Thanks to everyone for the favourites and follows! Hope you're enjoying Rancis and Candle's little tricks!

After they had finished dessert, Candlehead raised her eyebrows at Rancis. The boy understood, and leant over the back of the booth.

"Hey you two, want to get drinks with me and Candles? The night's still young!" He smiled confidently. Taffyta frowned, but when Vanellope looked to her she shrugged. "It's good with me."

"Great! Yeah, we'll come now," Vanellope replied. Rancis grinned again and slid back into his booth. "I still can't look her in the eye," he muttered to Candlehead, who patted his back comfortingly.

The four teens got up, payed the bill for their dinner, and made their way over to the bar.

"Four beers, please Tapper!" Candlehead asked over the counter. After Tapper nodded, and a minute letter they were slid in front of them. "That's -"

"Let's start a tab. I have a feeling we're going to be drinking a little more." Candlehead interrupted, and after a brief conversation they set up at tab in Candlehead's name.

The couples talked and laughed and joked, and for a little while they all forgot their plans and emotions. Vanellope was just enjoying her date and the arrival of their friends, and Taffyta had finally managed to do the same. Candlehead and Rancis, on the other hand, were both revelling in the attention they had been craving from the other couple.

But of course, the plan wasn't pushed completely out of their minds.

As Rancis leaned over the counter to order yet another round of beers, Candlehead leaned towards him. "Let's get something a little stronger, and then we trick Taffy into a competitive spirit!"

"What about?" Rancis asked back. "I dunno!" Candlehead shrugged. "Let's just get drunk and see where it leads us!"

And so Rancis changed their order to a round of shots, and the drinks were downed. And then the next lot. And the next lot. And the next lot.

Rancis and Candlehead, having already consumed a few beers before they arrived, were completely hammered. Yet still, their main goal was not forgotten.

"Hey Taffy!" Candlehead said, leaning over to the strawberry girl. "Is Vani a good kisser?" She asked with a smirk. Taffyta giggled. "Of course she is!" She turned to face her girlfriend. "What about me, Van, am I a good kisser?"

Vanellope leant forwards and molded her lips against Taffyta's. "I'd say so!" She said upon pulling back, the seductive look in her own eyes mirrored by Taffyta's blue ones.

"What about Rancis?" Taffyta asked, turning back to her candlehatted friend. "Is he any good?"

Candlehead smiled. This was exactly the kind of friendship she had missed - where they could and would tell each other everything about their life, relationship, and thoughts. But then Taffyta smiled back over her shoulder at Vanellope, and Candlehead saw her eyes shine brighter. The girl's smile faded, her green eyes flashing enviously. If only she could make Taffy that happy, then they would still be such good friends.

The plan came back into mind.

"Buttercup?"

Candlehead turned to face the blond boy. He had been half listening to their conversation, but he seemed very surprised when she winked and leant forwards, pressing her lips against his. He froze, and Candlehead sighed in frustration. She wrapped her arms around him and punched his back, hard.

That made him move.

Finally, he moved his arms around her waist and started moving his mouth against hers. It was strange - he'd never even thought about kissing his little candlehatted friend, but now that he was doing ... well, it was great. Her lips were soft, she smelt good ... He lost himself in the moment.

Candlehead hummed happily. In truth, she'd often daydreamed about what it would be like to kiss all her friends, not just Rancis. Jubileena, for example, would definitely taste like cherries. Swizzle would be a good kisser, having had so much practice. As for Rancis ... Well, she'd never pictured their kiss at a bar, trying to one up Taffyta's game, but she could make it work. She ran her fingers up into his blond hair, letting her sink into the kiss for a moment.

Meanwhile, Vanellope and Taffyta started to feel very uncomfortable about their lip locked friends. They politely turned away from the making out couple, and sat in silence, occasionally exchanging glances, until finally the other two came up for air.

"Yeah, I'd say you're a good kisser buttercup." Candlehead smirked as she wrapped her arm around Rancis, who brushed his hair back into place and grinned at her. To outsiders, it would just look like a couple smiling at one another, but they both knew what the other's glance meant: success!

As the two smirked at each other, the music stopped. "Okay everyone, it is now time for our weekly karaoke contest! So come up to the stage and show us what you can do!"

"Karaoke?" Vanellope laughed tipsily. "Sounds like fun! What do you say, Taff?" But Taffyta shook her head vigorously, a mortified look on her face. "Sorry Vani, but when I sing cats throw themselves out of windows."

Vanellope pouted, and Candlehead smiled. An idea sparked in her brain, and she turned to Rancis, saying loudly, "You're a good singer, aren't you buttercup?" Rancis could only stare back at her, wondering what on Earth she was doing. "Why don't you and Vani go and sing something?"

Rancis's eyes narrowed. What was her aim?

Candlehead's grin widened. She had confused him, but she knew he was tempted.

But neither of them had an opportunity to voice their thoughts, before Vanellope squealed with excitement and grabbed Rancis's hand, pulling him to the stage. Candlehead's cheery grin softened into a small smile as they got in line, then up on the stage. Rancis looked bewildered, but once he'd started singing along he slowly settled. His green haired partner watched as he grew happier, and sighed. She'd make sure he got some petty pleasure out of this evening.

Meanwhile, Taffyta was not watching the performance, but rather the girl next to her. Candlehead was looking at Rancis with such obvious adoration that you could tell she loved the boy, but if that was so, why did they act like they were barely even friends until now? Eventually, Candlehead turned, obviously feeling Taff's gaze on her. She gave the strawberry girl a cocky smile, which Taffyta did not return.

"What's the deal with you guys?" She asked. Candlehead seemed confused. "I mean, I get that you want to keep it hidden for romantic reasons or whatever, but you two barely ever seem to talk! I just don't get it!" The other girl burst. Candlehead's bemused look slipped from her face like an actor pulling of a mask, revealing a weary expression below.

"Taffyta, how would you know who I talk to?" She said softly, almost as if she was talking to herself. "You never seem to want to be around me anymore, and even when I'm there you don't notice." She laughed, short and bitter. "That's ironic, isn't it? Can't see the girl with a beacon on her head."

Taffyta's brows furrowed. She had never seen this side of Candlehead before. "I – I'm sorry, Candles. I didn't know that was how you felt."

Candlehead sneered lightly. "Of course you didn't. After all, it was never about me, was it? The movie's never about the sidekick."

Taffyta felt guilt engulf her. Candlehead was right – she never asked the other girl anything. She simply spoke, and expected Candles to listen. Mod, how cruel was she?

But then the others came back, and Candlehead's mask flew on so seamlessly Taffyta wondered if their conversation had been in her mind. "You guys killed it!" She squealed in praise as the other two took seats beside their dates.

Rancis smiled at her again. For a second, Candlehead forgot the plan. Then a knowing look came into his eyes as he glanced to Taff. "A kiss for my troubles?" He asked cockily. Candlehead understood at once. "Why of course, my karaoke king!" She laughed back, before planting a kiss onto his lips. Vanellope laughed. "What about me Taffy? Do I get a kiss?"

Taffyta was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Finally she came out of her bubble, smiled at Vanellope and kissed her sweetly, but it was obvious something else was on her mind. The green haired girl and blue eyed boy smirked at each other, triumph returning to them as they ordered another round of shots.

Damn, Candles. Savage.

Thanks for reading!

This is Sticky (a.k.a Miss Wipplesnit) signing off for the night! Goodnight!