I sat there in shock.

    I could not believe it. 

   My father planned to leave town, and I am to move in with my best friend, Nino.

    I never thought things would come down to this.

    I took a moment to process the rest of the details.

    It is a lot to take in for someone like me.

    I shook my head in denial.

    I felt Marinette's arms as she wrapped them around me in comfort.

    "M'lady, I can not understand it.  How?  How were you right all along?"

        I felt her touch my face to reassure me she was not about to walk away.

         The door creaked as someone came inside the room. I wondered if this was why I no longer heard Tikki or Plagg say a word.  

          "Who is it?"

          I decided to wait for Marinette to fill me in as to who the visitor was that approached us.

          "Dude, I came as soon as I could," I heard a familiar voice say.

              Nino, I thought. It is Nino Lahiffe.

              "Yes, and I  am here as well."

            "How are you holding up?"

              "Hi, Nino!  Who is with you?"

              I waited for a response but felt nothing prepared me for the answer.

               "Adrien, it is me, Alya Cesaire."

            "Yes, and I am here too, Adrikins."

               I knew then it was not just one, but three visitors at once.

             I laughed, so it was Nino, Alya, and Chole.

             It could be worse it could have been Lila.

              "Sorry, Adrien, we tried to stop her from coming along, but she insisted."

              "Yeah, man, sorry about all this buddy."

                 "I  am glad you all came."

                  I  felt a hand reach out and touch my shoulder.

                  "Adrikins, I am so glad you are alive."

                 "Haha, same here, Chole."

                  I could have shrugged her off as usual.  

                  I knew she was here as a friend.

              "Chole, have you met my girlfriend?"

                 I said with as serious of tone as I can manage.

              "Girlfriend, Adrien, very funny."

               "I am serious, Chole."

               "Who is she?"

                   I grabbed Marinette's hand and squeezed it.

                  "Chole, meet Marinette Dupain-Cheng, my sweet, loving, and beautiful girlfriend."
      
                    "Adrikins, Mari, is your girlfriend?" I heard a shriek

                   "Yes, I do believe I just said as much."

                   "Wow, that is fantastic!"

                     I  breathed a sigh of relief.

                    "I hope you do not mind, but I told Rose, Alix, and Max they could come by to see you too."

                    I frowned at the word see you.

                     "Sure, that is fine."

                     I was grateful that Chole had not ridiculed Marinette for being my girl.

                     Maybe, she had changed over the years.

                      I  enjoyed the company while it lasted.

                An hour later, Nino, Alya, and Chole left after they hugged me.

                    I felt blessed to have so many great friends!

               "Adrien, we are here,"  I heard another voice speak out.

              "We, as in?"

              "It is Rose, Alix, and Max."

              "Glad you are here, everyone."

            " We brought you something."

              I smiled. 

            "You did not have to."
          
            "I  thought it might cheer you up."

            I took the package Rose handed me.  I ripped it open with anticipation as to what it held inside.  It dawned on me that I had no clue what it was since I could not see it.

              "It is a Jagged Stone CD."  

             I thanked her.

            Next, was Alix's gift.

          I opened it and felt something fuzzy.

          "Earmuffs?"

        "No, guess again."

         I felt something wet as it licked me.

           "An animal?"

         "Good grief, Alix why did not you just tell him it was a puppy?"

           "How did you know what it was Max?"

          "Oh, there is a 99.9 % chance I helped her pick it out."

             I  handed the puppy to Marinette.

            I opened the last gift.

           I could feel a hard surface.

        "Adrien, it is headphones."

      "Thanks, man."

      Later, after the others went home, I was happy to be alone with Marinette again.

      I felt it was a shame I was in this condition.

     I  had no clue what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.

       Find out more in Chapter 10

     bye, bye little owlets!

   -Summer out!