Part 2-PROBLEMS AT THE PRESS PARTY
The sleek white race car with the "M" on the hood and "5" on the door shone like quicksilver as it traveled along, bathed in the light of the full moon that stood sentinel over the beach road. This was the road that led to the exclusive club where the soirée for the Formula 1 drivers was being held. Speed and Trixie were heading over there with somewhat mixed feelings for the event was basically a press junket to satisfy the hordes of media who were covering the event.
Speed was inundated with trepidation about the event and had good reason. As the youngest and most talented of the drivers on the circuit, he had become fodder for the members of the press corps and he felt increasingly ambivalent about facing them. His on and off track activities had been front page material for various gossip tabloids that had him pegged as a playboy racer. And his former ladyloves had been only too happy to promote that view of him based on his ending his relationships with them. He had seriously considered blowing the party off and taking Trixie out to a quiet dinner but after talking to Pops, he grudgingly agreed to make an appearance with Trixie on his arm to alter his reputation and promote Pops' business.
Speed swung the Mach 5 into the driveway that led to the crowded parking lot for the Seacoast Beach Club and he pulled into an empty space adjacent to the side of the building closest to the beach. The place was festooned with brightly colored Japanese lanterns, swinging in the gentle sea breeze and music sprinkled with laughter wafted over to Speed and Trixie's ears.
"Sounds like quite a clambake's going on," Speed commented as he cut the motor and killed the lights.
"Uh-huh," Trixie answered. "And from the looks of the parking lot, it's standing room only."
Speed grinned at her as he took her hand and kissed it. "Don't worry, Trix if there aren't enough seats, you can sit on my lap." She tittered and shook her head.
"You're very frisky tonight, more so than usual. What gives?" Trixie asked, her delicate brows cocked.
Speed looked deeply into her eyes. "It's just you. You look so groovy in that dress, it's really turning me on." His eyes slid caressingly down her body, savoring the svelte slender form of Trixie in the peacock blue chiffon backless mini-dress that she was wearing with slim silver high- heeled sandals.
"Well thank you, kind sir. And you're not so bad yourself." Trixie took in the way Speed was dressed, wearing a dark red dinner jacket, a white dress shirt and striped tie and white dress slacks with white bucks that offset his good looks and made him cut quite a dashing figure. "Pretty jazzy threads there."
Speed grinned and then his grin faded as he looked at the entrance to the club and sighed resignedly, "Well, I guess we'd better split and head inside." He opened his door and climbed out with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man heading for his execution.
"You act like you're traveling the last mile, Speed. Come on now, it doesn't look like it's going to be that bad," Trixie said as he opened her door and taking her hand assisted her out of the Mach 5.
"It's just that I know what's waiting inside. Honestly, Trix, if we're smart we'll just put in an appearance and then blow this pop stand," Speed grumbled as he led Trixie to the stairs leading to the entrance.
"Well, you remember what you said to Pops. That you'd put your best foot forward for the team and for the company. So let's go inside, I'm sure it'll be virtually painless."
Speed grunted, "Yeah well, don't say I didn't warn you." He took her elbow and together they climbed the stairs and entered the club.
The club interior was decorated in pastel colors with large potted palms located all around the lobby and rattan chairs with plump comfortable cushions. Speed escorted Trixie to the desk where a willowy suntanned blonde dressed in pale yellow sat with a ledger and ID tags. She smiled warmly at him.
"Good evening, sir. May I have your name please?"
Speed smiled politely and replied, "Racer, Speed Racer."
The blonde's blue eyes widened. "Oh, of course!" She picked up a badge and reached her hand over to give it to him. Her smile widened and her voice lowered in a breathless purr. "Here's your badge, Mr. Racer." As she handed it to him she deliberately let her fingers lightly brush his as he took the badge.
The blonde's not-so-subtle come on did not go unnoticed by Trixie who nudged Speed as he smiled his thanks to the girl. With a sheepish grin he reached and took her hand to head into the banquet room.
"Humph! Well, she certainly was obvious. And you sure ate it up!" she said acidly.
Speed turned and regarded her with his brow askance. "What are you talking about, Trix?"
"That girl out there was about as subtle as a billboard. And you seemed to be in another world."
Speed shrugged, "I didn't do anything but give her my name so I could get my badge, honey. I can't help other women's reactions to me. It's a regular thing at these race promotion affairs." He squeezed her hand reassuringly and guided her through the crowd.
The room was actually an atrium with wall-to-wall windows looking out on the ocean and French doors leading out to a patio that was on the beach. The room was filled with drivers, crewmembers, owners and their significant others as well as a myriad of attractive women, model representatives for the sponsors either seated at the tables or on the dance floor where a rock band was playing some energetic dance music. The various members of the press, the racing commission and event sponsor executive representatives were seated at a long table to the rear of the room.
Speed and Trixie threaded their way through the throng as they searched for a relatively unoccupied table. As they waded through the sea of bodies, Trixie noticed that the females in the room would try to catch Speed's eye by sending several highly seductive glances and come-hither looks his way. But for all intents and purposes he appeared completely oblivious to the attention as he gripped her hand and pulled her along. They finally came across a table located just to the right of the bandstand but far enough away for them to not get their ears blown out by the band's amplifiers. Speed held Trixie's chair out for her to sit and then took a seat across from her. He smiled affectionately at her as he gazed at her.
"So is this okay, Trix?" he asked as she settled herself, hanging her evening bag on the back of the chair.
"Uh-huh," she replied coolly, glancing around, avoiding his probing cobalt orbs.
Speed's smile faded a bit as he inquired in a concerned tone, "You still sore at me?"
Trixie met his gaze and shrugged, "I guess I'll just have to get used to the fact that my boyfriend is the heartthrob of the Formula 1 racing world."
"I didn't ask for the title."
"Yeah, I know. But it's still going to take some getting used to," she admitted laconically.
Speed smiled again relieved. "So am I forgiven?" he pleaded with hopeful boyish eyes.
Trixie smiled back, "Of course. You really didn't do anything. It's just my first big publicity event with you and I guess I just didn't think that what was written in the newspapers was really true."
"It's not. You know that, we've been going together now for three weeks and I've never even looked at another girl," Speed pointed out.
"Yeah, but give me a chance to deal with all the girls flocking to you," Trixie said with a pout.
"C'mon, Trix. You know all that garbage they wrote about me is all exaggerated. Actually, these events are the only thing I hate about racing. With the exception of the press, drivers and crews, the rest of the people are usually just groupies, hangers-on, and various others who want to tell their friends all about being with racers," Speed explained as he reached for her hands. "That's why I wanted to blow this off."
Trixie nodded and responded softly, "But you have an obligation to Pops and the team."
"Right," he agreed. "So we'll just have to get through it all. It's a drag but we can do it, okay?" He squeezed her hands as she smiled and nodded in agreement. "Besides, the place is kind of groovy and we were lucky to get a table that's not out in the open so we can keep a relatively low profile."
That ambition was soon lost as a familiar voice shouted above the music, "Hey, Speed! Trixie!" Both swung their heads around to see Sparky, dressed in a dark blue dinner jacket and tie, sans his ever-present baseball cap making his way toward their table. But unfortunately, a sports reporter with a photographer had heard the mechanic and pushed their way to Speed and Trixie's table as well. He even beat Sparky there, shoving a microphone in Speed's face as the photographer snapped several pictures of him and Trixie.
"Speed Racer, rookie driving sensation of Pops Motor Sports, glad to see you could make it tonight. Ed Pushee, sports columnist for the Raytona Picayune. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" the reporter inquired taking a seat at the table.
