Alone

Chapter 10

Adrien jolted out of bed, running to get dressed. Marinette had actually accepted his invitation to ice skate as his partner and now, Adrien was trying his best to make it look less like a date and more like a comfortable occasion. He didn't want to pressure Marinette because he knew that she was the type of girl who'd get easily flustered.

He had personally talked to his father and had made arrangements for his entire schedule to be vacated and only to be occupied for Marinette. Adrien hadn't thought that his father would agree to his terms, but Gabriel had simply nodded a 'yes' as if trying to get the boy out of the house.

Without focusing on his father's good mood, Adrien simply left his house. Adrien patted his pockets for Plagg and once again went through his duffel bag with all the necessities for skating. He planned to pick Marinette up from her house and then drive to the ice rink. He was also in the mood for freshly baked croissants.

Adrien's car topped right outside the Dupain Cheng bakery and Adrien jumped out, slamming the door behind him.

"Hello, Adrien." Greeted Tom Dupain as the arrival of their customer rang the bell on top of the door.

"Hello, Mr Dupain." Waved Adrien looking around for Marinette.

"Give her a minute. She's still getting ready upstairs. Cookies?" Asked Sabine Cheng bringing out a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies.

"Yes, please." Smiled Adrien already in love with the sweets.

Adrien sat at the table listening to the sounds coming from upstairs as Marinette hurried to get dressed. He could hear her voice and soft footsteps as she walked across her room. Adrien bit into the soft texture of his croissant praying that Hawk Moth didn't Akumatise someone today.

Hearing the creaking of the trapdoor behind him, Adrien turned around to see Marinette dressed in a long-sleeved red T-shirt dotted with black spots. Her legs were covered in black jeans and to top it all off, she wore black ankle-high boots. Her hair was let down and it cascaded onto her shoulders behind her. She carried a small black bag where Adrien assumed were her supplies.

She smiled at him from the top of the staircase while chocolate dripped onto the plate from Adrien's croissant where it was suspended in front of his mouth.

"Oh..." Whispered Sabine holding onto her husband's hand.

Marinette walked over to Adrien and shyly waved at him.

"Adrien?" Asked Marinette after receiving no response from the boy.

"Adrien?" She asked again placing her hand on Adrien's shoulder since he seemed to be staring into space.

"W-what? Oh, right! Let's go!" Cried Adrien, his face flushed.

Marinette smiled and walked beside Adrien as he walked over to the door to open it for her. Marinette smiled at Adrien and exited the bakery. They walked to Adrien's car and got in while the driver drove straight to the ice rink.

"Thank you for coming." Smiled Adrien.

"Anything for a friend." Replied Marinette going through her black purse.

The drive to the ice rink seemed to be surprisingly short and soon, Marinette and Adrien were sitting on the chairs putting on their skates. None of them noticed the two figures that stood to the side closely observing them.

"So? Are you sure about this?" Asked the girl crouching behind the seats.

"Do you want to lose him to Marinette?" Asked the boy brushing back his blue hair.

"No..." Replied the girl smoothing down her skirt.

"Exactly. That's why I asked you to join me, Kagami." Added Luka eyeing Adrien.