Moving on with the Bully (Book 2 of the Bullied Series)

Chapter 14

Marinette's POV

He was relentless. Even after I had said so many awful things to him, he was still protecting me and looking after me. He walked with me to school, didn't take any notes during class to make sure that I was doing okay, and even walked me home; he didn't say a word to me and he kept his distance, but I knew he was there.  It was sweet, but I couldn't let it continue. He was putting himself in danger, and I couldn't allow it. 

I took the same route I always did as I walked home. When we were at the halfway point between school and my house, I stopped and turned toward him. I was taken aback by how handsome he was as usual. It was getting colder, so his cheeks and perfect nose were blushed by the cold. He crossed his arms over his coat to conceal his body heat, and I craved being in his arms at that moment. His eyes met mine, and I could see the confusion that lied within them. Confused as to why I ignored him and why I was looking at him now. I jerked my head toward an alley indicating that I wanted him to follow me. I turned, hoping he got the message. I entered the alley way, and Adrien came in soon after. 

He opened his mouth, but I interrupted, "Stop following me."

He closed his mouth, crossed his arms over his chest and responded, "Talk to me."

I imitated him by folding my arms over my chest. "Adrien, leave me alone. This is considered stalking."

"Then report me to the police," he retorted. "And while you're there, tell them about your parents."

I rolled my eyes and told him, "I am not leaving them again, but you need to leave. I don't...you need to leave." I almost spilled to him that I was simply trying to protect him. I couldn't let him know that because he would just tell me that he was fine. 

"Marinette, you're not safe with them, and you and I can be safe together without them," he argued. "They're toxic and abusive. Yes, we had and still have some issues to talk about, but we can talk about those. Your parents don't see what they're doing as a problem, so they won't stop." He took a step toward me, his green eyes holding concern. "I know you want to keep me safe, but the only way you can do that is by coming with me. I won't leave you, and eventually they could find out. Your parents could try and hurt me, but I would let them kill me if it meant they'd never hurt you again."

I let out a small gasp at what he was implying; he would die to keep me safe. I knew he was right and that I should leave, but I just couldn't see him get hurt by my parents. I knew they'd find a way to hurt me through him, and I wouldn't allow it. 

I turned away from him with the intentions of never looking back again. I focused on the pavement below my feet, so I wouldn't be tempted to turn around and jump into his arms. 

"Stop walking away from the person you love," Adrien blurted out as my feet hit the sidewalk. He said it quietly, but I heard as clearly as if he had screamed it through a megaphone. 

I turned on my heels and whispered, "What?" 

He walked up to me at a fast pace until we were so close I could feel his breath on my forehead. "That night you got drunk, you did say something to me. You said you loved me. So why are walking away from the person you love?" 

My cheeks grew red. He was referring to the time I got drunk and admitted I have feelings for him. The morning after, he lied and told me that he called Natalie to pick us up when I was wasted when in reality I was with him. He didn't mention the confession, so I assumed that he didn't like me like that or I was imagining things and I never said I love him. But I remember telling him I love him like it was yesterday. 

I decided to play it off. I asked him if I had said anything weird that night which implied I didn't know what happened—even though I knew what happened. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. Goodbye, Adrien." Again I walked thinking I would never see his gorgeous face again. 

I was stopped when Adrien's wrapped his strong arms around my waist. He nuzzled his face into my shoulder. We stood there for a minute, neither of us daring to say or do anything. 

Adrien finally broke the silence by purring, "Why are you walking away from the person who loves you?"

I gasped lightly at him admitting he reciprocates my feelings. I turned around in Adrien's arms to meet him face to face. 

"You love me?" I asked just to make sure my brain wasn't playing tricks on me. 

"Of course I do, Mari," he repeated. "I have loved you since I kissed you in the library. I have loved you since the first night you slept in my room. I fell in love with you while we played video games and bought random shit we'll never use online." I chuckled at that as I felt my eyes water. "I fell hard when I saw your eyes light up at the London eye. I forgot how to breathe when I saw what you were wearing on our date, and I was speechless when you told me you love me. Yes, Marinette, I love you. I've loved you for a while."

The adrenaline coursing through my veins made me go onto my tippy toes, and kiss him. It was a slow, passionate kiss. Adrien's hands lightly squeezed my waist; my hands fiddled with his golden locks. He tasted like spearmint and smelled like a field of grass. To my dismay, we pulled away to breathe. Instead of going in for another kiss, he put his hands behind my head to pull my forehead to his. 

"I love you so much, Adrien," I told him and meant it. 

"I love you just as much if not more, Marinette," he responded. "Now let's go home."