"Uh no, I guess not," Speed said reluctantly as he glanced helplessly at Trixie. Sparky, who finally made it over to the table, glanced curiously at the goings-on. Speed looked at his mechanic and pilot and decided to make introductions.
"First, I like you to meet two members of the Go Team. Sparky Sabu, my crew chief and Trixie Shimura, my spotter and--"
"Speed Racer! As I live and breathe!" a throaty resonant mezzo voice called out. At being summoned so Speed glanced in the direction from which it came and an attractive strawberry blonde with violet eyes and an ample bosom in a gold lame mini dress came sauntering over to the table.
"Debbie? H-hi," Speed stammered as the girl rushed over and bent down to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug, pressing his face in her bosom. The photographer smirked and snapped another series of pictures much to Trixie's chagrin and rising anger.
"Now, Speed, you've been a naughty boy, not calling me when I got back from my modeling job and you promised you would," she said in a disappointed manner. She pulled a chair over from another table to sit down next to him, presenting her back to Trixie, whose eyes were flashing.
"Debbie, I never prom--" Speed protested but Debbie wasn't listening.
"Sure, it's okay Speedy. I know you've been busy getting ready for the race and all but you could've at least called," Debbie said with a pout. "Don't I deserve an explanation?"
"Debbie, I-I have to talk to the reporter. He's waiting for me and--" Speed tried to say but again he was cut off by the girl.
"It's okay, Speedy. I'll wait," she cooed as she looped her arm through his as the photographer took yet another set of pictures.
The popping flashbulbs of the photographer blinded Speed and he was overwhelmed by the quickly occurring events that had quickly flown out of control so he barely knew what was going on. He was so occupied with the reporter and the insistent Debbie he had inadvertently forgotten all about Trixie and Sparky. But Sparky saw the storm clouds gathering in Trixie's countenance and realizing discretion was the better part of valor, asked her to dance.
"C'mon Trixie, let's dance." Sparky offered his hand and wordlessly Trixie rose and followed him onto the dance floor. They began dancing to a surfing number.
Trixie felt as if someone had come along, taken a straw and sucked all the joy out of her evening. She danced woodenly, not really even hearing the music her lovely face a study in pure misery. Sparky felt sorry for her and silently cursed his best friend for allowing himself to be swept up in his own celebrity. The band began playing a slow song so Sparky drew Trixie into his arms to glide her on the floor. He took the opportunity to talk to her.
"Listen Trix, I know that you're upset with Speed but all this really isn't his fault. These publicity bashes are always like this, especially for the drivers. They aren't safe from the predatory women unless they're married and even then the bimboes are still out in force."
Trixie smiled tremulously at Sparky. "Thanks Sparky but he could've said something. It's like he just let that girl come and plant herself on him. And he absolutely ignored me, it was like I wasn't there," she said sniffling, hating herself for crying. She buried her head in Sparky's shoulder as they swayed to the soft music, wetting his dinner jacket with her tears and he felt awkward but filled with compassion for her.
They continued dancing until someone tapped on Sparky's shoulder. "Can I cut in?"
Still holding Trixie close in the dance, Sparky whirled around and came face to face with a tall muscular man resplendent in a dark navy jacket, tie and the ever-present mask. "Racer X! I didn't know you were participating in the road rally. Trixie, it's Racer X."
"Yes, Sparky, I'm entered. I want another race to practice in before the Grand Prix. So can I cut in and get a dance with the prettiest lady here?"
"Uh, sure Racer X. I want to go grab a bite at the buffet table anyway." He handed Trixie to the waiting arms of the mysterious racer. "See ya later, Trix."
"I hope you don't mind my cutting in, Trixie," Racer X said as he swept her in another slow dance.
Trixie looked at him and smiled gratefully. "Of course not. But look around, I'm far from the prettiest girl here," she said glumly.
"Haven't you heard, Trixie? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I see beauty in a woman's substance more so than her appearance, although, you have both. Speed's a lucky guy."
Trixie made an unladylike snort. "Yeah, sure. He's really over there counting his lucky stars, don't you think?" She tossed her head in the direction of the table where Speed was still engrossed in conversation with the reporter and the gold-clad buxom Debbie, whose arms were locked around his neck.
Racer X who in reality was Speed's long lost older brother Rex peered over Trixie's head at his younger brother and shook his head. "Trixie, I'm sure he is, no matter what he's doing now. This is a publicity gathering, and it's unfortunate but the fact is, the drivers are fresh meat to all the phony women here, especially the single ones. But I'm sure he knows that a real woman is a gift to be cherished."
Trixie looked up at Racer X and tried to read into his eyes, the only visible part of his face and wondered what lay under the enigmatic mask. His voice was one of great compassion and wisdom and she found herself yearning to uncover the mystery. She said shyly, "Thank you for that, Racer X."
"It's my pleasure."
They continued dancing until the number ended and Racer X made his excuses, starting to escort her back to the table but she laid a restraining arm on him.
"Please, Racer X, I-I'd rather not go back there. I'd just as soon go out and sit on the patio or maybe call a cab to take me back to the trailer."
"Of course. You don't have to do that, I'll drive you back. I have a meeting with some of my sponsors but when I finish I can take you back. Do you mind waiting?" Racer X asked.
Trixie shook her head. "No, I don't. I just want to get out of here."
"Okay then. Wait for me on the patio. I'll come look for you there." He turned to leave.
"Oh, Racer X? Can I ask another favor of you?"
"Sure, Trixie. What is it?"
Trixie took a deep breath. "Could you go get my evening bag? I left it at the table, hung on a chair."
Racer X nodded. "You go out to the patio and have a seat and I'll go get it." He headed over to the table.
Back there, Speed had just finished with the reporter and gotten rid of the cloying presence of Debbie when he realized he was all alone. Dismayed and concerned he frantically scanned the crowd for a petite peacock blue clad brunette when Racer X came up to the table.
"Oh hi, Racer X. I didn't know you were entered in the race," Speed said with a grin as he offered his hand.
"How ya doin', Speed?" Racer X responded by shaking the proffered hand.
"Uh, okay I guess, I just got through with the local sports reporter. By the way, have you seen Trixie?" Speed said as he worriedly glanced about.
"Yeah, she went out to the patio."
"Thanks," Speed said as he turned to go but Racer X grabbed his arm to detain him. Speed shot Racer X a questioning look. "What gives?"
"I'd like to talk to you Speed," Racer X asked softly with a hint of steel in his voice that brooked no disobedience.
Speed bristled, "With all due respect, Racer X, I want to find my girlfriend first."
"After ignoring her all night?" Racer X asked silkily.
Speed's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? And why the hell are you so concerned about my girlfriend?" he countered suspiciously, remembering Trixie's infatuation with the mystery man when he first pointed him out to her.
"I'm concerned for the two of you. You, because this whole scene is obviously overwhelming you and her because she's in unfamiliar territory and it's scaring the daylights out of her."
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that?" Speed demanded, arms crossed and glaring.
Racer X sighed, "Because I do. I was dancing with her and she told me how you had forgotten all about her as you were being uh--interviewed. What was her name anyway?"
Speed became defensive. "Debbie was a girl I'd went out with a couple of times and she came over to say hello. What was I supposed to do with a reporter there, tell her to get lost? Why'd Trixie disappear on me, anyway, did she tell you?"
