*Chapter 20*
"Ok," Ibuki smiled as her and Ralph hung around the entrance to Ralph's game, they were in Game Central Station, "Taffyta said they were headed to Hero's Duty, correct?"
"Right," Ralph assured as he gazed at Hero's Duty's outlet.
"So, we'll wait here for her and Taffyta to come back out," Ibuki explained, "When they do, we'll act as if we're chumming it up."
"Good plan," Ralph smiled as he glanced at Hero's Duty's outlet.
"Ok, lean like this," Ibuki explained as she became relaxed against Fix-It-Felix Jr.'s outlet, "Act enthralled."
"Ok," Ralph said gently, trying to overcome feeling out of his element. He nervously shifted on his feet.
"Oh, here they come," Ibuki hissed before she perked up and furrowed her eyebrows, "Whoa."
"What, what is it," Ralph asked curiously, his back was to Hero's Duty.
"This, might be harder than I thought," Ibuki chuckled before gluing her attention to Ralph, "Act natural."
"Right," Ralph nodded and tried to relax, not certain as to what Ibuki meant with her first statement.
"So how long have you been wrecking things?" Ibuki said in a flirtatious voice, putting on her act.
"About thirty years," Ralph beamed, trying to get comfortable. He played along.
"Haven't wrecked any poor girl's heart, have yah?" Ibuki urged.
"Only one," Taffyta chuckled as the three girls slowly strolled up to the two.
"Oh, hello again," Ibuki smiled down at Taffyta and Vanellope.
Ralph casually pulled his smug face and eyes away from Ibuki and caught eyes with Vanellope. His eyes immediately widened as he stood up into his normal stance. He suddenly felt his face get hot as he tried to avoid looking Vanellope over. He choked back a breath and nervously rubbed the back of his head, his heart nearly jumping out of his throat. Her figure was curvy and admirable. She leaned with her legs in a shoulder width stance, her wide hips cocked to the side as she crossed her bare arms. Her thick, silky hair draped over her chest and shoulders, it sprawled over her porcelain-like vanilla skin. Ralph suddenly felt as if his throat was clogged.
"Uh-hh," Ralph stammered as he looked from Vanellope, to Taffyta, to Calhoun, and back to Ibuki. All four girls had their eyes on him; each girl radiated completely different emotions from each other.
"We were just about to head out of Game Central Station to see if Taffyta and I can pick up dates for the Valentine's party next week," Vanellope stated confidently, she noticed Ralph hide a frown.
"Well, I'm going with this lovable hunk of sugar," Ibuki beamed as she swatted Ralph's arm.
"Uh, yeah," Ralph uttered with a forced smile, his face still hot red; he tried his hardest not to ogle Vanellope.
"Good luck with that," Vanellope sneered as Taffyta and Calhoun snickered.
"Hey Vanellope, can I have a little chat with you for a second?" Felix asked from inside his game's outlet; he peered out sheepishly.
"Excuse me," Vanellope gave Ralph a smoldering look, and shot Ibuki a look of death. She subtly, and slowly, strut over to Felix.
"Hey, watch it," Taffyta barked as she snapped her fingers once at the ground. She noticed Ralph watching Vanellope walk away for longer than necessary. Ralph snapped back into focus, his heart pounding. Ibuki relaxed and laughed.
"Looks like you're having a hard time keeping a straight face, Ralph," Ibuki said with a chuckle.
"Wait, what?" Calhoun asked, feeling defensive.
"Ok, you have to promise not to tell Vanellope this," Ibuki said in a whisper, "We're making all of this up to make Vanellope jealous."
"That's really rude," Taffyta hissed, "I like it, tell me more."
"This is all a joke?" Calhoun whispered with a surprised smile.
"Of course it is," Ibuki laughed gently, "I have a boyfriend. Ralph told me the troubles he was having with Vanellope. We thought we'd show her exactly what she has before she loses it."
"She'd never lose me," Ralph sighed.
"You want to feel special or not?" Ibuki snapped playfully.
