Chapter Three

Marinette was almost certain her heart had lodged in her throat. She shot a glance at Alya who was smirking at her. It seemed her best friend was looking forward to this encounter. The two most attractive guys she knew were about to cross paths for the second time. But things were different in this instance. When Marinette first met Luka, she'd been weighed down with doubt about things ever progressing between her and Adrien. She hadn't been looking for a replacement for her crush, yet she'd been immediately drawn to Luka and got the impression the feeling was mutual.

As if to confirm that theory, Luka walked towards her with a quiet confidence as his eyes shone with a warmth matched by his smile. He stopped at the very edge of her personal space to greet her. "It's good to see you again, Marinette." The low timbre of his voice stroked her like velvet.

The sound pulled at her like an invisible string. She leaned towards him and gushed, "Yeah, you too." Adrien was temporarily forgotten as she drowned in the older boy's smouldering azure eyes. It was a gaze of admiration that replicated the one Chat Noir regularly threw Ladybug. The subtle reminder of her partner made her head turn as she glanced toward the blonde, and she could already see a shift in his body language.

"You must have gotten here early." Adrien said as he lifted his hand to shake Luka's in greeting, effectively wedging himself in front of Marinette. Part of her wanted to believe that the model was asserting himself against a rival for her affection, but she wasn't entirely sure. Perhaps it was a surge from the crowd that nudged him closer. Because there was nothing threatening in his demeaner as he spoke with Luka. Yet she noticed his frame stiffen when the musician glanced at her.

Adrien's arm brushed against hers when Luka turned to shake Nino's hand. Looking up she caught the model's gaze and her lungs seized. There was an inviting sparkle to his eyes that was reminiscent of Chat Noir's mischievous smirk. Clearly, he had deciphered her subtle hints around their miraculous. Looking to the floor, she noticed the fingers on his closest hand stretch towards hers, then uncertainty seemed to strike and he clenched them away.

With greetings out of the way, Luka turned his attention back to the dark-haired girl. If he noticed Adrien's interest in her he didn't acknowledge it. Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat, Marinette glanced warily between Adrien and Luka. Neither boy seemed fazed by the other. A crooked grin spread across the older boy's face as he held out his guitar, already autographed by Jagged Stone.

"I was one of the first in line." He explained, showing the group the rock star's signature, artfully scrawled in line with the strings.

"Wow dude, you have to frame that." Nino said with an appreciative nod.

Adrien eyes were wide. "That is so awesome."

"It's going on my wall," Luka smirked as he turned to Marinette. "Although I need to get some replacement picks now."

"You said I could have them." She said defensively.

"I'm just teasing."

At that moment she felt the brush of Adrien's shoulder against hers. "What picks?"

"Oh, I have a collection of Jagged Stone guitar picks. Marinette liked them so much I said she could have some."

The girl flushed. "I hope I didn't ruin your collection."

"Nah, as I said I have more."

"Did you know Marinette designed the cover of Jagged Stone's last album?" Adrien proclaimed as he casually draped an arm around her shoulders. The blood pumped so loudly in her ears it was a miracle she heard the reply.

Luka's eyes locked onto hers. "You didn't tell me that."

A blush spread across her cheeks. "Well it's not exactly something I start a conversation with."

"True." Luka answered, flicking his blue tipped hair away from his vision. "You really are amazing."

The arm around her shoulders tightened. "Isn't she just." A muscle in Adrien's jaw twitched while his eyes remained locked on Luka. Was that jealously on her crush's face? Even as she thought it, he shifted into a very familiar Chat Noir defensive stance, with his free hand inching towards his back as if seeking his baton. She needed to placate her partner, but how?

A nervous giggle escaped her. "Aw, thanks guys." She purposefully snaked her arm around Adrien's waist and smiled at him. The tension momentarily dropped from his frame.

When she turned back to Luka there was an amused look on his face. "No stuttering today?" he teased.