"Speed, I saw how that girl plastered herself to you and right in front of Trixie. What did you expect her to do about it? You know a hell of a lot about racing but you're totally in the dark when it comes to women."
"And what makes you such a damned expert? I don't see you with anybody," Speed said spitefully.
"Well, I do know that I've been around the track a hell of a lot longer than you have and I know that if you don't learn now how to handle your celebrity status, when the ride ends, you'll be all alone. You don't take the people that matter for granted and you never forget that as quickly as it all happens, it can all vanish. And as cliché as this sounds, a good woman is hard to find and in this business, hard to keep."
Speed sighed and softened his expression. "So she's really sore at me, huh? Well, I do deserve it, I kind of let things get out of control before." He looked at Racer X in misery. "What do I do now?"
Racer X's heart went out to his younger brother. He picked up the small silver evening bag he was retrieving and handed it to Speed. "Here. I was about to bring this out to her, she's waiting for me to give it to her and I'm supposed to give her a ride back to the trailer. Why don't you do it?"
"She probably doesn't want to see me," he said forlornly as he tried to give the bag back.
Racer X pressed the purse in Speed's hands. "You're wrong, Speed. I think the best thing for you to do now is to let her know that you're sorry and that you still care. She needs some reassurance."
"She has no idea how much I do care. Thanks Racer X, I don't know how to-- " Speed began but Racer X had disappeared into the milling throng. He sighed again as he cradled Trixie's bag in his hands as he caught a whiff of her perfume from its surface. He closed his eyes and took a moment to savor the floral fragrance, so delicate and lovely like her. He then opened his eyes and with a determined look, he straightened his shoulders and made his way through the crowd to the patio door.
Trixie, meanwhile, had been sitting in a wicker chair near the edge of the patio staring out at the moonlight dancing on the crashing surf and turning the white sand shore to silver. She rose to her feet and walked to the edge of the patio, closer to the beach. The scene was romantic and ethereal with several couples from the party taking advantage of the atmosphere but she was unaffected, her mind filled with the memory of the sultry Debbie all over Speed and him doing nothing to stop her. She felt completely humiliated that he didn't even tell the reporter who she was, just that she was the spotter for the Go Team. She shook her head, fighting the sting of hot tears once again and bitterly began wondering why she even agreed to accompany him to this party when a hand on her bare shoulder startled her.
"Hi there pretty lady, why the long face?" a deep, resonant accented voice asked.
Trixie whirled around and a pair of twinkling golden eyes in a rugged face smiled at her. Phil Pistone, top driver with the Cannoli Racing Team addressed her cheerily.
"Hey, you're the lady pilot for the Go Team. What are you doing sitting out here, all alone on a night like this?"
Trixie gave him a small smile as she shrugged. "I'm just enjoying the view." She turned and looked out at the waves again feeling ill at ease.
Phil stepped in front of her, his dark hair ruffled by the sea breeze. "You didn'ta come here alone, did you? A lovely lady lika yourself."
Trixie looked at the dapper Italian racer. She had heard many stories about Pistone, about his activities both on and off the track and a bit of trepidation tickled her spine. The last thing she had wanted was to encourage a roue like him, especially since she was on the Go Team, she wanted no rumors to start about her behavior. There was enough being said about Speed.
At the thought of Speed, Trixie's ire again was raised and in a fit of pique and a spirit of rebellion she smiled sweetly at Pistone. "I didn't but I'm Speed's spotter and he's busy so I came out for a breath of fresh air."
"Oh really? Talk 'round here says you and Speed are an item."
Trixie shrugged casually, "We've gone out a few times but he doesn't own me. And I don't own him." She was trying to be blasé but her own words sounded hollow and contrived.
Phil gazed at her. "Still, a lady lika yourself to be alone like this on a night like this is criminal. Would you care to dance with me?" he asked as he took her hands in his.
Meantime, Speed had managed to find his way to the patio. The dim lights of the Japanese lanterns along with the moonlight made it difficult to see and the patio was filled with couples, enjoying the cool breeze and lunar seascape. He made his way around the various chairs, looking at each setting to see if he could find Trixie and was about to give up when he decided to explore the edge of the patio. He studied each shadowed figure until he saw the figures of a man and woman at the far edge and heard a familiar sweetly husky voice.
"Thanks, Phil but I really shouldn't."
"Huh?" Speed said as he got closer. His eyes widened then narrowed as he recognized the voice of his girlfriend and Pistone, who had her hands held captive in both of his. He angrily strode over.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Speed said icily. "Pistone, what the hell do you think you're doing with my girl?"
Trixie's eyes became wide as saucers as Pistone chuckled lightly. "Hey Speed, I didn'ta know she was your girl." He eyed Speed steadily and gave him a man-to-man smile. "She told me that you've only gone out a few times."
"Oh yeah? Well, let me inform you. Trixie's my girl so why don't you go find your own. There's plenty of prospects in there." Speed hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the crowded banquet room. "Or have you laid every chick in there already?"
Trixie gasped and Pistone's eyes darkened and narrowed. "Watcha you step, Racer or I'll show you just what I do with loud-mouth kids when they are disrespectful."
Speed handed Trixie's purse to her and put his fists up. "I'm ready when you are," he snapped. The men began squaring off but she got between and with her hands on his chest Trixie pleaded with Speed.
"Speed, please don't. He was just talking to me, nothing else."
Speed pushed her away. "Stay out of this, Trixie. This is between me and him." He swung his right fist toward Pistone's jaw but he felt it grasped in a powerful grip, which halted its path. He whirled around with a scowl to see who it was stopping him and was face to mask with Racer X.
"So what's going on here, Speed? An impromptu boxing match, perhaps?" he asked casually.
Pistone had taken his cue to disappear when Racer X grabbed Speed's fist. From a safe distance he shouted to Speed. "You've got bona fortuna, Racer so you'd better watch out 'cause next time your luck, she runs out." He disappeared into the gathered crowd who had lined up to watch the fight.
Speed gritted his teeth in frustration. "That dirty son of a bitch. Next time, I'll clean his clock." He wrenched his fist from Racer X's grip. "Let go of me, damn it. C'mon Trixie, we're leaving," he barked. He made to grab her arm as she stood there in speechless shock at what had transpired.
Racer X took his irate younger brother and pulled him aside. "You'd better cool off before you go anywhere. In your present mood, you'd be a hazard on the road."
"And who the hell appointed you my boss, huh? Or are you a cop among other things?" Speed asked snidely, his anger still boiling.
"No, I'm not a cop or your boss but as a professional race car driver I feel a responsibility to keep the roads safe and others as well so if you insist on taking off in your present temper, I'll be seeing Trixie home," Racer X insisted, taking Trixie's arm to leave.
Speed jumped and grabbed Racer X by the shoulder. "Get your mitts off her. You're not taking my girl anywhere," he ordered as he made to belt Racer X but something in the way the masked racer stood and coldly pierced Speed with his eyes made him hesitate and drop his hand from the taller, larger man.
"Be careful, Speed. Don't do anything you may end up regretting. You take the time to cool off and I'll see you on the course tomorrow." Racer X then took Trixie's elbow and dismissing Speed guided her through the crowd of spectators and flashing cameras of the press.
Speed watched as Racer X and Trixie retreated into the throng and he breathed deeply as his rage cooled. He hated to admit it but, as usual Racer X was right, to drive in a rage would have been courting disaster. If he had gotten into an accident and totaled the Mach 5 his racing ambitions would pretty much be over. And if Trixie had gotten hurt because of his recklessness he would never forgive himself. Sighing, he took a seat on the patio and isolated himself from the rest of the people for the remainder of the evening.
