Marinette wakes up  the next day in South Carolina. She checks her watch!  Wow, just think it is only the third day of my vacation alredy!  Goodness time goes by so fast!  It sure seems like it anyway!  She blushes as she thinks about Adrien!   

        Meanwhile, all the way in Sunny, California, Adrien is asleep. He has not slept well since Marinette went on her trip.  He groans in his sleep.  He also tosses and turns  a lot.  He begins to sweat and call out in his sleep, No, Mari!   Mari, please!  Please, do not leave me for him!  I love you!  

      Adrien has a nightmare that causes him to call out while he is asleep.  In this dream, he sees Marinette in the ocean. She is out for a swim.  She is all by herself.  So, naturally Adrien goes over to where he sees her.  He jumps into the water and swims out to her. He smiles.  

      Only, then he sees she has someone with her!  The boy has a head full of short, jet black hair, a set of nice teeth, and brown eyes !  He appears to be the new boy who just came to town, the new recruit to the life guards!  

        Adrien thinks, wait who is he and why is with my girl?  

   Adrien stands up and says,  "Mari, why are you with him?  I thought we had something!"  

Marinette stands up laughs, and says,  "Agreste, can you not see I am busy here!  Goodness, can you take a hint!  I am here to have a good time with my boyfriend!"  Marinette says.  

Adrien looks at her like he has been slapped.

  "Boyfriend?  What?  How?  When?" Adrien says. He is hurt. 

   "Well, ever since last week!  I met him while I was on vacation!  We really hit it off, and have been together ever since!"  Marinette brags.

   "What?  But, what about all the good times we had? The kiss in the gazebo, the sunset walk and the kiss afterwards?  The smoothies and so on?  Do these mean nothing to you? "  Adrien says.

    "I am sorry, Adrien!  I can not help myself.  I love him and he loves me!"  Marinette says as she grins at her boyfriend, James.

    "No, Mari!  Please, Mari!  Please, do not leave me for him!  I -I love you!"  Adrien says.

    "I am sorry, Adrien, but I do not love you!"  Marinette says.

    Adrien swims back to shore. The tears come down, and he dares not brush them away.  His father was right, she took his heart and crushed it.  How could he have believed for once, that she was the one?  How could he have fallen for her, only to have her forget about him?  How?  Why? 

      Adrien continues to have this nightmare for a couple of hours. When he does wake up, he feels all sweaty.  He is unsure what to do.  What if it turns out the dream is accurate to real life?  What if his Marinette forgets him and leaves with someone new?  Or what if she leaves him for Luka in the end?  What then?  He is all in shock.  He is not sure what to make of it all. He sure hopes for his sake and for Marinette's  the nightmare is just that a nightmare and nothing more.

     Back to Marinette, with her relatives in  Charleston, South Carolina...

       Marinette goes to the market to get herself a few snacks. She bumps into a boy.  She apologizes immediately.  

      "Hey, there!  So, you have a name, pretty girl?"  James ask.

   "Yes, but I am not pretty! My name is Marinette!"  Marinette says.

    "Oh, cool!  I like that name." James says.  He tries to flirt with her.

   "Look, James, I am not interested in any relationship right now,"  Marinette says.

   "Oh, and why is that to be exact?"  James ask.

  "Well, for one thing, I live in California.  I just here on vacation.  For another, I already have a boyfriend!" Marinette lies.

  "Really, what is he like this boyfriend of yours?"  James ask.

   "He is the best thing that ever happened to me!  He has blonde hair, green eyes, a great smile, and he is a surfer!  Plus, he saved my life once from some creepy person!  He is very special to me!"  Marinette says.

   "Oh, yeah!  I bet you do not really date him, because if you did I do not see his not following you all the way out here." James says.

   "Hey, do not you dare talk about my Adrien like this!" Marinette says. She is angry. She gets in line, pays for her snacks and drives back to her aunt and uncle's place.

    Once there, she parks the car, gets out and breathes a sigh of relief that the jerk (*pardon me for this word usage here people-the author says*)  did not follow me here!  

    Marinette goes back inside with her snacks.  

   "Oh, I see you bought yourself some snacks!"  Aunt Kara says.

   "Yes, only I wish I had not gone by myself, I mean some guy has the nerve to bump into me, and tries to ask me out,"  Marinette says.

   "Wow, it is is probably just because he likes you!"  Aunt Kara says.

  "Well, I kinda lied and told him I have a boyfriend,"  Marinette says.

   "I see, now why did you go and do a thing like this for anyway?"  Aunt Kara ask.

 "I do not want to date anyone while I am here since I am only here for vacation. Besides, I still have Adrien back home." Marinette says.

    "Well, I suppose you have a good point there."  Aunt Kara says. She decides to leave it at that, she figures there is no need to further draw out this conversation as it clearly upsets her niece.

     Marinette hears her cell phone ring again!  She smiles as she picks it up. She thinks, wow two calls in one week!  I am so happy!

    Aunt Kara smiles when she sees how content Marinette is on the phone. She thinks it must be Adrien again.  I sure hope things work out well for them, when she goes back home in a few days, is what she thinks, as she sees Marinette talk to him with excitement in her voice.

     "Adrien, I can not believe you rang me up again!" Marinette says. 

    "Oh, and why is that to be exact?"  Adrien says.

   "Oh, just some rude guy asked me out earlier,"  Marinette says.

   "What?  You did not agree to see him again, did you?" Adrien says into the phone.

   "No, because I am not here for that kind of thing.  I really have someone else in mind."  Marinette says. She thinks it is you, Adrien!  She blushes as she continues to talk to him.

    "Oh, okay.  Well, it is great to hear your beautiful voice again!"  Adrien says.

    "What?  You think, my voice is beautiful?"  Marinette says.

   "Yes, I know it is because you are beautiful!  Mari, I miss you!"  Adrien says.

    "I miss you too!"  Marinette says.

    "I had this nightmare that you came back with someone new!  He was your boyfriend and you wanted nothing to do with me." Adrien says. He thinks, ugh!  Why did I just tell her this for anyway?

    " Haha, Adrien!  I have no boyfriend!  None here, and none back home!  At least not yet anyway."  Marinette says.

    "Adrien, I think we should hang out sometime when  I get back!"  Marinette says.

   "Really?  I would love too!  I mean, that sounds great, Mari!" Adrien replies.

   "Mari, is it okay if I call you again, tomorrow?  I miss you!  I miss your voice, your smile and everything else about you."  Adrien says.

    "I know.  I miss your voice too.  I miss you and wish I could see you already!"  Marinette says.

   "I  shall come to the airport the day you return to escort you back, my Mari!" Adrien blurts out without a second thought about it.

    "I shall be happy to see you then, Adrien!  My hero, and my friend!"  Marinette says.

    "Bye, Mari!"  Adrien says.

    "Bye, Adrien!"  Marinette says.  This time when she hangs up she blushes. Wait, he calls me his Mari!  what does this mean? 

    to be continued in Chapter 18  Midnight Call?