A.N. Just a warning ahead of time: this chapter is going to reveal one character to be gay and another to be bisexual. If you have any problems with this then feel free to skip ahead to the twenty-fourth chapter and avoid the last chapter. And please, no nasty reviews about this either.

The next month the students found out that there was going to be a spring dance for both romantic and platonic couples. Those who had a boyfriend or girlfriend of course already had someone to go with, but the singles still had to find someone. Among the singles were Henreesa and Mazie.

One school day Henreesa grumbled to herself as she headed to the yard where students had lunch before continuing their classes. She continued grumbling as she headed for the tree where she, Applelo, Madison, and Mazie always sat.

"What's wrong?" Madison asked.

"Another boy tried to ask me to the dance, and again it was obvious that he just wanted a girlfriend." Henreesa explained. "I wish they'd get it through their thick skulls that I'm not interested in dating at all. It happened last year and the year before, etc, too!"

"Oh Henry, are you sure you don't want to go to the dance with me?" A boy called out.

"Ah go stick your head in the toilet where it belongs!" Henreesa retorted.

Applelo, Madison, and Mazie laughed. Vanellope and Reneult, who were nearby, cracked up. A few other students who overheard either laughed or chuckled too, causing the boy to leave embarrassedly.

"Do you even want to go to the dance at all? If you don't then maybe that'll get the boys off your back." Mazie suggested.

"Actually I do want to go, that's the problem." Henreesa shrugged as she started to eat her lunch.

"What about you Mazie?" Applelo asked. "Is there anyone you want to go with?"

"No, not yet." Mazie shook her head. "I mean a lot of the boys are cute, but I'm waiting for one who I can really like first."

"Makes sense." Madison agreed.

More days passed, and Henreesa and Mazie still hadn't found anyone they wanted to go with.

Then a couple days before the dance they talked more about their situation. Applelo and his parents, plus Madison, were busy in the apple orchard so Mazie and Henreesa decided to help out by taking care of the horses.

"So, not a single boy has made your heart flutter yet?" Henreesa asked as she scrubbed the saddles.

"Nope. What about you?" Mazie asked as she groomed the horses.

"Nah, so far the thought of even going out with one of those hormonal jerks makes me feel like throwing up." Henreesa frowned then sighed. "At this rate neither of us will find someone to go with."

"Well...then how about we go together? As friends?" Mazie suggested. "After all the dance didn't say that it was for couples of opposite genders, just couples in general. Including those who are just friends. Besides, I'm not that interested in a boy taking me. I mean I wouldn't mind but I'm not as interested as the other girls."

"I'm not at all interested in a boy taking me, but I still don't want to go alone so that's a great idea." Henreesa smiled.

"It's a friendship-date then." Mazie grinned.

"You bet. Do you want to pick me up instead of me picking you up?" Henreesa said. "I mean my house is closer to the school than the farms are so it'd make more sense."

"Sure." Mazie nodded. "When?"

"After dinner."

"Okay."

The night of the dance, Mazie picked Henreesa up. Henreesa was wearing good jeans, instead of her usual old ones, and a nice button-down red shirt under her usual jacket. She also wasn't wearing her cap. When Henreesa opened the door she found herself blushing for some reason as her heart started to strangely pound a little.

"Mazie?" She was surprised.

Mazie was wearing a pretty sleeveless yellow dress with ruffles in the skirt. There was a green belt with a blue flower-shaped buckle over the skirt. She also was wearing a necklace with a blue bird-shaped pendant and green shoes. On her head was a crown made of yellow daisies.

"I kinda like some of the fashions people wear around here and have been wanting to try them myself." Mazie explained. "I figured the dance was a good reason to try one."

"It...yeah..." Henreesa snapped out of it. "Yeah you look really pretty."

"You don't look so bad either." Mazie chuckled.

Henreesa smirked back, and they headed for the dance.

Once there they decided to find Applelo and Madison first. Once they did they had a nice chat for quite some time before joining in the dances.

