"𝔬𝔫 𝔪𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔫𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔰.
𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑
𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜
𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝"
-𝔯.𝔥. 𝔖𝔦𝔫

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Adrien is practically vibrating in his seat, waiting for Marinette to arrive for class. They still have fifteen minutes until class session to start, and he had been dropped off early because punctuality is a thing.

Nino watches him, amused at his new friend, and decides to ask him, "You waiting for someone, Adrien?"

Adrien smiles nervously, "I think you already know, Nino. I just- I need to understand why I get so jittery when she's around."

"I think that's what some people call love, my dude," Nino chuckles, shaking his head. "Have you never liked someone before? A crush?"

Adrien's brows furrow in though, shaking his head hesitantly, "Not that I can remember, no. Just family love and-" he stops, wincing in pain as his head pounded with the effort of trying to recall the years before he lost his memories. "I feel like I've felt this before, but I have no idea for who."

"Huh," Nino frowned, not completely following everything, but understanding nonetheless. "What about-" he stops, when Alix's boisterous laugh brings their attention to the door and she walks in with Marinette in tow.

Marinette walks in the room with a small smile tugging at her lips, which Adrien has learned is not a common occurrence, and he hears a majority of the males (if not all) in the class sigh dreamily.

"Marinette!" Adrien whips around to see a classmate, Kim, walk down the steps and heads towards Marinette with a confident grin.

Marinette's face returns to its usual stoic expression, looking uninterested as he stops in front of her, holding out his hand. She rolls her eyes but slaps his hand twice before the fist-bumping.

Adrien gapes while Nino frowns in annoyance.

"That's Kim," Nino leans over to whisper to him, "never passes up a chance to get closer to Marinette. Everyone knows that he's been in love with her since the incident a couple years ago."

"Incident?" Adrien muttered, watching the group with a slight hint of jealously. Marinette won't even let him near her. Alya perked up a couple rows behind them, quietly listening in on their conversation. She was a blogger after all, her specialty is gathering information! But she should probably ask to listen to the whole story, later.

"I'll tell you about it later, it's kind of what made Marinette...big." Adrien hums, and focuses on the duo in front of them, Alix having gone to go sit in her seat.

"-and it's going pretty well, I didn't think I'd like it. As usual, though, you were right," Kim rubs the back of his neck.

"It isn't something everyone can enjoy," Marinette nods, "but since you're hot-headed, I figured you just need something to calm you down. It keeps you focused, as well."

"Yeah, t-thanks Marinette," Kim flushes, "um, do you want to go see a movie later?" Adrien's mouth drops at the audacity for him to ask his best friend in front of him how dare he-

He pauses, going over his thought process in confusion.

"No thanks," she turns him down immediately, and walking around him, "let me know how the project comes along." Kim doesn't fight her decision, if anything, he looks after dreamily as well.

Adrien meets her eyes as she walks up the steps, and he opens his mouth before he even has time to process what he's about to say, "Morning 'Nette." He slaps a hand to his mouth in shock just as Marinette freezes, her eyes wide.

He watches, though, as a flush creeps up her neck and her face is full with a rosy blush, that he can't help but stare (he's sure he isn't the only one).

Marinette doesn't blush.

But she is.

Right now.

She looks...so pretty.

"I-I-I didn't mean to- it just...slipped out...I, uh..." Adrien stumbles over his words, but Marinette pressed her lips together into a thing line, then nods.

"Good morning, Adrien," she murmurs and continues to her seat, "hello, Alya."

"Mornin' Marinette," Alya greets, Marinette sitting down in the seat in front of her next to Nathaniel who observes his friend carefully.

She's flustered.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

"Juleka, bury me please," Marinette groans, nuzzling the other's neck for comfort. Marinette may not be a touchy-feel-y person, but she seeks contact when she needs it. Like now.

"Mari," Juleka pats her shoulder, smiling gently at her long-time friend. "Calm down, if it slipped out, it means a part of him is remembering."

"But that's just it!" she shoves herself up from her spot, miffed, "I'm ecstatic that he's remembering."

"You have an amusing way of showing it."

"I don't want to hear that from you, 'Leka."

Said girl huffs, arms crossing with a slight pout. They were sitting in Marinette's room, their friends downstairs choosing some pastries for their lunch break.

"What will you do when he remembers? Or if he ever has a reason to come over, he'll see the photos," she gestures to the picture frames holding moments from her childhood. Marinette's eyes trail across the few that are around her room before halting on her favorite, which is of the day Luka and Adrien had been introduced to one another.

The photo, which was taken without any of their knowledge, was of all three of them sound asleep on her bed. Both boys expressions were that of peace, while Marinette's brows were furrowed in annoyance, but had managed to sleep well.

