SHIP — Daniela x Manon.

Special story request by, @twopickles.

Written by, @Minaliter (Me!!).

Daniela's heart raced every time Manon smiled. It wasn't just any smile—it was the one where her eyes sparkled, and her lips curved up with that infectious warmth that made everyone around her feel like they were in the spotlight. But Daniela? She was completely mesmerized, always. Every little glance, every moment they shared, sent her spiraling into a whirlwind of nervous excitement. She'd been crushing on Manon for months now, but no matter how much she longed to tell her, the words never seemed to come.

The worst part was that everyone else knew about it. Daniela's friends, Lara and Sophia, never let her forget. Every day, without fail, they teased her, joking about how obvious her crush was.

"Daniela, do you need a map to find Manon's heart?" Lara would tease, nudging her in the hallway.

Sophia would laugh and add, "I think you're already in her orbit, aren't you?"

It was endless, and while Daniela was secretly grateful for their teasing, she hated how exposed it made her feel. No one else seemed to understand how terrifying it was to tell someone you liked them—especially when they had no idea you existed in that way.

And then, there was the biggest problem of all: Manon herself. She was kind, smart, and effortlessly cool. She made friends easily, and her laugh was like music. But to Daniela, she seemed so far out of reach. Manon was completely oblivious to Daniela's feelings. She never noticed the way Daniela's heart would race when they were in the same room, or how her voice would tremble when she tried to start a conversation. To Manon, Daniela was just another classmate, nothing more.

One chilly Friday afternoon, Daniela was sitting at lunch with Lara and Sophia, as usual. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, and the tables around them were filled with their classmates. As always, Daniela's gaze drifted across the room, landing on Manon's table. Manon was laughing at something her friends had said, her hands animated as she spoke, and Daniela couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"You're doing it again," Lara said, nudging Daniela with her elbow. "You've been staring at her for ten minutes."

Daniela blushed, biting her lip. "I can't help it," she mumbled. "She's... she's just so... perfect."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "If you keep acting like this, you're going to get a reputation. Not that you don't already have one," she added with a mischievous grin.

"Ugh, you guys!" Daniela groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know how to do this. I can't just walk up to her and say, 'Hey, I like you'!"

"Of course you can!" Lara said. "You just need to be confident."

Sophia chimed in, her voice light but full of mischief. "Or, we could help you out. You know, set up a little situation where you *have* to confess. That way, you won't chicken out."

Daniela looked at them, eyes wide. "Wait, what? What do you mean?"

The two girls exchanged a knowing glance, then leaned in, whispering in Daniela's ear. They'd come up with a plan—a plan that, if executed perfectly, would give Daniela the nudge she needed to finally confess.

                                         <--->

The following Monday, Daniela was dreading the school day. She'd barely slept the night before, thinking about the upcoming "situation" Lara and Sophia had set up.

It started when Daniela walked into the classroom to find that Manon had been assigned the seat next to hers. Her heart skipped a beat. She had no idea how Lara and Sophia had pulled this off, but it was already working. She could feel the heat of Manon's presence next to her, even though the two hadn't exchanged a single word yet.

"Okay," Lara whispered from across the room. "The countdown is on."

Sophia, sitting behind them, grinned. "Just act normal, Dani. This is your moment."

At first, nothing happened. Daniela tried to focus on the lesson, but the words on the chalkboard blurred in front of her eyes. Manon was sitting there, her presence calming, but still overwhelming. Daniela couldn't concentrate. Every time Manon shifted in her seat, Daniela's heart skipped a beat.

But then, it happened.

"Hey, Daniela," Manon said softly, tapping her on the shoulder.

Daniela's breath caught in her throat. "Y-yeah?"

"Are you okay?" Manon asked, concern flickering in her eyes. "You look a little... tense."

Daniela froze. Was Manon actually talking to her? She swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Oh, um, I'm fine. Just... distracted."

Manon smiled back, her eyes softening. "Yeah, I get it. This class can be a bit boring sometimes."

For the first time in a long while, Daniela found herself laughing—not the awkward, nervous kind, but a real laugh. "Yeah, I'm just trying not to fall asleep."

They shared a moment of mutual understanding, and for a brief second, Daniela thought maybe Manon did see her. But then, as the bell rang and the class moved on to the next subject, Daniela's thoughts scrambled again. She didn't want to waste this moment. She didn't want to let this chance slip away.

But how could she say it? How could she confess without looking like a complete idiot?

After class, Daniela was packing up her things when she felt a tap on her shoulder again.

"Hey," Manon said, smiling as she leaned over to talk. "I was wondering if you'd want to grab a coffee after school? I've been meaning to ask you for a while, but I didn't know if you were busy."

Daniela's heart nearly stopped. This wasn't just a friendly gesture; this was *the* moment. Everything her friends had planned had led up to this one question.

"Sure," Daniela said, her voice barely a whisper. "I'd love that."

                                         <--->

The coffee shop was cozy and warm, a small café tucked away from the bustling street. Daniela sat across from Manon at a corner table, her fingers nervously wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate.

"So, tell me," Manon said after a few minutes, "what do you like to do outside of school? I know you're in a couple of clubs, but there's got to be more to you than just that."

It was a casual conversation, and Daniela tried to keep the nervousness at bay. She talked about her hobbies, her family, and the music she loved. But in the back of her mind, her heart pounded in anticipation.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Manon looked at her seriously, her expression soft but intense.

"Daniela," she said, her voice quieter now. "I have to be honest. I... I've noticed something about you. And I think it's time I tell you this."

Daniela's pulse raced. Was this it? Was Manon going to confess to her first?

Before Daniela could speak, Manon smiled gently and added, "You're always so kind and thoughtful, and I just wanted you to know that I admire that. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I realized something: you mean a lot to me."

Daniela's breath caught in her throat. Her thoughts spun, but something clicked. Maybe, just maybe, this was the moment she had been waiting for.

Manon reached across the table, taking Daniela's hand in hers. "I know this might sound sudden, but... I think I like you, Daniela. A lot."

Daniela froze, her mind whirling. But then, everything seemed to fall into place. It wasn't just about confessing her feelings anymore. Manon had already taken the first step, and now, Daniela could respond—honestly and openly.

"I like you, too," Daniela said softly, her heart soaring as the weight of the moment lifted from her shoulders.

Manon's smile grew wider. "I'm glad."

And for the first time in months, Daniela finally felt like everything was exactly where it needed to be.