Time passed as Henreesa and Mazie danced, snacked, and chatted with friends. Henreesa was still trying to figure out why she had felt so weird when she saw Mazie at her door. I mean sure she had never seen Mazie wear anything other than her usual outfit before, but that didn't explain her blushing or her heart pounding slightly.

Mazie meanwhile was starting to feel her heart pounding a little as well whenever Henreesa was nearby. She couldn't figure out why though. Maybe it was because of all the dancing, but then again she didn't feel that tired. She couldn't think of another explanation either. She also couldn't stop thinking about how attractive Henreesa was.

Then, near the end of the dance, the slow dance begun. All romantic couples headed for the dance floor while the friendship couples and few singles stayed behind. Some guys started to head for Henreesa and Mazie.

"Oh cheese..." Henreesa muttered.

"Would one of you ladies like to dance with one of us?" One of the guys asked.

"No thanks." Henreesa tried to be polite.

"Honestly Henreesa, how are you going to find the one if you won't give any guy a chance?" Another guy asked.

"I'm not interested in guys at all, all right?" Henreesa glared, annoyed.

"You must prefer animals then huh?" A third guy sniggered.

"Leave her alone!" Mazie glared. "And it's guys like you that are keeping both of us from being interested in dating guys in general!"

The guys, embarrassed, left.

"Thanks." Henreesa smiled.

"What are friends for?" Mazie smiled back before sighing. "I wish all guys were more like Applelo or the guys our friends are dating. Or like you."

"Really?" Henreesa smiled at her.

"Yeah...I mean I wouldn't mind meeting a guy who loves animals as much as we do." Mazie blushed.

"Same here, if I was interested in boys." Henreesa agreed.

They continued talking while the slow dance continued playing...both feeling a strange urge to slow dance with each other.

A couple days later Henreesa was taking a walk through a forest. She then saw a raccoon with a familiar collar nearby.

"Hello Bribon." She smiled. "Would you like to walk with me?"

Bribon shook his head and headed over to where there were two female raccoons. Getting it, Henreesa stopped and watched. Sure enough Bribon started pulling stunts like swinging from branch to branch, as well as flirting in raccoon language to the two females. The two females ignored him at first, but then when he tried leaping from one branch to the other he missed and landed on their branch. Annoyed, the two females scolded him and drove him away. Bribon ran back to the ground and past Henreesa. Henreesa laughed.

"You obviously tried too hard." She chuckled.

Bribon stuck his tongue out at her and left. Henreesa continued her walk still chuckling.

Later on she saw two does nuzzling. A stag tried showing off for them but they ignored him, still nuzzling each other. Getting it, the stag left disappointedly.

Henreesa watched the does, thinking about how nice it would be to find someone like that. Someone she could love, who wouldn't try too hard to be with her. Someone she could just hang out with and- She suddenly froze.

"Hold on, how come I never got that thought until now?" She thought. "I mean I had seen a lot of couples before during the walk so what's different about this one? Well the previous couples were male and female and this couple is two females but-"

Her eyes widened. Could it be? She thought back to the night of the dance, how she felt around Mazie. She remembered that she had found Mazie very attractive, beautiful even, and that her heart would pound or beat fast around her.

"I'm in love with her." She realized. "That's why I had been feeling that way. No wonder I was never interested in guys before, I'm a lesbian." She smiled. "Always was confused about that... But what should I do? Mazie does have a slight interest in guys so she might be straight. I don't want to weird her out or anything."

She thought for a moment.

"I'll just keep it to myself until I can think of a way to find out Mazie's preference without weirding her out." She decided.

Meanwhile, Mazie was sitting by a lake in another part of Sugar Rush, also thinking to herself. How come she found Henreesa so attractive? I mean she still found boys kinda cute, but Henreesa...Henreesa was the one who kept making her heart skip a beat whenever she complimented her. Henreesa was the one who kept making her feel warm everytime she thought about her. And whenever she was near Henreesa her heart would pound or beat a little faster.

"Wait...could I...could I be in love with her?" Mazie thought. "Applelo did say that he knew he was in love with Madison because he felt it in his heart. But how can I be in love with Henreesa and still find boys cute at the same time? Unless...wait a moment, I heard something about this...liking both guys and girls... Oh yeah, people who do are known as bisexuals, or bis. Maybe I'm bi. But how can I know for sure? Wait...Applelo did introduce me to that device...a computer. Maybe I can find out on there."

