"Girl, you're telling me that he chased after you just to throw your purse at you?" Alya sat cross legged on Marinette's pink chaise. Of course she'd be skeptical, but Adrien is a very complex person. Who knows why he does these things?

Marinette shrugged. "I don't know. Or maybe his father told him to do it."

This made Alya laugh. How ridiculous would it be if Gabriel Agreste cared about Marinette leaving her bag there! Adrien had to have wanted to see Marinette again, that's all there was to it.

"I know what you're thinking and no. Just no." Marinette spun around in her computer chair to face her best friend. "He doesn't even like me. You should've seen his attitude when his father was handing me this." Marinette handed a slip of paper to Alya and her eyes boggled.

"Five thousand euros?!" she exclaimed. "That's your Christmas bonus?"

Marinette couldn't help but smile. With her new paycheck, she would be making five thousand per month. And that was just for fashion design. How much she would make for running this gala is still to be determined.

Ugh. The Gala. Stupid Agreste.

"What am I supposed to do?" Marinette groaned. "How am I to work with Adrien if I can't even stand him?"

Alya uncrossed her legs and tilted her head. "I know you hate him, but you shouldn't let him stop you from taking this amazing opportunity." She waved the check in the air to emphasize her point.

Marinette knew this would greatly help out her parents. Maybe she could finally give them something worthwhile for Christmas that would help keep the bakery up and running. The bills were stacking up and Mari knew how stressed her parents were over paying off their debts.

"Alright," she sighed. "I guess I have no choice."

Alya fidgeted with the check while studying her bestie.

"What?"

"Nothing," Alya smiled. "You're just too cute trying to act in denial about Agreste."

"Alya!" Marinette groaned, much to the woman's amusement. "You know I'm with Luka." In all honesty, Alya had forgotten that Marinette was still dating the now-famous musician and suspected that even Marinette herself had forgotten.

"When was the last time you saw him?"

Marinette looked down at the floor. "Two months ago. He's still on tour, you know that."

"Uh-huh. And you haven't gone to any of his concerts?"

"I have work! Luka knows that."

"Whatever you say girl." Alya handed her the check. "Just don't be surprised if things don't work out. Not many people can handle long distance relationships."

Marinette turned around and went back to reading through some emails. She knew that she shouldn't be so irritated at Alya, but she was. Why must she be so perceptive and know everything? That's the price of having a best friend.

"When do you go back to work?" Marinette asked as she typed. Alya was on her Christmas break from work, a break that Gabriel doesn't give his employees except for the actual holiday itself.

"After New Years, although Nadja might have landed me a huge job."

"Really? That's awesome! What is it?" Marinette wondered how she and her friends got so lucky to pursue jobs in their dream field. Alya has wanted to be a journalist since lycée and Marinette always wanted to go into fashion design.

She didn't respond, carefully trying to choose her words.

"Alya..." Marinette turned around. "What is it?"

"Well, you see, I might be covering the Gala..." She fidgeted with the tips of her auburn hair. "But..."

"What?" Marinette prompted.

"But it's focused on Adrien's love life more than the event."

Wonderful.

"I need this, Mari. Imagine if I do well! I'll try my best to focus more on the gala, but Nadja is going to really press me for the juicy details." Alya stood up and walked closer to Marinette. "I'll do my best to not make it look like you and him are dating. Perhaps Chloe or Lila will end up making good content for the tabloids."

"But the people won't be interested in them," Marinette sighed. "It's okay Alya, I really don't care anymore. Don't worry about me."

Alya looked at her with uncertainty. "You sure? Just say the word and I won't do it." Marinette surprised Alya by standing up and embracing her.

"I'm sure. This is huge for you! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't let you pursue your dreams. You've done nothing but support me all these years."

"Stop it, girl! Too cheesy!"

The two break down into giggles and Alya checks her phone. "I better head out. Nino and I have a date tonight."

"Have fun!" Marinette waved.

"Oh, we will!" Alya chuckled, leaving through the trapdoor.

********

Adrien sat at his computer in his vast bedroom clicking through the company's Instagram. Marketing had suggested a few years ago to create more social media presence so Gabriel hired a small team just for managing the account.

