Adrien sighed. He knew Marinette cared for him. Why could not get her to admit it?  Did she think he would leave after all this? No way. He loved her.

    Jane saw that Adrien looked troubled. Why could not her stubborn sister admit she loved the guy?  She shook her head.

      "Sorry, Adrien," Jane told him. Then, she walked away. 

      "Adrien" Marinette whispered. "Marinette," Adrien whispered back.

        Marinette saw they were alone and smiled. She hugged him. Adrien hugged her. He thought please tell me how you feel. I deserve to know the truth. I can't understand why you refuse me.

         Adrien cupped her face with his hands and kissed her. He closed his eyes because he felt it must be a dream.  A dream that never lets him find happiness.

           Marinette felt Adrien's lips touch hers. The kiss was better than the others because it came from him. She slowly kissed him. She could feel his lips quiver. She deepened the kiss. She felt him pull away and saw the tears in his eyes. 

          "I-I must travel on to the next village, Marinette. I will be going now..." He said.

         "Wait, you can't kiss me and then just leave," Marinette stated. "Oh, and tell me,  why should I stay?" Adrien asked. At her silence, he felt more tears fall. "Goodbye, Marinette." 

       Marinette did not believe him. He was not leaving. He would not dare to go. He would stay. She was sure of it. She watched in disbelief as he walked back to his hut. She followed him and gasped as he packed a bag. 

     "Adrien!" She called out.

      "Adrien, look at me," She pleaded with him. Adrien refused to look at her. It was too painful for him.

     Marinette moved so that she was in front of him, and he locked eyes with hers. "M-Marinette, please.." He started to say. He felt himself grow weaker. The longer he stayed the more weak he felt. 

          She reached up and the tears dripped on her hands. Suddenly the remaining tears turned into ice crystals. His face started to look cold. What was happening to him? She became frightened.

            "Marinette, go. You should not be here." He said. "But I..." Marinette argued.

             Marinette touched his cheek. It was cold. No, she thought. No. She kissed his cheek and it started to heat up. His face changed slowly back to normal. She closed her eyes. She continued to kiss him.

              "Marinette, please..." Adrien said.

          Adrien felt her kisses against his cheek. His cheek became normal. Then, his ears were no longer green, and his hands were back. How?

                "Shh, Adrien, let me help you," Marinette whispered. She kissed his hands. She kissed his forehead. She touched his knees and the green color faded.  

                  "Marinette," He whispered.  Adrien pulled away from her.

              He ran with his things and did not look back. If he did he would make himself love her more and he was sure if he stayed he would die. That was part of the problem, If his love refused to love him or say it soon, he would fade away. He could not tell her.  He wouldn't.

             He left her standing there. Marinette sobbed. She had not been strong enough. Why? Why had she been unable to say it?

          Adrien arrived in the next village over. He groaned in pain. His figure was a horrible site. He was now half-goblin, half-human, and he felt cold. Cold and weak. He closed his eyes giving in to the cold.  His body slowly turned white and blue.

       Gradually he became an ice statue. He would soon fade away. Fade into nothing. Nothing but a dream.

      "M-Marinette, w-why?" He shivered. He could barely move. 

  Marinette did not know what happened to him after he left. She felt stupid. Why did not I stop him?  Ugh, what do I do now?

   Jane ran to her. "Marinette, you must hurry, it's Adrien, his time is running out. Hurry!"

      A fairy arrived and helped guide Marinette in the right direction. "It is ten miles that way! Now run. Run, Marinette. Run, his life depends on it. Now, run!  Run!  Run!" The queen of fairies said.

   "I am sorry, my healing powers must have not worked for long. Go to him, now run!  Girl, run and do not stop until you reach him." The fairy queen stated. Marinette did as she was told. She started at a slow pace, then sped up. 

   "Adrien, hang in there, I am coming. Adrien, I will be there soon. Please don't leave me. Adrien, Adrien!" Marinette screamed as she ran. She ran towards the next village. Somehow with the queen fairy's help, she started to fly as she ran. She found herself two miles out in no time. Then, it was five miles, six miles, seven miles, eight miles, nine miles, she was almost there. There was one mile left to reach him. 

  Jane smiled when Marinette listened to the queen fairy and saw her sister fly. She hoped Marinette would reach Adrien on time. 

    Who knew what had become of him? He looked bad off when he had left.

*Author's note: Will Marinette reach him in time or will he fade away before she gets there?

  Find out more in Chapter 19  You Are Ice Cold

   Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!