chapter 10

“Are you alright?”

I signed quietly turning my face away “go away, Austin”

“No please….hear me out.” I turned to look at him, he looked taken aback but kept perfect eye contact with me “I…..I just wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

He rubbed the side of his neck nervously smiling “I made assumptions about you” Austin dead palmed “really unfair assumptions. I’m sorry”

I looked at him with shock, did the Austin just apologize “emmmm I’ll forgive you, if you promise to get to know the real me from now on.”

“I promise” he said giving me a warm and satisfying grin “so, ummm…. Are you okay”

It was the second time he had asked me that. Why was he so concerned about me? I stared off into the sky. Did I really seem that lost? Was I okay? No. the answer was no. I was not okay. My parent’s marriage had finally imploded. My dad had moved out and didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. One of my best friends secretly hated me and wanted to hurt me. Faye was dead. Murdered. I dint recognize my life. I felt my life drowning. Where do I go from here? How do I keep trying?

“Adrien” I called out to the young detective

“Yes?”

“How did you do it?” I saw the look of confusion contort his face so I quickly continued “how did you do it when Adrienne passed away? How did you go on?”

“It was hell” he replied taking a quick breath “for me and my parents. I blamed myself. If only I had been around more, I could have seen that something was wrong. If only I hadn’t gone to New Jersey to study. Why wasn’t I able to stop her from dying??? I won’t lie to you… I was in a dark place, for a long time. After getting over the shock and numbness…. I became angry. I…. I even fantasized about confronting the girls who had bullied her. As if that would have brought her back. My parents and I started going to a counselor every week. That helped us a lot to process the grief. And I threw myself into work. It gave me a reason to get out of bed every morning. The pain became tolerable as time went on, but even now, sometimes I feel like I’m having a good day then I wake up the next day and feel worse again. It’s like waves on a beach. You can be standing in water up to your knees and feel you can cope. Then suddenly a big wave comes and knocks you off your feet again. I still have nightmares….about her. It’s actually why I moved back.”

The reason that he moved here? I wanted to ask him about his past but I felt like I’ll be invading his personal bubble and I wouldn’t like that for myself even so for now I’ll let him have his privacy

I looked over to Adrien and saw him taking a deep breath “anyway. I’m still working on it.”

Adrien had opened up completely to me….laid out his bleeding heart for me to see. He had been in so much pain…and he was still learning how to go on, day by day. I was so moved and grateful to him. Because suddenly, I knew that I would be okay. I also suddenly noticed how cold it was getting.

Adrien seem to have noticed too “better go back to bed before you catch a cold, rooftop girl.”

I nodded with agreement “goodnight Adrien”

“Good night Marinette”

****************

I woke up this next day with a better mood rejoicing that the weekend was finally here but then again I don’t have any plans for today…. I guess I’ll just chill around the house, do my homework and watch old movies.

I walked down the stairs to here mom having a conversation on the phone. She seemed awfully worried “okay, Debbie, thank you for calling us to let us know. We will be there for sure, see you later”

Debbie? “Its Faye’s mom?” I whispered rather loudly

Mom turned to look at me slightly surprised “oh god you’re awake” she corked her brows “yes. She was calling to inform us that Sabrina’s funeral will be held today. I’m afraid you’re going to have to put on something black.”

“Of course, mom” I nodded quietly walking back to my room. I can’t believe I’m going to attend my friend’s funeral. Were only eighteen.

*phone’s notification* I looked around and found my atop the bed, it was a message from Alya.

Hey Marinette, are you going to Faye’s funeral too? We can pick you up if you need a lift.

Yeah we are, and that would be great! Thanks Alya

Okay, be there by ten! Also, Chloe and Alix are on their way to your place too. We have a surprise for you to wear to help us get through this! See you soon!

Something to wear? It’s true that I don’t own that many all black outfits. Wonder if Adrien is going to be at the funeral?

Hi Adrien…… are you coming to Sabrina’s funeral service too?

