Behind My Smile - EDITING SOON

XVI) Wicked Nights

Adrien's grin fell fake on his face as their group commanded the bar. He didn't feel up for being with people, but he wouldn't miss his best friend's Bachelor party for the world. For three weeks he'd been cooped up in his room. Mostly he slept. It felt better to lay in bed all day and let his problems rest. Just for five more minutes. His relationship with Marinette had stalled. He'd spoken to her only once in the three weeks, and it was only a question about if she needed help with dinner. Most nights he ate very little, only getting food when Marinette slipped a plate into his room without a word. He had no job. Gabriel wasn't joking when he said he would cut him off. He'd been fired from his modeling job for insubordination, which didn't really bother him since he didn't want to model anyways.

The flashing lights and the wild smells surrounding him did little to lighten his mood. Kim and Max stood on either side of Nino, which seemed just as surprising as a preschooler eating PB&J. Ivan, Nathanael, Marc, and Nino's brother Chris surrounded them, laughing at something they said. There were a couple more people there that he didn't know, some even flew in from Somalia, but he cared little about getting to know them. Across town he knew Marinette would be having a similar party; a bustling room filled with laughter would house the crème de la crème of Alya's friends. Although, he seriously doubted that she would have a similar experience to his.

"Adrien, hey." He heard his name called, but the blaring noises covered it instantly. He just wanted to go home and lay in bed. "Adrien." All his surroundings smeared together in an oil painting. It was all too much, maybe even a little bit of fiction. "Are you okay?" A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, bringing his head up. Adrien couldn't get his mouth moving.

Nino looked down at him with worried eyes. "I'll be right back guys." He said to the group before pulling Adrien up and outside. They sat on the curb in front of the bar underneath the dark sky and blurry clouds. No stars peeked through the barrier of white, nor did the dripping beauty of the moon. The air was fuggy despite the time of the year, and the lamps failed to provide sufficient lighting for their conversation. "Is everything alright? I haven't seen you this disconnected before. I haven't heard from you in weeks. I was kind of surprised you showed. Did I do something?" Adrien looked up, a drunk look on his face despite not having touched a drop of alcohol.

"I'm... I'll be okay. I really don't feel good right now; I haven't felt good for weeks. I didn't want to miss your party though. I promised when I got the invitation to be your best man that I would do everything in my power to be here for you. And it would be odd to not show up to a party that I planned." His explanation, while mostly truthful, still felt fake to Nino. But he saw the pain in Adrien's eyes and took it as evidence for not feeling good.

"If you don't feel good you shouldn't force yourself to be out. You shouldn't feel obligated to be somewhere if you don't feel up to it. Marinette forced herself to go out and she ended up having a meltdown in the strip mall."

Adrien's head perked up in confusion. He didn't recall hearing anything about Marinette breaking down at the mall. "Wait, when was this?"

"Um, last month. She was overwhelmed with all the posters of Luka everywhere." Nino said it like it were obvious, an old memory on recall. And to him it surely was.

"Why?"

"... did she not tell you?" Nino's surprise allowed him a chance to stand. He looked down at Adrien and offered his hand.

"I haven't really spoken to her since my last date with Lila." Adrien gratefully took Nino's hand with an uncomfortable look on his face.

"Oh... well, maybe I shouldn't then."

"Please. Please tell me." Adrien begged. He almost got down on his knees. He knew that it was somehow important; it was something he missed.

"Fine..." Nino huffed. "Luka broke up with Marinette to further pursue his music career." It all clicked in Adrien's brain. She was upset when she woke him up. He must have broken up with her the night before. Then he went on about their wedding.