Almost Shattered Chapter 1: A Make Over, a speed racer fanfic

Author's note: The anime never did say how or when Speed and Trixie met. So in this story, I have the two starting off as just friends (with crushes on each other) before their relationship turns into much more. This is my 3rd SR fic that I posted on this site. It is different from my first two. It's a bit crazy and I have to admit that I had a ball writing it. I wrote this back in 2003, then in May of 2008, I saw the Speed Racer Movie. I must admit that I love how they showed the two meeting.

A special thanks to Chase M. Dakota, who requested this story. Another thanks to Renegade Noa for agreeing with her request.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Speed Racer or any of the characters.

"Almost Shattered"

Chapter 1: A Make Over

Now almost twenty, Speed had been in more than a few races and won nearly all of them. He has said numerous times that he couldn't have done it without everyone's help from the Go Team. Pops and Sparky continuously did fantastic work on the Mach 5, Mom Racer took care of everyone on the team, and even Spritle and Chim Chim had gotten Speed out of quite a few jams. Last but not least, Trixie was a wonderful navigator and great at getting Speed out of problems with the help of her helicopter.

The special people on the Go Team were Speed's partners, his best friends and he knew he could always count on them. Whenever something went horribly wrong in any of the races they were all there to help - a real true team. This help usually consisted of helping Speed with a villain or just helping him to get across the finish line first. A person who wasn't on the Go Team who helped out tremendously as well was none other than Racer X.

All around, Speed was a very likeable guy even by most of the competition. One of the reasons was because he never hesitated to help another driver out of danger during a race. Very rarely he lost a race but when he did, he made sure to congratulate the winner.

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It was a sunny Wednesday when Speed came home from the track after practicing for a race. This up coming race would be very special because it would literally be in Speed's home town but not on the regular track. This long race would be through the city and into the woods of the town. Businesses that were normally open on Saturdays decided to gladly close down for this Saturday race. This racing event made the super bowl for football seem like small potatoes.

Now home, Speed rested on the sofa feeling exhausted. Spritle and Chim Chim had tagged alone with Pops, who was out working on a new motor, so Speed would be able to relax in peace. Mom Racer was once again too busy cooking one of her wonderful meals for dinner in the kitchen. Speed physically felt how much he needed to relax after his racing performance during his practice. It had been nothing short than impressive. However, falling asleep wasn't as easy as he thought it was going to be since he couldn't seem to get something off his mind. And it wasn't his racing career that was the something on his mind.

His social life is what he was thinking about. He really never had a problem when it came to girls but lately he only had one on his mind. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't shake the thought of this certain female. This girl was Trixie. She had been a big part of the Go Team and his best friend, next to Sparky. Recently however, he found himself becoming more and more attracted to her. He never said anything to her though, afraid that he might ruin their friendship. Every time he reminded himself that they were friends only, down deep he knew he wanted more. He wanted her. The good thing was that she hadn't seemed to be dating anyone lately. He also often thought he read jealousy in her eyes when other girls were around but he wasn't sure.

Becoming more and more comfortable on the sofa, he thought of some of their first serious talks. They had spoken of their dreams to each other. She would listen to him intently when he spoke of his racing dream, and he listened closely to her when she spoke of her dream of flying. He couldn't help but admire her when she did learn to fly and now, she was no doubt, his biggest fan.

With his eyes closed, a smile crept upon his face when he thought of the old Trixie. She didn't always wear her little, pink shirts that tied up by her shoulders on both sides. She had once been a Tom Boy who wore big T-shirts most of the time when they were younger. Her hair had practically covered her eyes to where they were very hard to see. Of course she brushed her hair but she never fixed it or put make up on. However, Speed didn't care. She was his buddy and one of the only people he trusted to drive the Mach 5. They were very loyal, best friends.

While wondering what it would be like to be more than friends with Trixie, he began to think of a time in the past when they were younger.

Before racing and flying helicopters, there was high school. Speed and Trixie's senior year was when she stopped being a Tom Boy. She, Speed and Sparky were in a drama class together, and one day the teacher instructed the class that they had to make up a short script and then act it out as a play on stage. The teacher stressed that it would count as a big grade so everyones' participation was mandatory.

The girls in the class worked very hard coming up with the story line of the script and in time they were ready to put the play on. And even though the guys in the class weren't thrilled about the romance in the small play, they had to go along with it. Sparky reminded them that they had to do what the girls wanted because the guys hadn't done any work on the script at all. Like most stories with romance, the script was mainly about the guy getting the girl in the end.

