Chapter 5: The Party
1322 Words
Adrien didn’t want to go to the party.
Which was exactly why his teammates forced him into it.
“You’ve been studying for three straight days,” Sam complained while dragging him through the crowded frat house entrance. “It’s disturbing.”
“I hate that sentence,” Kim added.
Adrien shoved both of them away lightly.
“I still hate all of you.”
“No you don’t,” Kim said cheerfully.
Music pounded violently through the house while students crowded every hallway holding drinks and screaming over each other.
The entire place smelled like alcohol, sweat, perfume, and terrible decisions.
Normally, Adrien thrived in places like this.
Normally, he was the terrible decision.
But tonight his head still felt crowded with textbook notes and tutoring schedules and Marinette’s voice saying:
“Explain it like a hockey play.”
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Alex appeared beside him carrying a drink.
“You look miserable.”
“I am miserable.”
“Good. Builds character.”
Adrien scoffed quietly and scanned the room automatically.
Girls already noticed him.
Of course they did.
Whispers started instantly.
Phones lifted subtly.
One blonde smiled openly at him from across the room.
Adrien barely reacted.
Then—
he saw her.
And suddenly the entire room disappeared.
Marinette stood near the bar area beside Alya and Nino wearing a dark blue sweater that slipped slightly off one shoulder.
Simple.
Nothing dramatic.
Still—
Adrien forgot what Kim was saying mid-sentence.
Because she looked completely different outside the library.
Softer somehow.
Her hair was down tonight, falling loosely around her face while she laughed quietly at something Alya said.
Adrien had never seen her laugh properly before.
It hit harder than expected.
Kim noticed immediately.
“Oh no.”
Adrien frowned slightly.
“What?”
“You’re staring.”
“I’m literally not.”
“You literally are.”
Sam followed Adrien’s line of sight.
Then grinned instantly.
“Oh my God.”
Alex sighed heavily already.
“This is going to become a problem.”
Adrien ignored all of them.
Because Marinette had just looked up.
And caught him staring.
Her smile vanished instantly.
Interesting.
She looked away first.
Adrien smirked faintly before grabbing the drink Kim was holding.
Across the room, Alya looked deeply entertained.
“Oh my God,” she whispered dramatically.
Marinette frowned. “What?”
“He likes you.”
Marinette nearly choked on her drink.
“No he doesn’t.”
Alya pointed subtly.
“He’s been staring at you for like two straight minutes.”
Marinette glanced accidentally.
Adrien was still looking.
God.
That should not affect her heartbeat the way it did.
She quickly looked away again.
“He stares at everyone.”
“Not like that.”
Nino laughed quietly beside them.
“I’ve known Adrien three years. He usually looks bored around girls.”
Marinette folded her arms immediately.
“Well, good for him.”
Alya grinned knowingly.
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“That too.”
Marinette sighed quietly.
Parties already made her uneasy.
Too many drunk men.
Too much noise.
Too many wandering hands and careless bodies bumping into each other constantly.
At least Nino stayed close to Alya naturally.
Protective without being controlling.
Safe without trying to own her.
Marinette watched Alya lean comfortably against him and felt something small tighten painfully in her chest.
Lucky.
Alya got lucky.
Because men like Nino were rare.
Most men looked at women like they were things to consume eventually.
Use.
Touch.
Control.
Marinette knew that too well already.
Her phone buzzed inside her pocket suddenly.
Her stomach tightened instantly.
Ivan.
She ignored it immediately.
Then another text appeared.
Where are you?
Another.
You better not be acting like a slut at that party.
Her chest tightened painfully.
The room suddenly felt too warm.
Too loud.
“Hey.”
Alya touched her arm gently.
“You okay?”
Marinette forced herself to nod.
“Yeah.”
Lie. Complete lie.
But before Alya could push further, someone stumbled directly into Marinette from behind.
Alcohol hit her nose immediately.