She went to the Wescider's house and after getting on the internet and doing some research she realized that she really was bi. But how can she tell Henreesa? What if Henreesa wasn't bi or anything like that? I mean she wasn't interested in dating guys, but she could be just not interested in dating in general. Or she was just waiting for the right guy.

Mazie ended up spending many days worrying about it. Should she continue to love Henreesa and wait for the right moment to tell her her feelings, or should she forget about Henreesa and look for a guy to love?

No one really caught on to her internal conflict...except for Applelo. He had known her for so long that he now was able to tell when something was bothering her.

One day he visited Mazie's tribe. Some of the other Native Americans greeted him and he returned the greetings. He then went into her father's tent, which was open.

"Good mornin' Mr. Condotte, I was wonderin' where Mazie was." He said politely.

"I believe she's amongst the trees behind my tent." Mr. Condotte said. "That little pest of hers is giving her a hard time again."

"Thank you." Applelo bowed before leaving.

He walked through the trees a bit until he heard yelling. He followed the yelling and saw Mazie looking up a tree angrily.

"Bribon! You get down here right now!" Mazie scolded.

"Hey Mazie, Bribon at it again huh?" Applelo went over to her.

"Hi Applelo. Yeah but when isn't he?" Mazie frowned. "He ate my breakfast again this morning. Bribon you get down here before I turn you into a coonskin cap!"

Bribon scolded back and shook his fist at her.

"He obviously didn't like that threat." Applelo chuckled.

"Well I'm losing my patience with him..." Mazie muttered. "How does Henreesa keep Bosko so well behaved? Maybe I should ask her to help me train Bribon..."

"Or maybe goats are just better than raccoons." Applelo grinned.

A nut hit him on the hat. Applelo looked up and saw Bribon glaring at him.

"Nice try Bribon, but I have my hat on." Applelo smirked. "So Mazie, is anythin' wrong? Somethin' seems ah bit off about you."

Mazie bit her lip. She also had been scared about telling other people how she felt about Henreesa. Would they accept it? She was especially scared of telling her parents and Applelo, what if they didn't accept it? What if she lost her friendship with Applelo and her parents tried to force her to stick with guys?

"It's nothing, I'm fine." She half-lied.

"Mazie." Applelo frowned before looking concerned. "Come on, you know I know you better than that. Please if there's anythin' wrong I want to help."

Mazie hung her head. She knew Applelo well enough to know that he wasn't going to give up. Might as well get it over with.

"I...I'm in love with Henreesa." She admitted.

Applelo was caught off-guard, but once he recovered he just smiled.

"Well, I'll admit that I wasn't expectin' anythin' like that. You bein' in love with another girl I mean." He said. "But there's no reason to be nervous, just tell her how you feel."

Mazie looked at him surprised.

"You mean you don't mind that I'm bi?" She said.

"Not at all, you're still the same Mazie no matter who you date." Applelo smiled.

Mazie smiled with relief, and then sighed.

"I'm glad you're okay with this, but that's not what was troubling me." She said. "I can't decide whether I should tell Henreesa how I feel or give up on her and find a guy to love. I mean what if she isn't bi or anything like that?"

"Ah." Applelo got it. "Well I don't know what her preference is, apart from not wantin' to date guys at all of course, but I can say this: you should go with your feelin's instead of your fears. And I wouldn't worry too much, you two are so close that I can't imagine anythin' comin' between you two. Heck, not even Bribon can drive her away and that's sayin' somethin'."

Bribon scolded Applelo, and Applelo and Mazie both chuckled. Mazie then smiled.

"Thank you Applelo. I'd best tell her now before I lose my nerve." She said. "Besides, I don't think I'll be able to get Bribon to come down here anyway."

"Anytime. And yeah we'll take care of Bribon later." Applelo smiled. "Want me to go with you just in case?"

"I actually would like that." Mazie nodded.

