In the previous part, "Adrien, there is something I have not told you," Marinette says.

           "Marinette is okay, you do not have to tell me,"  Adrien says.

    In the current part, "I want to tell you,"  Marinette replies.

       Adrien sees her eyes are full of pain, guilt, sorrow, and love. He wishes he could erase the hurt.  If only he were a better friend to her then maybe she would be okay.  He shakes his head as he realizes that to blame himself will not fix the past.
   

    "Adrien, it is horrid.  I understand if you hate me later.  It is just that in the past after Evan violated the restraining order, he killed my folks, kidnapped me, and he took advantage of me.   I know it was a long time ago, but no one has ever been so important to me since until I met you," Marinette explains with tears in her eyes.

     "Mari, it is all over now.  The police know it was self-defense when you killed him,"  Adrien remarks.

   "I know, but I thought for sure he would kill you," Marinette remarks.

   "I am fine.  Wait, you are bleeding," Adrien tells her.
 
"I am not that his blood on my shirt," Marinette says with sadness.

  "I mean it, your cheek is hurt and I see blood,"  Adrien says with a few tears in his cheeks.

   "I am fine,"  Marinette says.

   "Let me help you, please," Adrien says sadly.

   "S-sure, o-okay,"  Marinette mutters.

      Adrien sees the first aid kit in the corner of the room.  He scoots over to it, picks it up, scoots back, and opens it.  He slowly walks into the bathroom, puts some water on a washcloth, comes back cleans her cheek.  He dries it off next with the hand towel.  He adds some antiseptic to a kleenex, rubs it on her wound, adds some Neosporin, and a band-aid.  He closes the kit.

    "There it is all done, I believe it will be good as new in no time, Marinette,"  Adrien says.

     "Turn around so I change my shirt," Marinette states.

      Adrien turns around and covers his eyes.  "It is okay to look yet?"  Adrien asks.

       Marinette slips the dirty shirt off, then throws it away. She puts a clean shirt over her head and sighs.  She finishes, then mutters, "Y-Yes, y-you may l-look n-now."

      Adrien faces her once more and smiles. He thinks the shirt she now wears brings out the blueness of her eyes.  He blushes as he sees her smile at him.

     He gently places a hand next to the area where the band-aid rest.  He sees her tremble. He pulls his hand away.

      Marinette puts a hand on Adrien's left arm and says, "Adrien, it is okay, I trust you."

        Adrien is speechless unsure how to respond to her sudden touch. He reaches out and holds her hand.  He gently kisses her knuckles, then lets her hand go. He looks at her and replies, "I have taken up to much of your time.  I will go."
      

   Marinette just nods her head.  She watches him leave and sighs. She thinks so this is it then, will I always be the one they either use and abuse or walk away from is that it?

    Adrien's  POV:

     Even after all Marinette has gone through she still loves me.

     I must find some way to tell her I love her. 

     

 Marinette's  POV:

   I suppose I will never be the girl he loves.

   I am just a friend to him.

   I should let him go, but it will not be easy.

"Adrien, where are you?  The photoshoot started ten minutes ago!  You and Miss Dupain-Cheng are both to be in it again,"  Natalie says when Adrien's voicemail on his cell phone picks up.

 Adrien calls Natalie back, "Sorry, tell him to reschedule because something came up," Adrien says.

  He walks back in the direction of Marinette's place.  He can not just leave her there alone.  He has to go to her.  He hangs up, then starts to run. He manages to make it into her house, then back to her room before the reporters show up.

  "Marinette, I tried to stop them from coming, honest I did," Adrien says.
 
  "A-Adrien, what do you m-mean?" Marinette asks.

"I mean when I came back after I let Natalie know to cancel today's photoshoot some reporters tried to follow me.  I did the best to loose then, but now they are here,"  He says.

   "A-Adrien, it is not y-your f-fault," Marinette says.  She holds his hand.

    Find out more in...

part 10

-Summer out!