15: Messed up feelings

"I'll see you at school tomorrow?" he said sending her off to the bakery's door.

"M'kay." she grinned waving goodbye as Adrien slid into his car.

The instant his car drove away, she ran into the bakery, her back on to the door.

"Marinette?" Sabine said from the cash register watching her daughter stare into nothing while catching her breath.

"Mom..." Mari realized, "Hi mom.." she smiled awkwardly and proceeded to go up leaving her mom at the shop.

She silently went up, opened the door and slammed it her back once again at the close. Mari's dad greeted her from the living room but she didn't seem to hear him.

"Mari..you okay?"

A flash of sunlight dashed on to her senses seeing her Dad prance before her.

"Dad.." she mumbled, "I think I was on a field with bright sunshine and morning dew."

Her dad got confused, "Did you go on a field trip?"

Marinette jumped on to her father hugging him so tight then ran to the stairs leading to her room. The moment she got to her room, Tikki flew out from her purse.

"Your smile is reaching from ear to ear, Marinette."

"Tikki," she said with a panicked look, "What just happened back there?"

"I believe it was called 'Adrien being a gentleman sending you home' kind of thing." little red frolicked around.

"No, not that! I mean yeah sure that too but no! That. thing. in. the. classroom." she said going about with her hands.

"Relax!" Tikki flies to her nose bumping it and bouncing off, "He was probably tired."

"Okay..so because he's tired he decided to act spoiled to the girl who is most definitely not his girlfriend, he touches the cheek of the girl who is most definitely not his girlfriend and HE EMBRACES THE GIRL WHO IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND FROM THE BACK." she furiously messed her head in despair. "What did I do Tikki? That was not supposed to happen! Was he out of his mind? Was I out of my mind?"

"The real question is, did it feel right?" Tikki asking the right questions.

Marinette slowed down and drops to her sleeper couch staring at the ceiling, "I don't know..." she weakly replied. "I don't really want to answer that knowing I'd say YES it felt right." she covered her face.

"Do you think Adrien felt it was right?"

"Tikki! I am not answering that!"

"Look Marinette, it's time to face the facts. I say, Adrien actually has feelings for you but then because Kagami expressed her feelings strongly for him first that he thinks they might have a chance and struck the iron while it was hot."

(A/N: About👏time👏somebody👏pointed👏that👏out!👏)

"So actions don't cut it then?"

"Have you really been showing Adrien your intentions?"

Mari then remembers instances when she tried to show affection but ended up embarrassing herself instead.

"No..?"

"Adrien is socially inexperienced. He'll think every single move you make is simply because you're being friendly. The guy needs to hear it from your mouth that you actually have feelings for him."

"But Tikki..."

"What?"

"Luka.." she said almost crying.

Tikki sighs, "And then you also have that problem." flipping her tiny hands in the air.

"I am the worst. I feel terrible."

"I bet Adrien feels the same."

***

"Boy look at you grinning from ear to ear." Plagg said teasing Adrien, "Haven't seen you this happy ever since you started hanging around that Kagami girl."

"Really?"

"Well yeah! I've always been observing you kiddo."

"I don't know Plagg. I slightly feel bad knowing somehow I wasn't supposed to hug Marinette since she has Luka, but it felt so right. I'm even surprised I don't feel terrible at all."

"Maybe she was just being such a good friend by lending you her shoulder."

"But it didn't felt like that." he whispered.

"What?"

Adrien walks to his bed and sat at the corner head facing down. His hands both entertwined brushing against each other.

"Plagg, do you think Marinette has feelings for me?"

Plagg froze. He didn't freeze because he was shocked, but because there was a lot of things going on in his head that he didn't know which one to entertain. He wanted to yell at Adrien for being so slow but at the same time console the poor boy for being too dense.

"I don't know about you Adrien, but I think you should assess yourself first whether it's Marinette or Kagami."

Meanwhile at the Dupain-Cheng residence...

"You found a lead?!" Mari exclaimed.

"Yes! While you were sleeping! Plagg and I brainstormed for a while and connected the dots."

"Wait, Plagg was there too? Why?" then she gasped, "Is Chat a student in my school?!"

"No! Of course not!" defended Tikki, "Plagg happen to drop by and I felt his presence so I called him in for a short discussion. You know Plagg, he likes to run around touring Paris."

"Huh.." Marinette shrugged.

"Anyway, we realized that the reason why we couldn't figure out Hawkmoth's next move was because we failed to pay attention to what is given."

"Which is..?"

"The guardian book!"

Marinette's eyes widened, "Of course! Why didn't we think of that?!"

Tikki nodded, "That afternoon when Hawkmoth defeated Master Fu, we failed to reclaim the deciphered copy on Master's tablet."

"Ugh how stupid of me!" Mari stood up. "I'm such a failure as his apprentice and successor!"

"No, no that is not true. Even Plagg and I completely forgot about the Guardian book. Hawkmoth is most likely fixing the peacock miraculous as we speak."

Marinette's face turned sour, "I'm sorry Tikki."

"It's okay Marinette, I believe everything will be alright as long as Hawkmoth won't get ahold of yours and Chat Noir's miraculous. And I trust that you'll do everything in your power to get the deciphered copy of the Guardian book back."

Marinette nodded with conviction, "I promise you Tikki, I will get to the bottom of this. But first, we have to find out where Hawkmoth's lair is and cease the tablet from there."

"Right." Tikki agreed.

"Can you go over to Chat's place and call for Plagg? We need to strategize tonight."

In her command, Tikki immediately flew to the window and disappeared.

****

"I'm telling you kid, your feelings are a mess." Plagg said swallowing his piece of cheese.

"I know. But I finally understand it now. I need to break it off with Kagami just until I could sort my feelings out and pick up myself. That way I'd not be taking advantage of Kagami's kindness."

"Damn, your first relationship and it only lasted for two months. Not bad."

"But first, I'll have to test it out properly how I feel being next to Marinette. Plagg, claws out!"

"Wait! Wha―wooooaaah!"

Adrien completely changes into Chat Noir. The boy balls his fist thinking strongly of how he wants to see Marinette. Without second thoughts, he lunges breaking for a leap and jumps out of his open window.