"What am I doing?" Adrien wondered aloud. Looking at pictures of past parties wasn't going to help him with anything. He closed the tab and checked his inbox before plopping onto his bed, phone in hand.

Adrien found himself absentmindedly scrolling through his feeds when a particular picture caught his eye.

In some fancy, and expensive, restaurant, Alya and Nino were kissing. Alya's left hand was cupping Nino's cheek and a diamond ring sparkled in the candlelight. The picture was captioned, "The easiest Yes of my life." Looked like everyone was finding love nowadays. Even Felix had a girlfriend, although Adrien doesn't know who she is.

"Adrien," Nathalie knocked. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah." Adrien watched as Nathalie walked into the room and smiled wryly. "So now you call me Adrien."

An amused smile tugs at the woman's features. "You aren't at work; there's no reason to call you 'M. Agreste'."

"What's up?" Adrien sat up, eyeing her expectantly.

"I just wanted to remind you that your first meeting with Marinette is tomorrow at noon." She sat down on the bed beside him. "I know I've been all business since you've started training, but..."

"It's fine, Nathalie. I get it."

"I'm here if you need anything, okay? Anything, anytime. If you just want to talk, or if you need something, just ask."

Adrien's heart warmed at the kind gesture. He did think highly of Nathalie, and knew she saw him as her own son at times. Maybe she had more advice to give.

"Thanks. Uh, there is actually something I want to talk to you about."

Nathalie's eyes began to sparkle and Adrien knew this wasn't going to go well for him, but decided he had to ask somebody. If he asked Nino, Alya would find out, which would mean Marinette would know.

She could never know.

"Yes?" she prompted.

Adrien leaned back and stared at the ceiling, not daring to meet Nathalie's eyes. Oh, he was going to regret this.

"Am I turning into Father?" he asked softly. Nathalie sat down beside him on the bed and held his gaze.

"Adrien, you are not your father." She said sternly.

"But the other day you said—"

"I know what I said, and while it was partially true, it doesn't mean that you are your father. You care for others, you love your friends, and while you are almost always working, you make time for other things as well."

"Okay," Adrien murmured.

"I just don't want you making the same mistake he did. Please." Nathalie took Adrien's hands and gave them a squeeze. "Don't let this all slip away. It's a chance to make things right."

"What? The Gala? Marinette?" Adrien violently shook his head. "Oh no, Nathalie. That woman hates my guts. She humiliated me in front of everyone, confronting me with something I didn't even do!"

"I know, I know," she hushed, "but did you ever think about what or why she did that? Perhaps it's all a misunderstanding."

"It must be, otherwise, I think I might be going crazy."

"Just...try?" Nathalie said, standing up. "You two were so happy all those years ago. I've never seen you so alive. You were living, Adrien. I just want you to be happy again."

And with that, she left the room, leaving Adrien there alone wondering what the heck just happened.

He looked at his phone and found himself going back onto Instagram, this time on an old private account of his. Gabriel had made him get a new, more professional, account after he graduated. But that didn't mean he no longer had his personal one.

He found what he was looking for and clicked on the oldest reel.

"No! Don't you dare! Adrien!" Marientte squealed, laughter escaping her lips. She tried to escape but Adrien had managed to get the cupcake all over her face. "You turd!" she laughed, cheeks dusted with pink.

"Happy birthday," he said, nuzzling her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

The clip ended with them kissing. Adrien missed her warmth, how she'd always smell like cookies and cinnamon. Her pale pink lips and how she always blushed whenever he complimented her.

But it was something of the past. Something he could never have again. Despite what Nathalie thinks, things between him and Marinette can't be fixed. The damage had been done, the trust was broken.

She was no longer his, for she belonged to another.

He had seen the pictures of Marinette and Luka together, walking along the shorelines, or backstage at one of his concerts. Their love story was perfect, a dream.

Adrien's love story had been ripped from the book, never to be seen again. It was hopeless to think that he'd ever find love again. There was Kagami but...she wasn't right for him. It wouldn't be real.

Scrolling through more of his old posts, he felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"Why are you torturing yourself again?" He put his phone down and closed his eyes, only to see bluebell ones starting back at him.