Gloyd gave the kart one final kick before withdrawing. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward Taffyta as she spat out insult after insult at Vanellope. For a moment, he met eyes with the raven-haired girl's and Gloyd could easily see hurt and dejection in them. He quickly looked away, forcing down a growing sense of guilt. A second later, the other racers pulled away from the kart as well. Taffyta had finished ranting at Vanellope and motioned toward the others to leave. "Come on, everyone. Let's get out of here." The strawberry-themed girl said as she pushed Vanellope out of the way. She easily lost balance and fell onto her bottom, straight into a puddle of mud. A few racers sniggered at the child as they walked past; Gloyd kept his eyes on the ground, hands shoved in his pockets. It was soon apparent that restraining from looking at Vanellope didn't help, for he could still hear her quiet sobs.

A little Sugar Rush kart racer dug into his stash of candy and pulled out one wrapped in white paper. Satisfied with his find, he kept it firm in his hand as he left his home, heading for the von Schweetz residence. He traversed the land stealthily; he'd had years of practice from his sneaking around for pranks. Sure that he was not going to be found, he cautiously placed the piece of candy on the abode's entrance. Then, without a trace, he left the place.

Vanellope was just about to dress for bed when she spied something small at the opening of her home. "What the…" She muttered as she approached the object. The girl dropped down to her knees and picked it up, examining it. "Candy? But who…" Vanellope stood back to her feet and scanned beyond the house; no one was in sight. Maybe someone dropped it… but then again… no one even comes near my house, so… She thought as she headed back inside. Vanellope placed the sweet on her dresser with a shrug, It's probably nothing…
But the next evening, she found another candy at her home's entrance. "Okay, so yesterday wasn't just a coincidence…" She placed it on the dresser beside the other.
As days passed, single pieces of candy continued to appear at her doorstep. Each time, Vanellope grew more and more confused by the situation. On one particular night, frustrated, she shouted, "Hey! Is someone just happening to lose their candy right in front of my house over and over, or what?!" No one answered and with a huff, she retreated into her home.

The following night, Vanellope was fed up with her confusion. She was determined to figure out what was going on, who was leaving candy by her house. And so, she slipped into her little nightgown as usual and began brushing her hair, trying to appear casual. She pulled the brush through her locks, partly sticky from the candy. At one strand, the brush got stuck and she sighed in annoyance. Letting out little grunts of effort, she tugged at the brush with all her might. At one particular yank, she heard a soft snicker of amusement from beyond. Her eyes widened and she pulled at the brush, finally throwing it at the floor. Hastily, she tied her hair up with licorice and hopped off the stool in front of her vanity. She dashed as fast as she could out of her home into the outdoors. Vanellope spied a miniature shadow and the darkness and gasped. With a burst of speed she surged forward and pounced onto the shadow. "Gotcha!" She shouted in triumph. And then she got a good look at who she'd caught. A brown haired boy dressed in pumpkin-orange pajamas. "Gloyd?!" She spoke in disbelief.

"G-get off me!" He yelled, though his cheeks colored at the position he and Vanellope were in. She pulled away from him, but Vanellope's eyes were furrowed, displaying how completely flabbergasted she was.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"Well, I… uh… er…" He fumbled over his words, holding an item tightly in his fist and out of sight.

"Hey, what's that you're holding behind your back?" She craned her neck to see.

"Nothing!" Gloyd answered quickly.

"Oh, really? Then hold out your hand for me." She challenged.

Gloyd bit his lip, but then his eyes lit up "Fine." He said. He swiped the object into his other hand, and with his now free one stuck it out. And he flicked Vanellope in the nose.

"Ow!" Vanellope cried and wiped at her hurt nose.

"Hah, hah, tricked you! You thought I was hiding something… or something, glitchy?! I'm just here to prank you!" He feigned laughter, lying through his teeth.

However, Vanellope believed his entire act. Scowling she spoke, "Look, don't you think it's enough to bully me during the day? I get it, I'm a mistake. Happy now?" Vanellope turned on her heel, heading back for her house.

Gloyd had not intended for things to go this way. Panicking he called, "Vanellope, wait!"

The girl did; he'd never called her by her real name, no one had, really. Hesitantly, she turned around. "What?"

"Here." Gloyd held out his palm, with a wrapped candy on it. Vanellope exhaled, her eyes growing in size. She moved back to the little boy and put out cupped hands. He carefully placed it in them and she stared at it, eyes widened in awe. She blinked, and then looked up at Gloyd, a bright smile forming upon her lips. He saw this and his cheeks went bright red, easily seen despite the dark; he ducked his head, hoping to hide his flushed complexion.

Vanellope's usual smirk appeared on her face, "So you're the one leaving candy here, huh?" She gave him a playful punch in the arm.

"… Yeah." He admitted, rubbing his punched arm with a sheepish grin.

"Hm… Why?" Vanellope questioned him quizzically.

"Huh?" He finally looked up.

"I thought you and everyone else hated me." She said.

"Well… I dunno, I just… I guess…" Gloyd he trailed off.

"Yeah?" Vanellope raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue.

"I mean, I don't hate you, I like you- I mean, I felt bad about making fun of you, so, er…" Gloyd had never had this much trouble to speak in his life.

"So you did this to make me feel better?" She finished for him.

"I guess that was the idea…"

"Isn't this yours, too?" Vanellope glanced at the candy once more.
Gloyd nodded. Vanellope raised both eyebrows; Gloyd never shared his candy and surely didn't just give it away to people.

"Thanks. That's sweet of you." She offered him, putting emphasis on the word ''sweet''.

"Heh. Welcome." He nodded again, chewing on the inside of his mouth nervously.
The two stood there for a few moments, an air of slight awkwardness falling over them.

"So, uh, I've got a big race and stuff tomorrow, so… I really should get some sleep…" Gloyd finally said, kicking at the ground.

"Oh, right, right. But you're also gonna need some food if you plan on surviving that whole thing…" Vanellope spoke nonchalantly, sending a backward glance toward her home- and the dresser piled with candy.

"What? You mean…" Gloyd looked at the house as well.

"Uh-huh." Vanellope's smirked returned and she held out her free hand for Gloyd to take. Without a second thought, he did.