Crash Car Garage's name didn't really inspire much hope in the hearts of anyone who wasn't a loyal follower of the all-mighty life-giver (to cars, at least), Dix. Max didn't know who Dix was, or why he was an all-mighty life-giver to cars - she just knew what the sign told her.

Crash Car Garage,
Home of the All-Mighty Life Giver (to Cars, at Leest), DIX

"Who's Dix?" Max asked, getting out of the car.

"The owner," Alec shrugged. "More or less; come on."

"They spelled 'least' wrong," Max noticed idly as Alec tugged her into the shop.

"Luke isn't really the best at spelling. I mean, that's why he's working in a car garage and not a law firm, right?" he smirked at her, pushing the door open and holding it open. Alec went in after her. "Luke!"

A tiny bald man with nearly egg-white skin and a hockey mask covering his face, looked from the desk where he'd been doing a crossword, to Alec.

"Alec!" he greeted happily.

"What's with the mask?" Alec asked. "Rob another bank?"

"Nah, I'm trying out Halloween costumes," Luke said. He looked past Alec to Max. "Who's this?" Alec gently pulled Max in front of him.

"Max is here to see Biggs about a bike," Alec said simply.

"He's training," Luke said.

"So?" Alec asked.

"Well, traditionally, training sessions are uninterrupted. Like school," Luke explained in monotone, as if he'd said the same speech about a million times (and probably to the same person). Alec peered behind the counter.

"Dix!" he yelled. "I've got someone to go see Biggs!"

"Go ahead!" came the reply. Alec was about to go into the garage when Dix continued, "And it better not be another chick!" he stopped and looked at Max.

"Put your hood up. Dix's only got one eye, he won't see the difference," he muttered, pulling her into the workshop by the hand. When he opened the door, loud rock music boomed from inside of the room.

"Biggs!" he shouted. Max shut the door behind her. "Biggs!" Alec went over to the stereo from which the music was originating and unplugged it. The guy who was working on the car immediately whirled around and pushed up his eye-mask.

"Alec!" he greeted happily. "Buddy, man! Why didn't you tell me you were here?"

Biggs was a darkly handsome guy, around Alec's age, maybe a year or so older, with spiky black hair and features that told of a generally hispanic heritage. The 'trainee' next to him was a short blond boy, he couldn't have been more than thirteen.

"This is Dalton. He wants to learn how to fix bikes so he can get chicks!" Biggs said loudly. Max had a feeling that Biggs was a bit deaf from listening to his music so loud while working on motorcycles.

Biggs finally seemed to notice Max.

"Hey, look! It's working!" he said happily. "Dalton, start talking about transmissions or something. It makes them think you think they're smart."

"I'm here. To get. A bike," Max said slowly, and loudly. She was starting to see why Alec and Biggs were friends.

"A bike?" Biggs yelled. "Then you've come to the right place!"

"What about that one?" Max asked, eyeing the bike that Biggs had just been working on. Biggs shook his head.

"Nah, you don't want the Ninja. It's such a powerful bike, that it's practically got 'no girlies' painted across the side," Biggs said, admiringly.

"Great, make it a challenge," Alec said in a low voice.

"Shut up!" Max ordered. She looked pleadingly at Biggs. "How much for it?"

"Nuh-uh," Biggs said. "I'd never forgive myself if that pretty face were messed up."

"How much?" Max demanded again.

"--------," Biggs said.

"--------?" Max asked in disbelief. "No way. You've gotta be kidding."

"It's the price you'll have to pay for messing with my heart," Biggs said soulfully.

"How about I mess with your face and see how much it is then?" Max threatened, advancing on Biggs.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Alec said, stepping in between the two. "Let's not go too far, okay? Dalton, go get some donuts. This might get ugly and you're kind of young to see this type of bloodshed." Dalton shrugged and went to get a few donuts from the main office and Max bit her bottom lip to stop from smiling as she got an idea.

"Allllec," she fake-whined. "You got your allowance yesterday, right?"

"Alec, don't fold, dude!" Biggs shouted. "She's using her wily feminine charms on you! Don't fold, man! Don't fold!"

"And," Max continued, approaching Alec. She wrapped her arms around his neck (the things she'd do for a good bike - yeesh). "I know you couldn't have spent that entire allowance on pork rinds and scotch, right?" He swallowed dryly.

Thirty minutes later, Max and Alec were speeding back to the house in Alec's pimped out SUV, with Max's shiny new baby in the back.

"You know, Biggs is a really great friend," Max said happily. "I mean, when you offered to front the whole bill like that, he totally lowered the price, like, twenty thousand bucks."

A light sputtering sound was Alec's response.

"Speaking of which, want to go shopping next Saturday?"