The Tracking Device

Chapter 2 - Adrien Holmes

Chapter 2 - Adrien Holmes

"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien said smiling brightly. Then he noticed the way she panicked when she saw him and frowned a little bit. Why was she panicking? Had he done something wrong?

"Hey... Adrien..." Her smile looked very tense. Why was he always causing her to become so nervous? "What can you do... I mean, what you do, I mean what can I do for you today?"

Only two attempts. Not too bad. Maybe one day she'd be able to have a full conversation with him. "Nothing really, just wanted to say hi." He looked at her, trying to catch a glimpse of the fiery expression he had seen in her eyes on Saturday night while she was talking on the phone, or a glimpse of anything that could lead to justify his suspicions. But no, Marinette was looking at him with the strangest expression, half between a cringe and a smile. He couldn't define it if he tried. And definitely she didn't have anything that could remind him of his lady in this precise moment of time. "See you in class!"

"Yes, class. You see. See you. Ok, I will just walk away now..." she stuttered.

He sighed and waved to her, as he proceeded towards their class. A feeling of disappointment filled him, a small scowl making itself known. He was starting to doubt that she could be his Lady.

He had spent a good amount of time yesterday, and the night before, arguing with Plagg. As he had suspected, the kwami hadn't been happy at all about Adrien's behaviour. Eavesdropping was a little bit too much even for the wee black cat. He had been there trying to convince Adrien that there may be other reasons why the tracker was showing Ladybug dropping her transformation always near the bakery. "What if she really likes cakes and croissants?" Plagg had asked. "Sugarcube loves all sort of sugary stuff, maybe Pigtails needs to buy cookies for her, and detransforms in front of the bakery to buy some before heading home!"

The argument sort of made sense, but for some reason, Adrien hadn't wanted to listen to him. Now he was starting to change his mind. He really liked Marinette. She was one of his best friends. But... there was absolutely nothing Ladybug-ish in her just now. He felt really sorry for having thought that, but he couldn't help himself. She'd robotically followed him inside the classroom, tripped on her feet before catching herself up in an acrobatic move that would have put an athlete to shame, and managed to not fall face down to the ground. Then, she sat behind him and he heard Alya ask her with what sounded like concern in her voice, "Are you OK, girl?"

"Yes, I'm fine..." Marinette muttered, and then groaned. A quick glance in her direction showed her face down, her forehead resting on the desk in front of her. Maybe Plagg could have a point? Maybe Ladybug was really buying cookies for Tikki? But then... maybe not. Maybe Marinette was only having a worse day than usual. After all.. why was Ladybug dropping her transformation even here at his school? He still wasn't convinced, and he still believed that there were very good chances that his everyday Ladybug and his Lady were just one amazing person.

The lessons today were really boring. Maybe because he wasn't paying attention to them, distracted as he was sneaking looks behind his back and trying to figure Marinette out. He was hoping that they would get an akuma alert, so he could check what kind of expression Marinette would display and what would happen. Normally he was out of the door instantly to get to the toilet and transform. However, this time he would have been willing to be late meeting his Lady, and let her get a head start (or maybe not, if his suspicions were correct!), just to see what Marinette would do. But no akuma decided to show itself today, and by the time the bell of the last lesson rang to break for lunch, Adrien wasn't in any way wiser as to whether his lady really sat behind him in class.

When he walked out of school and saw his sedan waiting for him, he also noticed that Marinette was walking alone towards the bakery. It took him only a handful of seconds to approach the car, gesture to Gorilla to pull down the window, and tell him that he wished to spend his lunch break with a friend, if it was possible. Gorilla frowned at him and grunted his disapproval, but Adrien started walking away anyway, completely ignoring the car that was following him at walking speed. Then, a few cars behind it started beeping furiously and Gorilla, with an exasperated groan, had to leave him there and carry on.