Talking Necklace and a bunny?

Chapter 3: Talking Necklace

Manon's car pulled up to school, and she hopped out, inhaling the crisp morning air. The familiar red brick walls and sprawling green lawns always brought her a sense of calm.

She was about to step onto the path when she spotted Mariam and Ria. Oops! Manon instinctively ducked behind the car. Luckily, her driver hadn't yet pulled away.

But their laughter echoed closer, their voices growing louder. They saw me. Manon's eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but it was too late.

"Manon, what were you doing?" Ria asked, her red curls bouncing as she grinned. Her green eyes sparkled with playful curiosity. "Manon, you have to tell us everything!" Mariam added, her purple hair shimmering in the sunlight, her yellow eyes wide with anticipation.

Manon cleared her throat, a nervous flutter in her stomach. She remembered their conversation from last week...

"Mariam, Ria, you're both doing so incredibly well! Mariam, you're a super popular TikToker, and Ria, you're a really successful businesswoman." She knew they were genuinely happy for her, but she desperately wanted to share her own success. The girls exchanged a knowing glance. "Guess what?"

"What?" Ria asked, her voice filled with friendly curiosity.

"I started writing again, and this time, I really think I'm going to make it!" Manon's eyes sparkled with renewed hope.

"That's fantastic! We can't wait for you to become a real writer!" Mariam's smile was radiant.

"I'm going to do it this time!" Manon declared, a surge of confidence filling her.

Back to the present, Ria's voice broke through her reverie. "Manon? Manon?"

"Oh, sorry!" Manon rubbed her forehead, a slight dizziness lingering. "I was just thinking."

"It's okay," Ria said, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from Manon's face. "So, how's your book going?" Mariam asked, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"I'll tell you later!" Manon glanced at her watch, a flicker of panic in her eyes. "We're going to be late for class! Bye!"

"Okay, bye!" the girls said, waving as Manon rushed inside.

Once inside, Manon dashed into the girls' bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She leaned against the cool, tiled wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "What am I going to do?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I can't face Mariam and Ria with their 'it'll be okay's.'"

They'll pat my shoulder and say 'next time,' but this is my 35th try! she thought. Should I just give up? Throw away all those late nights, fueled by lukewarm tea and dashed dreams? Should I stop writing stories I love? Why can't I write a good novel?

"No, you can't quit! Not now!" A sharp, clear voice echoed in the empty room.

Manon's eyes darted around, her heart pounding like a drum. The scent of floral soap and hand sanitizer did little to calm her nerves. "Who said that?"

"It's me."

Manon spun around, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her fingers instinctively went to her neck, searching for her silver necklace, but it was gone! Then, she spotted it on the floor, its delicate chain gleaming under the fluorescent lights. "Are you... talking?"

"Yes, Manon."

"Can I ask another question?"

"Of course."

Manon swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Her hand gripped the cold porcelain of the sink, her knuckles turning white. "Am I dreaming?"

"No, you're not."

A wave of dizziness washed over Manon, and she braced herself against the sink. Then, the necklace began to shimmer, morphing into a fluffy white bunny. "A bunny? How is this even possible?"

The bunny's nose twitched, its black eyes sparkling. "I can do more than you think, Manon. I can help you become the famous writer you've always dreamed of. But you have to complete missions."

"Missions?" Manon's eyebrows shot up. "Why are you smiling like that? It's kind of creepy." Just then, the bunny shimmered again, shrinking and sprouting wings, becoming a small, iridescent bird. It fluttered its wings, landing on the edge of the sink.

"First, you'll learn about relationships. First kiss, and then... more. You'll gain special writing powers with each step. Your next mission is Romance. You'll learn to write stories that make readers feel every emotion, like they're living the story themselves."

"What do you mean by 'more'?" Manon asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"You'll see, Manon. It'll be an adventure." The bird tilted its head, its bright eyes fixed on her. "Ready for your first mission? Look at your wrist."

"My wrist?" Manon looked down, and her eyes widened. A sleek, silver watch had appeared, its face glowing softly. "How did... Talking necklace, I guess nothing should surprise me anymore."

The bird's voice was firm. "Mission: Fall in love and date the most popular and cutest guy in school."

"What?!" Manon's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with disbelief. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. This was insane!