Marinette listens closely enough to hear his sobs continue. She hates to see him in this shape as she repeats herself, "I am afraid of love too."   She gently massages his left shoulder with her hand.  She is not sure what else to do now.

        Adrien whimpers. He feels someone touch his shoulder gently. He removes his hands slowly from his face and looks in her direction.

        "Why should you be afraid of love?" 

        Marinette lets go of his waist, then his shoulder. 

          "A-Adrien, I know that Chole likes you," She explains.

         Adrien frowns. "Chole may be a friend, but she is also shellfish as ever," He goes on to say.

           "I could ask you the same question, you know," Marinette mumbles.

            "Ah, what was that Marinette?" 

              "N-Nothing," Marinette mutters.

               Adrien smiles at her, "Marinette, why should you be afraid of love?"

                 When Marinette does not answer, Adrien pipes up, "Marinette, you are even closer to me than Chole. You know that right?"   He sees her shake her head.

                 Marinette looks at the gift he gave her. She believes it is rather lovely, but it was out of friendship, was it not?  She recalls how Chole brought up the topic of dating. She cringes at the memory of it all.  It is not like she can expect Adrien to understand how she feels.

                Adrien reaches into his pocket and hands her two items. He sees her look at them in surprise.  He knows she probably does not get why he gave it to her. 

               "A-Adrien, I never could accept these," Marinette tries to protest.

                Marinette hears Adrien cough and sees his face go pale. She frowns. 

          "Fine, I will take them, just be okay, please," Marinette starts to plead with him.

               She puts on the necklace and the earrings. 

                 *Author's note in this story her ears are doubled pierced. She wears two sets of earrings now. 

               She sees Adrien pass out.  "A-Adrien, Adrien? No! Adrien!" Marinette screams.

              Marinette grabs up the phone and dials the emergency number.  She feels tears touch her cheeks as she tells the dispatcher, "Hurry, quick!  It is Adrien!"

               Adrien reaches over and holds her hand in his with a weak smile on his face. 

               He mutters, "Mari, I am happy now, I..."  He coughs once more. This time some odd glob comes out.  He hears a loud noise as help arrives on the scene.

                "Shh, Adrien, you will be alright, I know you will," Marinette says to try to reassure herself more than him.

                 Adrien places his other hand on her left cheek. "Mari, you make me happy."

               Someone enters the room just then, but it is not the paramedics. It is Chole. Turns out the paramedics are right behind her, though.

               "Adrien, what happened to him? This was your doing, was it not?" Chole says in an accusatory type tone.

                "Chole, do not talk to her that way," Adrien answers weakly.

                 Chole tries to reach out to hold Adrien, but the paramedics will not let her. She yells at them, " Well, see what my father has to say about this won't we?"  She walks off in a huff.

               As the paramedics take Adrien away, Marinette runs after them. She climbs into the ambulance despite the objections and as the door slams, she feels Adrien grab her hand again.

               "M-Marinette?"  

            "Yes, I am here, Adrien, I could not just leave you," She explains.

               Adrien uses his other free hand to touch her cheek again. He mumbles, "Marinette, take care of yourself for me. Be brave, you must be brave, Mari."

                Marinette nods her head in agreement. She can not seem to speak not now when he is so weak. She feels as if she is losing him.

               She feels tears again.  

              Marinette kisses him. She is about to pull away when she feels a response. She closes her eyes.

               Adrien can not believe Marinette kissed him. He gave her one back as he saw her lovely eyes close. He pulls away and wishes he could tell her how much he loves her. He is sure now that Plagg is right he loves her.  No wonder, he hates it when Chole bullies her.

                 Find out more in Chapter 6

                bye, bye little owlets!

             -Summer out!

  Chapter 5  was originally published on September 24, 2020, & Edits made on September 25th, More Edits Made on November 11, 2020.