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Chapter 2: Tormenting Trixie

After just asking Trixie out on an actual date, Speed smiled as she told him she'd be watching him in the race that no navigator was needed. The crowd was getting louder and louder with cheers but the two young people were oblivious to it. Instead they were locked in each other's gazes, both thrilled to know that they might very well be moving beyond just being friends. Chills ran up and down their spines as they dreamt of what was going to happen between them later that night.

Suddenly it was announced that the race was about to start.

Sparky was smiling at the two wondering if they had even heard the announcement. As he continued to watch them, he admitted to himself that the thought of Trixie and Speed dating did seem pretty neat. Though sometimes Trixie drove Sparky crazy, over all she was a good friend of his and she seemed to have a good affect on Speed. Something Speed and Trixie had in common was their strong energy and at times it seemed to be almost unreal. They never stopped between being in races together, to both helping Inspector Detector.

Sparky knew it was time to break their stare. "Hey you guys," Sparky said wishing he had a bucket of water to pour over their heads. "Say your good-byes because it's time to win this race."

Both somewhat embarrassed, Speed and Trixie forced their eyes from each other.

Running his hand through his jet black hair, Speed glanced back at Trixie to give her one last smile.

She smiled back wishing she had enough nerve to give him a good luck kiss.

"I'll see you later," he said softly just before dashing in front of the crowd. The crowd became even more outrageously loud when they saw him - one of the best racers. It seemed that everyone in his hometown wanted him to win. Speed leaped into the Mach 5 truly loving his chosen career. It was so totally addicting.

Trixie smiled as she watched Speed ready the Mach 5 to practically blast off. However, she really couldn't wait till after the race. "He wants to be alone with me tonight," she whispered clearly thrilled.

Sparky had known from Speed's very own mouth that he was going to ask Trixie out for that night. Upon hearing her whisper, the mechanic said with a smile, "What was that you whispered, Trixie?"

"Oh, nothing," she said as if being alone with Speed that night was a secret.

"Right...nothing," Sparky said shaking his head with a bigger smile as he looked back to the race cars, which were ready to go. Changing the subject and looking a bit confused, he said, "Where's the Shooting Star?"

"It should be out there somewhere," Trixie said remembering Racer X telling Speed and she that he was definitely going to be in the race.

"Maybe he dropped out," Sparky said happily. "Less competition to worry about."

"Come on, Sparky," Trixie said standing next to him as they waited for the cars to take off. "You know Speed loves racing against Racer X."

"Yeah," Sparky had to agree. "If Speed wins today, he'll feel like he really didn't if Racer X isn't in the race."

"Right. Ooh, the race is about to start!" Trixie said excitedly.

The crowd roared as the cars took off around the track. As usual, Speed played it cool letting some others take the lead for now.

"Go, Speed! Go!" Trixie yelled jumping up and down.

Sparky just looked at her and smiled.

Turning to him after a few seconds since he wasn't yelling with her like he normally did, Trixie looked at him strangely. Sparky just had a huge grin on his face instead. "Sparky. Why are you grinning like that?" Trixie asked unknowingly.

"You've got the hots for Speed. Don't you?" he screamed over the loud cars.

Before Trixie could deny it, Spritle and Chim Chim both walked up. "You got the hots for my brother?" Spritle asked tugging on her shirt.

"No," Trixie lied feeling very embarrassed. She had managed to keep her feelings of how she really felt about Speed hidden and now Sparky was obviously ready to tease her. She began to wonder who else could tell how crazy she was about Speed.

Wanting Trixie to admit how she really felt about the racer, Sparky said, "Yes, Spritle. Trixie does have the hots for your brother."

"I'm going to tell Speed," Spritle said as Chim Chim started to jump up and down as if he liked what Spritle had said.

"If I give you some candy will you please not repeat what Sparky said?" Trixie asked while digging into her pocket for some. She always kept plenty handy for times like this, which was quite often with Spritle and Chim Chim.

