Static Dinosaurs and Unspoken Hearts |ShellVision|

Now guys!!! THIS IS THE JUUUUIIIIICCY CHAPTER!!! DON'T SKIP THIS CHAPTER!!!!!! ITS TOO GOOD!!!! AHHhHAHHHAHAhhahahhahHAHAHAHAhahahAHHhahahahahHHAhAhhAAHaHahaHhAhahahahahaHaHahahAaHahahAhahahahahaHhahAhazhahahahahAhAHaHAhAhAhAhhahahAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA:

As the two quietly entered the room and closed the door behind them, the noise from the rest of the house faded into a distant murmur. The air was thick with tension—unspoken thoughts clinging to every glance and shuffle. They both sat down on the edge of a small couch, close but not touching, an awkward gap between them that somehow felt heavier than the earlier kiss. Shelly's heart was hammering in her chest. She tried to breathe steadily, but every second next to Vee made her thoughts blur. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap, and she kept stealing small glances at Vee, unsure what to say.

Vee noticed immediately. "Shelly... are you okay?" she asked gently, her voice low and cautious.

Before she could even finish the question, Shelly lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Vee, catching her completely off-guard. Vee froze. Her body tensed, not out of rejection, but surprise—this wasn't what she had expected at all. But as she felt Shelly trembling slightly against her, she slowly let her arms lift and return the hug, holding her gently.

It was warm. Close. Vulnerable.

And then, Shelly whispered something that made Vee's breath catch.

"Vee... do you love me?"

The words weren't loud. They weren't demanding. Just soft, scared, and sincere. Shelly didn't look up. She kept her face buried in the crook of Vee's shoulder, waiting—hoping—for the answer she wanted.

Vee's body tensed again. Her throat felt dry. Her mind raced.

"I..." she began, her voice cracking.

Shelly held her breath.

"I... don't," Vee finally said, her voice quiet but honest.

Shelly's arms loosened slightly. Her expression dimmed. The hope she had clung to flickered. It didn't shatter completely, but it stung. Her eyes lowered, not crying, just... hurt.

But Vee wasn't done.

"I don't love you..." she repeated, but then gently cupped Shelly's arm, her cheeks blushing a deep crimson. "But I like you. I really do. As a friend. And I care about you, a lot." Shelly pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. Her own cheeks were flushed, and there was a flicker of heartbreak in her gaze, but also understanding. The answer hurts... but at least it was real. "I figured," she said with a small, shaky smile. "I just... needed to hear it." There was a beat of silence between them. Then Vee gently nudged her shoulder into Shelly's, giving her a little playful bump. "You're still important to me, dork."

Shelly let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, I guess I'll take that."

As the quiet moment settled between Vee and Shelly, the door creaked open—followed by the familiar soft shuffle of slippers and the glimmer of indigo socks stepping into the room. Astro stood there, his starry eyes wide as he blinked at the scene: Vee and Shelly sitting close, both visibly flustered, with Shelly's eyes still red from emotion and Vee's cheeks a stubborn crimson. "...Uh..." Astro mumbled, shifting awkwardly, clearly having walked in on something personal. "Should I... come back later?" Vee, still emotionally tangled from what had just happened, exhaled sharply and raised an eyebrow. "Actually... no. You can answer something for me." Astro tilted his crescent head. "Okay?" Vee smirked slightly, trying to lighten the air. "So. You and Dandy. Are you two gay?"