As soon as Chloe returned to the party the light dimmed, the tables were moved to the lobby sides and the music began. Her classmates paired off and starting to rock out as the volume was raised. She slowly moved over to Adrien as he raised his arms around. "This is a great party, Chloe!"
"Consider it practice," she fixed his arms so they weren't close to hitting Ivan, "which you're going to need a lot of."
"I'm getting better, I swear."
"Ow!"
"Oops. Sorry, Ivan."
She rolled her eyes and swung her hips beside Sabrina. "You know," her friend considered, "this means that we're going to have some catch up to do on that science project due next week."
"Don't worry, we'll split the work."
"So I do everything and you present again?"
"Uh, no, we each do fifty percent of the research. I can't have you taking all my expensive education, Sabrina. Boys wants girls with beauty and brains, and I can't go letting you get ahead of me."
"…R-Right!"
The music began to slow and the pairs took each other's hands. "Shall we dance?" Adrien took Chloe and spun her around as they all spread out, giving each other room. "We didn't get to enjoy ourselves at my birthday party when you last wanted to dance with me."
"I was a child back then," she replied, whipping her ponytail away, "too pushy and needy. I'm an independent woman now, Adrien, and I only dance with those who are willing to stand my lovely ego."
He leaned into her. "Will you ever tell me why this sudden change came over you?"
"I just…matured. It really lets the stress roll off you."
If I ever told him the truth, he'd be constantly worried…and also know that I'm Queen Bee. Can't go putting him and others in danger. I've already lost him to an akuma attack once. I won't let it happen again…though it makes me wonder…
She watched him smile as they danced around. "…"
I dreamt that he was Chat Noir. I wonder…oh, who am I kidding? Chat Noir is so irresponsible and comedic, the exact opposite of sweet, kind, responsible Adrien. Stupid dreams.
She spotted Marinette to the side, trying to show Max how to dance. "Oh, no, no, no," she dragged Adrien over to them and parted the two, "Marinette, you're a terrible instructor."
"What-"
"Let a professional show you how it's done, Max," she took him back to the dance floor, "Adrien, teach Marinette what I taught you."
I am as smooth as glass!
Chloe is as smooth as bubble wrap.
"Well," Adrien offered his hand to Marinette, "care to dance, Marinette?"
She gently placed her hand in his and let him lead her into the center of the lobby. They began to slow dance as the music turned peaceful and the lights went from bright yellow and pink to blues and soft greens. She spotted Lila and Alya shooting her thumbs up as Chloe continued to show Max how to slow dance her way.
"So?"
"Hm?" She could see Adrien was waiting for her to say something, only she didn't know what to say. "Uh…this is a great party, right?"
"Yeah, it is. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"You too."
Awkward silence. "…Marinette?"
"Yes?"
"When I was an akuma, I wasn't…do you know if I said anything…terrible?"
If I tell him the truth, he'll know that I'm Ladybug, and I can't endanger him and my friends and family…not yet, anyway.
"I'm not sure," she tried to keep their gazes locked so he wouldn't be able to tell that she was lying through her teeth, "I was turned into a zombie acrobat before I could hear you say anything. I think you laughed at some point."
"I know we've all been akumatized, but…"
"You wanted to be the one who never fell under HawkMoth's control?"
He averted his gaze, but she brought his head back to face her. "Take it from me and everyone else here, even Chloe. It might be impossible to fight against an akuma, but we are never alone. We all have each other – not to mention Ladybug, Chat Noir, Povas…and Queen Bee. That's four heroes against one. I think we've got the advantage."
Even though I've barely seen Chat Noir around these last few days. I wonder how he's doing.
"…Thanks, Marinette, I needed that."
"We all do."
It felt as though they were moving through molasses, but slowly their faces came closer. Marinette felt their eyes start to close.
Are we…is this…could we possibly-
"Cake time," Chloe jumped between them and shoved Adrien back towards Nino, "and I volunteer you two to cut it."
Unbelievable.
Nino and Adrien walked over to the cake as Chloe leaned in to Marinette's side. "If you two are going to kiss, make it somewhere that is romantic and a place of your choosing. Your first kiss can't be at a dance in a hotel lobby, Marinette! It sets up the wrong mood."
"…You…actually have a legitimate point there, Chloe."
"I know romance better than anyone here, and I mean in this entire hotel. Trust me, you'll know the time when it comes."
"Don't tell me," Alya came up beside her as Chloe walked over to the cake to organize everyone, "you're taking romance advice from Chloe."
"She has a point. I've always imagined my first kiss with Adrien somewhere foreign, filled with blooming flowers and a sky full of rainbows…or maybe on a bridge as the sun sets, while birds are singing…or a fancy restaurant with a violin playing in the background, and spaghetti between us as we slowly sip up the same pasta strand until-"
"One step at a time, girl, one step at a time."
They stood behind the rest of the class as Lila took the first bite of her piece of cake. "Chocolate and vanilla, together at last!"
"Let me guess," Chloe quipped, "you shared some with the President a while back?"
"No. I shared some with the daughter of Paris' Mayor, and that's the truth."
Marinette and Alya couldn't keep from laughing as they watched their friends bicker as the boys started slurping up their icing.
I don't think I'd rather be anywhere else than right here.
Chocolate and Vanilla swirl cake. The BEST cake ever, especially when it has a light dose of chocolate icing. And no, there isn't a bit kiss in this one, MUAH-HA-HA! I agree with Chloe, if those two are going to have their first kiss (not counting the one in Dark Cupid), it needs to be somewhere nicer than a hotel lobby. Somewhere with spaghetti...
Until the next chapter!