Meanwhile, in town, most of the vacationers were hanging around town with the Racers getting to know them.

Charleston was going through some titles in a DVD store. Nougetsia happened to be there as well, though she was looking among a different group of titles. She then saw Charleston.

"Hi Charles." She smiled.

He looked up, turned, and saw Nougetsia.

"Hello...Nougetsia right?" He smiled back.

"Yeah. What're you looking at?" She went over to him.

"Vintage movies. I'm trying to pick which ones to buy." Charleston explained. "My parents said I could buy a few movies for vacation. The thing is, I don't know whether to get ones I've seen but don't have or ones I haven't seen."

"How about something completely new?" Nougetsia suggested. "I can see that these are all American titles so how about some British vintage ones? I can show you some of mine."

"Hm...never saw foreign vintage films before..." Charleston admitted. "Okay, just let me ask my parents, they're outside somewhere."

"No problem, I'll call mine as well." Nougetsia took out her cellphone.

Each Racer and non-Racer had a cellphone so that they could keep in touch with their parents. They didn't use them that often though since they hardly got a reason to.

Charleston talked to his parents as Nougetsia talked to hers. Then their parents talked to each other through Nougetsia's phone and everything was arranged. Nougetsia led Charleston to her home and into the den. They started to watch British vintage movies for a few hours, and then Nougetsia took Charleston to her room to introduce him to her pet chinchilla Marsha. Marsha and Charleston liked each other, and Charleston told Nougetsia about his pet dalmatian Rin-Tin-Tin.

Around the same time Candlehead had made it her mission to become Matlow's friend.

"Hi Matlow." She smiled, finding him in a bookstore.

He looked up from the science book he was reading.

"Hello Candlehead." He said politely.

"So, I was wondering why you don't have any friends." Candlehead asked.

"I had been too busy with my studies back home to make friends." Matlow explained. "My parents kept wanting me to make my education top priority. But then my teacher talked them into letting me just be a kid and make some friends."

"Gee, if you studied so much then what did you do for fun?" Candlehead asked.

"I...never really had fun before." Matlow admitted. "Mostly I read and worked on science experiments."

"That won't do." Candlehead shook her head. "Come with me, I can help you have fun!"

She grabbed him and dragged him away despite his protests. She started off slow by teaching him a few board and card games, but already he was a bit overwhelmed. Candlehead was too energetic for him.

Adamec and Swizzle, having instantly bonded, continued to chat excitedly about performing stunts together the next day while everyone else was getting settled. They headed into the sports store...where they ran into Bodhivian and Stormberry. Not literally luckily.

"Oh hello." Swizzle smiled.

"Hi, we were just wondering which ball sport we should try first." Stormberry smiled. "I mean I've played beach volleyball many times before, but we haven't really played the other sports."

"Yeah, all of them seem to rock but each in their own way." Bodhivian nodded.

"Oh yeah, all sports are cool in one way or another." Adamec agreed.

"What about school, I mean didn't you learn any in PE?" Swizzle asked.

"Stormberry's grade doesn't have PE and I, uh, was never really picked for team sports." Bodhivian rubbed the back of his head. "I was the only dude in our school and the other students thought I was a dweeb."

"By dude he means 'surfing enthusiast', and in this case dweeb means someone who acts like a simpleton." Stormberry added. "Our school was closer to inland than to the beach so the other students mostly visited the beach for camping and beach volleyball. In Bodhi's case dad used to live near the beach before he married mom and so got Bodhi into surfing."

"Oh." Swizzle understood.

"Say, how about the four of us team up? Swizzle and I can teach you a few sports." Adamec offered.

"Awesome!" Bodhivian smiled.

"Sure, sounds like fun." Stormberry smiled.

"Hey Swizzle!"

He and his new friends looked and saw Minty and her sisters.

"Oh hi Minty, Sticky, Torvald." Swizzle smiled before turning to his new friends. "Guys, I'm sure you remember Minty and her sisters from Vanellope introducing us."

"Of course." Adamec smiled.

"We saw you guys talking and were wondering what you had planned." Torvald explained. "Maybe we can join you if you'd like."

"Sure, Adam and I are going to teach Bodhi and Stormberry how to play a few sports that require balls." Swizzle smiled. "We can't all play or the teams will be uneven though..."

"No problem, I can be the referee." Sticky smiled.

"Righteous, let's go!" Bodhivian smiled enthusiastically.

They headed for a nearby gym to practice. The gym was a way for everyone to play sports now and then, Sugar Rush had racing for it's national sport so all other sports were just for fun and didn't have teams or organizations. Anyway, during practice they learned that Adamec's sparkler worked like a mood ring: it showed what he was feeling.

Graham, around this point, was still interested in Crumbelina and so was in town looking for her. Crumbelina had headed off on her own earlier while he was being led to the hotel. He finally saw her at a fancy table outside an Italian restaurant.

