Chapter Text
Vee was sitting on her bed when she heard a knock on the door. She sighed and called out, “Yes?” The door opened to reveal Astro.
“Vee, they need you in the lobby,” he said, yawning.
“Alright, I’ll be there in a minute,” she replied softly. Astro nodded and left the room. Oh boy, this was going to be quite a day.
As she walked down the hallway, she spotted Glisten, Boxten, Finn, and someone new. “Oh, Vee! Just the girl we were looking for!” Glisten shouted excitedly. “Guess what? There’s a new toon!”
“A new toon? Great,” Vee said, frowning.
“Oh, that’s what you needed me for?” she asked.
“Of course! You can show her around since you know everything about this place!” he replied enthusiastically.
“Of course…” Vee muttered to herself, not thrilled about this responsibility. Glisten moved aside to reveal the new toon, who was a shell—an ammonite shell.
“Hi, Vee! I’m Shelly!” Shelly exclaimed, holding out her hand for a shake.
“Hello, Shelly,” Vee said as she shook her hand. “I can’t wait to know more about this place!” Vee studied all of Shelly’s features for a moment, lost in thought.
“Uh, Vee?” Shelly’s voice broke through Vee’s trance.
“Oh. Right. This way,” Vee said, motioning toward the doors that led to the rooms.
Shelly eagerly hopped to Vee’s side and began walking beside her. “Sooo! Where’s my room?” Shelly asked, clearly excited to be there.
“I don’t know yet,” Vee replied. “I don’t think they prepared one for you. Hold on,” she added, looking through the Gardenview reminders. “Huh. They didn’t even know you were coming.” Shelly’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Oh! I thought they would…” Vee turned to Shelly. “Well, let’s go report this to…” Vee hesitated for a moment, “Dandy,” she hissed.
“Okay!” Shelly responded, turning around to head to Dandy’s office. Vee stared at her for a moment and then said, “Where are you going?”
Shelly stopped in her tracks. “Oh, sorry! Lead the way!”
Vee chuckled and said, “You’re a weird one, Shelly. In a good way.”
“Oh! Hehe.. Thanks?” Shelly replied, smiling.
As Vee walked toward Dandy’s office, Shelly stood by her side. Before Shelly could say anything else, they arrived at Dandy’s office. Vee sighed and knocked on the door.
“Come innnn!~” a voice called from behind the door. Vee rolled her eyes and opened the door.
“Oh! Vee! And a new friend? Ah! You’re the new toon! Welcome!” Dandy exclaimed.
“Dandy, Shelly doesn’t have a room yet,” Vee stated flatly.
“Hmm… Well, I didn’t know she was coming today. So can she stay with you until then? Hm?” Dandy asked with a sly smile.
Vee knew exactly what Dandy was trying to do. “Fine,” she hissed.
“Yay!” Dandy exclaimed, looking pleased. Shelly glanced between Vee and Dandy, trying to gauge the situation.
“Let’s go, Shelly,” Vee said, clearly annoyed.
“Vee? Are you okay?” Shelly asked, concerned.
“Peachy,” Vee replied curtly as she turned and headed toward her room. Shelly giggled at Vee’s sarcasm and hurried to catch up.
“We’re here,” Vee said as she opened the door for Shelly to enter. “Woah…” Shelly gasped as she took in Vee’s room. It was decorated in green, complete with a monitor, a television, and large posters of Vee herself.
“Well, this is it,” Vee said as she plopped down on her bed. Shelly looked around, unsure of where she would sleep. “So, where do I sleep?” she asked.
“You’ll have to… sleep on the bed. Unless you want to sleep on the ground, which isn’t the best idea,” Vee suggested.
Shelly looked puzzled for a moment. “Where are you going to sleep then?”
“On the bed,” Vee replied, feeling her screen heating up again. “Not like that, of course!” she assured Shelly, who suddenly flushed a bright shade of red.
“Want to go meet the others?” Vee offered, trying to break the silence.
“Yeah!” Shelly replied enthusiastically.
Vee got up from her bed and walked out the door, with Shelly following closely behind. She led Shelly to the kitchen, where two toons were busy baking.
“Hey, you two!” Vee called out. The two toons turned to face her and Shelly.
