#Miraculous Jazz Ensemble AU

[wisteriasymphony]

Adrinette April Day 16 (What If) + Secret Bonus AU Pitch

The Miraculous Jazz Ensemble (What if... Band Kids?)

Five minutes and forty seconds. Five minutes and forty seconds. That was how long it took Marinette to work up the courage to ask Adrien. She wasn't counting the half-hour during lunch, the odd few minutes during every passing period, or even the days since she'd thought of asking, because those had technically all failed. All she ever really needed were those five minutes and forty seconds.

Marinette approached Adrien, who was currently immersed in his homework. He'd been taking accelerated math classes this year, breezing through calculus and a bunch of other theorems and rules that Marinette could never wrap her head around just yet, and he had a habit of working on his calc homework whenever he could just to pass the time. Chewing on the end of his pen, too.

Marinette sat down next to him; He didn't seem to notice her. She scooted closer—once, twice, not a third time. Just enough distance to not break out into a ball of sweat

"Whatcha doin'?" she asked, trying to look cool. If she'd failed (and she sure felt like she did) Adrien didn't seem to notice.

"Integrating by parts!" Adrien smiled, closing his textbook. "It's fascinating, really." He then opened his mouth as if he was going to explain the concept, but he stopped, thinning his lips. "What are you doing?"

Marinette, as always, responded with nervous laughter. "U-uhm, just sitting here!" she said, grinning back. "Hanging out with my best buddy!" ...She wanted to kick herself in the butt for saying that out loud. Way to friendzone yourself, Marinette.

For a moment, as the lack of conversation topic set in for the both of them, Marinette realized that she might, again, need another five minutes. But she didn't have those five minutes anymore, and if she was going to ask Adrien she needed to ask him now.

"Are you, uh— Are you free on Friday?" she asked, unable to look him in the eye. Her fingers couldn't decide on how to link together, her hands fidgeting in something similar to somersaults, over and under and over again. She let herself glance quickly at Adrien to make sure he hadn't dissipated into thin air; There he was, cute as ever, the afternoon sunlight making it seem like his hair was glowing."

"I am," he replied. "Why?"

Oh, god, oh god, now it sounded like she was asking him on a date! And if she made it sound like that then everybody else would think it was a date, and if people started to think that her and Adrien were dating she'd barely be able to concentrate ever again! C-cause then they might hold hands or sit next to each other at lunch or—

"You do band! Yes!" she exclaimed, falling back on the bench somewhat. "Th-that is a thing we both do!"

"Marinette, we're in the same band class. We're in one of the only band classes."

"Y-yes. And, uhm— I was just wondering if.. you'd like to..."

She glanced at Adrien. Then the floor. His textbook. Adrien again. Everywhere else in the world.

"...Join a jazz ensemble with me."

Adrien raised his eyebrows, surprised by the sentiment. He placed his textbook beside him on the bench, turning in towards Marinette more.

"I didn't know we had a jazz department."

"W-well, we don't yet," Marinette stammered. "Mr. E told me he's been working on it for years, and he encouraged me to ask around t-to see who was interested. Alya is interested, and so is Nino, so I thought it'd only be fair if I asked you, too."

As if he knew exactly what would catapult her heart into orbit, Adrien took one of her hands in his, staring her down.

"Marinette," he said. "This is serious. Do you really think we're ready for this?"

"ACK-!" She pushed him away, worried that if he was too close he'd be caught in the blast radius a sudden heart explosion. It was clear by the way he was giggling that he meant it as a joke, but that didn't make her any less flustered. "You're so mean, Adrien!"

"Sorry, sorry. I am honored, though. So what's Friday?"

"Friday is the interest meeting. Mr. E wanted to make everything as official as possible. ...That's also when we'll see if we have enough people for a full band, rather than just an ensemble." Marinette fidgeted again, now feeling like she was again far too close to Adrien for it to be friendly. "Y-you don't have to do it, though."

"I mean, if it's another chance to see you, I wouldn't mind," he replied. "I'll be there Friday. I'm assuming after school."

oh sweet baby jesus he couldn't just say things like that out loud. holy cow. wow.

"Awesome!" Like a total dork, Marinette gave Adrien a double-thumbs-up. Now that he'd said yes, she needed to get out of there before she made an even bigger fool of herself. "I, uh— I have to go! ...And, uh. Do some things," she said, standing up so fast it gave her a head rush. "See you tomorrow!"

'If it's another chance to see you', 'another chance to see you'. She'd be thinking about that for the rest of her life, maybe. 'Another chance to see you', and he wouldn't mind. He maybe even would like it.

Seven minutes and one second, seven minutes and two...