The nightmares stop and the sexy dreams continue. Obviously, I don't mind, but it's really weird having those kinds of dreams about your best friend. I love her, but not like that.

Vanellope spends more time in Sugar Rush over the next few weeks catching up on things she'd neglected for Gloyd. When she isn't in Sugar Rush, she's either in Fix-it Felix Jr. or Street Fighter. I know she enjoys Street Fighter because of all the different levels, especially the beach one.

Several weeks after the end of the Gloyd debacle, Vanellope starts getting the feeling that she's being watched. Calhoun tells her not to be ridiculous, but she insists she isn't. Ryu, Felix, and I lean toward believing Vanellope; she's the strongest person we know and doesn't freak out over little things. Aloud, we tell Vanellope she's fine; privately, we're extra watchful.

In the meantime, I get Vanellope to myself on Sundays again. We wash and wax her cart, and my heart pounds every time our fingers brush. Her smile is starting to affect me too and it's driving me insane.

"You're finally realizing your feelings for her," Clyde says when I bring the subject up in Bad Anon. None of our conversations leave the room, and I need some advice.

"She's my best friend," I say.

"So?" Kazuya, from Tekken, says. "Jun was my best friend."

"Besides, another guy likes her." I cross my arms. "She has her choice."

"If you want to tell her, he step aside," Zangief says. "You know that."

"He's willing to let her be with another man if it makes her happy?" Clyde asks.

Zangief nods. "Yes."

The other bad guys seem impressed by that. But I maintain that I'm not romantically interested in Vanellope, even after Zangief points out that I have a "honey glow" whenever she's around. To prove them wrong, I look through the scrapbook Vanellope had given me for my birthday when I return to my apartment. After five pages, I curse aloud. They were right.

Two days later, Vanellope shows up at Tapper's shaking. She hands me a note that reads I'm not dead. Turbo.

"Do you think he's been following me?" she asks, her eyes wide. For the first time since I've met her, I see fear there.

"It's probably just a childish joke," Calhoun says.

"And not a very funny one," Felix adds.

Ryu passes her a chocolate soda. "Drink this. It will make you feel better."

She obeys and he changes the subject. When Calhoun and Vanellope leave to use the restroom, Ryu looks at me. "You don't think it's a joke, do you?"

I shake my head. "I don't know how it's possible, though. We saw him die."

"I've never lied before," Felix says thoughtfully, oblivious to our conversation. "I just lied."

"For a good cause," I tell him before turning back to my conversation.

"She can't be alone," Ryu says. "But he also can't know we're worried."

So I talk to Sour Bill about posting guards outside Vanellope's door. He's as worried as the rest of us are, so he agrees. Vanellope doesn't have to know we're protecting her; she just has to worry about running Sugar Rush. Nothing is going to happen to her.

Then she receives another note: It's not a childish joke. Turbo.

"He is watching us!" Vanellope says, her voice higher than usual. "He heard Tammy say the note was a childish joke!"

"There are always a ton of characters in Tapper's on Tuesday nights," Calhoun argues. "It could still be a stupid joke."

But Felix looks at her after we all take Vanellope back to Sugar Rush. "You don't actually think this is a joke, do you?"

"No. But I'm trying not to scare her any more than she already is."

You're right. Someone is watching you. Turbo.

Vanellope receives that note on Saturday and doesn't leave my arms until it's time for the rave. She's scared; we're scared, but we're trying not to show it. Either Ryu or I dance with her the entire night, then we both walk her back to Sugar Rush. Ryu assures me that she'll be okay before we part ways, but I'm not sure if he's trying to convince me or himself more. But I quietly agree and head back to my own game.

"Ouch," I say aloud as I feel a prick in my hand. I notice a sticker bush on the path and assume I had walked to close to it. "Stupid plant."

I lie in bed and think of Vanellope before I fall asleep. She's never far from my thoughts anyway, but now it's even more important that she stays nearby.

The next morning I wake up with an urge to go inside the mountain where the River of Code is. It likes I don't have control of my body. It forces me to walk up the hill and break down the door and enter. A confused-looking Ryu and a blindfolded Vanellope follow me less than a minute later. An evil laugh fills the room before I can ask why we're here, and Turbo takes Vanellope from Ryu's arms. "Thank you, gentlemen. You made this so simple for me."

I move to grab him, but he holds Vanellope dangerously close to the edge of the River of Code. "You might want to rethink that."

"How are you alive?" I demand. "I watched you die!"

"The bug died," Turbo corrects me. "Not I."

"What do you want?" Ryu asks angrily.

"Revenge, of course. Vanellope took my throne."

"It was my throne," she breaks in. "You stole it from me."

Turbo waves his hand impatiently. "You should be upset with your friends; they're the only reason I could get you here. I sent those notes to scare your friends, not you. The only reason the control potion worked was because their systems were compromised by worry." He holds up a syringe.

So that's what the prick was. A needle.

"Once you're gone, Sugar Rush will be under my control once again. The arcade will forget about you and I'll be king, free to take over all the games I please. I will rule everything!"

"No!" Vanellope yells, swinging her body and knocking both Turbo and herself off balance.

Three things happen at once. Ryu and I run towards them, I grab Vanellope's arms, and Turbo grabs Vanellope's waist. They're dangling over the River of Code and Ryu frantically tries to push Turbo off Vanellope without falling in himself. But there's no way to separate them.

Turbo sizes up the situation and smirks. "You're in quite a pickle, Wreck-It Ralph. Either we both live or we both die."

Ryu lets out a strangled sound, and I'm feeling the same way. Vanellope speaks before I can make a decision. "Let me go."

"No!" Ryu and I yell together. I look into Vanellope's eyes, praying she isn't serious, but all I see is fierce determination.

"You have to. Turbo has to be destroyed. I'm not risking the arcade." Tears glisten in her eyes. "Please, Ralph. Let me go."

Tears are rolling down my face, and I can hear Ryu choking back sobs next to me. I can't speak. I'm afraid I'll break down.

"Please, Ralph. It's okay. It's my turn to be the hero."

I feel Ryu's hand on my forearm, so I know he's agreeing with her. "I love you, Vanellope," he says.

"I love you too," she replies. "Both of you."

I sigh, tears streaming down my face. "I love you. So much." Then I slowly let go, memorizing Vanellope's beautiful face and Turbo's terrified one.

We stand in silence as they fall, both sobbing. They disappear into the river and I can see code swirling up to the top. Then everything goes black.