Ok so in one part of this chapter there is a part including gender and I hope I did it justice. Leave advice in the comments if I can improve it or make it more inclusive!

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Brightly coloured lights filled me vision. Soon I saw who was standing behind me. My eyes widened and my whole body froze.

It took him a moment before speaking in a firm tone. "Who are you and why are you here? The mall is shut down!" I pulled out the piece of paper with the note he gave me and flipped it around so he could read it. I still didn't turn around or move.

Suddenly, he started patting my head. "Oh right it's you superstar! I can't believe I forgot I asked you to come to me! I'm so sorry!" I shook my head. "No it's completely fine! I should be apologising for crashing through the vents to get in here!"

As I was speaking my phone suddenly buzzed.

Ah shit who is it.

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Monday 14th February 2022

Daniel: Where are you? It's nearly midnight?

You: Umm I'm out at a friend's

house. I'm staying over for the

night.

Daniel: You could have told me!

You: Sorry if I worried you or

anything.

Daniel: No no it's fine it's not like

I was searching the whole fucking

dormitory building!

You: Oh shit I'm sorry! I didn't

think you'd be concerned about

it.

Daniel: Sorry I sound so mad.

It's just that you could have

given me a heads up in advance.

You: Anyways I gtg. We're about

to watch a movie.

Daniel: What's your friend's

name?

You: Charlie....

Daniel: Masculine/Feminine?

You: Yeah...

Daniel: Don't go making out

with him/her/them or some shit.

Trust me it's not worth having a

relationship in college.

You: Chill! What if I wasn't straight?

I'm not saying I am but you know!

Daniel: Ugh whatever. Just stay

safe and stay out of trouble.

You: Stop sounding like my mother.

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"Who's that you were texting?" I saw in the reflection of the phone screen Freddy staring at it. I quickly snatched the phone away from his vision and tucked it away into my pocket. "None of your business."

I sat down on the couch and looked out the window. "So why'd you invite me here anyway?" Freddy's eyes widened and looked nervous. "I ummm....thought that uhhh.....we could go around the Pizza Plex together because I uhhh......you seemed nice. The other animatronics wouldn't go with me."

I felt sudden sympathy for him. I guess maybe robots do get lonely sometimes. Especially when no one wants to go with you. "Everyone else went to the arcades and went karaoke together. I think they all don't like me or something." I listened to him vent about his problems. "I don't think people realise that I may be scraps of metal, circuit boards and wires mixed together, but I still have feelings."

"I get that. I recently moved to college and it's been hard meeting new people. The only person I ever talk to is my room mate. Everyone else is usually out getting drunk or partying. No one ever invites me to anywhere. Not to mention I got bullied a lot in high school. People called me a nerd or would use me for answers for exams."

Freddy suddenly seemed very concerned. "Oh my goodness superstar. I hope you're feeling much safer and better now. So, you want to go with me?"

There was a moment of silence. Freddy was sat in a chair facing the mirror seeming to check himself and clean up a bit. He was patiently waiting for me to answer. I wanted to go with him, not just because I sympathised for him, but also because he seemed like a genuinely nice and gentle guy.

"Sure! I'll go with you." His ears perked up and wiggled in happiness. He got up out of his seat and stepped towards me. He smiled at me and held out his hand.

"Where to first?"