*Chapter 34*
"You ready, Vin?" Taffyta called as she gently threw the ball to Vanellope.
"Hardly," Vanellope breathed as she rolled the ball a few times in her hands.
She quickly took her spot behind the server's line and gazed across the court, past Taffyta. Sonic and Tails were almost floating on their feet, as ready as ever. The crowd fell silent. Vanellope took a deep breath and gently lulled the ball into the air before spiking it as hard as she could across the court and over the net. Both teams volleyed the ball back and forth a few times before Taffyta jumped up and harshly spiked the ball into Sonic's court, spurting sand everywhere. The crowd went insane. Taffyta turned around and beamed at Vanellope, both girls exchanged looks of accomplishment. Sonic quickly stood and brushed sand off of his arms, giving Taffyta a look of fierce competition. Taffyta wrinkled her nose at him and put her arms up.
"What now, Sonic," Taffyta urged. Sonic waved her away as him and Tails got back into position.
The game continued, a fast frenzy of points and flying sand. The crowd was energized and excited as points were exchanged. Sonic and Tails were quicker than anything Taffyta and Vanellope ever imagined, but they were confident in keeping up. Vanellope and Taffyta switched spots often, both girls aggressive and fierce. Before they could reach the peak of their game, Sonic called a time out. Him and Tails huddled together in their court. Vanellope stood up straight, from her hunched over position, and threw her arms up.
"Really? What is so important that you have to discuss it right NOW?" Vanellope shouted in an annoyed manner as she panted.
"Vin, come here," Taffyta urged. Vanellope quickly ran over to the back of their court.
"What is it," Vanellope asked as Taffyta handed her a water bottle. Vanellope opened it and dumped it all over herself, her skin now wet and shiny. Taffyta slumped her shoulders and glared at her.
"We're really on it," Taffyta chuckled as she handed Vanellope yet another water bottle, "We've been nearly tied with them this whole game."
"Don't jinx it, Taff," Vanellope panted as she wiped her forehead. Taffyta slumped her shoulders and gaze across the court and around the audience.
"I'm just glad Ralph isn't here," Taffyta laughed, "You would be useless at that point."
"Oh stop it," Vanellope barked with a laugh as the two returned to their spots on the court, "I would not."
"Yeah, we'll see," Taffyta muttered to herself as she glanced to where Ralph was in the stands. She shook her head as both girls hunched over, ready to play.
Sonic and Tails quickly rejoined the game, pumped and ready to fight. They quickly served, the ball lulled from court to court. The ball quickly hung in the air on Sonic's side, Vanellope could practically see the daggers in Tails' eyes as he began to spin in the middle of the air, their usual wind up trick. Tails' sent the ball practically rocketing into Sugar Rush's court, opposite from where Vanellope was standing. Vanellope quickly lunged across the court, practically flying. She skid, stomach and arms first, into the harsh sand, miraculously bumping the ball away from the ground. It lulled up into the air clumsily as Vanellope skid to a halt in the scalding sand. She winced and quickly turned around to see Taffyta jump up and spike the ball firmly into Sonic's court, both animals hurled themselves towards the ball. They skid into the sand with no success. Taffyta hollered with excitement and threw her hands up before turning to Vanellope. She was struggling to get to her feet, but the crowd went crazy.
"Vin, you okay?" Taffyta urged as she quickly grabbed Vanellope's arm.
"I'm okay," Vanellope said gently as she winced, "C'mon, we can't stop."
"Vin, your arm is bleeding," Taffyta worried as Vanellope trekked towards the server's position.
"I'm okay," Vanellope barked as she gazed across the court, a fierce smile spreading across her face.
"I think Vanellope's hurt," Ralph worried, his face still flushed from all this action.
"I hope she can still play," Felix frowned as him and Ralph sat up straight in their seats to get a good look.
Ralph let a small smile play across his face as Vanellope flicked her hair over her shoulder, her shiny skin gleamed under the hot, EZ Living sun. She stood hunched with her hands on her knees; she heaved a few, hard breaths as the look of pure, fierce competition filled her entire demeanor. Taffyta had an equal amount of fervor about herself as well, but Ralph kept his eyes glued to Vanellope. She was bold, tough, and dare he think, sexy. Her curvy, hourglass figure practically shone in the white sand they played on. He felt as if his face was at a loss of blood supply.
"Ralph I can practically hear your thoughts," Felix suddenly barked as he fidgeted with a small laugh. Ralph flinched and gazed at Felix through surprised eyes.
"Felix, what on Earth are you talking about?" Ralph scoffed.
"Ralph, you are clearly ogling her high definition," Felix laughed, "You can at least keep from drooling."
