She had never bothered telling anyone about her family problems, which was why she didn’t tell Adrien the exact reason on why she was here alone, crying.

Yet, Adrien agreed to help her.

She had entered his limo without thinking-she had done it with her mind full with other thinks, and she had done it without thinking of the consequences it would bring up.

People that were by pointed at them, asking questions to each other, wondering why Marinette and Adrien were together, but Marinette just ignored them. As soon as she entered the limo, she burst into tears again, covering her face in shame and embarrassment.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Adrien patted her back, trying to calm her down, but nothing was working. He turned to the driver, Gorilla, and told him to head for the mansion.

The moment Marinette lifted her head up, she widened to say something, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to seem like such a burden, but she didn’t want to go back to that awful place again. So all she did was keep her mouth shut, and let Adrien lead her.

“We’re my mansion if that’s okay with you,” Adrien spoke. “Sorry, I didn’t even ask where you wanted to go home or something.”

Can this guy read minds?! Marinette turned to him. “It’s No, it’s okay really, it is,” She quickly spoke. “Yeah, you’re right, I don’t want to go back home.”

Adrien nodded. “I won’t ask what happened to make you this upset, but whenever you want to talk about it, I’m here.” He stepped out after his words, opening the door for Marinette.

“T-thank you.” She realized-all she ever did whenever around Adrien was thank him. She hadn’t realized just how much Adrien had done for her until she said her ne t thank you.

“No problem. I’m just doing what everyone else would have done right?”

“Not everyone is as nice as you, Adrien,” Marinette spoke. “Not everyone would do the same think you did, and I really appreciate this all. Whenever you need something or someone, I’ll always be here too.”

Adrien nodded, though he muttered, “I’ve never needed anyone’s help.”

Marinette ended up going inside the mansion. Though she never admitted it, or never wanted to admit it, she just wanted to be with someone who actually understands her, or who didn’t need to hear the whole story before helping her. Alya would seem perfect, but lately she had been busy with this secret admirer of hers.

Ever though she wasn’t close to Adrien, as soon as she stepped inside his mansion for the second time, she felt like she had known Adrien way longer than she really had. It was as if she and Adrien have been friends since they were little.

“Do you want something to eat?l Adrien quickly entered the kitchen. “My father isn’t home, so it will be just the three of us.”

“No, I’m not hungry for now.” She bit her lower lip at the thought of being such a burden.

“Hmm right, you probably just want to rest, right?” Adrien didn’t step out of the kitchen though as he opened a drawer. “Well just in case you do, there’s an empty room right beside mine you can use.”

Marinette wanted to say something, but she just nodded I stead, heading upstairs. “Thank you again, Adrien.”

“Stop thanking me. Is that all you ever do?” Adrien shook his head.

“Sorry, Marinette muttered with a small smile. She reached the top of the stairs and headed to the room that was right next to Adrien’s.

The room had a bed right at the corner, and a large closet at the other corner. When Marinette opened the closet, she found about five clothes in there. Besides that, the room was pretty much empty.

She sat down on the bed, looking down. Why is Adrien being so nice thought? In school he seems so distant, and…well, different.

Whatever, I should just be thankful that I ran into him. We’re friends own… Right?”

She laid on her back as she brought her mind over to what Hannah had told her before.

Marinette, stop thinking about it! Don’t believe a word she says. You were only 3 years old, and you didn’t know what happened or how you ended up getting adopted. For all you know, Hannah could be lying to you.

Maybe… Maybe it’s time I finally out who my real parents are. Yeah I shouldn’t just sit back and wonder who they are. I should actually try to find them. When I find them, I wouldn’t have to deal with Andy and Hannah anymore!

She took another deep breath. Then she looked up once the door was opened, seeing Adrien there, carrying a plate.

“Are those crissants? Did you make them?” Marinette sighed happily as Adrien walked closer to her.

“No, I didn’t make them. I ordered them,” Adrien answered. “Father has told me not to, but I do it anyways.”

“Where did you order them?” Marinette took one crissant before she could stop herself. Adrien didn’t seem to mind though.

“It’s this bakery,” Adrien sighed. “13 years ago, they shut down their bakery, but they always allow me to order for free whenever I wish to.”

“Wow, what was the bakery called? Why did they shut down?”

“I remember the name was Tom & Sabine’s Bakery,” Adrien answered, placing a smile on his lips. “Something must have happened to them to make them shut down, but they refuse to speak of it.”

“Can I meet them? People of Paris must have been so disappointed to hear they shut down. After all they’ve got amazing croissants!”

“Sure, you can meet, them Adrien shrugged. “And it’s not only their croissants that are good. They got lost of different pasties as well. I’ve tried getting them to reopen again, but they wouldn’t.”

“I’ll help you,” Marinette blurted. “It’s such great disappointment to see such a bakery go. I’m willing to help you try to bring them back.”

Adrien smiled at her. “Well, thank you, Marinette. Nice to hear those words. Hopefully we can be able to bring them back.” Marinette just nodded.

“So… Do you want to talk about it?”

