Static Dinosaurs and Unspoken Hearts |ShellVision|

Chapter 14

"And?" she asked carefully, leaning just a little closer.

Vee hesitated, her screen static soft, dreamy.

"You were laughing at something dumb I said. Then you hugged me. And I..." She trailed off.

Shelly tilted her head, cheeks already warming. "You what?"

"I held on," Vee whispered. "And didn't want to let go."

The air went quiet.

Shelly's hand stilled on her dino plush. She stared at Vee like her whole brain had just blue-screened, her cheeks flaring crimson—not like a little blush, but a full red alert. Her plush slipped to the floor without her noticing. "You—you dreamed that?" she breathed, her voice a little shaky. "That we—" "Cuddled," Vee finished quietly. "You pulled me into your lap. I buried my face in your hoodie. It was just...warm. Safe." Shelly sat there, frozen. She blinked once. Twice. Her face just kept getting redder. Then suddenly she yanked the blanket from Vee's shoulders and threw it over herself, burying her face in the fabric. "Wh—why would you say that??"

Vee blinked, confused. "You asked."

"I didn't think it'd be that cute!" Shelly's muffled voice squeaked from under the blanket. "You said you were dreaming about me and I was ready for, like, you chasing me with a shopping cart, not—soft cuddles and hoodie warmth??" Vee was quiet for a second... before a small flicker of amusement danced across her screen. She slowly leaned closer, voice low and mischievous:

"You liked that, huh?"

Shelly flailed out of the blanket, flustered and pink. "I didn't say that—!" "You didn't have to," Vee purred with a smirk in her tone, screen flickering now with a slow-building confidence she rarely used. "You're overheating."

"I am not!"

Her dino hood drooped. Her plush fell again. And Vee just laughed—genuine and soft—as she leaned over and lightly nudged her head against Shelly's shoulder. "Guess I'm not the only one glitching now." Shelly, pouting with a bright red face, muttered, "You're lucky I like you."

Vee smiled—her screen showing a soft little heart in the corner.

"Good. Because I'm yours." Shelly finally stopped flailing, collapsing back into the beanbag with a huff, still red in the face and clinging to her dino plush like it was the last shred of her composure. Vee, sitting beside her, let the moment settle into something quieter—her screen dimming to a warm glow, the static nearly silent.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Then, without thinking, Vee slowly scooted a little closer... then a little more. Her shoulder brushed against Shelly's arm.

Shelly tensed at first—but didn't pull away.

Instead, she peeked over, her face still rosy, and hesitated for a second. Then wordlessly, she pulled her blanket up and gently draped it over Vee too.

The silence stretched, but this time, it was soft. Comfortable.

Vee leaned her head—her screen—just barely against Shelly's shoulder. Shelly blinked, lips parted slightly, unsure if she should move or freeze or say anything.

"...You're warm," Vee mumbled.

"So are you," Shelly whispered, barely audible.

A few seconds passed.

Then both of them froze. Eyes wide. The realization hit like a train on fire. Vee's screen lit up bright pink. Shelly's face turned an immediate, violent red. Her dino onesie looked like it was about to combust.