When Jill Met Marcie

Chapter 4: Halloween

AN:This chapter will be mostly story and little action. It will be set on Halloween of 2001. There is also one small plot detail which might be a little controversial.
Well, enjoy.

October 24, 2001

Three months after her defeat at Speed Wars, Jill was still racing. She had won a few races and lost others. This night, she was a winner.

She cut around a turn in her Civic and raced for the finish. Right behind her was a similarly modified Nissan 200SX. Jill won it by a car length.

As she climbed out of the Civic, she smiled at the applauding crowd. She then gave a quick wave.

The Nissan's driver walked over and handed her the prize money. "Next time, you won't be so lucky." he said.

"Aw, I guess I'll have to rely on skill." said Jill.

She then walked over to Marcie. "I see you're getting over your loss to Scott." said Marcie.

"Maybe someday." said Jill.

"Yeah, maybe." said Marcie.

"Hey, guys." said a young woman with blonde hair. "I saw you race out there. Not bad."

"Thanks." said Jill.

"Anyway, you're probably aware Halloween is in a week." said the woman. "After seeing that performance out there, I was wondering if you would be willing to come to this party I'm throwing."

"Well, I'm relatively new in town, but okay." said Jill.

"Can I come too?" asked Marcie.

"By all means." said the woman. She handed Jill a flyer and said "Here's the address. By the way, my name's Brenda."

"Okay, I'll see you there." said Jill. "Wait, is this a costume party?"

"Of course." said Brenda.

"Oh, that's good." said Jill. "I once wore a costume to a Halloween party only to discover it wasn't a costume party."

"Yeah, Scott Temple did that last year." said Brenda. "Tony Basilotta and Caesar King showed up in costume. They looked like idiots."

"Takes a lot to make Caesar look like an idiot." said Marcie.

"Okay, see you next week." said Brenda.

One week later, it was Halloween. Jill was at Marcie's house getting ready. She was looking at the cover of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" album. She was also dressing up like her. "So, did Tony and Caesar really show up at a non-costume party in costume?" she asked.

"Well, in their defense, you would assume a Halloween party to be a costume party." said Marcie as she applied makeup to make her skin look paler. She was also wearing a red dress with matching cape.

"It would have been nice to tell them." said Jill. "So, why are you going as a vampire?"

"There's something about taking something that started innocent and unassuming and turning it into something more powerful and amazing."

"Kind of like what we do with cars." said Jill.

"I never thought of it like that before." said Marcie.

"Plus, we've got that whole night thing going." said Jill.

"Good point." said Marcie. "Now, could you do me a favor and not talk like a valley girl all night?"

"Only if you don't replace w's with v's and go 'bleh' every once in a while." said Jill. "Ready to go?"

"Just about." said Marcie. She picked up a pair of plastic fangs and stuck them onto her upper canine teeth. "Okay, let's go."

Within minutes, they were on their way to the party in Jill's Civic.

"So, why do you have that look on your face that says 'I know something you don't know'?" asked Jill.

"Scott's going to be at the party." said Marcie.

"Shit." muttered Jill.

"Have you run across him since Speed Wars?" asked Marcie.

"No." said Jill. "In fact, racing's been a little sparse since the attacks in New York."

"I can understand that." said Marcie. "Three thousand people lost their lives. Didn't really seem like a good time for racing."

"It's starting to pick up again." said Jill. "Although, I'm really concerned about Suad."

"Why's that?" asked Marcie.

"You've seen how people of middle eastern decent have been treated since the attacks." said Jill. "I'm worried about him. Who knows what others would do?"

"I see what you mean." said Marcie. "Ah, here's the place."

They pulled up in front of a two-story house. Several tuner cars were parked in front of it. Music could be heard blasting from the living room.

Jill and Marcie climbed out of the Civic. "Looks like a lively party." said Jill.

"We should remember this place." said Marcie.

Jill ran up to the door and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, Brenda came to the door dressed as a fairytale princess.

"Oh, it's you guys." she said. "Please, come in."

"I think I have to be invited in." said Marcie.

"I see that." said Brenda. "I almost wore the same thing." She then turned to Jill and said "Of course, I wouldn't have thought of the Material Girl here."

"Of course." said Jill.

Jill and Marcie entered the house. Young people stood around in Halloween costumes.

"So, where's Pete and Steve?" asked Jill.

