previously in Chapter 12, Marinette is afraid. She backs away slowly from Natalie and Adrien.  She is very frightened of the blonde boy who she thinks is a stranger to her.  She does not recognize him at all.  

      Current chapter,    "G-get a-away f-from m-me!"  Marinette continues to scream.

    "Marinette, what  is the big matter?"  Alix ask.  She looks up and sees him without his disguise too.  She is speechless now. 

   "Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng, calm down!"  Natalie says.  She does this to try to help.

    "I will not as long as he is here!" Marinette says as she points in the direction where the tall stranger stands.

    "Miss, he is only wants to help you!"  Natalie says.

      "I do not believe you."  Marinette says as she continues to tremble in fear.

     "Marinette, I promise  I will not bite."  The blonde handsome boy says.  He smiles at her.

    "Wh-who are you and how do you know my name?"  Marinette ask.

     Alix just glares at him  in annoyance as she thinks  wait he looks familiar  somehow, but how?

    "I live here and your boss has spoken highly about you."  Adrien says. 

    "He has?"  Marinette says in surprise.

    "Yes, he sure has and he also says to be extra gentle with the bluenette as she has a hard past."  Adrien remarks.

    "Come on show him the splinter!"  Alix says.

     "He is friends with our boss, so bad could he be?"  Alix says.

     "Oh, okay! " Marinette says as she whinces once more from the pain.

     "See you girls later!  I have some paperwork to do."  Natalie says, as she exits the room and closes the door behind her.

       "It really does not hurt that much."  Marinette says, but her face shows otherwise.

      Adrien smiles as he says, "Not that bad, it looks horrible!  Please let me help you!"

      "Oh, okay!"  Marinette says.

    "I am sorry, this part might hurt a  little."  Adrien says.  He gets out a needle, puts peroxide on the tip to it and pokes it into the place where the splinter is and out pops the entire huge splinter.

     Adrien gets a band-aid out and places it over the area.   "There, good as new." Adrien says.

                                                *Photo credit for the band-aid goes to  www.flickr.com

    "Thanks, so much!"  Marinette says.

     "Sure, glad to help!"  Adrien says.

     "Awe, so cute!"  Alix remarks.

    "See you later, M-Marinette!"  Adrien says.  He walks away and leaves the room.

    "What was that all about Alix?"  Marinette ask.  Her face shows her annoyance at once.

     Meanwhile, with Natalie and Adrien...

      "Sir, explain, right now!"  Natalie says.

     "Explain, what is there to explain?"  Adrien ask.

     "Let me, see just about everything!"  Natalie remarks.

    "I have no idea what you mean."  Adrien says.

    "Oh, yeah!  Then, tell me why does Marinette think you are friends with her new boss?  You are in fact are her new boss."  Natalie says. She frowns.

   "Look, that is none of your business, Natalie!"  Adrien says furious with her.  He can not believe she would ask him something so personal.  He walks away and goes to his room.  He slams the door behind him.

   Adrien's  POV:  Why did Natalie ask me something so personal anyway?  What good does her do her to know?  I mean it is not like this would help things much anyway.   I  mean, Marinette was afraid of me without my disguise at first.  It was not until  I  make up so story about being close friends with the boss that she calms down.  What is so bad about this, if it helps her?  I mean I finally got the splinter out, so why is Natalie so upset anyway?

      Natalie's  POV:  Adrien sures to be in a bad mood.  I never meant to upset him.  I just do not want to see him hurt.  I  know he likes, no loves Marinette!  How does he expect her to learn to trust and respect him though if he keeps on with deceit like today?   He was not even completely honest with her  about who he is without his cat disguise for the thrift store.

  Now, back to Marinette and Alix...

     "Well, Alix?"  Marinette says with her hands on her hips.  She looks so serious.  Serious and angry all at the same time.

    "You made him run off!  Hope you are proud of yourself!"  Marinette says.

    "I just thought you and the cute, er, handsome blonde boy look great together!"  Alix says dreamily.

       Alix's  POV:  I just want to see my best friend happy!  I mean it.  Besides, what is wrong with shipping her with the blonde guy anyway?  Does Marinette have something against the guy?  How could she ?   I mean he obviously shows genuine concern for her.  He was so gentle when told her what he was about to do, and even put peroxide on the needle.  This was thoughtful, awe!   When he poked it under the splinter, he did it so gently like he has done this sort of thing before, so he did not hurt her.  He even got this adorable band-aid out just for her.  How sweet!  The guy is kind, generous, thoughtful, and so hot!    He really likes Marinette!  

     "Ugh,  What?  I hardly even know the guy!"  Marinette says.  She thinks, this is not happening.

    Marinette's  POV:  I can not believe the crazy day, I have had already.  First, I get a splinter.  Then, I am terrified when some stranger comes into the room.  Third, I wonder how does Natalie know who this guy is anyway?   Fourth, the guy claims he is friends with my boss.  I admit, I doubt it.  Yet, I still let him remove the splinter.  I figure why not?  I might as well, so he will quit giving me those cute, puppy dog looks.   Wait, what?   Fifth, Alix ships me with this guy!  Ugh, no way!  There is no way,  I will ever get together with him.  Nope!  I do not even know him.  

   to be continued in Chapter 14   At Odds With Each Other?