The next day, Adrien gets out of bed. Adrien puts on his t-shirt, swim trunks, and a pair of flip flops. He combs his hair. He grabs up his surf board, a towel, some sun screen, a few waters, his wallet, house key and heads out the door. He locks the door before he goes. He walks to the beach in silence. He goes over to a stand where they sell roses. He buys a dozen red ones.

Adrien sees Marinette and without a word hands her the roses. He fake smiles and thinks, please do not hate me. I love you! I need you in my life. Adrien sighs, when she gives him a weak smile and walks away. He thinks, how do I get her back? There must be someway to help to see I did not cheat on her.

Later, when Marinette gets off work he overhears Luka and Lila in a conversation. He hides where they will not think to look for him. He turns his phone to face them, and hits the record button. He watches as the phone records the interaction between Luka and Lila. His eyes widen when he sees Lila kiss Luka on the cheek. He notices how Luka blushes. He thinks, hmm, this is good! He does not say a word though. He waits til Lila walks away to see what Luka does now that he is on his own.

Luka talks to Marinette. He asks her out again. Marinette does not look to happy.

"No, Luka! Now, take a hint! " Marinette says.

"What do you mean?" Luka ask.

"You very well what I mean, now take a hike!" Marinette says.

Luka reaches up and attempts to kiss her. Marinette just yells at him, slaps him again and throws an entire bucket full of sand over his head. She walks off clearly upset. Adrien decides there is enough of the tape for now. He hits the button again and the recording stops.

Adrien puts the phone inside his towel and walks to Marinette. He smiles at her. He grabs her hand and as she tries to pull it away again, he kisses it. He sees her blush. He thinks, she still likes me. He sighs, and says, "Marinette, look I have proof that what happened with me yesterday was a set up!" Marinette looks at him and sighs.

"Oh, yeah, that lets see it." Marinette says.

Adrien walks a few feet away from Luka and shows her the video. Marinette gasps. She covers her mouth with her hand. She can not believe what she sees. She sees the whole crazy plan right on tape. When he stops the tape and puts his phone away, she looks at Adrien in surprise.

"Thanks, for showing me the video." Marinette says.

"Your welcome, you know I would do anything to make you happy, right?" Adrien says.

"Y-Yes!" Marinette says. She thinks, wait,why am I nervous? He is only my boyfriend.

"Thanks for the flowers, they are quite l-lovely." Marinette says.

"I am glad you like them." Adrien says.

"Like them? I love them!" Marinette says. She hugs him and he hugs her back.

"Does this mean you are not mad at me anymore?" Adrien says.

"Yes, I have no reason to be. You were right all along. I am sorry, for the fact I did not believe you." Marinette says she looks at the sand in shame.

"It is okay, I forgive you!" Adrien says.

Adrien walks her home and Marinette smiles up at him. Adrien thinks, "Yes, she is happy again!"

"Adrien?" Marinette says.

"Yes,Mari?" Adrien says.

"Do you mean it?" Marinette says.

"Mean what?" Adrien says as he stares into her eyes.

"What you whispered the other night? About love?" Marinette does not look at him now she feels so awkward, but is not sure what ever for.

"Yes, I-I meant every word. Mari, I love you!" Adrien says.

Marinette looks at him and kisses him on the lips. She does not want to let him go. She thinks, my love, how did this happen? She waits til he kisses her back and eventually breaks the kiss.

"Mari? I must know, do you, love me? I mean it is okay, if you do not. I will understand. It is just I can not help, but love you. Somehow, you have taken my heart and made me a better person. I do not know what I would do without you." Adrien says.

"Adrien, I-I..." Marinette thinks, why can I not just come out with it. I love him, I know I do, so why can I not say it.

"You what? Can you not see it hurts me to be this way to feel as if my love for you is one-sided? I will try my best to make you happy and I promise, to never let you go. Now, please I beg you answer me! Mari? Mari? Is there someone else?" He looks at her in confusion. He thinks, after all we have been through you can not love me?

Marinette does not say anything. How can she? She is afraid. Afraid to say anything. She knows he loves her and does not want to hurt him, since she returns his love, but how can she answer when she is not ready too . Not yet anyway.

"I see. I have been such a fool. I should have known, a girl like you could never love a guy like me." Adrien lets go of her hand and walks away with tears in his eyes. He thinks, this is her kind way of rejecting his love. The thing that hurts the most about this is that for a minute there he thought she loved him. Oh, but now he thinks, maybe his father was right all alone. Maybe he is not capable of ever finding love.

Adrien's POV: I thought when she forgave me and gave that kiss she meant she was in love with me? Was I really that off track? What am I to do now? I love her, but she does not answer me. Does this mean she does not love me? That she only dates me out of pity? I do not understand. I mean, yesterday she is upset and accuses me of cheating. Today, I proof it was not true. She says she forgives me, but she does love me. So, this is it then, huh? I love her and she will never return my love. Why? Why did I have to love her so much? Why? Why does it have to hurt so much?

to be continued in Chapter 27 Together, But Awkward?

Published December 2019 ,or 2020
Edited February 2,2023