As Candlehead raced through the finish line (in 4th place, not like she cared), she looked in the stands of cheering fans. Among the various candies and sweets, a young would-be racer with caramel brown hair and eyes smiled and waved.

His name was Kenneth Caramel. He was technically a racer, though he tended to avoid races. It wasn't because he wasn't any good. He was. But he had a pretty big problem. For some reason, he was programmed with a glitch that not even President Vanellope Von Schweetz could fix.

Whenever Kenneth got upset or angry, he would sweat large amounts of caramel, which would pool around him until he became encased in the stuff. Then he would be changed into a large, hulking monster made of solid caramel, about twice the size of Weck-it Ralph with the strength to match. Because of this, Kenneth avoided races and contact with the racers all together.

And yet, whenever Candlehead was racing, he was always in the stands, cheering her on. As the racers got out of their karts, Vanelope looked over at the stands, spying Kenneth. "Hey, Candlehead, your boyfriend's in the stands."

Candlehead blushed. "Kenny isn't my boyfriend. He's just a fan. A friend, I guess. We hardly talk."

"It's because of that… temper issue that he has." Taffyta Muttonfudge pointed out. "I think he doesn't want to hurt us. But… how can he be more dangerous than what we face on the racetrack every day?"

"Because his glitch can be used outside the racetrack. Remember what happened when Ralph first showed up? How much mayhem he caused? In his other form, Kenneth would be twice that strong." Rancis Fluggerbutter pointed out.

"Only if he gets upset. I mean, how hard could it be to upset such a cutie?" Candlehead waved at Kenneth, who shyly waved back.

"You're the one programmed with a crush on him. You should talk to him." Jubileena Bing Bing declared.

Candlehead put her hands in her pockets. "You're right, but… it's not easy."

Vanellope chuckled. "That may be true, Candi. But I know you can do it. You just gotta start slow. Maybe just be his friend first."

Candlehead got an idea. "What if, after the arcade closes, he and I race? Just the two of us and the whole of Sugar Rush?"

Taffyta put her hands on her cheeks as she smiled. "I think that's a cute idea."

Candlehead smiled, suddenly filled with confidence. "Alrighty, then. Here I go." She skipped over to the stands. Kenneth stood at the barrier, blushing as Candlehead walked over to him, his cheeks flushing with a light brown color. "H-hi, Candlehead. G-great race out there."

"Thanks, Kenny." Candlehead rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. "So… I was wondering… when the arcade closes… would you want to race? Just the two of us? No coins, no trophy, just… two racers and the track."

Kenneth cast his eyes downward. "I...um… I don't race. I'm too dangerous."

"Aw, come on. You wouldn't be in this game if you weren't a racer. Besides, you only… you know, change when you get upset. And I would never upset you. Not on purpose, anyway." Candlehead put a hand to her heart. "I promise."

Kenneth looked at her. "You promise it'll just be us?"

"Yup," Candlehead said happily.

Kenneth mulled that over. "Well… I guess one lap couldn't hurt. So… right after the arcade closes."

"Uh-huh." Candlehead had a big smile on her face. "So, you'll be there?"

"Sure. I'll be there." Kenneth replied.

Later, as the arcade closed and the other racers drove home, Candle stayed parked near the starting line. She got in position, waiting for Kenneth. After a few moments, Kenneth rolled up in a sleek brown kart with pixie stick tailpipes and wheels that resembles round hard caramels. Atop his head, he wore a brown helmet with two lighter brown swirls above his ears. He looked at Candlehead. "Well? How do I look?"

Candlehead smiled. "Like a racer. You ready?"

Kenneth nodded. "As I can be."

"Alright… ready… go!"

The two racers took off, leaving clouds of sugary dust in their wake. As the starting line became the finish line behind them, Rancis and his friend Gloyd Orangeboar, the game's resident prankster came out from behind a lollipop tree, grinning wickedly. They had a prank in mind.

"There's no way that Kenneth kid has a glitch like that," Gloyd rolled his eyed as he laid a near-invisible tripwire on the track.