Speed was still brooding, sitting out on the patio of the Seacoast Beach Club staring out at the waves crashing on the shore when the party was winding down. He didn't even notice when his best friend Sparky came out and joined him, taking a chair and sliding it beside him.
"Well, the party's almost over. You gonna split or are you planning to spend the night on the beach?"
"Why not? I'm in the doghouse anyway." Speed grunted, "I'm just sittin' here thinking. What a night!"
Sparky nodded, "Yeah, pretty eventful. The papers'll be full tomorrow morning."
Speed groaned, "Don't remind me. Pops is gonna have a fit when he reads 'em." He ran a hand through his hair. "Spark, I'm not a stupid guy, so why do I act sometimes like I haven't an ounce of brains?"
Sparky shook his head. "I don't have any answers for ya, buddy. Just that you need to be careful how you handle things 'cause you're the media darling for the moment. You can't even fart without them wanting to write and report about it."
Speed cringed slightly. "That's the least of my problems. What am I gonna say to Trixie? She'll probably wring my neck then never speak to me again." He pounded his fist on the armrest of the chair he was sitting in. "I blew it with the press and probably lost the best thing that ever happened to me."
Sparky reached over and gave his friend a reassuring pat. "Take it easy, pal. She'll forgive you, Trixie's not unreasonable and right now she just feels rejected."
"Rejected? Spark, she's everything to me! How can she feel rejected?" Speed said incredulously.
"She felt totally ignored by you tonight and to tell you the truth, Speed, you kinda forgot about her with that reporter and not to mention Debbie hanging all over you," Sparky pointed out.
Speed groaned again. "Spark, I was cornered. I had the reporter on one end, the photographer blinding me with his damned flashbulbs on the other and Debbie cutting me off and hanging all over me. I tried to say something, I really did. But, I felt like the dam had burst on me, everything got completely out of control. When things finally calmed down, Trixie was gone."
"Yeah, we saw you were busy and so I asked her to dance," Sparky informed him.
"You did, huh?" Speed eyed his friend suspiciously.
"Whoa, Speed, easy," Sparky was quick to say. He laid a placating hand on his friend's shoulder. "All I did was dance with her and let her cry on my shoulder. My jacket's still damp from the tears."
Speed's shoulders slumped forward in defeat and he said in self-loathing, "So I made her cry. What a jerk I am!" He then straightened his shoulders and got to his feet. "I gotta make it up to her somehow, I just gotta," he said with fierce determination. He turned to leave then looked at Sparky with gratitude. "Thanks, pal for everything."
"Hey, what're friends for?" Sparky answered and got up to follow.
Trixie stepped out of the bathroom of the trailer she had been given to live in clad in a yellow satin nightgown. Pops had supplied her, Speed and Sparky furnished trailers to park at the track and use during races in the States to save on motel and hotel bills, with the boys sharing one trailer and she in the other. She reached to turn off the light as she slid into the bed, her mind on the upsetting events of the evening. How dare he make a claim on me after ignoring me all night! And letting that tramp hang all over him, he has some nerve! After I bought a new dress and everything, I'll never speak to him again she fumed, her anger causing her body to be rigid and tense and keeping her from sleeping.
Trixie was still lying in her bed brooding when the sound of pebbles hitting her window startled her. She sat up and jumped from the bed to peer through the side of the drawn shade and spotted the Mach 5 parked right by the trailer door. She released the shade and leaned back, ambivalence filling her making her even more tense and she sat there in indecision, not knowing what to do. There were more pebbles hitting the window as Speed tried again to get her attention. Trixie sighed deeply, donned her robe and realizing he wasn't going to be put off easily, walked over to the door and yanked it open.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice glacial and remote.
"C-can I talk to you, Trixie? Please?"
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say, Speed Racer." She started to turn and go back in the trailer.
Speed stepped forward. "Trixie I-I can explain," he stammered, his eyes wide and pleading. "Really, I can, please just let me, okay?"
Trixie turned back around. She took a deep breath and with her arms folded in front she acquiesced, "Okay, you have five minutes. Start talking."
Speed came forward. "I-I'm sorry that I forgot about you at the table, Trix. I was just overwhelmed by everything happening so fast, I didn't know what to do."
"Yeah, sure. Who is this Debbie?" Trixie demanded, still unconvinced.
Speed ran his hand nervously through his inky locks. "S-she's a model I met and took out a few times before I met you. We broke up when we both realized we wanted different things. She meant nothing to me, honest."
"That's not what it seemed like to her, she was all over you. She apparently wanted to pick up where you both left off so I left. I didn't want to get in the way, after all I'm just your spotter." Trixie sniffed, raising her chin haughtily.
"You weren't in the way, Trix. You could never be in the way," Speed was trying to convince her. "And you know you're not just my spotter, you're my girl."
"Then why didn't you stop her and say something?" Trixie asked softly, hurt in her eyes.
"I tried to but between her and the reporter I felt bowled over. And when I finally got rid of everybody, you were gone," Speed said stepping closer but Trixie backed away from him.
"S-stay away from me," she stammered, losing her ground.
Undaunted, Speed came forward and took hold of her arms. "C'mon, Trix. I know I was wrong to not stand up and say anything. I was afraid to be rude to the reporter and I wanted to let Debbie down easily but I forgot all about the one person that means the world to me, you. Will you please forgive me?" His eyes were wide and hopeful making him look like a little boy.
Trixie sighed, all her hurt and anger draining away. Her heart pounding, she felt irresistibly drawn into the clear cobalt gaze as he waited for her answer. She nodded and said, "I forgive you, Speed."
Speed heaved a sigh of relief as he wrapped his arms around Trixie. "Thank you, baby. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." He drew back and took her face in his hands to lower his lips on hers. She melted completely as her arms snaked up and under his arms as she returned his kiss with emotion and hunger to rival his.
They finally broke away and Trixie looked into Speed's eyes. "Speed, I want to tell you that out on the patio at the club Pistone never touched me. We were just talking--" but Speed laid his finger gently on her lips.
"I know, baby. But the guy has a reputation and when I saw him with you, holding your hands, I blew my top," Speed admitted. "I'm sorry about that, too."
"It's a good thing that Racer X was there. He kept you from getting into a fight with that guy."
"Yeah, the last thing I need is more negative press. I owe him big time, especially for getting you home safely."
"Uh-huh. He was so nice and such a perfect gentleman. He dropped me off and didn't leave till I was inside safely."
"Huh, I do the same thing too, don't I?" Speed said with a touch of resentfulness.
Trixie smiled, "Of course but he didn't say good night like you do." She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked up into his eyes seductively.
Speed's face broke into a slow grin. "Oh, and how's that?" he asked, his blue orbs twinkling.
"Oh, like this," Trixie said as she went up on tiptoe and softly placed her lips against his. He opened his mouth to receive her and his arms tightened around her, pulling her close, caressing her back in slow, rhythmic circles as his mouth drew in the sweetness.
Speed pulled away and whispered huskily in her ear, "How about going with me for a moonlight ride?"
"Speed, like this? I'm not even dressed," Trixie protested.
"I don't mind if you don't mind. So how about it?" he insisted, pulling her toward the Mach 5.
"It's late and we both have to get up early tomorrow. There's a practice run of the rally you know," she pointed out.
Speed sighed in disappointment, "I hate to admit but you're right. But after the race is over, you owe me one moonlight ride and I intend to collect. So be warned."
