"...and see here, I've totally upgraded my mind control device," Whipped Cream explained enthusiastically. "It has all these joysticks and buttons, and-" his face fell. "Paint, are you even listening to me?"

"Huh?" Paint turned around, surprised. "Oh, yeah, the mind control-"

"You're not listening!" Whipped Cream burst over Paint. "You never do!"

Despite the accusation, Paint remained cool. "No, I was listening, I just zoned out for a moment. You need to calm down."

Whipped Cream sighed dejectedly. "Look, you can just leave if you don't care about my inventions. It's fine."

"What?" Paint exclaimed. "I do care!"

"Oh really," Whipped Cream placed his invention on his work table, "because you never sound like you do!" He listed off on his fingers, "you're sarcastic, distant, monotonous, and you just look like you're thinking about something else half of the time when I'm talking to you! You never engage, and-"

Paint held his hands up. "Can you just chill out? You're never like this."

Whipped Cream clenched his fists. "I'm never like this!? What about you," he pointed at Paint, "huh!? You've always been sincere and really care about my inventions, but now you just don't!"

"I swear, I do care, a lot," Paint defended himself. "I just-"

"Yeah?" Whipped Cream spat. "You what?"

Paint sighed, hands dropping to his sides. "Listen, Whipped Cream, I'm really sorry for being rude, but if I tell you why..." he looked away, "you might not want to be my friend anymore."

All of Whipped Cream's anger faded away seeing and hearing Paint's remorse. He walked over and gave Paint a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Well, you can tell me anyway. I'll hear you out."

Paint nodded. "See, I started acting like this because...because I have a crush on you, Whipped Cream."

Whipped Cream stopped himself before he could say anything.

"I know it's weird, but I thought that if I started acting like I don't have feelings for you, they'd go away!" Paint flung his arms up, and let them slap onto the ground. "It didn't work though. So...yeah..."

Both of them were red in the face.

"I, um-" Whipped Cream took a moment to compose himself. "I- I have a crush on you too, Paint!" the words barreled out of his mouth. Paint's eyes widened.

"W-Wait, really?"

"Yeah!" Whipped Cream cracked a grin. "I mean- that's why I got so worked up over your act, I-I thought you didn't care about me, but I was completely wrong!" he laughed. "Man, I feel relieved."

Paint chuckled. "Yeah, me too." He cleared his throat. "So, uh...what do you..what do you want to do now?"

Whipped Cream spread his arms. "Hug it out?"

They embraced tightly, letting the warmth and love flow into each other while the tension melted away. Whipped Cream planted a kiss on Paint's cheek, making the latter blush redder than before.

"So..." Paint held Whipped Cream at arm's length, "wanna date, or...?"

"Yes," Whipped Cream replied firmly.

"Tonight, seven?"

"Tonight, seven."