Rancis tied the wire to a catapult full of hot fudge. Not hot enough to scald, but definitely hot enough to sting at least a smidge. "So… who's this aimed at?"

"I don't care who it hits." Gloyd snickered. "Is it set?"

Rancis flashed a thumbs up. "Ready to splatter."

The roar of racing engines reached their ears. Rancis looked out at the horizon. "Here they come!"

"Dude, hide!" Gloyd exclaimed. Rancis dove behind the lollipop tree beside his friend. Candlehead and Kenneth came tearing down the track. Kenneth pulled ahead at the last moment and zoomed over the tripwire. The trap sprung, the torrent of hot fudge shot towards the shy racer and soon covered both him and his kart.

"Kenny!" Candlehead exclaimed, screeching to a stop.

Rancis and Gloyd laughed so hard that they doubled over.

Until they heard the crash. Looking up, they saw that the hot fudge had made Kenneth lose control of his kart and crashed.

Gloyd stepped closer to the wreck. "Hey… Kenneth… you good?"

A fudge-covered hand reached out from beneath the overturned wreck as fudge and… caramel, it looked like leaked out around it. A low growl could be heard.

Rancis gulped. "I, um… I think that glitch thing was true."

In the next moment, the overturned cart was launched skyward by a large bubbling mass of hot fudge and liquid caramel. At the center of the growing mass, an outline of Kenneth could be seen. As the mass grew and hardened, it became less of a bubbling mass and more like a large monster with glowing yellow eyes and a jagged mouth.

"Oh, peanut butter cups," Rancis muttered. He looked at Gloyd. "Run?"

The monster glared at them with its yellow eyes and let loose a great roar.

"Run." Gloyd agreed. The two boys ran away, screaming. The monster began to lumber after them, but then Candlehead stood in front of him, her arms outstretched.

"Kenny, stop. This isn't the way. I know you're upset. You have every right to be. But if you chase after them, you'll only make yourself look bad."

The monster growled. "Candlehead… move."

"No. You're not a monster, Kenny. I know that. Deep down, so do you. Don't the others think otherwise." Candlehead put a hand on the creature's leg. The caramel was hard and jagged. But inside, she could feel Kenneth's pulse. This monster wasn't him. It was just a protective shell.

"Oh, Kenny…" Candlehead gently rested her forehead on the jagged caramel. " I really am a ditz. I thought that getting you to race… to spend time with me… was a good idea." She began to cry. "I just wanted you… to like me. Maybe even… love me."

The monster was silent for a moment. His glowing yellow eyes dimmed. Then, with a sound like the shattering of a peppermint stick, his caramel body began to fall apart. Candlehead backed up and the monster was reduced to caramel rubble. Kenneth soon rose from it, a hand to his temple. "Ugh… I always have the worst headaches when I transform." When he stumbled to the ground, Candlehead helped him up, then hugged him, tears still budding in her eyes. After a moment, Kenneth hugged back. "Don't cry, Candi. It wasn't your fault I transformed," he said gently.

"B-but I promised you wouldn't get upset… I broke a promise." Candlehead whimpered.

"No, you didn't. You promised you wouldn't make me upset. You didn't," Kenneth smiled and lifted her chin, looking into her mint-green eyes. You kept your word."

Candlehead looked into Kenneth's caramel-brown eyes. "Kenny, I… I have a crush on you. That's why-" her confession was cut short by a sweet first kiss from Kenneth. His lips tasted of smooth, rich caramel. Candlehead closed her eyes and allowed the kiss to overtake her senses. She wrapped her arms around Kenneth's middle.

When the kiss parted, Kenny smiled. "I've always been sweet on you, Candi. I just didn't know if you felt the same way."

"Well, now do you know?" Candlehead teased.

Kenneth chuckled. "I have a pretty good idea."

Candlehead rested her head on Kenneth's shoulder. "So… we have some time before the arcade opens. What do you wanna do?"

"Whatever you want," Kenneth smiled. "I love you, Candlehead."

"I love you too, Kenneth Caramel." Candlehead replied.