13. Thank you

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"Little does she know."

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(I would recommend listening to 'I hear a symphony- by Cody Fry towards the end')

Marinette's POV

1 week later-

After everything that happened last week I finally feel like myself again, having Anthony here is truly making me remember how to look out for myself instead of looking out for everyone else.

I've been training for the past week with Anthony in another Gym close by the school for more moves to use in comp since I'm going up with a professional player. I knew I hade to keep my mind clear for this week so I decided to take some time off of school to focus on mentally preparing myself since I need to win the match to be able to head to nationals.

Anthony and I are currently sitting in my room taking a break from sparing one another.

"So are we going back to school?," Anthony asked.

"I think we have to, we missed a week and I know how your mother is," I laughed lightly.

"I mean I'm training you that's a pretty good excuse," I gave him a look.

"Yeah she's not gonna listen," he laughed.

"Yup," I agreed.

"Should we head to the park for a picnic?," Anthony sat up and looked down at me.

"Let me go tell my mom to set us up a picnic basket," I smiled and ran downstairs.

—

We rode the moped to my park and set out a blanket.

"Look what I got us," I turn to Anthony holding up a pack of bubbles that we can blow out while we ran, I jumped happily and grabbed one before blowing into the plastic circle.

"You're just like a kid sometimes," he laughed.

"Says the one that has one for himself," I rolled my eyes.

We laid down on the blanket looking up at the blue sky, as cloud slowly started to form into objects and characters.

I felt truly relaxed and happy as Anthony grabbed my hand and rubbed circles on my thumb.

"Look that's a lion," Anthony pointed to a cloud.

"You're right," I smiled and pointed to another one "that's a flower."

"I see it," as he turned to me and laughed.

"Ooo look at that one it looks like a dog," he mumbled.

"I don't see it," I scrunched my face confused.

"Look," he pointed "floppy ears and a tail."

"Nope," I giggled at the cloud shaped like a turtle.

"I'm not making this up," Anthony looked at me.

It was pretty amusing seeing Anthony get agitated by a cloud, I laughed and nod my head "okay I see it," I laughed.

Anthony looks at me and pouts "I don't believe you, you're just agreeing with me to shut me up."

"Correct," I joked.

"Rude," he mumbled.

I close my eyes feeling the warmth of the sun hit my body as the cloud covering it disappeared from view, before I can block the light from my eyes Anthony uses his other hand to cover my face. I smiled at him as he laughed at me lightly, "you seem happy," he said.

"Of course," I get up lightly and look down at him "I'm with someone that gets me," I laughed.

"Same here," he pushes the strands of lose hair behind my ear and rubs my cheek softly.

"I'm scared for you to leave," I whispered.

"You'll be just fine, I know you will," he pinched my ear and I wince annoyed.

"See your tough," Anthony laughed.

I roll my eyes and lay back down as he followed behind me as we turn to one another.

"I remember the first I met you, you were so closed off from everyone, I don't understand how anyone didn't notice," he sighed and looked at me.

"Knowing the real you feels like I uncovered a hidden treasure," he chuckled "but inside was just boring crap."

I scoff at his joke and push him lightly "I'm joking, I'm joking, inside was just a rare flower that needed help to bloom," he grabbed my hand before kissing it.

"Any girl would be lucky to have you Anthony," I mumbled.

"Ugh don't be like my mom," he groaned and laughed.

"Well it's true"

"I know but-," he looked at me stressed "it's to late," he whispered.

"What?," I asked.

"N-nothing," he laughed nervously.

I decide to leave it there and grab the container of strawberries before stuffing my face, as we stared off into the clouds.

"Sometimes I wonder how it would be if I never moved back here," I mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"If I just stayed in Shanghai with you and Master, with our team, my uncle, instead of being here and deal with everything that's been happening," I sighed.

"I thought you were over exaggerating when you told me about the drama through text, but now that I saw it first hand, I understand if you ever wanted move back to China," Anthony chuckled.

"I can't though," I whispered.

"Why not? I mean truly why not?," he asked.

"My parents-"

"Don't bring in your parents because you know if you asked and explained they'll move with you," Anthony cut me off.

"Then my friends."

"I loved your friends but they seem like people that would understand your struggles."

"I have other reasons that I'd like to keep to myself," I sighed.

"Okay okay," Anthony gets up and grabs my hand before pulling me up.

"Let's blow some bubbles now," he laughed.

I nod and we start running around the park as the bubbles surround the area, I laughed loudly as once of them pops nears Anthony eyes as he cries out loud like a baby.

"Ow, that hurt," He complained.

I laughed even harder as his eyes start to water.

"Oh you think this is funny?," he smiled at me as I try to say no and shake my head.

"Come here," he starts running after me before he picks me up from my waist and twirls me in the sky.

"Anthony!," I yell in laughter as he starts tickling my neck and my stomach.

"I can't breathe," I said through out breaths.

"To bad," he joked.

