Later, that day, Marinette fails to show up to work. She calls in sick.  Adrien is not surprised under the circumstances.  Luka appears to be upset.  He wonders, where on earth could she be?  Adrien dares not tell the man the events that lead to her absence.  The very memory of it all is still fresh on his brain.  It is something so horrible, he dares not to speak  of it again.  Not to Luka and not to anyone else!  

        Adrien sighs as he thinks about how to break up with Lila.  It sure will not be an easy task as his father approves of her.  His father is the one who wants him to date her.  It is still a necessary thing though.  He does not want to have her cling to him like an extra limb anymore.  Goodness, Lila is like a starfish in a way!  Goodness, knows she has gotten the wrong idea already.  The last thing he needs is for her to try to kiss him again!  Ugh! 

    Luka scratches the back of his head. He looks for Marinette.  To his disappointment he does not see her.  He finally figures out she does not plan to show up today.  He wonders if he came across as to strong with all his subtle hints, or flirts as others call them.  Why else did she stay away?

   Lila chooses that exact moment to show up.  She runs towards Adrien.  She is happy to see him despite the annoyance towards him the last time they met up.  She attempts to kiss him yet again!  

    Adrien grits his teeth and moves away before she can kiss him.  He is not happy.  Not happy at all, ugh!  Why did she have to show up now of all times?  Talk about the worse time ever! 

    Luka stands up.  He walks over to them.  He clears his thorat.

    "Adrien, who is this?'  Luka asks.

    "No one important!"  Adrien snaps at him.

   "He is such a kidder!  I am his girlfriend!"  Lila laughs.

   "Does Marinette know you have a girlfriend?"  Luka asks.

    " No!  You better not tell her either!"  Adrien says.

   "Oh, and just why not!" Luka asks.

   "It is not exactly your place to tell!" Adrien says.

   "Ugh, so there is another girl?"  Lila stomps off furious all over again.

      Adrien shakes his head as she leaves. He mutters under his breath, "Good riddance!" 

        Two days later, Marinette arrives late for work.  She feels silly about it really.  She knows it all due to her to application of makeup. She has on a light shade of blush, eye shadow and even a little lipstick. She puts on her sunhat, and sandals, grabs up her towel and rushes to the beach.  

      Once there she climbs up the ladder that leads to the life guard stand.  She sits down and puts some sunscreen on her neck, shoulders, arms, face, etc.  She sees someone out of the corner of her eye.  Wait, she thinks, that is actually three people. She laughs at herself for her simple mistake.

    Luka waves at her and she waves back.  Adrien notices her as well.  Only as he is about to speak, some other girl flings herself at him. Much to her dismay, the other girl brings her lips rather close to Adrien.  She thinks, so was it all a game to him?  Do I mean nothing?  Maybe, I misread how he feels?  As she feels a single tear fall down her cheek, she refuses to brush it away. She feels herself blush, and despite her dismay continues to watch to see what happens next.   To her surprise, Adrien pushes the other girl away from him.  She hears him yell!

    "Lila, stop get off me!" Adrien screams at the top of his lungs where anyone within a mile radius from the place could here him.

  "Adrien, we are good together!  Don't you see we have chemistry?"  Lila whines.

 "Lila,you know as well as I do that we are not good together!  We never have been, nor will we ever be!  I don't love you!  Besides, I have interest that lies elsewhere.  So, do yourself a favor, and leave!  Oh, and as you do don't let the hot air get to you on your way out!  Be sure not to let yourself trip over a jellyfish either, we couldn't have you tell your father that your feet have been ruined now can we?   After all, you are a foot model and it would do you no good to ruin them.  Now, be gone!  Take your leave, and never come back!  Consider us over.  This whole foolish idea was my father's anyway.  So on that note, be off!"  Adrien says rather loudly.

 "Adrien, you can't mean it!"  Lila whines.

  "Oh, but I do mean it!" Adrien says.

       Adrien walks away before the girl who is more of a tick than anything else can attach herself to his arm again.  Let alone attempt another kiss, or lean her head against his chest. Why the very idea, that she could think he loved her, seriously that woman was more of a pest than she was a real lady!  He felt as if his break up with her was the best thing that took place in his life in years.

      Marinette who witnesses the entire thing from the stand, waits until Lila grabs up her shoes, places them on her feet and runs away in tears to leave the guard stand. She figures it is probably the safe way to deal with the situation. Once Lila, is a long ways off and no longer in view, she gets out of the huge chair, and carries her towel with her.  She removes her sun bonnet and sets it down on the beach, she lays her towel down beside and sighs.  She wishes Adrien would come and chat with her for a spell.  She shakes her head and thinks, whom am I kidding? There is no way a guy like him could want to be seen with the likes of me. 

     Luka comes and sits down next to Marinette. He reaches out and holds her hand. He smiles. He bashes his eye lashes at her. 

 "Why, Marinette, your as as lovely as sun set on a summer's day!"  Luka says.

   "Haha, that is your idea of a pick up line? " Adrien says.

    "Why yes, it is, if you really must know."  Luka says.

