I wonder what made you guys so talkative in Chapter 26...Maybe it was the fact that Adrienette had failed...

ALSO TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY!? Hehe sorry for the capslock :>

Enjoy!

Luka's remarks from the night before had hurt Marinette. She hadn't wanted it to, but she waited so long to make her decision that he had made it for her.

She didn't feel like getting out of bed.

Zoey, judging by her mood, brought up some pastries for her to snack on. "You must go to lunch, okay?" Zoey asked, even though it was more of a demand. "Thanks, Zoey," Marinette smiled sadly, "I will." Zoey returned her reply with a big smile.

She then heard a knock on the door.

Marinette saw a piece of paper had got slid under the door as Zoey thanked the stranger and picked it up. "It's the elimination paper, right?" Marinette asked as Zoey nodded.

"Let's see... Mylene, Alix, and..." she paused, staring at the paper.

Marinette froze. "W-What is it? Am I out?"

Zoey shook her head. Marinette let out a sigh of relief before asking a second question.

"What is it then?" she walked over to the paper. Zoey handed her the paper, not wanting to read it out loud. "What..." Marinette trailed off, staring at the third name.

Alya.

She was leaving. Maybe Adrien had done this to get back at her for cheating, but Marinette didn't care.

"I guess it was time, miss. There are only ten girls," Zoey replied sadly. Marinette held her breath as she put on her slippers.

She still had her nightwear on, but she didn't care. She needed to tell Alya all that had happened before she was gone. She was her best friend, she always gave her advice.

She needed that advice.

Marinette jumped down the stairs, running faster than she had ever done in slippers. Her clumsiness wasn't acting up, meaning she got to the foyer without any slips or falls.

"Alya!" Marinette exclaimed, catching her breath.

Alya noticed her friend calling and put her baggage down. "Hey, girl," she smiled as Marinette panted. "What's the rush?" she asked, not sad at all about leaving.

"Why...Why didn't you tell me yesterday? You would find out a day earlier than everyone, I needed to talk to you about so many things," she breathed heavily.

Alya giggled. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not that bad."

"I-It is!" Marinette responded immediately. "Adrien...he knows. He isn't talking, and Luka forever rejected me. I'm so sad, but Adrien can't even help me, he's just too upset at the dumb mistake," Marinette caught her breath.

"A-Alya, what do I do," Marinette's eyes teared up.

Alya then laughed. "Girl, I've known you throughout the selection, and you always know what to do in the end." "Even if it takes you longer to get there," she added with a small smirk.

"B-But I don't know what to do! Alya, I'm so scared. I can't face him - either of them! What would you do?" Marinette's rambling caused her to be out of breath once more.

"Girl, if I could give you any advice," she paused as the driver called her name for the third time.

"Listen to yourself, you always have the answers," Alya turned around.

"That's it? Alya?" Marinette replied before Alya could leave. "I'll still be on your messaging range. Besides, not goodbye forever," Alya said as Marinette ran up to hug her. Alya hugged her tightly, neither of them wanting to let go.

"Trust yourself, Marinette," Alya breathed into her ear. "I promise, things will all work out."

"He loves you, he didn't let you go. And, you love him, much more than Luka," Alya said as Marinette froze.

"H-How are you so sure?" Marinette stammered. "I...I love Luka! And Adrien!" She exclaimed.

"You'll find out why soon enough, be patient, Marinette," Alya winked. "Trust yourself."

***

Marinette dragged herself back to her room. Her face felt all droopy, as Alya's advice flashed in her head. "Trust yourself," Marinette mumbled. "What does that even mean!?"

She then turned around, pausing on the stairs before contemplating if she should go talk to the remaining competitors.

Marinette then decided to go chat with some other girls since she now had to make some more friends on her own.

She walked into the hall, and the new guards had opened the large double doors so she could enter. The room was much less packed; the small numbers had also impacted the energy the hall had.

Only nine other girls crowded the halls, and she noticed two groups. One of them consisted of Lila, Chloe, and Sabrina. The other had Kagami, Juleka, Alix, Rose, and...

Oh. Maybe the other girls were in their chambers.

She walked to the larger group, each of them smiling at her arrival. Everyone said their forms of 'hello' to Marinette as she just gave them a small wave. "What are you guys talking about?" Marinette asked, sounding a tad sheepish.

"Just about family, and stuff." Alix responded, "hey, Marinette. Where do your parents work?"

Marinette beamed. "My mom and dad own a very popular bakery. I learned how to make sweets because of them. They were very supportive, and also let me make my own decision on if I wanted to try out for the selection."

Marinette smiled at the thought of her parents and it had reminded her that she had recently sent them a letter. "That's so cool!" Rose's eyes sparkled like glitter. "Marinette," she got a tap on her shoulder.

"Yes, what is-" she cut herself off.

"Adrien," Marinette breathed as he kept a shocked expression on his face.

He gestured for her to follow him as she sheepishly trailed behind him. Once they were in the hall, he sighed heavily.

"What is it? Since, I know you are here not because you want to talk," Marinette breathed as she crossed her arms. "Sorry, that sounded a bit rude," Marinette mumbled.

Adrien chuckled softly. "I...You are right. I did decide to keep you, but that is until you can prove yourself trustworthy. If not, I will not hesitate to eliminate you," he spoke strictly, the end of his sentence sounding bitter.

Marinette nodded slowly as he cleared his throat. "I do hate to be the one to tell you this, since because of your situation, you may decide to lash out at me," Adrien breathed as Marinette's brow's furrowed.

"Maybe I should get Zo-"

"Adrien," Marinette breathed. "Tell me."

"Are you sure, I don't think you-"

"Please," Marinette's begged, now needing to know what had happened.

Adrien sighed sadly.

"Your mother is on her death bed."

CLIFFHANGER!!

Gosh, Im being so mean to you guys. Adrienette is failing, then I leave a cliffhanger...

I'm so proud >:D

Anyway, stay tuned!