Narrator's POV: 

         Two nights later, Marinette gets ready for her blind date with Adrien.  As she finishes the last-minute touches to her makeup and hair she hopes she will not mess anything up.  Adrien is a bit nervous as she adjusts his tie and combs his hair.  

        A few hours later, they are both ready for the big date.

         Adrien's POV:

          Adrien arrives at the park on time.  He does not see her and frowns. He thinks perhaps she got nervous and bailed out at the last minute.  He turns to leave when he feels a tap on his shoulder.

          "Yes," Adrien says as he starts to turn around.

      "Are you Adrien?" She asks.

       "Oh, that depends on who is asking," Adrien replies.

        Marinette's  POV:

      Marinette arrives at the park and sees the blonde-haired guy standing there. She sees him take a look around and hears him sigh.  She watches as he begins to walk off. She goes over to him and gently reaches out to touch his shoulder.

      "Are you Adrien?"  she asks.

       She grins when he replies, "Oh, that depends on who is asking."
 

         "Hi, I am Marinette," She says suddenly feeling rather shy.

         "Hi, nice to meet you, Marinette," Adrien says with a grin.

         Adrien's  POV:

         Adrien looks her over with approval. He thinks her eyes look familiar. He wonders how this could be when they just met.  It is not like he has seen her before, is it?

          "I know this might seem crazy, but have you ever been to the stadium late at night?" Adrien asks.  

        As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he instantly dreaded it.  He can tell he made her uncomfortable by the question.

         "I did not mean to trouble you," Adrien apologizes.

   Marinette's  POV:

    Marinette answers, "Oh, you did not trouble me, just startled me that is all."

         "It does seem I owe you an explanation," Marinette states. She looks at the ground as if she spots something interesting there.

        Adrien wonders what is on her mind and why she glances at the glass blades all of a sudden. He reaches out and grabs her hand.  The sudden action causes her to look up at him in surprise.

        "Adrien, I -I am s-sorry, I did not mean any harm by it,"  Marinette blurts out.

          "It  is lame is not it?"  Marinette asks him.

    Adrien's  POV:

         Adrien feels his heart race in excitement.  He thinks so she is the same girl. He sighs a huge sigh of relief.  He is so glad she is not someone else.

         "No actually, it is cool," Adrien says.

          "You think so?"  Marinette asks.

          "Yes, I mean Wow, You are Her," Adrien states.

            "Her?" Marinette asks unsure of herself.

           "Marinette, I am happy you are the girl I saw sing that night as I swept and..." Adrien explains.

         "Oh, my goodness, you were spying on me?" Marinette responds.  She pulls her hand away.

     "It is not like that at all.  I was sweeping because it is my job when I heard an angelic voice singing, so I glanced up and saw you at the pitcher's mound.  The song was excellent as was the singer," Adrien says as if he were in a daze.

      Marinette's POV:        

      Marinette feels her cheeks turn red.  She thinks why did I agree to all this anyway?

         "A-Adrien, do not tell anyone," Marinette says.

         "I would not do that ever,"  Adrien says.

          "Although, I might have already told Nino,"  Adrien states.

         "Wait, you told someone  else?" Marinette asks in horror.

             "Sorry, but that was before I knew it was you," Adrien says in a low voice.

                   "W-why did y-you agree to meet me?" Marinette asks with tears in her eyes.

            Adrien's  POV:
               Adrien looks at her and thinks awe she is crying. He feels bad that it is because of him. 

               "I thought you would understand the harassment from the media and how horrid it can be.  Also, I have not been the proper gentlemen to you," Adrien says.

              Adrien pulls out a handkerchief and uses it to wipe her tears.

                  "Marinette, I am not angry," Adrien says.

                   "Do not stand so close," Marinette blurts out.

              Adrien looks at her in wonder.  He steps away just a little.  He hopes she will be willing to see him again.  Somehow, he thinks she will refuse and the thought bothers him more than he can say.

           'Why did you agree to meet me?" Adrien asks.

        Marinette's  POV:
           Marinette sees him look at her.  She thinks why is he so great?

