Mom stared at me over the rim of her coffee cup while she sat at the dining table, not for the first time this morning. I had the creepy feeling that I had some sign that said "LOOK AT ME" taped to my forehead.
I set my empty bowl of cereal in the sink and turned to stare at Mom, gripping the kitchen counter. "Is there something on my face?"
Mom tsked into her cup of coffee and shook her head. "Don't take that tone with me, young lady."
I almost blurted out an awful comment— a clear sign I'd been spending too much time around Adrien.
"Okay," I said. "sorry."
"How is school going?"
Now it was my turn to stare at her like she had something sticking out of her head. "Uh... school is fine, I guess? There's really not much too it."
"How's that physics grade?" Mom continued, sipping primly at her cup of coffee.
"It's an 78%," I answered dully. "I got an A on my last test, though."
"You'd better keep an eye on it," She said knowingly. "It could drop down to a D if you're not careful."
I was very well aware of my physics grade, thank you very much. I wasn't stupid. Mom obviously didn't want to talk to me about school. This was probably about something totally different.
I downed my glass of water and gave an awkwardly polite smile in Mom's direction before making my way to my room.
"Not so fast, Marinette!" I scrunched my eyes closed, help back a groan, and turned back around. "Yes, Mom?"
"About you and that boy..." Mom trailed off, looking just the slightest bit embarrassed.
"You mean Adrien?" I hinted, trying not to sound too rude. "You're employee..."
Mom nodded, clearing her throat.
"What about him?" I asked.
"Are you two... you know... dating?"
Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for Mom, I'd heard this so much these past three days that I was able to keep the shock and horror off my face.
"No," I said as calmly as I could manage. "We're not. Just friends."
It stung a little at how easily Mom believed the horrible lie coming out of my mouth. Adrien and I really weren't dating, but we did sort of have... a thing or whatever. And my parents didn't even know enough about to me to realize that I was obviously head over heels for "some guy".
"Well, then," Mom said, blowing out a sigh. "Have a good day at school then."
I stared at her for a moment before I managed to wipe the shocked look off my face. "Thank you. Have a good day at... home?"
I turned and sprinted back to my room before Mom had a chance to say anything else. So far this morning was turning out to be pretty weird. Dad was still locked away in the bathroom, so that was nothing unusual. Mom, though, never bothered herself with chitchat. A long time ago she used to ask me how my day went when I got home from school and she'd help me with my homework. Once I hit to high school things changed. Whether for the worse, I wasn't sure.
I tried to keep Mom's awkward behavior out of my mind while I showered and got ready for school. I had bigger fish to fry today. I was hoping with crossed fingers that my involvement with Adrien was old news now, but that was probably wishful thinking. This was high school we were talking about, so one could never be too sure.
Mom and Dad were both gone down to the bakery by the time I dragged myself out of my bedroom and out the back door. My mind was mostly in the clouds as I made for the bus. This was nothing out of the normal. Zoé was already waiting on the bus stop bench when I finally arrived and she instantly started babbling at me about anything and everything in her typical Zoé way.
Today, for some reason, this didn't bother me. If it were any other day, I probably would have told her to be quiet. But my mind was focused on something else. A something else like Adrien.
I couldn't explain the feeling that was slowly starting to creep over me as Zoé and I filed off the bus and made our way for the front doors of the school. It was as if there was this heavy weight pressing down on my shoulders and my stomach was twisting with butterflies. I kept looking over my shoulder every moment or so, having this overpowering sensation that I was being watched. Nobody was paying any attention to me, but that did nothing to quell my neves.
"Okay, what are you looking at?" Zoé demanded, yanking my forearm to pull me to a stop.
"Nothing," I said slowly. "Nothing at all."
That was certainly a total lie.
Zoé's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Yeah, right. Are you looking for Adrien?"
"No," I sighed exasperatedly. "I'm not. Let's just go now, okay?"