Her left at curled around Luka's shoulder, allowing him use the limb as a pillow. His armed was draped over her chest, hand resting on her shoulder as well, both having an unconscious effort to keep him from falling off the edge of the bed.

Adrien was curled into her side, his pillow being her stomach, his right hand fisting the fabric of her shirt, scrunching it terribly. Her right arm was more relaxed, and simply resting her hand in the blond hair.

Sabine had surprised her one day, far after the incident with Adrien had happened, but her mother just didn't have the heart to make her feel worse with such a precious memory of them all together in such a 'precious' moment.

Marinette had allowed herself to cry that day, her heart tightening in such a painful way, that the hot tears had welled before she could stop them.

This photo was her treasure, to remind her of the good moments she had.

Catching herself staring for a little too long without answering, she let out a shuddering breath, "If he ever has a reason to come here, I'll..." she pauses, what would she do? "I..."

"You'll hide every photo in this house and convince your parents into a facade," Juleka finished for her, "I doubt you would let him sprout any questions on you."

"You shut your fucking mouth," she hissed, loathing that Juleka was right. She did not want Adrien to interrogate her.

It was her worst nightmare.

"Mari, we're coming up!" Alix shouts, saving any further conversation on the matter for the time being. They enter her room, smiling over their choices. After closing the the hatch and getting comfortable, Alix pipes up, "So what were you two talking about?"

Before Marinette can dissuade Juleka from answering, which she was expecting, Juleka answered with an immedite, "Marinette is in denial." Marinette spluttered, hitting her arm while Alix seems to inhale the bite of her croissant and clears her throat for a few seconds.

"Brat."

"Denial? Marinette?" Alix wheezes, despite her previous situation, she grins, "That ain't somethin' I thought I'd ever hear!"

"What wrong, Marinette?" Rose asks softly, no teasing in her voice like Alix and Juleka. Only genuine concern radiated off the girl, and Marinette relaxes only slightly at the warm gesture.

"It's just," she meets Nathaniel's gaze, knowing that he will know who she's talking about, being someone who was present during her younger years. "Someone I used to know is back." He frowns, turning his head away from her.

Adrien.

"Big oof," Alix leans forward, "who's the unlucky person 'ta push the 'Silent Princess' inta' denial?" Though her lips were curled into a teasing smile, Marinette knew better. Knew Alix better. Behind the facade of curiosity was concern. Alix knows Marinette; she doesn't do denial. She's so open and understanding of herself and others, that it's nearly impossible to witness her in this state. Nearly.

She contemplated her choices and the consequences that may or may not come with them. Sighing through her nose, she decided to tell them the truth- because, eventually, they would find out on their own- "Adrien Agreste."

"What? No way?" she and Rose gasped. Seeing the lack of response from the other two, she points at them accusingly," Did both of ya already know?"

Juleka shrugs, "I grew up with Marinette, along with my brother, I didn't meet Nathaniel until primary." Nathaniel nods in agreement.

"I met Marinette when we were in daycare, I don't remember much from then because we were really young. After that, though, I was transferred to the same primary as them, but Adrien was at my previous one. We didn't talk much."

"You're all childhood friends, that's so wonderful!" Rose clasped her hands together. "And Adrien? What happened?"

"It isn't known to the public, but..." Marinette shifted in her spot, rubbing her arm to calm herself, "he had an accident, fell down the stairs and hit his head pretty bad, bad enough to cause amnesia. He isn't capable of remembering anything before being eight."

"Shit, dude," Alix hissed, "that's...that's awful." Wincing, realization crosses her features, "Is that why you avoid him like the plague?"

Juleka snorts, bringing a lighter atmosphere, nodding, "Her, my brother, and Adrien were the closest." She points over to the photo that Marinette had been looking at, bringing all their attention to it.

Alix snatches it from its spot without a moment's hesitation, inspecting it with wide, sparkling eyes. Both Rose and Nathaniel lean in close to examine the captured scene that had been taken so long ago.

"Mari," Alix starts, "you were such a cute kid! I can already imagine you walking around with that broody face you always have and telling someone to piss off!" She begins to cackle, kicking her legs, unable to contain her amusement.

"Shut up," Marinette rolls her eyes, but silently frowns as she recalls the time she had done so. Alix really knew how to read Marinette, and it was a tad bit concerning.

Alix calms down enough, turning to Juleka curiously, "But why the denial?"

Juleka smiles slightly, Marinette groans, "Adrien used to call her 'Nette. It's what he used to call her."

"Oh, how romantic!" Rose swooned, throwing herself on Juleka's side, causing her to fluster. Alix and Nathaniel frown, seeing Marinette's cheeks tint with soft flush as she turns away with an annoyed expression.

No way.

Alix covers her mouth to stop herself from saying anything stupid.

No fucking way.