    "Well, then you must really have a way with the ladies, then."  Adrien scoffs.

     Luka walks off clearly not to happy to be seen as a silly flirtatious boy by his competition.

       Adrien just laughs as Luka leaves. He takes note of the fact that Marinette now sits alone. He thinks, Whoa, she is just as that fool hardy boy described if not even more so!  He sighs.

      "Adrien?" Marinette says.  Her voice rather quiet.

     "Y-Yes, M-Mari!"  Adrien stutters and thinks, oh dear!  I feel so awkward around her now. Great, she really must think I am just a silly boy.

   "I saw the whole thing that took place with Lila, and I must say that was amazing!"  Marinette says.

    "No, You are the one who is amazing,  Marinette!"  Adrien says.  He blushes when he realizes what he just said. 

   " Adrien, why did you leave so fast two days ago after you came to my help?"  Marinette says.

    "Mari, I-I rather not talk about it!  The whole thing was just horrid!" Adrien says.

     "Oh, sorry.  I never meant to be a bother."  Marinette says, and starts to walk away.

     "Mari, wait!"  Adrien stands up and gently grabs her wrist.

     "Adrien, what are you?"  Marinette says. 

     Adrien stares into her eyes. He can hear her voice tremble. He thinks, forgive me my love! 

    Marinette stares back into his eyes. She trembles and thinks, please don't! Don't look at me like this.  I couldn't bare it if ...

    Adrien interrupts her thoughts as he gently cups her face in his hands. He feels like he can't hardly breathe. He slowly kisses her forehead, the tip of her nose, her cheek, her chin, the tip of her ears, her neck, and finally moves onto her lips. He can feel her relax and he thinks, so this is what is like to be in love?  He groans as he feels her tongue touch his own.  He thinks, Mari, what have you done to me?  He sighs as he releases her. He looks away !  

  "Adrien, I thought you said a kiss was only meant for love?"  Marinette backs away. She feels tears roll down her face. She can feel a blush in her cheeks and  looks down at the sand. She is in shock at the kiss no the kisses they had.  She never thought it would happen to her. She thinks, oh no!  I can't ....I mustn't fall for him, why I barely know him.

    "M-Mari, I will not take it b-back!  I know it might seem crazy, but I-I never felt like this before I meet you.  You gotta believe me. Please, Mari,  Don't go!" Adrien pleads with her.

   Marinette does not respond. She just runs, and does not stop until she finally breaks down and cries.

    Adrien watches her run off!   He dares not follow her.  He feels just horrible.  He thinks, why did you go and kiss her?  He tries to reason within himself, it was okay as he loves her and now he feels like maybe he has lost her already.

    Adrien's POV:  I know it was probably horrible timing as I just broke up with Lila!  I just had to kiss Marinette!  I mean it. I mean how could I not.  I love her!  I want her to love me.  I know I can't make her feel the same for me, but she kissed me back. She even put her tongue in my mouth!  I know she must feel something for me. Why else did she not shove me away, slap me or tell me I was stupid.  She could have refused to speak to me ever again and I would have taken all the anger she gave me if it made her feel better about it. Yet,she kissed me!  I sigh in confusion. Why did she run off like that?  Is it because she is not sure about her feelings?  Maybe she is afraid to love me?  Why?   I only thought that she...Oh, forget what I thought!  Ugh, why does the woman have to be so stubborn!  

  Marinette's POV:  He kissed me?  Adrien kissed me!  I still feel as if his lips are on mine. I admit it caught me by surprise!  The only thing is I made it worse, I kissed him back and I even put my tongue in his mouth. Then he did the same to me where our tongues touched for a moment.  It was a romantic moment. One I shall always cherish and regret at the same time.  I mean, I can't  even consider a relationship with him.  I mean how could I why for all I know he could be on the run from the law?  He could be a model who has to travel out of  town a lot, and he could even another girl back home.  Why he could love someone else and could just be using me!  I shudder at the thought.  I cry, blush and run off like a stupid, girl that I am!  Why, why me?  Why did he kiss me?  Why did I kiss him back?   I  feel like the world was only just full of us for the time our lips met.  What does this all mean?   Clearly, I can't see him again!   

    Luka's POV:  I turn around once my anger wears off towards Adrien.  Only when I head back towards my lovely coworker, to my horror I see Adrien kissing her and even worse she seems to enjoy it !  Ugh, how dare he dive in like this and steal my girl from me!  I know we have never gone out, but still she is meant to be with me.  I mean we are both life guards and I have known her way longer than he ever has.  Besides, he is a surfer and has girls fawning after him all the time, why can't have a girl that is after me for once?  Just this once, I think, that I will have to fight for her!  That is it, I will have to find a way to win her over !  There is no way, I will let Agreste win her affections that easily!  Not when, he is just a dumb, love sick, blonde boy!  Ugh,  I shall win!  In the end, she will be my girl and Adrien will have to back off!  So, enjoy the moment you had with her today, because it will be your last Agreste! 

   to be continued in Chapter 5  The Black Eyed & Twisted Ankle?

Published December 2018 , Edited January 31,2023