"In most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess. Can anyone tell us why?" Ms. Bustier spoke, the Literature class in full swing. Ella sighed, scribbling out some words she didn't like in her journal. Her eyes were darting between the pages and Adrien, who sat in front of her, scribbling away at his own paper.
"Because only love can conquer hate!" At the back of the class, Rose stood, swooning over the idea.
"Correct, Rose."
"Technically speaking, this reasoning is only exhibited in about 87% of all fairy tales and-"
"Thank you, Max. That's enough."
Feeling movement next to her, Ella's grey eyes slide to see Marinette straining to see what Adrien's writing over his shoulder. Seems like Ella's the only one who doesn't care that it's Valentines Day...
"Adrien, I hope what you're writing has to do with my lesson." Ms. Bustier's statement draws attention to the blond boy, who doesn't react really. Ella watched him continue to write, despite the teacher approaching his desk.
"Can you tell me what I just said?"
"That's why in most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess because only love conquers hate." He spoke, finally lifting his eyes from the paper. Ella giggled, as the bell rang.
"Very good, Adrien! Now, everyone, don't forget to finish Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault tonight, and happy Valentine's day, students!"
"Hey, you two go ahead, I'll meet you outside." Marinette whispered to Ella and Alya, her eyes darting once again to Adrien- the boy still writing away at the paper. Alya hummed a response, but Ella hesitated. Why was Marinette so determined to see what Adrien was writing? It's kinda creepy...
Shaking her head, Ella moved out of the row and headed out the door, knocking lightly on Adrien's desk as she passed. The teen looked up and smiled at her, giving a little wave, one she returned.
"What do you think he's writing about?" Alya asked the noirette once she joined the girl outside the room.
"Whatever it is, it really isn't our business..." Ella sighed, shifting her bag to pull out her phone.
"Aren't you curious? It's Valentines Day and as I recall, you two have been getting pretty chummy lately~"
"Alya!" Ella blushed six ways from Sunday, her eyes comically wide.
"What?" The redhead laughed. "Nino and I happened to see you two hug two weeks ago, and even before that, you two have this energy around that just screams you two like each other."
"Oh my god I cannot believe we're having this conversation. Nope- not gonna have it." Ella turned on her heels and almost ran for the doors, Alya's laughter echoing in her ears.
" 'Your hair is dark as night, your beautiful stormy eyes, I wonder who you are beneath that strong disguise. Every day we see each other and I hope that you'll be mine, together our love could be so true, please, will you be my Valentine?' " Marinette's hopeful smile dimmed as she read, almost instantly realizing who Adrien had been writing about.
"Why does it have to be her, Tikki?" Marinette whispered solemnly, her kwami floating beside her head.
"You can't make him like you, just like you can't stop him from liking Ella..." Tikki spoke truthfully; her holder needed to realize that. Marinette frowned, the note crumpling in her grip.
"I like Adrien... but I don't want to lose my friendship with Ella..."
"Go with what your heart says, Marinette." Tikki pushed, silently wishing she had a power like Kiismet's to help her holder in situations like these.
"Thanks, Tikki..."
Marinette left the classroom, finding Alya outside- luckily Ella was nowhere in sight.
"What took you so long, girl? What'd the note say?" Marinette wordlessly passed the paper over, her own frown still there as Alya read the words.
"I'm sorry girl..."
"Why her, Alya?"
"I don't what to tell ya, Mari." And she really didn't. Adrien seemed pretty dead set on Ella, and the teen, Alya was sure, reciprocated the feelings... even if neither of them were really acting on them. Alya carefully snapped a picture of the note as she gave her friend a hug, guiding her over to Max and Kim before sending the picture to Ella.
Ella hummed in praise at the taste of her crêpe fourrée aux fruits, eating while walking back towards the school. A second bag was held tight in her fist, carrying the sweet brioche for Adrien. The boy had remembered Ella went to the café a lot so he had texted her asking for a snack. As she crossed the street, she could feel her phone buzz, but her hands were too full to check.
"Adrien!" The girl called lightly, said teen looking up from his phone as he descended the school steps.
"Hey Ella! Thanks so much- somehow two photos shoots ended up back to back and I don't think I'll have time to eat."
"It's no problem, I don't mind." Ella smiled at the teen, her cheeks dusted pink. Still, Adrien thanked her once again before he patted her shoulder and headed for the car.
