Another month goes by and Lila's ankle finally heals!  Lila is happy to be able to see Luka again.  She goes up to him and winks at him!

      Marinette looks for Adrien and sees him in the ocean.  She gasps when she sees him surfing. He is the famous surfer boy. No wonder, he looked so familiar.

       Later, Adrien gets off the surfboard and swims back to shore.  He smiles at Marinette.  He sees Lila as she flirts with Luka.  He breathes a sigh of relief that his ex is no longer after him.  He feels bad for Luka though.  The poor guy has to deal with my ex, ick!  I don't wish that on anyone!  Nope, not even on the blue-haired guy. 

    "Hey, Mari!"  Adrien grins at her.

    "Oh, hi, Adrien!" Marinette says.

   "What is the matter?"  Adrien ask.

    "It is just, why didn't you tell me you were a famous surfer?"  Marinette ask.

    "Look, I meant to tell you!  I didn't  want you to see me that way." Adrien sighs.

    "Oh, and why not?"  Marinette says.

    "It is what all the other girls do.  By other girls I mean the fan girls always make a big deal about my job, the money I earn, and my father.  It just gets old after a while."  Adrien says.

   "It is none of my business how rich you are!  Anyway, I don't care about that kind of stuff." Marinette says.

   "I knew it.  I knew you were different the day we met.  No wonder, I..." Adrien trails off.

    "No wonder, what?"  Marinette looks at him in wonder. 

     Adrien thinks, great you almost told her about your love for her!  He shakes his head and decides now is not the time to confess all this.  Not yet anyway.

    "Never mind!"  Adrien says.

   "Oh, okay!" Marinette says.  

   Marinette runs towards a stand where there are smoothies for sale.  Adrien catches up to her and holds her hand.   "Allow me to pay for the smoothies, please?"  Adrien says.  "Y-Yeah, s-sure thing, A-Adrien!"  Marinette stutters.  She notices she has done this a lot lately.  She has no idea why.    "I will t-take a st-strawberry banana sm-smoothie!"  Marinette stutters again.  Adrien does not seem to notice.  He orders the smoothie she asks for and one for him as well. He smiles as he hands over the money for the smoothies.  He hands Marinette her smoothie.  "Th-thanks, A-Adrien!"  Marinette says.  "You're welcome, Mari,"  Adrien says.  He stares at her as he drinks his smoothie. He thinks, man I can't keep my eyes off her.

    "Mari, how is the smoothie?" Adrien ask.  

    "It is q-quite t-tasty, thanks, "  Marinette says.

   "Glad you like it,"  Adrien says.

  A  man comes by with all sorts of trinkets. He smiles when he sees Adrien and Marinette.  "Would you like to buy a bracelet for the lovely lady?"  the man says. 

 "Oh, we are not together,"  Adrien says.

  "So, you could still buy it for her or some other special girl in your life." the man says.

   "Look, mister,  I don't know who you think you are, but he said No!  So beat it!"  Marinette says.

  "Sorry to have disturbed you then!"  The man says and leaves.

    Adrien looks at Marinette and sees her face turn bright red. He thinks, does she have a sunburn?  He certainly hopes not.  

    Luka and Lila look over to where Adrien is with Marinette.  Lila couldn't seem to care less since she had a crush on Luka.  Luka glares at Adrien.  Lila sighs.  She thinks, why do all the cute ones always like that Marinette girl anyway?  I mean what is it about her that seems to draw them in is it because she is prettier than me?  Is that it?

    "A-Adrien, I had a n-nice time,"  Marinette says.

   "Yeah, so d-did I, " Adrien says.

    "Mari, could we do this again sometime?"  Adrien says.

   "Sure, I d-don't see wh-why not,"  Marinette says.

    "Great!" Adrien says.

      Marinette walks away.  Little does she know that Adrien has a daze in his eyes and only has eyes for her.  Nor does she know that Luka still stares at her and that Lila can't stand it.

     to be continued in Chapter 8  The Wise Old Man?

Chapter Edited 8-5-2024