The pink car had parked in front of the main building at Racer Academy for nearly half an hour and the girl in the driver's seat still did not get out. Her face was pale as she stared into the rearview mirror of her car with the hood of her white sweater up. The sweater had faux bunny ears on the hood making her look younger then she was. Her hands were twirling pieces of her brown hair that slipped out of her sweater. She did not know what to do mostly because she was early for her interview.
She was finally going to become a student at Racer Academy, something the girl has dreamed about since she saw her first race on TV when she was 5. She always loved fast things, especially roller coaster, and the idea of racing amazed her. From that moment on she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up, even though her family did not agree much with it. They thought car racing was the stupidest thing, and that it was only for drunken southerners. She never agreed, and planned to change their minds.


I finally looked away from the rearview mirror once I realized how more nervous the action was making me and I looked straight ahead of me. Other students were walking in and out of the building, not a single one noticing a new bubblegum pink car sitting in front of the building with a weirdly dressed girl in the front seat. I guess that can be considered a good thing then? I looked down at the passenger seat where I had thrown my phone to see no new anything and that I had another ten minutes before the interview was to begin.
Wait is it an interview? Interviews are what you have to get a spot at a place, but don't I already have a spot in the school? I slid my hands through my hair and groaned, why do I always get so easily confused with this stuff. I reached over to my phone again and put it inside of my pink pocketbook in-between my current book and some candy I snuck from home. I put the bag on my shoulder then reached for the door just as something silver and shiny jumped in front of my window and onto the hood of my car. I yelled not knowing what to do as some boy with red hair and a familiar looking outfit ran toward the thing. It took me a minute to realize it was a monkey… a robotic monkey?
"CHIM-CHIM!" he yelled as he grabbed the monkey and pulled it toward his chest holding it as if it was his child, "don't run away again!" The redheaded boy looked up and realized I was staring at him and his expression went from happy to finding his robot monkey to nervous as he began to try to say something but the words clumped into one word, "I'msoverrysorryforthat."
"It's okay" I said with a small nervous smile as I looked in-between the boy and the monkey, "I just never seen a monkey…robot… thing like that before."
The red headed boy smiled proudly, "I made him myself!"
"Conor, were going to be late!" a girls voice yelled out from behind him and I peered around the red head, who I guess was Conor, to see a dark skinned girl with short brown hair and tall boy with short brown hair.
"Sorry, but Chim-Chim just jumped on this girls car-" Conor began as he turned around toward his two friends. I could not help but think the brunette looked familiar.
The girl looked from Conor to me and I smiled, "'ello."
"Hello, you must be new here" she said smiling back, "I'm Lucy, this is Conor and Speed."
"Hello, I'm Bunny" I replied.
"Yes, yes you are" Speed said as he looked at the bunny ears on my hood and I smiled.
"Yep, I'm supposed to have an interview or something with the Headmaster but I got here early and decided to wait most of the time out" I blurted out with a nervous smile, "I should be going now." I quickly got out of the car as I realized that I only had five minutes until the interview.
"Do you know where Headmaster Spritle's office is?" Lucy asked from behind me as I began to walk toward the school and I realized no, I had not a single clue. I turned around and quickly shook my head and Lucy turned toward the two boys, "go to class, I will be right there." The two boys left talking to each other about the Mach 6, I guess one of their cars, and Lucy and I headed into the building. Before I knew it she dropped me off in front of the Headmasters office and left leaving me with his assistant who told me to walk in the room. I took a deep breath as I reached for the doorknob and turned it. The door opened to reveal a room that looked just like any other principles office. Sitting behind the desk was Headmaster Spritle, younger brother to the world famous Speed Racer. I couldn't help but feel nervous as I walked into the Headmasters office, "Hello, I'm Bunny."
