Love through static
“I’m not overreacting!” Shelly’s voice echoed through the room.
Vee leaned against the doorframe of Shelly’s room, her expression a mix of concern and defensiveness.
Vee shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting to the dinosaur posters on the wall as if searching for the right words there. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, her fingers fidgeting with her microphone.
The silence stretched awkwardly between them, heavy with Shelly’s anger. Finally, Vee took a deep breath, her voice soft, but with a hint of irritation.
“I mean….I never said..that” Vee continued to fiddle with her microphone.
Shelly turned to face her.
“Yeah, well it sure SEEMED like it”
Shelly’s mind replayed all the moments the others had ignored her, the memories swirling together like a storm cloud.
She thought about Sprout, who had once brushed her off mid-conversation to gush about new cupcake recipes, completely ignoring the fact that Shelly had been trying to open up about her bad day.
Then there was Astro, who always seemed too tired to care—she remembered how he had fallen asleep while she was talking about something important, leaving her words hanging uselessly in the air.
Even Pebble, sweet as he was, would wag his tail and bark in response, clearly more focused on his next treat than on anything Shelly had to say.
And Vee?
Vee, the ever-busy gameshow host, never had time for her.
"Sorry, Shel, I’ve got a show to prep for! Can this wait?”
It rang in her ears, each dismissal cutting deeper than the last. Shelly’s chest tightened as she thought about it all, the weight of being ignored pressing down on her harder than ever.
“Shelly!”
Shelly was pulled from her spiraling thoughts when she heard Vee’s voice, clear and full of concern, calling her name.
“Shelly?” Vee said again, and this time the sound made Shelly’s heart skip a beat.
She blinked, her breath catching as her gaze met Vee’s. For a brief moment, the storm of emotions in Shelly’s chest quieted, replaced by a dull ache she couldn’t quite put into words.
“I…” Shelly started, hesitating as guilt and something far more complicated bubbled up inside her.
“Vee, I’m really sorry,” She finally said, her voice soft and trembling.
“I know I’ve been acting… weird. I didn’t mean to. I know you’re just trying to help, and I… I’ve just been stuck in my own head.”
She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, looking down at her lap to avoid Vee’s eyes, afraid her face might betray her feelings.
Vee tilted her head, her usual confidence softened with empathy.
“It’s okay, ‘Shel,” She said gently, her voice washing over Shelly like a soothing balm.
“I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You’re important, you know?”
Shelly’s chest tightened at those words, but she could only nod, forcing a small smile she didn’t quite feel.
Vee glanced at the clock on Shelly’s wall, and her eyes widened slightly.
“Oh, it’s already 6:00!” she exclaimed, standing up.
“Sprout and Cosmo should be finishing up dinner around 6:30. I’ll go check on them.” Shelly’s heart sank a little as she watched Vee move toward the door, the warmth of her presence already beginning to fade.
“I’ll see you downstairs for dinner,” Vee said, pausing for a moment as though she wanted to say more.
Shelly wondered, for the briefest second, if Vee could sense there was something she wasn’t saying—something she had been holding back.
But Vee just gave her a small smile before slipping out of the room, leaving Shelly alone once again.
The door clicked shut, and the silence that followed felt heavier than before. Shelly sighed and sank back onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Her thoughts drifted back to Vee, to the way her voice had softened when she spoke Shelly’s name, to the way her smile could light up a room.
Shelly closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her face, her cheeks burning.
“Get it together, Shelly,” she muttered to herself.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing.
At 6:30, Shelly finally forced herself out of bed and made her way to Dinner.
Her stomach twisting—not just from hunger, but from the thought of seeing Vee again.
The dining room was a lively, chaotic symphony of voices, laughter, and the occasional clatter of plates. The polished wooden table stretched long enough to seat all the Toons, though not without the usual shuffling and jostling as everyone found their places.
Above, the soft glow of a chandelier cast a warm light on the room, barely dimming the vibrant personalities gathered around it.
Astro sat at the far end of the table, his crescent moon face resting gently on the surface. His glowing form looked dimmer than usual, a clear sign of exhaustion.
Dandy, seated beside him, leaned in with a warm but slightly nervous smile, trying to catch Astro’s eye.
His mint-green blush was faint but noticeable, and his colorful petals stood out in sharp contrast against the muted tones of the room.
“You know, Astro,” Dandy began softly, his voice kind and measured,
“you really should let yourself rest more. You’ve been helping everyone with their dreams so much lately.”
Astro’s starry eye flickered faintly, and for the first time that evening, he smiled—a small, tired smile, but genuine nonetheless.
“I can’t help it,” he murmured. “It’s just… what I do.”
Dandy chuckled softly, his heart fluttering a bit.
