"Despite a supervillain attack, and a student getting akumatized, we still have to go back for classes..." Ella grumbled under her breath as she trudged up the steps, Kiismet happily chomping in her bag on walnuts. Above the school, the sky rumbled signaling approaching thunderstorms- as if mimicking Ella's mood. Granted, Ella didn't mind going back to school- that meant she didn't have to go home, but she would rather go to the park and take a nice long nap after such an afternoon.

With a sigh, the teen headed for the stairs that lead up to the classroom, barely noticing the happy blond teen jogging into the building behind her.

"There she is!"

Adrien smiled, seeing the girl Marinette called 'Ella' ahead of him. He didn't understand why, but earlier, when their eyes met... he felt as if everything wrong suddenly righted itself- like this girl was the piece of the puzzle his life was missing.

"So what are you waiting for? Go talk to her!" Plagg poke his head out of Adrien's jacket, munching on a piece of camembert.

"And say what? 'Hey I'm Adrien and I think we're soulmates'? That would freak her out!"

Plagg sighed, continuing on his cheese. The kwami had recognized the light from that girls pocket, as well as the choker around her neck- so there was a good chance that Adrien wasn't off with his introduction.

"Just be yourself- but maybe don't mention the soulmate thing yet."

Sighing, Adrien picked up the pace and managed to catch up with Ella at the top of the stairs.

"Hey! Ella!"

Said girl turned, her eyes widening at the sight of him. Adrien thought she was gonna bolt, but she paused, seemingly either remembering or listening to something before she took a breath and gently smiled at him.

"Hi. You're Chloe's friend, right?"

Her voice was soft, like a blanket fresh out of the dryer. And it sounded so light- like wind chimes.

"Uh- yeah. I'm Adrien. We didn't exactly get introduced earlier so when I saw you I wanted to say hi." He was rambling, he knew that, but something about this girl made his heart race and thoughts turn to mush.

"Nice to meet you, Adrien." Her smile grew just slightly, making the corners of her eyes crinkle and little dimples appear in her cheeks.

"C-can I walk you to class?" He finally asked, pulling himself out of the love-struck daze. Ella's eye widened again before she moved, glancing at the classroom door.

"I don't think Chloe would like me being around you. I'm sorry." A pang hit Adrien's heart at Ella's rejection, watching the girl run off ahead of him and enter the classroom.

"Are you really gonna let her run from you?" Plagg chimed in, reappearing. Adrien sighed, looking down at his kwami.

"What does Chloe have to do with Ella being around me? I don't get it."

"Only way to know is to ask, I'd say."

Head hung a little low, Adrien followed Ella's footsteps and entered the classroom. His eyes immediately found the black-haired teen, sitting in the row behind him now. Marinette and the other girl, Alya were sitting beside her. Adrien gave Ella a little wave, one that the girl shyly returned. Marinette and Alya looked away from him, he guessed they were still mad at Chloe's gum prank.

Taking his seat next to Nino, Adrien sighed but he was still happy Ella at least returned his wave.

"Dude- you crushing on Ella?" Nino whispered, drawing a surprised reaction from the blond.

"No! She's just a new friend, is all!" Nino smirked but nodded and moved on.

"If you wanna make more friends, talk to Marinette about the gum thing."

"But what should I say to her?"

"Just be yourself. Or even have Ella talk to her- Marinette's the only one she's let get close to her."

Adrien nodded at Nino's words, sneaking a glance back at Ella over his shoulder. She was looking down, her eyes glued to the paper before her and her pen danced across the sheet. Adrien couldn't help the blush that grew on his cheeks at the gleam in her eyes and the small smile on her lips.

The last bell of the day rang out, just as the skies opened up and rain began pouring down.

"Here, Marinette. I brought my umbrella today. You can borrow it."

"But what about you, Ella?"

