Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter:
Oriana-That was funny about the name changing thing.
Gold Angel-I'm so glad you like my story but I have to repeat myself and tell you how much I enjoyed your new romantic SR story!
Brenda B.-Hey, a late review is better then never. Thanks for the very nice complement.
Lauren Williams-I couldn't have said it better myself!
Dee-The answers to your questions should be in this chapter.
Stardreamer-There will be more than one finished kiss in this chapter! I liked your review.
Jenny-I'm glad you like what I'm doing with Speed and Trixie.
Stephane-I hope you get some answers in this chapter.
Aeroshockwave-Maybe Pops can take Speed's place. That would be funny.
Anonymous-You're right. You should be worried!

Chapter 16: Making New Memories

After Speed dropped the bomb, Pops yelled, "What do you mean you're not racing anymore!"

Though his father was throwing a tantrum, Speed fought to stay calm as he said, "Just what I said."

"Wait a minute. Just wait a minute," the older man said forcing himself to calm down as he moved closer to Speed. After taking a deep breath Pops said as calmly as possible, "Do you mean to tell me that you are going to let the look alike stop you from being a professional racer?"

Going around the question, Speed said, "I decided while I was in the hospital that I had enough of always trying to stop the bad guy."

"Then just race," Pops said for the solution. "Tell Inspector Detector that you can't help him with anymore of his cases."

"It's not just that," Speed said walking to the backdoor. "I have no...desire to race anymore." He then opened the door and walked outside leaving Pops broken hearted.

Turning his sad eyes to his wife's, Pops said, "I know I can't force him to continue racing, but I can't believe that he really wants to quit. He's just too...talented to just quit like that."

"Honey," Mom Racer said seeing her husband's disappointment. "Give him some time. He's been through a lot."

Pops wasn't satisfied with that answer so he turned to Trixie. "Trixie, please go talk to him. You know as well as I do what racing really means to him."

The young girl shrugged her shoulders as if not knowing what she could say to Speed to change his mind.

Almost pleading with her, Pops said, "He'll listen to you better than he'll listen to me."

"Okay…I'll try," Trixie said in a soft voice. "But I can't promise anything."

Thankful, Pops nodded his head that he understood as Trixie then headed to the backyard.

Once in the backyard, she looked around not seeing Speed anywhere. Taking a chance, she walked over to the closed garage. Opening the side door to it, she looked in and sure enough saw the man she was head over heels for leaning down in front of the Mach 5.

After stepping in, she softly closed the door and asked, "What happened?"

Speed quit trying to clean up the broken glass and said as he stood up, "I accidentally knocked a glass off the table."

Looking at the table, which was against the wall, Trixie knew that Spritle had probably left the glass on it. "I'll clean it up," she said walking over to it.

"No. Wait," Speed said staring at it. "Just looking at it I realize that it's...shattered, like my racing career."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Trixie said leaning over it. "I'd say it's…almost shattered. Almost doesn't count. There's still a big part left." To emphasize, she held up the part of the glass that hadn't broken to bits and pieces.

Speed turned away from her knowing what she was trying to say but he didn't want to hear it.

Standing up, Trixie walked over to him as he stared blankly at the Mach 5.

In a very low voice, he soon asked, "Your feelings won't change for me if I stop racing. Will they?"

"Of course not," Trixie answered honestly. "But I just don't think you really want to quit."

Looking at the girl that he had such strong feelings for, Speed hoped that she wasn't going to lecture him like Pops always seemed to do.

"Don't you miss driving her?" Trixie asked of the Mach 5.

"Not when it reminds me of having the life beat out of me," Speed said feeling he was making a valid point.

In a gentle voice, Trixie said, "Well…you know that it wasn't the Mach 5 that hurt you."

"Oh great," Speed said becoming upset. "Now even you think I have no right to decide if I should continue to race or not."

"No. That's not it," she said watching him walk away from her and then lean against the wall and stare down at the ground. "Speed," she said not moving from her spot by the Mach five. "This car is part of you. No one can handle her the way you do."

Shaking his head in disgust, Speed then looked at his girlfriend and said, "I really didn't expect to defend how I feel with you."

Hating the disappointment she heard in his voice, she said, "I don't want to pressure you to do anything you don't really want to do. It's just that..."

"Good. Then let's drop it," Speed said interrupting her.

"Speed," Trixie said not quite ready to give up. "You live for that sensation of going fast."