"I won't tell. Yummy!" Spritle exclaimed, his eyes big as he and Chim Chim grabbed it out of her hands.

When Trixie looked back at Sparky, she folded her arms as she tapped her foot. "Come on, Sparky. Don't start anything."

"Oh, come on, Trixie. You know you'll be trying to start something with Speed tonight." The machanic knew he was going to have so much fun driving Trixie crazy this day. He couldn't help himself because it just added to the thrill of the race.

Looking mad but then laughing, Trixie pleaded to Sparky, "Will you please just…shut up!"

"Trixie," Pops said walking up to her and Sparky. "You two are missing the race. What is wrong with you?"

"We know what's wrong," Spritle said till Trixie quickly grabbed him and covered his mouth.

Pops couldn't help but notice Trixie smiling innocently. Knowing he probably didn't want to hear whatever Spritle was about to say, he didn't push to know.

Sparky laughed as he looked back at the cars in the race.

The noise from the race cars started to lower as the car started to head off of the track. "There goes Speed," Pops said pointing to the Mach 5, which was driving off the track and on to the racing route.

Trixie turned to look and didn't know that she had a dreamy look on her face as she watched Speed zoom away in the Mach 5.

Sparky knew it was time to torment her some more. "The way you're looking at Speed, I'd swear your mind is in the gutter," he said making Trixie want to push him in front of one of the cars still speeding around the track.

"What?" Pops asked really not knowing what Sparky had said.

Spritle decided to help out. "He said that Trixie must have her mind in the gut..."

Trixie quickly shoved a candy bar into Spritle's mouth causing Chim Chim to do a flip because he thought that was very funny. Chim Chim then opened his mouth waiting for Trixie to give him a candy bar as well.

She did and then again she looked at Pops with an innocent smile on her face. "Sparky said that my mind is in...guilt because I couldn't be Speed's navigator today."

"Trixie," Pops said. "You know the rules were no navigators in this race."

"I know, Pops," she said turning back to look at the last cars leaving the track.

As Pops left the pit, Spritle was still trying to figure out why Trixie had shoved a big candy bar into his mouth. "Trixie," he said puzzled after he inhaled it. "How would your mind be in a gutter?"

Trixie looked at Sparky with a mean expression on her face as the mechanic smiled and said, "It means that Trixie is thinking of things she'd like to do to, excuse me, I mean things she'd like to do with Speed."

"What do you want to do to my brother?" Spritle asked protectively; his eyes big as he stared at the girl who had always been nice to everybody, especially Speed.

Sparky folded his arms then lifted one hand to touch his chin as he thought. "Let's see. First she wants to..."

"Sparky, shut up!" Trixie yelled clearly upset and then she shoved the biggest candy bar she had into Sparky's mouth. Thank Goodness she decided to bring extra, extra candy that day.

Suddenly a reporter from a sport's station was walking into the Go Team's Pit. Unfortunately for Sparky, Pops wasn't there to answer any of their questions.

Trixie had seen them coming and wasn't about to warn Sparky.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder taking him by surprise. The cameras were rolling when he turned to face them with the candy bar still hanging out of his mouth.

"Catch backs," Trixie mumbled under her breath just loud enough for Sparky to hear.

In the race Speed was doing just fine while the Mach 5 obeyed everything he wanted it to do. He had to laugh out loud at how easy it was going to be for him to win this race, especially in his familiar territory. He also had to smile about the date he was to have with Trixie that night. With that thought, he pushed down harder on the gas petal. The Mach 5 and he were the perfect combination as it started to pull in front of everyone.

Racer X had just pulled onto the track, making the sport's station people leave the Go Team's Pit. They wanted to film the Masked Racer's late start in the race. His late entrance meant that he would be a good five minutes behind Speed for now.

"Trixie," Sparky said troubled. "I'm going to be all over the TV tonight with a candy bar hanging out of my mouth."