They both left and headed for the Muginos' house. Once there Applelo knocked on the door because Mazie was wringing her hands nervously. She was still scared of Henreesa not being bi or anything like that, and was also worried that revealing her feelings might make things too awkward for them. Henreesa opened the door and beamed, especially upon seeing Mazie. She had been debating about visiting Mazie, wanting to be close to her again, but was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to hide her feelings well enough.

"Hey you two, always great to see ya." She smiled. "Come on in, I was just about to make lunch and I'd like the company... Mazie, is something wrong?"

She had just noticed Mazie's nervous look. Mazie's heart started pounding and she gulped.

"Not really but...Henry I, uh...have something to confess." She said.

"What is it?" Henreesa asked.

"I...I'm bi." Mazie admitted. "That is I like both guys and...and girls." She hung her head, blushing big time.

Henreesa stared at her. Her heart started to beat a little faster.

"Are you saying that you...you like me?" She asked.

Mazie nodded, still blushing. Her heart pounded harder.

"I like you too." Henreesa smiled.

Mazie looked up surprised. Her heart stopped pounding and her blush slowly started to go away. Her heart started to beat a little fast.

"So...you're bi too?" She asked.

"Nah, I'm a lesbian." Henreesa was still smiling. "Girls only for me."

Mazie smiled back, not believing her luck. She went closer to Henreesa and they hugged, both of them instantly feeling warm and complete from feeling each other's love. Their hearts started beating a little faster. Applelo just smiled at the scene, glad that things had worked out for his best friend and one of his newer friends.

"So...I guess this is when we're supposed to kiss..." Henreesa hesitated, going by what she saw in movies and TV shows.

"Well..." Mazie hesitated too. "I dunno I...I'm still kinda getting used to this..."

Since Mazie had slight crushes on guys before being in love with a girl was new for her, so it was going to take her a while to get used to it. Especially since she had never dated anyone before, and so wasn't sure how to act or what to do. Henreesa too had never dated before, but was a little more sure of herself because she didn't have the added conflict of whether she should be with guys or girls. In her case she was more than happy about being with someone who was right for her. Even so she understood Mazie's fears, and respected them.

"Okay, whenever you're ready." Henreesa smiled.

Mazie smiled back and they hugged a bit longer. They couldn't hug for long though, all three of them were hungry (especially Mazie). After making a few sandwiches the three of them ate and had a fun conversation. But by the end of the meal Mazie started to look worried.

"What's wrong?" Henreesa asked.

"I just remembered...we're going to have to tell our parents." Mazie said.

"Oh..." Henreesa looked a bit worried too. "That's right. Well luckily my dad's always been kinda open-minded...I'm terrified about telling my mom though. What about your parents?"

"Well they are very traditional, especially dad...but they can be open-minded as well." Mazie said. "So I'm not sure."

"I don't think they'll react too badly. They were okay about you being friends with me after all and they even became friends with my parents." Applelo smiled.

"True." Mazie had to agree. "Even so...Henreesa can we tell our parents really soon?"

"Uh...how soon?" Henreesa hesitated. "I mean I think we'd best hang out a little first...get used to dating and such...before we tell them."

"I know, but I don't want to worry about their reaction for a long time like I had worried about your reaction to my feelings for you." Mazie explained. "It wasn't a pleasant experience for me and I'd rather not go through that again."

"Ah...well...okay." Henreesa gave in. "I don't want you to suffer that again either."

"I'll go wit' you guys too." Applelo added. "I'm perfectly okay wit' this so maybe I can help your parents accept this too."

Henreesa and Mazie thanked him, and then the three of them left to gather Beard Papa and Mazie's parents. As they left they talked about where to tell their parents, and decided to tell them inside the Kart Bakery. This was because if they told them anywhere else then Henreesa would end up arguing with her dad about leaving his post. As for Mazie's parents...well while they might be uncomfortable about being in a factory they wouldn't argue with Mazie about it if the matter was important.

So Mazie and Applelo went to get her parents and lead them to the factory while Henreesa went to her dad and took him inside the factory. Then when everyone was settled...

"Okay, Henry and I gathered you all here because we have a big announcement and we wanted you to know as soon as possible." Mazie said.

