End Credits, But Make It Funny

“So… what are we doing here?” Luke asked, his voice carrying that casual tone that always annoyed and intrigued Neon at the same time.

Neon looked at him, exasperated. “You tell me. You’ve been acting weird all week.”

Luke smirked, leaning slightly closer. “Weird? That’s your word for devastatingly charming?”

“No, devastatingly annoying,” Neon shot back, though her voice softened slightly.

They fell into silence for a beat, but it wasn’t the uncomfortable kind. It was the kind where something unspoken lingered, almost daring one of them to say it out loud.

Finally, Luke broke the silence. “Look, I’ve been thinking. About us. About… you.”

Neon tilted her head, her defenses already crumbling. “And?”

“And,” Luke hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, “I think you’re the most frustrating, confusing, and amazing person I’ve ever met. And maybe I like that about you a little too much.”

Neon was speechless. Her brain was racing, replaying every moment they’d shared, every joke, every glance that lingered just a little too long. She wasn’t great with feelings, but she knew enough to recognize the ones bubbling up now.

“Luke,” she started, her voice softer than she expected. “I think… I think I feel the same way.”

His face lit up with that lopsided grin she secretly loved. “You think?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

He laughed, and just like that, the tension broke. It wasn’t some grand romantic confession, but it was real, and that was enough for them.

Meanwhile, Mark was working on what he called his “magnum opus.” It was a massive painting that had consumed his free time all week. The others had been teasing him mercilessly about it.

“So, when do we get to see this masterpiece?” Ash asked, leaning over Mark’s shoulder dramatically.

“When it’s done,” Mark replied without looking up.

Layla, ever the opportunist, chimed in, “Is it another one of your abstract ‘emotional journey’ things? Because last time, all I saw was a red blob.”

“It’s not a blob,” Mark said, finally looking at them with mock indignation. “It’s an exploration of chaos and control.”

Ash nodded. “Ah yes, chaos. My specialty.”

“I thought your specialty was being painfully literal.” Layla said with big smile.

“Actually, I’d say my specialty is optimizing efficiency,” Ash shot back. “For example, this conversation is 43% less productive than it could be.”

Mark groaned. “Can you two go be weird somewhere else? I’m trying to focus.”

“Focus on what? Making another red blob?”

Mark threw a paintbrush at Layla, which she expertly dodged. “You’ll see,” he muttered.

That week, the group decided to go all out, squeezing in as much chaos and fun as possible. One night, Ash challenged everyone to a hoverboard race. He had spent hours calculating the optimal strategy, complete with diagrams and probability charts.

“I’m telling you,” he said confidently, “if you follow my calculations, victory is inevitable.”

Layla raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, no. I’m just gonna wing it.”

Ash looked horrified. “Wing it? That’s… that’s reckless!”

“And yet,” Layla said as she zoomed past him during the race, “I’m winning!”

Neon and Luke teamed up to sabotage everyone else’s chances by pretending to crash dramatically in front of them.

“Man down!” Neon yelled as she fake-fell off her board, laughing hysterically.

Luke joined in, clutching his chest like he’d been mortally wounded. “Tell my snacks I loved them!”

Mark, trying to steer clear of the chaos, accidentally ran straight into Ash, sending them both tumbling. Ash sat up, covered in dirt, and sighed. “This is why we need rules.”

The highlight of the week, though, was the group’s karaoke night. Neon, naturally, dominated the mic, but Luke managed to steal the show with his surprisingly good rendition of a cheesy 2880s love ballad.

“You’ve been holding out on us!” Neon exclaimed when he finished, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“What can I say?” Luke said with a grin. “I’m full of surprises.”

Mark, however, was less fortunate. His attempt at singing was almost so bad that the karaoke machine seemed to malfunction halfway through.

“Is it supposed to sound like that?” Layla asked, trying not to laugh.

“No,” Ash said, deadpan. “Mark just broke technology with his voice.”

“Art comes in many forms,” Mark declared dramatically.

Neon shook her head, laughing. “ I thought again about how much funny you’re and I decided that you're the fourth funniest person I know, Mark.”

“Fourth? Who’s ahead of me now?”

“Luke’s third, I’m second, and first place is empty. No one’s that funny.”

Mark pretended to be offended. “Empty? That’s just cruel.”

As the week drew to a close, the group found themselves reflecting on how much had changed. Mark’s painting, when he finally unveiled it, turned out to be a chaotic but oddly beautiful piece that somehow captured the essence of their strange little group.

“It’s us,” Layla said quietly, surprising everyone. “Like, all of us.”

Mark nodded. “Yeah. I guess it is.”

Neon looked at him, genuinely impressed. “Okay, fine. You’re not the worst artist I’ve ever met.”

“High praise,” Mark said with a smile.

Ash, of course, couldn’t resist adding joke, “Statistically speaking, it’s unlikely anyone could be worse.”

That night, as they all sat together under the stars, Neon found herself leaning against Luke. It felt natural, like this was exactly where she was supposed to be.

“So,” Luke said quietly, “what happens next?”

Neon looked at him, a small smile playing on her lips. “We keep going. Together.”

Luke smiled back, his hand finding hers. “I like the sound of that.”

Mark, sitting nearby, noticed the exchange but didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned his attention to the stars, a small, satisfied smile on his face.

Ash, ever the planner, started outlining their next big adventure. Layla interrupted him with a joke about how they’d probably just end up causing more chaos.

And for once, no one argued. Chaos, after all, was kind of their thing.

Neon leaned back with a smile. “And this is where the end credits should start rolling,” she said, glancing around the group.

Layla raised an eyebrow. “No way, Neon. You’re our star. You’re the main character. You need to keep this show going.”

Mark snorted. “Oh, please. If anyone should be the main character, it’s definitely not you.”

Luke chimed in, “Yeah, sorry, but it’s definitely not you, Neon.”

Neon raised an eyebrow. “Really? Well, even though, technically, Mark should've been the main character, what with all the emotional growth and drama, I guess people like Ash more, so... beat it.” She gestured dismissively at him.

Ash didn’t even flinch. “Okay, end it now.”

Neon shot him a look. “Hey, the fourth-wall thing is my thing, not yours.”

They all burst into laughter, the story closing on them as their final moment together lingered.

The night ended with laughter, teasing, and a renewed sense of connection. They weren’t perfect, and they didn’t have all the answers, but they had each other. And for now, that was more than enough.