"Bonjour." He smiled. "I was wondering where you ran off too."

Crumbelina looked up from her food. Luckily she had memorized all the names of the new characters earlier. She always hated to seem rude, though sometimes couldn't help but become rude when she got angry.

"Oh, hello Graham." She said politely. "I left to have lunch, would you like to join me?"

"Oui, merci." Graham sat down and looked at the menu. "Hm, it all looks so bonne. What do you recommend?"

"You asked the right person, I happened to be a fan of Italian food." Crumbelina smiled. "Not surprising since I'm part Italian. Try the Fettuccine Alfredo ."

Just to explain: Sugar Rush food tasted more like desserts no matter what it looked like, but the citizens still called them by the same names we gave them.

"Ah Italian, another romantic nationality." Graham smiled. "I'm French myself, but you probably already guessed that."

"I think everyone who met you did." Crumbelina nodded.

A waiter then came by and took Graham's order.

"So, what do you like to do?" Crumbelina asked after the waiter left.

"Well, celebrate Noël mostly." Graham said.

"Christmas is your favorite holiday huh?"

"Oui, I just loved the joie it brings to people and the beauté of the decorations." Graham smiled. "Of course I can't celebrate it all year, so I've learned to cope by doing other things. French cooking mostly, but I also like talking to the ladies."

"That's why you're interested in me? What about the other ladies?"

"You are the first lady to not be affected by my French accent." Graham explained. "And I got curious."

"Ah. Well I don't care about accents or anything." Crumbelina explained. "I'm...selective, you might say, when it comes to men. I want only the best for myself, especially since I have big plans for my future."

Graham just smiled. He was really starting to like Crumbelina.

"So, what do you like to do belle?" He asked.

Crumbelina looked a little wary, knowing that he just called her beautiful in French (it was an easy guess anyway), but answered his question:

"My favorite activity is to create new fashions. It's mostly a hobby right now but I'm planning to turn it into a career in the future. I also like to race obviously, but don't let my sophisticated nature fool you. I can be pretty bold on the track. Also, like you I have been cooking, except in my case I practice Italian cooking."

"Incroyable!" Graham grinned. "I admire a woman with spirit."

They talked a bit longer as they ate, and Graham's heart had started to beat a little fast. Then after Graham was done eating he found to his embarrassment that he left his money packed up in the hotel.

"Oh let me." Crumbelina took out her wallet.

"Oh no-" Graham started to protest.

"Relax, it's no trouble." Crumbelina smirked. "My dad owns the restaurant so I get a discount here anyway."

"Oh." Graham relaxed. "Merci beaucoup."

Crumbelina paid. After it was taken care of...

"That was délicieux, merci for the recommendation." Graham got up. "And merci again for paying for my meal."

"Anytime, I'm glad you liked it." Crumbelina got up too. "Well, I have a few designs I'd like to work on so if you'll pardon me..."

"Un moment s'il vous plaît." Graham went over to her. "I have never met a dame like you before. I was wondering if you would like to join me for dinner tonight? I do owe you for lunch after all."

"Well...very well, but only because you feel you owe me." Crumbelina shrugged. "Excuse me."

She left.

"Ce qu'est une femme." Graham sighed. "I think...je suis en amour."

Now there were only two new characters who didn't really meet anyone: Pepsino and Sourward. Sourward was with the Honeyways of course, and just hung out near the farms by himself. Pepsino was in his hotel room, too shy to try to make a friend.

Close to the end of the day, Mazie, Mrs. Candotte, Henreesa, and Applelo and his family went to the train station. Same with Madison and her friends.

"It's too bad you don't live here Mazie, I'd like to hang out some more." Henreesa said.

"Same here. Maybe I can talk mom into visiting more often than she planned." Mazie agreed.

"Bye Mazie, I'll really miss you." Applelo said.

"Ditto." Mazie agreed as she and Applelo hugged.

Madison and her friends also said their goodbyes. Mazie and Mrs. Candotte then got on the train.

When it was dinner time most of the vacationers ate either in the hotel or in town, and some of them ate with the original Racers they had befriended. Charleston had ended up staying at Nougetsia's for a long time, so he and his parents were invited to have dinner there. The Chewsters, Charleston especially, accepted the invitation and had a good time talking to the Winterpops. Charleston also ended up liking Nougetsia's sister Adorabeezle, especially her love of America.

As for Graham and Crumbelina, they had a good time as well. They ate in a French restaurant so that Graham could give her his own recommendations, and at the end of the meal he of course paid for everything.

"I had a merveilleux time Crumbelina." Graham smiled as they left the restaurant.

"I had fun too." Crumbelina smiled back. "Thank you for dinner."

"Soyez le bienvenu." Graham looked at her lovingly.

