible."

"My dad's the same way," I said, reaching into the box of Junior Mints and popping a couple in my mouth.

We watched the trailers in silence for a little bit, and then the screen came on that said to silence your cell phones.

Adrien turned to look at me, and I to him.

He smiled and gripped my hand tighter.

After a second of this, he pulled his hand away from me, making my heart stop for a second.

He chuckled, "Relax," he pulled his arm above my head and rested it around me, "I just wanted to get a little closer to you."

I blushed a deep shade of scarlet and continued to look into his beautiful green eyes.

We looked at each other for a long time, when finally the movie started.

I managed to tear my eyes away from him and looked at the screen as some of the names of actors started to play.

I tried to depict who I had seen in other films, but I couldn't stop thinking about how he was right there next to me.

Right there next to me, on a date.

Right there next to me, with an arm around me.

Right there next to me, but wasn't.

I blinked rapidly as I thought about everything.

I shouldn't be here.

I should be at home, waiting for Chat Noir to come to my window.

Listening to him explain the things I did as Ladybug.

Letting him show me who he was so I could fall in love with him.

I shouldn't be here in the arms of a stranger, watching a film I don't even want to see.

I looked at Adrien, who could see the distress in my eyes.

And for a moment, he just looked at me.

But I couldn't take it.

I stood up and ran out of the theater, dialing Alya's number as I headed for the door.