It had been a few weeks since Test Tube's chat with OJ. Lightbulb had been making progress with her, always suggesting different activities to try and distract her from her paranoid thoughts, which usually worked. Most of the others had been pretty shaken up and plagued with their own paranoia after the news got out of what Test Tube had done, but Fan and Paintbrush, especially Fan, seemed to be warming up to trusting her again.

"And that's how I learned to never make a crab angry", Lightbulb explained as Test Tube bandaged her hand. Since there was only one chair in the entire room, the two were seated on one of their beds.

They heard a creak from the door of their hotel room (since they were roommates) and there stood Paintbrush, leaning on the doorway.

"Lightbulb", they hesitantly greeted, not wanting to even be happy near Test Tube to make sure she knew that they hadn't forgiven her. "There's gonna be a party tonight. Will you be there?" Lightbulb nodded, and Test Tube smiled nervously, wondering if Paintbrush would ask her, too. After a moment of awkward silence, Test Tube decided to ask herself.

"Party? Nobody told me about a party!" she said enthusiastically. "Who's the host? When's it happening? Where is it happening?"

"Maybe they didn't need to ask you." Paintbrush raised their voice slightly, their hair beginning to spark. "Maybe they just assumed you'd watch them from your cameras. Maybe make up a few scenarios in your head of what would happen if you really went, and then cry and sob once they spiralled out of control. I mean, it must be at least half the fun of really talking to people if you did it for so long, right?"

"Not cool, Painty", Lightbulb replied, crossing her arms and then wincing from the pain. "Not cool at all. Test Tube can't control her feelings." She hesitated, before quietly adding: "Just like you."

Lightbulb didn't realize the consequences of her actions before Paintbrush's eyes widened, and they huffed before slamming the door shut.

What an odd behavior for someone as friendly as her, Test Tube thought as she watched Lightbulb return Paintbrush's expression. She sighed and reached her hand forward, which Test Tube awkwardly took with a smile. A confused look from Lightbulb was all she needed to realize she wanted her to fix the undone bandage, not to hold her hand. She blushed even more as she continued wrapping while also trying to hide her face. Lightbulb was too caught up in her thoughts to notice, however.

"I don't get it. You made a mistake, you fixed it, why does everyone permanently hate you now?" Gosh, I hope not permanently. "Even Fan doesn't know what to think."

Test Tube was also confused as to why Lightbulb, someone who she only really started talking to a few challenges before the end of Inanimate Insanity, understood her better than Fan. She had guessed that it was because of her chill, "go with the flow" attitude that she was such a quick forgiver. Either way, she definitely wasn't expendable, which was why she was at the top of the "friends-I-need-to-monitor-so-that-they-don't-die" list. Plus, she was made of glass, making her easy to shatter. Just thinking of it made her shiver. She didn't want to die, and she didn't want her friends to die, either.

"They're probably not that happy that you invaded their personal space", Lightbulb answered herself. "I don't really mind, though. You're around me all the time, anyway. Plus, I don't really have anything to hide."

For the first time in two months, Test Tube stopped to consider how others were affected by her actions.

She wanted her friends to feel safe and happy and well, even if it ruined her own mental health to keep them that way. Even if she lost sleep, didn't have any other hobbies, - jeez, did she consider stalking her friends a hobby? - or didn't eat much because of her obsession, she didn't care, as long as they were fine. However, if it were one of her friends in such a position, of course she wouldn't let them get this paranoid!

But what if she was the problem?

What if the protective wall she had built was actually just a prison?

She clutched her head, her mind spinning.

"Uh... Tube?" Lightbulb interrupted. "You've been staring out of the window for ten minutes."

"Right! Haha, sorry. I just got... lost in my thoughts." She giggled nervously and inspected Lightbulb's hand. "You'll be fine in a couple of days."

"What would we do without you, Test Tube? We're lucky to have at least one person who can help." Lightbulb had seemingly gone back to her usual self, only letting her concern show sometimes when Test Tube spent too much time in her lab.

The two awkwardly stared out of the window, trying to come up with something to talk about. They were good at working together in challenges, but off-screen they had a lot of trouble with just talking as friends. Test Tube was, of course, mostly interested in talking about her science projects and inventions, and Lightbulb had a hard time trying to comprehend them. Which was also a positive thing, since Test Tube loved to explain and ramble, but then she'd feel guilty about not letting Lightbulb talk, and the conversation would slowly fade away until one of them got up and left or got distracted by something else. But sometimes, they managed to find a topic that both of them would enjoy, and all those awkward moments were worth it.

Still, despite their different personalities, there was something about Lightbulb that just made Test Tube feel all-

Lightbulb loudly sighed, falling onto the bed.

"I don't think I'm gonna go to the party tonight", she said. "If everyone's mad at you, then I'm mad at everyone."

Test Tube smiled at her sweetly. "That's really nice of you, Lightbulb, but you don't have to. I know you're gonna have a lot of fun, with or without me." She curled up into a ball. "I'll just stay in my lab and do my science stuff."

"Hm... okay, if you say so. I feel bad about you missing out, though."

Test Tube's lips curled into a smile. "Oh, I don't think I'm missing out on much."

Several floors below, where the others prepared snacks and drinks, a camera clicked.

[word count: 1051]