Crumbelina's smile faded. She recognized that look from back when Gloyd had a crush on her.

"Crumbelina, I have never met anyone like you." Graham admitted. "I was wondering if you would like to go out with me again tomorrow."

"Sorry, I'm still busy with those new designs." Crumbelina said politely.

"Then maybe the day after oui?" Graham took her hand and kissed it.

"No." Crumbelina said less politely, taking her hand away. "I'm sorry but you're not my type."

She left. Graham just shrugged it off. He didn't mind her rejecting him surprisingly. Instead of being hurt his heart just started beating faster than it had during lunch.

"J'aime a challenge." He smiled. "We shall see which is stronger in the end: love or indifference."

The next day the arcade was open, obviously. Mr. Litwak told his customers about the new Sugar Rush Racers, explaining that first the console had to get used to having new characters in it before they can actually be used as avatars. His customers understood, and almost all of them - especially the boys of course - couldn't wait to see the new additions.

The new Sugar Rush characters watched all the races from the stands. Already the preteen ones were interested in learning how to race - except for Applelo of course - having found the idea fun. Some, like Adamec, also found it cool.

Bitalo especially was interested, but there was a problem: he was too scared to try.

After the arcade closed, the Roster Race was held. Vanellope wanted to get it out of the way so that the new characters could hang out with the original Racers more before night fell, because she had already worked with Rancis and Taffyta about setting up a party to officially welcome the new characters. They would've asked Candlehead to help as well, but she was too busy with Matlow.

Swizzle and Adamec, after the Roster Race, immediately left to go to the ice cream mountains.

"Can we watch you guys perform stunts?" Minty asked, catching up to her boyfriend with her sisters.

"Of course." Swizzle smiled.

"Always welcome to have an audience." Adamec grinned, his sparkler turning blue.

"I'd like to come too, I like watching anything action-packed." Bitalo came closer, having overheard.

"You must've really enjoyed the races then." Torvald grinned.

"Oh yeah, a lot." Bitalo smiled.

"Come on let's go!" Adamec said, running ahead enthusiastically as his sparkler turned orange. "I want to get in as many stunts as possible before the party tonight."

"Okay, take it easy." Swizzle laughed. "We're coming."

He, Minty and her sisters, and Bitalo ran to catch up with Adamec.

Swizzle and Adamec performed all types of stunts with Minty, Torvald, Sticky, and Bitalo cheering them on.

"That's my boyfriend!" Minty said proudly after Swizzle accomplished a tricky stunt.

"Oh yeah? Watch this." Adamec grinned from the top of the ramp.

He skied down and caught some big air in an eagle position. He then did a few flips before doing a gorilla turn that made him fakie down the rest of the way after he landed.

"Wow!" Even Swizzle was impressed. "That was awesome!"

"It was but no one is better than you in my eyes." Minty smiled.

"You're too sweet...but I love that about you." Swizzle smiled back.

"Whoa, that was a really cool stunt!" Torvald grinned. "I love it when athletes go all out."

"You really like watching action huh?" Bitalo smiled.

"Oh yeah, nothing better!" Torvald grinned. "I also love going on adventures and participating in the action. Not really into sports though. I mean I am a tomboy but most sports take a lot of skill. I don't mind learning new things but I'd rather just jump in and have fun without making sure I'm doing something right. One time I was playing soccer in school and I was having so much fun that I accidentally used my hands instead of my feet to get the ball."

She laughed and Bitalo laughed too.

"So yeah, sports are fun but they aren't really my thing." Torvald said after she calmed down. "I'd rather explore, race, and go on fast and thrilling rides."

"I would like to enjoy all that too, but I can only watch." Bitalo sighed.

"Really? Why?"

"I'm...I'm too scared to try them." Bitalo admitted.

"Well nothing wrong with being scared. Heck anything you try the first time can be scary." Torvald shrugged.

"Still, I would so love to try...pretty much the only time I've ever been brave was when someone was in trouble." Bitalo said. "Like one time when...well I can't tell you the whole story but someone hurt a friend of mine really badly. I was so mad that I told off that person right in public without caring about who else was there."

"Very cool of you." Torvald grinned. "After all true bravery is doing something important and selfless for someone else no matter how scary it may seem."

Bitalo smiled at her gratefully. He also felt some sort attraction to her.

"Say, Torvald, would you like to hang out during the party tonight?" He asked. "I mean you'll probably want to hang out with your sisters, but..."

"Actually I'd love to. The whole purpose of the party is to help you new guys make friends and such here, so my sisters and I already agreed to just do our own thing anyway." Torvald smiled.

Bitalo grinned.

Oh, and Sticky? Well she was the only one who didn't say anything about Adamec's stunt. She just blushed a little and felt her heart skip a beat.