Trixie giggled, "I stand warned."
The sleek white race car with the "M" on the hood and "5" on the door shone like quicksilver as it traveled along, bathed in the light of the full moon that stood sentinel over the beach road. This was the road that led to the exclusive club where the soirée for the Formula 1 drivers was being held. Speed and Trixie were heading over there with somewhat mixed feelings for the event was basically a press junket to satisfy the hordes of media who were covering the event.
Speed was inundated with trepidation about the event and had good reason. As the youngest and most talented of the drivers on the circuit, he had become fodder for the members of the press corps and he felt increasingly ambivalent about facing them. His on and off track activities had been front page material for various gossip tabloids that had him pegged as a playboy racer. And his former ladyloves had been only too happy to promote that view of him based on his ending his relationships with them. He had seriously considered blowing the party off and taking Trixie out to a quiet dinner but after talking to Pops, he grudgingly agreed to make an appearance with Trixie on his arm to alter his reputation and promote Pops' business.
Speed swung the Mach 5 into the driveway that led to the crowded parking lot for the Seacoast Beach Club and he pulled into an empty space adjacent to the side of the building closest to the beach. The place was festooned with brightly colored Japanese lanterns, swinging in the gentle sea breeze and music sprinkled with laughter wafted over to Speed and Trixie's ears.
"Sounds like quite a clambake's going on," Speed commented as he cut the motor and killed the lights.
"Uh-huh," Trixie answered. "And from the looks of the parking lot, it's standing room only."
Speed grinned at her as he took her hand and kissed it. "Don't worry, Trix if there aren't enough seats, you can sit on my lap." She tittered and shook her head.
"You're very frisky tonight, more so than usual. What gives?" Trixie asked, her delicate brows cocked.
Speed looked deeply into her eyes. "It's just you. You look so groovy in that dress, it's really turning me on." His eyes slid caressingly down her body, savoring the svelte slender form of Trixie in the peacock blue chiffon backless mini-dress that she was wearing with slim silver high- heeled sandals.
"Well thank you, kind sir. And you're not so bad yourself." Trixie took in the way Speed was dressed, wearing a dark red dinner jacket, a white dress shirt and striped tie and white dress slacks with white bucks that offset his good looks and made him cut quite a dashing figure. "Pretty jazzy threads there."
Speed grinned and then his grin faded as he looked at the entrance to the club and sighed resignedly, "Well, I guess we'd better split and head inside." He opened his door and climbed out with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man heading for his execution.
"You act like you're traveling the last mile, Speed. Come on now, it doesn't look like it's going to be that bad," Trixie said as he opened her door and taking her hand assisted her out of the Mach 5.
"It's just that I know what's waiting inside. Honestly, Trix, if we're smart we'll just put in an appearance and then blow this pop stand," Speed grumbled as he led Trixie to the stairs leading to the entrance.
"Well, you remember what you said to Pops. That you'd put your best foot forward for the team and for the company. So let's go inside, I'm sure it'll be virtually painless."
Speed grunted, "Yeah well, don't say I didn't warn you." He took her elbow and together they climbed the stairs and entered the club.
The club interior was decorated in pastel colors with large potted palms located all around the lobby and rattan chairs with plump comfortable cushions. Speed escorted Trixie to the desk where a willowy suntanned blonde dressed in pale yellow sat with a ledger and ID tags. She smiled warmly at him.
"Good evening, sir. May I have your name please?"
Speed smiled politely and replied, "Racer, Speed Racer."
The blonde's blue eyes widened. "Oh, of course!" She picked up a badge and reached her hand over to give it to him. Her smile widened and her voice lowered in a breathless purr. "Here's your badge, Mr. Racer." As she handed it to him she deliberately let her fingers lightly brush his as he took the badge.
The blonde's not-so-subtle come on did not go unnoticed by Trixie who nudged Speed as he smiled his thanks to the girl. With a sheepish grin he reached and took her hand to head into the banquet room.
"Humph! Well, she certainly was obvious. And you sure ate it up!" she said acidly.
Speed turned and regarded her with his brow askance. "What are you talking about, Trix?"
"That girl out there was about as subtle as a billboard. And you seemed to be in another world."
Speed shrugged, "I didn't do anything but give her my name so I could get my badge, honey. I can't help other women's reactions to me. It's a regular thing at these race promotion affairs." He squeezed her hand reassuringly and guided her through the crowd.
The room was actually an atrium with wall-to-wall windows looking out on the ocean and French doors leading out to a patio that was on the beach. The room was filled with drivers, crewmembers, owners and their significant others as well as a myriad of attractive women, model representatives for the sponsors either seated at the tables or on the dance floor where a rock band was playing some energetic dance music. The various members of the press, the racing commission and event sponsor executive representatives were seated at a long table to the rear of the room.
Speed and Trixie threaded their way through the throng as they searched for a relatively unoccupied table. As they waded through the sea of bodies, Trixie noticed that the females in the room would try to catch Speed's eye by sending several highly seductive glances and come-hither looks his way. But for all intents and purposes he appeared completely oblivious to the attention as he gripped her hand and pulled her along. They finally came across a table located just to the right of the bandstand but far enough away for them to not get their ears blown out by the band's amplifiers. Speed held Trixie's chair out for her to sit and then took a seat across from her. He smiled affectionately at her as he gazed at her.
"So is this okay, Trix?" he asked as she settled herself, hanging her evening bag on the back of the chair.
"Uh-huh," she replied coolly, glancing around, avoiding his probing cobalt orbs.
Speed's smile faded a bit as he inquired in a concerned tone, "You still sore at me?"
Trixie met his gaze and shrugged, "I guess I'll just have to get used to the fact that my boyfriend is the heartthrob of the Formula 1 racing world."
"I didn't ask for the title."
"Yeah, I know. But it's still going to take some getting used to," she admitted laconically.
Speed smiled again relieved. "So am I forgiven?" he pleaded with hopeful boyish eyes.
Trixie smiled back, "Of course. You really didn't do anything. It's just my first big publicity event with you and I guess I just didn't think that what was written in the newspapers was really true."
"It's not. You know that, we've been going together now for three weeks and I've never even looked at another girl," Speed pointed out.
"Yeah, but give me a chance to deal with all the girls flocking to you," Trixie said with a pout.
"C'mon, Trix. You know all that garbage they wrote about me is all exaggerated. Actually, these events are the only thing I hate about racing. With the exception of the press, drivers and crews, the rest of the people are usually just groupies, hangers-on, and various others who want to tell their friends all about being with racers," Speed explained as he reached for her hands. "That's why I wanted to blow this off."
Trixie nodded and responded softly, "But you have an obligation to Pops and the team."
"Right," he agreed. "So we'll just have to get through it all. It's a drag but we can do it, okay?" He squeezed her hands as she smiled and nodded in agreement. "Besides, the place is kind of groovy and we were lucky to get a table that's not out in the open so we can keep a relatively low profile."
That ambition was soon lost as a familiar voice shouted above the music, "Hey, Speed! Trixie!" Both swung their heads around to see Sparky, dressed in a dark blue dinner jacket and tie, sans his ever-present baseball cap making his way toward their table. But unfortunately, a sports reporter with a photographer had heard the mechanic and pushed their way to Speed and Trixie's table as well. He even beat Sparky there, shoving a microphone in Speed's face as the photographer snapped several pictures of him and Trixie.
"Speed Racer, rookie driving sensation of Pops Motor Sports, glad to see you could make it tonight. Ed Pushee, sports columnist for the Raytona Picayune. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" the reporter inquired taking a seat at the table.
