DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor wish to appear to be the owner of Speed Racer/ Mach Go Go Go and all products thereof.

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" WooHOO! Now ladies and gentlemen, a treat for you all! I am here with the ledgendary Speed Racer! Oh yes, that one babies! The driver of the gorgeous Mach Five," The radio announcer clapped feverishly and looked genuenely happy to see the former race car driver.

Speed was sitting in the studios of KVRS, the local radio station, but was appearing on the nationally broadcast sports talk show 'Talkin' with Big J for the Day'. Carol had again worked her magic in a world that should have moved on and forgotten about Speed and his team. Yet somehow the world still cared, evident by the crowd of fans with signs screaming Speed's praises that could be seen outside of the radio station.

Speed smiled and spoke into the mic, " I am so honored to be here. Thanks for having me."

The DJ clapped again, a muscular man with a 'Magnum P.I.' mustache, before starting in on the questioning, " So, how long has it been since you've be on the race track?"...

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Trixie and Sparky were in the Green Room of the KVRS studio. Speed, having asked them to come along, could be heard through the speakers that were hanging in two corners of the room. Trixie sipped a bottled water while Sparky sat on the loveseat with the vegetable tray in his lap.

" I'm pretty sure that food was for Speed," Trixie spoke quietly, " HE is the guest after all."

Sparky merely shrugged, picking the chopped onions from off their place on a spread of whipped cheese on thin garlic bread. His brows furrowed some, " What is the point of putting onions over an already hefty dose of garlic?" he actually looked up at Trixie, wanting an answer.

Trixie sighed, " Some people think they complement each other."

Sparky popped the bread in his mouth, but after the first bite down, pushed the food back out again, catching it in his napkin. Standing he tossed into the trash can, sucking cheese and bits of bread out of his teeth. Trixie, knowing she had the last bottled water, handed it out to Sparky. He took it with a nod and taking a swig, sloshed the liquid around his mouth then spit it into the trash. He then returned the bottle to Trixie, slightly amazed that she continued to drink from it with no apparent reservations that his mouth had just been clamped around the neck.

Sparky sat next to Trixie and after a loud sigh, spoke, " Are you trying to make Speed jealous?"

Trixie raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop sipping her drink.

" I mean, I'm not dumb you know. Not naive either," Sparky shifted so he could see her reactions more clearly, " I can tell you are flirting somewhat. Is that all to get under Speed's skin?"

Trixie dropped her drink and turned her head toward him, " Sparky, what made you change? What happened to the gentle, shy Sparky? The dorky mechanic from years ago?"

Sparky frowned, " You thought I was dorky?"

Trixie smiled, " You thought you were dorky," she dropped her head and her smile, " obviously, or you wouldn't have gone through such a large change."

Sparky cocked his head, " Is it so hard to believe that I just grew up, found my identity and took measures to insure other saw it too?"

" Is it so hard to believe my flirting with you has nothing to do with Speed?"

Sparky smirked, " Yeah, it is."

Trixie frowned, but a simple 'hmmm' was all the sound she made.

" Prove it."

Trixie turned and narrowed her eyes, " How?"

" Kiss me."

Trixie's frown deepen and her body instinctively leaned back. She considered that request. It wasn't that Sparky wasn't attractive, indeed he had grown up. The boyish features having given way to more angular masculine ones. He was much more confident and charming. Years ago Sparky was easily over looked in a crowd, now he could command the whole room. Trixie liked this Sparky so much better than the last.

She leaned over slowly and with a subtle smile kissed Sparky on the left cheek. She pulled back giggling, " You never specified were."

Sparky flopped back against the loveseat cushions and smirked, " So it would seem."

The door was opened at that moment by Speed he looked over at his friends and then the snack tray on the floor next to Sparky's feet, picked through and half eaten.

" I was looking forward to that," Speed nudged the tray with a booted foot.

Sparky stood, " It was nasty. Anyways, it's close to lunch time so we can just get something now."

Speed frowned, " It's 10 o'clock Sparks."

" Yeah," Sparky held his hand out and Trixie slid her own into his palm, " lunch time." Sparky turned then, using his strength to help Trixie up. Speed was suddenly aware that inviting both of them to come was a bad idea. He should have just invited Trixie then it would have been just him and her dinning at lunch together.

