Adrien's POV

"You're an idiot, you know," Plagg remarks as I brush my teeth.

I roll my eyes and look away from the tiny black kwami.

Plagg flies right back into my view. "I mean it! You need to move on, Adrien!"

I spit and wash my mouth, then look back at the floating cat.

"Aren't we supposed to end up together?!" I snap. "Our destinies are intertwined! We're going to end up together no matter what!"

"But right now y'all aren't! So move on, our you'll end up hurting yourself!"

"It only hurts a little, Plagg," I mutter as I brush my hair.

The kwami flips in the air and flies close to the mirror. "I don't mean emotionally. I mean physically. Your heart can turn to glass."

I choke and stumble backwards. "W-What? That's impossible."

Plagg shakes his head. "With the miraculous holders, anything is possible. Feeling too much negative emotion can be devastating to your health, so to prevent that, your heart will turn to glass to prevent you from feeling any emotion at all."

I stop brushing my hair and look at Plagg. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"If you keep getting rejected and you don't move on, it's almost certain that your heart will turn to glass. You'll feel sharp stabs in your chest. You'll start to feel cold, and emotionless. You won't care how others treat you, or worse, how you treat others," Plagg informs.

I shake my head in disbelief. "And you're telling me this now?! Are there more?"

Plagg nods. "Hanahaki disease is where the victim coughs up flowers and thorns choke their heart. It can only be cured if you confess your love."

"And only miraculous holders can get these sicknesses?"

Plagg nods again. "I'm sorry kid. You know how much of a free-spirt I am, but I also really care about you. I want to keep you safe."

I smile. "Thanks, Plagg. It's nice to see this gentle side of you."

"W-Well don't get use to it! I'm very powerful and scary, you know!" He stutters.

I snicker and continue getting ready for school. Once I've picked out my outfit and combed my hair, I make my way downstairs. To my surprise, my father is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

"Adrien, I wanted to inform you that you will have a photoshoot today. This is last-minute, but you must attend," he commands in an emotionless voice. "I will not tolerate you skipping out on shoots any longer."

I nod solemnly and continue on my way. I notice how father always wears a big coat where ever he goes, even if it's not cold. Combine that and his emotionless expressions when he talks to me, and it's almost like he has a glass heart himself. I laugh to myself, knowing that's impossible because my father isn't a miraculous holder.

Natalie opens the car door for me as I slip into the back seat of the limousine. I feel the car start to move, and I watch as my house slowly disappears out of view as we head towards my school. When he's sure I'm alone, Plagg flies out of my jacket and snickers.

"Oh, boo hoo me. I have a photoshoot today. I'm literally the most attractive guy in the world and I can never get a break!" He teases.

I laugh. "Thanks Plagg, you always know how to cheer me up."

"I... I want to apologize," he mutters. "I feel bad for dropping all of that news about the sicknesses on you like that. I never really act like that."

"No, I needed to know," I say, honestly. "Do you think..."

I freeze and look out the window.

"What?" Plagg asks.

"... do you think Ladybug is sick?"

"Where did that come from?!" Plagg exclaims.

I sigh. "I don't know, it's just, she seemed so out of it yesterday."

"Listen, kid. You know I know her identity in real life, right?" Plagg asks me.

I nod.

Plagg frowns. "Well, honestly, she isn't looking too hot. If I had to guess, I think there could be a chance she has Hanahaki. She has all the symptoms: low confidence, afraid to talk, and coughing. Lots and lots of coughing."

"Is there anything I can do?" I urgently ask.

"I don't know. I'm more worried about you and-"

"-I'm fine!" I snap, crossing my arms. "I don't have a glass heart or whatever you're worried about! And if I did, I couldn't die from it. But, Ladybug... if what you're saying is true, and I lose her..."

I feel my eyes water.

"... I don't know if I would even want to live in a world where I couldn't see her eyes again."

Plagg smirks. "You really love her, huh?"

I smile weakly.

I feel the car slow to a halt, and I wait for my bodyguard to open the door for me. I make my way out of the car and feel Plagg slip into my jacket. However, as soon as I walk up the stairs to my school, Alya storms over to me with a furious expression resting on her face.

And slaps me.

"How dare you!" She screams. "Marinette does everything for you, and you couldn't even bother to keep your promise!"

I stumble backwards from the impact.

"You're just a selfish model. You're no different from your father!" She shouts, then turns around and storms back into the school.

I feel all eyes slowly turn to me. I bring my hand up to the mark she left on my cheek, trying to process what just happened. Marinette did everything for me, and I couldn't keep my promise? What does that mean? Is she talking about yesterd-

Shit.

I broke my promise to Marinette to meet her under the cherry tree after the akuma attack.

I sprint into the school with a terrible feeling growing in my stomach. It feels like my chest is rotting. My head hurts, my chest feels hollow, and my breathing is rapid. How could I forget my promise to Marinette? I promised her I would meet her under the tree after the akuma attack. She probably waited hours alone, until I, or I guess, Chat Noir, checked on her and carried her home. I can't believe I forgot about her. She probably hates me now.

How could I do that to such a good friend?

Marinette's POV

I sit alone at my table until Alya walks back into the room. As soon as she sees me, her eyes fill with pity and she shakes her head.

"Girl..." she whispers as she walks over to me.

I hug her and feel a tear climb down my cheek.

