This is the official sequel to My Best Friend, Italian Love. Those who have read MBF knows that Marlene wishes to have a love life for herself. Will she be given a chance, or will she be shot down like last year?


Chapter One

Under the glowing neon lights, her glossy new paint job reflected the colors above. Her green eyes shone in admiration as she drove down the white-lined black streets. Heads turned and slight wolf whistles were deirected her way as she passed by.

"Japan's amazing, huh?" a male voice said, and she nodded.

"Thanks for letting me come along," she replied, mouth still open as she finished in awe.

"You had to; Mr. Earlwood told you to."

She smiled at him gratefully, and he returned it with one of his own.

Marlene J. Stevenson, a 26-year-ld dark silver Audi R8 GT, has always wanted to tour the world. Tonight, she and twins Mia an Tia, both youngsters fans of the all-famous Lightning McQueen, along with the original Team McQueen, composed of Mater, Luigi, Guido, Filmore, and Sarge, have once again set off to Tokyo for another run of the famous World Grand Prix, just as it was announced last year. Its first run left the crowd wondering who the fastest car was in the world.

Marlene, what with being a friend of Lightning and a well-known feature writer, having written her Golden Rim Award Winning articles, "Lightning McQueen: Up Close and Personal' and 'JJeff Gorvette: under the Hood', both voted earlier this year for Best Articles 2010(in which Lightning was unable to watch but heard of the Award itself) was chosen by multi-award winning magazine editor-in-chief, Gavin Earlwoodof cars Today, USA branch, to write an article on the WGP from her firsthand experience.

This year's WGP hasn't changed, except for the sponsor and the reason for the race. The racers, locations and announcers are still the same. Although secret agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell have attended and agreed to keep watch over the racers(to prevent last year's sabotaging), the running is still the same.

Tonight, Team McQueen are driving from the hotel to the party that occurred the same way as last year: on the night before the race. And as they arrived on the venue, lights flashed as the paparazzi tried to get a picture of the team. As they crossed the threshold, Marlene couldn't help but say 'wow'.

The venue was of a cool blue and green theme, just as the logo of the WGP is, and many cars of many different colors, makes and models were scattered in the room. Celebrities, reporters, and invited close friends were some of the guests there, along with the teams and their racers. The elevators were custom-made to look like rising and falling pistons. The abstract-like screen in the far end of the room reflected the unusual image of the Italian flag on...a car? No matter, she was too distracted by the other sights. On the second floor was the food and drink, with an elaborate sushi bar. Enlarged tools of the trade of racing were enlarged for display and scattered in different parts of the place. And in the near center was a nice zen garden, with a zen master manning the 'rake'. Inside the steel-lined glass walls of the garden were small temples with little bonsai trees planted upon some of them.

Just as the rest of the team scattered to greet old friends they met last year, Lightning beckoned the three newcomers to follow him. He approached a yellow Corvette C6.R with the American flag painted along his sides and a black McLaren MP4-12C GT3 with yellow highlights along the tops of his fenders down to his rear and on his spoiler. Marlene grinned in recognition.

"Marlene, this is—"Lightning started but as the handsome Corvette caught sight of the sexy R8, a wide smile broke his cool façade.

"Marlene!" he exclaimed. "How long has it been?"

"Hiya, Jeff," she said casually. "Too long, I suppose, but maybe it's because of work and season." She shrugged.

Lightning's mouth gaped. "You know Jeff Gorvette?"

She looked at him incredulously. "Haven't you read the feature section of January 2010 or watched the Golden Rim Awards Ceremony?" She suppressed a sigh. "Sir Earlwood requested I do the interview with Jeff," she informed her friend, who 'ohh-ed', understanding. When that was over with, she turned to the black car beside Jeff Gorvette. "And this must be the renowned Lewis Hamilton."

"Finally," Lightning said with mock exasperation, making the two racers laugh and causing Marlene to roll her eyes. "Lewis, this is Marlene J. Stevenson, feature editor-slash- feature writer-slash-Golden Rim Award-winning writer-slash-…what else is there?" he mused thoughtfully, and Marlene nudged him good-naturedly as the cars laughed. "Anyhow, she's the renowned feature editor of Cars Today."

"Actually, Cars Today of the US branch," she corrected him. "There are other branches out there around the world."

