School starts again on Tuesday T_T. Whyyyyyyyyyyy...Anyways...getting back on track...this is the first part of the new storyline that I set up in the last chapter. Arc is called Blue. This arc will have a total of 4 chapters and I've planned a diary entry from Marinette's end before the next part of the story. Some elements in this story were inspired by the Deadpool movie and Shadowhunters and I changed Volpina's name to Lila, as per the last episode.

Edit: I HAD THIS BEAUTIFULLY FINISHED AND THEN I WENT TO SAVE IT AND IT SAID I COULDN'T ACCESS THE PAGE BECAUSE APPARENTLY I HAD TO RELOG IN AND I WAS LIKE WTF THEN I LOGGED IN AND BAM

IT DIDN'T SAVE

Blue, Part 1: So

"So...I...was thinking," Adrien started cautiously. He'd changed into a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt with stripes and was running his hands through his hair. Adrien sneaked a glance at Marinette, who watched him intently. "I...was thinking..."

"About...?" Marinette asked hesitantly. She bunched up her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees. An awkward silence filled the room. There was so much tension in the air Marinette was terrified of what might come next.

'...stuff," Adrien finally croaked out. Another silence.

"Oooookay," Marinette giggled nervously. "Like...a box of stuff? A can of stuff? Stuffed animals?..." She trailed off, her attempt to ease the tension only making the situation more awkward.

"Stuffed turkey?" Adrien offered, making a lame attempt at a joke. The two of them laughed nervously and didn't dare to look at the other. Adrien forced a smile on to his face, but it ended up as more of a cringe. More silence.

A swallow. He wasn't breaking up with her, was he? That would be bizarre...and depressing...and TOTALLY POSSIBLE...

"I...I want...want...ed to know if you enjoyed hanging out with us at the Tokyo Night Scandal?" he blurted out. Marinette blinked. That's what he wanted to ask? Adrien looked away and nervously scratched his head.

"Yeah..." she said, somewhat unsure as she nodded slowly. "I did..."

I want to visit you in Paris. I want to talk to you. I want to see you. I want to kiss you.

Adrien was never one for confessions. He had talked about going to visit her before, about what he would do when he did. Their first date, the strolls throughout Paris...why was he faltering now? Marinette loved him, he knew. But there was always something in the back of his mind that nagged at him. Maybe it was because he was a disappointment. Maybe it was because he could never stand up to his father and ask for what he really wanted. Adrien never talked to his father these days, and when his father did talk to him, it was always with that cold, ice-blue stare. Maybe, the reason that he was so terrible at confessions was because he was afraid.

Afraid of rejection. Afraid of being left behind.

Everything just seemed to stop when he looked into those blue eyes. It was all too real. His courage always left him in the dust when he desperately wanted it to back him up. He was Adrien Agreste, for god's sake. He was a famous model and confident in leading his teammates into battle against others in PVP mode. He should be confident. He has everything. Adrien stared at the screen to where Marinette was talking animatedly about the wild night they had. He wasn't listening to a word she was saying, nodding every now and then as he memorized the details of her face. Black-blue hair, bluebell eyes, little freckles spotting the bridge of her nose and that smile that he saw in his dreams.

He was Adrien Agreste. He had everything. But he had nothing that mattered. Except his friends. Except her.

The reality was right in front of him. They lived thousands of miles apart. He couldn't sneak out of the country. His dad would never allow him to go visit her. They'd talked about their dreams and wishes, and Marinette's included him. He didn't want to let her down. He could book a flight for her. He could book a hotel for her and take her on a tour of New York. Ship her some money? Buy a private jet? Adrien was being selfish. He blinked and refocused on the screen. Marinette was going on about how ridiculous the picture they took was. Which was true, it was already Adrien's desktop wallpaper. He couldn't help but smile at her wonky imitations of everyone, including him.

Maybe he was being selfish.

But all Adrien Agreste really wanted was to be happy.

"That did not happen," Alya said, eyes wide with shock.

"It totally did," Marinette countered smugly. "I haaave picturesss."

"No. Way. Lemme see," Alya replied, smirking with her hand held out expectantly. Smirking back, Marinette slyly reached into her bag and grabbed her phone, opening up the annual picture. Her smirk turned into a grin as she shoved her phone into Alya's face. Alya immediately grabbed the phone with her hands and scanned the screen, flipping her hair back as she did so. Alya had to muffle her giggles as she looked at the expressions that they had.

"You totally should've invited me," Alya said, swiping to the left and giggling as she saw the screenshot that Marinette took of roasted barbie Plagg. Unexpectedly, Marinette's phone buzzed. Marinette hadn't noticed though. She was too busy copying down Alya's notes that she had missed while daydreaming. Sparing a wicked glance at Marinette, Alya quickly exited the images app and entered her Skype app. Someone was texting their girlfriend. Alya wiggled her eyebrows, careful not to attract Marinette's attention.

