Ladybug's POV:

 She looks at him in surprise. She thought it would have been Alya. She turns off the blow dryer.

"Adrien, you are in the ladies changing room. Explain now."    

  She sits there waiting for him to tell her the truth.  

  She is shocked at what he says.

  She never expected him to apologize for the photo shoot.

"It is alright.  Just forget it even happened, okay." 

She stands up and hands him a spare comb.

  "Here, comb your hair. It is a bit loose."

     She feels his hand as it brushes against hers when he takes it from her.

      Adrien's  POV:

    He takes the comb from her. He feels his hand brush against hers for a bit.

    He smiles.  He waves at her.

    "I will see you later."

     He winks at her as he goes towards the exit. He was about to leave when he saw someone coming. Great, how would he explain why he was here?  It was like she had said it was rather suspicious.

      He backs away from the door. He panics. He hides under the dressing room table.

  Ladybug's POV:

 She tries not to laugh as she opens the door.

   "Hi, Alya!" 

   She hopes her friend does not notice anything amiss.

   She acts as if everything is normal.

   Alya's POV:

    "Hey, girl!"

    "How is it going?"

    She laughs.

   "It is great, Alya."

   Marinette was glad her hair was mostly dry already.

     She would rather not explain the whole water fountain photo to her.

       "Ladybug, what is this I see?"

      Alya places a magazine on the table and slams her hand down next to it.

        Ladybug's POV:

       "Oh, no," she thinks when she sees the front magazine cover. She realizes then that Alya knew about the private photoshoot with Adrien.     

        "Oh, no biggie, I was asked to participate in the shot today."

        "No, biggie?  You are a make-up artist, not a model."  Alya yells at her.

          Ladybug frowns, "I know, but Mr. Agreste wanted me to do this, just this once."

      Adrien's POV:

   He dares not sneeze, laugh, cry, or speak.

   He could risk the non-stop teasing if Alya saw him.

    He held his breath, hoping this other girl would not notice his presence.

      He hopes he can sneak out soon without anyone finding out he was ever in the ladies' changing area in the first place.

    What he hears next almost causes him to blurt out he is in there.

     Ladybug's POV:

       "Alya, I am serious."

       "Fine, but you must tell Adrien, or I will."

     She rolls her eyes.   "You think I do not know that, Alya?" She screams

       She felt tears fall from the unfairness of it all. She only took this job at Alya's insistence, and now she had to tell Adrien who she was all because of Alya.  

        She regrets ever being Alya's friend.  Ugh, why did she let her talk her into all this?

      Adrien's POV:
     He watches the Burnette leave.

     He thinks, goodness she was rude, thank goodness she left.

      He scrambles out from under the table.

       "Are you okay?"

       He puts a thumb next to her cheek and catches her tears.

    Ladybug's  POV:

       "I think y-you better go."

       "I  will be alright."

       "What did she mean by all that stuff about telling me, or she would?"

       She sighs.

  "I took on the persona Ladybug.  I did not think you would speak to me as myself."

      "It is alright. Sometimes, I wish I could be someone else." Adrien answers.

      Ladybug is glad he is not angry with her. Deep down, she still worries he might dislike Marinette Dupain-Cheng.  She is not as confident without the spots. 

      She is no hero, but still. She sure feels like one when she puts on her mask and the spotted clothes.

     Adrien's POV:
       He smiles.      

      "Do not worry. You are still beautiful even without the mask or spots."

       He waves bye once more, then sneaks outside.

      He breathes a sigh of relief that no one sees him.

      He walks around a bit. What should he do to help her?

      Ladybug's POV:

     She grabs her bag.

     She heads out the door.

     She runs and smacks into someone else.

        "I am sorry."

        "Haha, it is alright."

       Ladybug looks up and sees it is Adrien. She blushes.

         "A-Adrien?"

         "Ladybug, I promise I'm not mad at you."

        "I know."

       She reaches up and cups his chin in her hand. When he does not pull away, she closes her eyes. She kisses his chin, then lets go.

   Adrien's POV:
     He blushed.

      He cannot believe it Ladybug just kissed his chin.

       He wishes he knew who she was under the mask.

       He dares not to pressure her.  She will tell him someday and when she does he would be happy to see her then too. He is sure of it.

          "L-Ladybug, you k-kissed me?"  He stutters in surprise.

         "Shh, tell anyone, and I will deny it."

           Adrien watches her runoff in the opposite direction. He can tell she has been crying some more.  Goodness, why is she so afraid to let him know what is on her mind?  

            Did he make her feel uncomfortable for some reason?  He shrugs his shoulders, gets in the limousine, and goes home.

          Find out more in Chapter 8

        bye-bye little owlets!

      -Summer out!

Chapter published May 30, 2021

 Edits made May 31, 2021