Miraculous | Meant To Be

Chapter 17

Marinette's POV

Mrs. Mandeleive finally released us to begin the lab assignment, and before I turned to Adrien, mentally shoving any thoughts not pertaining to the lesson into a box, and I stapled, then duct taped it shut. ...Then put on a padlock for good measure, before finally shoving the entire contraption to the back of my mind, determined to forget about it for a while.

Finally turning to Adrien, I smiled and pulled my safety goggles on.

After doing the same, he pulled his tablet forward with the formula and lab instructions neatly written down in his perfect handwriting.

I grinned, "Well, let's get started then!"

Adrien nodded and we began with the materials that had been previously set out on our shared desk.

"Alright, so.... the flame test lab! That's exciting!" Adrien said, smiling a bit awkwardly.

I smiled back and grabbed the spark lighter, ready to begin.

"Wait Marinette!" Adrien said as I reached to turn the gas on for the Bunson burner. I paused apprehensively.

"We have to set up the other stuff first! Like the swabs! We haven't even-" he paused and glanced at me. I probably looked at least a little deflated (as I'd probably almost lit us on fire), so he pushed his tablet over to be between us, and he began to kindly explain how we needed to make sure we had everything set up before we started the burner.

I nodded, mostly following. He finished explaining, then we began doing the preparatory steps first this time.

We eventually got to the part where we lit the burner. Adrien turned the fuel on, and I lit it with the spark lighter.

We took turns holding the swabs up to the flame to monitor the color change, and we both took notes, gradually filling out the lab assignment.

We quietly chattered about the lab and whatever else as we worked, and by the end we were laughing and had the lab filled out.

The best part was, that nothing catastrophic happened during the lab to set the classroom on fire!

I cheered as Adrien held the last swab up to the flame.

"Purple, so a Potassium based compound!" Adrien said, putting the swab in the small glass beaker of water that held the rest of the used swabs.

He turned the fuel off and we both wrote down our final observations.

We bumped fists then both went mostly quiet, only speaking to ask the other's opinion, as we answered the follow-up questions at the end of the lab.

I finished a little bit before he did, and because I had a few seconds to let my mind roam, my thoughts immediately threw open the box I had locked shut.

I cringed, remembering what had happened, and what I promised myself I'd do.

I looked over at Adrien, waiting for him to finish his assignment so I could apologize.

He finished writing on his tablet and he put the pen down, it magneting to the side.

Then he looked up at me.

I gulped.

"Hey, so uh... Adrien?" I started nervously, our classmates still chattering and working on the lab.

"What's up Marinette?" He smiled kindly, which made me feel at least a little bit better for a second.

"Well... you see? I wanted to apologize..."