Speed and Melissa were elected to be the main characters because of their good looks. Melissa was a very pretty girl with wavy blonde hair, and at the time she and Speed were dating. It wasn't anything serious in his eyes, which was how most of Speed's relationships were with girls. He was quite a flirt with his long eyelashes and blue eyes.

The day of the play everyone was playing their parts fine while Trixie was taking care of things behind the stage. Only one but very major problem popped up while the play was going on. Melissa became sick and couldn't play the main female character. Not having any idea of what was going on, Speed remained on the complete opposite side of the stage cutting up with the guys. Because he and Melissa weren't to go on at the same time, he planned to hang around the guys up till the very last minute before he had to go on.

Janet, a petit girl with short, red hair knew they had to replace Melissa and fast. She took it upon herself to more or less be the director of the play as her eyes fell on to Trixie who was wearing her usual baggy T- shirt.

"Trixie!" Janet called running up to her. "You have to go on for Melissa!"

"What?" Trixie and some other people asked at the same time.

Ignoring the others, Janet said confidently, "Trixie, you know what to do and you're about the same size as Melissa." Without waiting for an answer, Janet began to pull Trixie to the dressing room.

"Not to be mean," a guy named Jeff whispered to his friend, "but isn't Melissa's character supposed to be pretty?"

"Yes," the friend said. "I don't think Trixie fits that description either."

In the dressing room, Trixie said shyly to Janet, "I don't know about this."

"Like I said before. You'll fit into the dress Melissa was to wear," Janet said pulling it out.

"Isn't it a bit revealing?" Trixie asked not wanting to put it on. She was way too modest and the dress looked way too small on the hanger.

Janet laughed a little and said, "Come on. I've often wanted to fix you up. No offense."

After the dress was on Trixie, Janet started to work on her shy friends's hair and make up. After a few minutes and happily surprised at the finished product, Janet said, "You are going to give Speed a heart attack when he sees you."

"I really doubt it," Trixie said not about to take Janet seriously.

Ignoring Trixie, Janet said, "Girl, I never knew you had a figure like that. You look better than Melissa looked in that dress." Though Trixie was average on top, her waist and hips were very curvy.

"Oh, please," Trixie said not believing she looked better than anyone in that dress.

"Come here," Janet said pulling her friend in front of a big mirror.

The red head had to laugh when Trixie saw herself since she became speechless at seeing her image in the mirror.

Trixie saw a beautiful girl in that mirror and that girl was to her surprise, really her. She had to admit that the dress looked a lot better on her than it had on the hanger. It didn't look quite as skimpy since it did cover everything. However, it was her face that really grabbed her attention. She hadn't realized just how big and pretty her green eyes could be. It was amazing to her what eye liner could do.

"All you needed was a touch of make up to bring out your high cheek bones," Janet said with a smile. "You also needed me to get that hair out of your eyes and please, what ever you do, ditch the T-shirts. At least don't wear them everyday anymore."

"You don't think the dress is a little tight," Trixie asked a little embarrassed as she noticed curves she didn't even know she had, in the sleeveless, black dress.

"Let's just say that most of the girls in our class would kill to look like that in a dress."

Trixie could only smile; feeling a bit embarrassed.

"It's true," the red head said putting some of the make up away.

"Janet," Trixie said low.

"I wouldn't lie to you," Janet said not wanting to hear Trixie deny how good she looked.

"Janet," Trixie said again trying to get her friend to listen to her.

"What," Janet said in frustration while rolling her eyes at Trixie.

"I just wanted to say...thank you," Trixie said, sincerely liking her make over.

"You're very welcome. Just don't get a fat head," the red head teased. She had always liked Trixie because Trixie was so far from being vain and also very nice. As Janet walked away, she added, "I can't wait to see Speed's face when you walk onto the stage."

Trixie suddenly remembered one night when he almost kissed her even when she was her Tom Boyish self. They had just gotten finished having a serious conversation when they just found themselves staring at each other. Speed then slowly leaned closer to her but just before their lips touched, Spritle and Chim Chim popped up and the attempted kiss was never ever brought up again. "Speed and I are just friends," Trixie said even though she did think he was so sweet for wanting to kiss her even though she wasn't the beauty queen type.

"He's a guy," Janet said rolling her eyes again. "I'm telling you. He's going to be seriously checking you out whether you like it or not."

Trixie pushed the thought out of her head, happy enough with her new look.

When she walked out of the room to get ready to go on to the stage, everyone became quiet as they stared at her. They were needless to say, shocked. Jeff's jaw fell open and Sparky's eyes almost popped out of his head.

