Soon after, it was time for lunch. Marinette had her tears wiped away, but wasn't exactly ready to face Adrien. Alya kept on trying to talk sense into her.
"Chill, Marinette. You two are going to be fine!" she said. "Go get 'em, Milady."
Marinette giggled. She whispered, "Only Cat Noir can call me that."
She sat down at the most isolate table, searching around for Adrien.
He's there, with Nino at the cafeteria line! Marinette spotted him and thought to herself. Oh, no, here he comes!!!!
"Um- hey, Marinette," he almost whispered.
Marinette stuttered, "H-hello, A-Adrien. . ."
"Listen, about that study date, I should've taken you to safety. I'm so sorry!" Adrien put his head down on the table, in a silent sob.
Marinette threw her arms around him. "Adrien, please don't think that! I really messed up!"
"I'm the one that left you, I should've taken you with me!!" cried Adrien. "I was so stupid, you could've gotten hurt, you could've been taken captive, you could've-"
Marinette sobbed, "Adrien, stop with the questions! I was fine! Cat Noir and Ladybug saved everything! We're okay! R-right?"
Adrien returned her embrace. "Lunch break doesn't end for an hour. Do you want to go to the park?"
Marinette nodded. She liked the thought of being able to talk to Adrien without people staring.
* * *
"So. . ." said Adrien. "Continuing from last night, about the poems. . ."
They sat there in silence, until Adrien grabbed Marinette in a hug.
"I- I love you, Marinette," he said. "I was so stupid, not realizing it for the longest time."
Marinette just gasped. "I love you more, Adrien."
Adrien faced Marinette. Marinette faced Adrien. They gazed into each other's eyes, like in all the romance movies.
"Adrien?" exhaled Marinette. "I-"
They both leaned in. Soon, Marinette felt the ecstasy of her first kiss with Adrien. They broke apart after about ten seconds.
They looked back at each other. "Wow." They giggled.
"W-was that your first kiss?" asked Adrien.
Marinette inhaled sharply. "Well- not exactly- I've only kissed one other person. . .no, it doesn't count. . ."
Adrien said, "Well, it should count. Who was it? Did you- l. . . .love them at the time?"
"No- it was to save them-" whispered Marinette. "It's not a big deal. You've always been the one I love, Adrien."
Adrien smiled, reassured. Then a timer went off. "Oh no, class starts in five minutes!"
They ran back to the school, hand-in-hand, laughing. Before they walked into class, they shared one last, small kiss.