Before we knew it we were on the ground as he straddled me, he stops and looks down at me before smirking at me and looks beside me to see a puddle of mud only a few feet away from us. Anthony stands up and races to it, I get up and run to safety as I turn to see his hand holding a chunk of mud.

"No," I begged.

"Come on! Like old times!," he ran after me.

"I lost though!," I yelled back.

Flashback_

"Anthony no! Stop it!," I yelled as I see Anthony's body covered in mud that I pushed him in.

"I just want a hug though," he pouted.

"I'm wearing my uniform for comp, stop it," I warned.

"I am to!," he argued.

"If I get in trouble," he gave me a smirk "you go down with me."

I yell for help as I run into the Dojang thinking Anthony would stop there, but he didn't as he stepped into the clean studio running after me.

We are totally screwed.

"Let's be rational here huh?," I stopped and looked at him as I try to keep my distance.

"We are in the studio and as you can see," I motioned behind him seeing his muddy footprints on the floor "we don't want to be punished, right?"

"To bad," Anthony laughed before tackling me down on the ground and smothering me in mud as I laugh.

After moving around on the ground we stopped at the sudden door opening.

"What the hell are you guys doing?!"

—

We are now sitting down washing the ground.

"This is all your fault," I mumbled.

"You pushed me in the mud first!," Anthony argued.

"Be quiet you two!," Sabom yelled from the other room.

"You really think I wasn't going to get revenge," Anthony whispered.

After being quiet for a few minutes we both broke out in a fit of laughter remembering what happened only 40 minutes ago.

End of Flashback_

I was now covered in mud once again as people in the park passed by looking at us in horror, there sat Anthony covered from head to toe in mud as well as me as we ate our snacks.

"You look very beautiful," Anthony joked.

"We have school tomorrow seriously," I complained.

"Oh get over it," he laughed.

I glare at him before laughing along with him.

"Maybe next time don't laugh at my pain," he chuckled.

"Noted."

"Do you want to go home to change?"

"Nah the sun is almost going to set," I smiled at him.

"Trueeee."

"Then should we climb a tree?," I nod before packing up all of our belongings and put them beside a tree we decided to climb.

I climb it before sitting on branch waiting for Anthony to sit beside me.

I look out into the sky seeing a flock of birds pass by.

I look down to see families enjoying time with one another and see everyone turning to see the sun.

Today felt so peaceful with Anthony, I felt free.

I'm happy.

"I'm happy," I whispered and turn to Anthony.

"I'm happy," he smiled and grabbed my hand before pulling it up to his face and snuggling into it.

"Thank you for always being here for me Anthony," I sighed "your truly an amazing person."

"Thank you for being you, and accepting me," he smiled down at me.

"I wish we could stay here forever," I mumbled.

—

After watching the sun set we rode back home with mud dried up on our body.

"Are you ready for school tomorrow?," Anthony asked as he parked the moped.

"Uhm, I'm not sure," I joked.

He looks at me unamused and drapes his arm around me before locking my a head lock.

"No more missing school or I might head home this week," I quickly looked at him as my heart shattered.

"You know my mom," I sigh and nod.

"I'm only going because I know how much you'll miss me if you leave earlier," I laughed.

"Mhm sureeee 'I'll' miss you," I glare up at him before jabbing him in his gut releasing me from his hold as I skip inside the bakery.

"Marinette what in the world- get out get out now!," my mom pushed me out the door and locks the bakery.

"Go wash yourself with a hose before you come in here," I laugh lightly and nod my head.

Anthony and head to the ally as my mom passes us a hose from the back as we start to wash ourselves off.

"Next time you guys do something like this wash up near a restroom and have a change of clothes," she rolled her eyes.

"Yes ma'am," Anthony smiled down at her.

—

After our quick outside rinse we headed to our rooms to shower and change into our Pjs since we were spending the night in the living room watching tv.

"I'm glad Anthony is here," Tikki flew to me with a towel in her hands as she passes it to me to dry my hair.

"He really understands and respects you."

"I know," I smiled to her.

"I'm just glad your not worrying about you know who," Tikki pouted.

"I'll be fine without him like how I was fine in China," I giggled.

"It's because you're in a lot of stress with everything that's going on, plus you even said you wanted to focus on Taekwondo, that's why I'm nervous," she sighed.

"Tikki I understand your concern," I rubbed her head.

I stand up and sit her on her small bed and set up her phone so she can watch whatever she wants.

"Goodnight Tikki I'll see you in the morning," I kissed her on her cheek before heading downstairs and seeing Anthony doing push ups with my dad.

"Come on Mr. Dupain-Chang," Anthony laughed as my dad collapsed on the floor.

"I'm not as young as I use to be kid," my dad laughed.

"You're pretty fit for your age though sir."

"Oh please," he blushed.

"Oh Marinette ready to watch some movies?," Anthony turned to me.

"Yesss," I laughed and sat on the couch.

Anthony laid down and put his feet on my lap, I give him a glare and he rolls his eyes before I lay on his lap and start playing with his hand as he puts on a movie we both would like.

"Thank you," Anthony smiled down at me.