A/N: Hey guys! I know it has been an overwhelmingly long time since I've posted an update on here. To be honest, there's no better explanation for my lack of updates than life itself. With school, and band, and college, and everything else in between, I've just had so little time for anything, let alone writing. I'm sorry that this chapter is pretty short, I had most of it already written and sitting around for the longest time, and I just wanted to get something out. So I put the finishing touches on it and decided to post it. I can't make any promises about when I'll post another, but I will do my best to get it out as soon as possible! I hope you guys haven't given up on this story, because don't worry, I sure haven't!

Chapter Fourteen

That moment felt frozen in time as silence settled over them like a foreboding storm cloud. Vanellope quirked an eyebrow up at Ralph, trying to retain her composure as the heat flooded to her face and she felt the lingering effects of Ralph's inquisitive gaze.

Maybe she had been clueless to some little cues before, but this time she definitely noticed his eyes.

Did Ralph really just look at me like that?

Meanwhile, he kept staring down at her, searching her stare for a sign of her emotions, trying to find a hint as to what she was thinking.

When has she ever been this hard to read?

The two remained locked in a silent staring contest for what seemed like eternity before Ralph noisily cleared his throat.

"Look," he began gently.

Before she could even register what she was saying, words were flying out of Vanellope's mouth.

"Oh, you had no issue doing that just a minute ago. But I'm just a kid, right?"

She immediately covered her mouth and felt a rush of warmth flow through her cheeks. Her eyes widened instinctively and she shook her head apologetically. He just stared back at her, floored, mouth hanging wide open, skin the color of the red brick mountain.

"I-I have no filter," she meekly offered, her voice somewhat apologetic. He continued to stare at her silently for a few moments, before sighing and closing his eyes, nervously scratching the back of his head.

"I-uh…." He sighed again, trying to collect his thoughts. This is harder than I thought. "I know you're not a kid anymore. I mean, come on, it's pretty obvious. But I just need some time to process all of this. You...you have changed, a lot, but you're still the same person. I'm just trying to navigate these differences without stepping on a minefield. And I'm definitely not used to talking to you about more...adult...things. So please, I'm not trying to degrade you or offend you or anything… but honestly, Vanellope, I used to be 100 percent comfortable with you, and lately, I've been really nervous."

She swallowed a lump quickly forming in her throat. "N-nervous?" She asked timidly and curiously. She shifted her stance into a somewhat less aggressive one as her emotions started to calm down. She crossed her arms over her chest and moved her legs closer together. Though still feeling flustered, she listened intently for his response.

"Well...you're a beautiful gir-young woman, Vanellope. And though you're still my best friend, there are some parts of our relationship that are just...different. You're more mature, older, and attractive. I'm just trying to figure out what is happening and where everything is going. Right now I don't know where it's going. But I know that I still love you, and enjoy spending time with you." He managed, mustering all his strength, to make it through his long-winded explanation calmly, before folding his hands awkwardly behind his head and staring up at the sky. He couldn't bear the overwhelming silence that ensued.

Unbeknownst to him, his words rang faintly in her ears and her heart drummed urgently against her chest. The words "I love you" danced and echoed teasingly around her brain and she blinked rapidly, trying to process all that he had said.

I may protest at being called a kid, but so much of this stuff is still so new to me.

"R-Ralph, I," she stammered, not even able to finish her statement. "I love you too," she managed to bumble out nervously. "You were my first friend."

He shifted his stare back down to her and saw the evident tension in her posture. She anxiously twiddled with her fingers and stared up at him with wide eyes. He smiled tenderly.

"You don't have to say anything else," he eased to her. "You may have gotten an upgrade, but I know you're not completely used to being an 'adult.'" He used air quotes around that word to lighten the air with a teasing jab, and fortunately, he succeeded.

She smirked and stepped forward to playfully shove him with her arm. "Hey," she chided softly. "I'm still not totally convinced you're even an adult."

He rolled his eyes with a smile. "Trust me, Vanny, I know some things that would make your innocent head spin on your shoulders." He glanced down at her with a new, somewhat dangerous looking glint in his eyes and a flirty smirk.

Her cheeks filled with soft color and she narrowed her eyes, smirking back at him. "Oh, really?" She drawled. "And just what are you insinuating? Why don't you try me? I'll bet you I know more than you may think."

He chuckled and decided to take their simmering banter a small step further. "Behave and maybe sometime I'll show you."

She rolled her eyes and tried to push down the flustered emotions simpering up throughout her body. "Come on, you big oaf, let's go get your clothes and get out of here. I'm sure they're getting tired of waiting."

"Quite the contrary," he laughed, though he slowly started moseying down the path towards his house with Vanellope a few steps behind him. "I bet they're talking and giggling about everything they think we're doing in here. As far as they're concerned, the longer we stay, the more entertained their minds are."

She snickered softly and shook her head. "I hate to say it, but you're probably right."

The two continued to banter nonchalantly as they made their way to Ralph's humble abode. "Do you wanna come in, or wait here?" Ralph asked her as they neared the front door. He placed a hand on the doorknob and turned to look at her, twisting it slowly.

"I'll come in I guess," she said somewhat nervously. He opened the door and allowed her through, gesturing dramatically with a bow.

She giggled and gave him a mock curtsy before strolling inside. Ralph rolled his eyes and grinned, quickly following suit.

"I'm gonna go change and I'll be right back. You can hang out in the living room," he called out as he continued his fast pace to his bedroom.

"Okay!" She responded, plopping immediately down on one of his long sofas. She smiled contently and closed her eyes as he closed his bedroom door behind him and went about finding a pair of swim trunks.

His closet was sparse to say the least. He had a couple of the same outfits and a few other colored polos and one button down dress shirt, along with several pairs of jeans.

"Guess the programmers didn't have much of a life in mind for me," he mumbled to himself as he yanked out the sole pair of swimming trunks he owned and a dark gray T-shirt. It was the only shirt that wasn't a polo; this outfit had to be programmed in the code room, which Felix was the master of, and created from scratch.

You'd never guess it, but that guy's a code genius. Guess all these years plugged in, he had to find some way to pass the time-besides partying without me, that is.

He quickly dressed himself, suddenly finding that he was growing more and more eager to return to the living room. His heart rate sped up gradually as he envisioned Vanellope sitting out there by herself. A small part of his brain couldn't help but begin to imagine what exactly she might look like in a swimsuit.

He gulped, his throat tight and all of a sudden somewhat swollen feeling. He took a few moments after he got dressed to calm himself down. Exhaling a long breath he had been holding, he closed his eyes and opened the bedroom door.