“Oh, Vee!” said the strawberry-shaped toon. Next to the strawberry toon was… a cake roll?. Shelly couldn't quite tell.
“Who is that?” the strawberry toon asked.
“This is the new toon,” Vee replied. Shelly waved shyly at the two toons as Vee led her closer.
“Hello! My name’s Sprout, and this is my best friend, Cosmo!” Sprout introduced himself. Shelly shook hands with both of them.
“Would you like a cookie?” Cosmo asked, and Shelly’s stomach grumbled at the thought of cookies.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. Cosmo giggled and then handed her a cookie. Shelly devoured the cookie in one bite.
Meanwhile, Vee and Sprout exchanged glances filled with tension while Shelly and Cosmo chatted amicably.
“Hey, Vee. Can you come here for a second?” Sprout whispered, motioning to the corner of the kitchen. Vee hesitated, wanting to stay with Shelly, but Sprout’s impatience prevailed. With a reluctant sigh, she joined him.
Sprout glanced at Shelly, then back to Vee. “So, what’s going on with you and her?” he whispered. Vee felt her screen heat up.
“Nothing. What about you and Cosmo?” Vee shot back.
Sprout flushed and narrowed his eyes at her. “I asked you first.”
Vee smiled smugly. “So?”
Sprout sighed and confessed, “I don’t know. I want something to happen, but I can’t find a way to tell him…” He stared at the ground.
“Well, I suggest you wait for the right time,” Vee advised.
“I know, but I get impatient,” Sprout admitted, glancing at her.
“Would you rather stay friends or be more?” Vee pressed.
Sprout’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “I want to… date him.” Just as Vee was about to respond, Shelly walked over with Cosmo.
“Hey guys! What’s going on?” Shelly asked.
Vee quickly looked at her, saying, “Sprout was just telling me that Dandy ate his strawberries.”
--------------------Timeskip----------------------
Later, Vee and Shelly were heading to Vee’s room after a long night of socializing.
“It was nice meeting the others!” Shelly exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Vee agreed as she opened the door to her room.
“I’ll be back! I’m going to change into my pajamas!” Shelly said before leaving Vee standing by the door.
“Wow,” Vee muttered to herself. She entered her room and changed into her comfortable sleeping clothes, which consisted of a white shirt and sweatpants. Shelly returned just as Vee finished changing.
“Back!” Shelly announced, closing the door behind her.
“Welcome back! Do you want to watch a movie?” Vee asked.
“Sure!” Shelly replied as she lay down on Vee's bed. Vee sat beside her. “So, what would you like to watch?”
Shelly thought for a moment. “How about… The Good Dinosaur?”
“The good what?” Vee asked, confused.
“The Good Dinosaur! You heard me, silly!”
“From what I’ve heard, dinosaurs aren’t good.”
“Just turn it on! You’ll see.”
“Whatever you say…” Vee said with a smile.
--------------------Timeskip----------------------
By the time the movie ended, Vee heard Shelly sniffling. “What’s wrong?!” Vee exclaimed.
“The movie’s just so... beautiful.”
“The kid and the dinosaur got back with their parents. Boo hoo.”
“Shut it!” Shelly giggled
--------------------Timeskip----------------------
Vee got up as quietly as she could, careful not to wake Shelly. After getting up, she changed into more formal clothing and then walked out the door, shutting it softly behind her.
“Hey, Vee!” Brightney shouted from outside the door.
Vee turned to look at her. “Oh, hello, Brightney.” Brightney tried to open Vee’s door, but Vee quickly stopped her.
“What are you doing?” Vee whispered urgently.
Brightney looked concerned. “I was going to say hi to Shelly. Isn’t she in there?”
Vee sighed. “She’s asleep.”
Just then, Shelly opened the door. “Not anymore!”
Vee groaned, “Who woke you up? You were sleeping so well.”
Shelly giggled, “Oh, hello, Brightney!”
“Hi, Shelly! I just wanted to let you know that the library is open if you want to get a card!” Brightney said brightly.
“Yeah, yeah, she’ll be there later. Come on, Shelly,” Vee said, grabbing Shelly’s arm and leading her away.