Taffyta tried to sit and enjoy the company of her friends, but she felt bad not checking in with Vanellope...things were kind of left off at an awkward stage between them. What exactly were they going to do, what was their relationship status, and how would they tell the other racers? Perhaps it was better to keep it a secret like before... but things are different now and she was sure the other racers would probably accept her...probably...

She took a sip of her root beer float as Tapper brought over another round, courtesy of Candlehead.

"This is great, just like old times, eh Taffyta?! OH SO MANY FUN TIMES" Candlehead spazzed as she was on her 4th glass of root beer floats and was on a sugar rush...and twitching a bit.

"Yeah...but it would be more fun if everyone was here..." Taffyta sighed.

"Yeah, it's weird without King Candy...he always paid for the drinks..." Candlehead said holding her glass up to her lips and her eye twitching .

"I'm not talking about him! I wish Vanellope was here, she would of loved this..." Taffyta looked down at her own glass and pushed it forward, unable to drink more.

"Not as much as she lovessss you..." Minty laughed.

"MINTY!" Candlehead shrieked.

"WHAT?!" Tafftya's face began to turn red and her heart began to pound...she looked around at the racers and at Candlehead and tried to compose herself...

"What do you mean?"Taffyta asked when suddenly...

A giant thundering noise was heard in the distance and then the wall exploded. Wood and drywall flew everywhere, and covered the bar with dust and debris.

In the midst of all the dust was a familiar face...one she had seen earlier in the day.

Ralph's glare pierced through her like a thousand sharpened candy canes.

"YOU!" Ralph pointed at Taffyta.

"I didn't do anything! Please don't hurt me..." Taffyta said trying to not pee herself, looking for the nearest exit.

Ralph walked over to the trembling girl and stared her down.

"I should've beat the cream filling out of you before, but now you haven't learned a thing and you're going to pay..."

"WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!" Taffyta began to cry.

"YOU..." Ralph started to actually think about this...he had kind of just assumed Taffyta did something to hurt Vanellope...he never actually bothered to check up on Vanellope himself...

"You...got to come with me to talk to Vanellope..." Ralph tried to calm down.

"Van...Vanellope?" Taffyta still in tears but began to stop. "Is she still not feeling well?"

Jubileena began to laugh "Feeling well? She's disturbed , after she's been exposed I'm not surprised..."

Taffyta began to realize she missed something very crucial this morning when she was late.

Candlehead's calm demeanor was slowly cracking...Taffyta couldn't handle the truth.

"Before the race someone highjacked the Big Screens and you wouldn't believe it, Vanellope Von Glitch likes Chicks!" Adorabeezle chuckled. "The whole screen was plastered with love notes that she wrote...and the best part is that she's in love with you!" She began howling with laughter.

Taffyta looked at all the racers and then to Ralph...

"That's not true..." Ralph said trembling "you're joking...who would frame her like that?"

"It ain't a joke blockhead, it's the real deal...she's a lesbo!" Crumbelina scoffed "And the worst part is she fell in love with the straightest girl in the room!" She pointed at Taffyta and laughter began to fill the air.

Rancis and Gloyd were silent...there were no words they could muster up.

At this point Taffyta had heard enough. "SILENCE" she commanded.

The room got quiet.

"Who did it? Who was so brave and bold to put all that up?" Taffyta said.

Candlehead looked around as to pretend to see if anyone else was to blame. But no one said anything.

"Fine, too scared to say it now that it's happened, too afraid to own up to your actions?" Taffyta said.

"Vanellope's our friend, and if you really cared about her as a friend you wouldn't be such jerks to her about it. It's hard enough for her to be accepted back after everything that happened with Turbo. You hurt her then, and I thought you guys would've learned by now that what you did then was wrong and moved on from tormenting her. I hope you guys are satisfied, but I'm going to fix your mistakes. Let go Ralph..." She grabbed the big man's hand and walked him out of the giant hole that was now in the wall of Tapper's.

"Wait Taffyta..." Candlehead mustered as she stepped forward.

Taffyta stopped, shaking with anger.

"We did it for you, we wanted to protect you. You shouldn't have a best friend like THAT" Candlehead explained.

"Yeah"

"For you Taffyta" The other racers began to chime in.

"I'm disappointed that THAT is your excuse" Her voice trembling in anger, and her hands balled up into fists "...and you know what?" She said turning back at the racers who where stricken with fear "...I LOVE HER TOO!."

All their jaws dropped as Taffyta exited the building, Candlehead falling to her knees and her tears soon followed.

-End Ch. 10-