Almost Shattered Chapter 7: Growing Feelings, a speed racer fanfic

Chapter 7: Growing Feelings

After showering at home, Trixie was now almost back to the hospital with something very important on her mind. This something important was her relationship with Speed. Pulling into the hospital parking lot, she whispered to herself, "I love little Spritle but I can really strangle him for popping up and announcing what good friends Speed and I are." After parking her car, she turned the motor off but remained sitting in it. With her hands still on the steering wheel, she wondered if Speed even remembered asking her out on a date. She then thought, A date is what he meant. Isn't it? Now not so sure, she pushed back into her seat feeling so frustrated.

A few minutes later she opened her car door and then made herself get out. Being brave she thought, I'm going into that hospital right now and I'm going to ask Speed what the heck is going on between us.

However, just after closing and locking her car, her tune had already changed as she thought, How can I ask him how he feels about me when I'm sure he's more concerned about his life being in danger? Shame on you, Trixie. Realizing that she was aggravating herself even more than Sparky did questioning her about Speed, she told herself to shut-up.

Ten minutes later when she was in front of Speed's room door, she smiled at the guard and then pushed it open so that she could go in.

Though Speed wasn't with his parents, Sparky or Rex, Trixie found that he was anything but alone because there were four girls in the room with him. Two of them were on each side of his bed and they were gorgeous.

Sadly Trixie thought, Why would he want me when he can have anyone he wants? What was worse was that she hated seeing the four pretty girls throwing themselves at him.

When Speed noticed the sweet girl in his life, he said, "Trixie. Come over here."

"Uh…I'll be back later," she said feeling embarrassed since she had been caught watching them. "You should continue with...whatever you're doing." She then left before he had a chance to say something to stop her.

"I'm so stupid," she mumbled as she walked down the hall staring at the floor. "I'm still just Speed's good buddy and nothing more."

"Trixie," Racer X said trying to get her attention before she walked right into him.

Stopping, she looked up and said sadly, "Oh…sorry, Racer X."

Glad that she remembered to keep his identity a secret, he then noticed the sour expression on her face so he asked, "Are you alright? Is Speed alright?"

"Oh, Speed's fine alright," she said now sounding aggravated as she glanced down.

"Is something else wrong?" Rex asked wondering why she seemed so down in the dumps.

"No," Trixie said forcing a smile. "Can you just tell Speed that I'll be back later?"

Nodding his head that he would, Rex asked, "Are you sure that you're alright?"

"Yes. Thank you," she said as she began to walk away.

As he began to head to his brother's room, Rex found himself wondering if Trixie and Speed had gotten into an argument. Once to the room, he was about to open the door but then it was pushed open by a pretty girl with long, straight, dark hair. Next, three other girls, just as pretty, left the room; each sure to bat their pretty eyes at the Masked Racer. With a smile Rex then walked into the room to see Speed lying in bed with his face turned towards the window. "Speed. It looks like you had quite a bit of company today."

Speed lost his sad face and then smiled as he looked at his brother. "Rex," he said still in awe that he had his brother back.

"Feeling any better today?"

"Let's just say that the ribs have a long way to go," Speed said with a weary smile. "I'm so sick of lying down but it feels much better than when I sit up."

"It's only going to get better so try not to worry too much," Rex said remembering when he himself had broken some ribs due to some undercover work he had done. However, his injury hadn't been nearly as bad as Speed's.

"It does hurt the slightest bit less," Speed admitted, knowing in time the pain would indeed pass.

"Well…I spoke to Pops about you going home. We're going to make sure that the house is guarded at all times."

"Thanks," Speed said glad that he'd have some protection there. "I just wish that I didn't have to worry about the look alike at all."

"Then don't. Let me worry. I'm not going to give up until I find him."

"Thank you," Speed said sincerely meaning it.

Remembering a certain female's message, Rex said, "Trixie told me to tell you she'd be back later."

"You saw her?" Speed asked as his blue eyes widened.

