A/N: Over 500 reviews! * Puts hands on cheeks * Whoa! Thank you guys! * eats all your brownies and cookies *
LunasLullaby: Aw! I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
LittleMissPanda84: Owl City is the best! * swoons *
Vanellope trudged through the deep snow up to the front steps of R. Moore Elementary, holding Taffyta's present protectively in her mitten-clad hands. The cold wind nipped at her nose and almost blew her hat clean off her head. Why did she choose to wear her skirt today? It was probably a million degrees in the negative!
Well, okay, maybe not a million, but it was still really cold!
Bill, the school's janitor, was doing his best to keep the sidewalk clear and shoveled, but he wasn't the fastest, and by the time he finished shoveling one section, the previous one would be covered with another layer of snow. Vanellope could easily sense his vexation at this, as he turned around, his eyes widening to the biggest Vanellope had ever seen them (which still wasn't that big), then narrowing again as he headed back to re-shovel the sidewalk, mumbling and grumbling.
"Morning So-um-Bill!" Vanellope said, catching herself. The kids at school had teasingly nicknamed him Sour Bill, on account of the fact that he was so grumpy all the time.
Bill nodded mutely, looking pretty bored as usual.
Vanellope walked into school and headed towards the third-grade hallway. She took a quick detour to Felix's classroom and walked inside, where Felix was sitting at his desk. "Ralph and I got your invitation in the mail yesterday." She said, skipping over to him. "And he said we can come!"
"That's great!" Felix exclaimed, smiling at her.
"So who else is coming?" Vanellope asked, swinging off of some of the fourth-graders desks.
"Let's see..." Felix looked up and thought. "Well, I invited your classmates and their families..."
"Great." Vanellope muttered sarcastically.
"And some of the other teachers will be there, like Miss Mary, and-"
"Tamora?" Vanellope teased, giggling at him.
"Yes." Felix said, blushing furiously. "She'll be there too."
"Well, I can't wait!" Vanellope said, heading towards the door. "It sounds like it's going to be a pretty sweet deal."
"Tell Ralph I said 'Merry Christmas!" Felix called behind her.
"Okay!" Vanellope said cheerily, walking out. She went over to her hook and hung up her jacket and backpack.
"I like your outfit." Crumbelina said admiringly, who was hanging up her coat as well.
"Thanks." Vanellope said, looking down self-consciously. She was wearing a cute red and green plaid skirt with a red sweater. Ralph had helped her put mint barrettes in her hair and she wore her signature mismatched tights. Ralph had joked that she better avoid standing under mistletoe, because all the boys would be lining up.
Crumbelina nodded and headed inside the classroom, carrying her Secret Santa present. Vanellope followed close behind.
When she walked inside the classroom, she could tell how exciting today was going to be. Students were talking to each other with fervor, all decked out in red and green décor.
"I got this dress from New York." Taffyta was bragging. "It's an original Chanel."
"Wow!" Candlehead exclaimed, her eyes wide and innocent-looking. "It's so pretty!"
"I know." Taffyta smirked, examining her perfectly manicured nails.
Vanellope rolled her eyes. She always thought people who cared about brands were so silly. What did it matter who made your clothes? As long as you liked them, that was all that should matter.
She went over and handed her present to Miss Mary, then sat at her desk, receiving her daily snarky glare from Taffyta. Vanellope ignored her and turned her attention to the rest of the room. There was a long table in the front of the room, where some plates and cups sat. Vanellope guessed this was going to be full of food later. Besides the Secret Santa presents, Miss Mary had sent an e-mail to all the parents asking if they could bring some food to contribute to the party. Vanellope had been busy making Taffyta's present, so she had just brought some potato chips.
"Are you excited to find out who your Secret Santa is?" Adorabeezle asked Vanellope.
"I guess so." Vanellope shrugged. Her Secret Santa had gotten her pretty good stuff. Besides the two toy race cars, she had gotten a whole bag of candy and a special travel case for her RV1000. It was pretty common knowledge that Vanellope loved racing, so her Secret Santa could be anyone. "I have no idea who I have."