Strong. Overwhelming.
“s**t,” the guy slurred. “Sorry.”
Marinette stepped back quickly.
“It’s fine.”
Except the guy didn’t move away.
Tall. Clearly drunk. Eyes lingering too long.
“You’re really pretty,” he said suddenly.
Marinette’s stomach tightened instantly.
“Thanks.”
She tried stepping sideways.
He blocked her accidentally.
Or maybe not accidentally.
“You here alone?”
“No.”
“Boyfriend?”
“No.”
Big mistake.
The guy smiled lazily.
“I can fix that.”
Marinette froze slightly.
Something ugly crawled up her spine immediately.
Because suddenly—
she wasn’t at the party anymore.
She was sixteen again.
Pinned between the laundry machines while one of her adoptive brothers laughed quietly against her ear.
“Relax.”
Hands grabbing too hard.
Fear choking her throat shut.
“Stop moving.”
Marinette’s breathing shortened instantly.
The drunk guy stepped closer again.
“You’re kinda shy, huh?”
She couldn’t move.
Couldn’t speak.
Her body locked painfully in place.
Then suddenly—
someone stepped between them.
Large.
Solid.
Cold fury radiating silently through the room.
Adrien.
The drunk guy blinked.
“Oh. Hockey boy.”
Adrien’s voice stayed calm.
Dangerously calm.
“She said no.”
The guy laughed awkwardly.
“I was just talking.”
Adrien didn’t move.
Didn’t raise his voice.
Didn’t touch him.
Still—
something in his expression shifted the entire atmosphere instantly.
Because for the first time since meeting him—
Adrien Agreste actually looked dangerous.
Not arrogant. Not playful. Protective.
The drunk guy swallowed slightly.
“Whatever, man.”
Then finally backed away into the crowd.
Adrien waited until he disappeared completely before turning around slowly.
Marinette still hadn’t moved.
Her pulse hammered painfully against her ribs.
Adrien noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His expression softened slightly. Not pity.
Something gentler.
He kept careful distance between them.
No touching. No grabbing. Nothing sudden.
Just: “Hey.”
Marinette blinked slowly. Adrien lowered his voice.
“Do you want to leave?”
The question nearly broke something inside her.
Because he asked. He asked. No assumptions. No forced touching. No “calm down.” No pretending he knew what she needed.
Just choice.
Marinette stared at him quietly.
And for the first time in years—
she didn’t feel trapped standing near a man.
The realization terrified her slightly.
Adrien glanced toward the crowded room again.
Then back at her.
“We can go outside,” he said quietly. “Or I can get Alya. Whatever you want.”
Marinette swallowed hard.
Why was he being kind?
That almost felt more dangerous than flirting.
“I’m okay,” she whispered finally.
Adrien looked unconvinced.
“You stopped breathing for a second.”
Heat rushed into her face instantly.
Embarrassing.
God.
“I said I’m okay.”
A pause.
Then Adrien nodded once.
“Okay.”
Still no touching.
Still giving her space.
Marinette hated how much that mattered.
Music thundered through the house behind them while people laughed and shouted completely unaware of the moment that had just happened.
Adrien studied her quietly for another second.
Then smirked faintly.
Softer this time.
Less arrogant.
“You know,” he murmured, “you’re the only girl here who looks actively disappointed every time she sees me.”
And somehow—
that made her laugh.
Small.
Shaky.
Real.
Adrien stared at her slightly too long afterward.
Like hearing her laugh affected him more than it should have.
Then Alya suddenly appeared beside them looking murderous.
“What happened?”
Adrien answered first.
“Some drunk idiot.”
Alya’s face darkened immediately.
“I’ll kill him.”
“I think hockey boy already scared him into another dimension,” Marinette muttered weakly.
Adrien snorted quietly beside her.
Alya looked between them suspiciously.
Then grinned slowly.
Marinette immediately regretted everything.
- Writer