Zoé kept shooting me shrewd looks as we started walking again, which just made me all the more annoyed. This day had started out weird and now it was turning into something I knew wasn't going to be too particularly pleasant.
Zoé and I parted ways after we stepped through the front doors of the school and I walked off to homeroom with that creepy feeling hovering over me.
Something was wrong here and I wasn't too eager to find out what it was.
Adrien wasn't at lunch. I stared at his empty seat with a baffled look on my face wondering where on earth he could be. Was Linda alright? Did Kai's stitches open up? Did something happen with Cadence or Shane?
The possibilties of what could have happened were endless. My hands were shaking as I dropped into my seat and I nearly knocked my water bottle off the table.
Every possible frightening scenario was currently running through my mind and it was all I could do not to burst into tears in the middle of the cafeteria. I knew I was sort of a crybaby about all of this. There was no getting around that fact. But today something horribly wrong was waiting on the horizon and there was no doubt about it.
Adrien hadn't once missed a day of school to the best of my knowledge even this entire semester. When I headed down to the gym from chemistry I'd pass his locker every and he'd always be there, shoving things into his backpack with his usual surly expression.
It wasn't like I purposely went out of my way to look for him, but I usually always kept to the sidelines in the hallways and it was sort of hard not to catch sight of him. Even if everything else in my life was ridiculously unpedictable, Adrien was always there and that was sort of reassuring.
A shiver of ice cold dread slipped down my spine as two thoughts occured to me suddenly.
What if Gabriel did something to him? What if had gotten in to the trouble Colt and Snakes both had mentioned? What if Adrien had done what Weston had?
Whoa, hold up there, Marinette, I reasoned with myself. He told me he would never do that to himself. There has to be some plausible reason why he's not here today.
I threw my half eaten sandwich down on the table and pulled my phone out of my pocket. Adrien wasn't allowed to have my number, so I couldn't call him directly, but I could call Linda's home phone, which is exactly what I did.
I crossed my fingers and held my breath while the phone rang. First once, then twice, then three times. And then the line went dead.
This did not bode well at all.
I took several deep breaths while I rested my head on the table, trying really, really hard not to start crying. What the heck was going on?
I kept my head down on the table for the rest of lunch and ignored my sandwich and everyone else that happened to pass me. Hopefully I could just pass off the pained look on my face as a stomach or head ache.
When the bell rang for fifth block, I took my time gathering my things together and knocked my sandwich off the table into the trash can. Fifth block was physics and we'd recently started studying for end-of-the-year testing, so class was in the library until further notice.
At least in the library I'd be able to avoid everyone else. Either that, or take a nap in some secluded corner.
Mr. McCann, the physics teacher was waiting for the class in the library and once we were all assembled, he gave us all the usual spiel about being quiet and respectful and how we were all supposed to be working diligently on our papers. This was the typical blah-blah instructions, so I really didn't pay attention much.
I dropped my school bag onto a table near the far corner of the library and went in search of a physics text book, but ended up having to go up to the front desk to ask the librarian, Mrs. Higgins, to help me find a copy.
This ended up taking a good ten minutes. I didn't mind so much, since any chance I got to avoid doing my paper, I usually took.
The table I'd dumped my school things on remained empty when I returned, which was a relief. I took my time taking out my notebook, eraser and pencil and all but threw them down onto the table. In all honesty this is all ridiculous, I didn't have the time or concentration to work on this paper.
I couldn't stop thinking about Adrien. I didn't know where he was or what was going on and I just wanted to see him to know that he was alright. I wasn't having any luck getting ahold of him and that was seriously starting to freak me out.
I leaned back in my chair with a sigh and flipped open my physics text book, skimming through the pages. I'd just gotten to chapter three when a little scrap of paper fell out of the book and fluttered onto my lap.
I took a deep break before I grabbed the note and began to unfurl it, my heart pounding in my chest.
And what I read was enough to make me faint.
Looks like i'm just getting started, but it seems like you and Adrien have already parted?
Malakai and Shane are sweet, but some may look at them like their something to eat.