Adrien's hackles were up. What did Luka mean by that? And why was Marinette blushing so fiercely? A heavy weight settled in his stomach, was this the boy? The one Ladybug mentioned when he'd opened up to her about his own feelings. Was this who held his lady's heart? Jealously jolted through Adrien with an intensity he'd never known. If Marinette was Ladybug, and he was pretty certain that was the case, he'd prove to her that he was the better choice. He was her trusted partner after all. "And here I was thinking I was the only one to render you speechless."

The blush managed to somehow deepen. "I-I-"

"See," he gloated at the musician.

Luka cocked his head to the side and gave him a sly smile. "Maybe you make her nervous. I heard you got mobbed because of that perfume ad. It could make things a little awkward."

"I-It's not that," Marinette said with panic.

"Then what is it?" Adrien asked.

The dark-haired girl worried her bottom lip with her teeth. "It's… it…"

"Hey look the line is moving." Alya pointed out.

Somehow Luka managed to gently swing Marinette away from Adrien's hold, bringing her into line beside him.

Adrien's knuckles whitened as his fists clenched. Why was it now, when he finally saw Marinette as more than a friend, that someone else was interested? He ground his teeth together as the irony struck him. It wasn't all that long ago that he'd tried to help Nino date her, prior to his relationship with Alya.

The burning need to confirm her identity as Ladybug raged. Although, if he was honest with himself, he doubted his jealously would instantly disappear even if she wasn't his lady. He was seeing his friend in a whole new light and he didn't think he could dismiss the emotions now unleashed.

From their first meeting, Adrien had admired Marinette's spunk and she had continued to wow him with her kindness and warmth. She was amazingly talented in so many ways, and only now was he appreciating how much she meant to him. For once he longed for an akuma attack, so he could drag her to a secluded spot where they could transform together. But instead they slowly progressed with the line and he continued to vie for her attention.

Nino elbowed him with a smirk. "Everything okay, dude?"

"Yeah." He sighed, hoping they'd reach the rock star sooner rather than later.

By the time they got to the front of the line, Marinette's stomach was in knots. Luka had pretty much dominated the conversation with her from the moment he'd pried her out of Adrien's hold. She'd continually thrown apologetic looks to the blonde and watched as his scowl deepened with each glance. It was a look she rarely saw from Adrien, but she'd observed it a few times from Chat. He even went so far as crossing his arms as he quietly huffed.

Nino and Alya were animatedly talking about their signed shirts as Marinette held out a magazine to Jagged Stone to sign. "Hey, here's my girl." He grinned, and she basked in the singer's praise about her wicked designs as his pen danced over the magazine cover.

When it was all over the group moved outside and said their goodbyes to Luka, who needed to pick up something for Juleka on the way home. Marinette watched as Adrien's glare softened at the older boy's departure.

"He's a nice guy," she said quietly to him.

At this the model's head snapped to her and he scrutinised her features. What he was looking for, she didn't know. Eventually he uncrossed his arms. "Yeah, I guess so." There was an unspoken question in his gaze, but she had no idea what he was asking.

For the most part, Alya and Nino chatted on the way to the car, while Adrien walked silently by Marinette's side. A few times he lifted his hands as if wanting to express something, then they'd drop back to his sides as he shook his head.

Marinette took the initiative. "What's up?"

Green eyes widened. How could he possibly ask her if she was crushing on Luka without sounding possessive? "You and Luka, are you a thing?" He cringed at his own words, not his most articulate question.

A deep blush stained her cheeks and his stomach dropped to his toes. Her verbal answer gave him a slight reprieve. "No."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Okay. Do you hope he'll ask you out?"

Marinette stopped abruptly to face him. "Maybe. Why do you ask?"

"I-I just wondered. You spent a lot of time with him." His gaze darted to her earrings. He wanted to be direct but they had an audience. Is he the boy you told me about? was the real question he tried to convey with his eyes. But again, she seemed to miss it.

Ducking her head, Marinette turned and began walking. Striding beside her, Adrien missed a step when she murmured. "Actually, I wanted to spend more time with you."

My apologies if there are any typos or grammatical mistakes. I was really tired when reviewing numerous times, but I wanted to get this chapter up due to the delay (I was on holidays).

Regardless of that, thanks for reading and the support. How do you think Adrien will respond to Marinette's last comment?