“Well, don’t forget you’re allowed to take care of yourself too. You’re not alone in helping everyone, you know.”
Astro turned his head slightly to glance at Dandy, his smile lingering.
“Thanks, Dandy. That… means a lot.”
Across the room, conversation buzzed like static on an old TV. Boxten, the cardboard box Toon, was deep in discussion with Glisten.
“...and that’s why I think glitter glue is superior,” Boxten was saying, his tone serious.
Glisten nodded enthusiastically.
“Sure, but what about sequins? They add dimension. You can’t deny that!”
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the table, Toodles was animatedly chatting with Tisha, her 8-ball head tilting as she waved her arms in excitement.
“So, get this,” Toodles said, her voice rising slightly,
“Rodger’s been working on this huge detective case. It’s all hush-hush, but I overheard him saying something about a missing blueprint and—”
Tisha held up a hand, her tissue ruffling dramatically.
“Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me you eavesdropped on a detective? That’s… risky.”
Toodles grinned. “Well, yeah, but it’s Rodger. He’s my dad. What’s he gonna do—ground me?”
Speaking of Rodger, he was seated near the middle of the table, deep in conversation with Teagan, who was recounting her latest Runs with her usual intensity.
“And then,” Teagan said, leaning forward, “I made it to the elevator with just seconds to spare!”
Rodger nodded, his expression thoughtful.
“Sounds like you’ve been pushing yourself hard. Just remember to stay sharp out there. One slip-up, and it’s game over.”
In the kitchen, Sprout and Cosmo were still finishing up the last of the dinner preparations. Cosmo stole glances at Sprout, his heart racing every time Sprout adjusted his scarf.
Steam rose from pots and pans as Cosmo carefully arranged dishes on a tray, trying to focus despite his feelings.
“Sprout,” Cosmo said, his tone mildly exasperated, “could you at least try not to nitpick everything I do?”
“I’m not nitpicking,” Sprout replied, adjusting his scarf. “I’m… quality checking. Big difference.”
Back at the table, Pebble was sniffing underneath, his googly eyes scanning for crumbs that hadn’t even fallen yet.
At another corner of the table, Gigi was regaling Flutter with a story about the time she gambled a band, her dramatic gestures drawing a mix of amusement and confusion from her audience.
Gigi exclaimed, “And then I gambled a MEDKIT! Can you believe it??”
Flutter tilted her head, her expression shifting.
“....?” she replied, clearly unsure what to make of it.
Meanwhile, Finn was cracking his usual string of puns.
“Why did the scarecrow win an award?” Finn asked, his grin wide.
Poppy, sitting next to him, leaned in eagerly. “Why?”
“Because he was out-standin’ in his field!” Finn replied with a hearty laugh, slapping the table.
“Get it? Outstandin’? Yer, I crack meself up.”
Poppy burst into laughter, clutching her sides. “Finn, you’re too much!”
Looey and Connie, seated nearby, exchanged mischievous glances.
“So, for our next prank,” Looey whispered, leaning toward Connie, “I’m thinking we rig the salt shaker to—”
“Explode glitter,” Connie finished, her eyes gleaming.
“Exactly.”
At another part of the table, Goob leaned closer to Shrimpo, a playful smirk on his face.
“You know,” he said smoothly, “You're so cute when you blush~”
Shrimpo’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, his eyes widening in surprise.
“I HATE YOU!!”,
he exclaimed, but the way he fidgeted and averted his gaze betrayed his flustered state.
Scraps, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes in visible disgust. “This is painful to watch,” she groaned, burying her face in her hands.
All the Toons were talking and chatting amongst themselves, untill Sprout and Cosmo brought the tray's of food in.
As Sprout and Cosmo approached the dining table, they carefully balanced the trays of plated dishes, each one a testament to their hard work in the kitchen.
After dinner, Shelly quietly slipped away, retreating back to her room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a long breath.
The evening had gone by in a blur, but her thoughts never strayed far from Vee. She couldn’t help but replay their earlier conversation in her head, analyzing every word, every glance, every small pause.
Shelly shook her head, frustrated with herself.
“She’s just being nice,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She climbed onto her bed and curled up, staring at the wall as the minutes ticked by. The knock on her door startled her, making her heart leap.
The door opened, and there was Vee, standing in the doorway with a soft smile that made Shelly’s chest ache.
Vee stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her, and walked over to sit beside Shelly on the bed.
“Just checking in. You doing okay?” Vee said, her voice kind but quiet.
Shelly nodded, though her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Vee could hear it.
“Yeah… I think so,” she said softly, her voice catching just slightly.
She didn’t dare look directly at Vee, afraid her face might betray the feelings she had worked so hard to hide.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread.