"I'm gonna stay and use the recording studio for a few hours. By then, the rain should stop. Don't worry about returning it tomorrow- just whenever you can." Ella smiled as Marinette thanked her and headed out the doors. Once she was out of sight, Ella sighed, her shoulders dropping. She did have plans to record some of her songs for a while but her aching stomach had other ideas. But going out in the rain wasn't on her list of things to do today.

'Maybe it'll let up after a few minutes...' Ella thought, collecting her bag to carry her wallet and Kiismet. She hid her books and other things under the seat just in case, but a piece of sheet music slipped from the pile and landed on the floor of the desk in front of her. Moving around the students lagging about, Ella darted down to the doors to wait out the rain.

Adrien sighed, exhausted from the day. On top of being Cat Noir, he had no idea school was so much work. He heard Ella talking and moving behind him, but before he could move to turn and talk to her, she moved passed his desk and was out the class door.

"Dude, you're crushing hard." Nino chuckled, watching his dejected face.

"Am not- she's a nice girl and I wanna get to know her!" Adrien defended, shifting to get his bag from the floor. Something crinkled under his foot, and he reached down to find a piece of sheet music, full of inked music notes.

"Just admit you have a crush and talking to Ella will be a lot easier, dude! She doesn't let anyone in- and she's only been in class for two days."

"Huh?"

"She's a newbie to the school, like you. Apparently the rumor is she was homeschooled or private tutored or something until this year when her parents decided to send her here. And she had a total panic attack yesterday when Chloe grabbed her."

Adrien frowned, not understanding how people can spread rumors. He stayed silent, packing up his stuff and the music sheet before waving goodbye to Nino.

Most students were already gone, having run off in the rain, but Adrien noticed as he pulled his umbrella out, that Ella was still standing in the doorway. He watched her stick her hand out, catching some raindrops before she pulled back, wiping her hand off on her pants.

"Hey." He spoke, frowning when the girl jumped and turned toward him.

"Sorry- didn't mean to scare you."

"It's alright, it was an accident." Ella smiled, shifting her bag to her other hand.

"Um... I was wondering if you could pass on a message to Marinette for me? You got in the classroom just as it happened, but I don't know if you saw. Chloe put gum on the seat and I was trying to get it off when Marinette saw me, and she thinks I put it there. I just wanted her to know it wasn't me. I've never been to school before and I don't know how to make friends, but I know that's not how you do it. But this is all new to me and I don't want to make anyone mad."

A little giggle drew Adrien from his rambling, his eyes meeting Ella's.

"I'll talk to Marinette, don't worry. I know how you feel about school, I've never been here either and I don't know how to make friends really either. But Marinette is nice and will give you a second chance, I know it." Adrien beamed at her words, wanting nothing more than to hug the girl. But a horn beeping pulled the two from their love-struck reverie to the sight of a limo waiting.

"That's my ride. Here- so you don't get wet." Adrien held out his umbrella. Ella stared at his hand for a moment before reaching out. Their hands met and the pair froze, eyes meeting.

In her pocket, Kiismet was silently squealing at the absolute adorableness that was going on outside.

With a crimson blush growing on her cheeks, Ella took the umbrella, whispering a thank you. Adrien smiled, his own cheeks pink before he turned towards the limo.

"See you tomorrow, Ella."

"Bye, Adrien..."

At the boys departure, Kiismet zipped out of her pocket and zoomed around Ella's head.

"You and him are so cute! I can't wait to see- oh wait! I already can!"

"Kiis!"

"First day of school and you already have two lovebirds in Raven and Ella, huh?" Plagg commented, smirking up at Adrien's face.

"You hush down there." The boy retorted, blushing.

Just out of sight by the school steps, Master Fu and his kwami Wayzz watched the scene unfold from beneath the umbrella brim.

"Excellent choice, Master. I'm curious to see how this plays out, with the Ladybug and Cat users usually ending up together."

"True, Wayzz. But in this case, those two were made for each other- Kiismet has already seen that."