"Uh no, I guess not," Speed said reluctantly as he glanced helplessly at Trixie. Sparky, who finally made it over to the table, glanced curiously at the goings-on. Speed looked at his mechanic and pilot and decided to make introductions.
"First, I like you to meet two members of the Go Team. Sparky Sabu, my crew chief and Trixie Shimura, my spotter and--"
"Speed Racer! As I live and breathe!" a throaty resonant mezzo voice called out. At being summoned so Speed glanced in the direction from which it came and an attractive strawberry blonde with violet eyes and an ample bosom in a gold lame mini dress came sauntering over to the table.
"Debbie? H-hi," Speed stammered as the girl rushed over and bent down to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug, pressing his face in her bosom. The photographer smirked and snapped another series of pictures much to Trixie's chagrin and rising anger.
"Now, Speed, you've been a naughty boy, not calling me when I got back from my modeling job and you promised you would," she said in a disappointed manner. She pulled a chair over from another table to sit down next to him, presenting her back to Trixie, whose eyes were flashing.
"Debbie, I never prom--" Speed protested but Debbie wasn't listening.
"Sure, it's okay Speedy. I know you've been busy getting ready for the race and all but you could've at least called," Debbie said with a pout. "Don't I deserve an explanation?"
"Debbie, I-I have to talk to the reporter. He's waiting for me and--" Speed tried to say but again he was cut off by the girl.
"It's okay, Speedy. I'll wait," she cooed as she looped her arm through his as the photographer took yet another set of pictures.
The popping flashbulbs of the photographer blinded Speed and he was overwhelmed by the quickly occurring events that had quickly flown out of control so he barely knew what was going on. He was so occupied with the reporter and the insistent Debbie he had inadvertently forgotten all about Trixie and Sparky. But Sparky saw the storm clouds gathering in Trixie's countenance and realizing discretion was the better part of valor, asked her to dance.
"C'mon Trixie, let's dance." Sparky offered his hand and wordlessly Trixie rose and followed him onto the dance floor. They began dancing to a surfing number.
Trixie felt as if someone had come along, taken a straw and sucked all the joy out of her evening. She danced woodenly, not really even hearing the music her lovely face a study in pure misery. Sparky felt sorry for her and silently cursed his best friend for allowing himself to be swept up in his own celebrity. The band began playing a slow song so Sparky drew Trixie into his arms to glide her on the floor. He took the opportunity to talk to her.
"Listen Trix, I know that you're upset with Speed but all this really isn't his fault. These publicity bashes are always like this, especially for the drivers. They aren't safe from the predatory women unless they're married and even then the bimboes are still out in force."
Trixie smiled tremulously at Sparky. "Thanks Sparky but he could've said something. It's like he just let that girl come and plant herself on him. And he absolutely ignored me, it was like I wasn't there," she said sniffling, hating herself for crying. She buried her head in Sparky's shoulder as they swayed to the soft music, wetting his dinner jacket with her tears and he felt awkward but filled with compassion for her.
They continued dancing until someone tapped on Sparky's shoulder. "Can I cut in?"
Still holding Trixie close in the dance, Sparky whirled around and came face to face with a tall muscular man resplendent in a dark navy jacket, tie and the ever-present mask. "Racer X! I didn't know you were participating in the road rally. Trixie, it's Racer X."
"Yes, Sparky, I'm entered. I want another race to practice in before the Grand Prix. So can I cut in and get a dance with the prettiest lady here?"
"Uh, sure Racer X. I want to go grab a bite at the buffet table anyway." He handed Trixie to the waiting arms of the mysterious racer. "See ya later, Trix."
"I hope you don't mind my cutting in, Trixie," Racer X said as he swept her in another slow dance.
Trixie looked at him and smiled gratefully. "Of course not. But look around, I'm far from the prettiest girl here," she said glumly.
"Haven't you heard, Trixie? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I see beauty in a woman's substance more so than her appearance, although, you have both. Speed's a lucky guy."
Trixie made an unladylike snort. "Yeah, sure. He's really over there counting his lucky stars, don't you think?" She tossed her head in the direction of the table where Speed was still engrossed in conversation with the reporter and the gold-clad buxom Debbie, whose arms were locked around his neck.
Racer X who in reality was Speed's long lost older brother Rex peered over Trixie's head at his younger brother and shook his head. "Trixie, I'm sure he is, no matter what he's doing now. This is a publicity gathering, and it's unfortunate but the fact is, the drivers are fresh meat to all the phony women here, especially the single ones. But I'm sure he knows that a real woman is a gift to be cherished."
Trixie looked up at Racer X and tried to read into his eyes, the only visible part of his face and wondered what lay under the enigmatic mask. His voice was one of great compassion and wisdom and she found herself yearning to uncover the mystery. She said shyly, "Thank you for that, Racer X."
"It's my pleasure."
They continued dancing until the number ended and Racer X made his excuses, starting to escort her back to the table but she laid a restraining arm on him.
"Please, Racer X, I-I'd rather not go back there. I'd just as soon go out and sit on the patio or maybe call a cab to take me back to the trailer."
"Of course. You don't have to do that, I'll drive you back. I have a meeting with some of my sponsors but when I finish I can take you back. Do you mind waiting?" Racer X asked.
Trixie shook her head. "No, I don't. I just want to get out of here."
"Okay then. Wait for me on the patio. I'll come look for you there." He turned to leave.
"Oh, Racer X? Can I ask another favor of you?"
"Sure, Trixie. What is it?"
Trixie took a deep breath. "Could you go get my evening bag? I left it at the table, hung on a chair."
Racer X nodded. "You go out to the patio and have a seat and I'll go get it." He headed over to the table.
Back there, Speed had just finished with the reporter and gotten rid of the cloying presence of Debbie when he realized he was all alone. Dismayed and concerned he frantically scanned the crowd for a petite peacock blue clad brunette when Racer X came up to the table.
"Oh hi, Racer X. I didn't know you were entered in the race," Speed said with a grin as he offered his hand.
"How ya doin', Speed?" Racer X responded by shaking the proffered hand.
"Uh, okay I guess, I just got through with the local sports reporter. By the way, have you seen Trixie?" Speed said as he worriedly glanced about.
"Yeah, she went out to the patio."
"Thanks," Speed said as he turned to go but Racer X grabbed his arm to detain him. Speed shot Racer X a questioning look. "What gives?"
"I'd like to talk to you Speed," Racer X asked softly with a hint of steel in his voice that brooked no disobedience.
Speed bristled, "With all due respect, Racer X, I want to find my girlfriend first."
"After ignoring her all night?" Racer X asked silkily.
Speed's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? And why the hell are you so concerned about my girlfriend?" he countered suspiciously, remembering Trixie's infatuation with the mystery man when he first pointed him out to her.
"I'm concerned for the two of you. You, because this whole scene is obviously overwhelming you and her because she's in unfamiliar territory and it's scaring the daylights out of her."
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that?" Speed demanded, arms crossed and glaring.
Racer X sighed, "Because I do. I was dancing with her and she told me how you had forgotten all about her as you were being uh--interviewed. What was her name anyway?"
Speed became defensive. "Debbie was a girl I'd went out with a couple of times and she came over to say hello. What was I supposed to do with a reporter there, tell her to get lost? Why'd Trixie disappear on me, anyway, did she tell you?"
"Speed, I saw how that girl plastered herself to you and right in front of Trixie. What did you expect her to do about it? You know a hell of a lot about racing but you're totally in the dark when it comes to women."
