𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 , 𝗺𝗹𝗯

𝟭

PARIS HAD BEEN peaceful for the last three (3) days, allowing you to spend the rest of your week with two (2) full days in school. Today was the last day of the week, Friday.

You were currently sat at your kitchen's breakfast bar, having just finished breakfast and half ─ listening to your Papa negotiate something in Dutch. You absentmindedly accepted that this meant he was probably going to sign you up for Dutch lessons.

"[Name]! The car is waiting for you!" Your Mama calls for you from the front door,
"Just a moment, Mama! I have to go grab my bag!" You call back and head back to your bedroom.

You pick up your bag and have Jenói enter your pocket. Before you leave, however, you pick up a sealed blue envelope and a wrapped-up pastry with a tag reading 'Adrien'. You carried your bag and the gifts down to the car.

As the car began to move, you stared at your gifts. You'd gotten Adrien a simple birthday card and a brioche bun, at the time you thought you were a genius. But now it seemed kinda dumb. Adrien's father was a world ─ famous fashion designer, meaning he had probably spent a stupidly large amount of money on a gift he'd consider 'Small'. You think of the outing you had yesterday with your Papa, and what he had said when you were searching for a birthday gift for your friend;
"[Name] ─ pea, are you sure you'd like to get this..?", Your Papa inspects the brioche, "Yes Papa! I don't want to get him anything too flashy,"

"Maybe I should've listened to Papa,", You think. You sulk for a bit until you accept that it's too late to change anything. From the little time you've spent with Adrien you feel that he's the type of person to appreciate any gift.

Your driver pulls up to your school. You thank him, and get out, still holding Adrien's gifts. Surprisingly, you don't run into anyone or anything on the way up to your home ─ room.

You enter the class, and realise that the room is partially full. Not everyone had arrived yet. Luckily for you, Adrien was already there and sitting in his seat alone, probably waiting for Nino.

You approach him, "Happy fourteenth (14th) birthday, Adrien!", He looks at you and smiles, thanking you for remembering, "Oh! And I got you something!", You hand him the envelope and wrapped ─ up brioche. "It's nothing big, and definitely not expensive, but I think you'll like it.". You sit down next to your friend and watch him unwrap the gift and promise to read the card later that night.

Adrien takes the brioche out the wrapper, still widely smiling. "You're smiling a ─ lot.. do you really like brioche that much?" You tease him,
"No! Well ─ I do, but it's just.. this is a very sweet thing to do. I'm really happy about it," Adrien smiles at you again, "I promise to get you something on your birthday, okay?", this time, you smile at him,
"You don't need to. I wouldn't mind, but if you insist.. I won't say no to a gift!" The two of you laugh, and stay sitting together for the rest of the lesson.

-

You and Adrien had exchanged numbers shortly after your gift ─ giving, and were now walking out of the school and down the street with Nino for your Lunch ─ break.
"Wow man.. has your Dad always been such a downer?" Nino asked Adrien, who confirmed to you both that his Father had rejected the notion of a birthday party.

"Yeah.. I'm pretty sure he was like this back when he was younger too," Adrien sighs,
"Well I mean, at least you tried, right? We can still do something small in school to celebrate," You suggest.
"But Adrien shouldn't have to settle for that! It's your day, dude!" Nino huffs, "You know what? I'm gonna go have a little talk with your Pops. At the end of the day, we both just want the best for his son."
"He's not gonna change his mind, don't waste your time," Adrien tries to convince Nino to drop his idea, but you cut in with;
"I don't think it'll be a waste of time! That sentiment is very sweet, I know if I was Mr. Agreste I'd change my mind and hold Adrien the greatest fourteenth (14th) birthday party ever!", Nino smiles widely at you, "[Name] totally gets it!"