"What is it?" Beard Papa asked.

Henreesa took a deep breath. Even though she was more sure of the relationship than Mazie was she was just as scared as Mazie about telling their parents.

"Mazie and I...are dating." Henreesa admitted.

Their parents' eyes widened. It took a moment for them to get what Henreesa was saying and when they did they weren't sure how to react.

"Hold on, you mean you two are gay?" Mrs. Candotte said.

"Well actually I'm bi...but otherwise yeah." Mazie nodded, blushing a little.

There was a long awkward pause, especially since Mr. and Mrs. Candotte looked disapproving. Mazie looked down, worried, and started to wring her hands again. Henreesa noticed and gently put her hand on Mazie's hands to comfort her. Finally Applelo frowned.

"Look, I know this is unexpected and everythin' but are you three forgettin' that they're still the same Henry and Mazie?" He said sternly. "So what if they're in love with each other? As for me I'm just glad Mazie found love even if her love isn't ah guy, and I happen to believe that Henry is ah good person for her. Lesbian, bi, straight, it doesn't matter. As long as they're still themselves, as long as they're good people and care about animals, then I'm okay with this. And they are still good people and still care about animals so you three should be okay with this too."

Mr. and Mrs. Candotte looked away, apparently feeling a bit ashamed. Beard Papa however smiled.

"He is right. While I didn't expect this to happen I am glad my little Henry finally found someone to love, especially since I was starting to think that she would end up alone." He said. "I do just want her to be happy."

Henreesa rolled her eyes even though she couldn't help but smile at that. Mrs. Candotte looked at Beard Papa and sighed.

"I have to admit that you and Applelo have made some good points." She agreed. "Even though I am traditional about a lot of things and think that girls should end up with guys and not each other... Well, if Henry really makes you happy Mazie, and if you two really do love each other, then that's all that matters."

Henreesa, Mazie, and Applelo were really relieved at first but then glanced nervously at Mr. Candotte. He hadn't said anything, and also still looked a bit disapproving.

"Dear!" Mrs. Candotte hissed, jabbing her husband.

"Okay okay!" Mr. Candotte whispered back, annoyed; he then cleared his throat. "While I'm normally not be okay with this sort of thing...I too just want Mazie to be happy. So if you two really do love each other and continue to be good people then I'll allow it. Besides, I do know you'll be good to my daughter Henry, you have been a good friend to her in the past after all."

"You can count on me." Henreesa smiled, completely relieved.

Mazie and Applelo were really relieved too and smiled gratefully at Beard Papa and Mr. and Mrs. Candotte.

"Hm, I guess if Henry is dating our daughter then we'll have to think about making her part of the tribe..." Mr. Candotte then said to himself.

"Dear, you know this is the 21st century...and that Henry and our daughter are pretty much stuck in their preteen forms." Mrs. Candotte said sternly.

"Yeah well...I mean..." Mr. Candotte muttered.

"What is he talking about?" Beard Papa asked.

"Uh...yeah I never mentioned this...dad's the chief of our tribe." Mazie admitted.

Henreesa and Beard Papa stared at her.

"I didn't want to be viewed as a princess so I kept it a secret." Mazie shrugged.

"So that's why your dad was always so busy in the past." Henreesa realized.

"Yeah." Mazie nodded a bit awkwardly.

"This means you're next in line to lead the tribe." Henreesa noted. "So wait, he was talking about-" Henreesa blushed. "Oh. That."

"Yup." Mazie was feeling really awkward now.

"Uh...oh, we should think about how to let the rest of the kingdom...country...know." Applelo said, knowing Mazie wanted the subject changed. "Cheese, ah kingdom with ah president instead of ah princess can make it hard to remember certain things..." He then muttered to himself.

"Oh...that's right." Mazie widened her eyes. "Oh man...I hope they take it well. Especially President Vanellope, I mean I know she wouldn't be cruel about it or anything..."

"It's okay, Applelo and our parents are on our side." Henreesa comforted her. "Besides, we're in this together so we can support each other no matter how the others react. Also I wouldn't worry about Vanellope, she won't do anything to us even if she doesn't approve. But I'm sure she'll approve, you see she had been an outcast before."