"I-I mean, yea-"
"Then let me handle this," Ibuki snapped again, Taffyta and Calhoun laughed quietly.
"Hi Felix," Vanellope beamed.
"Wow," Felix smiled as he took his hat off, "You look stunning. Trying to impress Ralph?"
"Sorta," Vanellope smiled and looked down before looking back to Ralph and the rest of the girls. She sighed and looked back at Felix pleadingly, "I don't know if it's working or not."
"I'm sure it is," Felix laughed, "Ralph's pretty good at hiding his emotions."
"What did you need to talk to me about?" Vanellope asked gently.
"I have a bit of a personal question," Felix asked, his cheeks turning red.
"Anything, what is it?" Vanellope asked with a loving smile.
"Well," Felix swallowed hard, "I'm thinking of asking Calhoun, how she feels about maybe, having a baby."
"Felix, that's great!" Vanellope said in hushed surprise, "When are you going to talk to her?"
"I was thinking Valentine's night," Felix smiled in a humble way, "But I don't really know how to go about it."
"Hmm," Vanellope pondered.
"We're hoping to make her so jealous, that she'll just end up spilling the beans about how she feels, to Ralph," Ibuki smiled.
"Brilliant," Calhoun nodded in approval, "So you two are still going to the dance together?"
"Yes, but we're hoping that'll tip the scale," Ibuki explained.
"Vanellope is going to be fuming with jealousy," Taffyta laughed, "And if I know her like I think I do, she won't quit until she gets what she wants."
"Perfect," Ralph chuckled.
"W-wow, really?" Felix asked, his face hot red.
"Yep! That's what I would expect from my husband with a situation like this," Vanellope laughed as she put her hands on her hips, "But do whatever you feel comfortable with."
"I will," Felix chuckled with a promising smile, his face blushed, "Thanks for your help Vanellope. You're the only one I felt comfortable asking, so I appreciate it."
"Anytime, Felix," Vanellope smiled as she gave her friend a hug. "If you don't mind, can you keep this between you and me?" Felix asked gently as the two let go of each other.
"My lips are sealed," Vanellope smiled in a promising way.
"Thank you," Felix smiled.
"Vanellope, we're headed to West Arcade Station," Taffyta called, "You coming?"
"Yep!" Vanellope called as she waved Felix off and rejoined her group, "Hopefully we'll have some luck finding Valentines."
"Have fun," Ralph beamed at Vanellope, his signature gapped tooth smile. Vanellope felt her heart jump as she tilted her head towards him. She felt a twinge of sadness at how careless Ralph was with this whole situation.
"Oh, we certainly will," Vanellope beamed as she threw her coat over her shoulder and looked at Calhoun and Taffyta, "Come on, girls."
"Right behind you," Taffyta smiled as her and Calhoun gave Ibuki and Ralph knowing looks. Everyone silently sneered and poked fun at Vanellope as she strut away. The three girls headed towards Power Strip Train Station.
"Oh, User," Vanellope sighed as she rested her coat in her lap. The three girls were sat near each other on the train as it trucked along. Vanellope inhaled and continued, "I've never felt so liberated."
"Amazing what an upgrade in clothes will do," Taffyta laughed, "So how are you going to go about getting a date for the Valentine's day dance?"
"Oh I don't know, I think I'm just going to go stag and make Ralph wish he'd gone with me," Vanellope sighed as she combed her hand through her hair mindlessly.
"I'm positive he'll fall head over heels," Calhoun said plainly as her and Taffyta shared a knowing look.
"So if we're not going to go look for guys, what are we doing and where are we going?" Taffyta laughed, "Calhoun is married. I think we all know who she's going to go to the dance with."
"We just had to say that to make Ralph jealous," Vanellope said gently as she looked around, "What do you guys say we try racing in these outfits?"
"I've flown a space shuttle before, but have never driven a race car," Calhoun explained, "This will be interesting to say the least."
"I'll never say no to racing," Taffyta laughed.
