Red Strings And Markers

f o u r

"Oh, look who decided to show up to school today." The two girls turned to look at the source of the voice. Chloé was standing before them with her arms crossed, Sabrina at her side, the two smirking. "Miss Crazy Old Cat Lady."

Both Alya and Marinette opened their mouth to shoot back but another voice cut in.

"Chloé, I would beware, karma could get you back." Adrien was going up the stairs of the school entrance, surprising everyone.

"Adrikins?" Chloé cried.

"I wouldn't be mean to others. Who knows, karma may get you back and maybe you will be the crazy cat lady." Adrien spoke.

Alya busted out into laughter, repeated what Adrien had said through cackles. Chloé stomped her foot and stormed off, Sabrina following behind. Adrien made eye contact with Marinette and he gave a soft smile. She responded with a blush, looking down sheepishly.

"Good morning, Marinette." He said.

"G-G-Good morning A-Adrien!" Marinette stammered. She stammered for more words but nothing came out. Instead, she pouted, puffing her cheeks out, before letting the air out. "Thank you... For helping me out with... With what you did back there." Marinette looked up at him through her fringe.

"It's no problem. Even if you were a cat lady, I'm sure there would be some cats that wouldn't mind staying with someone as cute as you." Adrien gave a little teasing smile and another blush exploded on Marinette's cheeks as Adrien waved and dismissed himself.

Alya's laughter had ceased by now and she sidled next to Marinette, suggestively shrugging her shoulder on Marinette's, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh ho, don't think I didn't see that." Alya said with a teasing smirk and

Marinette gaped for words before letting out a frustrating exhale. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Marinette huffed. Alya laughed at her and pushed her best friend towards the classroom.

The rest of the day, Marinette couldn't stop thinking about the sweet blond boy who was sitting in front of her and the way he complimented her this morning. He was sweet and so gentle with his compliment, unlike someone else she was used to.

"Even if you were a cat lady, I'm sure there would be some cats that wouldn't mind staying with someone as cute as you."

Marinette hadn't been expecting it at all and she could feel her cheeks growing warm again as she thought of it. The then let out a small giggle, what cat would want to be with her?

Chat Noir. Marinette had forgotten about the nightmare she had had that night, the one where he found out her true identity and came to hate her. The nightmare where he came to think of Marinette and Ladybug to be the scum of his Earth.

A cold shudder ran through Marinette and she rubbed her arms in hopes to shoo away the cold that ran through her. She looked down at her paper, looking at how she had started doodling on her paper. She realized that she hadn't sent anything to Chat in a while. She knew that he probably didn't want to hear from Ladybug, but doodling wasn't talking, although it could convey a message clearly.

Marinette picked up her pen and started to doodle on her hand, picking up her usual floral pattern she liked to draw. She inconspicuously added hearts in the doodles, adding a small cat and a small ladybug in the middle of the rest of the doodle. It was Marinette's turn to patrol that night, so she was hoping that her doodles would entice Chat to come out and find her so she could apologize... About various things.

Adrien felt his skin sink into itself gently as his partner drew into her arm. He watched as the art bloomed on his arm. He couldn't help the small smile that grew on his lips; her art was nostalgic and he craved to see her again.