"Happy Birthday, sweetheart. Do you want to invite some friends over today for a party? I'll be off work at 5 today."
Cleo stared at the text from her dad, frowning. She'd never really had friends over for her birthday before. She'd tried, but they were usually busy. Or they forgot - like Camille had every year they'd been friends.
In fact, Cleo had completely forgotten about her birthday with everything else going on. It was surreal - it had been a full year since she got her Miracles. In that time, she'd even moved out - something she hadn't expected to do until she'd at least graduated.
She didn't reply to the text. Not yet. She didn't have any school friends to invite, but maybe Joey and Courtney would come? A quick clairvoyance check confirmed that Joey had the day off work today.
Darius had made breakfast by the time she got to the common room. Everyone else was up, except for Ida. Courtney was discussing something with Joey, while Sawyer listened quietly and Ned doodled something on his tablet.
"We'll be meeting in the old HQ tomorrow," Courtney said. Joey nodded.
Cleo frowned and focused her clairvoyance on what Courtney was discussing.
Oh.
Barrier Maiden and Knight Errant were moving against Achilles now. He really had burned all his bridges, hadn't he? And then Prime...
Yikes.
"I'll go too," Cleo said, figuring she may as well tell the actual Legion members that Prime might end up as a mole. She hopped up to the counter, then thanked Darius when he gave her a plate of food and a glass of juice.
"You know what we're talking about?" Sawyer asked, looking surprised. Why was he? Didn't he know what her Miracle was?
"Barrier Maiden and Knight are thinking of moving against Achilles, but they're not sure how to do it because they still respect and care about him so they called Louise for advice and now she's calling us to set up a meeting with all parties at the Old Legion HQ. Alchemist will be there too."
"Alchemist?"
"She has a Miracle that lets her make potions; she's been working with the Legion for a while. But from behind the scenes. She doesn't actually fight."
"Right. Miss Know-It-All over here," Sawyer grumbled, stabbing at his scrambled eggs with his fork.
"Are you coming, Joey?" Cleo asked, glancing at him.
Joey shrugged, staring at his own breakfast, barely touching it.
"I'm not sure," he said. "On the one hand, I feel like I'm in so deep that I should help him. I mean, we worked together and I don't dislike him, per se. Then again, I never wanted to have anything to do with this in the first place. I've also got work tomorrow."
"Go," Ned said, glancing up. "You'll regret it if you don't. At least, I think you will. When do you get off work? Just schedule it for then."
Joey smiled wryly and tousled Ned's hair.
"I get off at three. Maybe we can have supper at Legion HQ?"
"Louise said anytime between two and five," Courtney replied. "I guess we can have an early supper." She pulled out her phone and typed out a quick text.
It reminded Cleo of the text she still had to reply to. As silence fell and everyone went back to their food, she spoke up tentatively.
"Hey, so..."
The words caught in her throat, but now that everyone was looking at her she couldn't back down.
"I'm wondering if anyone wants to come over to my dad's place later today for a little party of sorts? He asked if I wanted to invite any friends, and you guys are kind of the only ones I have." She glanced down sheepishly.
"Sure, I'll go," Ned said. "I mean, if I'm invited I will."
"Of course you're invited!" Cleo said, grinning. "Do you like hazelnut? What about blueberry? I'm not sure what Dad's getting yet - " She shook her head suddenly, keeping her Miracle from spoiling the surprise.
"Both sound good to me," Ned replied. "Joey?"
"Sure," Joey said. "Do we need to bring anything?"
"No?" Cleo said, frowning. She'd never really had a proper party before. Did people normally bring stuff?
"Why does that sound like a question?" Courtney asked with a laugh.
"What about you, Courtney? Sawyer?" Ned asked.
"No way," Sawyer said, shaking his head. "I...I just don't think so."
"I'm going to be busy, sorry," Courtney replied. "I've got a meeting with my former sergeant. Hopefully he can give me some info on Prime."
"I mean, I can tell you what's up with Prime," Cleo said. "I was going to save it for the Legion meeting tomorrow, though."
"I also want to discuss some other stuff with him," Courtney said. "You guys have fun, though."
"We will," Cleo said, forcing herself to smile. She should be happy, right? She had two friends coming. That had never happened before.
"Can I come too?" Darius asked tentatively. "I've never been to a party before. Will it be fun?"
Cleo looked at him in surprise. Truth be told, she'd almost forgotten he was there. The way he moved so professionally and silently made him just part of the background.
"Of course you can come!" Cleo said, grinning. "Just...maybe don't tell my dad you're actually a robot. He might freak out a bit."
"I will do my utmost to pretend to be a biological creature," Darius replied with a grin.
"That includes referring to people as biological creatures," Ned joked, making everyone laugh. Darius laughed too, then nodded.
"I'll do my best."
"Okay. I'll text my dad, then." Cleo pulled out her phone and told him to expect three friends.
Wait, could Darius eat?
It would be fine. Cleo finished her breakfast and hopped off her stool.
"Okay, then. I'll meet you guys here around six. We can just portal close to my place - er, my dad's place. He said he'd be done work at five, so I'll tell him we'll be there for six."
"Sounds good to me," Joey replied. "See you then."
With one last wave, Cleo ran to grab her backpack and head for school.
Classes flew by in a blur as she tried to keep her Miracle from spoiling what it would be like to have her very first birthday party with friends.