"Same." Adorabeezle said, looking around. "Yesterday I got these pretty earrings from mine." She titled her ears to show her.
Vanellope peered closer to see that they were small, colorful, popsicles. A little off-season, but still cute. "Sweet." She smiled.
"Yeah." Adorabeezle agreed, sitting back.
"Mine better get me something good for once." Taffyta said, coming to sit down in her desk. "I'm sick of all these stupid things I've been getting."
Vanellope almost opened her mouth to say that Taffyta should be happy that she was getting anything, but then the bell rang. The students all sat down, ready to begin class. Vanellope sighed. She just wanted it to be the end of the day. How was she supposed to wait all day for the party? She just wanted to see Taffyta's reaction. After all, she had worked so hard to please her, it was about time she got something right for once. She'd kept every insult down, resisted every banana peel, but enough was enough. She was nearing the edge.
The day dragged by with a snail-like pace. Vanellope could barely concentrate on writing the end of her Christmas story, in which Vanellope used the power of a magical candy cane to explode all the toy robots, and banish all the aliens back to their unnamed planet. In Spanish class, it felt like it took a century to sing "Feliz Navidad." Even in classes Vanellope enjoyed, like gym, it felt like everyone was playing kickball in slow motion.
Finally, after hours and hours of waiting, Felix dismissed them from Math class and the 3rd graders all ran to Miss Mary's classroom, talking and laughing all the way.
When they got inside, music was playing, food was out, and a stack of the Secret Santa presents sat in the corner. The lady on the radio was singing about how all she wanted for Christmas was a boy, which was pretty stupid in Vanellope's opinion. Why ask for boys when you could get race cars?
The table in the front of the room was full of snacks, some of which included a large, sparkling punch bowl, a chocolate cake, a bowl of M n' M's, popcorn, cookies, brownies, eclairs, and of course, Vanellope's potato chips. There was even Neapolitan ice cream, curtsey of Snowanna. The most impressive thing though, was a grand chocolate fountain that Miss Mary had set up.
"It's beautiful!" Swizzle whispered longfully, eying the chocolate fountain. Rancis and Gloyd nodded in awe.
"Welcome children!" Miss Mary called, waving them in. "Let's get this party started, shall we? Get your food and then we'll start the Secret Santa exchange! Just go up to the tree and get your present, then give it to whoever you have!"
The kids scampered about, getting their food and presents. Vanellope saw Gloyd get out a cup and fill it with chocolate, much to Taffyta's disgust.
Vanellope went over to the tree and got out her present, setting in on her desk. She looked around for Taffyta but was interrupted by Adorabeezle coming up to her, a shy smile on her face. "Here you go, Vanellope." She said, handing the present over to her.
"You're my Secret Santa?" Vanellope exclaimed, taking the large rectangular present.
Adorabeezle nodded. "Surprise!"
"Gee, thanks!" Vanellope laughed. "I loved everything you gave me!"
Adorabeezle let out a sigh of relief. "Good, I mean, I knew you like race cars and stuff, but I was still a little worried."
Vanellope opened up her new present. It was that race car book Gloyd had had back in September, with all the official race car information and signatures! "Holy Skittles!" Vanellope gasped, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. "Thanks Adorabeezle!" She put the book in her desk and gave her a big hug.
"You're welcome!" Adorabeezle grinned. "I'm glad you like it!"
Vanellope nodded and picked up Taffyta's gift. She walked away, looking for the platinum blonde herself. She passed by Candlehead, who was hugging an extremely uncomfortable-looking Swizzle. "I'm so glad you like my gifts!" She giggled.
Swizzle looked at Vanellope. Help!
"Hey Candlehead!" Vanellope called.
Candlehead looked up.
"I think I saw your Secret Santa over by the tree." Vanellope said.
"Ooh!" Candlehead squealed, dropping Swizzle. "I wonder who it is!"
"Thanks." Swizzle said, fist-bumping Vanellope. "Do you know where Torvald is? I need to give her my present."
