Mysterious Rose by Summer Cheng

Chapter 3 Alya's Birthday !

      One week later, Alya's birthday is here. Only, Alya is not a year older as she died a year ago. Her family and friends are all saddened by the fact she has no more birthdays left to celebrate with any of them.  This is a tough time for the all.  It is especially, hard for a certain pig tailed hair, bluenette, with blue bell eyes, freckles, and an half  Chinese, half French complexion, who goes by Marinette. 

      Marinette gets up and thinks, this is the first time since we were children that Alya is not her for her birthday!  Who knew this could be so hard?  Why is it so hard anyway?   I miss her. I miss her so much!  Ugh, why is life so hard anyway?

     It is the weekend, so at least if she sleeps in she will not be late for school.  She is glad of this fact.  School is hard enough as it is without it being on her deceased best friend's birthday. She struggles to get up even for breakfast today.

  At ten am, she gets up ,gets dressed  and goes downstairs. Her parents both give her a hug.  

"Oh, Marinette, here you are!"  Sabine hands her a package.

  "This came for you while you were asleep," her father, Tom explains.

 "Oh, okay," Marinette says.

  Marinette takes the tape of the package. She opens it and sees a smaller box with a blue ribbon on it. She opens the smaller box.  Inside is the third rose!  She gasps.   

  "It's a rose!  A purple rose, again?"  Marinette says.

  "What do you mean, again?"  Tom says.

"Yes, sweetie, what do you mean?" Sabine says.

"Oh, it just that on the anniversary of my best friends death a purple rose like this one shows up on my balcony!  Then two days later, another one shows up on my desk at school. Now, this one comes to the house, today on her birthday!" Marinette explains.

  "Wow, you sound like you have a secret crush!"  Tom says.

  "I must agree with your father," Sabine says.

 "Funny, you should say that!  Stacey,the new girl at school, said the same thing the day, I received the second rose!" Marinette says.

 "It sure appears to be that way!  Although, I must say it sure is thoughtful of whoever he is!" Sabine says.

   "Yes, it sure is!  The only thing, I wonder is how does he even know I like roses?  Let alone purple ones like these?"  Marinette says.

  "I have no idea,"  Both her parents answer at the same time.

"I mean I never even told anyone, except for you, Alya and Nino, Adrien and maybe Miss Bustier," Marinette says.

   Tom and Sabine smile at one another.  Her parents smile up at her as well.

    "What?  what is it?" Marinette asks. Her face shows the puzzlement she feels at the knowing look her folks give her.

   "Oh, nothing, dear!  It is just we think maybe Nino or Adrien could be the one who gives these to you!" Sabine says.

   "No, no way!" Marinette protest.

    Meanwhile, the sender of the roses paces back and forth in his room. He thinks, did she receive the package okay?  Does she even like the flower?  I mean the roses that have sent so far?  Along, with one I sent today?  He thinks I suppose I shall never know. He sighs. 

Adrien's  POV: 

  I hope Marinette is okay!  I mean I know today used to be her best friend's Alya's birthday, and I can't bare the thought of her being sad on it.  I do hope she is alright.  I wonder if I should pay her a visit.  Oh, but what if Luka's right and she wants nothing more than friendship from me, then what?