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Adrien was stumped. Marinette was obviously heartbroken and for the life of him, Adrien couldn’t figure out why. Their friends were no help either. Every time he asked Nino, all he would say was that he was sworn to secrecy by Alya. And all Alya would do was roll her eyes and mumble something he never quite caught.
He just didn’t understand who could’ve broken her heart. She was the one who broke up with Nathaniel, she was the one who broke up with that bloke from work, she was the one who dumped Luka after one too many love songs, of all things. He just didn’t get it! She was dumping all the boys who loved her.
He sighed for the umpteenth time, ignoring the glance he got from the bluenette sat across from him. They were supposed to be studying for their upcoming finals, but Adrien just couldn’t concentrate. How could he, when his friend was in obvious need of his help?
(His physics book would have a sad face, right now, if it even had a face.)
He was snapped back to reality when said physics book in front of him was slammed shut. He looked up in confusion to Marinette, and what he got back was a frown.
“What’s your deal, Adrien? You’ve been spaced out for the last half an hour. I thought physics was your favorite.”
He lightly cleared his throat, “Yeah, it is. I’m just a little distracted today, sorry Mari.”
Her face softened and she closed her own book, before leaning over the small café table. “What are you so distracted about that its pulling you away from physics?”
He swallowed, a little embarrassed to admit he was thinking about her love life. A light sigh escaped his lips, and she raised her eyebrows as if to ask ‘Well?’
He leaned forward too, locking his gaze to hers, “You. I don’t get it. I’ve tried so hard to figure out why you’re always so... so heartbroken, and I just don’t get it! You’ve had so many amazing guys who really like you, and… it just doesn’t make sense! Did someone hurt you, Mari? Do I need to beat someone up?” He threw his hands in the air and let them flop back down.
Marinette leaned back and closed her eyes. She scrunched her nose in thought. Then she sighed and opened her eyes back up, “Unless you want to beat yourself up, Adrien, then that won’t help.”
His eyes grew wide, his mouth forming an ‘o’ as Marinette frowned again. “But… what?” he stumbled out, staring at the now embarrassed and pouty Mari.
“Adrien, I honestly don’t know how you didn’t figure it out sooner. I’ve liked you since the day I’ve met you. Seriously, the stuttering? Tripping out of nowhere? The handmade gifts I’ve given to you since your fourteenth birthday? Or what about the fact that I make your favorite macaroons every day in case you’re coming to the bakery, even though we don’t even sell passionfruit macaroons in the bakery???”
It was her turn to throw her hands in the air and let them flop back down. Her face was pink, and she was obviously expecting him to say something back. Yet Adrien still sat there, mouth open like a fish out of water, mind going a million miles a minute.
Finally, he snapped out of his weird reverie, “It was me who broke your heart?” His voice and face made him seem like a kicked kitty.
“Yeah.” Marinette mumbled out, puffing so her bangs flew up in the air. “Don’t blame yourself Sunshine, it was my fault for never telling you. I shouldn’t have tried dating anyone else while I was in love with you anyways. Not like I ever really tried getting over you.”
“I’m so sorry, Mari, if I noticed sooner I could’ve…” He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair.
She raised her eyebrows at him again, “Could’ve what? Spared me the years of longing and daydreaming? Rejected me when we were young so I could try and get over you while I still had a chance?”
He shook his head quickly, “No, Marinette, I could’ve saved us both some heartbreak and asked you out while I still had a chance.”
Once again, she mimicked his actions, her mouth falling open and eyes going wide. “What?”
He smiled lightly and reached out to take her hand, which he noticed was shaking. “I didn’t want to lose you as a friend if you didn’t feel the same way.”
“We’re idiots.” She decided, as she squeezed his hand, tears threatening to spill. “And you totally do still have a chance. I’ve fallen too far to let you go so easily.”
Neither had noticed as the door chimed to the café, or that their best friends just walked in. They both didn’t notice Alya gasping, whipping her phone out, pressing record, and dragging Nino to a table out of their view.
“So, what now?” Adrien asks, as he brings her hand to his lips, giving her knuckles a light kiss.
Alya nudged Nino, an excited grin stretched across both of their faces. Nino stood up from their booth, put his hands around his mouth and yelled across the room, “Ask her out, you idiot!”
The two jumped in shock. In embarrassment, Marinette buried her face in their held hands. Adrien just laughed and turned to their sneaky friends, “You’re one to talk!”
They gathered a couple laughs from the other customers sat around the café, and Adrien turned back to Mari. He urged her to show her face again and gave her his brightest smile. “What do you say, Mari? Care for a date with a blonde idiot?”
She giggled and nodded her head towards Alya and Nino, who were busy snapping pictures of them. She raised her voice so they could hear her, “Only if we leave our snoopy children at home.”
“Deal.”
They both turned to an amused Alya and Nino.
Alya rolled her eyes and put her phone down, “Aw man Nino, mom and dad are totally grounding us again.”
“Bummer,” he replied, “I was really looking forward to crashing their first date.”
There were more giggles, and eventually the four were all seated together, with celebratory cookies and big smiles. (By now, the physics book would have had a look of understanding, as he too would rather eat cookies then read from himself.)
It was only when Adrien was about to leave Marinette’s apartment after walking her home, that he remembered something she had said.
“Hey Mari?”
“Yes?’
“Do you really make my favorite macaroons every day?” He asked.
She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I so regret telling you that. It’s not even the most embarrassing thing I’ve done for you.” She mumbled.
Now that got his attention. “Oh? What other embarrassing things have you done?”
She snapped her face up, eyes wide. “Absolutely nothing. Well, uh, not anything I would actually tell you.”
I took Adrien three months to finally get her to tell him more. He wasn’t disappointed.