Adrien's POV:

I smiled when she confessed she loved me.

  I was glad. I worried that Marinette would not return my love for her.

  Now, I knew she did.

I was happy.

More than happy, I was thrilled, enthusiastic even.

  "Marinette?" I ask.

  "Hmm?" She says.

   "Will you go out with me?" I ask.

   "Yes," She says.

    "Good, then, see you soon," I say.

   I stand up and turn to go.

   Marinette reaches out and holds my hand. "Stay," She says.

   "What?" I ask.

    "Stay please," She says.

    "Okay, but only this once," I say.

          I  pick her up and gently hold her in my arms.  I don't notice, but I start to get sleepy.

         I fall asleep holding her waist. Marinette relaxes and whispers, "It is fine, Adrien, you are fine."

   The next day, I awakened with a blush when I saw her in my arms. Whoa, I got up careful not to wake her. I stepped into her bathroom. I combed my hair, washed my face, and brushed my teeth.

  I went back to my place and showered. I put on jeans, a black T-shirt, and sneakers. I smiled as I applied the deodorant. Marinette had agreed to date me. I hoped this meant she would agree to be my girlfriend.

       I fixed some food and went back to her place.

     I rang the bell. Marinette answered. She was cute standing there in a wrinkled shirt, shorts, and bare feet.

     "Marinette?" I blushed.  "Hi, Adrien," She said.

     Marinette pulled me inside, closed, and locked the door. "You smell good, like lemon and spice," She said.  "It must be my soap or deodorant, you smell," I say.

      I  smile as she sits at the table. I serve us the food. We eat breakfast together.

      After breakfast, Marinette went to the bathroom, "I will be out soon, I need a shower." She said.

       Marinette came out a few minutes later wearing a denim skirt, a white tank top, the jacket I had given her last night, and sandals. She looked so good.

         "You look beautiful," I say. "Thanks, Adrien," she says. 

   I take her out for a nice stroll. I feel her reach for my hand and let her grab it.

     I am glad.  Her hand fits me perfectly. 

     I take her to the park, the zoo, and the waterfall. At the waterfall, she takes off her sandals and the jacket. She splashes around. I remove my shoes and shirt. I stand there with her. I hold her close. 

       Someone comes by and snaps a photo with my phone. I do not mind.

           I can hear her sigh. "Marinette," I say. "y-yes," She whispers. 

           Marinette turns to face me. She puts her hands on my chest and kisses me. I never thought the wallfall could be romantic until now.  Marinette had a way of making me feel like I had not in years. I kissed her in return. I returned the kiss slowly. I put my hands on her waist.

    On the return trip, Marinette held our shoes in her right hand and the jacket slung over her shoulder. I held her left hand and had my shirt over my shoulder. Neither of us carried that we were all wet. It only mattered that we were together, my Marinette and I.

     Once at her place, she handed me the key, I unlocked the door and carried her inside. She laughed. "I can walk you know," She says.  "Yes, but I like carrying you," I say. I closed the door and locked it. I had to be sure she was safe, especially after last night.

      Marinette left the room and returned with a dry set of men's clothes. I looked at her confused. "They used to be my stepbrother's things," She explained. "Stepbrother, what stepbrother?" I asked. "He was my mother's son from her first marriage. It was before she met my father. Her first husband died two months before... Oh never mind, anyway, after his death, She met my father. They dated, got engaged, and married. Well, you know the rest," Marinette said.

     I entered her bathroom, removed the wet clothes, dried off, and put on the dry clothes. I handed her the wet ones. She put them in the washing machine. I noticed she had changed into a white dress with yellow polka dots. She was stunning. She added her clothes to the washer too.

   I blushed at the thought of my clothes washing alongside hers.  I smiled at her.

    She smiled at me. We took turns drying each other's hair with her blow dryer.

  I watched her make cookies. She said the blessing then served the cookies. I ate one and smiled. It was good. "Where did you learn to bake?" I ask. "My stepbrother taught me, but that was before father gabbled away the second house. After that well, you know what happened and by then, my stepbrother had moved out."

        Marinette ate some cookies as well. She and had did not notice when someone rang the bell and left a package on her porch. We were busy having a good time.

         Find out more in Chapter 20

        Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!