Speed was already on stage acting out his part in the play knowing Melissa would be joining him shortly. Luckily, Janet had finished Trixie up just before it was time for her to go on.

Feeling very nervous, Trixie didn't want to step on to the stage even though she knew what to say and do perfectly. When it was her cue to walk on, it took everything in her to force her self out onto the stage but she did, feeling the hot, stage lights hit her.

Speed knew from the rehearsals that he wasn't suppose to look at Melissa till she took his hand. When he felt a soft hand take his, he turned his head expecting to see Melissa. Instead, he saw someone very close to him who now seemed to take his breath away. He looked closer at her face to see that it was indeed really, Trixie.

To Trixie's surprise, Speed's eyes widened quite a bit as he forgot to say his next line - making his friends laugh.

Because of the silence on stage, Trixie went ahead with her line.

Speed just continued to look at her with an expression of shock on his face.

This is when Trixie realized that Janet had been right about how Speed would react. Knowing she had to snap Speed out of it, Trixie tightened her grip on his hand to try to get him to say at least his next line.

Comprehending, Speed finally began to say his line but sounding as if he was in a daze. Slowly he then put his hands on her waist since he was supposed to. He was also supposed to look around the stage before looking at her once again but his eyes remained on the lovely creature he had his hands on.

When Trixie's part came to pull away from Speed, she did. After walking a couple of steps away from him, she was to then turn around and look at him. Doing the scene wrong, he had followed her. He was only about half a foot directly behind her when she turned around. Because he was so close, she almost fell backwards but his arms encircled her waist and pulled her up against him - catching her. The teacher was totally into the play thinking that this was part of it.

Applause erupted because that was the end of the play. As the curtains came down, Speed still had his arms around his sweet friend as he whispered, "Trixie. You look...beautiful."

Still surprised by his reaction, she just barely whispered back, "Thank you."

"Okay. Shows over," Jeff said walking up to them making Speed release Trixie, his buddy.

"You two did great!" Sparky exclaimed still laughing at the shock on Speed's face when he first saw Trixie.

Later that night there was a party for all in the play. Trixie showed up wearing a pink shirt that had been buried in the back of her closet. It made her look more like a girl than the T-shirts had. Her hair was still fixed its new way and her make up was perfect, making her look very pretty.

Melissa was actually at the party with Speed since she felt better.

It was a night like never before for Trixie. Guys asked her to dance and while she was dancing with Jeff, she could swear that Speed was watching her. She had found herself wishing she was dancing with him, but reminded herself that he had a girlfriend. You're just Speed's friend, she thought almost hitting herself in the head so she'd snap out of it.

Very late that same night, there were just a few guys left at the party when Sparky asked Speed a question. "Speed. How do you think Trixie looked tonight?"

Without thinking first, Speed blurted out, "I think she was the best looking girl here tonight."

Sparky and the other guys laughed at Speed's quick admittance while wondering how he had held it in so far that night.

"Melissa wouldn't like that," Jeff said now wanting Trixie for himself.

Sparky stopped laughing and watched a speechless Speed closely while wondering if he was really falling for their female friend. A light suddenly went on in Sparky's head as he remembered the time Speed confessed to almost kissing Trixie.

With a smile on his face from the memory of seeing Trixie for the first time in her pink shirt, Speed finally fell asleep on that sofa he had been day dreaming on.

The big Saturday event was here on such a beautiful day. Speed was more than ready and very excited about the big race while the Go Team carefully checked that the Mach 5 was in perfect condition.

Taking a break, Trixie watched Speed as he spoke to Pops probably about the race. She had really started to fall hard for him; wanting to push away every girl who went near him, and she often wondered if he could even tell. Now, unlike before, being close to him made her heart race. Her heart especially raced when he gave her a friendly hug. She couldn't understand why she was feeling this way about her best friend. And lately even just looking into his blue eyes made her melt. While one part of her wanted to tell him, the other part was afraid she'd lose him all together if she did.

Minutes before the race was to start, Speed pulled Trixie aside and finally got enough nerve to do what he had been wanting to. He was tired of just thinking about it. "Trixie. After the race I was wondering if you would like to do something together. I know we usually do but I mean just the two of us...alone."

So surprised, Trixie almost couldn't speak as Speed's eyes held hers. Finally, she remembered how to speak and said, "Yes, I would like that very much."

Because no navigator was necessary in the race, Speed smiled and said, "I'll miss you in the race today."

"I'll miss being with you, but I'll be watching," she said with a shy smile.

Speed winked back before heading to the Mach 5.

Thanks for reading, Jen