TWO. HUNDRED. READS. OMG THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH 😭

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"I can't believe you're actually doing this," Alya lay on Marinette's bed, eagle-spread, and in complete disbelief. 

"Why?" Marinette asked as she twirled around, trying to get a good look at the outfit she had on. A fitted v-necked shirt and dusty-rose skirt along with black knee-length socks. Was it overkill for a picnic date? Marinette couldn't be sure.

She felt like a traitor to her and Chat's love. Picnics were their thing, and here she was about to go on one with another guy. Not only that, but she was also hoping she would fall for him. It certainly would make getting over Chat a lot easier.

The guilt gnawed at Marinette as she turned around and around in the mirror. 

"I just— I just always thought that your first date would be with Adrien!" Alya exclaimed. "You two were meant for each other!"

"We're not," Marinette said, her tone set. "Besides, is it really that unbelievable that I'm going on a date with someone else?"

There was a knock at the door before Alya could respond. "Come in!" Marinette called, her eyes widening when Adrien stepped through. She wasn't sure why she was surpirsed to see him. After all, he lived there. 

"Hey," he said, his eyes immediately landing on her, his brows furrowing. "Do you have an event?" 

"She," Alya declared, sitting up and putting a hand on Marinette's shoulders, "is going on a date." 

"A date," Adrien said slowly, the words coming out slightly choked. "With who?"

"Luka," Marinette blushed as he gave her another quizzical look. Seriously. What was with everyone today? Was it really that hard to believe that she was going on a date with someone? But the look in Adrien's eye wasn't disbelieving like Alya's. It was more...sad, a little hurt and heartbroken. 

But why? Marinette wondered as she searched his face. Adrien looked away and cleared his throat. 

"I have another shoot soon," Adrien said, his voice still sounding strangled. "I'm not sure when but I thought to just give you a heads up." 

Marinette nodded, "thanks. I'll keep my schedule clear then." 

Adrien's eyes flickered to Alya before landing on Marinette once more. He excused himself awkwardly and not a second after he shut the door behind him, Alya squealed.

"Did you see that?" She demanded. "He likes you! He was jealous!" 

"No he wasn't!" Marinette scoffed, but she couldn't quite seem to get the look on Adrien's face out of her head. 

***

"You look beautiful," Luka said in the same sweet, soft voice as Marinette got into his car.

Blushing, Marinette looked away, her face aflame. "Thanks. So, where are we going?" 

"The park," Luka gave her a lopsided smile that was rather adorable. Marinette couldn't help but smile back. The rest of the car ride was spent without conversation, Luka occasionally humming a song from the band he belonged to, Kitty Section, for Marinette. 

It was a beautiful day outside, the sun shining in the azure sky like a glowing, golden plate, a gentle breeze slightly warming the chilly autumn air. The trees were starting to change colours, the tips of their leaves dyed orange and yellow and red, giving off the appearance that they were on fire. 

Although the car ride was without any conversation, Marinette found herself surprised at how comfortable she was with Luka. He had a calming presence around him, a "go with the flow" kind of mood. Even his words and smiles were soft and relaxed as if nothing in the world could anger him. 

Soon enough, they reached the park. The grass rippled in the breeze as children stomped about, squealing with laughter as they tumbled through the flowers. Luka, being the gentleman he was, opened the door for Marinette as well as insisting carrying everything.

They set up on one of the many rolling hills, homemade sandwhiches, cut fruit, cheese and cookies galore were spread out in front of them.

"Rose and Juleka helped too," Luka said sheepishly as Marinette bit into one of the sandwiches.

Her eyes lit up. "They're delicious!" She said earnestly. 

Marinette found it rather sweet that all the food was homemade, the effort genuinely touched her. But even as the hours slipped by and she found herself enjoying Luka's company, all his easy smiles and sweet songs, guilt gnawed at her, the memory of her Chat never leaving her mind. 

All too soon, the sun was setting and the two of them packed up the picnic. Luka hummed the entire way home, Marinette pretended not to notice how his eyes kept flickering towards her, a gentle smile on his face. Her hands tightened on the armrests. This was all too confusing. She still loved Chat, she was sure, but now there was Luka too. Sweet, gentle, sensitive Luka who obviously cared and catered to her every need. 

Even as Luka dropped her off at the apartment and bid a sweet goodbye, Marinette couldn't stop the turmoil in her head. 

Adrien was in the living room when she entered the home, his gaze flickering towards her before snapping back towards his laptop. Of course. As if her feelings couldn't get any more tangled and impossible. 

After several moments of tense silence as Marinette put away her shoes and hung up her bag, Adrien finally spoke. "How was the date?" 

Surprised that he asked, Marinette replied, "great actually, Luka was very sweet." 

The briefest flicker of a shadow crossed Adrien's face, but was gone so quickly that Marinette could almost convince herself that she had imagined it. "That's great," he replied, standing up, taking his laptop with him. "I'm glad." 

He gave her another one of his heart-melting smiles, genuine and sweet. His emerald eyes shined as he ran a hand through his golden hair. Marinette's heart wrenched as the feelings she had buried over a year ago stirred once more. 

Marinette managed a small smile before brushing past him and hurrying to her room, the thoughts and emotions in her head getting more and more complicated by the second. 

"What am I supposed to do, Tikki?" She wailed as she shut the door firmly behind her. "Luka's so sweet and I'm sure that with time I would love him, but I guess I still have feelings for Adrien which is complicated by the fact that Alya genuinely thinks he likes me back. But what about Chat? I still love him, I know I do. If I could, I would take him back in seconds." 

"But you can't, Marinette," Tikki hovered in front of her, her tiny face filled with nothing but sympathy. "I know you want to, and I want you to too, but you can't."

"What do I do, Tikki?" Marinette's voice trembled as she leaned against the door. 

"You have to put your feelings for Chat aside Marinette," Tikki advised. "I know it's hard but if you don't, it's only going to be that much more painful. Maybe try talking to Adrien more, dying embers can still be reignited into bonfires." 

"What about Luka?" Marinette asked, truly torn. "He's so sweet as well." 

Tikki paused. "If you think you will love Luka more go talk to Luka. But I don't think you'll be disappointed with Adrien either." 

"What do you mean?" Marinette asked curiously. There seemed to be several meanings to Tikki's words and none of which Marinette could make sense of. 

"I can't tell you Marinette," Tikki said, swooping down to perch on Marinette's sewing machine. "We kwamis have to keep secrets of our own too. How about you do some sewing to keep your mind off things? If there's a photoshoot soon, I'm sure Avalyn would like to see your designs come to life. 

Marinette smiled, still a little thrown off by Tikki's words but she brushed it aside. After all, Tikki had always been there for her, and there was no reason for Marinette not to trust her wisdom. She sat down on her chair and got out her fabrics. "You know what, Tikki?" Marinette let out a heavy breath, expelling all her previous distress. "I think you're right." 

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I was walking my dog earlier and this man just walked into the middle of the field and just screams this maniacal laughter like HAHAHAHAHA

I don't know whether to be scared or say "mood" 

:/