A Renewed Friendship [An Adrienette Story]

Chapter 5

Marinette walked into the dance studio with as much enthusiasm as she'd walk into the dentist for a root canal filling. There was no one else here. She was the first to arrive ... great. She sat herself down on the floor and stretched her legs out in front of her. Stretching was the only thing she could think about doing until the others arrived.

Alya had the insane idea that herself and Nino would have a professional dance routine for their first dance at their wedding. The insane idea then developed into asking Marinette and Adrien to be co-conspirators and learn it too. Apparently it would wow the audience, Marinette just thought it would make the audience feel sorry for her, and make Adrien dislike her even more. There was no doubt she would end up causing him one of two things; a broken toe or serious concussion.

Marinette was not known for her dance ability, God she used to be applauded for walking into the classroom without causing a spectacle of herself. She was clumsy and accident prone, and hopeless when it came to sensible options regarding Adrien Agreste. She'd remembered dancing with him once at Chloe Bourgeois sixteenth birthday party, and surprisingly it was nice. She'd thought he'd enjoyed it too, that was until she found him dancing with Lila Rossi and sticking his tongue down her throat. She went home that night and cried herself to sleep.

She continued stretching whilst giving herself a mental pep talk. You are a grown woman now, you are strong and confident, and you have a date tomorrow night with Luka Couffaine. Lead guitarist of Kitty Section.

You will enjoy the date with Luka, or at least you'll get free food out of it. No, no Marinette, bad thinking.

She sighed to herself, it made no difference. Going on this date with Luka transpired as just something to stick in Adrien's face. She could see the unease Adrien felt when Luka was around and it gave her a sense of a thrill, perhaps he did like her more than he was letting on.

The only problem was he still treated her like the frail young girl who stuttered and wore piggy tails. She wanted him to see her as serious, not just a goofy kid who challenged him at video games. It wasn't just Adrien that didn't see her as serious. Most of her friends didn't either. Many were now encouraging her to seek a different job, something a bit more stable financially. She hated the fact that a lot of her friends saw her as failing.

Adrien's comment about Monaco hit her again. Did he think that way about her too? Of course he did. Adrien Agreste, the world famous athlete and model, son to an insanely rich and famous fashion designer father ... why would he think any different of her?

"You know, it's quite important that you blink, Princess?" She scoffed at the nickname. There was only one person who called her that. She looked up into the reflection of the mirror and saw his piercing emerald eyes staring back at her. "Hope I wasn't interrupting dreams about me." Marinette actually snorted at him, before turning a beautiful shade of red.

"I have taste thank you very much Monsieur Agreste." She stood up brushing herself down. She was wearing a pair of tight fitting leggings again and a long sleeve baggy jumper. He looked over her body and noticed the cling of the material. He was quite sure no one should be this attractive in sportswear, and he knew this from having modelled it a gazillion times. Her hair had been pulled back into a high ponytail with a red ribbon wrapped around tightly. Giving him a good look at her face and her neck.

"You certainly do." He couldn't help the natural reaction to lick his lower lip. He took one step towards her as she took one back.

"Oooo are we practicing in here already?" Alya and Nino walked hand in hand into the studio and looked between Adrien and Marinette.

"Yes, I'm practicing my escape from a womaniser dance moves. Channelling my inner Britney and everything."

"Hummmm..." Alya looked over at Marinette before raising an eyebrow. The tension in the room was visible to anyone entering, what kind of tension that was is yet to be explained. Firstly this was uncomfortable with Adrien being so close to her and being caught advancing towards her and secondly she was now going to get up close and personal dancing with him. She prayed they hadn't chosen a rumba, known as the dance of passion.