"And what makes you such a damned expert? I don't see you with anybody," Speed said spitefully.
"Well, I do know that I've been around the track a hell of a lot longer than you have and I know that if you don't learn now how to handle your celebrity status, when the ride ends, you'll be all alone. You don't take the people that matter for granted and you never forget that as quickly as it all happens, it can all vanish. And as cliché as this sounds, a good woman is hard to find and in this business, hard to keep."
Speed sighed and softened his expression. "So she's really sore at me, huh? Well, I do deserve it, I kind of let things get out of control before." He looked at Racer X in misery. "What do I do now?"
Racer X's heart went out to his younger brother. He picked up the small silver evening bag he was retrieving and handed it to Speed. "Here. I was about to bring this out to her, she's waiting for me to give it to her and I'm supposed to give her a ride back to the trailer. Why don't you do it?"
"She probably doesn't want to see me," he said forlornly as he tried to give the bag back.
Racer X pressed the purse in Speed's hands. "You're wrong, Speed. I think the best thing for you to do now is to let her know that you're sorry and that you still care. She needs some reassurance."
"She has no idea how much I do care. Thanks Racer X, I don't know how to-- " Speed began but Racer X had disappeared into the milling throng. He sighed again as he cradled Trixie's bag in his hands as he caught a whiff of her perfume from its surface. He closed his eyes and took a moment to savor the floral fragrance, so delicate and lovely like her. He then opened his eyes and with a determined look, he straightened his shoulders and made his way through the crowd to the patio door.
Trixie, meanwhile, had been sitting in a wicker chair near the edge of the patio staring out at the moonlight dancing on the crashing surf and turning the white sand shore to silver. She rose to her feet and walked to the edge of the patio, closer to the beach. The scene was romantic and ethereal with several couples from the party taking advantage of the atmosphere but she was unaffected, her mind filled with the memory of the sultry Debbie all over Speed and him doing nothing to stop her. She felt completely humiliated that he didn't even tell the reporter who she was, just that she was the spotter for the Go Team. She shook her head, fighting the sting of hot tears once again and bitterly began wondering why she even agreed to accompany him to this party when a hand on her bare shoulder startled her.
"Hi there pretty lady, why the long face?" a deep, resonant accented voice asked.
Trixie whirled around and a pair of twinkling golden eyes in a rugged face smiled at her. Phil Pistone, top driver with the Cannoli Racing Team addressed her cheerily.
"Hey, you're the lady pilot for the Go Team. What are you doing sitting out here, all alone on a night like this?"
Trixie gave him a small smile as she shrugged. "I'm just enjoying the view." She turned and looked out at the waves again feeling ill at ease.
Phil stepped in front of her, his dark hair ruffled by the sea breeze. "You didn'ta come here alone, did you? A lovely lady lika yourself."
Trixie looked at the dapper Italian racer. She had heard many stories about Pistone, about his activities both on and off the track and a bit of trepidation tickled her spine. The last thing she had wanted was to encourage a roue like him, especially since she was on the Go Team, she wanted no rumors to start about her behavior. There was enough being said about Speed.
At the thought of Speed, Trixie's ire again was raised and in a fit of pique and a spirit of rebellion she smiled sweetly at Pistone. "I didn't but I'm Speed's spotter and he's busy so I came out for a breath of fresh air."
"Oh really? Talk 'round here says you and Speed are an item."
Trixie shrugged casually, "We've gone out a few times but he doesn't own me. And I don't own him." She was trying to be blasé but her own words sounded hollow and contrived.
Phil gazed at her. "Still, a lady lika yourself to be alone like this on a night like this is criminal. Would you care to dance with me?" he asked as he took her hands in his.
Meantime, Speed had managed to find his way to the patio. The dim lights of the Japanese lanterns along with the moonlight made it difficult to see and the patio was filled with couples, enjoying the cool breeze and lunar seascape. He made his way around the various chairs, looking at each setting to see if he could find Trixie and was about to give up when he decided to explore the edge of the patio. He studied each shadowed figure until he saw the figures of a man and woman at the far edge and heard a familiar sweetly husky voice.
"Thanks, Phil but I really shouldn't."
"Huh?" Speed said as he got closer. His eyes widened then narrowed as he recognized the voice of his girlfriend and Pistone, who had her hands held captive in both of his. He angrily strode over.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Speed said icily. "Pistone, what the hell do you think you're doing with my girl?"
Trixie's eyes became wide as saucers as Pistone chuckled lightly. "Hey Speed, I didn'ta know she was your girl." He eyed Speed steadily and gave him a man-to-man smile. "She told me that you've only gone out a few times."
"Oh yeah? Well, let me inform you. Trixie's my girl so why don't you go find your own. There's plenty of prospects in there." Speed hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the crowded banquet room. "Or have you laid every chick in there already?"
Trixie gasped and Pistone's eyes darkened and narrowed. "Watcha you step, Racer or I'll show you just what I do with loud-mouth kids when they are disrespectful."
Speed handed Trixie's purse to her and put his fists up. "I'm ready when you are," he snapped. The men began squaring off but she got between and with her hands on his chest Trixie pleaded with Speed.
"Speed, please don't. He was just talking to me, nothing else."
Speed pushed her away. "Stay out of this, Trixie. This is between me and him." He swung his right fist toward Pistone's jaw but he felt it grasped in a powerful grip, which halted its path. He whirled around with a scowl to see who it was stopping him and was face to mask with Racer X.
"So what's going on here, Speed? An impromptu boxing match, perhaps?" he asked casually.
Pistone had taken his cue to disappear when Racer X grabbed Speed's fist. From a safe distance he shouted to Speed. "You've got bona fortuna, Racer so you'd better watch out 'cause next time your luck, she runs out." He disappeared into the gathered crowd who had lined up to watch the fight.
Speed gritted his teeth in frustration. "That dirty son of a bitch. Next time, I'll clean his clock." He wrenched his fist from Racer X's grip. "Let go of me, damn it. C'mon Trixie, we're leaving," he barked. He made to grab her arm as she stood there in speechless shock at what had transpired.
Racer X took his irate younger brother and pulled him aside. "You'd better cool off before you go anywhere. In your present mood, you'd be a hazard on the road."
"And who the hell appointed you my boss, huh? Or are you a cop among other things?" Speed asked snidely, his anger still boiling.
"No, I'm not a cop or your boss but as a professional race car driver I feel a responsibility to keep the roads safe and others as well so if you insist on taking off in your present temper, I'll be seeing Trixie home," Racer X insisted, taking Trixie's arm to leave.
Speed jumped and grabbed Racer X by the shoulder. "Get your mitts off her. You're not taking my girl anywhere," he ordered as he made to belt Racer X but something in the way the masked racer stood and coldly pierced Speed with his eyes made him hesitate and drop his hand from the taller, larger man.
"Be careful, Speed. Don't do anything you may end up regretting. You take the time to cool off and I'll see you on the course tomorrow." Racer X then took Trixie's elbow and dismissing Speed guided her through the crowd of spectators and flashing cameras of the press.
Speed watched as Racer X and Trixie retreated into the throng and he breathed deeply as his rage cooled. He hated to admit it but, as usual Racer X was right, to drive in a rage would have been courting disaster. If he had gotten into an accident and totaled the Mach 5 his racing ambitions would pretty much be over. And if Trixie had gotten hurt because of his recklessness he would never forgive himself. Sighing, he took a seat on the patio and isolated himself from the rest of the people for the remainder of the evening.
