A.N So this is just a random story that came to mind. It involves a bunch of random goofiness and some friendly rivalry. Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Early Days

"Jess! You awake yet?" came a voice from the other side of my door. Who would be crazy enough to be up this early on a break day? I wondered. Sleepily I rolled over and peered at my clock. 6:23 peered back at me in little red numbers. I groaned a reply along the lines of, "Yes, go away, it's a break day."

"You do know we've got a rally this afternoon right?"

That woke me up, oops.. how could I have forgotten! We had a qualifying rally for the annual Golden Tournament. It was every drivers dream to get into the Tournament, and this year was the first year me and my buds could race for it. So Awesome! My startled noise was cut off abruptly when I fell from the comfortably warm side of my bed onto the cold carpet below. Outside the door I could hear muffled laughter and my tired brain caught on that it was just Cam having a bit of fun.

"Cameron! You better hope your legs are as fast as your wheels because in a minute you're gonna be dead." I growled playfully.

I was pleased by the sound of retreating footsteps and disentangled myself from the sheet wrapped around my leg. Finally reaching my feet, and concealing the most obvious signs of my gender, I then grabbed a shirt from the dresser, pulling on a pair of jeans draped over the end of my bed a moment later. I walked out of my room and headed for the elevator. The hotel we were staying in was absolutely gorgeous and I loved looking at the different paintings hung up in the hall. A luxury I had little time for. I found Cam waiting for me by the elevator with our good friend Ryan.

"Look who finally decided to join the realm of the living Ryan!" Cameron exclaimed cheerily.

I swiped at him and he dodged behind our taller friend who merely grinned. The elevator dinged and the doors opened, we stepped in and I pushed the button for the ground floor.

"So today's the big day." Ryan said thoughtfully.

"Yup, today's our one chance at making it to the big time. I'm just glad we're not in the same stages. Otherwise it'd just be weird." Cam chipped in.

"The only thing weird about it would be you Cam." was Ryan's amused comeback.

I stood in silence, staring at a spot on the floor. My entire racing career swirled before my eyes. My first car, first race I lost, Meeting Cam and Ryan, everything that had led up to this point.

"...Jess? Jesse? Earth to JJ…" I heard Cameron's distant voice call me from my reverie.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking." I replied hastily.

Cam chuckled, "What else is new?" he asked, elbowing me in the ribs.

I scowled and soon joined in his amusement. Ryan and Cameron had been in the circuit longer than me by about two years. Of the three of us, Ryan was the most senior. Cameron had joined six months later. The elevator dinged again and we found ourselves on the ground floor headed to the big glass doors. The morning was slightly damp but clear. A noise to my right made me raise an eyebrow at Cam.

"Hey! Not my fault. Say, who's hungry?" He said brightly.

"I could eat." Ryan mused.

I was torn between going to the garage or going to get food. My stomach decided for my by voicing its agreement with my two friends.

"Traitor," I whispered to it, then to my friends I said, "seems I'm outnumbered, let's go!"

We made our way to the local Cracker Barrel which was a block away from the hotel. After a slightly hurried breakfast, and a brief escapade to the comic book store from which we had to forcibly extract a very hyper Cam, we walked the short distance to the raceway and the garage. As we headed towards our docks, which happened to be right next to each other, I felt like someone was watching me. When I turned around, I froze. I'd know those colors anywhere...

"Hey Speedster."