*Chapter 19*
"That was weird," Ibuki said gently, "Who was that?"
"Vanellope," Ralph breathed as he gazed longingly towards his train's empty station, "She's the President of Sugar Rush. She's my best friend."
"Seems like she has a thing for you," Ibuki laughed as she nudged Ralph.
"We've had a rough past few weeks, her and I," Ralph said with a frown.
"Are you guys together?" Ibuki asked innocently.
"No, we're not," Ralph said gently, looking Ibuki square in the eyes, "I do wish we were. We've kind of hit a lull in the in-between."
"Well, why don't we try and push it along, then?" Ibuki suggested with a clever smile as she rubbed her chin.
"What do you mean?" Ralph asked.
"Here's what I'm thinking," Ibuki stated, "Every time she's around us, I'll pretend to flirt with you."
"What?" Ralph's face got hot, "Why would you do that?"
"Because every girl wants what she can't have," Ibuki laughed, "If she sees that someone else is giving you attention, she'll do anything and everything to keep you for herself. It's the perfect plan."
"I guess I didn't think of that," Ralph chuckled as he looked down at his feet, "But what if the plan backfires?"
"Trust me," Ibuki smiled, "It won't. And by the off chance it does, I'll set things right."
"Sounds like a plan. Thanks for helping me," Ralph laughed as he held out his hand for a confirmed handshake. Ibuki shook his large hand.
"I don't have anything else to do, really," Ibuki beamed with a tone of sadness, "What Vanellope doesn't know is that I have a boyfriend of my own."
"Ohh, this should be interesting," Ralph laughed, "I feel bad doing this to her, but after what she did to me, I think a little friendly fire is in order."
"All's fair in love and war," Ibuki laughed.
"Ibuki is flirting with Ralph?" Calhoun sputtered a laugh. She put her gun down and slowly began to take off her gear, "I thought that girl had a boyfriend. I guess they broke up."
"I don't know if you could call it flirting," Taffyta stated in an annoyed tone, Vanellope gaped.
"I'm not a genius at this stuff, but that was flirting," Vanellope barked, "'Ralph, you look like a great fighter! Ralph, let me touch your muscles. Ralph, let's make out after game day!'"
"Did she say all that?!" Calhoun whirled around, surprised.
"Nooo!" Taffyta laughed in disbelief, "Vanellope, you're reading too far into all of this."
"I want to meet this chick," Calhoun laughed, "So, you and Ralph have hit a lull in your friendship, or relationship rather. I doubt he'd suddenly move on so quickly."
"You haven't seen what her outfit looks like," Vanellope growled, daggers in her eyes.
"Well then maybe you should outmatch her," Calhoun said as she emerged from the back room of the office the three were in. She was wearing a small black tank top and black, beat up skinny jeans.
"Outmatch her?" Vanellope prodded.
"Get Ralph's attention, show some skin," Calhoun chuckled and lulled her head to the side as she fixed her blonde, short hair, "I know it's not very ethical, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."
"Hmm," Vanellope pondered, "You mean win him back?"
"You haven't lost him," Taffyta complained.
"But I might be on the road to losing him if I don't do something!" Vanellope whined, "I can't just go up to him and say 'stop hanging out with Ibuki, I'm cooler and I know you love me… so get down here and show me exactly what sugar tastes like… You lovable hunk.'"
"I-I think you could do that," Taffyta beamed as her and Calhoun laughed.
"And I'm pretty sure he'd give you something sweeter than anything you're used to," Calhoun and Taffyta roared into a laughing fit.
"Yeah, yeah," Vanellope rolled her eyes and frowned, looking down, "This is really helping, you guys."
"Oh come on," Taffyta giggled, "I'm sure Ralph isn't just some love struck dude that will fawn over any girl that gives him attention."
"Yeah, we'll see," Vanellope growled, "The guy went thirty years until he had his first kiss."
"That's not his fault, you know," Calhoun said gently, "Plus, we're all immortal when it comes to years and age. So technically that's not really a mark against him."
"Touché," Vanellope rolled her eyes.
"You had your first kiss with him, so what does that say about you exactly?" Taffyta laughed. Vanellope punched her arm.
"Says the girl who hasn't even had a first kiss," Vanellope laughed.
"That's not because I can't find a guy," Taffyta beamed, "I just don't want one. Maybe I'm not wired for it."
"I didn't think I was, either," Vanellope heaved a long sigh and gazed at Calhoun in a pleading way.
"Ok," Calhoun sighed sharply, "Let's go back over to Ralph's game and see what clues we can gather from all of this."
"I don't want to go back," Vanellope whined.
"You have to win Ralph back!" Taffyta said sarcastically, mocking Vanellope with a small laugh, "What if Ibuki just sweeps him off of his feet? Come on, we need to put you in different clothes."
"What? Hey!" Vanellope squealed as Taffyta tugged on Vanellope's thick racing vest.
"She's right," Calhoun added as the two girls swamped her. Vanellope squealed with protest for a few moments before the two stepped away from her.
"Much better," Calhoun smiled.
"Guys," Vanellope frowned as she looked down. She was in her skinny racing jeans and her small, mint colored under shirt tank top.
"You should let your hair down," Taffyta added, "And maybe take the candy out of it."
"Guys, I don't want to look like a concubine," Vanellope whined as Taffyta pulled her hair out of the pony tail.
"You won't because you don't act like one," Calhoun chuckled as she began pulling the candy out of Vanellope's hair.
"Perfect!" Taffyta exclaimed as the two stepped away from Vanellope.
"You look awesome," Calhoun laughed, "Ralph is sure to double take."
"I don't want to give Ralph any of those kinds of ideas," Vanellope laughed, her face hot red. Her figure forming outfit was stunning.
"You look like a true racer chick now," Calhoun smiled, "You should wear this on the tracks more often."
"I-I can't, then I'll look nothing like my competitors," Vanellope searched for more excuses, "And, I'm sure User didn't program me to-"
"Oh come off of it, you look hot, just deal with it," Taffyta said loudly with a small laugh. Vanellope heaved a sharp sigh and looked down.
"I do look good, don't I," Vanellope agreed quietly. Calhoun and Taffyta chuckled and rolled their eyes a little.
"Ok, let's head back," Taffyta smiled.
"Wait! I can't be the only one going over there looking like this," Vanellope frowned, "They'll know we're up to something. We have to make it seem like we came to Hero's Duty, got comfortable, had a drink, and went back or something."
"Good point," Taffyta agreed as she took off her heavy racing gear and goggles.
"Taffyta, you should let your hair down too," Vanellope suggested as her and Calhoun helped Taffyta out, "And get rid of that lollipop."
"Better yet, we should give YOU a lollipop, Vanellope," Calhoun suggested with a laugh.
"Are you serious?" Vanellope shot Calhoun a look, "You do know what that would suggest, right?"
"Anything to get his attention," Calhoun said as her and Taffyta stifled blushing laughter.
"Here you are," Taffyta laughed as she pulled a new lollipop from her pocket.
"I'm shocked at you two," Vanellope growled as she angrily unwrapped the lollipop and stuck it in her mouth. She took a step back and placed her hands on her hips, the lollipop hanging out the side of her mouth, "How do I look?"
"Uh, yeah," Taffyta chuckled as she glanced at Calhoun, "If Ralph doesn't freak out and fawn all over you, I'll have to question his brain power."
"Let's go, I'm getting pumped," Vanellope laughed. The three girls quickly began to leave Hero's Duty.
