Feelings

40-Adrien

I wake up and see Marinette laying in my arms. I smile as I remember the evening events. I told her who I was and she was happy with me. And now she's my girlfriend. I kiss her head before laying her down. I look at the time and see that it's 9:30. I start to leave before remembering I have no place to sleep. I can't go to a hotel because I have no money. I can't stay in the hospital because my room has already been given to another patient and I can't stay with Marinette. So I only have one choice really. I cringe at the thought of having to spend the night with my over-the-top aunt and lying cousin but I'm not about to spend the night on the streets. I dial Aunt Amalie's number and raise the phone to my ear.

"Adrien, darling. How are you dear?" Amalie beams in her posh accent.
"Good. I guess," I reply.
"Darling, I heard about the whole fiasco with your father and Felix and myself were absolutely devistated!"
"Yeah, ummm. I'm in London right now and I don't have a place to stay. Could I possibly stay the night with you?" I ask, sheepishly.
"Of course, dear. You don't even have to ask. I will come to pick you up right away!"
"Awesome. Thanks!"

I give her my location and I wait for about half an hour before a shiny, blue car pulls up in front of me. Amalie walks out and pulls me into a huge hug. I wince as she squeezes my stomach but I stay quiet.

"Oh darling. You've grown since the last time I saw you. That was about six months ago now. You are really shaping up into a handsome young man!" She smiles, hugging me again.
I awkwardly laugh as she opens the car door. I get in and stare out the window. We drive in silence apart from Amalie occasionally singing along to the radio. She has a similar singing voice to my mother. The thought of my mum makes my heart ache and I don't realise I'm crying until I feel a drop on my hand. I wipe away the tears before Amalie notices but it's too late.

"Are you okay, darling?" She asks.
"Yeah. It's just been a rough 48 hours I guess," I shrug.
"Well, at least you get to see Felix. He's missed you since your last visit!"

I know she's lying. Felix wouldn't miss me. I know he's my cousin. And I know that he lost his father which is why he probably did the foolish thing thet he did. But it was still unforgivable. I'm still a little mad. I wish I had got to hear what my friends wanted to say to me.

We pull up to a large house, roughly the same size as mine back in Paris. My mother came from a very wealthy family which is probably how my aunt can afford a big place like this. She leads me up a winding path to the front door. She turns the handle and pulls me into the house. It's gorgeous inside. The walls are painted a baby blue colour and there are several pictures of Felix and his parents on the walls. I look at them and find one of me and Felix when we were younger, poking our tounges out. We really did look like twins. I walk further down the hall and another photo catches my eye. It's of me, my parents and Felix. My mother holds me on her hip as my father looks down on us with something I haven't seen him do in a long time. A smile. He looks happy and I can't help but wonder if this would all be happening if mother hadn't have disappeared. Felix is sitting on the ground playing with some toy cars. I remember that day. I was about five. We all went for a picnic in the park, my mother was running around all day, playong with us and running barefoot on the grass. I really wish I had appreciated that day more.

I turn around and see Amalie behind me. She smiles as she takes my hand and leads me to another photograph. I stare at it for a second before letting out a sob. It's of my mother holding me when I was only just a few days old. Her hair is in two french braids, tied with red ribbons. Her green eyes are glistening in the sun and her smile reaches her eyes. It's obvious that she was laughing. She had the best laugh. It was the kind of laugh that made you instantly smile, no matter how you were feeling. Marinette's laugh reminds me of my mothers. The kind of laugh that makes the world stop turning for a moment. I sniff and wipe away the tears which are streaming down my face.

Amalie takes it off the wall and places it in my hands. "Keep it," she smiles before turning away.

I hold the photo to my chest and sigh. I miss her so much. If only there were a way to bring her back. Maybe there is.

I hear a cough from the top of the stairs and see Felix standing there with his hands behind his back.
"Hello Felix," I say, as I walk up the stairs.
"Adrien," he nods, extending an arm toward me.
I shake his hand and hear a clink noise as I do. I look down and see a ring on his finger. It must have rubbed against mine. I look at the ring, it looks familiar, but I can't place my finger on it. I shrug it off as Felix shows me to his room.

There are two single beds next to eachother and in between there's a small table. A television hangs on the wall infront of a grey sofa. There's nothing else in the room other than a cupboard. It's definitely different from the last time I came. Last time the walls were all painted bright colours and there were toys strewn across the floor. There was a race car bed which even had a little horn in it. That was about eight years ago. I can't help but think that Felix and my father have more in common than I thought.

"Bathroom's down the hall if you want to take a shower," Felix says. "I'm tired so don't wake me up when you come back in."
I nod as he hands me a towel and some spare pajamas. I place the photo that I was still holding on one of the beds and leave the room. I find the bathroom and step into the shower. Just as I'm about to turn the water on, my phone begins to ring. It's Luka. He asks where I'm spending the night and the conversation is over within 30 seconds. He's staying at some girl's house that he met tonight. It's a risky move but he's old enough to look out for himself.

I switch on the shower and the hot water runs over my body. I realise that I haven't washed in a few days and I feel really icky. I wet my hair and cover it in shampoo. I stand under the water and I stare into space.

"Hey kid, just incase you forgot, I exist and I'm hungry!" Plagg shouts at me.
"Sorry Plagg but I'm clearly in the shower right now!" I scoff.
"Yeah, well hurry up!" He moans.

I roll my eyes before washing myself. I graze a hand over my stomach and wince. It's practically black and purple from the bruising. I wash off the shower gel and turn off the water. I change into the close Felix gave me. They're a little on the small side but I'll have to make do. I run a hand through my hair and look in the mirror. I look terrible. My eyes have dark circles underneath due to the lack of sleep and stress over the past few days. I have two scrathes on the left side of my face and a bruise on my jaw where Luka hit me. I rub my eyes and walk out the bathroom. I can hear a banging from somewhere but just assume that it's Amalie.

"Adrien, is Felix in his room?" Amaile pants, running towards me.
"Y-yeah, what's wrong?" I ask but I don't get an answer. She drags me into Felix's bedroom and wakes him up.
"Mum? What's up?" He yawns.
"Shh, stay quiet. Someone's trying to break in. I'm going to call the police," she whispers.
I look at Felix with a worried expression but he doesn't seem to be bothered. I hear a grunt in the hall. The intruder is in the house. My heart begins to race and Amalie has tears in her eyes. But still, Felix looks unbothered. He's acting really suspicious. I hear footsteps. Each step becomes louder and each time my heart begins to race more and more. The door knob begins to turn and it opens slowly. Amalie pulls me and Felix into her arms and I bury my head into her shoulder. I feel Felix shrug her off and move away from her. He stands up and walks towards the door. A tall figure walks in and Felix walks towards them.

"FELIX!" Amalie cries.

She holds me closer, and her legs shake.

"Ah Felix. Is all going to plan?" The figure says.
"Yes, uncle....."