Chapter 8: Three Little Miracles and a Golden Ticket
The digital clock on her computer screen blinked, each passing second feeling like a tiny drumbeat against Manon's nerves. Two weeks. A self-imposed exile from the usual school chaos, a deliberate avoidance of Robin and his ever-present group. They were supposedly coming over later, a peace offering of sorts, a reward for her hermit-like behavior. But right now, the only thing occupying Manon's thoughts was the small, unassuming window of her writing platform.
She clicked the refresh button, her breath catching in her throat. "Three downloads!" she whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief. A rush of pure, unadulterated joy mixed with a healthy dose of "is this real life?" washed over her. "Okay, okay, don't start planning your acceptance speech yet," she muttered, quickly scrolling down to the comments section.
Her eyes scanned the screen, and a genuine, heartfelt smile spread across her face. The names were all unfamiliar. No Robin, no Mom, just…strangers. People who had actually stumbled upon her story and, unbelievably, enjoyed it enough to download it. "I knew I could do it," she breathed, her voice filled with a newfound confidence that felt surprisingly solid. "Just twenty-seven more downloads and I'll have reached my (admittedly small) goal! I'm so happy I could… I could…"
Ding!
Manon jumped, her hand flying instinctively to her smartwatch. "Huh? What's this?" she asked aloud, her voice a mixture of curiosity and pleasant surprise.
Manon, your writing level has increased. Writing Level: Level 4. Improve your writing speed.
"Writing level? Seriously?" She stared at the computer screen, a thrill of excitement coursing through her. Her fingers twitched, itching to get back to her story. "Let's see if this is actually a thing." She opened her manuscript and started typing, the words flowing effortlessly, almost as if her fingers had developed a secret superpower. "Oh my goodness, it is faster!" she exclaimed, a wide grin stretching across her face.
She leaned back in her chair, a wave of exhilaration washing over her. "World, your slightly faster, slightly more downloaded writer is here, and I'm feeling… almost unstoppable! I can't believe this is actually happening!"
Grabbing her bag, Manon practically skipped down the stairs, her mind buzzing with the possibilities. She replayed the number 'three' in her head, each download feeling like a tiny, precious medal.
"Well, look who finally decided to rejoin the land of the living," Adrien said, his mouth full of crunchy cereal. He glanced up at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I got three downloads!" Manon blurted out, unable to contain the happy news. "And they're from people I don't even know!"
"Wow, that's… great," Adrien said, his eyes widening just a fraction, a hint of genuine surprise in his voice. "Oh, speaking of… how's your… interactions with Robin going? Did you manage to achieve peak levels of Manon-esque awkwardness, as per usual?"
Manon grabbed a piece of toast from the table and playfully (but firmly) shoved it into his open mouth. "Are you trying to summon Mom with your loud chewing? She's still in her room, trying to enjoy the morning peace!"
Adrien chewed thoughtfully, a suppressed smirk playing on his lips. "Just… checking in on your progress," he mumbled through the toast.
"What is it, Adrien?" Manon asked, taking a satisfying bite of her own breakfast.
"Oh, nothing, if you don't want to hear it…" he trailed off, his voice dripping with playful insinuation.
"Just tell me already!" Manon said, her patience wearing thin.
"Have you heard about the big party this Saturday?" Adrien asked, leaning back in his chair with an air of casual importance. "Everyone from school is going—well, the important people, anyway. And guess who else is going to grace the event with his presence?"
"How does that remotely concern my existence?" Manon retorted, her voice laced with playful sarcasm. "Are you trying to subtly remind me that my social status is closer to 'invisible' than 'VIP'?"
"Well, yes, there's that," Adrien said casually, then returned to his cereal as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. "Oh, and Robin's going."
Manon choked on her toast, a surprised cough escaping her lips, her eyes watering slightly. Adrien's smirk widened into a full-blown grin. "Make sure to hydrate, Manon. Hydration is key to avoiding awkward coughing fits. My work here is done."
I need that invitation, Manon thought, her heart suddenly pounding with a new sense of urgency. "Wait!" she called out, standing up so abruptly her chair scraped against the floor. "Please, Adrien, I need that invitation! I need it… desperately!"
Adrien burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling at the corners with pure amusement. "First things first, little sister. You have to address me with the proper respect. You must call me… 'Big Brother.'"
Manon raised an eyebrow, her face flushing slightly. "Absolutely not!" she exclaimed, then caught herself, lowering her voice to a more pleading tone. "I mean… anything else, please?"
"My incredibly important early morning meeting with my incredibly important friends awaits," Adrien said, pushing his chair back with dramatic flair. "Perhaps you should return to your… toast-related contemplation." He turned to leave the kitchen, a mischievous grin still plastered on his face.
"Big Brother," Manon pleaded, the words feeling foreign and slightly ridiculous on her tongue, her cheeks burning. "Please, just give me the invitation."
Adrien's laughter only intensified, his eyes sparkling with pure delight at her predicament. "Oh my goodness, Manon, the look on your face is priceless!" He finally reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded invitation, holding it out to her with a flourish. "Fine, fine. But you owe me. Big time. Like, clean my room for a month big." He turned and sauntered out of the kitchen, still chuckling to himself.
Manon stared at the invitation in her hand, the fancy script swimming slightly before her eyes. Her heart was doing a chaotic drum solo in her chest. Should I really go? To a party? With actual… people? And Robin? She looked at the invitation again, the possibility of seeing Robin, of maybe even… talking to him, sparking a nervous but undeniable excitement within her. A small, determined smile appeared on her face. Yes. I need to go.