"I think she's in the back of the room." Vanellope said, pointing.
Swizzle nodded and walked off.
Vanellope spent a good minute looking around the classroom before she found Taffyta standing by the food table, examining a tree-shaped cookie suspiciously. Vanellope walked over to her, her hands and knees shaking. "H-hey, Taffyta." Vanellope winced, smiling at her queasily.
"What do you want?" Taffyta snapped. "I'm waiting for my Secret Santa, so if you could just move your ugly little-" She paused, her mouth dropping open in a perfect "O" shape. "Eh meh gawd." She gasped, looking down at the present in Vanellope's outstretched hands. "It's you, isn't it!?"
"Merry Christmas?" Vanellope said, smiling at her wearily.
"I should have known!" Taffyta said, stomping one foot angrily. "No one else would be stupid enough to give someone a dumb pen for a present!"
"Hey!" Vanellope exclaimed defensively. "I spent a lot of time on that!" It was like she was being split into two different Vanellopes-one good, one bad. The good one was ever so reminding her to be calm, mature, and better than Taffyta. The bad side was bringing back those images of frog presents.
"Yeah, well, it was stupid." Taffyta said, rolling her eyes. She snatched the present out of Vanellope's hands. "What is this?"
"Your present." Vanellope said quietly. The two Vanellopes were still fighting against each other, but the bad side was slowly winning. She clenched her fists at her side and tried to stay responsible. Remember what you promised Ralph! The good side admonished her.
Taffyta opened it up, looking annoyed. She pulled it out. "What the heck?" She snipped, looking at it like it was a newly developed species.
"It's a cupcake." Vanellope said, her voice shaking unsteadily. She had spent a lot of time making it just perfect. It was larger than a normal cupcake, and decorated with a pretty swirl of pink and white frosting. On top was a luscious-looking strawberry, surrounded by an array of pink sprinkles. Ralph said it look like it came right out of a French bakery, which had caused Vanellope to beam with pride.
"A cupcake?" Taffyta said incredulously. "You made me a cupcake?"
"Yes." Vanellope said, waiting for her reaction.
Taffyta glared at her. "If I wanted a cupcake, I could have gotten one off of the snack table!" She shrieked, dropping the cupcake back in Vanellope's hands. "What kind of dumb present is that!? You are the stupidest person I've ever met!"
Vanellope glared at her. The good side of her had completely died out by now. All she could feel now was her frustration and anger. "I tried to make you happy!" She exclaimed. "It's not my fault your the brattiest person in the world!"
"Well you failed!" Taffyta cried. "You are so mentally retarded it's not even funny anymore! That cupcake is worthless and pathetic, just like you!"
Vanellope made a split second decision. She was just so sick of Taffyta, and her name-calling, her pranks, her...everything! She was officially the meanest, worst-est, evilest person Vanellope had ever met!
"And you are such a little piece of-"
And so Vanellope Reilly closed her eyes, took that cupcake, that cupcake that she'd worked so hard on, and shoved it right in Taffyta's bratty face. Then she ground it in, for extra effect.
The whole room gasped, but no one was more surprised than Taffyta. "Wh-wha-what- did you...you ruined my face!" She gasped breathlessly.
"Oh I'm so sorry, let me get that for you." Vanellope said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She turned to the giant chocolate fountain and dipped her hands in, making sure to get them extra chocolatey. With great relish, she took them and rubbed them all over Taffyta's stupid new dress, leaving chocolate hand prints all over it and causing Taffyta to let out an exclaim of shock.
"What are you doing?" She shrieked.
"There." Vanellope said, standing back and crossing her arms triumphantly. "All better!"
Taffyta stood there, her mouth hanging open in stupefaction before she let out a terrifying screech. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" She yelled, tackling Vanellope to the ground with a brownie in hand.
