Chapter 9
Trixie poured coffee into Janine's cup. "Speed was so sweet, like a little boy when he apologized. I know he's sorry about what he did." She smiled. "He didn't mention Dallas once after that."
"Oh, how magnanimous of him," Janine said sarcastically. "What a fine, upstanding guy he is."
"Janine cut him some slack, will you? "
"Why should I when he treats my best friend like she's a worthless pile of trash?" she said. "Mark my words; this thing with him and Dallas is far from over. He might say that he's got no interest in her, but it's a lie. I've seen the way he looks at her."
"I know all about that. You know that Speed's always had a soft spot for blondes…"
"And redheads, and brunettes," Janine interjected.
"I give up!" Trixie said, exasperated. "Lets just drop this whole thing. It's obvious that we don't see eye to eye when it comes to my boyfriend."
"Some boyfriend he is…" she muttered. "Fine, I'll let it go. But, let me just say one more thing, when Speed breaks your heart, don't come crying to me."
"Fine, I won't…Not that I think that's going to happen." She said nothing more on the subject, though a tiny shred of doubt had crept into her mind. Could Speed really be trusted?
---
Speed grinned at the site of Dallas' car in her pit. It had been another incredible night between the two of them. "I can't believe anything could top that first night," he said. "Will things just keep getting better and better?"
Dallas saw him and waved. "Hi, darlin', all set for the trials?"
"Yeah," he said, not making a move towards her. He wouldn't be able to trust himself if he were any closer.
"Well, good luck!" she said, acting as was just another driver. She climbed into her car, waving again before driving onto the tarmac.
"Whew." Speed let out a breath. Damn, just looking at her turned him on. He smiled dreamily as he watched her get her car in position. "Later…I get to be with you later," he thought, wishing it were evening and he was at the Pines with Dallas, instead of here, at the track.
"Speed Racer!" an angry voice barked from behind him. "What happened to you this morning?"
He quickly spun around. "Trixie! Oh, I'm so sorry. I…I overslept and in rushing to get here I guess I completely forgot about you."
"You FORGOT?" she exclaimed, irate. "How the HELL could you forget about, me, your GIRLFRIEND?"
Janine stood behind her, arms crossed. "Yeah, Speed, how could you forget about the women you claim to love so much?"
Speed turned on her. "What is it with you? All you ever do lately is criticize me. I thought we were friends."
"Thought, is the operative word," she sneered. "I don't consider any man who acts the way you do, a friend!"
Speed got in her face. "Why don't you mind your own business? What goes on between Trixie and me is none of your concern."
"It is my concern when it's about my friend!"
"Janine, please…" Trixie implored her.
"I'm just trying to help," she said.
"Well, you're not!" Speed told her.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Sparky joined them. "I could hear you clear inside the garage."
"Nothing," Janine answered. "Casanova here was trying to BS his way out trouble once again.
Sparky looked at Speed, then Trixie. "Janine, why don't we get a cup of coffee and leave these two…love birds…to straighten things out."
Janine sighed. "Yeah, why not? At least I know I'll be in the company of real man." She eyed Speed on that last word.
He stared after her as she and Sparky walked off. "What's her problem?"
"Maybe she's just being protective of me because she doesn't want to see me hurt!" Trixie said, her voice rising again.
"Trix, please don't get upset," Speed said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm really sorry. I don't know how I could've forgotten that I was supposed to pick you up." He stopped speaking for a moment, taking a long breath before speaking again. "You know how I get when I think about racing, everything else takes a back seat."
"Even me?" she asked, almost afraid of what his answer was going to be.
"Sometimes," he said softly. "I know it's not right, you and my family should come before racing. I guess it's just another one of my many flaws," he said with a shrug.
She gazed at him, once again falling under his spell, damn him. "You're only human, Speed. You can't help it if you're not perfect." Her mouth slowly broke into a smile.
He exhaled, relieved. "Have I ever told you that I don't deserve a woman as good as you?"
"Yes," she said, "But I don't mind hearing it again."
He laughed and pulled her close. "I don't deserve a woman as good as you." He planted his lips on hers in a long, lingering kiss.
---
Janine and Sparky watched the two from the window of the commissary. "Well, it looks like our favorite couple are friends again," Sparky said.
"Once more, Speed Racer manages to lie his way out of trouble."
"Janine, what are you talking about? Speed's not the type of guy to lie."
"He wasn't until recently. Ever since that Dallas woman came on the scene, he's changed. He's not the same guy who I met a couple of years ago. The guy who stood up to my father and made him realize that cars weren't the enemy. If it wasn't for Speed, I'd never have been able to fulfill my dream of being a race car driver. I owe him a dept of gratitude for that"
"All I know is that if he hadn't met you," Sparky took her hand, "we'd never have met."
She smiled. "One more thing I owe him for." She looked back outside; Speed and Trixie were still talking. "I just wish he'd come to his senses about that bimbo Dallas. I tell you Sparky, he's got something going on with her, I just know it."