"Pleased to meet you," the black car said, smiling. "Oh, I almost forgot, since you're from Cars Today, USA, I'd like to know how Cosette is holding up."

"Oh, didn't you know? She left."

"For what reason?"

"She had to leave for a tropical country because of her sickness." Cosette Amadine Fischer, Marlene's old friend and coworker, had moved to the tropics due to an unknown, genetic, rare disease. She had refused to share it with Marlene or any other, though Marlene was her best friend.

Lewis raised his front end upwards. "God bless her soul," he murmured, eyes fervent.

When she met the questioning stares of Jeff and the twins, she murmured, "Cosette was my former co-journalist, as you might say. She interviewed Lewis once. He was in town, and Mr. Earlwood took advantage of it. Unfortunately, I was on a heavy deadline then, and so, our next-best writer was sent. When I went to meet her, she was ecstatic and moony, and told me it was love.

"It didn't last though. Roughly two weeks after the interview, she came back to me, sobbing." She looked at Lewis. "You don't mind?" When he shook his head, closing his eyes, she continued. "She told me that Lewis called it quits because of the season and her work. I never saw her as happy as she was two weeks before again, and shortly after that, she left."

In spite of the moment of grieving, Lewis suggested Marlene go and meet the other racers. Marlene agreed, and sent off the twins to hang with Filmore before going off to meet all the racers with Lightning—all except one. As they crossed the room—after meeting the representatives of the 9 requested countries—Marlene's gaze flickered to the side, and two small, familiar red cars with black tops caught her attention.

I thought I told them to stay with Filmore? She muttered inaudibly, driving towards the twins who squeaked assent and squealed as the car in front of them did something she couldn't see or hear in their cries. As she came up behind them, in a loud voice she said, "I thought I told you to stay with Filmore?"

The twins jumped at her voice, turning to face the Audi, each one excitedly calling for Marlene's attention. She shushed them and asked again why they weren't with Filmore and why she shouldn't blame him.

"But-but it's Francesco Bernoulli!" Tia exclaimed and Mia nodded assent. "It's not everyday we have this chance—"

"—but Sarge won't let us!" Mia continued for her sister, who also nodded assent.

Marlene raised a 'brow'. "Now, how did Sarge get into the conversation?"

"Filmore told us we could but Sarge said no, so we made up an excuse to get something to eat or drink." Tia seemed smug about their neat escape, but Marlene was irritated.

"What if something happened to you both and none of us were there?" she scolded them. "What if you get drunk and are carried away? What would Flo say to me?"

They bowed their heads. "Now, what's so special about this one racer?" she asked, eyeing the irritated racer behind them.

She had to ask. The two started squabbling over which fact was right that Marlene seriously couldn't understand a word they're saying. Inwardly rolling her eyes, she shushed them one more, saying, "Girls, I just want what I need to know!"

"His name is Francesco Bernoulli."

"He's Italian." I can see that, she thought, irritated.

"He's the best Formula car in many ways." Mia looked like she was blushing.

"He's only in his late twenties!"

After a pause, Marlene thought one of her ears would twitch in dismissal. "No, I don't know him."

"I thought you knew because you handled interviews of different racers!" Mia screeched.

"I don't handle every racer," she growled.

Finally fed up with just watching, the racer's voice sounded behind the twins, resonating in Marlene's ears, unlike any sort of music she ever heard. "Mi scusi, signorinas," he said, and the twins backed away, suppressing squeaks. "Exactly who are you?"

"I'm Marlene. Marlene J. Stevenson of Cars Today, USA. I don't think you know me," she replied coolly.

"I most certainly don't," he retorted. "And why have you come here?"

"My editor-in-chief requested I write about the World Grand Prix from my personal experience," she replied.

After a small, thoughtful pause, he said, "You know, for a very beautiful car like you, that line of work you have chosen is very boring."

The twins squealed happily for their friend. But fury blinded Marlene, and she barely managed to keep her cool long enough to make a scathing reply. "At lease I respect other people, whatever or whoever they may be." At that, she turned pointedly to drive away.

Cheeky car, she grumbled to herself as she drove towards Team McQueen. Who does he think he is, criticizing my work like that? Anybody'd be a fool to like him—much less love him—if you ask me.


At least I found my copy of this thing, else I wouldn't be able to have released it today. xD Anyhow, please read and review