"It's time I told him."
"Say what?!" Alya almost dropped her phone at Marinette's words. She was gonna what now?
"I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna tell Adrien my true feelings. Well... I'm gonna write them on a card, that is."
"You serious, girl?" 'Oh this is gonna end badly...'
"Yeah! Operation Valentine's Day is a go!" Marinette cheered, dragging Alya off.
" '...together our love could be so true, please, will you be my Valentine?' "
Ella almost dropped her phone. Her brain barely registered Kiismet squealing in her ears, as she re-read the poem Alya had texted her with the caption 'this is what Adrien was writing! It's about you!'
"It's official! He's making his move- isn't this great, Elly!?"
"What the heck am I supposed to say to this, Kiisy!? I know we're fated to be together but it doesn't make the whole bunch of stuff leading up to it any easier!" Ella squeaked, blushing scarlet.
"Respond to it! Write back telling him you like him too!"
"You make it sound so easy, Kiis!" Ella groaned, flopping back on the bench.
"Cause it is! Just write him back a poem or some song lyrics! But tell him how you feel!" The kwami sighed, poking at her user's cheek. Ella was silent a moment, thinking about the poem...
"Maybe I can think of something..." Kiismet squealed at Ella's decision, jovially clapping her little paws. But their sisterly moment was cut off by screams echoing through the park, and an angry-looking flying angel firing black heart-tipped arrows at people.
"Really? Another one?"
"Well with a holiday like Valentines Day, there's gonna be some scorned lovers out there for Hawkmoth to take advantage of."
"Yeah, that's what sucks about this kind of holiday." Ella groaned, shooting off a text to Alya about the poem before hiding her bag.
"Kiismet, touch the sky!"
"So she's got eyes, arms, legs, big deal! How can you possibly be in love with Raven? You don't even know who she really is! And what about that Ella girl? Aren't you crushing hard on her?" Plagg complained, floating above one of Adrien's many computer monitors. Adrien sighed, though the kwami was right in a way.
"You don't know anything about love..."
"Oh sure I do, I love Cheddar, I love Swiss and I love Camembert." Adrien ignored Plagg, pushing away from his desk and going to the window.
"Aww, the poor boy's frustrated because he can't finish the poem for his masked sweetheart or his unmasked one?"
"I don't need a poem when I can tell her to her face... I love you."
"Bleh, gross. You're making me lose my appetite." Even so, the kwami tossed the cheese slice into the air and gulped it down. "Almost."
"Come on, Marinette! Do it before you chicken out!" Alya cheered for her friend, ignoring the nagging at the back of her brain. Marinette took a little bit at first, but finally, she put the love letter in the mailbox.
"Yeah!"
"I did it!" The girls before their phones ding, and see that Chloé sent out a mass text.
"Chloé? Since when did she start texting us?" Alya spoke, disgusted, but quickly moved her phone from Marinette's gaze as another text hit her phone... from Ella this time.
The pair open the message, and see an embarrassing photo of Kim.
"What a witch!"
"And I was the one who told Kim to do it! I didn't know he was talking about her!"
"Dang, I hope Adrien doesn't do the same thing to you." Upon hearing that, Marinette panicked, and tried to get the love letter out of the mailbox.
"I mean—Girl, calm down! I have totally joking- kind of... Adrien would never do that." Alya sighed, wondering whether or not Marinette's panic was a good thing- especially with Ella's recent text. But her train of thought got pulled up to the sky above the park.
"What in the world is that?!" She pointed up at the villain, who turned his attention to them.
"All hearts must be destroyed!" Dark Cupid shot an arrow at the candy apples, and at Alya, making her lips turn black.
"Alya?" The girl answered by sticking the candy apples on Marinette's shirt.
"Hey, seriously?!"
"You're not my BFF, you're a joke! Adrien's gonna laugh his head off at your lame attempt at poetry! It's obvious he's going to choose Ella over you!" The teen ran, cackling the whole way.
"Alya?! What did he do to her?" Marinette frowned, her eyes moving to Dark Cupid. But then something glistened in the sunlight, a brooch that Marinette recognized.
"I've seen that jewel somewhere before. It's Kim's pin! He's been akumatized! This is... not... good! We gotta find him, fast!"