With the defeat of Hawkmoth, Ladybug has more free time, but Marinette has to get ready to graduate! Making her own dress? Of course! Secretly crushing on Adrien? Always! Falling for Chat Noir? What!
Chat Noir will always love Ladybug, but Adrien ca...
"Honestly, since she and Lila became friends and showed their true colors, it's brought everyone else closer," Nino observed. "Now come on we're gonna be late."
"Y-yeah we class have to go-I mean we have to go to class," Marinette stammered trying to recover from the physical contact from Adrien.
Adrien looked after her and felt a ping in his heart. She is one of my closest friends, but she was tense when I hugged her. Does she not want me to hug her? She's so good at supporting all her friends whenever anything happens, especially me. Without school I won't have a reason to see her anymore...that's going to suck. They sat next to each other all this year and worked together on most of their projects.
Adrien sat next to her on autopilot still lost in his thoughts, I don't need school to hang out with Marinette. I should ask if she wants to...what should we do together? Maybe I can offer to teach her more Chinese! Wait, school is over, why would she want to keep learning things. What if we go take ice skating lessons together? I would enjoy holding her hand on the ice rink...wait what? Where did that come from? We're just friends...
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"Alright class, welcome to your last week of school. I have planned a very important project for you to work on this week. It will determine whether you graduate!" Mlle Bustier said but started laughing when she saw the horror on almost everyone's face. "JUST KIDDING!"
There was some laughter and sounds of relief around the room. Adrien and Marinette instinctively turned to each other laughing, as their eyes met they both blushed and quickly turned to look back to the front. Adrien was still trying not to think about holding her hand.
"With your seat partner, you need to make a creation that embodies the best parts of the last year. Use your many talents to show pictures, tell stories, and express your feelings about your classmates. Now remember that there will be no negative comments about anyone allowed," she stated giving a sharp look to Chloe and Lila sitting in the front row.
There was some excited chattering between many of the pairs who were sitting together, but they quieted when she started again.
"We finished all the other projects from the year except your paper that I assigned earlier this month so if you haven't finished that please work on that first. I've reminded you before, but it is due by the end of the day today. This whole week you will be allowed to go to the library or art rooms to work on the memory project. We will present them on Friday during my end-of-school ice cream party!"
"What!" "Ice Cream!?" "Sweet" Exclamations were heard as she finished.
"Hush hush, yes I will be bringing Andre's ice cream for everyone to celebrate how proud I am of you, and how much I will miss you as my students," the sweet teacher was feeling the glistening in her eyes as she talked about her favorite class. "Go ahead and get started."
The groups started talking and brainstorming or getting permission to go to the library or art room. Alya and Nino had turned around to start talking with their friends.
"Have you guys finished your papers?" Alya asked.
Marinette and Adrien both nodded but Nino looked down and said, "not yet."
"Babe!" Alya said looking at him.
"It's almost done, I promise. I just have to finish the conclusion," Nino said.
"Well, maybe we can take a look at it real quick. I do want to get started on our project because I have a great idea! I'm thinking we should look through our video footage and make a newscast using my journalistic talents to talk about the year." Alya said excitedly.
"That sounds awesome. I can use my talents with directing and editing. What are you guys going to do?" Nino asked Marinette and Adrien.
"I-I don't have very many talents to use..." Marinette started to say.
"Are you kidding? You are our everyday Ladybug remember? You have the best designs, your baking is incredible, you're funny, smart, and you are the kindest person I know," he said.
Marinette was shocked to hear Adrien talk about her like that and could feel a blush creep up her cheeks.
Adrien then added softly, "I'm the one with no useful talents."
"You don't really think that Adrien?" Marinette said reaching her hand across the space to place it on his. He sat quietly enjoying the comforting feeling of her hand.
"Bro, you are awesome, the best friend a guy could have," Nino added.
"You have tons of fencing trophies, you can play piano, speak Chinese, and you're a world-famous model with a fan club!" Alya stated.
"Adrien," Marinette started and he looked at her wanting to hear what she had to say most, "They are right, but the best talent you have is your character. You are trustworthy, caring, and...so much more." The blush returned to her face stronger than ever.
"Thanks, that means a lot," he flipped his hand over and placed the other on top of hers. Then he looked to his other friends, "you guys are the best. I'm sure we will do something great."
Marinette could feel the warmth of his hands and it felt like the heat in her body was rising from the affection shared between them. He loosened his grip on her hand, but didn't fully release her until she pulled her hand away and grabbed her pencil, "Let's start brainstorming!"
Alya and Nino got permission to work on Nino's paper in the library and Adrien helped Marinette make some notes. As they worked, Marinette would remember the soft yet strong hands she was holding 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes ago and would blush profusely and start stuttering. Finally, the class ended and they had come up with some good ideas and projects to work on by tomorrow.
When they met back up at lunchtime with Alya and Nino, everything seemed back to normal.
