Reunited (A Miraculous Ladybug Romance)

Correspondence

     "Adrien was so cute yesterday!" I squealed to Alya over the phone. I couldn't keep in my excitement over how intimate we had gotten on our search for Nino's perfect proposal venue. Usually we went to lunch together and talked about various trivial things, but this... this was different. This felt so passionate.
     "Okay......so spill it! What did he do?"
     "It's hard to explain," I began. "We just got really close. He was treating me as if I was his girlfriend or something. It felt.....really nice." My body was on fire as I remembered every touch and every embrace from the day before. He had been so gentle, and so sincere. He had sounded truly heartbroken when he discovered that I had had a crush on him in high school. I was sitting in my computer chair and currently twirling a piece of my loose hair. I may or may not have been looking at one Adrien's new photo shoots on my computer screen.
     "Girl, you have got it bad, and from the sounds of it I think Adrien does, too." Alya paused thinking to herself. "But... it's hard for me to tell just hearing things second hand. I think that it's time that the four amigos get back together. I'm dying to see the chemistry between you two."
     The thought of Alya seeing me with Adrien sent shivers down my spine. Everything between Adrien and me was so personal. Letting Alya see that was a bit terrifying. Would Adrien act differently around me in front of our friends, or would he continue to show his flirtatious side? Did I even want Alya to see Adrien flirt with me? Something just felt wrong with that. Almost like exposing a secret that wasn't meant to be shared.
     Alya could sense the hesitation in my silence. "Don't worry about it, Mare, I'll set everything up. It will be just like old times."
     "Aren't you excited to be with all of your friends again?" Tikki asked after I had gotten off the phone. I slumped down in my chaise allowing my arms to spread like wings by my side as I glared at the ceiling without even really seeing it. All I could see was Adrien's gentle smile which was sometimes replaced by a more mischievous grin.
     "I don't know, Tikki," I sighed. "It's different this time. It won't be the same. Alya and Nino are practically engaged, and Adrien and I are...... well..... I don't even know what we are! How are we supposed to act in front of them? Do we act like friends like we always did, or do we act like a couple?" I pulled my hands to my face burrowing into them. "I don't know what to do, Tikki! I'm so confused!"
     Tikki flew over grabbing one of my hands and pulling it from me face. "It'll all work out, Marinette. Don't worry. You don't have to have your relationship with Adrien figured out yet. Just have fun. Don't think about it and let things happen naturally."
     Of course, Tikki was right. I was just overthinking things, as usual. "Thanks, Tikki. You always know just what to say."
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The next day, Alya called to give me a lowdown of the plan. We would all meet at the carnival that was in town the following day. That meant that I had one more day to keep whatever was going on with Adrien and me just between us. I quickly got dressed, brushed my hair, keeping it loose, and headed to work.
     As I drove into the parking lot, I caught a glimpse of a golden haired boy walking towards the door. My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected sight of my, well, whatever he was. Tikki had been singing along with a song on my radio, but flew into my bag as I parked the car. A tapping on my window caused me to jump and throw my bag across the seat. I turned to see a soft pair of green eyes peering in at me through the glass causing my pulse to quicken.
    "Adrien!" I said accusingly after I had gathered my things and opened the door. "You scared me!"
     "Let me help you," he said with a peaceful grin as he reached out his hand to help me get out of the car. "I couldn't miss a chance to walk my little lady into work today, could I?" With these words, his gentle smile morphed into a playful almost sinister looking smirk.
     My mind immediately drifted to the letter that I had written to Chat. Had he seen it yet. Had he replied? Two full nights had passed since I had left it; maybe it was possible that he had responded already....
     "Marinette, are you okay? I know I'm fascinating to look at and all, at least that's what I'm told, but I seriously feel like you're about to stare a hole right through me."
     Adrien's words snapped me back to attention. I hadn't even realized that I had been staring at him. Heat rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment. "Oh, uh.... I wasn't looking at you. I mean... it's not like I wouldn't want to.... uh.... I mean...... I was just thinking about......someone.. I mean.... something else." Why was I stammering again?
    "Ouch, I'm hurt," Adrien teased while placing his hands over his heart. "And who might my little princess be dreaming about while her knight is standing right before her?"
     Even though Adrien was teasing me, there was something about the look in his eyes that told me that he truly was a little wounded by what I had said. I couldn't tell him that I had been thinking about Chat, but maybe I could tell him part of the truth. I cupped my hands around his which were still atop of his chest and smiled.
     "I'm sorry, you just made me think of someone that I haven't seen in a long time. I doubt I'll ever see that person again. Now," I added as I wrapped my fingers around his right hand and pulled him away from the car, "let's go inside! We wouldn't want to be late."