Watch where you go and look where you walk, because you never know when you're being stalked.
Tears were burning in my eyes and my lips were trembling as I mouthed the words written on the note, plain as day, clearly meant for me. Who else knew about my task? No one did.
This had Snakes written all over it. There were no ands, ifs, or buts about it.
I tried to look inconspicuously around me, searching for any sign of Snakes or somebody that was watching me, watching me read the note left in my book. No one was paying any attention to me, but that didn't mean anything.
So, the intense feeling I had earlier of somebody watching me had to be right. It was stupid of me to forget that just because I couldn't see Snakes didn't mean he wasn't here. Of course he had to be here.
I pushed back from the table and stood up, clutching the note tight in my grasp and went marching off in between the rows and rows of bookcases, hoping against hope that I'd catch at least some sight of Snakes.
The rows of bookcases were completely empty. Nobody was there. I stood in the middle of one of the rows and gave myself a minute to let a few tears escape.
Having a breakdown in the middle of the library wasn't in my best interest. The last thing I needed was to call attention to myself.
Not knowing what else to do with the random thought I got, I took a deep breath and whispered-yelled, "Snakes! I know you're there! And I'm not finding this note amusing at all!"
I received no answer.
I blew out a sigh and made to turn to head back to my table and then got whapped upside the head with a book that fell off the top shelf of one of the bookcases.
I let out a quiet yelp and toppled over backwards onto the ground, clutching at my forehead. My head was already pounding with pain and when I looked at my fingers, they were dotted with blood. Getting injured by a falling book was the least of my problems, however.
Wiping my hands on my jeans, I leaned over and picked up the book that had hit me on the hook. When I looked at the title, my head started hurting all the more.
Why would some heavy, five pound French law book suddenly fall off a bookshelf and hit me on the head?
I highly doubted that a book on a top shelf would randomly fall off a bookshelf as I happened to be walking by. As much as it didn't make it any sense, this was probably Snakes' doing. Was he sending me more diluted messages by hitting me upside the head with books? That guy was seriously messed up in the head.
I crammed the book back into the shelf beside me because I wasn't tall enough to put it back on the top shelf and stood up, intent on heading to the bathroom.
I needed to give myself a few minutes to get my composure back and clean the cut I no doubt had on my forehead.
I kept my hand over my cut as I searched for Mr. McCann, letting him know where I was going so I wouldn't get in trouble for suddenly disappearing. He was sitting with a few of the snobbish, popular kids— Chloe Bourgeois, Sabrina Raincomprix, and Mireille Caquet— and it looked like he was giving himself a hernia trying to help them understand the basics of physics.
"Uh, Mr. McCann?" I said awkwardly, rocking back on my heels. "May I use the restroom? I hit my head."
Mr. McCann whipped his head up and stared at me with a shocked look. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, yes, i'm fine." I answered breezily.
He nodded frantically and quickly stood up, telling me he was off to go get me tissues for my cut. The second he was out of earshot, the three idiots sitting at the table jumped at me like a shark would their pray.
"Did your boyfriend finally lash out and you know... hit ya?" Mireille Caquet muttered towards me with false concern, a smirk pulling at her features.
"Shut up!" I snapped, narrowing my eyes. "For your information, a book fell off a shelf and hit me on the head. And also? Adrien's not even here today."
Chloe, Sabrina, and Mireille all exchanged knowing looks with each other.
"You're really brave, you know," Sabrina told me in confident tones. "I'd be worried about being, like, killed or something around that Agreste kid. He's so creepy. You know his mom went missing, right?."
Hah. Sabrina Raincomprix certainly had a sense of humor.
"You don't even know Adrien," I pointed out with an eye roll. "So stop talking about things you don't understand."
"Calm down there, Dupain-Cheng," Chloe said quickly, holding up her hands in a "stop" motion. "We're just warning you. We're friends, right? Friends warn each other when they're dating somebody criminally insane. It's what friends do."
