So, two out of three rocky-road relationships had smoothed out. But what about the third?
Well Graham, wanting so much to prove his noble heart to Crumbelina, figured out which clothing store was her favorite and got a job there. He hoped that his willingness to work hard would impress her, plus his working at her favorite store could cause them to grow closer. It wasn't working at all, and by July Graham was feeling a little frustrated despite still enjoying the challenge. He then got an idea: even a noble heart wasn't above a little trickery. Namely: reverse psychology. After all Crumbelina did think highly of herself...
"I think that you and I could along quite nicely if you finally gave in ma belle colombe." Graham flirted after work one day.
"If I said no the first time, what makes you think the eighteenth time is any different?" Crumbelina rolled her eyes and looked away.
Graham pretended to think it over.
"You know, I thought I really loved you ma chère but you are simply not worth the time or effort for a guy like moi. There are plenty of Swedish Fish in the sea, and though you are a very bright fish I'm sure there is one just as colorful and not as bitter. As my people say: Au revoir ma dame." He started to walk away.
Crumbelina snapped her eyes to him, very offended. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.
"Did you just say that 'I' am not worth 'your' time?" She snapped. "No one talks to me that way and walks away to brag about it. You want to be my beau? Fine!" She scowled.
Graham suddenly dipped her so that she couldn't break free from him without falling.
"I knew you'd see it my way mon amour." He smirked. "We can have our first date tomorrow at six, oui?"
Crumbelina dropped her jaw, realizing what had just happened.
"How dare you, you tricked me!" She glared before growling.
"You still said yes and I don't see you saying anything about taking it back ma biche." Graham challenged playfully.
Crumbelina still glared at him...but couldn't take it back. She was too proud to ever take back her word. She hung her head.
"Fine. Tomorrow at six." She said reluctantly.
"Merveilleux." Graham un-dipped her and kissed her hand. "I'm really looking forward to it. I shall leave you alone now, if you wish."
Crumbelina blushed slightly in spite of herself. She had just looked into his eyes and had seen that he really was in love with her.
"Yes, please." She nodded.
"Very well." Graham left.
Crumbelina leaned against the wall by her and hung her head again, feeling like an idiot.
"Crumbelina?"
Crumbelina turned and saw Henreesa there.
"Are you okay?" Henreesa asked.
"No, Graham used reverse psychology to trick me into going out with him." Crumbelina sighed.
"Well, you gotta give him credit for knowing you so well." Henreesa chuckled.
"Henreesa..." Crumbelina glared. "Just because you're not interested in dating doesn't mean you can joke about the rest of us dating."
"You're right, I'm sorry." Henreesa dropped her amused smile. "But seriously maybe you've set your standards too high."
"What do you mean?" Crumbelina frowned.
"Well what's more important? A noble title or a noble heart?" Henreesa pointed. "Despite not being interested in dating even I know that a noble heart is more important."
"Well do you think it's noble to trick someone into dating you?" Crumbelina frowned.
"No one's perfect." Henreesa shrugged. "But let me ask you this: apart from tricking you into going out with him did he ever take advantage of you?"
"Well...not really." Crumbelina sighed. "Actually he's been quite the gentleman. Even after he tricked me into going out with him he only kissed my hand. He did dip me so that I couldn't escape but he didn't take advantage of that like some guys might."
"There you go." Henreesa looked sad instead of smiled.
"Is something wrong?" Crumbelina asked, noticing her sadness.
"You know Applelo right? Well I became really close with his best friend Mazie." Henreesa explained. "And I haven't seen her since last month."
"Well she is going to visit Sugar Rush right?" Crumbelina said.
"Yeah, but I don't know when." Henreesa sighed. "I've never had a friend like her before. I...I miss her."
"Just have patience, I'm sure she's really missing you too." Crumbelina smiled. "So she'll convince her parents to bring her back here soon."
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks." Henreesa smiled.
"No problem, even not-so-close friends can help each other out." Crumbelina shrugged.
"True...and speaking of which just give Graham a chance okay?" Henreesa added. "If you don't really love him back later I'm sure he'll respect it and back off. He just probably heard about your high-standards which was why he tricked you."
"Yeah...I guess you have a point." Crumbelina sighed. "Okay, he has until the end of vacation. If I don't love him back by then then it's definitely over."
"Good idea, long-distance relationships can be tricky to work out anyway so I'm sure he'll agree."
"Exactly."
"Henreesa!"
Startled, Henreesa and Crumbelina turned and saw Applelo ran up to them.
"Got a call from Mazie..." He panted, smiling. "She and her parents are coming tomorrow!"
"Really?" Henreesa beamed. "Thanks for telling me Applelo."
"No problem." Applelo grinned.
"Wait...how did she call you?" Crumbelina asked. "Forgive me if this sounds offensive, but I thought Native Americans preferred staying out in the wilderness without technology."
"They do, but Mazie learned how to use a phone and other electronics recently." Applelo explained. "I taught her before we came here so that she could use a public phone in the nearest town to call me or a computer to e-mail me. Haven't convinced her parents to get her a cellphone yet so I can't call her..."
"No wonder she didn't ask to exchange phone numbers." Henreesa realized. "Of course I didn't think to ask her either..."
Not too far away, Bodhivian was sadly watching Stormberry join some random kids in a game of basketball. The kids weren't Racers, but rather just some extra citizens who lived in Sugar Rush but just watched the races on TV due to not being that interested in them.
"Hello Bodhi."
Bodhivian turned and saw Adorabeezle.
"I'm Adorabeezle." She smiled. "I was wondering if you want to hang out."
"Maybe...but what could we do?" Bodhivian asked. "I'm not really into inland sports it turns out, at least not ones that use balls...Stormberry got into them though."
"I can see that." Adorabeezle nodded. "That's why I came to ask you to hang out, you seemed lonely."
"I appreciate that, thank you." Bodhivian smiled. "So, what should we do?"
"Well, I happen to know a couple inland sports that don't require balls and might be more your thing." Adorabeezle grinned. "Follow me."
Confused, Bodhivian followed her until they were in the ice cream mountains. There they saw Adamec and Swizzle at it again, with Minty and Sticky watching.
"So this is what they do when they aren't teaching me and Stormberry inland sports." Bodhivian realized.
"What they're doing right now is called skiing." Adorabeezle smiled. "It's kinda like water skiing, except gravity pulls you along instead of a boat. There's also snowboarding, which is a bit like surfing without waves. Plus if you wipe out you don't have to worry about drowning."
"Sounds more like my thing...doesn't look bogus anyway." Bodhivian considered it.
"Great, but let's head to another area." Adorabeezle went over to another part of the mountain. "That slope is for experts, not butt-draggers."
"Huh?"
"Skier talk for beginning snowboarder."
"Oh."
Adorabeezle first taught Bodhivian how to ski, since it was a little easier. Bodhivian didn't get the hang of it right away, but he did find it more fun than any sport that required a ball. After some time they both started to get hungry, so they went to the resort nearby to get a snack.
"Want to ski some more?" Adorabeezle asked after they were done.
"Nah, I'm too beached." Bodhivian patted his stomach contentedly. "How about tomorrow?"
"Perfect." Adorabeezle smiled. "I'm glad I was able to help you find an inland sport you like Bodhi."
"And I'm glad you offered to teach me how to ski Adora." Bodhivian smiled.
Adorabeezle blushed a little, already liking that nickname.