"Bunny, welcome to the academy" he said smiling, "have a seat." I took a deep breath as I walked over toward the two wooden chairs in front of his desk and took the left one, because left is always right. I looked up at the Headmaster nervously and then realized why the boy looked so familiar. Speed, he is the son of Speed Racer. How did I not realize it earlier? Wow, I am an idiot. "So… Bunny, is that is your real name?" he asked. I shook my head no; I did not put my real name on the application forms since I did not want my parents to learn what I was doing. They think I am staying with my oldest brother who is my emergency contact, and he promised not to tell my parents about any of it. He thought it was good idea to go to the academy, while my parents disagreed greatly. They would kill me if they found out about any of this. I should have said yes then… "Then wh-" he began.
"I thought it would be easier to put down Bunny since… I think it will be safer," I blurted out, "my parents thought it would be better if I did. Also no one really calls me by my real name, they all call me bunny." The only part that was true is the safer part; I would be safer from my parents.
Spritle nodded his head and dropped the question, "so tell me Bunny why are you here?"
"To race?" I answered a bit confused then realized he probably asked everyone that, "I just want to race. I do not want to be famous or anything, I just want to drive fast. I spent my whole childhood dreaming about this. I never liked staying still for long and always loves running, or as my brother says, hopping around. That is actually how I got the name Bunny." Well I got it because I would not get off my Aunt's trampoline when we visited. I probably said more than I needed to but I was nervous so I could not shut up, I am surprised I did not blurt out the trampoline part.
"Well to succeed here you will need skill, determination and if your lucky a few friends" he said and I couldn't help but blush at the friends part. I was never good at the whole friend's part, I always tend to be awkward around people who are family, actually no, and I tend to be awkward around people in general. He picked something up from his desk and handed it out to me, "this is your dorm room key for the Grand Pre building, drop your things off and get ready for the qualifying race."
"Thank you" I said sighing in relief as I took the key pass from his hand, part of me was excited for my first race, "when is the race?"
"One o'clock" he responded, "so what car are you racing today?"
I smiled nervously, "that will be a surprise." Truthfully, I just do not remember the name of it… All I know is that its bubble gum pink, stick shift, and that my brother in law bought it for me when he found out I was into racing. I could not help but thank him repeatedly and feel jealous of my sister even more for finding a man like him. The Headmaster let out a small laugh and opened his mouth to ask something else before his phone went off causing both of us to jump a little. I nearly had forgotten where I was for a second.
"I have to take this, I guess I will see this surprise car at the race later?" he asked and I nodded my head as I stood up and he picked up the phone.
"Bye Headmaster" I said as I turned around and quickly exited the office. That was surprisingly better then I thought, the Headmaster seems nice. I reached into my pocket to take out the key, and looked to see where my room was. I had no clue where it was… Where is Lucy when I need her? I began to backtrack toward the Headmasters office hoping the secretary could point me in the right direction when I heard new voices.
"I didn't do anything!" a voice echoed through the hall as I reached the Headmasters office. Sitting on the bench outside of the office was an annoyed looking girl with long wavy orange hair and bright green eyes that made me feel slightly jealous. A professor was standing in front of her with an angry look on his face that made me forget all about my problem.
"YOUR GOING TO BE SUSPENDED FOR THAT!" the professor yelled at the poor student as I just stood there any watched confused on what to do now.
"Can I help you with anything Miss. Bunny?" the secretary asked causing both the professor and student to turn toward me. I felt my cheeks redden as I opened my mouth to say I had no clue where my room was until the Headmasters door opened to reveal Spritle.
"What is it Aniskov?" Spritle asked the other teacher.
"She placed a bomb under my seat to throw me off in the middle of the class and I broke my wrist" the professor responded as he gestured toward his swollen wrist.
"Miss. Malone d-" the Headmaster began.
"No, I didn't do that! The stupid twins made that bomb and because they were stupid they didn't make it right. I heard them snickering about it so when his back was turned I stood up to check it out" she quickly responded angrily, "I even warned you."
"Don't insult fellow classmates" the Professor retorted.
"But only an idiot would build a bomb in the first place!" she responded. I mentally added the fact only an idiot would also put it under a teachers chair but I did not want to put attention onto myself.
"Again with the sass" the Professor stated.
"Umm, excuse me?" I quickly said before I could think and all eyes went to me and I felt more nervous than I did before, "ummm…." I tried to think of something quickly.