"Yeah," he said as he pushed off the wall. "I really need that sensation," he said sarcastically as he walked to the side door to leave.

Watching as he put his hand on the doorknob, Trixie said, "Speed...wait."

Speed opened the door and was about to leave as he said, "I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Raising her voice a bit, she said, "I know you don't want to race anymore because the memory of the beating enters your mind every time you even think of racing. But Speed, you must push that memory out of your mind and make new ones!"

"It's not that easy!" he exclaimed very upset over the fact that his ambition to race was gone.

In a strong voice, Trixie exclaimed determined, "Don't associate what he did to you with racing. You love racing!"

Slamming the door shut, Speed then turned to Trixie with such anger on his face. He was sick and tired of everyone assuming that racing was the most important thing in his life, and her mention of love had triggered an emotion he had been holding back. "Do you know what I love!" he screamed at her.

"What!" she yelled back just as loud.

His voice still loud, he yelled," I love you!"

Watching as he started to move towards her, her voice sounded with anger as she said, "Did you just say that you love me!"

"Yes, damn it!" he exclaimed loudly now right in front of her.

"Yeah! Well I love you too…damn it!" she exclaimed just as loudly as she stared back into his eyes.

"Good!" he yelled and then grabbed her into his arms and started kissing her. Even though it seemed a bit abrupt at first, Speed's lips were as inviting as ever making Trixie once again melt into his arms. It was a kiss stronger than the ones they had shared before, especially since now without a doubt they actually knew how the other felt. After the kiss and right before another, Speed said in a husky but loving voice, "I really love you."

Sounding more honest than ever, the sweet girl in his arms added, "I've been in love with you, Speed."

She was the first woman he didn't mind hearing those words from because normally he'd panic and run. In fact, he had been needing and hoping to hear her say those words, and not just in a dream. Smiling, he said, "Let's start making those new memories you spoke of."

"What?" she asked still in a bit of a daze from their kisses.

Letting go of her, he then jumped into the Mach Five on the passenger side. "Come here," he said smiling as his hand came out of the car and grabbed one of hers.

She knew she'd like this particular new memory that he wanted to make in the fast car so she opened the door and then sat on his lap. After he pulled the door shut, they immediately started to kiss some more, having no problem at all getting totally lost in each other once again. Many, many minutes later, between feeling his breath in her ear and his kisses on her neck, Trixie didn't even realize that she whispered his name.

Speed however heard, and lifted his face to see hers.

Slowly, Trixie opened her eyes since his kisses had stopped, and he saw a look he had never seen in her eyes before, and he knew that look was for him and for him alone. She was his, and he hers.

Ten minutes later after their show of affection ended, Speed and Trixie walked out through the side garage door hand in hand.

Pops was sitting on the swing as if waiting for them to come out.

"Trixie," Pops said standing up with nervous excitement in his voice. "Did you talk to him?"

Although she had started trying to convince Speed to continue racing, that had been quickly forgotten after he had said he loved her so Trixie didn't know what to tell Pops.

Speed knew what Pops meant and decided to save Trixie. "Yes, Pops. She did speak to me about racing."

"And?" Pops asked hoping for the right answer.

"I'm feeling a little better about it now, though I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet."

"Okay. Fair enough," the older man said glad that Speed was at least feeling better about racing.

"Besides," Speed said looking at Trixie, "there are other things I want to do right now."

"Like what, Son?" Pops asked happily as Spritle and Chim Chim came out the house.

"Like taking Trixie out on a date," Speed said smiling at her.

"A date?" Spritle asked walking up to Speed and Trixie. "Isn't that when boys take out girls that they like so that they can kiss?"

Pops ignored Spritle being that he was thinking that Speed would need a car. "I'll tell you what," Pops said with enthusiasm. "You two should go out in style in the Mach Five."

"Why not," Speed said thinking he and Trixie could create some more new memories there.

Spritle and Chim Chim began to make circles around the young couple as Spritle sang, "Speedy and Trixie sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G..."

"Alright. That's enough," Speed said with a grin as he called to mind the serious kissing he and Trixie had in fact just done some minutes before.

Spritle stopped next to the sweet female and started to stare up at her.

Seeing his hard stare, she asked him, "Why are you staring at me like that, Spritle?"

Tilting his head to the side, he asked, "What is that on your neck?"

Speed looked at her neck and his eyes widened before he said, "A mosquito bit her."

