Stray ~ A MariChat Love Story (Complete)

Chapter 37: Trying

Adrien didn't know what to expect when he went to school the next morning, but at least no one blamed Chat Noir for what had happened.

Chloe and Sabrina still referred to him as the same second-rate superhero, but others felt sympathy -declaring Hawk Moth was vial and cruel for taking advantage of the pressures Chat Noir had leading a double life.

Nathaniel wasn't sitting beside Marinette at lunch and he wasn't the only one that noticed. Hushed murmurs flitted across the classroom, with curious glances sent in her direction. Marinette would turn red every now and then, but never lifted her eyes off the tablet in front of her.

A part of him was hopeful, but after the kiss she'd shared with Nathaniel he felt more confused than relieved. They both had the same interests, hobbies...So what was he missing?

Miss Bustier was absent from school that day to take care of a home emergency. Their substitute, a thin woman with narrowed eyes and a pointed nose, gave them the lesson to do as they pleased. So Adrien turned in his seat and joined the conversation Nino, Alya and Marinette were immersed with.

"I didn't get that chance to ask yet, but dang Marinette. Are you okay?"

She tensed and that was when Adrien noticed the dark bags beneath her eyes. Marinette gave them a reluctant smile. "I had a few nightmares, but I'm sure they'll go away soon. I don't blame Chat for any of it."

"Chat?" asked Alya, raising her brows in surprise, "Already on a first name basis with a superhero?" Marinette blushed lightly and Adrien couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled from his throat. It felt good to see her like this.

"Don't worry, Marinette. Your secret's safe with us." He winked at her and Marinette rolled her eyes at him. Nino gave him a subtle thumbs-up and Adrien couldn't help but feel a little bit accomplished.

He was planning something tonight -something drastic and maybe even stupid -that would change things between them forever. He didn't want to hide anything from her anymore. He loved her and it was about time she knew, whether she loved Nathaniel more or not.

She turned her attention to her sketchbook while Alya and Nino changed their topic of conversation to what they had planned for the weekend. But Adrien couldn't focus on anything else but her. He peered down at her drawings with his side pressed to the desk and admired them.

Her doodles were plain and simplistic, small spirals with red and green dots between. At first it appeared random, but the longer she drew the more clearly the vague image took shape.

Marinette giggled softly and it was only then that Adrien realised he was frowning, trying so hard to figure it out. He gave off a nervous chuckle and smiled sheepishly, leaning towards her. "I couldn't help but notice you're not sitting with Nathaniel today. Did something happen between you and your boyfriend?"

He really hoped his cringing wasn't as noticeable as he thought. But he had to ask.

She blushed lightly and a tight smile formed on her delicate, kissable lips. "Nathaniel's not my boyfriend."

"What?" His eyes bulged. It was too good to be true. "But I -I thought..." He was terribly confused. He saw them kissing. He saw it. He held her the way Adrien dreamt of, kissing her like she was the most precious and breakable thing in the whole wide world.

Marinette wasn't the sort of girl to move around from one guy to the next or meddle with meaningless relationships. Something was definitely wrong.

She shrugged, "We tried and he's a great guy, but my heart just wasn't into it." But there was something about her eyes that made him question her. It was the way they glinted humorously and glazed over when she glanced back at the drawing. She was way too...happy.