The lunch bell rang and Ella went about packing up her books and such slower than the rest of her classmates. After all, she wasn't going very far. Tucking her bag under her seat, she turned and spotted the blond head of hair.

"You ready to go?" Adrien asked, smiling wide. Ella nodded, leaving the room with her phone, music sheets and Kiismet hidden on her shoulder. Waving bye to their friends, Ella and Adrien ventured to the music room. Adrien put his stuff down while Ella bustled around the soundboard, plugging her phone in and setting the sheet music on the stand by the microphone. The teen couldn't help but stand and watch her move around the room- she looked at peace and happy to be around the familiar equipment.

"...Ella?"

"Hm?"

"How did Alya get the recording?"

At his question, Ella stopped, her hand hovering over her phone. Adrien worried he overstepped something but Ella sighed.

"I was practicing in the girls bathroom yesterday- that room has the best acoustics to get the vocal notes right. I finished the sheet music and wanted to put vocals to the arrangement and I guess she heard me... I mean, I don't blame her for being curious- she sticks her nose into almost all the fights the instant she hears the name 'Ladybug'- I just kinda wish she had asked before recording like that. I mean- I would have let her use it, without crediting me- it's just a school project-"

"Ella, now you're rambling." Adrien chuckled, as the girl blushed.

"Hush you..." She mumbled, pouting.

"What's the part you need me to do?" Adrien asked, still chuckling at her face. Ella swatted gently at his arm before handing over a copy of the sheet music.

"This section mainly here, then a reprise of your bridge here and then some background vocals at the end. It's nothing complicated, but it's a big role to cover- you gotta live up to Cat's personality."

"Cat?" Adrien raised an eyebrow at her nickname for his alter ego. Ella blushed again and turned her face away.

"What?" She pouted again.

"Nothing, just didn't peg you for a Cat Noir fan."

"I only met him twice- and he said he knew me because of you."

Mentally, Adrien slapped himself. He forgot about that fib during the Stormy Weather attack.

"Heh- yeah... sorry about that."

"I was more shocked at the fact that you talk about me..." Ella's voice went quiet as she spoke, the blush returning to full scarlet.

"You're one of my best friends, Ella! Of course I'm gonna brag about you!"

"Brag?"

"You know what I mean." Now it was Adrien's turn to pout. But it didn't last for long as Ella giggled and handed him a pair of headphones.

"We only have an hour, so we can discuss why you talk about me with Cat Noir later. Do you wanna run over your parts a couple times before going through the whole song?"

"Sure!"

It didn't take Adrien long to get a hang of the lyrics and the beat, the pair being able to record the whole song with twenty minutes to listen and revise. The boy loved seeing Ella in her element, all the tension in her shoulders washed away the moment the music started.

And he couldn't lie when he continually repeated that Ella's voice was beautiful, both out-loud and mentally as he watched her record her verses. He would be hearing her voice singing to him in his dreams, he would willingly bet all the money he has.

"Thanks again so much for helping me with this, Adrien. Are you sure I can't buy you lunch or something?" Ella asked for the third time as the pair left the music room.

"I'm sure, Ella- I still owe you from before! I'm just glad you wanted me to help you with this, and that you thought I was good enough to sing alongside you."

"Your voice is better than mine- and no I'm not taking that back." Ella giggled as Adrien opened his mouth to argue.

"But seriously Adrien, thank you. This wasn't something I could entrust to just anyone. I wanna be a songwriter, someone who writes the music for someone else. Besides Alya's recording, that was the first time in years I've let someone hear me sing like that. And I'm really glad it was you."

Ooooooh, how he REALLY wanted to hug her now!

"I'm gonna go turn in the finished CD before I lose it. I'll meet you back in class?"

"Of course! I'll see you there!" The teen started to turn before a hand caught his own.

"Um.. can um.. can I have a hug?" Ella's voice was whisper quiet, her cheeks bright pink. But nothing made Adrien fall in love harder than when at his nod, Ella's eyes sparkled and her smile looked like it would split her cheeks. The girl wrapped her arms around his neck while his went to her waist, pulling her tight. The pair stayed like that for a bit, just lost in their own happy world.

Alya and Nino just got up the steps to return to class when they saw Adrien and Ella at the end of the catwalk, hugging as if the world was about to end. And neither could deny how cute they looked, with Ella's tinted pink cheeks and Adrien's wide soft smile.

"I hate to say this... but I'm glad Marinette stopped at the bathroom." Alya whispered.

"Why's that?"

"...she's got a huge crush on Adrien, and she'd be super jealous and upset if she saw this."

"Ah, gotcha."

The pair watched their friends separate with smiles and shy little waves before Ella went towards the teacher offices and Adrien entered the classroom.

"Mari's gonna get her heart broken..."

"Yeah... Adrien's already basically admitted he like, likes Ella. And I think the dudette's feelings are mutual."

Alya sighed, hearing Marinette call out to her as she came up the steps.

"I said you didn't have to wait for me, but thanks!"

"No problem, girlie! Just wanted to make sure you got to class this time!"

"That was one time, Alya!"