Marinette looked up, knowing what he was talking about. “It’s just that… I just had a fight with my… my adoptive parents.”

Marinette, why are you telling him this?!

“Adoptive?”

“Yeah, I was adopted when I was 3. I don’t know who my real parents are. If I ever met them when I was young, I probably have forgotten what they looked like.”

Marinette, you and Adrien aren’t close enough for him to know all this. Tiki doesn’t even know and she’s your best friend!

“Sometimes we would get into fights. They’ve never had the guts to hit me, but today, my adoptive mother slapped me, and I ran away.”

Marinette, why do you trust this guy so much?!

“I’m really sorry to hear that.if your parents are so abusive, you can call the police or something-“

“No! Marinette sighed. “I mean… it’s complicated. Where would I go anyway? I can’t live by myself.”

“What about your friends. Alya… Tiki?” Adrien suggested, taking another croissant. “Wouldn’t they help you?”

“I don’t want to bother Alya. Her parents already have four girls to take care of. They don’t need another,” Marinette looked back down. “And Tiki… I don’t know why, but she seems to be mad at me for something. Whoever I see her, she just walks away from me. And whenever I ask her why she’s like that, she doesn’t answer.”

“Seems like you’ve really got it complicated, huh?” Adrien didn’t say anything for a while, but when he looked help, you could always come to me?”

Marinette nodded.

“If you want… You can come over here whenever you like,” Adrien muttered. “I mean, I would have to talk to my father about it, and there’s a higher chance that he’ll say no, but he could also say yes. You would still I’ve with your adoptive parents, but come here most of the time, so they wouldn’t have to cause you trouble.

“Adrien, are you sure…?

I don’t remember when we got this close…

“It would be a no problem. Besides… I would sometimes need a company here, and you really seem like a nice person, Marinette.”

Before she could stop herself, Marinette had leaned forward and hugged him out of admiration and appreciation. “I would thank you, but you said-“

“Yeah, I get it,” Adrien chucked, surprising himself and Marinette as he hugged back

.. But I’m glad we did.

                                                                               ❣️❣️❣️

                                                                             < Monday >

Marinette stretched as walked inside the school, feeling ready to start her day. She had ended up sleeping over at Adrien’s mansion on Friday night. On Saturday, she had slept over at his place again, so she was glad she didn’t have to see her adoptive parents first thing she woke up.

“M-Marinette!” Marinette turned and waved at Alya, who had called out to her. Alya just shook her head, her phone clutched I her hand. “You should comes see this!”

“What is it?” Marinette replaced her morning smile with a frown, feeling a bit worried at how Alya’s was shaped. “Is it about Tiki?”

“No….” Alya shook her head again, getting her phone out in front of her face. “It’s about you! Someone must have caught you together with Adrien and took pictures. Just come see for yourself!”

Marinette gasped at the news. With those words Alya gave her, she rushed over and looked at the screen of Alya’s phone. There, on the screen, was tons of pictures of her and Adrien.

There were pictures taken in class, and Marinette realized that it was Art class. Her mind quickly went over to the giggling girl that had been taking pictures of her and Adrien.

There were pictures of when she and Adrien were together in the restaurant, when they had gotten set up. There they sat, talking to each other, ordering food, and then leaving the restaurant together.

Marinette clenched her fists as she noticed that the picture of her getting in Adrien’s limo was also there. There were pictures of her sitting on the bench with tears and Adrien talking to her as well.

And on the bottom of pictures we’re the words “could it be possible that the reason Marinette has been rejected boys and Adrien has been rejected girls is because the two are secretly dating?”

“Who… Who did this?!” Marinette asked, though she felt that she already knew. This had all been a setup of some kind. Someone, or some girls had been following her and Adrien, taking pictures and posting them online.

“A lot of people have seen these pictures,” Alya replied. “They were posted yesterday, at night. Do you want to read the comments?”

Marinette sighed and sat down beside Alya. “L’est see what the others have to say about this!”

Alya scrolled down to the comments. “Oh my goodness.” She widened her eyes. “100k+ comments. Lests just read a few.” Marinette nodded and leaned over to be able to see the screen, then both she and Alya started reading. 

                                        “I was there. I saw Marinette getting in Adrien’s limo as well, so l                                                                                                        definitely believing that they’re dating!”

                                                                   28👍    2💬    5👎

                                  I don’t know about this, but, um, I’m shipping it. They look so cute                                                                                                                                   together!”

                                                                       86👍   4💬     4👎

                                     "Marinette is probably just with Adrien to get more popular. I’ve met                                                                                                          girls who are like that anyway!”

                                                                          6👍  32💬   18👎 

                                                               “You’re just being jealous!^”

                                                                          34👍   2💬  1👎 

Marinette bit her lip as she took her eyes away from the screen. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. How was she going to explain all this?! What would Adrien think of all this?!

Oh my goodness, Adrien! What would Adrien think?! Have to go explain this to him before he hears the wrong explanation.

“Alya, I have to go!” With that sentence, Marinette took off away from Alya, rushing to meet Adrien as fast as she could.

                                                                            ❣️❣️❣️