"I mean, you do know that his dad called of his mom's search, right?" Sabrina added, throwing in another smirk.
Okay, that was it. It didn't matter if I didn't know the slightest bit about fighting. I was about ready to throw myself across the table and slam my fist into their faces. And just like everything else that had been going wrong in my life, Mr. McCann returned to the table before I could even do something about the jerks sitting in front of me.
I grabbed the tissues from Mr. McCann, muttering a thanks, before I left the library, grinding my teeth together. Thank God it was Thursday, and almost my family's every year visit with my aunt. Just a little while longer dealing with the complete idiots that went to this school and then I'd be free... for two weeks.
Thankfully the bathroom was empty when I pushed the door open and stepped inside. I examined my reflection in the grimy mirror and winced a little when I saw how bloody the small cut on my forehead was. I pulled back my hair and splashed water on my face before using the tissues to dab at my forehead. I tossed the tissues in the trash once the cut stopped bleeding and gripped the counter, trying to give myself a confident look in the mirror.
So far this day had sucked.
I grabbed the note I shoved into my pocket and looked at it again. Reading the words again, I realized there were only three things I understood from the note.
1. I had to have been running out of time when it came to helping Adrien.
2. I was being stalked by Snakes.
3. Kai and Shane were in danger.
I scrunched my eyes closed and pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling shakily. I didn't have any siblings. Even though I'd only known the boys for two weeks, they were already like my little brother's and I wouldn't ever forgive myself if something happened to them on my behalf.
They were practically still babies.
Snakes really had to have no heart if he was willing to hurt two little boys.
I left the bathroom a minute later and silently prayed for the Agreste family's safety. I'd been raised Catholic, so I was pretty aware of guilt, and never before had I been this full of guilt before. This was entirely my fault.
When I stepped out of school after the bell rang later that day, it was raining. I didn't mind, though. Rain could sometimes be soothing, if not just the slightest bit chilly. I gripped my school bag tightly as I walked towards the bus stop two blocks over. I'd decided during sixth block, that if I didn't hear from Adrien anytime soon, I was going to Linda's, invited or not. Call it creepy or whatever you wanted, but I had to see him. I couldn't take the risk of losing him.
"Marinette!" I let out a squeak of surprise and spun on my heel only to see Adrien himself walking swiftly down the sidewalk towards me. The dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced than usual, his hair was tangled from the drizzling rain and he looked absolutely exhausted.
"Adrien!" I exclaimed, a hand flying to my mouth. "There you are! Are you alright? Is everything okay? What—"
Adrien grabbed my wrist and yanked me off to the side down some dingy alley that was empty of any people. I slumped against the brick wall, clutching at my school bag, forcing myself to not fire any questions at him.
He stood in front me with the most pained look on his face I'd ever seen before, his jaw visibly locked, his eyes narrowed, his breathing heavy.
"Adrien?" I whispered, biting my lip.
He let out a sigh and ran his hands through his hair in an almost deranged gesture. "Something happened."
Oh, God.
My heart was pounding so hard now it was starting to hurt. "What happened? What is it?"
"Gabr... I mean, my dad... I screwed up." I could tell just how worried his was for himself by the way he tripped over his words. He was never like this.
I sucked in a breath of air and leaned forward to grip my knees. "What do you mean, Adrien?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Well, I-I fought back this time. And I have no choice but to go back and I am honestly horrified. I don't know what to do." Adrien explained in a rush, not meeting my gaze.
Oh, my God.
This had to be the worst day ever in existance. What was I supposed to now? What was Adrien supposed to do? If he didn't show up at home on time tonight, Gabriel would probably send out a search party after Adrien.
Not knowing what else I could do to comfort Adrien, I just dropped my school bag on the ground and reached out to pull him into my arms, holding him tightly. He returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his face in my hair.
I wasn't quite sure how long we stood there like that, but I didn't think either of us cared. Just for those few moments it felt like I'd found some sort of temporary relief from everything going on around us.