Sugar Rush is still closed Tuesday morning, so I don't get to see Vanellope before the arcade opens. We have so many Quarter Alerts that I don't get a chance to look at Sugar Rush when the Nicelanders pick me up to throw me off the apartment building either. I cross my fingers that she'll get a break to go to Tapper's.

Ryu and Zangief are already there when Felix, Calhoun, and I arrive, but there's no sign of Vanellope. Our Street Fighter friends haven't seen her either. Suddenly, Ryu chokes on his drink. "Holy crap."

His eyes are focused on something behind us, so we all turn around. A tall, dark-haired girl waves and smiles. "Hey, guys!"

"Vanellope!?" Zangief and I say together.

She grins and twirls. "What do you think of the new me?"

Vanellope has an adult avatar now, so her head comes up to the middle of my chest. Her hair is down to her waist and tied back with a silver foil wrapper piece, the candy gone and replaced with pink racing goggles. She's wearing the same mint green hoodie, but sleeves with a short-sleeve pink shirt underneath. The Reese's cup wrapper skirt has been replaced by a silver foil cupcake wrapper one, and her short black boots have been replaced by tall white ones. Her mint, white, and brown tights are the same, and so is that mischievous look in her eye.

I'm speechless and so are the others. Finally, Felix speaks. "You look beautiful, Vanellope."

"Ralph?" she asks, looking at my expectantly.

Calhoun saves me by saying, "It's a huge change, V. It's gonna take some time for everyone to get used to you."

She accepts that and wants to give us a tour of Sugar Rush on Sunday. Apparently there are a bunch of new tracks and carts. Also four new characters.

"She looks amazing," Ryu says when Vanellope excuses herself to talk to some of her DDR friends.

The rest of the guys agree, and Calhoun nudges Felix. "You're much more beautiful, of course," he assures her. "But Vanellope has grown up well."

She sure has.

Vanellope stays in Sugar Rush until Saturday because she's performing presidential duties, so I don't see her until it's time for the DDR rave. I sigh when we walk in-loud music and strobe lights aren't my thing-but it makes Vanellope happy. She loves hanging out with all her friends in one place.

It looks like the other Sugar Rush characters got upgraded too, if Taffyta's cropped shirt and wide headband are any indication. She's all over some guy, who I recognize as Rancis. I see a few racers I don't recognize too, so I assume they're the new racers. When Vanellope comes over to say hello, I notice another change I hadn't seen before: white fingerless racing gloves. They look pretty cool.

As usual, she coaxes me to dance for a while before I go off to the side to drink and hang out with some of my Bad Anon friends. She rolls her eyes and turns to dance with Gloyd, one of the Sugar Rush racers. Ryu and Felix get a few songs too, but Gloyd stays her primary dance partner.

"I don't like this," I say into my root beer.

"Like what?" Calhoun asks. She isn't a fan of dancing either, so she usually does a few then bows out.

"That," I reply, nodding in Vanellope and Gloyd's direction. "Look where his hands are."

"Her waist. So?"

"Low on her waist. Almost on her butt."

Calhoun looks again and smirks. "I think you're jealous. They're just dancing."

"Why would I be jealous? I don't like dancing."

"No, but you do like Vanellope."

Before I can reply, Felix comes over and kisses Calhoun. They get all cuddly, so I go back to watching the dancers. Vanellope's had to change her dance style for her longer limbs, but she caught on quickly. She dances well too; she's catching everyone's attention.

Vanellope, Felix, Calhoun, and I stay after, as usual, to help the DDR characters clean up. Ryu, Zangief, and Gloyd stay too. Both Ryu and Gloyd are flirting with Vanellope and it's driving me insane. I'm grateful when I finally get to say good night to everyone. But Calhoun's words swirl through my head. Jealous? Not me.

"Morning, Stinkbrain!"

I groan as Vanellope jumps on my bed. "You're too old for this."

"Come on, Ralph! It's time to go!"

I groan again, finally looking at her. I still can't get used to this new Vanellope. "Go bother Felix. I'll be ready soon."

"Okay!" She jumps off the bed. "You have ten minutes."

I shake my head, but can't help but smile. As irritating as she is sometimes, I'm glad her personality didn't change.

Vanellope and Felix are waiting for me at the train, so I climb on. We stop to pick up Calhoun, then head to Sugar Rush. I know Calhoun only agreed to go because she treats Vanellope like a daughter. Felix does too, but he doesn't mind Sugar Rush. Calhoun calls it a "saccharine-scented nightmare."

The first thing I notice when we enter Sugar Rush is the sharper color. It definitely looks more high-tech. Vanellope introduces us to the four new racers: Mike and Ike Cadbury, Candy Cane, and Tootsie Pop. Two boys, two girls. Tootsie's attitude could give Taffyta a run for her money. Not surprisingly, she's in Taffyta's group already. Apparently she also has no respect for Vanellope, to the point where Vanellope actually prefers Taffyta. That's a scary thought.

We walk through some new tracks, including one that goes through Diet Cola Mountain. I notice her little hideaway is still there, but the others don't. The carts are still the same, just a little sharper, and the new characters have their own carts as well. Vanellope and my names are still on her cart, which makes me smile.

We go to the Candy Castle for lunch, where Sour Bill greets us with slightly more enthusiasm than normal. I think he's finally starting to warm up to us. After lunch, Felix and Calhoun say their good-byes, so I ask Vanellope if she wants to wash and wax her cart. We usually work together on Sunday afternoons.

"Actually," Vanellope says, her cheeks turning a bit pink, "Gloyd's helping me today."

I'm not sure how to respond. "Oh, um, okay. I guess I'll, uh, see you later than."

She jumps into my arms for a hug. "See you."

I walk toward the exit, glancing over my shoulder once. I see Gloyd pulling Vanellope into his arms for a hug, then putting his arm around her as they walk toward her cart. Anger bubbles up inside me. I'm supposed to be helping Vanellope.

Felix and Calhoun, who are sitting on a bench near the fountain behind Nicelander Apartments, look surprised to see me. "Shouldn't you be helping Vanellope wash her cart?" Felix asks.

"Yeah, I should be," I reply.

"Is Gloyd helping her?" Calhoun asks, a knowing smile touching her lips.

"Yes."

She turns to Felix. "Gloyd is the Sugar Rush racer who was dancing with Vanellope at the rave. Ralph's jealous because he wants her to himself."

"I'm not jealous," I say, my voice louder than I had intended.

They both look at me, Calhoun raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not," I repeat, lowering my voice.

"Whatever you say, Ralph," Calhoun says.

I stomp to my apartment and throw myself on my bed. I'm not jealous.