The New Guardian

Wardrobe Malfunction

Previously: Come on dude, just play it cool. I'll talk to Alya and you talk to Marinette. Maybe flirt with her or something. She just decided to get over you so you flirting with her should tip the scales in your favor."

"I'm gonna die of embarrassment before I can even say a word to her!"

Nino just laughs at me and grabs my arm, forcing me to stand with him. "Let's get to class before we're late." He says as he practically drags me out of the locker room. Be cool, Adrien. Don't mess this up. Don't think about her cute face. Or her perfect, sweet, kissable lips- Oh God. I'm so fucked.

~This part is written in Marinette's POV~

Alya and I watch the two boys rush into the school, turning towards their locker room. I swiftly turn to Alya and see she's already staring at me.

"Um, what the fuck was that? Is he upset about you seeing Luka?"

"I-I don't know, what did Nino say to you?"

"He said he was gonna see what his deal was," Alya pushes up her glasses with a smirk and puts her hands on her hips, "what if he's jealous that you're going on a date? He's never reacted to anything you've done like that before, that would only make sense."

"But he has no reason to be jealous. He doesn't like me and even if he did, he has a thing with Kagami. I've already made up my mind, I won't mess up my friendship with Kagami because I like him and I've already agreed to talk to Luka. I can't mess all this up on an assumption. H-He could've been upset over something else." I say, making my way up the stairs and heading to class.

"I guess you're right, but I'll check in with Nino to make sure. I don't know, girl. What if he does like you? Then what?"

"I-If he likes me then I don't want to know. Unless he's serious, Kagami won't hate me for being with him and I won't hurt Luka, then I don't want to know about it. I just want to see what it's like to be with someone that loves me for me." I can feel myself start to tear up and Alya puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Okay, Marinette. If he likes you I won't tell you, unless he says he's serious. How serious are we talking?"

"Unless he says he would marry me tomorrow, I don't want to know."

"Wow, okay. High standards- I like it." She snaps her fingers and points finger guns at me, making me laugh. "I'm proud of you for sticking up for yourself, like, knowing your worth. I love Adrien as a friend, but you're right. He's had years to make up his mind about you, he shouldn't be only acting on it because someone else is interested in you." We enter the class and sit down at our regular seats.

"Thank you, Alya. That's my point. I missed so many opportunities to be more myself but I couldn't because I thought he would look at me different or not like me. I have someone who loves me the way I am already, I should at least give him a chance. If Adrien wants to put everything on the line for me then maybe, but I would still have to ask Kagami if it was okay with her."

"That makes sense. You're a great friend, Marinette."

"Thanks, Alya." I say as we both lean over and hug each other. 

I know I'm lying to myself. I know I want him to like me. I always have, I just don't believe it. But I also know I can't have him. Kagami would be heartbroken and she doesn't deserve that, especially not from me. We just became such good friends. The same goes for Luka, he's liked me for so long. I've played with him too much, if Adrien wants me then he has to want me forever, not just some lust thing. I won't break Luka's heart over something so trivial, I've hurt him before and I don't want to hurt him again. 

I start digging my things out of my backpack. Binder, homework folder, homework, pencil case-shoot! All my writing utensils begin falling out of the already open pencil case and onto the floor. I plunge to grab some mid-air while noticing some falling down the stairs. Just my luck, I think as I rise up, heading down the stairs to grab all the pens at the bottom of the stairs. I'm bent over picking them up and I hear Alya scream-whisper my name.

I look up, still bent, to see a panicked look on her face. She continues to motion at her bottom half with a pulling motion. What the fuck? The bell rings, and the door swings open while Nino and Adrien run through. Or I should say, attempt to run through. Adrien stops completely stunned and Nino runs into the back of him, knocking them both over directly behind me. 

Alya scream whispers my name again, and I look up to see her mouthing "YOU'RE SKIRT" and pulling hers, while still looking alarmed. Oh my God. I shoot up, holding down my skirt down and turn around to see the mess I've caused with the boys. I drop all my pens when I jump up and I turn to see Adriens bright red face so close he's almost under me. 

"O-oh m-my God, I-'m so so sor-" I try backing up but slip on a marker, which sends me flying in the air and lands me straight on my ass.  Alya gets up and runs over to Nino, helping him up while kind of blocking his eyes from my malfunction. I sit back up slowly and groan. 

"M-M-Marinette?" I hear Adrien sputter, and feel my skirt being played with.

I grab my head from pain, having smacked it on the side of Chloe's desk way down and open my eyes slowly. Everything's a little blurry until I look down and I realized I landed with my legs spread open right in front of Adrien, close enough to have my skirt fly up and over his face. I shriek and push my skirt all the way to the floor.

"M-Marinette! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- I didn't- I-" Adrien stammers and glows brighter than the sun. 

I look over at Alya, who looks mortified for me as she holds Nino's hat over his eyes to shield him from my mishap. I glance back at Adrien and then to the whole class who just witnessed this. I hear Chloe laughing and I look back at Adrien once again to see him start to get up. I feel myself start to sway and he looks panicked. Everything seems to be going slower and I see spots. 

Adriens lips move but I don't really hear what he's saying and he reaches out to grab me. I feel myself mumble when the tunnel in my vision gets wider and wider until it all fades to thick, heavy darkness. I hear loud gasps and commotion around me and I feel my half-lifeless body getting carried while someone starts running. I can feel my brain fighting me to stay conscious so I just give in to it. 

"Please be okay, Mari. I'm so sorry."