Disclaimer: I do NOT own Hot Wheels

A/N: Wow…I honestly owe you guys like 10 chapters don't I, by now? I've been lazy. No real excuse other than that. It's hard to create custom stories like this. I'm not quitting though. I will see this thing done because this is my most popular fanfiction.

To "Annie": Oh gosh, you have been one of my readers since the beginning and I remember when you leave reviews. I'm so sorry I haven't updated. This story isn't going to die. I just need to work on it. Hopefully you see this and keep reading.

To "TekuWolf": It means a lot to read you calling my story one of the best. I shall not fail. Updates are on the way!

SOS Chapter 10

The sun was blazing as she emerged onto the wide plateau top. The wind was hot against her face and she just sat down at the heart of it. She stared at the stark sky stretching over her like an ocean. It glimmered in the desert heat and she reveled in it. Larissa slipped vest off and rolled up the long sleeves to her shirt. She basked in the light, soaking in every bit she could. To say she felt cold was understatement, her body shivering from the dregs of adrenaline. The ball of light warmed her, calming her thoughts for just a second. A finger found its way to her busted lip, the tender skin bleeding at the slightest touch. She hissed as she licked the blood away, her hand drifting to her eyes. In many ways, she felt like she had deserved it. All the pain she had put herself through just because she jumped the gun. Larissa let out a heavy breath, feeling tired and light at the same time. She'd finally apologized, admitted the truth she had longed to voice. She knew Wylde would have never taken it well. It made her sick just trying to word it right.

It was done though, the brunette mused as she let her eyes shut and fingers trace through the dirt and dust of the hot plateau. She vaguely recalled footsteps behind her, stumbling up the stairs to the top of the Acceledrome. The sounds belonged to an individual breathing hard; she guessed that they had run up the flight of stairs like she had. She was assaulted with questions, concern so evident one could drown in it. Larissa kept her eyes closed and silenced the voice with a shake of her head. She refused to look at the boy in the white jacket behind her. He had to understand she needed to absorb what had happened. When his shadow loomed at her fingertips, she grew more tired and let him have one look at her eyes. The crease in her brow was enough and he left, taking the hot wind with him.

Larissa continued to sit in the hot sun, her skin bristling under its glare when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She barely flinched, eyes still closed because she knew it wasn't Vert or Wylde. It was Kurt. He had his glasses pushed up in his bushy, black hair and his jacket was undone at the collar. He sat next to her, pressing a bottle of water into her open hand. She unscrewed the cap gratefully, nearly chugging half the bottle. The cool water splashed past her lips, droplets stinging the tear. She ignored the pain, not realizing how thirsty the dry heat had made her. She wiped at her face with the back of her hand, lazily settling the bottle in her lap. Kurt barely moved next to her, but she could tell he was uncomfortable in the sunlight.

"Are you punishing yourself?" he asked calmly, staring into the horizon.

"What?" Larissa responded, her voice rough.

"You've been up here all afternoon. Vert seemed really freaked out when you wouldn't come down."

"I…didn't mean to make him worry. I needed space and this place reminds me so much of the bluffs I used to hang at in Amber Ridge."

"Larissa, it's nearly 90 degrees. You're gonna give yourself a heatstroke. Plus, you're really gonna regret being out here later when you turn into a tomato."

"I don't care. It feels good, Kurt. It's so warm and I feel so…"

"Feel so…what?"

"Free? I don't know. That fight…that fight was the worst yet, but I feel like it finally made sense. I apologized, even if we had to do it kicking and screaming. He knows I'm sorry, so why do I feel like I've got a giant hole in my heart?"

"Because that's all you're gonna get from your end," Kurt sighed, dragging both of them to their feet.

"My end?" she croaked, rubbing her throat and watching the water swish in the bottle.

"Yes. If everything you're saying to me is true, then there's nothing else you can do. Markie heard you loud and clear, so it's up to him now to meet you both ways. You can't do this Larissa. You can't keep going back to the same place when he's clearly not ready to get over this; not if you want closure."

"And he wants to sweep it under the rug," Larissa frowned, pursing her cracked lips. "What's there for me to do now? I came because of my problems and now…"

"Join us then. Pick a team and help. I certainly don't give a shit about who's Teku or Metal Maniac, but it'd be nice to have a friend on the team."

"Is that what you said to Vert?" Larissa quipped, squinted in the bright light as she took a step towards the stairwell.

"Huh?"

"Nevermind. Let's go inside now. I'm feeling a little dizzy."

Kurt took her as far as the mess hall, making sure the brunette had something to eat as Karma joined them at a table. Larissa found the other female driver easy to talk to, carrying a relaxed note to her words as they talked. Kurt left, touching Karma's arm for a small second to let her know. Larissa didn't miss the way their eyes locked, his hazel lost in the blues of hers. Larissa turned her attention back to the ice pack in her hands. She gingerly pressed it to her lower lip, content to nurse the split and let them have their private moment. Kurt was gone in the next moment, the hall doors swinging noiselessly on their hinges. Karma returned to the task at hand, taking the ice pack from Larissa's hands and offering her a wet rag instead. She told the other to dab at the cut and get it cleaned and then keep the ice on it. Larissa smiled, despite the stinging pain her lip created as her mouth curled upwards. She thanked Karma, focusing on the throb in her lip. Things got quiet and they talked more; Larissa trying to casually find out more about the background to Karma Eiss. She was reluctant to answer the more personal stuff, but they made headway as Karma revealed she was a test driver for many renowned automotives developers.

She recounted the many cars she had tested around the world and Larissa listened, trying to hide the jealousy she felt towards the other brunette. A small grin had weaved onto Karma's face, a genuine one that was so different from the cool, indifferent smirk she bore all the time. She finished one last story when two people walked into the mess hall. It was Taro, a scowl growing on his rough features as Tork walked a pace behind. They were about the same height, Larissa watched as they talked and sat at one of the other tables. She definitely didn't miss the look him and Karma shared as the most reserved of the Maniacs listened to Tork. She looked back to Karma who had an amused expression, although that dried up at Larissa's prying look. The younger brunette mouthed 'What about Kurt?' and Karma only shrugged, waving off the idea that there was something between the two. 'Purely business' Karma answered, with a smirk before rising from her seat.

The seasoned Teku member took her leave, reminding Larissa not to mess with the cut as it healed. Larissa nodded mostly to herself, eyeing her now browning apple. She turned it around and nibbled at its shiny red skin. The conversation behind her sounded heavy, Tork using a very clipped tone as he spoke to Taro. The latter didn't respond, just sat listening as was pretty much expected of the Tork's second-in-command. She grit her teeth, catching Markie's name being thrown around and she focused on the words for only a second. Apparently he had caused quite a storm after the fight and Tork had revoked his racing privileges for the next realm. Markie reacted worse to that, threatening Tork with a wrench. The Maniac leader dismissed it with a shake of his head, knowing full well that the kid just needed to let off steam. He told Wylde to take a lap around the track and get his head on straight. The young racer had disappeared after that and no one had talked to him since. Larissa felt guilt jump up into her chest, but she breathed it away. No more getting involved, she leaned into her hand and wiped at her clammy brow. Time was all that was left now, so she had to make use of it wisely.