Mysterious Rose by Summer Cheng

Chapter 8 Two Roses and A Scarf?

         Monday morning, Marinette wakes up. She goes downstairs and sees two packages on the kitchen table. She blushes when she sees that they are both meant for her. She opens the first box to see two lovely roses, the same shade as usual!  Then, she opens the next box.  Inside is a lovely, silk,pink scarf!  She wonders, who could have sent these?  

        Adrien is in his mansion. He thinks to himself, I bet she got the gifts by now.  I only hope she likes them. I  would tell her I sent them,  but then I would have to tell her about the other presents too.  I can't.   At least, that is not yet. I am ready for her to know.  I can tell the concert was a nice time for us both.  I  just wish that I could have seen her reaction to the gifts!  Well, I suppose we can't always have what we would like all the time now can we?

     Luka is at his house. He gets on his computer. He sends an email to Kagami to see how things are with her.  He can't help, but wonder why it is it took him so long to notice her?  She is the one who never had a chance with Adrien as his interest always lie elsewhere.  I wish that I could have seen this sooner.  Well, I can only hope she likes me back! 

    Nino and Stacey go to the mall together. They buy some gifts for one another, for Nino's brother Chris, and for their friends at school.  Then, they go to the food court to eat.

    Chloe sits alone in her room. She looks out the window!  As she does she makes a wish!  She wonders, if it will ever come true. She certainly hopes so.  She thinks, why even Marinette Dupain-Cheng deserves happiness, right?   

      Marinette leaves her house with the new scarf  around her neck. She has on her heavy coat, a hat and gloves too. She wears her boots.  She looks around at the winter snow and smiles. She thinks, well at least I get snow in time for Christmas this time!  She laughs as she feels a snow ball hit her. 

     Adrien goes outside too. He wears his winter coat,hat, gloves, etc. too.  He sees Marinette and throws a sneak attack snowball in her direction. He laughs as he hears her laugh. He blushes as he thinks about how her laughter is what first brought them together as friends. 

     "Okay, now who threw the snowball?"  Marinette says.

    "Why you want to know, lovely lady?"  Adrien says as he tosses another one in her direction.

    "A-Adrien, you threw the snowball?"  Marinette looks at him in surprise.

    "Yes, I suppose I am guilty as charged." Adrien says.

     "Well, then, take that Agreste!"  Marinette says as she tosses one towards him.

    Adrien tries to duck to avoid the hit, but it gets him anyway.  He giggles a little. 

    Marinette walks closer to him, but trips in the snow.  Adrien tries to help her up, but finds himself on top of her instead.  His face is only inches away from her lips. He gasps, as he realizes how close they came to a kiss. He looks away.  

 "A-Adrien,get off!" Marinette says.

  "Sure, lovely lady!" Adrien teases her.  Before he stands up, he leans in and plants a surprise kiss on her cheek.  He sees a small blush appear on her face and grins.

   Adrien gets up, helps her too her feet and just continues to stare at her.  

   "A-Adrien A-Agreste, why you!"  Marinette teases him.

   "I-I wh-what?" Adrien says.

   "N-Nothing, forget it!"  Marinette says.

   "Fine, I will if that is what you want, Mari!"  Adrien says. He stares into her bluebell eyes.  He can see her stare back into his green ones. He blushes an even deeper shade of red.

    "Come on A-Adrien, l-let's go!"  Marinette says. She grabs his hand and drags him to a nearby hot coca stand before he can protest.  She orders two hot chocolates and pays for them. She hands one to him and holds on carefully to her own.

   "Mari, where did y-you get the s-scarf?"  Adrien ask. He can only hope she thinks it is just playful banter.

    "Oh, it came in package to my h-house today, b-but it didn't say who it was f-from!"  Marinette says.

    "Wow, well whoever the sender is has good taste!  I mean it!  The scarf looks great on you!"  Adrien says.

      "Please, don't! " Marinette says.

     "Don't wh-what?"  Adrien says in  a voice barely above  a whisper now.

     "Don't compliment me so much!  We are not a couple!  We just two great friends hanging out!"  Marinette says softly.

      "Mari, I never meant to offend you!"  Adrien says. He sighs when he thinks about how she does not know how much she means to him.

     " It is not that, it is just you should save the compliments for the girl you date!  Not for some stupid, clumsy, school girl like me!"  Marinette says.

      " Mari, I-I..." Adrien says.

    "Please, A-Adrien, don't compliment me anymore. Don't look at me like I'm special either because I am not. Don't ever k-kiss me again, not even on the ch-cheek!"  Marinette says. Her voice sounds low and she looks as if she might cry.

    "Mari?"  Adrien whispers.

    "I have to go!" Marinette says and runs off.

    Adrien watches her go and sighs. He thinks, why can't she see I love her?  I want to date her.  

Oh, what am I to do?  Adrien walks home upset.

Adrien's POV:   He thinks, I ruined the friendship between us didn't I?   I kissed her cheek, gave her compliments and teased her about the scarf.  I never meant to make her sad. Why did she insult herself?  How could think so low of herself?  How could she think that I only see her as a friend?  I mean, I thought after the concert, I stood a chance with her.  Does this mean I was wrong?  Does this mean my love for her is all in vain?  I refuse to believe that she does not feel the same for me.  How could she not love me?  I mean,if she doesn't than why does she smile when she sees me, blush so much around me and why do her eyes sparkle like diamonds when I around her?   I fall more in love with Marinette the more I see her!  Oh, Mari, if only, I could confess to you!  How?  How am I to claim you for my own?  How can I tell you that I sent the roses when you want believe me that you are the one I dream of, the one I wake up thinking about, and the one I want to be with?   I  am sorry, my trip took me so long to find you, my lady! 

  Marinette's POV:  I blush.  I can't believe it.  He kissed my cheek, but why?  It is not like I told him I love him?  It is not like he could care for me in that way is there?  I mean, he confuses me. He gives me compliments, he teases me, an he held my hand again.  Why?  Why does he do this to me?  Can't he see it breaks my heart every time he flirts with me?  Why? Why must he be so wonderful and so wrong for me at the same time?  I cry as I head home.  I can't, I can't face him again.  I decide the next time we have school , after Christmas break, I must avoid him at all cost. It is the only way.  The only way to keep my heart together, if not than I might fall more in love with him and find myself giving into his charms and be broken beyond repair!  It is for the best anyway.  This way he can find the right one for him, who deserves all his compliments, kisses and everything else.  

   Marinette thinks, over the day!  Overall,it was romantic, wonderful and horrible at the same time.  Why, Adrien never said he loves me, yet he gave me all those lovely compliments!  How could he?  Does he see that I love him?   I would kiss him, if I knew it would  do me any good!  I blush at my silly crush that has developed into such a love that I can't  hardly stand it.  I arrive home safely.  I place the most recent roses into my vase with a fresh thing of water. All the other roses are now dried out, in  a box that I keep in my closet. I am not sure why I keep them.  I suppose it is nice to know the sender cares for me though my heart shall always belong to Adrien Agreste.   As for the scarf,  I hold it in my hand and reflect on how Adrien said, "The scarf looks good on you!"   It is the same thing he said after the concert two days ago, when it came to his coat, "Mari, my c-coat looks n-nice on you!"   She blushes in spite of everything.

    to be continued in Chapter 9  Marinette Avoids Adrien?