Finally, Vee sighed and stood up, giving Shelly a small, reassuring smile.
“Alright, well, get some rest, okay?” she said, her tone light but caring.
Shelly nodded again. Vee paused in the doorway, glancing back at Shelly one last time before slipping out of the room.
The door closed softly behind her, and Shelly was alone again. She let herself fall back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as her heart slowly settled.
She sighed, and curled up under the blanket, letting the soft fabric envelop her, as she tried to push away the lingering thoughts of Vee and the emotions she couldn’t understand.
Shelly woke up feeling heavier than usual, her thoughts swirling with a mess of emotions she couldn’t quite untangle.
She sat up in bed, rubbing her temples and sighing. The room felt too quiet, too still, and she knew she needed to talk to someone about everything weighing her down.
Without thinking much, she wandered out into the Mains' room, where Astro was slumped on the couch, half-asleep with his head tilted back and one hand loosely holding a cup of coffee.
“Hey, Astro,” Shelly said softly at first, testing the waters. When he didn’t respond, she stepped closer.
“Astro, can I talk to you? I… I really need to talk to someone.”
Astro mumbled something incoherent and lazily waved his hand, his eyes remaining firmly shut. Shelly’s heart sank a little, but she tried again, this time louder.
“Astro. Please. I need—”
“Mm? Huh?” Astro muttered groggily, finally blinking his half awake—eyes open for a split second before slumping further into the couch.
Shelly watched as his head tilted to the side, clearly still lost in his half-asleep state.
Realizing he wasn’t fully there, she clenched her fists and took a step back.
“Forget it,” she muttered, her voice bitter and quiet.
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her chest tightening as her unresolved feelings bubbled closer to the surface.
Determined not to give up, Shelly searched for someone else to talk to. It didn’t take her long to find Sprout and Cosmo in the kitchen, where the air smelled sweet and warm.
He was completely in his element, as he piped swirls of frosting onto freshly baked cupcakes, with Cosmo helping decorating them.
The countertop was covered in a colorful mess—sprinkles, frosting bags, and a few discarded cupcake liners—and Sprout’s scarf bobbed with every movement as he worked.
“Sprout, can I—” Shelly started, stepping into the room.
“Cosmo, can you pass me the Flour?” Sprout asked, completely oblivious to Shelly's existence.
“Okay—!” Cosmo said, as he grabbed a Flour packet from a low shelf.
Shelly looked down at the floor. “W-well um can I T-talk to you gu—“
“Oh, hey, Shelly!” Sprout replied, taking the Flour from Cosmo.
“Didn't see you there”
Shelly hesitated, feeling her frustration bubbling again. She sigh's as disappointment wash’s over her.
“Nevermind..”
Feeling completely ignored, Shelly finally turned to Tisha, one of her closest friends, hoping for better luck.
She found Tisha in the hallway, dusting shelves and humming to herself, looking cheerful but distracted.
“Tisha! Hey!” Shelly called out, walking up to her.
“Do you have a minute? I really need to talk to you.”
“Oh, hey, Shelly!” Tisha replied, her eyes brightening momentarily.
But then she noticed the dust on the shelf and her expression changed.
“Ugh, hold that thought! I just need to get this section cleaned up first; it’s driving me crazy!”
Shelly’s heart sank again as Tisha turned her back to her, fully absorbed in her cleaning.
“Seriously? Everyone’s too busy for me today?” Shelly muttered under her breath, frustration boiling over.
She took a step back, feeling the anger rise within her.
“Fine! I’ll just figure it out myself!” Shelly snapped, storming off from the hallway, her fists clenched at her sides.
“Hmm?” Tisha looks up for a second.
“Huh, must've been hearing things..”
Shelly held back her tears as she shuffled toward Vee’s room, her heart heavy with disappointment.
Everyone else had ignored her—Astro, too groggy to even hear her words; Sprout so absorbed in his baking that he didn’t even look her way; Tisha, her closest friend, brushing her aside for a dusty shelf.
It felt like no one cared, like her voice was a whisper in a storm. But Vee… Vee was always sharp, always attentive.
Surely, surely, Vee would listen. Shelly hesitated outside the door, steadying her breath as she knocked softly.
When she heard Vee’s familiar, confident voice call out,
“Come in!”
Shelly’s heart lifted, just for a moment. She pushed the door open, stepping into the green glow of Vee’s room.
Shelly stood outside Vee's room, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
After being ignored by everyone else, this was her last chance to finally open up and share what was weighing so heavily on her heart.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and knocked firmly on the door.
"Vee? Are you in there? I really need to talk to you."
There was a brief pause, and then Vee's voice rang out, tinged with distraction.