Chat Noir: It's 5 am right now and I'm dying

Chat Noir: I hate morning shoots so much

Hmm...let's see what they've been saying to each othe-

"Hey!" Marinette hissed, snatching the phone out of Alya's hands. "I'd like my privacy still intact, thank you very much."

"Why?" Alya teased, leaning in. "Ohh...have you been doing the naughty-naug-"

"ALYAAAA!" Marinette whisper shouted at her furiously, smacking Alya's arm with her hand in embarrassment and horror. Her cheeks were bursting with red and Alya snickered quietly.

"Is there something you would like to share with the class, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng?" The biology teacher turned around to glare at Marinette, who was whisper-shouting curses at Alya. Marinette instantly froze and her cheeks went even redder.

"No, Madame," Marinette squeaked, as stiff as a statue. The rest of the class giggled and Marinette was positively dying on the inside. Alya shook her head a little and patted Marinette's shoulder reassuringly. Marinette relaxed a little and puffed out a breath. The two shared a look and Marinette returned her focus to the board. When she was sure the teacher wasn't looking she opened up her messages and looked at the little cat emojis that he'd sent her. She smiled. Going home everyday was even better now. Adrien always knew how to make her feel better. Looking up at the board again, where the teacher was still drawing a diagram, Marinette released a deep breath. Then, she texted him back.

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

"Oh, cheer up girl. This'll be over in a week, won't it?"

"Yeah, but...what am I supposed to do with my life for a whole week?" Marinette asked bitterly. "What did I used to do before afternoons with Adrien? It must've been incredibly boring, but then again, compared to the time we spend together, everything is boring. His dad just had to make sure that his schedule was completely filled up, complete with shoots every day didn't he?" Alya sighed at Marinette, who had flattened herself onto the chaise, shaking her head.

"You can't really blame him though. Isn't like, fashion week a month away?" Alya asked, hands on her hips.

"A month and a half," Marinette corrected glumly.

"Well...maybe his dad wanted more advertising and stuff so he'd get better people to walk for him or something," Alya suggested weakly. Marinette's only response was a groan and the banging of her head against her chaise. Alya sighed once again.

"Look," Alya began, propping Marinette upright so that she was looking at her. "It's only for a week, and after the week is over, you can go back to mooning over the American dream. But for now, let's have some fun girl time, you and me." Alya grinned at Marinette's slightly less glum face. "When was the last time you we gave each other makeovers? Or the last time we went to the movies?"

"Uhh...well...we've never gave each other makeovers before and..."

"You weren't supposed to answer that."

"Oh."

Alya face-palmed and shook her head with annoyed affection. "Let's go see that new movie that came out. Then we can go and buy some ice-cream or something. We haven't hanged out together for a while. Okay?" Marinette squeezed her eyes shut and when she opened them again, a new sense of purpose had taken over her. When Alya grinned at her, she grinned back, and they ran down the stairs as fast as they could, laughing as they crashed into each other on the way the door, and headed out to the movies.

Adrien was dying. Not literally, but he was dying. He had a smile frozen on to his face and mentally slapped himself as he posed for another picture.

"Yasss, yasss, like that! Work it! Beautiful!"

It took all the willpower he could muster up to smother the growing urge to throw the shovel next to him at the photographer's face. Adrien shifted his pose and tried to look as natural as possible while still looking like "a sweet Hawaiian pineapple". Where this came from, he had no idea, and why the set was a farm, well, he didn't want to ask.

"Ookay, take 5!" Adrien let out a sigh of relief and practically ran to where his bag was sitting. He wanted water badly, but water could wait. A spam of Ladybugs from his princess ended up crashing the app. Adrien snorted and grabbed a water bottle. A crew member passing by stuck a straw in before he could drink any and he gestured slightly in thanks. The gorilla would be here to pick him up soon. The shoot was going to end soon (thank god) and then he was off to Piano lessons. A stream of disappointment flowed into his head, but Adrien quickly pushed it aside. A make-up artist rushed over to do touch-ups frantically, dusting his face with more powder.

"Girlfriend?" She teased.

"Hu-w-what?" He turned to her and blinked twice, cheeks turning slightly pink. "Uh...y-yeah." The make-up artist smirked knowingly, dusting more powder onto his face, before turning his head around to inspect it. "How did you know?" He asked.

"You look like a fanboy."

"Excuse me?"

"You look like a fanboy who's just melting on the spot because they've met their idol or something. It's horrifically cute." The make-up artist said bluntly.

"Is-is that supposed to be a good thing or?"

"Yeah, kinda. She must be one lucky girl, eh?" Adrien smiled fondly at the phone, before catching the make-up artist's eye. He grinned a little, and the make-up artist tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.

"Ohh, she's not the lucky one. I am."

Then next time he texted her, it had been after-school three days since she'd last heard from him. Marinette distracted herself with new designs and hanging out with Alya. She played games with the group chat and hung out at Max's house. Marinette was doing it. She was living on without talking to him. It disappointed her every time she opened her phone and didn't see a reply, but she was going to be okay. The week was almost over too. Just three more days...and then she would be able to see and talk to him again.

