"Ok, then, Vanellope, now that you've been introduced to the class, you can take a seat over there," Ms. Grannysmith said, pointing to the desk at Rancis' right. Vanellope silently trekked to the seat and fiddled with a candy pen on the desk.
"Hi,' Rancis said to her, smiling warmly.
"Hi," Vanellope replied shyly, clicking the end of the ballpoint pen rapidly.
Candlehead, who was sitting behind Vanellope, frowned. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Rancis treated everyone else snottily but her and this new girl, always joking around and being sarcastic. Up until now, she always thought that she was the only one who he ever treated nicely.
"Now class, we are going to discuss the importance of your kart's wheels and how to use the proper techniques to build them to the most utmost extent," Ms. Grannysmith said. Using her long pretzel stick, she pointed to the chalkboard.
Rancis' face lit up, then he pulled out a small slip of paper and pen from his backpack and scribbled down a small note. Folding the small piece of paper into a small cylinder, he stuffed it inside the pen's ink chamber and handed it to Vanellope, who's large brown eyes lit up.
"Rancis, what's that you just gave to miss Vanellope?" Ms. Grannysmith said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Oh, just a pen so she could take notes for class," Rancis said casually.
The teacher eyeballed the pen in Vanellope's hands and said, "Very well. Anyhow, as I was saying-" Vanellope beamed and smiled. Candlehead's eyes started to well up a bit. Rancis did the exact same thing to her on her first day of school. Candlehead wanted to crawl into a hole and cry her heart out.
Candlehead's hand raised up into the air.
"Yes?"
"May I please use the restroom?" Candlehead said. Her voice sounded strained, as if someone was gripping her neck.
Half the class turned around, but not Rancis. He was too busy writing away a note to Vanellope.
Candlehead bolted out of that cursed room and slammed the door behind her. Looking in the mirror of the bathroom, she stared herself in the eyes,which were now red.
"C'mon Candlehead, don't cry, don't cry," she chanted to herself.
Against her own will, Candlehead's cheek became wet with a tear that rolled down on its own. Soon many other tears began making their way down her face. Candlehead's candle went out (it does that when she's sad and burns blue when she's happy or excited) and she quickly wiped away the tears with the pink sleeve of her jacket.
"What does she have that I don't?" Candlehead asked herself in her head. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she'd been gone for five minutes. If she stayed any longer, people would think that she had issues.
Stepping back into the classroom, she saw that class was already over and everyone was getting their stuff ready to leave. Grabbing her bag, she slung it over her shoulder and slunk out of the classroom. On the way out, she noticed a pink, rumpled piece of paper on the ground and picked it up. She unfolded it and read it.
Hey Vanellope, what's up?
Nothing, just feeling a little lonely.
Wanna hang out after school?
Sure! My place or yours?
Yours!
Deal! What's your next class?
Kart-Building. What about yours?
Sweet mother of monkey milk me too!
Sweet! We can chat there. Mr. Nougat's cool with it.
Ok!
And that was the end of the note. Rats, Candlehead was in Geography next. Ugh, why did Vanellope have to be in the same class as Rancis again?! Candlehead tore the note and stuffed it in the nearest trash can, infuriated. Rancis was sucking up to this girl like powder to a Fun-Dip stick!
After School
"Taff, I don't know what to do," Candlehead said, slouching on her bed.
"Well," Taffyta said, taking her lollipop out of her mouth. "I think we should show this gurl just what she's up against."
"What do you mean?"
"Cand, you've gotta tell this girl that Rancis is yours and yours alone. Don't be afraid of her or anything she has to say. And when Rancis sees how much you care aboit him, he'll definitely take your side."
"Really? That sounds reasonable."
"Of course it does."
"Thanks, Taff! I'll show that girl not to mess with my love life!"
Tuesday
"Morning, Cand!" Rancis said to Candlehead and she approached her locker.
"Morning," she said, her voice as sharp as broken glass.
"Hey, what's wrong? You look down," he said, closing his locker and looking at her.
"It's nothing," Candlehead bluntly said, fiddling with her locker's lock.
"You sure?" he asked again.
"I'm fine," she said opening her locker.
A plume of white powder exploded in Candlehead's face and dusted her and her backpack. She looked like sculpture made of snow.
"What the? Smarty Poppers?" She exclaimed, licking her lips and examining the Smarties wrappers in her locker. What a sour prank. They sold them at a prank store outside of school.
Rancis was doubling over in laughter. But that's not the only voice she heard. Vanellope, who was hiding behind the corner, was on the floor, laughing her butt off. Rancis was the only person who she ever told her locker combination. No. No way. he wouldn't have. Candlehead's eyes became watery.
"Rancis, you arranged all this?" Candlehead yelled.
"Gu-Doy!" Vanellope said, still chuckling. "Of course!"
Rancis stopped laughing. He looked a bit guilty.
"Well," Candlehead said, dusting off the powder. "I hope you're happy."
She slammed her locker shut and ran away as fast as she could.
"Just keep running," Candlehead thought.
"Just keep running."
Author's Note: And it's done! Any comments and suggestions are welcome! Thanks for reading and keep checking for more! -Mars