Narrator's  POV:
         Marinette is humming to herself as she thinks about how much fun the summer has been for her so far. She got to go to the beach with Alya and Nino where she got a nice suntan. She was given a pleasant surprise when Adrien came by for a few days. She did not know why but somehow that boy got on her nerves.  She knew he did not mean too, but he did.

     "Marinette, we have something important to tell you,"  Tom and Sabine announce.

        "Oh, and what might that be?" Marinette asks.

         "This year we have decided to travel to America for a few days for a vacation.  It will be around July 3rd -July 8th so we will be gone for the fourth of July," Her parents tell her.

         "Wow, that sounds so exciting," Marinette responds.

            "Yes, well we thought you would be happy to hear as much," Sabine says.

             "Also, we will be staying at your twin sister's home while we are away," Tom tells her.

                   Marinette's POV:
                     Marinette's jaw drops at the announcement. She has not seen her twin sister, Bridgette in years.  The last time she recalls hearing anything from her was two years ago.  Now, she finds out they will get to visit with her while on vacation in the states next month. She can hardly contain her excitement at the news. 

                  "Bridgette, we get to see her too!  Oh, wow!" Marinette squeals.

                     "I can not wait to tell my best friends, Alya and Nino," Marinette says.

                     "What about that nice boy, Adrien?" Sabine asks.

                   "Adrien, oh do you have to bring him up?  You know he is just a pain," Marinette remarks as she rolls her eyes.

                    "Whatever you say, sweetie," Tom and Sabine answer together.

                       Marinette thinks why do they always have to mention Adrien for anyway?  She has no clue what her parents see in that boy.  It is like he has them wrapped around his finger or something.

                    Marinette's flashback...

                      "Hi, Marinette!" Adrien says.

                       "Oh, hi, Adrien," Marinette remarks.

                      "What is with her?" Adrien asks as if she were invisible.

                      "Do not worry, Adrien, my best friend is always like this when it comes to boys," Alya remarks.

                         "The dudette is right as rain because Marinette has not been friendly to boys since one broke her years ago, but it is something she rather not talk about anyway," Nino says.

                        "She is nice to you though," Adrien says as if to point out the irony of the situation.

                        "Yes, well that is because I am her best friend other than Alya here," Nino states.

                         "Marinette, what do I have to do to get on your good graces?" Adrien asks.

                      "Good grief, Adrien!  Just leave me alone or go collect some seashells," Marinette blurts out.

                     Adrien does not know what he did to make her so angry.  He just knows Marinette does not seem too happy to have him around.  He recalls they were almost friends once until some boy sweet-talked her and stole her heart. He was hurt but tried not to show it. 

                  "Yeah, seashells are nice," Adrien says.  He walks away to go collect a few.

                Now, out of earshot of Adrien, Alya turns to Marinette, "Goodness, girl why are you so mean to him?  It is not his fault what the other boy did you know."
  

               "Alya has a good point you know,"  Nino says.

               "Ugh, you do not get it, he is just a pest that is all," Marinette states.

                     Marinette does not know that Adrien stands behind her with a bucket full of shells.  She does not hear him drop the bucket, or see his tears as he runs off.  

                    As Marinette walks towards the ocean, she sees a few shells on the ground beside a beach pail and thinks, uh, oh!   She knows now he must have overheard her. She feels bad about it what can she do?  It is not like she lied because in her eyes he is a pest and that is all he will ever be to her, so there!

                    End of Flashback...

                 Marinette goes to her room to call Alya to tell her the good news and see if she wants to come along too. She is sure her folks will not mind.

                 "Oh, I do not know, Marinette," Alya says.

               "Oh, come on Alya at least think about it," Marinette remarks.

                "She will, but she can not guarantee anything," Another voice says in the background.

               "Alya, who on earth was that anyway?" Marinette asks.

               "It is just Nino as usual," Alya says.

                 "Yes, that is right you and Nino are together,"  Marinette says.

                 "Yes, if by together, you mean we are dating," Alya remarks.

                   "This reminds me, are you going to invite Adrien to tag along?" Alya asks.

                      "Ugh, what is with everyone asking me about him?  I can not stand the guy. He is just a pain and you know it,"  Marinette blurts out.

                      "Marinette, how could say that about him when you have not even gotten to know him yet?"  Alya asks.

                  "I do not need to get to know him.  He is a boy and boys are just pests.  Nino might be a boy, but he is yours so he is not a pest.  Others are though and that is all there is to it,"  Marinette scoffs.

              Alya's  POV:
           Alya hangs up on Marinette. She does not wish to speak to her when she on another one of tirades again. It is bad enough her best friend disagrees with her, but to insult Adrien when he has not done a thing is just plain rude.  

          "Nino, Marinette needs to learn to control her temper," Alya says.

         "What did she do this time?"  Nino asks.

           "She insulted Adrien again only this time he was around to overhear it.  Still, she should insult people least of all boys.  It is like she is too immature for her own good.   I wish she would learn to cool it and accept boys for who they are not instead of judging them,"  Alya remarks.

             Alya sees Nino nod his head in agreement to show he understands how she feels. Nino too wishes Marinette were less rude when it comes to the males around her.  

           Alya thinks about rather she should go on vacation with Marinette and her parents, or not.       

          Adrien's  POV:
         Meanwhile, Adrien holds the pink shell that he recalls he picked out especially for Marinette. He does not know why he bothered since she does not even like him. Not even as a friend which hurts since he would not mind being her friend.

         Adrien does not get it, how can he be friends with Nino and yet Marinette gets along great with Nino and Alya but despises him as in Adrien himself.  It is not like he did anything to her.  He sighs unsure what to do with the shell now.  He picks up the cord he found a shop and attaches it to the small hole in the shell, then adds a few beads to the cord, a nice fastener to it.

          "Now it is good as new, so what do you think?" Adrien asks Plagg.

           "Dear, brother, I think you waste your time making that necklace for her when she obviously hates you to the core," Plagg scoffs.

   *Author's Note: Will Marinette ever learn to trust boys again?   Does Adrien make the decision not to pursue Marinette anymore?   

               Find out more in  Marinette's Fourth of July in America part 1

              -Summer out!