"He's here, and incase you didn't hear my rampage outside, I had a good talk with him," she explains.

I smile. "A talk? Or, you just scared him and didn't let him explain?"

She smirks. "I'll go with the latter."

I roll my eyes and giggle. "Alya..."

"Not enough? I could sock that boy right to his grave," she threatens with a sparkle in her eye. "You always wear a size bigger shoe, so the cops don't catch you. Oh, and hide the body at the bottom of a river-"

"Alya!" I teasingly push her away, laughing.

She laughs back and hugs me, and for a second, I forget all of my pain. I feel amazing. I feel happy. I feel... in control. But that feeling only lasts for a moment.

"Marinette?"

Alya immediately pulls away from me and tries to make a bee-line straight to Adrien, but I grab her hand. She stops and looks back at me.

I smile weakly. "I want to talk to Adrien... alone."

She hesitates, but sighs and gives in. I nod, then get out from my desk. Adrien and I make our way out to the hallway where no one is.

When I look at him, I realize his pupils are small and his hands are shaking from fear.

"Marinette... I'm so, so, sorry!" He begins. "I never meant to hurt you. I-"

"-It's okay, Adrien," I interrupt.

He shakes his head. "No. No it's not. We're friends. In fact, you were my first friend. Ever. I shouldn't have done that to you!"

Friends?

Just friends?

He freezes and hesitantly places his hand on my shoulder. "We... we are friends..."

He gulps, and I notice tears staring to form in his eyes.

"...right?"

I sigh and I feel my heart ache from the inside. "Actually, Adrien, about that..."

He slowly pulls his hand away.

"O-Oh. I see. I... I'm not your friend anymore, am I?" He asks, looking down with his voice cracking.

"N-No!" I frantically interrupt. "You're so much more to me that that!"

His eyes immediately light up as he looks at me. "Like what?"

"Adrien, I..." I hesitate, but then give up and exhale. "We're best friends."

A huge grin spreads across his face and he hugs me. Tight. It feels just like how Chat Noir's hugs feel. He pulls away and places his hand on my freckled shoulder again.

"Thank you, Marinette. Now let's get back to class before the bell rings, okay?"

"Yeah." I respond in a monotone voice.

He stops. "Something wrong?"

I just shake my head, then make my way to the classroom, never making eye contact with him. I re-enter the classroom and Alya instantly runs up to greet me.

"What happen?" She eagerly asks.

I shake my head. "Nothing. I didn't confess anything."

"Marinette..." Alya whispers, disappointed. "Why?"

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I cough, and then cough again.

"Do you need some water?" Alya asks concerned.

I rapidly shake my head, then dash out of the classroom. I throw my purse down on my desk so Tikki won't hear me or follow me. I slam into the girl's bathroom door and dash to a toilet. I get on my knees as continue to cough. Eventually four petals force their way out of my mouth and into the clear water. Not only is there petals, but there's also a single leaf. I stare in disbelief at my reflection in the toilet bowl.

I continue to cough, but on purpose this time, to get the blood out. The petals are rose petals, and roses have thorns. Thorns mean that every time I eat, drink, or cough, I'll feel the thorns dig into my skin and tear tissue apart. Blood quickly fills my mouth from the tearing, and so I continue to cough and spit the dark liquid out.

I hear the bathroom door open. "Marinette?"

I quickly scramble to my feet and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, then flush the toilet.

"Are you okay?" Alya asks, unsuspecting of anything.

I quickly nod and force a smile. "Let's get back to class, 'kay?"

She hesitates, but then nods back. "Okay."

The school bell rings, signaling the end of the day. I urgently jump out of my seat and make my way out of the classroom before Alya can ask me any questions. I also want to get home because I'm starving. I haven't been eating at school, because it's too much pain to swallow food with thorns growing in your organs, so I'll just eat at home instead, where I can wince and groan all I want from the pain and nobody will bat an eye.

I'm almost out the door when suddenly I hear my name. I silently curse myself and slowly turn around, closing my eyes tight and preparing for Alya's persistent questions.

But it's not Alya. It's Adrien.

"Hey..." he mutters, taking a step closer. "Are you okay?"

I smile a fake smile.

Adrien sighs. "You just seem so out of it, Marinette."

He stares at me, waiting for me to make the next move.

"Why do you care so much?" I suddenly whisper.

He chuckles and rubs the back of his head. "I care about everyone. I care a lot. The girl I love says I get too distracted because of it, though."

I quietly gasp and look into his bright green emerald eyes.

"T-The girl you... the girl you l-love?"

He nods.

Tears start to form.

"Oh. I... I see. I'll be on my way," I squeak.

My heart beats fast.

"Marinette!" He calls out.

My chest is rapidly rising up and down.

"Wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?"

My chest screams in pain from the thorns wrapping tighter around my heart by every growing second.

I twirl back towards him, and tears fly through the air. They sparkle in the afternoon Paris light. I stand on the tip of my toes. My hands hold behind my back. I put on the classic fake smile I've been using a lot recently and close my eyes.

"No. Not anymore."

I start to choke and quickly dash down the street to cough up more petals before Adrien has the chance to reply.

bum bum bum!!

Marinette still loves him, but refuses to tell Adrien after he told her he loves another girl! Marinette cant possibly compete with the other girl! Oh wait, its her. Only Marinette could get jealous of herself.

As always, please please upvote!! Ty <3

Ps: thanks for 200 reads already!!