Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and eventually a year passed since Gabriel Agreste shut me out of Adrien's life. It tore me to pieces every time I thought about it, and so, I did my best to forget.

But someone like me can't just forget, and it was utterly heart wrenching.

I remember, when Luka had come to visit, days later, my parents were told by Mrs. Agreste about what happened, and did their best to cheer me up. Their efforts to no avail, they called Mrs. Couffaine, and soon enough, Luka was over with his guitar. He was now eleven, while I was only nine.

He didn't say anything when he came up to  my room, only looking at me before taking a seat on my floor, leaning on my bed where I sat, staring at my wall.

His light strumming filled my ears, and my eyes fluttered closed, spilling my tears. I did't cry out loud, as I had accepted what happened. I only hoped that Adrien would still regain who he is and rebel against his father to escape, to be free.

To be himself.

I leaned back onto my bed, and eventually, fell asleep to the calming strings of Luka's guitar.

-

It was a revelation when I thought about what Gabriel did for a living, and I felt so utterly stupid for once in this life. The original Marinette was a designer, who absolutely looked up to Gabriel Agreste's works.

While I absolutely despise the man, and wanted nothing to do with him, but a good way to hit him where it hurts- is his pride.

So, with a new found determination, I decided that, yes, I would pick up designing, but to also make it more enjoyable for myself, I would also start something I've had a passion for even in my previous life.

"Mom," I called out, and I had never seen my mother react so quickly. I suppose I can't blame her, after days of not speaking to either her or dad, I could understand why she reacted this way.

"Yes, Mari? What is it?" she asked eagerly.

"I want to be in an art class," I stated bluntly, "and I want to learn how to sew as well."

"Sure! Of course honey!"

Wow, what did I do to deserve such a wonderful mother?

-

"Nathaniel?" I called out, and the red-headed boy turned at the sound of his name, and seemed to straighten up after seeing me, no longer slouching in his seat.

"Marinette!" he greeted shyly, "Are you taking the art class, too?"

I nod, "I like art a lot, I hope to improve my skills. I'm glad you're here, you have a natural talent for this."

"Wh-what? No! I-I want to i-im-prove...too..."

"Do you know what improve means?" I asked, teasingly.

"U-uh..." he flushed, "t-to get better...right?"

My eyebrows shot up slightly, before smiling at him, "Yeah, good job. Not many kids our age would know that."

"T-thanks..." his eyes suddenly caught someone behind me, and I turned, "That's Miss Aime, right? You go to her room a lot," my face scrunched up, and I turned away when I saw her look towards my direction.

I had completely forgotten to visit her this month, and I knew she was none too happy that I was essentially avoiding her.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng,"I flinched, spinning back around to meet the un-amused Ms. Aime. "A word, outside."

I pursed my lips, "Save my seat," I muttered to Nathaniel before following the older woman outside. The door closed behind us but we still walked a bit further away, and then, we were alone and no one in the vicinity. "What do you need?"

"Why haven't you been attending my classes?" she shot, immediately, hurt evident in her tone.

I crossed my arms, "I realized I wasn't entirely required to attending every single day. I've had some revelations that need my time and effort. Like the art class you just pulled me out of minutes before it starts."

My answer doesn't seem to satisfy her, "That isn't the only reason. The classes only started today, and you've been skipping for a month now. Is it something I did?"

And suddenly, all those emotions and feelings I had all these years, flood out, because this woman- this person- who had helped me all these years, who made me act my real mental age, who made me experience first first love-

But that's exactly why I had distanced myself.

I eyed the ring on her left hand, before meeting her eyes.

"Because I couldn't handle the heart break."

She reeled back, not expecting my answer, "...W-what?"

"I've had this ridiculous, unfathomable, utterly useless crush on you since I was four," I spat, "it was harmless at first, a child crushing on an adult isn't unheard of. But I am mentally mature, I don't think the same as other kids," I explained, "and all these years, my feelings had grown and I thought we had actually gotten close. You know so much about me, almost every nook and cranny has been visited by the likes of you- and until I saw that ring on your finger, I suddenly realized I know absolutely nothing about you.

"Add the fact that my best friend no longer remembers who I am, and I'm no longer allowed to be withing a wide radius of him, which is already enough for my emotional state. But to have my heart broken at the tender age of nine is not something I would have wanted, even if I already knew it was impossible from the start. So, yes, I'm no longer visiting you- because I've realized how unfair you have been to me; and I'm dealing with that."

All was silent, and I sucking in a breath, only now noticing that I had rambled that out without breathing. Closing my eyes, I calmed myself down.

"I-I...Marinette...I'm-I never meant to..." as I thought, she was at a loss for words.

"Don't apologize," I turned heel and started walking back to my class, which had already started by now, for sure. "I don't need pity from you."

And just like that, I shut my first love, and first heart break, out of my life.