That night, at the party, most everyone was having fun. Sourward was still being...well, sour...and Matlow was still annoyed with Candlehead...oh yeah, and Pepsino was too shy to engage anyone in conversation. Citrusella of course was getting a little annoyed with Sourward but still wouldn't give up on him. She even offered him a few treats but he turned her down, preferring to get his own treats.
The rest of them were having fun though. This included, Ralph, Tamora, Felix, and Madison and her friends. Madison could come often because her parents didn't know where she was going each time. She just told them she was going to hang out with her friends, and they assumed that she meant her three oldest friends in the city. She hadn't even told them about her new friends yet or even the fact that she had checked out Sugar Rush. She believed they wouldn't approve.
It didn't take long for the dance music to start and almost everyone went out onto the dance floor. Even Tamora and Ralph did, though Ralph made sure to try to have as much space as possible so he wouldn't hurt anyone accidentally. He was gentle when he had to be, but he could still cause accidents (which the Nicelanders could confirm).
After many minutes the crowd on the dance floor started to part a little.
"Okay everyone, it's time for me to show you how dancing's really done!" Snowanna leapt out onto the cleared space.
"Go Snowanna!" Some of the original Racers cheered.
Snowanna started to dance, and it didn't take long for the new characters to become really impressed. This wasn't surprising, Snowanna was the best dancer in all of Sugar Rush. She knew almost every single dance ever invented and even invented a few moves of her own.
One new character was more impressed than anyone else: Pepsino. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
After the party he built up the courage to talk to her. He didn't succeed until they were near her house (his parents already knew where he was going and let him; they wanted him to have friends that badly).
"Uh...Snowanna?" He said shyly.
Startled, Snowanna turned around and saw Pepsino behind her. She hadn't noticed him before because he was really good at walking without being noticed. He had a lot of practice with that back home.
"Well hello there, have you been following me this whole time?" Snowanna smiled, sounding amused.
"Yeah...sorry I..." Pepsino blushed.
"It's okay." Snowanna grinned. "Always happy to make a new friend." She offered her hand. "Sorry, forgot your name what was it again?"
Pepsino blushed, even shyer. Despite his shyness however he couldn't run away or anything. It was like he was glued to the spot...and it was the first time that ever happened to him. Snowanna, getting it, gently grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Er...Pepsino..." He managed to say.
"Pepsino, right." Snowanna smiled. "I really like your name, it's very peppy."
"Th-thank you..." Pepsino blushed even more.
"You don't seem that peppy though...is there anything I can do to help?" She asked sympathetically.
"No...this is something I have to conquer on my own." Pepsino shook his head. "Anyway, uh...your dance moves tonight... I mean they were...well..."
"If I can translate right: they were really great and you liked them a lot?" Snowanna guessed.
"Kinda...more like awesome and...and I love them." Pepsino finally managed to admit. "I was really impressed...especially since I love dancing too, I just..."
"Can't do it in public." Snowanna finished knowingly.
"Exactly." Pepsino didn't know why, but he was starting to feel less shy around her. "I'm too scared that someone will make fun of me or I'll make a fool of myself."
"Nonsense, it doesn't matter how good you are." Snowanna shook her head. "What matters is that you have fun. Say, how about you dance with me here? I can turn on my boombox."
Snowanna was the one who had brought the music and the boombox to play the music on to the party.
"I don't...but...are you sure?" Pepsino hesitated.
"Come on, just go with the flow." Snowanna grinned as she turned on her boombox.
Dance music started to play and Snowanna started to dance. Pepsino froze at first, but then Snowanna grabbed his hand and twirled him.
"Loosen up!" She laughed. "There's nothing to be scared of!"
Pepsino actually smiled and slowly started to move. Already the music and Snowanna's energy started to sweep him along. Soon he was dancing without a thought. After some minutes Snowanna actually stopped and gaped at Pepsino. Pepsino still danced for a moment until he saw her staring at him. He then stopped dancing.
"What?" He said nervously.
Snowanna turned off her boombox.
"That was amazing!" She declared. "You dance as good as me! And that's saying something."
Pepsino blushed.
"R-really?" He couldn't believe it. "I mean I have been practicing almost my whole life but..."
"I'm serious, we should totally be dancing partners!" Snowanna grinned.
Pepsino couldn't help but smile back.
"I would really like that...but I'm not sure I can dance in public just yet." He admitted.
"It's okay, we should practice dancing together anyway." Snowanna nodded. "I'm not used to having a dancing partner. How about you come to my house tomorrow to practice a few dances? It'll be more private than the hotel so you don't have to worry about anyone else seeing you save for my parents and pet corn snake Blizzard."
"Cool, I have a pet frog named Mr. Fizz." Pepsino smiled. "I call him that because he likes making bubbles and then catching them with his tongue."
Snowanna laughed.
"I'd love to see that." She grinned.
"Yeah, it's a lot of fun to watch." Pepsino nodded. "Anyway about coming over to your house tomorrow: I'd like that. I'll have to ask my parents first but I'm sure they'll agree."
"Excellent, see you tomorrow." Snowanna raised her hand.
Pepsino caught on and high-fived it.
"See ya." He grinned as Snowanna left.
He then headed back to the hotel.
Meanwhile, Bitalo, his parents, and Sourward were talking about the party.
"Well, that was a great party." Mr. Honeyway smiled.
"I'll say, I think we're going to love living here." Mrs. Honeyway agreed.
"Well I can't wait to go home." Sourward frowned.
"Oh yeah, I saw that one Racer trying to hang out with you." Bitalo said. "Well you should give her a chance, or at least-"
"Bitalo." Sourward interrupted. "Please, I just...I can't..."
Bitalo gave him a sympathetic look.
"Okay, just keep in mind that if you keep this up you could end up hurting other people." He put a hand on Sourward's shoulder.
Sourward hung his hand.
"I know there's that chance...but I'm too scared of being hurt again." Sourward actually shed a tear and then clutched his chest. "My heart..."
"Can't take another incident like that again, I know." Bitalo nodded.
"Speaking of girls." Mr. Honeyway said, wanting to change the subject. "I saw you hanging out with that golden one at the party."
"Yeah, her name is Torvald." Bitalo smiled. "I met her when we were watching Swizzle and Adam perform some stunts in the ice cream mountains earlier today. Her sister Minty is Swizzle's boyfriend." He then sighed. "Torvald is the amazing one though, she's so bold. She's willing to try anything new and loves action like I do, except she's braver about participating in the action. I...I really like her."
His parents and Sourward were stunned.
"Are you kidding me?" Sourward said. "Back when your parents and I were trying to talk you into giving dating a shot you were entirely against it due to not being interested. But then not long after we give up you-"
"I know I know!" Bitalo laughed. "The timing does stink, but...but I think my heart was just waiting for the right girl first before letting me become interested in dating. I mean Torvald...I just never met anyone like her. I can't explain it."
"Well, we're very happy for you either way son." Mrs. Honeyway smiled. "Are you going to ask her out?"
"Not yet...I'd like to become a Racer first." Bitalo then sighed sadly. "But I'm too scared to try."
"Well, if Torvald is brave and bold like you said maybe she can help you with that." Mr. Honeyway suggested.
"Maybe...I'll ask her tomorrow." Bitalo nodded. "Thanks dad."
You see, it turns out that Bitalo was insecure about ending up with Torvald because of his being scared a lot. He knew that Torvald was right about true bravery, but still believed that the only way he could start to be good enough for her was if he learned how to race. If only the speed of the karts and obstacles along the track didn't look so scary...