It was Gloyd who started the rest. "Food fight!" He yelled, standing up on top of his desk. And with a single second, Miss Mary's classroom went nuts. Brownies went flying, ice cream splattered, and chocolate was rubbed into faces. Taffyta took the punch bowl and dumped it over Vanellope's head. Vanellope retaliated by taking Gloyd's cup of chocolate and pouring it over hers.
"My cake!" Miss Mary cried, ducking to avoid a shower of M n' M's as Swizzle dug his hands in and began chucking chunks across the room. "Children! Stop it! Stop! You are acting very irresponsible!" She stood up on a desk and waved her arms, trying to get their attention. "Stop! Everyone stop!" She was cut off immediately though when Sticky accidentally threw some ice cream straight to her face.
Vanellope and Taffyta rolled around, yelling at each other and pulling each others hair. They crashed into the food table, sending the fountain to the floor where the top flew off, causing a jet of chocolate to fly around the classroom, painting the walls and windows brown.
It continued like this for about five more minutes, until there was a blaring bull horn noise, and a loud voice shouted. "Children!"
The students all looked up to see Principal Gene standing in the door with Miss Mary at his side. A last stray toss of cake landed against his face with a resounding splat, running down his cheeks and down his neck. He scowled, his hands on his hips and a scary look on his face. His eyes crackled with thunder as he turned to Miss Mary. "Who started this?" He roared.
With a glare, Miss Mary pointed to Vanellope and Taffyta, who sat on the floor, covered in chocolate, cake, and other unknown desserts.
Vanellope gulped.
They all had lost their recess privileges for the next two weeks after Christmas break. And they had to stay after school and clean up the classroom. Vanellope and Taffyta, on the other hand, were not so lucky.
"Come with me." Gene had hissed, pulling them off the floor. Then he had dragged them to his office where he instructed them to sit outside in the lobby while he called their parents.
Now Vanellope and Taffyta sat there, sitting on opposite sides of the bench, covered in food and refusing to speak to one another.
"This is all your fault." Taffyta hissed, her back still turned towards her.
"No it isn't!" Vanellope hissed right back, scowling over her shoulder at her. "You're the one who had to be so mean to me!"
"You're the one who shoved that crappy cupcake in my face!" Taffyta said, turning to scowl right back.
"Only because you deserved it!"
"I did not!"
"Yes you did!"
"Did not!"
"Did!"
"Just shut up." Taffyta said, turning away again.
Vanellope rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, turning to sit face-forward.
They sat there in an angry silence, each going over mean things to say to each other in their heads.
Vanellope heard Gene's muffled voice coming from the door as he talked to one of their parents. Vanellope's heart sped up and her palms got all sweaty. Ralph was going to kill her, bring her back to life, and kill her again. She was 99 percent sure that starting food fights wasn't included on the "being nice to others list."
Vanellope's thoughts were interrupted as she heard Taffyta give off a small sniffle. "Oh, so you're crying now?" Vanellope exclaimed, looking annoyed. "Are you trying to make me feel bad for you? Because it's not going to work!"
"Why would I do that?" Taffyta scowled, turning to Vanellope with watery, red eyes. "I have bigger problems than that to deal with!"
"Like what?" Vanellope huffed, rolling her eyes. "Your mom isn't going to buy you any more mascara?"
"No!" Taffyta said, her voice wavering.
"Because of this you're not going to get the right color cell phone now?" Vanellope continued, smirking devilishly. "Or, I know, you're going to get 49 presents now, instead of 50?"
"No!" Taffyta exclaimed, tears leaking out. "I'm mad because I know this is going to make my parents fight even more than they already do!" She gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth, looking ashamed.
Vanellope froze. "What?" She said, more quietly this time.
Taffyta turned away from her and put her face in her knees. A couple seconds passed before Vanellope realized she was crying. Real, serious crying, not just I-broke-a-nail crying. Vanellope sat there shifting back and forth uncertainly, not knowing what to say or do. After a couple minutes she slid over to her, and patted her on the cake-covered shoulder awkwardly.
Taffyta just sat there and let it all out, something that was slightly scary for Vanellope. She had never seen this side of her before, it was so...different.