"Yes, I did," Rex said seeing that Speed was very interested in his answer.

"I don't know why she left," Speed said sounding somewhat upset.

"Tell me exactly what happened," Rex said glad that he could act like a big brother.

"I don't know. She just did."

Suddenly smiling, Rex realized why Trixie looked so upset when she was leaving. "Speed. I'm willing to bet that Trixie saw those four pretty girls here."

"Yeah. They were here when she came."

Pulling up a chair and sitting, Rex asked very seriously, "Speed. What's going on between you and Trixie?"

Speed thought about it for a few seconds and then said, "You know she's my best friend."

Wanting to feel Speed out, Rex asked, "Do you find her attractive?"

After running his hand through his dark hair as he let out a deep breath, he admitted, "Very."

A sudden image of Trixie in her Tom Boy stage ran through Rex's head, and then he said, "So now you think of her as much more than one of the guys?"

Speed knew where his brother was going with his questions. "Look. The whole thing is, is that I don't want to screw up what we already have."

"What you two have could become even better than your friendship," Rex said imagining the two dating. He knew after all that sometimes friends turned into the best lovers.

Frustrated, Speed said, "I'm just not sure how she feels about me."

"You know, I've caught you two holding hands a lot since you've been in here."

Defending why he was confused, Speed said," She only held my hand because she thought I was dying."

Rex folded his arms as he said, "It seems to me that she was pretty jealous after she saw those girls in here. That has to mean she's growing different feelings for you."

"Do you really think that is why she ran out?" Speed asked now hoping she was jealous.

"What do you think?" Rex asked wanting Speed to figure it out.

Suddenly Pops and Mom walked in looking very happy. "We have some good news!" Mom Racer exclaimed with a radiant smile on her face.

"They caught the guy!" Speed asked with excitement.

"Uh...no," Pops said sadly. He then smiled and said, "You're going to be released today. You can go home."

"Today?" Speed asked not knowing if he was ready as he wondered how safe it would be.

"Yes! Today you're coming home," Mom Racer said thrilled.

Pops and Racer X were now on the side discussing how the police would watch the Racer's house.

"I brought you some clean clothes to change into," Mom said lifting up the bag they were in.

Speed was unsure how to feel but smiled for his mother.

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That afternoon before Speed was released, Trixie showed back up at the hospital. After opening the door to his room, she saw him sitting on the bed with his feet on the floor.

At hearing the door open, he turned his face to her and their eyes met.

She didn't move while thinking it had been awhile since she had seen that blue shirt and the white pants he was now wearing. Continuing to stare at him, she wondered why he had to have such stunning, blue eyes as she forced her eyes from his and walked over to the nightstand. Starting to clean up a bit, she picked up some dead leaves from a plant someone sent to him, and said, "I heard that you're going home today."

Not taking his eyes off of her, he said softly, "You left so fast earlier."

"I just figured that...you needed a break from me," she answered; still not looking at him as she fooled with this and that.

"Those girls you saw were some of the hospital staff's daughters. They didn't and don't mean a thing to me," he said wishing Trixie would just look at him.

"You don't have to explain anything to me," she said going about her business.

"Then why do I feel like I do?" he asked while watching her closely.

"You don't," she assured him.

"That's not what the look on your face said before you had left so abruptly."

She wondered what he wanted her to say. Finally, she stopped moving around and stood a couple of feet in front of him. Her eyes were fixed on the floor and her arms were folded over her chest. "I guess I've just been a little spoiled the past few weeks having you all to myself, and I...liked that. The only thing I didn't like..."

Because she stopped speaking in the middle of her sentence, Speed stood up from the bed very slowly and carefully.

Upon hearing him let out a small breath of pain from getting up, Trixie moved her eyes to his.

Daring her eyes to stay on his, he asked, "What didn't you like?"

Being brave and knowing it was now or never, she said, "I didn't like how everyone kept bringing up what good friends we are." With her voice a little unsteady, she added, "I don't want to be just your friend but I'm afraid you might not feel the same way and then I could lose you forever."

