Adrien's POV:

       Chat returned home confused. How could Marinette go out with Charlie?

       Did not she know what she meant to him, to Adrien?

         He detransformed.

     He sat on his bed.

    "Adrien, you realize you left something important behind as Chat?" Plagg asked

     "What do you mean?"

     "You left your baton behind.  Also, the gift you wanted to give her as Adrien."

    "Oh, it does not matter anymore."

     "What do you mean, of course, it matters."

     "You can not very well tell her you are Chat and demand the baton back, boy."

     "I know, but I am sure she will make sure Chat gets it back somehow."

       "How can you be so sure?"

        "I trust her."

       Plagg shook his head in pity.  He knew he could fix things for his holder.

      "Adrien, why are your eyes leaking?"

      "It is called tears."

      "Then why the tears?"

     "I think you know."   Adrien's voice trembled as he recalled how lovely she looked. How she was dressed up for someone else.

      "Oh, you love her." Plagg teased.

   "Plagg now is not the time." Adrien groaned.

       He threw a piece of Camembert in the kwami's direction to get him to quiet down.

         Plagg ate the cheese as he pondered a way to make his holder happy again. Who was he kidding?  He was happiest with Marinette. Now, it looked as if he was heartbroken.

       Adrien refused to come for dessert. He left after supper but before dessert was served earlier. He had to find out if the rumors were true. He had to know. Now, he knew that everyone was right.  That his princess was dating, gulp need he say it, Charlie.

          The thought had him uneasy in the chest, too sorrowful for words, too angry to eat his pie, and frustrated all at the same time.

        Yes, he had it bad for the bluenette. He felt he had no chance with her.

      She had said it herself, he was always too busy.

       It was not his fault his father made his schedule impossible to find room to be with the one who made him feel complete, happy, and full of life.

     Adrien sat in silence with more tears falling down his cheeks. The pain was so unbearable he fell asleep with troubled dreams.  Dreams about his princess and Charlie, being married, having children, a nice big house, a hamster, and all the other things he desired with her. It was too late now, he had lost her.

    Plagg heard the anguish in Adrien's voice as he heard the young man mutter "Marinette, please do not go with him. Please, Charlie is not right for you. Please."

     He knew Adrien loved her, but he did not realize it was this bad.

    Oh, dear, what was he to do?

   Adrien was suffering. He would not admit it but he was.

   Ugh, why did that Charlie boy have to go and ask out pigtails when that was supposed to be Adrien's job?  Everyone could see she was meant to be Adrien's girl. Why did the others have to congratulate her on saying yes to "Charlie."

     Plagg was angry she dared to hurt his beloved Chat Noir, his friend, no best friend, the best holder he ever had, and the only boy who ever loved her.

  Meanwhile, Marinette had no idea what agony she put Adrien through. Had she known she would not have agreed to hang out with Charlie.  She only went because she could not turn away after she promised.  Besides, Chat could not be serious about Adrien having feelings for her, could he?

    She shook her head. She left soon after she stuffed the baton, and the small bag inside her closet. Although curious, she respected Chat enough not to open the bag. It was not her place to do so. Besides, how was she to know it was a gift for some special someone?  Why did the idea make her feel sad?   

   The entire time out with Charlie was a disaster. He took her out to some restaurant where the food was overcooked, the waiters were skimpy outfits, and afterward to a movie that was equally horrible. She was disappointed. It was a waste of her time.

   "No, Charlie. I will not be going out with you again."

   She refused to let him give her a ride home. She used the money Chat had secretly slipped her earlier to haul a taxi.  Once home, she went to her room where she sighed.

  Chat was right. I should never have worn this for Charlie. Agh!  Now the niceness of it is ruined.

The story continues in Chapter 4

 Until then,

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!