"My parents are getting divorced." Taffyta mumbled, sounding hollow. "And all they ever do is fight with each other and over me, and my sisters won't stop making fun of me just because I'm the youngest, and my home sucks. And the police have to show up at least once a week to calm everything down." She let out a dry sob. "There, are you happy now? Now you can go and tell everyone and you can all make fun of me. I know you always do it anyways."
Vanellope's previous aggression faded away in an instant. "I'm not going to do that." She said quietly, looking down at the ground. Before she would have thought Taffyta was just making it all up to get attention, but for some reason, she believed her.
Maybe it was because she hated to see anyone, even Taffyta, cry.
Maybe it was because it explained why Taffyta would want to take out her aggression on others.
Whatever it was, Vanellope immediately felt guilty for shoving the cupcake in her face.
Taffyta just sat there, crying.
"If it helps...I don't even know my mom and dad." Vanellope found herself saying.
"W-what?" Taffyta sniffled, peeking one eye up at her.
Vanellope dropped her hand off Taffyta's shoulder and sat back, looking up at the ceiling. "I-I'm adopted." She said.
Taffyta was quiet now. She looked over at Vanellope, saying nothing.
"I don't even have a memory of my real parents." Vanellope went on, speaking barely above a whisper. "They just found me one morning on the orphanage doorstep, with no one around, not even a note, or anything. I was only a baby." She paused, a ghostly look on her face. "I kept waiting for them to come back for me. But...no one ever did."
Taffyta said nothing, a look of-was it remorse?-on her face. "I-I had no idea." She mumbled, looking ashamed for the first time in her life.
Vanellope nodded, trying to hold back the tears threatening to leak out of her eyes.
They sat there numbly for a few minutes, trying to take it what had just happened.
Taffyta finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
Vanellope turned to her in astonishment. "What?"
"I'm sorry!" Taffyta repeated, louder this time. "I was so mean to you-I just..." She sighed, scuffing the tiled floor with the heel of her boot. "I was jealous, okay? I was mad because when you came here, everyone thought you were so great and cool, and everyone wanted to be your friend, and you were beating me in everything...I just felt so...stupid."
"Are you kidding me?" Vanellope laughed incredulously. "I was jealous of you!"
"Really?" Taffyta giggled, turning to smile at her.
"Yeah!" Vanellope said. "I mean, you had all this cool stuff, and everyone was so nice to you, and they all knew your name-and I just thought your life was perfect!"
Taffyta laughed, wiping her eyes. "I guess we were both pretty weird." She said, sitting back.
"Yeah." Vanellope said, doing the same. She paused and took a deep breath. "And I'm sorry for being mean back. It wasn't mature of me."
"I can see why you did it." Taffyta muttered. "I was being a real jerk."
"I've seen worse." Vanellope said, thinking back to Nancy.
"Thanks." Taffyta said, smiling half-heartedly. "But still...I'm just so sorry."
Vanellope turned away again, feeling weird all of the sudden. Was she actually getting along with Taffyta? She turned to her. "How 'bout we call it a truce? I don't know about you, but I'm sick of fighting."
Taffyta smiled and nodded. "Deal."
They leaned over and shook each others hands, giggling.
"You look so weird with that brownie in your hair." Taffyta said teasingly.
"I could say the same with your cake-face." Vanellope teased back.
Taffyta laughed.
Suddenly the two front doors opened, and their parents rushed in, looking angry. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Taffyta's mother said. She was very tall and pretty, and the resemblance between her and Taffyta was very eminent.
"A food fight?" Ralph exclaimed, his hands on his sides. "I thought we talked about this Vanellope?"
Vanellope and Taffyta turned to each other, smiling queasily.
These next few hours were not going to be fun. But even though Vanellope knew she was in loads of trouble, for the first time in a long time, she felt at peace. The storm was over, the tide had receded, and she and Taffyta had called it even. They weren't exactly friends, not yet anyways, but no matter what happened, Vanellope felt happy knowing that whatever happened next, they could do it together.