           "Well, it was mostly Alya's doing.  She kept going on about how she thought I would hit it off with Nino's best friend," Marinette answers.

            "Is that all?" Adrien asks.  

             "Yes, and I was rather bored.  Besides, if I did not she would just try to set me up with someone else,"  Marinette replies.

              "I am glad you came," Adrien says barely above a whisper.

              "I am sorry, but I do not think this..." Marinette starts to say.

          Adrien's POV:

          "Marinette, please consider singing at the stadium for the games," Adrien blurts out.

          "I beg your pardon," Marinette says.

           "It is just that we or rather the team needs a new girl for this since Kagami quit," Adrien states.

            "Forget it, Adrien, I am not comfortable with singing in front of crowds.   I am not good anyway,"  Marinette says.

            "Nonsense, I have heard you sing and I am sure you will do wonderfully," Adrien tells her.

           "I will think about it,"  Marinette says as she starts to walk away.

           "At least let me walk you home," Adrien states.

            Marinette's POV:

               Marinette starts to walk off and hears him speak up.  She tries to shrug off his question. She thinks he will move on soon enough as they all do.  She runs, but soon feels arms wrap around her.

             "Adrien, I said no,"  Marinette blurts out.

           "Good, Missy, I am not Adrien,"  He says.

                Marinette realizes now the person who grabs her is a stranger with a weapon. She is sure of it though she can not see it. She starts to tremble in fear and holds up her purse to brace herself from harm.

             "T-take the purse," Marinette mutters.

              "Look, little lady, it is not the purse I am after," The creep says.

                 Marinette tries to scream but feels something cover her mouth. She looks at the attacker in horror as pulls out a rope next and ties her up with it.  She closes her eyes and thinks just get it over with already. She thinks I am going to be raped and die too.  

           Adrien's  POV:

             Adrien seems so jerk grab Marinette from behind.  He hears them talk and watches in horror as the crook tapes her mouth shut.  He races after him but is too late.  He sees her tied up and sees the bad dude about to harm her.  

          "Leave the woman alone, you pervert," Adrien yells at him.

              "You want her then you will have to kill me for her," The thug says with a snarl.

                Adrien forgets about his safety as he fights the crook.  He uses karate moves to knock the weapon to the ground.  He sees the bad guy trying to attack him and counter-attacks.  Soon the bad person falls out cold. 

                He runs over to Marinette, pulls off the tape, unties her, and picks her up.  He feels her slow breathes close to him.  He thinks she must have been afraid big time.  He asks, "Marinette which way should we go?"

               

         Marinette's  POV:

            Marinette looks into her rescuer's eyes and smiles. She thinks, Adrien he came for me. She blushes in surprise.  She wishes he could be hers.  Yet she is not so sure he can.

             "A-Adrien, my house is that way,"  Marinette says as she points in the direction of her home.

              Adrien carries her home and sets her down gently on the porch.  

          "Are you going to be alright, Mari?" Adrien asks.

             "Yes, th-thanks to y-you," Marinette mutters. She pulls out her key, unlocks the door and steps inside.  She pulls him closer and whispers, "Maybe I will sing for you."

               She kisses his cheek, then pulls away.

                  "G-good night, A-Adrien," Marinette mutters.

                  "Good night, Mari," Adrien replies. He waves to her, then watches as she closes the door and waits until he hears the slide the lock into place.

                   Marinette sits on the kitchen floor unable to move.  She shakes her head.  She thinks I can not tell him.   She stands up and goes to her room.

          Adrien's  POV:

         Adrien thinks, yes she kissed me!  He knows it was just a small one on the cheek and to thank him for helping her. Still, he will take what he can get.

         He thinks, she looks so lovely and vulnerable.  He wishes he could ask her out, but is not sure he can.

          Adrien decides not to tell Nino or Alya about the bad man so as not to scare them.  Besides, he can never tell how they will respond when he lets them know the date was a flop.

          He sighs as he thinks about cute she is in person. 

      "I want to see her, but I am not sure if she feels the same," Adrien says to no one in particular.

              Find out more in Chapter  8

            -Summer out!