The morning light filtered through the windows of the newly renovated apartment as the group slowly emerged from their respective bedrooms. The sounds of sizzling and the aroma of butter filled the air, luring everyone toward the kitchen where Gabriel was bustling around in an apron.

"Bonjour, sleepyheads," Gabriel said with a grin as he flipped a crêpe. "Breakfast is almost ready."

Emily yawned as she took a seat at the counter. "What's on the menu? Please tell me it's not croissants. I don't think I can look at another one after last night."

"Not croissants," Gabriel confirmed, gesturing to a spread of crêpes, omelets, and fresh fruit. "A proper French breakfast."

"This looks amazing," Camille said as she joined them, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Don't act too impressed," Alfie teased as he strolled in. "It's just eggs and flour."

"Hey, respect the craft," Gabriel said, feigning offense.

Mindy was the last to appear, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What's all the commotion?"

"Gabriel decided to spoil us," Emily said, gesturing to the feast.

Mindy grabbed a plate, looking genuinely touched. "Wow, Gabriel. This is... really nice. Who knew you had it in you?"

"Don't get used to it," Gabriel said with a wink. "It's a one-time thing."

As they all settled around the table, the sound of forks scraping plates mingled with cheerful chatter. Gabriel, clearly still riding the high from the Charli XCX concert, began humming Boom Clap.

"Gabriel," Mindy said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't."

"Don't what?" Gabriel said innocently, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Don't Boom Clap at breakfast," Mindy warned. "I mean it."

"Boom clap, the sound of my heart..." Gabriel sang quietly, ignoring her warning.

Mindy sighed dramatically, putting her fork down. "Okay. You've brought this on yourself."

"What are you going to do?" Gabriel challenged, grinning.

Without missing a beat, Mindy grabbed a slice of fruit from her plate and gently flicked it at him. It hit his shoulder with a soft plop.

"Oh, it's on now," Gabriel said, picking up a grape.

"Don't even think about it," Camille warned, but she was already laughing.

Emily, watching the exchange, raised her hands. "If this turns into a food fight, I'm out."

"Truce!" Alfie said, stepping in and holding up his plate like a shield. "I haven't even finished eating yet."

The playful chaos was interrupted by the sound of Mindy's phone ringing. She glanced at the screen, her cheerful expression fading when she saw the caller ID.

"It's Nicolas," she muttered, standing to take the call in the hallway.

The group listened with half an ear as Mindy's voice grew sharper.

"No, Nicolas," she said firmly. "We broke up, remember? I'm not buying you a new TV."

Her voice rose slightly. "Because I don't owe you anything. You deserved that heel to the screen, by the way."

She hung up with a frustrated sigh and returned to the table, flopping into her chair. "He still wants me to buy him a new TV."

Gabriel snorted. "Seriously?"

"Apparently, smashing it with my heel was 'a betrayal,'" Mindy said, mimicking air quotes. "And now he's acting like it's the end of the world."

"You're not actually going to buy him one, right?" Emily asked.

"Of course not," Mindy said. "But he won't stop calling about it. He's desperate."

Camille tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we should make him regret asking."

"What do you mean?" Mindy asked, intrigued.

"We could... return the favor," Camille said with a sly smile. "Ask him to take back all the stuff you gave him as gifts. And while we're at it, maybe all his stuff too."

Emily caught on quickly. "Like reverse gifting. He wants a new TV? Fine. He can deal with getting all the memories back instead."

"I like it," Mindy said, nodding. "It's petty, but it's poetic."

Alfie, however, wasn't convinced. "That's a terrible idea. It's theft. He could call the French police on you."

"Not if it's technically her stuff," Gabriel pointed out.

"Or things she gave him," Camille added. "That's not theft—it's reclamation."

Alfie rolled his eyes. "I don't think French law works that way."

Mindy crossed her arms. "It's not about the law. It's about principle."

Emily looked between them, torn. "It could backfire. But also... he kind of deserves it."

"Let me think," Camille said, switching to French as she began pacing. "Si nous jouons cela correctement..."

"What did she say?" Alfie asked.

"She's plotting," Emily whispered. "And when Camille plots, you listen."

By the time breakfast was finished, Camille had a plan in place. Whether it would work or not was anyone's guess, but one thing was clear: Nicolas de Léon was about to learn what happens when you mess with Mindy Chen and her best friends. And if it involved a little chaos, so be it.