In the previous part, Adrien waits until his father leaves the room. He packs his things and decides it is time he moves out. He is twenty years old and no longer feels a need to live under the same room under his father. He smiles, as he finishes, and leaves for good this time. He is glad that he found that secret passageway behind the wall in his room. The same wall which is next to the bookshelves. It is by this he makes his quick exit, with his suitcase, pillow, a blanket, his backpack, flashlight, and two duffel bags. He has no idea where he intends to go, but any place is better than here.

       Adrien walks around until he sees an empty building. He enters it, sets down his things, and lays on the staircase with the pillow under his head and blanket around him.  He wakes up cold and pulls his jacket out of the backpack glad he packed it inside.  He looks at the box that he secretly keeps inside one of the duffel bags.  This is a special box that he longs to give to a special someone.  He sighs as he wonders if he can ever get the nerve to present it to her.  

     He closes the box, tucks it inside the bag, and holds the bag close as he drifts back to sleep with a certain bluenette with bluebell eyes on his mind and in his heart. He dreams of her, the girl he loves, but has yet to say it.

   Marinette wakes up with tears in her eyes. She thinks is Luka right?   Should I forget all about Adrien?   She sighs, and whispers to herself, "Adrien, why can not you love me?"  She pulls her blanket close and sobs into it. She soon goes back to sleep and dreams about him the one who manages to keep her heart.

   Luka groans and thinks why does she obsess over him?  What is so great about that other guy?  It is not like he will ever notice her.  He is furious with Marinette for not listening to him. He believes one day, Marinette Dupain-Cheng you will regret this.  I just know it.

    The next day, Adrien wakes up in an unknown place. He smiles when he realizes he did not stay the night in that awful place that was barely a house let alone a home.  He looks around and sees a small bathroom. He grabs up his things and enters it. He closes the door, he prepares the shower, peels off his clothes, showers, dries off, and changes into a fresh outfit.  He puts his jacket back on after he puts on deodorant and combs his hair.  He decides to leave all the items under the staircase, for now, except for the backpack and the box. He can not let anyone else get there hands on it.
     

      Adrien moves the box to his backpack for safekeeping.  Then, he pulls a ladies' size jacket out of the duffel bag and adds that to the backpack too.  He is glad his father does not know he bought this.  It was on a count of the fact he used cash because he knew it could not be traced back to him unlike a check or credit card.  He recalls how he used cash for the box too. He was smart to think of such things.  He grins as he goes to the park.

      Marinette runs to the park unsure what her rush is anyway.  It is not like he will be there.  She knows he has a photoshoot that afternoon, but why should he be there this morning?  

      She arrives there a few minutes after Adrien. She feels a light breeze brush across her shoulders and wishes she would have worn a jacket.  She tries to ignore the slight hint of goosebumps on the areas of skin exposed to the wind. She does not hear him approach her.

   Adrien sees Marinette shiver a bit and grins. He pulls the lightweight jacket out of his bag, zips the bag back, careful not to let it out of his sight.  He puts the bag on his back again.  He walks over to her and slips the jacket over her arms.  He feels her nudge him in the chest with her elbow.

  He lets out a groan from the impact.  "Ouch, what did you do that for anyway?"  Adrien asks.

   Marinette turns around and gasps.  "Oh, my goodness, A-Adrien!  I am s-sorry, I thought you w-were an m-mugger or something,"  She says.

    "Mari, I did not mean to startle you. It just I saw you look chilled, so I brought you a jacket. I hope you like it," Adrien says.

     "Oh, so that is what I felt touch me in such a manner," She says.

     Marinette looks at her arms and sees the denim sleeves. She also notices the red rose pattern on each cuff. She looks at him in surprise.  She can tell he must have bought it just for her. She blushes.  

    "Th-Thank y-you, A-Adrien,"  Marinette mutters.

    "Your welcome, Mari," Adrien says.

        Adrien hears her sobs as she stands there. He is unsure of what to do now. He reaches over and puts a hand on her cheek. This time he wipes the tears away gently with his other hand. He sees her face turn red. He feels his heartbeat in tune to hers. He starts to lean in when suddenly she pulls away. 

     "Mari,I-I..." Adrien starts to say something.

     "A-Adrien, I understand and it is alright.  You do not have to feel the same for me," Marinette says sadly.

     Adrien longs to tell her that is not true.  He tries to speak to assure her he cares, but something pulls him back.

      "Oh, you think you are smooth and can steal her away with a gift, ah.  Well, thank again, Agreste!"  He hears a voice say.

       "Stop, do not hurt him!" Marinette yells.

       "M-Mari, I..." Adrien looks at her with fear in his eyes and wishes he could assure all will be okay.  Only, he knows it will not.

         Adrien feels something hard as it crashes down on his head before he blackens out.  Marinette looks at the attacker with anger in her voice and eyes.  She charges at the hooded person and kicks them hard in the stomach. Then, she yells,  "I told you to leave him alone!"  She feels tears sting her eyes at the sight of Adrien passed out on the ground.

         "Oh, and let him win, no way!" The hooded person scoffs.

        Marinette picks up a stick and swings it at him. She hits him hard with it and sees him fall.  Before he can get back up she kicks him hard twice.  Then, she throws the branch on him as he passed out cold.

     She turns Adrien over to examine him. She sees his chest rise and fall. She breathes a sigh of relief that he is alive. She picks him up and carries him away from there. She does not stop until she is back at her place.
    
     Marinette sets him on the cot in the living room. She puts a few blankets from the hall closet on him. She calls and reports what happened to the police. She hears him moan something as she struggles to come too.

    "M-Mari, w-will you j-join m-me for a-another ph-photoshoot?   I think we work well together." Adrien mutters. 

     Adrien wakes up and sees Marinette close by with a sad look in her eyes. He looks at her in surprise and gently places both hands on her face this time.  He stares into her lovely eyes. He wonders if a  kiss would be appropriate?  He brushes his lips across her hers with uncertainty.  He feels something sweet, and warm in response. He realizes then, she kisses him.

      Adrien closes his eyes unsure if it is real or not. He hears her sigh.  He feels her pull away.  He opens his eyes.

       "A-Adrien, I-I am so glad you are okay!  I am sorry I did not stop him soon enough.  He hit you hard and I thought...I thought that he had killed you,"  Marinette says with even more tears in her eyes than earlier that day.

       Adrien smiles and grabs her hand. He holds tight unsure what to say. He just looks at her in wonder. He is glad the hooded figure does not kidnap her.

      He stands up, tries to say something, but starts to fall.  He closes his eyes to brace for impact but feels someone hold him up. He opens his eyes and sees her.  He sees Marinette's arms around him. He blushes.

     Marinette helps him back to the cot.  She sees him try to get up again but shoves him back down and he grabs her arm. She looks at him unsure what does this mean?

     Luka is furious now. He can not believe she still picks that Agreste boy over him. He should have known her sad story was nothing, but an act.  He scowls angrily as he sees her walk away with Adrien in her arms.  He can not understand why she can not see it that the blonde boy is bad news.

       Find out more in part 5...

-Summer out!

PS.  Do you think this should have 6 parts total like with the Valentine's special or should I give it 8 parts?   What do you think?