"Alya, I've been working with him for a week now. It's not a big deal anymore. We're just friends."

"I'd bet my kidney that that isn't true, hon. This is literally your teenage dream come true. Maybe this is your chance."

"Chance to do what, if I may ask?"

We turned our attention to the costumed cat who returned to our table with a small plate of cupcakes for Alya and I to share. It was Alya's idea to come to the cafe to catch up in peace again. I don't see why she wanted to meet here when we could have easily done that back at the boutique since Nate hasn't been there for the last few days.

"Her man is being flakey and she got a great opportunity to move in on someone she had her eye on in high school," Alya said matter-of-factly.

"Alya!" I chastised. I didn't have a problem with her answering Chat, but did she have to make it seem like I was desperate enough to leech onto Adrien?

"Ooh, that sounds scandalous!" Chat smiled. That black cat just loved hearing about gossip and mischief and my best friend was too much of a social butterfly to not oblige.

"You know Adrien Agreste? That super famous model and Gabriel Agreste's kid?" Chat's green eyes flickered at the name but he nodded. "Well, we went to school with him and Mari here had the biggest crush on him. Like, posters on her wall and knowing his schedu-"

"Alright Alya, he gets it. I was crazy! Is that what you want to here?" I covered my face with my arms to shield myself from the embarrassment. Only the girls in our grade really knew the behind the scenes action and they supported it because girls do that.

Chat must think I'm a psycho now for having pictures of a high school boy taking up more space than wall. When I peaked an eye through the crease of my elbow, I saw his emerald orbs widen with a small smile decorating his lips. It was a smirk or something remotely callous. It looked like he was happy, actually happy. Was it that amusing?

"Didn't we all have a phase like that?" he asked softly. Was he feeling secondhand embarrassment or something? I know I was.

"Sure but she missed her chance years ago and now Adrien is the main model for the fashion show they're preparing for to display her works. That's a lot of time being close to your dream boy when he'll probably be half nak-"

"Woah, not going there, Alya!" I practically screeched.

"I'll stop, but Chat, you have to agree this is a perfect opportunity for her to leave that block headed artist," Alya said before taking a bite out of a chocolate cupcake.

For a second, it looked like Chat was at a loss for words. "Well, that's up to Marinette and obviously if Adrien wants to be with her, too."

"See? Adrien probably has models lined up for him!" I pitched.

"But, if they find they have a good chemistry and he makes her feel the way she deserves to feel, then I see no problem with it. But, ultimately it's your decision what you want to do."

"Yeah, do you want to be with the model you loved as a teen or the boy who isn't even staying in your apartment for the week?"

She asks that it's a black or white question. The two are bleeding together so much that the gray area is overwhelming.

"What are you working on?"

The door to the dining room opened and a head of blonde hair waltzed in.

I had spent the last few days working at the Agreste manor on designs for the line. I didn't want to be at home where anything could remind me of the loneliness. Nate told me he was staying at his studio so he could finish the paintings in a more timely fashion than having to keep running back and forth from the apartment. It sucked being apart so much but he had to do what he had to do.

Luckily, Adrien was here to fight off that loneliness.

He sat across from me and looked at the designs I laid out around me while I was drawing the one I was currently working on. He glanced at each one carefully and made a face I just had to comment on.

"Is something up?" I asked. He didn't look too impressed with the designs and I was nervous for his answer.

"They're great designs, but there's a lot of blues and blacks that you're using. What's the theme for the line?" he asked with a hand on his chin. I know he wasn't the most fond of his dad, but their mannerisms were so similar sometimes.

"I haven't decided yet. Usually, I'll draw whatever I'm feeling and a theme will come from that. I don't really like having guidelines for my inspiration. It feels more authentic if I let my feelings and hands decide what it should be."

"So, what are you feeling?" he asked.

I spent a second thinking of a word to describe it but I couldn't think of anything. Sadness? But, I wasn't really sad. Why else would there be so many blues for?

"Stuck?"

I nodded shyly. Adrien pulled out a chair and sat down, pushing the designs away gently so the only thing between us was the table. His green eyes stared intently back at mine. "Does it have something to do with Nathanael?" I averted my eyes at his name. "Hit the nail on the head, huh?"

"I'm fine," I muttered weakly.

"That's exactly what people who aren't fine say. Has he been treating you differently?" he asked.

I shook my head. "He doesn't treat me like anything. He hasn't been home for a while for work, but it's for his dream so I'll support him," I answer.

Adrien's expression changed to one I can describe as pain. "That's not how a boyfriend should be, Marinette. He should at least come home once in a while to see you, to make sure you're okay," he said.

"It's for his dre-"

"His dream, I know. But, his dream should have enough room for you too if that's what he really wants." Adrien reached over the table to grab one of my hands that were lifelessly laying there. "Someone like you shouldn't just be abandoned like a second thought."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't think Adrien would care that much about my relationship with Nathanael. They were somewhat friends back in high school anyway.

"Thanks for the input, but I'm fi-"

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng, how are the designs coming along?"

The door opened once again and Gabriel entered the room, standing at the edge of the dining table. I shook Adrien's hand off of me and gathered the completed designs together before running over to him and handing them over.

Gabriel looked over them with an expression of indifference. "These are good. I expected no less from you, but don't you think there should be more life to these pieces?" he asked.

"More life? In what way?" I asked.

"I'm no stranger to the themes of darkness and despair. The last line was called Tainted Hearts for example. Perhaps a good direction to go into would be some type of redemption with more light colors than the black and blue of the world. I'm sure someone as purehearted as you would know what that should be like," he explained.

With that, he handed back the designs and exited the room as swiftly as he came in. Adrien walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know you can do it, Marinette. You just have to let your heart guide you there."

He smiled and left me in that room alone again. Why was it that even though I was standing by myself in that large open dining room that I left less lonely than before?

Author's Note

Another chapter within a week. I haven't died off just yet XD I was hoping to bring more light into Mari's life by giving her some time with Adrien this chapter. If I follow my notes correctly, then the story should be wrapping up shortly unfortunately. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with this story since the beginning because your continued support means the world to me.

Until next time, sayonara ~!