Turning on his heels Speed waved his hand, " Fine then, let's go," he looked back briefly to see if the two were still holding hands. They weren't. Maybe he was just being paranoid, surely Sparky wouldn't openly be after his girl. Speed grunted, 'his girl' that wasn't the appropriate term. They had been over years ago and in all actually if Trixie wanted to be with Sparky there was nothing he could say about it. He had no rights to nor held any debt to Trixie.

Stepping out into the sidewalk, Speed regretted that he had put on his black leather jacket and stripped it off after he had retrieved his sunglasses from the inside pocket. Now in a red t-shirt and black jeans he walked with his friends down a few blocks to a pizzeria. Inside they ordered a large pepperoni and bacon and a lunch salad for Trixie.

" Well, you should be proud of me guys," Sparky interlaced his fingers and placed them behind his head, " I set up an interview with you and the two Presidents of the Signet Black Corporation."

Speed looked up from his soda, " Really! Wonderful, I just know this is the final step to this whole ordeal."

" I kinda feel that way too," Trixie looked down saddened.

" Why so glum," Sparky reached for his Sprite, " You should be happy."

" Oh I am. I am very happy for Speed," Trixie smiled weakly at the man of whom she speaks, "however, my summer vacation will be over soon and I will have to go back to school," her head dropped lower, " back to Michigan."

" You can't!" the boys spoke in unison. Trixie looked up startled.

" I mean..." Sparky took her hand, rubbing his thumb along the surface, " I don't want you to."

Trixie looked down at her hand and squeezed Sparky's before she withdrew, " I'm sorry guys, but I still have one more year to go." She looked over at Speed cautiously, aware that he would be angered at Sparky's open affection.

She was right. A stone faced Speed sat rigidly in his chair, jaw muscles contracting with the fierce effort it took to keep his mouth shut. When he did speak, however, the struggle to remain calm was evident in his voice, " When is this meeting with Signet Black?"

Sparky spoke as if he hadn't just angered his friend, " In two days."

The waitress came with the pizza, steaming hot, she winced as her arm got caught under the tray. Speed reached forward to help her and burned himself in the process.

" Shit!" the tray hit the table with a loud bang that made Trixie jump, " Mother-nuhhhh. Dammit! Why the hell did you ask her to kiss you!"

The waitress knowing that the curses weren't directed at her placed down extra napkins then quickly left.

" So you heard that, huh," Sparky sat back in his seat eyeing Speed.

Speed was wringing his hands together, staring back at Sparky with narrowed eyes, " Why would you screw me over man! I thought we were pals!"

" We are," Sparky sighed, " look dude I'm sorry. We were just flirting, harmless you know. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to ruffle your feathers. She's really cute and you know how I get around cute girls."

Speed snorted, " Of all the women in the world why her? Why my Trixie?"

Before Sparky could answer Trixie pointed her finger at Speed, " Your Trixie? I stopped being your Trixie the day you said I wasn't good enough to be your wife!" Sparky looked over at her, mouth in an open frown.

She continued, " I moved on! So should you! I can be with whoever I want now! Sparky or a stranger in a bar!" she lowered her head, " You and I had a wonderful thing. A great and powerful relationship that I thought would last till the end of time..."

Speed sighed, " I was young then Trix. Scared of the notion of marriage and the like. I was wrong, I know that now. But to have you do this now, while we are together and have the chance to talk things out, rekindle the fire. It hurts, it really really hurts."

Trixie looked over catching Speed's stare and gazing into those bright blue eyes spoke firmly, " I've moved on."

Speed stood, digging in his pocket for his wallet. He tossed his half of the bill down then turned his back to them, " Sparky, god man, I love you, but you have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight," he turned back and looked down at him, " I'm not kicking you out dude, but I can't look at you right now."

Sparky nodded, " Understandable. Call me, after your meeting with Signet?"

Speed smiled, " We'll do lunch."

With that said he snatched up his jacket and headed out the door. Blinking heavily in a futile attempt to hold back tears.

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-AeryonSun