"I'm not drooling," Ralph spat as he shot Felix a look.
"I'm just pulling your leg, Ralph," Felix laughed harder, he held his stomach.
"She's amazing, okay?" Ralph scoffed with a small chuckle, "I've never see her do anything like this. It's, refreshing."
"Refreshing, huh?" Felix stifled a small laugh.
"Yes, Felix," Ralph glared at him with a small, annoyed frown, "It's refreshing. Is there a problem?"
"No problem at all, my brother," Felix coughed back a chuckle.
"You ready, Vanellope?" Taffyta asked gently, Vanellope quickly nodded as her eyes quickly glanced around the crowd.
She practically felt her heart gather in her throat as she suddenly caught eyes with none other than Ralph. Vanellope stood up straight and gazed up at him in the stands; she could practically feel his stare on her, even from so far away. Vanellope let a small smile creep across her face before the volleyball gently thud her on the side of the head. Vanellope shook her head and regained her balance before shooting Taffyta a look of death.
"Vin, pay attention!" Taffyta hollered, the crowd could be heard cheering and laughing.
"Sorry," Vanellope complained as her face practically turned purple.
She quickly spiked the ball over to the opposing team, and they quickly lulled it back. They volleyed it for a few minutes before it was spiked into the back of Sugar Rush's court. Vanellope tripped over her feet as the ball spiked the sand, spewing it up into Vanellope's face. Vanellope choked and shook her head, the end of her ponytail was coated in soft, white sand dust. She glared across the court and scoffed.
"Vin, c'mon," Taffyta hollered angrily from the front of the court, Vanellope panted and waved her off in an annoyed way.
"My bad," Vanellope barked in frustration as Tails' volleyed the ball over to their court. Vanellope quickly returned the serve as Taffyta helped it over the net. Sonic quickly spiked it down into Sugar Rush's court. Taffyta quickly clipped the ball with her arm, sending it flying backwards towards Vanellope. Vanellope gasped and threw her hand up as it rocketed towards her. She accidentally sent it flying in the opposite direction from the net. It hit the wall behind them; the whole crowd cheered and wailed. Taffyta glared at Vanellope and stormed up to her.
"Taff, I'm sorry," Vanellope angrily barked.
"What's your deal, you were doing just fine a few minutes ago!" Taffyta hollered.
"I'm sorry... I-I just noticed that Ralph is here," Vanellope said with a twinge of embarrassment in her voice. Taffyta glanced back at Ralph, far up in the stands, before glaring back at Vanellope.
"Just forget he's there," Taffyta snapped as she grabbed Vanellope's shoulder, the two quickly had their backs to Ralph's side of the audience.
"Oh my User... I cannot believe he's here," Vanellope suddenly worried, her voice crackling. Her code wigged out a little bit.
"Don't worry so much," Taffyta said as she crossed her arms, wrinkling her nose. Vanellope quickly grabbed her arm, a look of sheer terror in her eyes.
"What if he thinks I'm terrible at this game?" Vanellope worried aloud, Taffyta rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure he doesn't, Vin, now we really need to focus!" Taffyta urged.
"I'm in practically nothing but this black bikini, what if he's upset about that?" Vanellope worried as she put her hands over the sides of her head, her look crazed, her arm still slightly bloodied.
"Vanellope, you're wearing a long pair of surf shorts, will you just pull yourself together?!" Taffyta spat as she grabbed Vanellope's arm and straightened her out, "We can't lose our heads so far into this game! Just forget about him for now!"
"That's easy for you to say!" Vanellope scoffed, "How long have you known he was there, Taff?"
"Practically the whole game, Vin," Taffyta barked with a small chuckle as she eased back to her spot in the front of the court, the crowd was loud with chatter and cheering, "Get it together. Only a few points until we can win."
"Okay," Vanellope breathed as she focused on the game, trying to push Ralph away from her thoughts. Her face was beet red at the thought of him seeing her with such a lack of clothing. She wondered just what he was thinking about this whole fiasco.
Before Vanellope could steal another glance at Ralph, Sonic rocketed the ball to Vanellope. Vanellope firmly launched it back to Tails' who instantly shot it at Taffyta. The four volleyed back and forth, their plays fast and fierce. Taffyta and Vanellope fell into a synced harmony, they shifted back and forth with ease, a complicated dance only they could understand. They shared unspoken communication, their feet never stopping. After a few points here and there, Taffyta whirled around and tensed her hands excitedly.
"Vin, we're tied!" Taffyta exclaimed. Vanellope beamed as she gazed across the court at Sonic.
"This is it, ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer suddenly said, "The team to score the next point is this year's volleyball champions!" The crowd went crazy.