"Oh, hey Shelly! I'm kind of in the middle of something right now. I'm jotting down ideas for the next big gameshow - you know, really trying to push the boundaries and come up with something truly spectacular."
Vee let out a light chuckle.
"You understand, right? This is kind of a big deal for me."
Shelly's shoulders slumped as she listened, her heart sinking. Once again, someone she had counted on was too preoccupied to lend an ear.
"But Vee, please, I—" she tried, her voice wavering.
"Hold that thought, Shelly!" Vee interrupted, her tone suddenly brusque.
"This is important work. We can chat later, okay? I'm on a roll here."
Shelly felt the tears she had been holding back finally spill over, cascading down her cheeks.
How could Vee, of all people, turn her away like this? Vee, who was always so vibrant and attentive, now seemed distant and dismissive.
Shelly's heart cracked with the realization that she was truly alone in this.
No one was listening.
No one cared. Shelly felt invisible, adrift in a sea of indifference. The weight of her troubles threatened to crush her, and she struggled to catch her breath, her fingers curling into tight fists at her sides.
This couldn't be how it ended - she wouldn't let it.
Shelly's heart shattered into a million pieces as the weight of Vee's dismissal settled over her like a suffocating blanket. Vee ignored her. SHE IGNORED HER.
The thought echoed in her mind, twisting like a knife. Every moment of feeling unseen, every instance of being brushed aside by her friends came rushing back, a tidal wave of loneliness crashing over her.
It was as if she were a ghost, wandering through a world where no one cared to acknowledge her presence.
Shelly felt small and insignificant, a mere shadow among the vibrant Toons that surrounded her.
The laughter and chatter of her friends felt like a distant memory, and her heart ached with the isolation that enveloped her.
But this couldn’t be how it ended. No. Shelly wouldn’t let it. Anger flared within her, igniting a fire that pushed aside the sadness for a moment.
Determination surged as she scanned the room for something—anything—that could express the turmoil boiling inside her.
Her gaze fell upon a sharp piece of metal protruding from the clutter on Vee's floor. It caught the light in a way that seemed to beckon her.
Without thinking, she reached down, gripping the shard tightly in her hand, its coldness sending a shiver up her spine.
In one swift motion, Shelly turned and plunged the metal into Vee’s screen. A horrific crack echoed in the room as the screen shattered, erupting in a chaotic frenzy of static and glitching visuals.
The cheerful face of Vee distorted into a nightmarish visage, colors flashing erratically as ichor oozed from the cracks, pooling on the floor like a dark, viscous liquid.
Shelly watched as Vee’s form wavered, glitching violently, circuitry exposed and sparking.
A final pulse of static erupted from the screen, and then, with an eerie whine, Vee dropped dead, her once-vibrant image now a broken, lifeless ‘shell’.
As the silence enveloped her, Shelly took a deep breath, the adrenaline of her actions fading into a heavy sigh.
She felt a strange mix of relief and sorrow, standing before the remnants of her former friend.
“Anyway, I just felt so ignored…yknow?” Shelly murmured, her voice trembling
Her heart felt heavy as she began to pour out her thoughts, the weight of her worries spilling into the air around her.
Shelly stood over the shattered remnants of Vee, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursing through her veins began to subside.
The room was filled with the crackling of static, Vee's screen flickering erratically, displaying distorted fragments of her once-confident face.
Dark ichor continued to ooze from the cracked screen, dripping in thick, viscous rivulets onto the floor, pooling around the jagged shards of glass.
Sparks jumped from exposed wires, and the faint smell of burning circuitry hung in the air.
The glitching intensified for a moment, Vee's distorted voice trying to form words, but all that came out was garbled nonsense and static, her screen flickering.
Shelly let out a long, trembling sigh, a strange sense of relief washing over her. For the first time in what felt like forever, the oppressive weight in her chest lifted, if only slightly.
"I feel invisible," She continued, her gaze fixed on the darkened screen.
"Like I don’t matter to anyone. I try so hard to be there for everyone else, to be supportive, to care, but no one seems to care about me. I just wanted to be seen, to be heard... to not feel so alone."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and raw, the room silent except for the occasional spark and drip of ichor hitting the floor.
Vee couldn’t hear her anymore—she was dead, smashed, and lifeless—but somehow, this act of speaking her heart into the void felt cathartic.
The ichor pooled around her knees, staining her suspenders, but she didn’t care.
For the first time, she wasn’t holding it all in. And in that moment, surrounded by static and the remnants of her shattered friend, Shelly found a fleeting sense of peace.
The only thing that was alive was the relentless static from Vee's screen that was crackling, and hissing like a ghostly whisper.
A haunting reminder of the connection that had once been, now echoing in the silence of Shelly's heart…