Mysterious Rose by Summer Cheng

Chapter 1 The First Rose?

         Marinette gets up and faces the day with a frown.  She looks outside. She sees the sunshine's rays shine its lovely head across the sky.  She thinks, why couldn't it rain instead?  Why is the world so cruel?  Why is it on this day of all days does it have to be such a nice day outside?   

       "Ugh, it just is not right, Mom!"  Marinette says as she ties her shoe lace.

    "Sweetheart, I know today is a rough day for you, but try to make the most of it dear,"  Sabine says. 

  " It is not right, how could there not be a single gray cloud in the sky to match my mood right now?  I feel as if all my world feel apart the day my best friend died!  To make matters worse, Adrien still was gone far away in the states at the time," Marinette whines.

    "Don't whine dear, it is not very becoming!"  Tom says.

  "Dad, why did Alya died a year ago on this day anyway?"  Marinette says.

   "I don't know.  I am afraid I don't have the answers to this," Tom says.

   "I can tell you though that life is full of ups and downs,"  Tom says.

    "Your father is right!  You know we love you very much!" Sabine says. She kisses Marinette on her cheek.

   "Thanks, Mom and Dad!" Marinette says.

        Marinette hurries off to school.  She walks alone. She thinks, why did life have to be so cruel?  I mean here I am in my last year of high school and I have to walk alone. 

        Alone, as it solo, with no one to talk too and ask how things are none!  This stinks.  I know the counselor in Grief Share said to focus on my "new normal," but how can I when all the things in my life remind me of her? The empty seat next to me in homeroom and all my other classes, the empty seat across from me in the cafeteria, the lack of laughter in the lab room when Nino gets his chemicals mixed up again and everyone has to exit in a hurry, the weekends when Alya and I use to stay up all night talking about our crushes together, and our plans for the future.  

      The funny thing,  I never once imagined my life without her in it, and now that she is gone that is all I think about.  I know it is not healthy emotionally, mentally, or physically.  How can I just make new memories without her?  How?  She was my first friend from day one in a school school aside from Nino, and Adrien.  

       As  Marinette struggles with her memories of Alya both the good ones and bad alike, she feels a tear fall down her cheeks.  She heads towards her locker in silence.  She hopes no one notices if she rarely says much in class expect to answer the roll call and to ask what is on today's lunch menu?   She bumps into someone. She looks up and sees Adrien Agreste!  She blushes in spite of her sadness.  

     "Marinette, it is so great to see you again!  I am sorry, that I was away for so long!" Adrien says.

    When she does not respond right away, Adrien senses something is wrong.  He figures why else is she so very quiet.

       In the past she was nervous around him, would stutter, and so on. He had to admit at first he thought it was strange, but once he got to know her he did not mind so much.  He became friends with her over time and would like to think she saw him as her best friend.  That is if a guy could be best friends with a girl and if that girl wouldn't mind his saying so.  

        Adrien notices as she turns towards him that she is sad.  No that is not it, she is very sad!  He does not know what made her feel this way.  He decides not to ask what is it because he rather not risk the lecture he might get the latter for bothering her.  He stands closer and hugs her. He can hear her sigh. He blushes a bit and thinks, what is the strange feeling I have just now?