Hey Marinette. Yes, my partner and I are going to be there.

They must be attending on police business. Since Faye’s death is being investigated as a murder. I should start getting ready.

Let’s see….. I do have a black shirt, and black jeans

Definitely not my best look but okay for a funeral, I guess.

“Oh gosh. Are you intending to wear that?” I quickly turned around to see my friends in matching cute black gowns.

I hugged them all “you all look great!”

“Thanks, Marinette!” Chloe smiled “I’m glad you like what were wearing, because we brought the same dress for you!”

Alix nodded “yah we wanted to show our solidarity, and respect to faye for being part of our squad.”

“so we’re all going to wear matching dresses” alya said handling the dress to me “here try yours on”

“oh wow that’s a great Idea guys. Thank you” I thanked them going to the bedroom to fit on the gown. It seemed to be my perfect size, I stepped out of my bathroom seeming satisfied by the vibe the dress gave me.

“oh my gosh it fits like a glove” Alya signed in relief

“ok guys, lets go” I said putting on my sneakers and ushering them out of my room

…………..

I was shocked when I saw mr and mrs greene. It looked like they had aged ten years overnight

“we are here today to show our love and support for Sabrina Faye’s precious family”

What do you say to parents who have lost their only child? There were only empty words…that cant do anything, or help anything.

When the service was over, I struggled to find the words to say to mr and mrs greene. “mr and mrs greene am so sorry for your loss.”

“thank you Marinette” Mrs. G inhaled sharply trying as much as she can to contain her over flowing tears “thank you for always having been a good friend to her.”

I nodded looking back to see Adrien and his partner kagami were standing quietly at the back of the room…observing all the attendees of the funeral service.

My heart skipped a beat as I caught his eye. Was he going to speak with me? But then he switched back to his professional cop façade…. Actually I looked down at my sneakers why couldn’t I go and speak with him? This was the 21st century, after all.

I inhaled mustering up courage and walked his way when mom stopped me on my tracks “ready to go Mari?”

“is it okay if I have a word with Adrien first?” I asked her eagerly looking past her

She nodded “ill wait for you outside.”

I continues my walk to the detectives “hey”

“is something the matter?” kagami asked her lips falling to the side

“can I borrow your partner for a while?” I asked tilting my head to the side

“sorry but were on police business right now-“ kagami started but was interrupted

“ill catch up with you outside, kagami.” Adrien told her motioning for her to move away.

“Hey Marinette” he turned to look out me right after detective kagami stomped her way out of the room “is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine I mean considering” I nodded his way and he seemed to catch on

“I’m so sorry about your friend. I understand how you must be feeling right now”

He did understand

“Well do everything we can to find out who did this to her”

“I know you will” I said giving him a small smile “I guess I’ll see you around”

“I hope so” he coughed trying to cover up he’s mistake I guess “I err, I mean… see you around”

“Marinette”

“Coming!” I screamed back at mom running after her.

…………….

The next day, I went over to Alya’s house to help her with calculus

“So…. The derivative of a function at a given point gives...The slope of the tangent line at that point?” Alya asked me uncertainly

“Yes!” I nodded

“Omg! I think I’m finally getting it!” she clapped her hands together widely grinning

“Yay! You’re going to do great in the next test!”

Alya’s mom walked into the room holding a tray of cookies “some cookies, girls?”

“yes!” I told her taking the tray from her and placing it on the table “thank you, Mrs. Cesaire!”

She nodded smiling at us “you’re welcome marinette, its good to see you again. It’s been too long since you came around”

“I’ll come around every day if you bake me cookies everyday” I chuckled

“I dunno… you might get sick of them after the third day or so.” Miss Cesaire said in a teasing tone walking out of the room to get some chores done.

Alya placed her hands oh top mine “thanks for coming over to study together, marinette! You’ve really helped me so much”

“I’m glad I was able to help” I nodded going our hands together

“Ehm Mari” alya turned to look at me nervously

“Yah is anything wrong”

“I know people who shared the news about your parents in school”