Speed was still brooding, sitting out on the patio of the Seacoast Beach Club staring out at the waves crashing on the shore when the party was winding down. He didn't even notice when his best friend Sparky came out and joined him, taking a chair and sliding it beside him.
"Well, the party's almost over. You gonna split or are you planning to spend the night on the beach?"
"Why not? I'm in the doghouse anyway." Speed grunted, "I'm just sittin' here thinking. What a night!"
Sparky nodded, "Yeah, pretty eventful. The papers'll be full tomorrow morning."
Speed groaned, "Don't remind me. Pops is gonna have a fit when he reads 'em." He ran a hand through his hair. "Spark, I'm not a stupid guy, so why do I act sometimes like I haven't an ounce of brains?"
Sparky shook his head. "I don't have any answers for ya, buddy. Just that you need to be careful how you handle things 'cause you're the media darling for the moment. You can't even fart without them wanting to write and report about it."
Speed cringed slightly. "That's the least of my problems. What am I gonna say to Trixie? She'll probably wring my neck then never speak to me again." He pounded his fist on the armrest of the chair he was sitting in. "I blew it with the press and probably lost the best thing that ever happened to me."
Sparky reached over and gave his friend a reassuring pat. "Take it easy, pal. She'll forgive you, Trixie's not unreasonable and right now she just feels rejected."
"Rejected? Spark, she's everything to me! How can she feel rejected?" Speed said incredulously.
"She felt totally ignored by you tonight and to tell you the truth, Speed, you kinda forgot about her with that reporter and not to mention Debbie hanging all over you," Sparky pointed out.
Speed groaned again. "Spark, I was cornered. I had the reporter on one end, the photographer blinding me with his damned flashbulbs on the other and Debbie cutting me off and hanging all over me. I tried to say something, I really did. But, I felt like the dam had burst on me, everything got completely out of control. When things finally calmed down, Trixie was gone."
"Yeah, we saw you were busy and so I asked her to dance," Sparky informed him.
"You did, huh?" Speed eyed his friend suspiciously.
"Whoa, Speed, easy," Sparky was quick to say. He laid a placating hand on his friend's shoulder. "All I did was dance with her and let her cry on my shoulder. My jacket's still damp from the tears."
Speed's shoulders slumped forward in defeat and he said in self-loathing, "So I made her cry. What a jerk I am!" He then straightened his shoulders and got to his feet. "I gotta make it up to her somehow, I just gotta," he said with fierce determination. He turned to leave then looked at Sparky with gratitude. "Thanks, pal for everything."
"Hey, what're friends for?" Sparky answered and got up to follow.
Trixie stepped out of the bathroom of the trailer she had been given to live in clad in a yellow satin nightgown. Pops had supplied her, Speed and Sparky furnished trailers to park at the track and use during races in the States to save on motel and hotel bills, with the boys sharing one trailer and she in the other. She reached to turn off the light as she slid into the bed, her mind on the upsetting events of the evening. How dare he make a claim on me after ignoring me all night! And letting that tramp hang all over him, he has some nerve! After I bought a new dress and everything, I'll never speak to him again she fumed, her anger causing her body to be rigid and tense and keeping her from sleeping.
Trixie was still lying in her bed brooding when the sound of pebbles hitting her window startled her. She sat up and jumped from the bed to peer through the side of the drawn shade and spotted the Mach 5 parked right by the trailer door. She released the shade and leaned back, ambivalence filling her making her even more tense and she sat there in indecision, not knowing what to do. There were more pebbles hitting the window as Speed tried again to get her attention. Trixie sighed deeply, donned her robe and realizing he wasn't going to be put off easily, walked over to the door and yanked it open.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice glacial and remote.
"C-can I talk to you, Trixie? Please?"
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say, Speed Racer." She started to turn and go back in the trailer.
Speed stepped forward. "Trixie I-I can explain," he stammered, his eyes wide and pleading. "Really, I can, please just let me, okay?"
Trixie turned back around. She took a deep breath and with her arms folded in front she acquiesced, "Okay, you have five minutes. Start talking."
Speed came forward. "I-I'm sorry that I forgot about you at the table, Trix. I was just overwhelmed by everything happening so fast, I didn't know what to do."
"Yeah, sure. Who is this Debbie?" Trixie demanded, still unconvinced.
Speed ran his hand nervously through his inky locks. "S-she's a model I met and took out a few times before I met you. We broke up when we both realized we wanted different things. She meant nothing to me, honest."
"That's not what it seemed like to her, she was all over you. She apparently wanted to pick up where you both left off so I left. I didn't want to get in the way, after all I'm just your spotter." Trixie sniffed, raising her chin haughtily.
"You weren't in the way, Trix. You could never be in the way," Speed was trying to convince her. "And you know you're not just my spotter, you're my girl."
"Then why didn't you stop her and say something?" Trixie asked softly, hurt in her eyes.
"I tried to but between her and the reporter I felt bowled over. And when I finally got rid of everybody, you were gone," Speed said stepping closer but Trixie backed away from him.
"S-stay away from me," she stammered, losing her ground.
Undaunted, Speed came forward and took hold of her arms. "C'mon, Trix. I know I was wrong to not stand up and say anything. I was afraid to be rude to the reporter and I wanted to let Debbie down easily but I forgot all about the one person that means the world to me, you. Will you please forgive me?" His eyes were wide and hopeful making him look like a little boy.
Trixie sighed, all her hurt and anger draining away. Her heart pounding, she felt irresistibly drawn into the clear cobalt gaze as he waited for her answer. She nodded and said, "I forgive you, Speed."
Speed heaved a sigh of relief as he wrapped his arms around Trixie. "Thank you, baby. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." He drew back and took her face in his hands to lower his lips on hers. She melted completely as her arms snaked up and under his arms as she returned his kiss with emotion and hunger to rival his.
They finally broke away and Trixie looked into Speed's eyes. "Speed, I want to tell you that out on the patio at the club Pistone never touched me. We were just talking--" but Speed laid his finger gently on her lips.
"I know, baby. But the guy has a reputation and when I saw him with you, holding your hands, I blew my top," Speed admitted. "I'm sorry about that, too."
"It's a good thing that Racer X was there. He kept you from getting into a fight with that guy."
"Yeah, the last thing I need is more negative press. I owe him big time, especially for getting you home safely."
"Uh-huh. He was so nice and such a perfect gentleman. He dropped me off and didn't leave till I was inside safely."
"Huh, I do the same thing too, don't I?" Speed said with a touch of resentfulness.
Trixie smiled, "Of course but he didn't say good night like you do." She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked up into his eyes seductively.
Speed's face broke into a slow grin. "Oh, and how's that?" he asked, his blue orbs twinkling.
"Oh, like this," Trixie said as she went up on tiptoe and softly placed her lips against his. He opened his mouth to receive her and his arms tightened around her, pulling her close, caressing her back in slow, rhythmic circles as his mouth drew in the sweetness.
Speed pulled away and whispered huskily in her ear, "How about going with me for a moonlight ride?"
"Speed, like this? I'm not even dressed," Trixie protested.
"I don't mind if you don't mind. So how about it?" he insisted, pulling her toward the Mach 5.
"It's late and we both have to get up early tomorrow. There's a practice run of the rally you know," she pointed out.
Speed sighed in disappointment, "I hate to admit but you're right. But after the race is over, you owe me one moonlight ride and I intend to collect. So be warned."
Trixie giggled, "I stand warned."