"Really?" Mazie was surprised. "How?"

Henreesa told Applelo, Mazie, and Mazie's parents the story of Turbo and how he took over Sugar Rush. She then continued with Ralph, Felix, and Tamora arriving and how they ended up exposing Turbo's lies. She even included how Candiel had been returned to Vanellope, and how Vanellope and Ralph had ended up together.

"So you see, Vanellope is one of the last people who would ever think poorly of someone just for being different." Henreesa finished. "She would never let someone else be treated the way she used to be treated."

Applelo, Mazie, and her parents were stunned by the story. Mazie then relaxed about Vanellope finding out, though still worried a bit about everyone else finding out.

It turns out she didn't have to. While she and Henreesa hadn't come right out and told everyone that they were dating or anything the Racers and other citizens did slowly start to catch on. This was because Mazie and Henreesa acted like a couple whenever they were out, and sometimes even double-dated with Applelo and Madison. Madison, by the way, took it well.

Anyway, as the Racers and other citizens started to catch on one awkwardly asked if Henreesa and Mazie were dating. They confirmed it, and the citizen actually took it well. Word spread round and everyone else started to take it well too, even though they were surprised at first. Henreesa and Mazie weren't sure if it was because everyone really did accept their relationship or if they were just trying to avoid angering Vanellope, but either way they were relieved. Same with Applelo.

In fact the only ones who didn't take it well were the guys who had tried to ask Henreesa out in the past. All of them cornered Henreesa in town one day:

"Come on Henreesa, why won't you go out with one of us?" One of those guys asked.

"I dunno...maybe because I'm already dating Mazie." Henreesa smirked.

"What?" Another guy gasped as the rest of the guys dropped their mouths open.

"Yeah, turns out I'm a lesbian. Really does explain why I was never interested in guys before doesn't it?" Henreesa grinned. "Well, toodles." She left.

All the guys acted as if they were heartbroken, revealing that they all had a crush on her. So their lack of acceptance had more to do with disappointment, plus jealousy towards Mazie, than anything else. However nothing bad came of this since they didn't want to risk angering Vanellope. So instead of trying to make Henreesa straight or sabotaging her relationship with Mazie they just glared at Henreesa and Mazie for a while.

This did make Mazie uncomfortable at first until Henreesa explained to her why they were glaring at them. After that Mazie felt a lot better and actually felt kinda good that she had made the guys jealous of her. She knew she was very lucky to have won Henreesa's heart and the glares from the 'losers' made her really feel like a winner. She didn't flaunt this however because she didn't really like being the center of attention. Instead she just kept her enjoyment to herself, not even admitting it to Bribon. Of course eventually the guys got over it and stopped glaring at them, after all their feelings for Henreesa had just been a mere crush. Mazie was actually relieved when the glares were done with since she didn't like being in the spotlight for a very long time.

Vanellope on the other hand was of course among the ones who took it best. She was very happy for Henreesa and Mazie, not caring if they were the same gender or not as long as they really loved each other. Ralph took it well too, also knowing what it was like to be an outcast just for being different. Reneult took it well also, same with Candiel and Sour Bill. Felix and Tamora later took it well too when they found out. In fact Tamora took it well almost better than Vanellope and Ralph...which kinda surprised everyone.

"You really are okay with this?" Ralph asked.

"Okay? I'm used to it." Tamora shrugged. "I've seen more than my fair share of gays in the military."

"Oh." Everyone who was there said.

As time passed Henreesa and Mazie grew more comfortable about their relationship, though the other citizens, along with Ralph and Felix, were a bit awkward around them at first. Taffyta later explained to Henreesa and Mazie that everyone didn't know how to act around them and didn't want to risk saying or doing anything offensive. After hearing that Henreesa and Mazie went to Vanellope and told her to let everyone know that all the citizens had to do was to treat them the same way they always treated them. And if anyone ever saw them out and about as a couple then they were just to treat them the same way they'd treat any couple. Vanellope did, and passed the message along to Ralph and Felix as well.