"I hope you're wrong Janine, I really hope you're wrong about this." But Sparky knew, in his heart, that she was right. All the signs were there; Speed and Dallas were involved.
---
Sparky closed the hood of the Mach Five, giving it a slap for good measure. "She's all set, Speed. Now all you gotta do is beat the time of all the other drivers and get pole position."
"You make it sound so easy," Speed said derisively.
"It will be for you," Trixie said reassuringly. "You know you're better than any of the other drivers out there." She looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Dallas staring at them. She smirked before leaning in and kissing Speed. "For luck."
"Thanks, I can use it." He didn't seem to notice Dallas much to Trixie's delight.
They watched as Speed pulled onto the track. Trixie turned to Janine, "The least you could have done was cheer him on."
"Why?" she asked. "He doesn't need it. Like you said, he's better than any of the other drivers out there."
"He is," Trixie said, her voice cold. "He will take pole."
---
Speed watched as Racer X finished his last lap. "Car number nine, official speed, 197.4," the PA announced. He gripped the steering wheel, "197.4, I gotta beat that. Why didn't I practice when I had the chance? I'm so rusty, I'll probably be lucky to break 175."
"Car number five, please move into position," the announcer sounded.
"This is it," he said, revving the engine and saying a silent prayer before taking off.
The team followed the car through its laps, Speed was really moving.
"Wow! He's flying," Sparky exclaimed. He flinched as Speed took a turn a bit too tight, his tires resisting with a squeal. "That was close!"
"Why is he being so reckless?" Trixie asked, "It's not like him."
"I think he's over compensating because he didn't practice enough," Sparky responded. "He'd better be careful or he'll spin out."
The Mach Five went into the turn at the far end, again Speed nearly lost control.
"What is wrong with him? Is pole so important that he'd risk crashing?" Even Janine couldn't hide her worry over him.
"Good thing Pops isn't here," Sparked commented, "I can only imagine his reaction to Speed's driving."
They all breathed sighs of relief when Speed finished his last lap, the car slowing a stop as it reached their pit.
"Car number five, official speed…197…point 6. "
"Yes!" Speed cried out, pumping his fist in the air before leaping out of the Five.
"Whoo hoo! Way to go, Speedy," Sparky whooped, high-fiving him. "You know you've gotta get pole with that!"
"Let's just wait and see," Speed said, "There's still a few other drivers to go." His eyes were glued on the Girl Team's pit as the red headed driver, Ruby Cerise, got ready for her run. Dallas blew him a kiss; he quickly turned away, hoping nobody saw her. 'Why does she have to be such a tease?" he wondered.
"…Isn't that right, Speed?" Trixie asked him.
The mention of his name brought him out of his pondering. "Isn't what right?"
Trixie rolled her eyes. "I said that I thought your only real competition was Racer X."
"Oh, well, I guess he is the toughest, though I wouldn't discount any of the other drivers. They're all good enough to be here, so they're also good enough to win." His eyes followed Ruby as she crossed the finish line with a speed of 188.8. "See? She's good, certainly good enough to win."
"Hardly," Trixie said. "Even her fearless leader, the great Dallas Maverick, could barely break 190."
"Oh?" Speed tried to make it sound as if he was only interested in her as a competitor.
"Yeah," Sparky chimed in, "She finished with 190.2. Really, not all that bad considering this is her first race at this level. OUCH!" he cried out as an elbow hit him in the side. "What was that for?"
Before Janine could answer, Speed burst out laughing. "Oh damn, Janine, Trixie's taught you well!"
"Yes, she did, Speed," Janine said, her smile not as sincere as it looked. "But I've taken the lesson one step further, my sting is lethal."
Speed gulped, she meant what she said. "I'm glad I'm not dating anybody as vindictive as she is," he said to himself.
---
Trixie sat in the Mach Five waiting for Speed. She couldn't help but smile at the thought that he'd taken pole. "We have to do something special to celebrate, maybe get a bottle of champagne and go back to my place."
She turned the radio on; a new song she liked came on. "Oh, I love this!" she said, turning up the volume. "I've gotta get a pen and write down the name of this so I can buy it. I know Speed will love it."
With a twist of her wrist, she opened the Mach Five's glove compartment. "What's this?" she asked as a small box fell out. She picked it up, the word "TROJAN" was printed across the front of it. She stared at if for a few moments before dropping it as if it were molten lava.
"Oh my God…No…Speed, you wouldn't do this…" she moaned, feeling as if she'd been shot through the heart.
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Uh oh! What will Trixie do now that she's found that box of uh...protection?
What about Janine Trotter? What will she do when she finds out that she's right about Speed's discretions? One thing's for sure, I'd hate to be Speed's best friend, Sparky right now!
Please stay tuned for the next chapter of "Girl Team," to find out what happens next. Remember, Speed has to race against Dallas, not to mention, Racer X!
Please read Jen's wonderful story, "Almost Shattered." Also, there is a great new fan fiction by Joey's Girl, called "The Beginning."
Thank you for supporting and reviewing the fan fiction on this and other sites. Without our loyal readers, we're nothing!
