Bullied (A Miraculous Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

Marinette's POV

I ran. It was what I did. I seemed to run from all my problems. I ran from my parents after one of the first beatings. I ran from Lila and Chloe in middle school when they joined in on the beatings. I ran from Adrien when he found out his dad was dating that lady. But all of those scenarios have something in common. No matter how fast I ran, I could never be fast enough. I could be the fastest person in Paris—maybe even the world—and I still wouldn't be fast enough or close to it. Whatever I was running from would always catch up.

This time I thought I might be able to run from Adrien. I thought this time he wouldn't catch me. But as per usual, I was wrong.

I made my way to a spot I grew quite familiar with. It was the old abandoned janitors closet I always go to. After my first beating at the high school, I was hurting bad, and opened the first door I found. It happened to be this closet. After that day, I always went here. For lunch, after beatings, if I didn't want to go home, I would be here. This was my safe spot. Adrien couldn't take this sanctuary away from me. This was a bubble he couldn't pop.

I ran inside, shut the door, and locked it. Then I let the emotions out that I didn't let the rest of the world see. My back slid against the wooden door as my knees pulled into my chest. My head rested against my knees as I sobbed and sobbed. My lips were trembling, and still tingling from the kiss.

I didn't sob because I felt violated. I didn't cry because of all the shit I've had to take from Adrien, Lila, Chloe, or my parents. In this moment in time, I cried for a different reason. I couldn't put my finger on it, and I didn't get any more time to think.

Knock, knock.

Somebody was at the door, and I had a pretty strong feeling that it was exactly who I didn't want to see right this moment. My lips tingled.

"Marinette," he began, "open up."

And that confirms it. I didn't know what he meant at first. I had no idea if he wanted me to open the door or open up to him. I didn't what to do either. I already had enough to deal with as it is. It was getting even worse at home. I had to cover my entire body with clothing now to hide the bruises.

This morning they told me that they had a treat tonight, too. They had a terrifying glint in their eyes as they told me this. So, I think I'm going to have to run away yet again. But I know it won't be enough. Like when I was six and I ran away, they'll find me. Just like when I was eight too. And when I was thirteen. They always found me.

This caused another sob to wrack my entire body.

"Marinette, please," his voice was muffled,  but I could still make out his voice.

"Leave me alone," I whispered through my tears.

It was to nobody in particular. I guess it was mostly to myself or to the deprecating thoughts in my head.

"I can't," he replied, and the seriousness in his voice made me stop my cries.

I don't know what possessed me, but I found myself stand and open the door. Then we were face to face. My lips were tingling yet again. We stood there awkwardly for what felt like an eternity and a day. Then he stepped inside of the small, confined space. He shut the door behind him, and I knew what was coming. I closed my eyes ready for the hitting, punching, kicking, and name calling. But it never happened.

Instead two strong arms wrapped around my waist.

"I'm so. . .sorry," he sighed into my hair.

"W-what?" I asked in shock.

This wasn't him. It couldn't be. Some kind of angel had possessed his body. He was not like this.

"I-I shouldn't have done that, but. . ." he trailed off.

"But?"

"But I needed Luka to see you and me. . .you know," his voice got quieter and quieter as the sentence progressed.

He seemed—dare I say—embarrassed.

"Why would you want him to see. . .that?" I was confused by his answer.

"Because I didn't want him to do that to you," he said it so fast I could barely make out what he was saying.

My lips tingled again.

"H-huh?" I replied with my head tilted.

This just confused me more.

"I-I can't explain. . ." he told me.

I would have argued, but the bell rang. It was the end of the day. It literally took seven hours for this to happen? It was all a blur.

"Let's go before somebody sees us," he grabbed my sore wrist, and I was dragged out of the closet.

It was almost as if Adrien were pulling me out of my safe spot. It was scary, but also kind of interesting. I never thought Adrien would be able to do that.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"My house," he answered.

He was moving quick, probably so nobody would see the lamest girl in school with the most popular boy in school. We eventually exited the building to find a sleek black car in the front. He opened the door and jumped in. I stood outside of the car like an idiot.

"What are you waiting for?" he looked at me like I was stupid.

"Y-you want me to get in?" I asked adding insult to injury.

"No, I want you to walk to my house," sarcasm was laced in his voice. "Now get in."

I didn't hesitate. I couldn't believe I was sitting in my lifetime bully's car, heading to his house after he apologized for kissing me in front of one of my only friends. I almost laughed. I don't think that sentence has ever been said before today.

The entire ride was silent, so I could finally think. I needed to figure out why I was actually crying and why my lips were tingling. The two things didn't make any sense. I tried so hard to decipher it that I gave myself a headache. I didn't get any more time to think anyways.

We pulled up to Adrien's mansion—not a house, but a mansion—and he quickly jumped out of the car. I took a minute, and was about to open my door, but was beat by Adrien. And finally, as I looked up at him, I realized why I had cried and why my lips had been tingling. It was because the kiss still lingered on my lips and I was forgiving Adrien for what he had done.

I took a second to try and figure out a way I could run away from my sudden liking for Adrien, but I knew I could never even consider trying to outrun this.