"Who are you?" Professor asked giving me an annoyed look.
"She is a new student, Bunny" Spritle quickly responded in my defense.
"I doubt she really did it" I blurted out without thinking, shut up please…, "if someone puts a bomb under a teachers chair and successfully injures the teacher they would brag about it not reject it or push it onto someone else and have them gain a lil popularity it comes with a prank that goo-"
"You have no clue what's going here Miss, I think you should go away before you also get detention," the Professor said.
"But I-" I began.
"I think she might be right, we need more evidence that she did the crime before we do anything as big as suspending anyway" Spritle cut me off.
"Thank you!" the girl said relieved as the Professor gave Spritle a deadly look.
"Should you go see the nurse about your wrist anyway Aniskov?" Spritle asked the Professor who just walked away obviously still angry about the whole incident. Spritle smiled at me before walking back into his office. I could not help but feel my cheeks redden as the student walked up to me.
"Thank you… Bunny" she said as she put her hand out and I shook it, "I'm Ara. So you're new here?"
"Yeah" I said nervously, I was just lookin' fo-"
"Your room?" she asked as she took my key car and smiled then looked up at me, "good news I know your roommate, she's awesome?"
I smiled nervously, "really, who is it?"
"Me"


I followed Ara to my new dorm to see it was bigger then I expected. The room seemed like it was cut in half recently where the second bed was just recently put in and Ara had to clear the second half in a hurry.
"Sorry it's a bit messy, they just told me about the new roommate yesterday," she said as she walked over and sat on her side of the room that was filled with random musical instruments, books, and art supplies. I looked at my side to see it was completely blank. I can fill it with anything I want. I dropped my bag onto my bed excitedly.
I turned toward the clock to see it was almost time for the race, "I should get going."
"Oh yeah, the Qualifying race" Ara stated as she put a sketch book down and looked up at me, "good luck; both Racer kids are racing today and they are… Well you will see soon?" I gulped nervously as Ara and I left the dorm and headed down to my car where I learned that she was not a racer, but a mechanic.
"Impressive car" she said as we arrived at the track and looked under the hood of the car.
"I guess" I said nervously, "I really don't know anything about this stuff."
"Well today is your lucky day, I have no car to work on and you have no one to work on your car" she said as she stared at the engine excitedly, "I can be your mechanic, and maybe even do a little experiments. You know since you don't know anything."
"Experiments?" I asked looking at the ginger nervously.
"You won't die, maybe a little injuries," she said and I groaned, but I do need someone to work on my car at times.
I sighed, "yes I guess." Her face brightened up as I noticed the Lucy and the two boys with another boy.
Ara followed my eyes and smiled, "the racer boys, the mechanic Conor, and Lucy the strategist. Like I said, good luck." Ara then walked away as the racers were told to get in their cars and Spritle began to announce the drivers. I got into starting position as stared at the lights trying to forget the other cars around me. I felt adrenaline flow through my veins and I still have not even left the starting line! The lights began to change. Before I knew it I was finally racing. I was in fourth place behind both Racer boys and some other new kid and I can hear some kids being knocked off behind me. Why must they be so reckless? I got more excited by the time I got into third place when the original boy underestimated the distance of a turn and ran right into a divider. I drove past him and saw the smoke from his engine follow me and I smiled. I only had X and Speed left a head of me. I do not care if I pass either of them; the fact that I was able to beat all the new comers was amazing in itself! The race ended as quickly as it began with me in third place, nearly tied with Racer X.
Ara ran over with a surprise look as I got out of the car, "I thought you were going to be horrible, but you did pretty well." I could help but smile at the comment.
"That was impressive Bunny," a voice said and I turned around to see Lucy and Speed walking toward me as Conor and Chim Chim examined the car. X was also off kissing some red headed girl.
"Thanks" I said blushing.
Lucy laughed, "with that driving she will probably get Annalise off the leader board." With that everyone looked at the girl X was kissing, so that is who she is? So I guess she was the third fastest? I can probably beat her.
I think I will also have fun at this school…