A Picture of You [An Adrienette Story]

Chapter Nine

"You told me she couldn't put a sentence together in front of him." Gabriel sat in his trailer waiting for Adrien to arrive at the photoshoot. He had his tablet open with a picture of Adrien kissing Marinette's cheek.

"Obviously today's task of getting to know each other better is working." Nathalie stood next to Gabriel with a smirk on her face. Gabriel let out a huff. "He's sixteen Gabriel, would it really be that bad if he did have a girlfriend?"

"What do we know about this girl anyway?"

"Gabriel, please stop putting obstacles in his way. It's clear he has feelings for her. Just look at the photographs. Look how he's staring at her. It's like looking at a fairytale; so sweet and innocent. Can't you remember falling in love?"

Gabriel took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "I can remember everything, that's why I'd prefer him not to ever date. Love only leads to pain."

Nathalie shook her head and placed her phone down in front of Gabriel. He still had his hands over his eyes as an angelic voice filled his ears, it was tuned perfectly with the piano. He opened his eyes and watched as Adrien and Marinette performed in perfect synchronisation. Every now and then his son would chance a look at the girl next to him and smile. He could tell Adrien was struck.

"Perhaps I should give him the benefit of the doubt this time, but one drop in his grades, Nathalie and I'm not putting up with it." Nathalie's phone vibrated in her pocket.

"They're here. Gabriel, be nice!" Gabriel sighed and stood up to his full height, exiting the trailer with a scoop of his head. They walked side by side to meet his son and Marinette out the car. The door opened and the two teens fell out, Adrien falling on top of Marinette. Both were laughing heavily until a cough made them separate.

Adrien jumped up and offered his hand to Marinette. She stood up and brushed herself down before offering her hand out to Gabriel.

"Monsieur Agreste, it's a pleasure to see you again, Sir." He looked at Marinette's hand then back to her face, before sliding his long fingers towards hers. After a quick shake he returned his hands to their home behind his back.

"You too, Ms. Dupain-Cheng. Adrien can you come with me please?" Adrien looked towards Marinette, fear holding his features in place. She stretched out and gave his hand a quick squeeze before he followed in his fathers tracks.

Marinette remained completely still as she watched Adrien being led away. She wanted to run after him, to defend him, to support him but she wasn't in a position to do that for him. Not quite yet.

"Ms Dupain-Cheng, please follow me. Gabriel has requested you do some modelling with Adrien whilst you're here."

"What? Why? I'm not pretty enough." Marinette dug her heels into the ground as Nathalie tried to move her along to another trailer.

"If Monsieur Agreste believes you have what it takes then you definitely do." Marinette blushed from the compliment.

"Adrien will be starting with Ms Rossi, before the three of you take some shots together, finishing with you and Adrien."

"Lila's here?" Nathalie sighed, she knew the two girls had issues with each other.

"Unfortunately, yes." Marinette took a deep breath ready to steal herself for what was about to come. She'd said she wanted to learn to stay calm around her and that's exactly what she was going to do. Well at least she was going to at least try.

"What did you want to talk about father?" Adrien sat in his trailer with Gabriel standing tall in front of him arms firmly placed behind his back.