Author's Notes: Augh. Sometimes it's just so hard to write y'know? I'm sure you know.

Chapter 32: Mood Killer

Ralph could tell that Felix was off his game. That bothered him just a little. He couldn't help but think it was probably his fault somehow. Narrowly missing being late probably set Felix's teeth on edge just a bit. He also seemed to have a problem with how Ralph had arrived, but Ralph wasn't sure exactly what it was. While all of this concerned Ralph just a little, he was having a really hard time caring about any of it just at the moment. The parts of his mind that wasn't occupied with smashing the building was focusing mostly on last night.

What had happened last night... What might've happened if he'd let it. He couldn't have gotten it out of his head even if he'd actually wanted to. His mind kept going over the possibilities. As always his thoughts were thoroughly divided. Part of him was eagerly anticipating the chance to do it again, and even take it a bit further next time. The idea that it would, and the idea that Vanellope clearly wanted it to, just seemed so amazing to him. But another part of him was second guessing whether or not he'd done the right thing. Whether or not he really should have just stopped at her door and left it at that. Was he moving too fast?

Certain that he was destined to feel forever conflicted about everything, Ralph's thought process went around in circles all day. By the time closing time came around he wasn't any closer to feeling resolved about anything, but the sense of giddy anticipation hadn't worn off either. He was, dare he even think it, feeling pretty happy actually.

Which was another reason not to think about whatever was dragging Felix down. Ralph felt like he was probably due some uncomplicated happiness. He knew he should trouble himself with Felix's problems, it's what a good friend would do, but he was feeling just selfish enough that he wanted to put it off just a little bit longer.

When the arcade closed and work cut out Ralph found he didn't actually feel like taking a nap. Maybe he was feeling a little hyped up, maybe it was just that Vanellope's bed had given him a really good night's sleep... or maybe he just wanted to avoid Felix. Most likely a combination of all three compelled him to want to go visit Sugar Rush instead of taking his usual nap. Not to mention, of course, the overwhelming desire to see Vanellope.

Ralph wiped himself off and tried to casually make a bee-line for the exit, but to no avail. His large frame didn't really allow for sneaking.

"Ralph, can I talk to you for just a minute?" He heard Felix ask from behind him. He'd only made it about halfway to the tracks, so he couldn't really make it out like he hadn't heard him and just go the rest of the way. Ralph turned, somewhat wary of what the topic might be.

"Yeah Felix?" Ralph asked. Felix's face was set in a look of determination. Like whatever he was about to say wasn't something he really wanted to talk about either.

"I know you're off to Sugar Rush, and that's fine. I don't want to keep you long so..." Felix started, hesitating to get to the point. Ralph sighed, resolving that he'd have to take care of this now.

"Something's been bugging you all day Felix. What's the matter?" Ralph asked.

Felix opened his mouth to quickly blurt out all his concerns, but he held himself back. He'd resolved not to dump this on Ralph just yet, but... Well, Ralph HAD asked, sort of.

"I'm just a little concerned." Felix said after a moment's thought. "How you came in today... and you said that Sonic saw you..."

"Yeah." Ralph acknowledged.

"Well... you know what an awful gossip he is." Felix said, his voice starting to speed up. "I don't know what actually happened between you and Vanellope last night, and I would never try to guess. But it certainly looked like... And Ralph, I really didn't want to tell you think but there have some... some unsavory rumors about you and Vanellope going about that might be... exacerbated if Sonic's gotten around already." Felix's voice had tapered off a little bit at that. Ralph's expression had gone from somewhat pleasantly concerned to a full on frown.

"What?" Ralph asked.

"Ooohh... Fiddlesticks." Felix took off his hat and wrung it in his hands. "I didn't mean to say nearly so much. I just... I thought I'd warn you that you might get some dirty looks crossing the Station..."

Ralph vaguely recalled Felix mentioning something about rumors during the clean up at Sugar Rush last night, now that it had been brought to mind. He hadn't thought a lot of it as the time, especially since Felix hadn't seemed too bothered by it. It had bugged him a little, but he'd been otherwise distracted since then. But now... Felix's frustrated and worried expression was getting the better of him and worry was starting to build in his chest.

"I just knew that this was going to be something that was going to ruin my day..." Ralph thought miserably.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up is all." Felix said. "I don't want you to worry about it, or change what you're doing at all. I just want you to ignore it. Maybe it would just be best if you forget I said anything. I didn't even mention it. Right?" Felix asked, a painfully forced grin on his face.

"Felix... why?" Ralph asked, scrubbing his face with his hands.

"...Sorry?" Felix answered.

+++[Sugar Rush]+++

As Vanellope was relaxing by the track, relishing in the short break she allowed herself and everyone between closing and the roster race, she shuddered violently and wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

"You okay Vanellope?" Candlehead asked.

"Yeah..." Vanellope answered. "I just got a really weird chill down my back for a second. It's gone now." She explained.

"Oooo... Bad omen." Jubileena said ominously with a giggle at the end. Taffyta rolled her eyes.

"You're probably just drinking that milkshake too fast." Taffyta reasoned.

Vanellope gave her strawberry milkshake a suspicious look, like it had offended her in some way. She wiggled around uncomfortably for a moment, trying to shake off the peculiar feeling the shiver had left her with. She hoped it wasn't really a bad omen... But then again, why would it be?

Author's Notes: I really had to just force this chapter out. Sorry about that. Not really feeling up to snuff in the whole creative department at the moment. But this chapter was sort of guilted out of me. Why you ask? The Upgrade has just reached 200 followers. So yeah... way to put the pressure on guys.
Also, sorry for not a whole lot of plot advancement going on in this chapter. I had to figure out just how I was going to do things, so this was more of a 'feeling out the situation' type of chapter than anything else. I feel like I'm back on track now though.

Review Response:

General review topics were about the "Lord of all Sugar Rush" thing... yeah, I laughed at it too. I was worried it was a little over the top, but it worked out pretty well in my opinion. And then there was how Sonic was a gossip. Well, if his FEET are fast then just imagine how fast his lips must be. Just sayin'...

Makokam - Thank you for taking the time to review so many of the chapters. I'd take the time to reply to every one, but that would take a lot of time and space. Some of them were really funny, and I hope the questions you had in the earlier chapters got answered by the later ones for the most part.

jeh-nee - Get prepared for drama. It's coming sooooooon. But shhh, don't tell anyone else. Seriously, I wonder about your predictive abilities sometimes. You've hit a few things right on the nose in the past. So keep your speculation to yourself. xD