Speed set Racer X's drink in front of him, trying to control the shaking of his hand as he did. Having the masked racer appear sporadically throughout his career was something Speed had accepted a while ago. It was just how Racer X operated, and there were times when Speed pretended Racer X was his older brother, Rex. Pretending had come easy for him as the masked racer often behaved the same way Speed believed Rex would.

Tonight, though, was just too much for Speed. He felt as if Racer X pitied him for his current situation, despite the fact he had made new friends and was learning a new skill. Matters were not helped by Trixie's and Sparky's shocked stares at seeing him working as a waiter. He had not told them how he was keeping himself busy.

'Stop it!' he scolded himself. 'Just stop. They're just here for a surprise visit. It changes nothing. That's all. Now focus. You're here to do a job.'

"Is there anything else I can get for you?" he asked. As he did, Speed pulled out his order tablet and pen, ready to write down what they wanted.

"Speed, what are you doing here?!" The words sounded like a hiss coming from Trixie, and he lowered his pen.

"Working," he replied. At their inquisitive and incredulous stares, Speed shrugged. "I needed something to keep me busy, and this was the one place that didn't require experience."

"So you're a waiter in a bar?"

"Actually," a feminine voice interjected, "it's a sports bar and grill. We open around eleven to serve lunch."

Torie had walked over in that moment, smiling in a most devious fashion. She slung an arm over Speed's shoulders and leaned against him.

Her sudden appearance at the table had the reaction Speed pretty much expected. Racer X shook his head, Sparky's jaw dropped as Torie was one hell of a good-looking woman, and Trixie's expression turned livid.

"Oh, and I guess there's a difference then?" Trixie said with some heat in her voice.

"Yeah." Torie nodded. She stood straight and withdrew her arm, unimpressed and not the least bit intimidated by Trixie's display of anger. "There is. Everyone is here for games and races, not the beer. That's just a bonus. Oh, and I can't forget that we have the best steak and cheese sandwiches in all of Philadelphia."

"You're biased," Speed murmured.

"That I am," Torie agreed. She winked at him, which caused Speed to shake his head. He smiled, too. "Anyway, I just came over to see if things were all right."

"They are, Vickie," Racer X said. "No one's here to cause any trouble. No worries."

"Good. I'd hate to throw out paying customers," Torie said. She winked at Speed again then turned towards the impromptu dancing platform. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get the, uh, girls off the stage and hydrated. They get cranky when they haven't been fed their beers."

Speed fought back a laugh as Torie hurried away, shaking his head. He knew he would have to soothe Trixie's ruffled feathers later but, for now, he had a job to do.

"So, what can I get you?"

Trixie could not refrain from seething at seeing how chummy that blond-haired floozy had been with Speed, and Speed had let her! It had taken all of her willpower not to snap at her beau as she placed her order for some fries and a Coke.

Once Speed left their table, Trixie let out a frustrated growl. She hated it when she had to compete for Speed's attention when it came to other girls, and the night was not turning out like she had wanted. Speed still had not even heard their good news!

"Don't worry about Vickie, Trixie. She's not interested in Speed."

Trixie glanced at Racer X, startled. How had he known it was that Vickie woman who bothered her so? It was eerie to say the least!

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to feign innocence.

"I think you do, and I'm saying you really have nothing to worry about when it comes to her. Do you see that man behind the bar?"

Both she and Sparky turned around to see the one Racer X was talking about. A man with medium-length dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt stood behind the actual bar, talking with the lady serving the drinks there. Speed approached them and handed over some order tickets before he picked up some more drinks. They then slid back into their original positions of facing Racer X.

"Yeah? What about him?" Trixie asked.

"Well, for one, he's Vickie's business partner. His name is Ryan."

"And that relates to Speed how?"

"He's also Vickie's boyfriend."

Kim had been expecting a dimly lit, sawdust covered, seedy establishment when he walked through the door of Ruby's. After all, if his rival worked in such a dump of a dive, Kim knew he would receive immense satisfaction of seeing Speed reduced to the low status of a waiter, serving people he disliked as well as the ones he liked. It would also give the daredevil driver the pleasure of gloating. Kim was still racing while Speed was not. It was a victory Kim never thought he would have over his rival.

However, clean floors greeted him as he entered the restaurant. There were dim lights, but it created a certain kind of atmosphere to the place. It was kind of like stepping into Cheers, a show Kim really liked. Sports memorabilia of all kinds decorated the walls and there were a few pool tables towards the back. The one bouncer and a few of the waitresses were rather easy on the eyes also. All in all, it was not a bad establishment for drinking, one the racer knew he could frequent often. The owners had standards, a zeal for what the sports fan liked, and Kim respected that. The fact his rival now worked in this wonderful place caused Kim to feel green with envy.

'He always lands on his feet, doesn't he? Damn it, how does he do it?'

"You ready for this, Kim?" Snake Oiler asked with a snicker. "Because I guarantee this is going to be a blast! The humiliation of the great Speed Racer! I can't wait!"