Toast Forever!

In Mark's apartment, the soft glow of the holographic projector illuminated the room as the three friends lounged after a creative session. Luke sat cross legged on the couch, fidgeting with the edge of a digital canvas.

He cleared his throat, breaking the comfortable silence. “I think I… like Neon. Like, more than just as a friend.”

Ash raised an eyebrow, setting down his sport mega brain explosion energy drink. “Well, that’s unexpected. But, hey, who wouldn’t? She’s got a sharp sense of humor and can actually keep up with your antics.”

Luke smiled nervously. “It’s not just that. I don’t know. The way she talks, the way she lights up about random stuff… I just noticed things about her recently that I hadn’t before.”

Mark paused, his hand hovering over his digital sketchpad. He looked at Luke, his expression unreadable at first. Then, with a small, genuine smile, he said, “Neon’s one of the best people I know. If you feel something, it’s worth exploring. You should go for it.”

Luke blinked. “You really think so?”

Mark nodded. “Yeah. She deserves someone who sees how amazing she is.”

Ash smirked. “Just make sure you don’t tell her with one of your terrible pickup lines. You’ll need something better than, "Are you time traveler? Because I can see you in my future."

Mark smiled or the one " Are you lyrics to my favorite song? Because You're Everything I've Hoped For".

Luke burst out laughing. “Noted. Thanks, guys.”

The conversation shifted back to jokes and banter, but Mark stayed quiet for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on his unfinished sketch. Whatever thoughts he had, he pushed them aside, content to support his friend.  

Two weeks later, Mark and Neon found themselves wandering through a high-tech park. Neon had insisted they take a walk outside, saying it was the perfect way to reset after too many hours indoors. Mark agreed, though he couldn’t shake the slight nervousness of spending time alone with her again.  

As they strolled, Mark gestured toward a small coffee stand and asked, “Want something? It’s on me.”  

“Sure,” Neon said. “Just nothing synthetic, please. I still don’t trust them after that incident with the digital ice cream. Remember when it melted into glitter instead of water?”  

Mark chuckled. “Fair point. One analog coffee coming up.”  

As he ordered, Neon turned to the audience, her expression sly. 

“So, remember that field of flowers Mark showed me? I bet you expected a long, cinematic moment with slow pans and emotional music. Nope, it all happened off-screen. Sorry, production budget!” She winked and waited for Mark to return.  

Mark handed her the coffee. “What’s got you smiling like that?”  

“Oh, nothing,” Neon said, taking a sip. “Just appreciating how much effort you put into these little outings. Makes a girl feel special.”  

Mark hesitated “Well, you are special. Besides, it’s nice to step away from my art and other projects for a bit and just... enjoy the world.”  

They walked on, a comfortable silence settling between them, though Mark couldn’t help but wonder if she had caught his deeper intentions.

Mark and Neon wandered through the vibrant tech district, eventually stopping in front of a glowing sign that read "Adopt-A-Bot: Robotic Pet Fair Today!"  

Inside, the atmosphere was chaotic, filled with chirps, beeps, and overly enthusiastic sales pitches from holographic attendants. Neon’s eyes locked onto a peculiar robotic cat perched awkwardly on a pedestal. Its holographic fur shimmered unevenly, and every few seconds, it let out a distorted meow, followed by a cheerful declaration: “I love toast!”  

“Mark, look at this one!” Neon picked it up carefully, holding it close as it purred and projected a perfect slice of toast onto her jacket. “Tell me this isn’t the most perfect thing you’ve ever seen.”  

Mark tilted his head, examining the flickering hologram with the air of a gallery critic. “Perfect? It’s glitchy, loud, and thinks bread is a personality.” He paused, tapping his chin. “Actually… it’s kind of a masterpiece.”  

Neon laughed, but the cat responded with a loud “TOAST FOREVER!” that made a nearby kid jump.  

As she cradled the twitchy creature, her holographic jacket flickered wildly. In the blink of an eye, it morphed into an exaggerated neon orange blazer, then into what could only be described as a sparkling disco suit. A few people nearby started pointing and whispering.  

“Why does this always happen?” Neon said, adjusting her wrist controls. “Can’t a girl adopt a robot cat without looking like she’s auditioning for a 2770s dance flick?”  

Mark smirked, sketching an imaginary frame with his fingers. “It’s giving digital renaissance vibes, honestly. You’re a walking concept piece.”  

Neon raised an eyebrow. “Big talk from the guy whose entire wardrobe is fifty shades of moody painter."

Before Mark could respond, the cat loudly interjected: “TOAST IS LIFE!”  

Neon sighed, affectionately scratching the bot’s metal ears. “Yeah, yeah. We get it. You’re deep.”  

Then, her embedded communication chip buzzed. “Incoming call from Luke,” her neural interface announced in a cheerful tone. 

With a flick of her wrist, she answered. “Hey, Luke. What’s up?”  

Luke’s voice boomed in her head, full of energy. “Neon! I’ve got an idea for tomorrow, something big, something wild. You in?”  

Neon smiled knowingly, still holding the glitchy cat. “Luke, the last time you said that, it ended with a drone chasing us through a park.”  

“Exactly!” Luke said, sounding thrilled. “This’ll be even better. Like 100 times better, Trust me.”  

Mark leaned in as Neon ended the call. “Was that Luke"?, Mark casually asked.

“Yeah,” Neon said, fiddling with the glitchy cat’s settings. “He’s got some big idea he wants to do tomorrow, you know Luke and his big Ideas very well.”

Mark smiled. “Sounds like him. Just be careful his weird, anime-like pet doesn’t try to eat your toast cat.”

Neon whispered. “I swear, it’s like you’re all waiting for me to have some epic showdown just to drive the plot. Sorry, folks, not today!”

The cat chimed in one last time: “TOAST FOREVER!”