Chat Noir: Just finished Chinese lessons

Chat Noir: Time to go for another fitting

Chat Noir: Yay

Marinette rolled her eyes, smiling affectionately.

Ladybug: huehuehue

Ladybug: lucky u :PPP

Chat Noir: -_-

Ladybug: ;)

Chat Noir: Not funny

Chat Noir: You'll know once ur busy doing whatever

Chat Noir: Living this life is not an easy job.

Ladybug: Then why don't you just ask your dad to stop booking so many jobs and putting you in so many lessons?

Chat Noir: I don't have much of a choice

Chat Noir: He's going to make me do them whether I want to or not

Chat Noir: Idk

Ladybug: Have you tried asking?

Chat Noir: It doesn't matter

Chat Noir: He doesn't listen

Chat Noir: He never does

Marinette frowned. She bit her lip, and puffing out a sigh, she furiously texted back.

Ladybug: So your just gonna...let him boss u round?

Chat Noir: I guess

Ladybug: That isn't fair!

Chat Noir: Life isn't fair

Chat Noir: Besides, he's my dad

Ladybug: that still doesn't give him the right to push you around like a pawn

Chat Noir: A pawn who's every needs are paid for and lives in a pretty cage

Marinette was getting slightly frustrated now.

Ladybug: Have you tried talking to him though?

Chat Noir: Lots of times before

Chat Noir: He's stopped listening since mom left

Chat Noir: I doubt he cares anymore

Chat Noir: It doesn't really matter

Chat Noir: It's okay, Marinette

Chat Noir: I'll be fine

Ladybug: No you won't

Ladybug: Stop telling yourself that

Ladybug: Stop pretending you're worth less than you actually are

Ladybug: Stop telling yourself it'll work out eventually

Ladybug: It won't

Chat Noir: How would you know?

Chat Noir: You don't know what it's like

Ladybug: Maybe I don't

Ladybug: But if you just had a heart to heart talk w/ him and tried...

Chat Noir: You don't get it

Chat Noir: Marinette

Chat Noir: I'm not like you

Chat Noir: I could never be

Chat Noir: I'm not fierce or brave

Chat Noir: I'm just me

What was that supposed to mean? That he was nice, funny, smart, and hot?

Chat Noir: wtver

Chat Noir: just forget I said anything

Ladybug: ...

Ladybug: Running away from ur problems great idea

Ladybug: Like that'll get you anywhere

He didn't text her back this time. Marinette wasn't sure what to do, and her good mood was officially killed. Stuffing her phone in her bag in annoyance, she marched down the steps of the school and headed towards home. Unfortunately for her, she was stopped by Alya, who had noticed her pissed-off expression.

"Hey, what's wrong? Chloé insult you again?" Alya asked with thinly veiled disgust.

"No..." Marinette replied. "Adrien won't stand up to his dad to ask for less jobs because he's tried already a long time ago and just gave up a while after his mom left. He doesn't care about himself and isn't 'like me'. He's 'just him' and doesn't think I understand. I don't get it." Marinette's voice was filled with sarcasm and exciting air quotes. She didn't get the reaction she as hoping from Alya though. Alya frowned and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I'm getting the sense that the main reason behind this isn't Adrien's daddy issues or his low sense of self-worth, but the just the fact that you want to spend time with him."

"Excuse me?" Marinette asked, a little outraged.

"You care lots about him, I know, but he's right. You don't understand. You've lived happily with your family your whole life. You've always had support and love from your parents. His mother left him Marinette. You can't expect him to be very motivated after that."

"Well...he could..."

"Girl, you're being selfish. You can't just expect him to change everything about himself and do what he's afraid of doing just so he can have some extra spare time, which he'll obviously spend with you." Alya shook her head in disapproval and Marinette looked down at her feet. Maybe Alya was right. Marinette was being just...stubborn about it.

"Oh well...It doesn't matter now..." she muttered. "He probably hates me."

"Stop running away from your problems. It won't get you anywhere," Alya shot back. "Think it through. Talk to him."

"I can't, remember?" Marinette responded dryly. "He's busy for the rest of the week." A familiar car rolled by, and out the window Max waved. Marinette waved back. They had planned on going to see the new Warcraft movie together that afternoon.

"Gotta go, laters Alya!" Alya returned it a little less enthusiastically but Marinette tried to ignore it. Marinette spent the rest of the afternoon getting lost in the world of games and lore. She pushed away all thoughts of Adrien or Alya that came into her mind and just tried to forget about all of it. It didn't surprise her when she started to hurt. What did she know about love? Adrien was her boyfriend who's family life she knew virtually nothing about. Where was she to judge? And now she was running away from all her problems, just like she'd told Adrien not to.

Maybe she was being selfish.

But all Marinette Dupain-Cheng really wanted was to be happy.

ANGST

ANGST EVERYWHERE

Next Time: Utterly,

(Yes, there's supposed to be a comma :3)