Trixie became embarrassed when she realizing that Speed must have left a mark on her neck.

Spritle began to walk away telling Chim Chim, "Let's go inside. There's some big mosquitoes outside right now."

Pops didn't comment but said to his son and his girl, "You kids have fun." He wanted Speed behind the wheel of the Mach Five as soon as possible.

"Sure, Pops," Speed said just before pulling Trixie back into the garage.

Once in it, she said, "Speed. How big is the...mosquitoe bite?"

Letting out a small laugh, he pulled her into his arms and brushed a kiss over the hickey. "Sorry, Trixie," he said pressing his forehead against hers. "I just couldn't get enough of you."

"It's getting hot in here again," she joked pulling away from him. "Let's go."

He laughed as he then opened the big garage door.

After jumping into the Mach Five, Speed stared at everything in it. It had been such a long time since his hands had been on the wheel or the gears. It was like saying hello to an old friend. He wished however, that the old friend would have in some way convinced him not to get out of it that horrific day that the look alike had hurt him. The Mach Five had so many special features but during the beating the car had been useless. "Speed. You were the operator," he said out loud to himself.

"What?" Trixie asked bringing him out of space.

Turning his head, he looked at the girl in the passenger seat and many memories came back to him. So many times he had looked at her before in that very same spot but now they didn't have to hide how they really felt for each other. He smiled back at her as he began to untie the red scarf from around his neck. "I think you need this."

She then looked into the rear view mirror at her neck. Because her skin was so sensitive, she knew the hickey would be very noticeable to everyone. "Catch backs," she said turning back to Speed who was now very close as he leaned over to tie the scarf around her neck.

"Catch backs?" he asked as he concentrated on tying the scarf.

"Yes," she said with a devious smile. "My turn on you next time."

He could only grin as he said, "I can't wait."

Trixie then forced herself to gently push him away as she said, "Let's go on our first official date."

"Okay, okay," he said pushing back behind the wheel.

Smiling, Trixie fastened her seatbelt just as he did.

After a few seconds lost in deep thought, Speed then started the powerful engine of the Mach Five.

Pops was outside on the side of the garage very glad to hear the sound; especially since Speed pushed the engine to sound as if it was about to start a race.

The young racer had to admit to himself that he had missed the sound and the feeling to have power over such a machine. He wondered how he had convinced himself that he could live without ever racing again? Trixie was right. He did love the sensation of going fast. Turning to his sweet girl who was already smiling, he asked with excitement, "Are you ready!"

"You bet!" she exclaimed excited as well.

Speed focused his eyes back on the driveway and then took off

Throwing his fist in the air, Pops shouted, "Yes!"

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Ten minutes later on the highway, Speed realized the time away from driving had done nothing to his natural born talent. Everything came so naturally to him when it came to driving the Mach Five.

Once to their destination, he said, "I hope you don't mind us coming here? I know it's not…romantic but I'd like to avoid the press if possible."

"It doesn't matter where we go," Trixie said as they remained sitting in the Mach Five.

"Well at least we know the food is good," he said looking at the hole in the wall place they had been to many of times.

Smiling, Trixie said, "Are you ready to enter the real world again?" It was the first time Speed would be eating in a restaurant since before the look alike had appeared into their lives.

"Let's go," he said with a smile and then they both exited the car, and Trixie loved how he took her hand as they began to walk to the restaurant. People would probably be surprised to see that they were now an item.

Once in the place, Speed picked a booth in the corner and they sat together on one side. After placing their orders, he winked at Trixie as he put his arm around her and said, "Nice scarf."

"You'll need it back soon," she said winking back.

Speed loved it. Here was his old friend now being very flirtatious with him.

They made nice conversation and enjoyed just appetizers since they had eaten lunch not long ago, and luckily no one bothered them at all. The place had been pretty empty since lunchtime had been over, and it wasn't near dinner time yet.

Later when they were headed back to the Mach Five, an old girlfriend of Speed's, Victoria, showed up.

"Speed Racer!" she said walking from her car and over to them. "I can't believe that you never called me once since you've gotten home. I thought we were close," the pretty dark haired girl said as her brown eyes flashed with jealousy. The girl then took notice of Speed and Trixie's hands linked together and said, "I also thought you two were just friends!"

Speed and Trixie just looked at each other as Victoria stood there with her arms folded waiting for an answer.