"So he's not coming?" Nino asked Marinette as she just called Adrien to come and hang out.

"No. Maybe we're meant to stay away from each other," Marinette sighed as she hated when his father's schedule didn't let Adrien have fun.

"There'll be other chances Marinette," Alya reassured.

Marinette sighed as she looked at her head, "That's what you said last time and the time before that." And after the kiss, I don't know what's going on.

Rose yelled out to Juleka's mother, "We're ready Captain! Uh... but Luka's missing.

Anarka looked at Marinette with her sad face, "Marinette, right?

"Yes, ma'am... uh, Captain!" Marinette plasters a smile.

"Since you're free from your cleaning duties, could you go and tell Luka that we're waiting for him to start rehearsals?"

"Of course," Marinette responded as she went to go find him below deck. She finally found meditating in his room.

"Hey, Luka the groove...uh... the group's waiting for you," Marinette stutter as she entered.

"Hey," Luka chuckle got up as he observed her, "Is something the matter?"

"Uh, yeah," Marinette responded, "Everything is okay."

Luka gave her a reassuring smile, "Marinette that not true. Your melody is different..." He pickups the guitar to play it, "It seems you have something like this in your heart."

Marinette every strum of his guitar hit her heart. Every note representing her emotions which were love and confusion, "Adrien couldn't come." She said sadly.

Luka put his hand on her shoulder so she can look at him, "They're always next time."

"Time? It always seems there is never enough time," Marinette sighed as she looked away.

"Well I'll stop time for you," Luka says as Marinette looks up at him, " Just know that you don't have to do this alone. If you want to talk."

Marinette smiled as she nodded, "Thanks, Luka."

"I think we better go join the... groove, you said?"Luka chuckled

"Did I really say that? Oh, no." Marinette giggles as she followed him up onto the deck.

______________________

"Marinette are you seriously going to act like nothing is wrong?" Tikki question as Marinette was working on her homework.

"Yes." She plainly responded trying to avoid Tikki's glares.

"Why? Your influencing this to go on!" Tikki tries to reason with her as she knows this whole thing is hurting her.

"Tikki I can't tell him the truth," Marinette explained.

"And lying to him is? This deception is going out of hand!" Tikki exclaimed.

"But I have to do this," Marinette mumbles as she continues sketching.

"Why? He already is your boyfriend, what's the point?"

"I know but something has to change. I rather do this than lose Adrien, he is my first love..." Mari starts to look at an old photo of her and Adrien. She pulls that frame toward her chest.

"Oh, Mari..." Tikki said feeling the same emotion as her.

"It felt like I was doing cartwheels. He became someone I was always dreaming of. My heart is set aflame and I was never the same."

"But why are you doing this. He cheating on you with Ladybug. This masquerade with him has been over 2 months." Tikki pleaded for an answer.

"I never meant to lie or play these games. but I want to tell the truth but I can't see his reaction. I hope it will die but a part of me doesn't want to." Marinette explains as she looked at the photo of her and Adrien on her wall.

"Your digging self a deeper hole," Tikki exclaimed as the situation seem to be going out of hand.

"Tikki quit bugging me about it." Marinette growled, "I need to transform." Tikki knows Marinette is in pain with all this betrayal. But she never seems so happy as well. Whenever she was with Adrien as herself they were always watched and set on a schedule. But she hardly can recognize herself. Tikki was immiediately of someone who she uses to remember. Tikki's head started to ache from the memory which Marinette notices. "Tikki what's wrong?" Marinette's angry voice softens and guilt went all over her. "I'm sorry," Marinette said as she rests Tikki on the pillow of her bed.

"Don't be sorry. You just reminded me of someone and it hurt to get those memories because it was from a long time ago."

"Who?" Marinette was curious.

"My panther, deception like this almost destroyed us as friends and partners Mari...multiple times"

"Oh, I'm sorry Tikki I didn't know," Marinette apologizes as oftentimes Tikki didn't recall her past life.

"It's okay you didn't mean too but be careful on what you're doing," Tikki stated as she no longer wanted to argue.

"I don't even know what I'm doing. Your right but in a way, I'm trying to find out who he likes more. Who is he really kissing?" Marinette admits as she knew Tikki did deserve a real explanation. "Is it me or is he making love to a fantasy? I wish I knew what he is thinking of when he looks into my eyes. Is it me or her? Am I being used, I need him to tell me who does he prefer? Or does he see some other girl when he looks my way? Or does he want some other girls which role should I play? I could be Marinette his real girlfriend even though I can't compare to Ladybug. She is brave, strong, and everyone idolizes her even Adrien. I can't be both since it is not me. Oh the confusion, what is love for him making me do?" She then decided, "Tikki Transform me."

Ladybug flew across the city and into Adrien's home. The same window was open she quickly jumps in but falls into Adrien's arms.

"A little late Ladybug," Adrien smirks as he set her down.

"Had to dodge some news crew." She teased, "Doesn't a big celebrity model ever struggle with that?"

"Yeah but I master the extreme skills of escaping paparazzi." he brags as he held her waist close to him.

"Surrre." She giggles.

"You have such a cute smile." He teases.

"Oh really." She giggles and pulls one of her pigtails in front of her face, "Well you won't ever see it from under my pigtails."

"Oh uh uh." He chuckles as he tries to go over her head and below to see her smile.

"I got my eye on you, Babe. You think you're so hot." she teases.

"Maybe. I am a model, I do karate, and I fence, but, I can't take my eyes off you."

"You fence? I have to see that." She teases.

"I could beat Akuma with my skills if I had a Miraculous." He brags, "Also isn't that proposition a little risking." He grins a smirk.

"Don't get in the battle that me and Chats job, and. You and I are already in the danger zone of this relationship."

"Danger zone? Nah I don't think so."

"So you want me to see you at fencing practice?" She said shockingly.

"Maybe but I like seeing you here." He led her to the sofa.

She sat on his lap every movement she did was like a dream. He had a huge crush on her ever since they met. With Ladybug he forgets there is a Marinette or a ladybug. He is not in love with Ladybug but the person under the mask. He wraps his arm around her waist and stared into her familiar blue eyes. Slowly, carefully, he began to lean forward, closing the gap between them. He watched in awe as she closed her eyes and began to mirror him, leaning her upper body closer. Just before their lips touched, Adrien closed his eyes tight, his hands tightening around hers to more solidify the reality of it all.

Her lips were soft. And warm. And slightly wet from when she'd licked them earlier, but he was more surprised at how easily they fit into his. It was like they filled in all the spaces perfectly, like a puzzle piece snapping into place, so perfect and yet so strangely familiar.

The touch was gentle at first, their lips barely a whisper against one another, but when he pushed ever so slightly harder and felt her push back, the strong surge of happiness that flooded his veins was exhilarating. Knowing that he is kissing her harder trying to forget Marinette at this moment, that is all he can think about. Her hands holding onto his just as tightly as he held hers. But deep inside knowing this is so familiar and despite having broken off the kiss, he couldn't bring himself to pull away entirely, resting his forehead against hers and keeping their noses just slightly touching, her warm breath tickling his already tingling lips. He carefully opened his eyes, focusing immediately on her parted lips before trailing his vision upwards. Her unfocused blue eyes were just barely open, their gaze focused on what he could only assume were his own lips.

He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it when he realized he didn't know what to say.