She covered her mouth as she laughed, then said, "You shouldn't have been tormenting me."

"Oh, please," Sparky said looking around to make sure that Spritle and Chim Chim were gone. "You know you're crazy about Speed."

"Sparky," Trixie said becoming serious. "Speed is a...really good friend of mine."

"Yeah, right," Sparky said with a smile as he rolled his eyes.

"What has gotten into you?" she asked now putting her hands on her hips as she looked back at her friend.

"Get off of it, Trixie," Sparky said like he couldn't be tricked. "I've seen the way you look at him lately. It's written all over your face. You've fallen for Speed."

Trixie looked around glad that no one else was in the pit. "Alright, alright. I'm crazy about him," she said giving in because she was so happy that she's be alone with Speed that night. "Just please be quiet about it. Okay?"

"Now I will," Sparky said glad that she admitted it as he left the pit because he had gotten what he wanted.

Trixie was so excited she felt like doing flips through the pit since she had so much energy to unleash. Instead, she started to roll some tires that were on the ground out of the way. Thinking out loud, she said, "I can't believe Sparky was implying what I will do to Speed right in front of little Spritle." She was proud of herself for being a good girl. But suddenly a mischievous smile appeared on her face. Standing up after pushing the last tire into its place, she said, "I have to admit. I would love to grab Speed by the collar of his shirt, throw him across the top of the Mach 5 and then lay a huge kiss on him."

Hearing only the very end of what Trixie had said, someone said, "Trixie. I never heard you speak that way before. You must really like who ever you want to lay a huge kiss on."

Trixie turned to see Mom Racer smiling back at her. Turning red, Trixie thought that Mom Racer would die if she knew that Trixie was talking about her precious son. "I'm sorry," the young girl said feeling so embarrassed. "I don't know what came over me."

"No reason to be sorry. We're all excited about the race," Mom Racer said with a smile. "But maybe one day you can tell me who this guy is," she said already pretty sure she knew who it was. If it were up to her to pick a girl for Speed, Trixie would be her number one pick.

Trixie too had always liked Mom Racer and now hoped that the older woman's image of her didn't change. I hope she really only heard the huge kiss part, Trixie thought to herself.

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There in the woods waiting for Speed was a man in a pick up truck. In this man's hand was a little hand held TV with the race playing on it. The man watched with a smile when the station showed Speed way into the lead. It was just what he had expected.

The helicopters were covering the race pretty well and this man hoped their cameras would cover what he had planned also. The distance between Speed and the other drivers was perfect. If Speed continued to stay far ahead of everyone the man would have plenty of time to do his plan before anyone else could show up. He laughed knowing that no doubt, Speed would stay in the lead. He had seen every race the racer had been in, so he knew how well Speed drove. Who didn't?

Speed was practically flying through the woods on this beautiful day, still positive that he was going to win the race. And even now the thought of that night was lingering in his head. He had already made up his mind that he was going to kiss Trixie even though it was only going to be their first date. It wasn't like they didn't know each other.

Coming up on a sharp turn, he hit his brakes and at the end of the turn laid on the gas making the Mach 5 hug the turn perfectly. A couple of other sharp turns came and Speed took them brilliantly as well.

Suddenly, up ahead in the distance, Speed saw the pick up truck parked on the side of the street.

"What the…" Speed said slowing down. "I wonder if one of the helicopters saw this truck. No one's supposed to be on this route today."

Speed stopped the Mach 5, not worried about the race because he knew his competitors were way behind. He was about to walk over to the truck when someone very familiar to him walked out from behind it.

This someone was familiar because he was dressed exactly like Speed and even looked like him. The only difference was that the man was larger.

After being somewhat shocked, Speed asked, "Is this a joke? Why are you dressed like me? And...look like me?"

The guy didn't answer.

"What's going on?" Speed asked baffled.

"You're going to need help," the man said in a deep voice as he got into his truck.