Speed felt relief as he stepped very close directly in front of her. "Well," he said making her heart flutter. "I don't want to lose you. I just can't."

Surprised, Trixie remembered telling him those exact words when she had feared for his life after he had seen his beating on TV. Now she was ever so touched that he had obviously taken her words in.

Lifting her chin with his right hand, Speed looked even deeper into her eyes. It felt like forever till he finally brought his face very close to hers and kissed her softly. He became very satisfied when he felt her kiss him back.

Trixie let a small sigh escape her mouth when she felt his left hand move around her waist. Slowly her hands lifted, careful not to touch him around his ribs and she began to wrap her arms around his neck as he very gently pulled her closer against him.

He inched his face away from hers after this, their first, sweet kiss. He then glanced at her pretty, flushed face, seeing that her eyes were still closed. Closing his own eyes once again their lips met for a much stronger kiss like the ones in her dream.

Speed knew he should take it easy because of his ribs but he didn't want to and found that he couldn't stop. Never could he remember a time when kissing a girl felt this good and right.

A slight part of Trixie felt badly for being pressed up against where he hurt while most of her really wanted to get even closer as she drifted off into another world while thinking how wonderful his kiss was.

Suddenly Rex opened the door but quietly backed out with a smile on his face when he saw them in anything but a small kiss. How glad Rex was that his brother was still around to experience being in love - real love.

After the kiss and still in each other's arms, Speed and Trixie smiled at each other.

"Wow," Speed finally whispered. "You can't imagine how long I have wanted to do that."

"Trust me. I can." Trixie said still flushed.

"Oh, really," he said with a devious smile.

"I just feel badly that you were hurting through it."

"What's the name of that song?" Speed asked with a smile. Remembering, he said, "Hurts So Good."

After laughing lightly, Trixie asked, "So we're moving past just being friends?"

Flirting with her, he asked, "Do you really have to ask after that kiss?"

"I'm just so used to seeing you with other girls," she said wondering if he ever knew how much that had started to bother her.

"Um..." Speed let out as he released her. He then took both of her hands in his and backed up to the hospital bed so that he could sit down since it was getting much harder to ignore his ribs. He sat down slowly then looked back at Trixie, who was still standing. Their hands were still linked together when he started to speak. "Do you know why I never got serious with anyone?"

With a smirk on her face, Trixie said, "I figured you were just playing the field."

With a grin himself, he said, "Maybe a little. But really...none of them were ever good enough because I kept comparing them to you."

"You...you did?" she asked totally surprised.

"Yes," he said wishing she hadn't found that so hard to believe.

"So," she said becoming more confident, "I wasn't imagining you staring at me sometimes?"

"No," he admitted. "Was I only imagining you staring at me at times?"

Embarrassed, she said with a smile, "No."

"Well now that we're switching our relationship into another gear," he said knowing that was the only way it could go, he added, "I hope you don't start getting sick of me since I'll be around you even more than before."

"How could I? Don't I already know almost everything about you?"

"You didn't know I was crazy about you," he said softly.

With that and from excitement, Trixie bent down and gave him another sweet kiss.

"Is it just me or do you feel it too?" he asked looking adoringly into her eyes after the kiss.

"If you mean do I feel something I've never felt before...yes," she said loving the feeling.

Not meaning to disturb them, Dr. Larsen walked in and said, "Are you ready to go home, Speed?"

Turning his face to the doctor's, Speed only said, "I guess so."

"Good" Dr. Larsen said. "I was just checking." He was about to leave but he turned around and said, "I think you should know that when you first came in here, I didn't think you would make it. I said this before and I'll say it again. You are a fighter." The doctor then smiled at the new couple and left.

However, Speed didn't feel like a fighter as he stared at the closed door, but when he turned back to Trixie, she was enough to wash that out of his mind for now.

How will everyone handle Speed and Trixie's new relationship? Will Speed freak out when he gets home?