Now almost all of the rest of the new characters were back in town, save for two. Applelo wasn't because Madison had visited again to help him and his parents plant apple trees. Pepsino wasn't because he was trying to calm himself before the party.

This meant that Sourward was actually in town. Bitalo had already left anyway and Sourward didn't want to stay at the farms since Mr. and Mrs. Honeyway were busy helping the bees to settle in. So, he decided to explore the town and see what was there. As he did he ran into Citrusella.

"Oh hello Sourward, I was hoping to run into you today." Citrusella smiled. "I was wondering if you'd like to hang out somewhere? I'd really like to be your friend."

"No thanks." Sourward scowled before brushing past her.

"Why not?" Citrusella asked as she caught up to him. "You can't have too many friends after all."

"Look, I don't trust anyone all right?" Sourward snapped. "Bitalo and his parents are the only ones outside my family I do trust! So leave me alone!"

Citrusella was shocked, but recovered and looked determined.

"No, I won't." She said. "Because I used to be too shy to make new friends, but my sister Jubileena and my pet flying squirrel Nutsy helped me see that there was nothing to be shy about."

Sourward just glared at her and continued walking away. Not willing to give up, Citrusella followed him and continued trying to befriend him. She felt too sorry for him for being in pain to let his resentment scare her off even though some of the things he said hurt her slightly.

That duo wasn't the only rocky relationship either. Candlehead was back to trying to teach Matlow how to have fun and again she was too energetic for him. Instead of board and card games she now was teaching him a few simple sports like ping-pong. Matlow didn't know how to say no without hurting her, and his saying 'no thanks' and such weren't working, so he was stuck playing the games with her. And already he was finding her annoying.

Graham and Crumbelina's relationship, once pleasant, was turning a bit rocky as well. Graham was trying to woo her with French, which wasn't working, and it looked as if Crumbelina was starting to get annoyed. No surprise: she was in a cloth shop trying to pick which materials to buy. Graham did try to help by suggesting what she would look beautiful in, but that just made things worse.

"Ah, now this red ribbon would look magnifique in your hair." Graham flirted.

"Graham enough!" Crumbelina lost it at first, but managed to calm herself down. "I'd rather make my decisions on my own so please leave."

Graham, sensing that he was getting close to crossing the line, bowed slightly and left the store. He then went over to a little cafe and think things over.

"Maybe I should try being more romantic...maybe red roses?" He said to himself.

"For who?" A female voice said behind him.

Graham turned around and saw Taffyta behind him. He then saw Rancis next to her.

"For Crumbelina, I have never met such a belle femme before." Graham smiled.

"Oh you've got your work cut out for you." Rancis chuckled.

"Rancis..." Taffyta warned playfully.

"Well he does." Rancis shrugged.

"Okay true...Crumbelina didn't tell you did she?" Taffyta turned back to Graham.

"Tell me what?" Graham asked.

"That answers my question." Taffyta moved so that she could sit in front of Graham; Rancis followed her and also sat down. "Crumbelina has very high standards for her future, including the type of guy she wants to end up with."

"She did tell me about that, but I am kind, generous, and romantic." Graham said. "What could be higher than that."

"Someone from a noble family." Rancis said. "And by noble I mean a lord or duke at least, though I think she wants to go as high as a prince."

"Ah...and I am a peasant." Graham got it.

"In a way, yeah." Taffyta agreed. "But don't lose heart. The rest of us always knew that Crumbelina had set her sights too high when it came to her future boyfriend. This was proven when a few people of nobility came to the kingdom back before Vanellope married Ralph. They originally went for Vanellope, but she turned them down. Later on Candiel agreed with her, and luckily for her they gave up when they found out that Vanellope had picked Ralph. Crumbelina, while it lasted, took advantage of the situation and asked out the lords and such who came. The relationships never lasted long though. Even so Crumbelina hasn't given up, but the rest of us know that she will never land someone who has a noble title. Besides, what she really deserves is someone with a noble heart."

"And not all people of nobility have noble hearts." Rancis added. "Sometimes peasants can have more noble hearts than the nobility themselves. So if you prove to Crumbelina that you have a noble heart then you might actually win her over."

"I will try that, merci." Graham smiled.

"Anytime." Taffyta smiled. "Now if you'll pardon us Rancis and I have to see Vanellope about the party. We want to run a few choices by her...wish Candlehead would help us." She then frowned.

"Last I saw her she dragged off that one new character somewhere...I think his name was Matlow something..." Rancis guessed.

"If you mean the pale one then yeah. His full name is Matlow Smartietz." Taffyta nodded. "Well, we'd better go. See you later Graham." Taffyta got up.

"Bye." Rancis smiled as he got up too.

"Au revoir." Graham waved; he then went back to talking to himself. "Now, to think of a way to prove my noble heart to Crumbelina..."