"Just a Friend?" Book 1 of "Secrets Unraveled" Trilogy (MLB FanFic) |COMPLETED|

Chpt 38: Milan.

Adrien opened the door to his hotel suite, dropped his stuff on a table, and flopped down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. He pulled out his phone and looked at the schedule that Nathalie sent. He was supposed to have a late dinner with his father down in the hotel's restaurant in about ten minutes. He had just enough time to call Marinette. He brought up her number and she answered on the first ring.

"Miss me already?" he asked, amused at how quickly she answered his call.

"Says the guy who called me the second he got into his hotel, right on schedule, according to the e-mail you forwarded me!" Marinette retorted. "And yes, I do miss you already, as silly as that might be. What has it been? Four hours. What is wrong with me?" she asked him plaintively.

"Well, whatever is wrong with you is wrong with me, too. I miss you. I wish I were there with you now. Wow, we have gotten sappy," said Adrien laughing.

"I'm glad you are doing well enough to laugh," said Marinette, realizing how crabby she sounded.

"I haven't seen my father yet so that might be changing soon. I got so mad on the way here thinking about how much control he has over my life. I really had to get control of myself, keep control of myself. Any defiance will cause him to do something drastic and I don't want anything to happen that would keep us from seeing each other. So, I'm trying to stay calm," said Adrien, taking a deep breath. One of the only times he had really let his emotions rule him was at Christmas when he was so upset about being alone. He felt like he was the only one in all of Paris that was alone. He got so angry and felt like lashing out at all of the happy families that he almost cataclysmed the city's Christmas tree!

"You have a much better chance of staying calm than I do," said Marinette wryly.

He chuckled. "I have seen a few times that you let your emotions rule you- like when you went after Santa Claus and wouldn't believe me when I said he wasn't a threat!" he said to her.

Marinette rushed to defend her actions. "I had seen the wrapping paper from the gift I gave you on the ground and the ashes left from a cataclysm in the park. I thought he was akumatized and that you were under his power! I was so scared that something had happened to you that I kind of lost my mind!" she said. She sounded so upset that he was sorry he brought it up.

"Marinette, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I mean, about how scared you were. I can understand now how crazy you must have felt- I don't know what I would do if something happened to you!" he said.

They both sat in silence, thinking about all of the bad things that could happen. Marinette broke the silence. "Well, let's not think of the past now. Let's get you focusing on the weekend. It's really only one full day and you'll be back on Sunday. Everything will be fine!" she said trying to sound positive.

"Yeah, should be fine," he said, willing himself to believe it. Adrien noticed the time on his phone.

"I've got to go meet my father now- I don't want to start the weekend off being late! I'll try to call you tomorrow before I leave the hotel. Good night!" he said.

"Good night!" she said before ending the call and saying "I love you, Adrien" to herself. Marinette had never really even let herself acknowledge her deep feelings for him before, but she knew they were true. She felt much more than just her earlier infatuation for him now. She hoped he felt the same.

- - -

Adrien rushed down to the restaurant and joined his father at the large table. It was ridiculous that they had this big table just for the two of them and that he was seated quite a distance from his father. Adrien knew that his father would prefer to be eating up in his suite, but that he believed it was important for his image to be seen out in public with his son on occasion. Adrien wondered if he realized how odd it was for families to eat out in public at a sprawling table like this. Maybe he liked to be viewed as eccentric? Or as someone who was important enough to get away with something no on else could? Who knew?