"Right here." said Pete. He was dressed as Guile from "Street Fighter 2" with combat boots, camoflage pants, a green tank top, and dog tags. However, he didn't have his hair styled like Guile's.

"Nice to see you." said Marcie.

"Why didn't you do the hair?" asked Jill.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble that is?" asked Pete.

"Where's Steve?" asked Marcie.

"Coming." said Pete.

"Hey, ladies." said Steve as he walked over dressed as Blade. He was wearing black combat boots, black leather pants, a black shirt, a black trenchcoat, and black sunglasses. He also had a scabbard strapped to his back.

When Steve saw Marcie, they looked each other over. "Well, this is awkward." said Marcie.

It was about that time that Tony and Caesar pulled up. Tony parked his Saturn in front of the house. They climbed out wearing normal clothes.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Caesar.

"Of course." said Tony. "How does the saying go? 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.'"

Tony knocked on the door. Brenda answered a few seconds later.

"Tony, nice to...see you." she said.

The two guys got concerned when they saw her costume. She let them in and they saw the rest of the partygoers in costume. Caesar then glared at Tony.

Elsewhere, Jill and Marcie were strolling through the crowd.

"Recognize a lot of these people?" asked Marcie.

"Sure do." said Jill. "That guy was at Speed Wars. She showed up at that race in Santa Monica. He's got that nicely tricked out Supra."

Scott and his teammates showed up. They were dressed as the guys from "Reservoir Dogs" with black suits and sunglasses.

"And I definitely know him." said Jill.

"Try talking to the people you don't know." said Marcie. "Some of them could be new contacts in the racing world."

Tony and Caesar sat on the couch. A woman dressed as Sonya Blade from "Mortal Kombat" walked up to them. "Hey, where's your costume?" she asked.

"Oh, this is my costume." said Tony. "I'm supposed to be a slacker psychic detective with him as my assistant."

"His really put upon assistant." said Caesar.

"Yeah right." laughed the girl as she walked away.

"I thought it was a good idea." said Caesar. "Might make a good T.V. show someday."

AN:Keep in mind that said idea would go into production as "Psych" five years after this scene takes place.

A man wearing a blue skirt and matching jacket sauntered through the crowd. He was also wearing a brown bob wig and large glasses. He was also trying to talk to the other partygoers in a British accent.

"Who the hell is this guy supposed to be?" asked Caesar.

"No idea." said Tony. "Looks like Elton John as one of the Kids In The Hall."

The man went over to them and sat down. "Well, I see someone actually had a worse costume than me." he said with a British accent.

"I wasn't aware there was a contest." said Tony.

"Uh, forgive us." said Caesar. "But who are you supposed to be?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?" asked the man. "Oh wait, I guess it's not. I'm Pauline."

"Pauline who?" asked Tony.

"From 'The League of Gentlemen'." said the man.

"You mean the graphic novel teaming together classic literary characters?" asked Caesar.

"That's the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." said Tony.

"'The League of Gentlemen' is a sitcom back in Britain." explained the man. "It's a bit twisted to say the least."

"We probably don't get it over here." said Tony.

"Quick question." said Caesar. "Do you have any automotive shows in England?"

"Well, we do have this program called 'Top Gear'." said the man. "However, I heard it has ended. I think a lot of people tuned out when Clarkson left."

"Jeremy Clarkson? I think I've heard of him." said Caesar.

"I'll say this about him." said the man. "He may be a highly opinionated, highly offensive jerk, but he does know his cars."

"Really?" asked Tony.

"Wouldn't mind cracking him one." said the man.

"Sorry, we never bothered to ask." said Tony. "Who are you? I mean who are you really when it's not Halloween?"

"Sorry, I should've introduced myself." said the man. "My name is Oswald Longmore."

"Nice to meet you, Lonmore." said Caesar.

"LonGmore." said Oswald, emphasizing the "G".

"What did I say?" asked Caesar.

"You said 'Lonmore' instead of 'Longmore'." said Oswald.

"My mistake." said Caesar.

"Oh, forget it." said Oswald. "It happens all the time."

"Probably." said Caesar. "Tony, did you think he said 'Lonmore'?"

"I thought he said 'Lawn Mower'." said Tony.

Jill talked with a man dressed as a football player.

"So, where do you race? I don't think I've seen you before." said Jill.

"Santa Monica Mountains." he said. "I mostly race on Mulholland Drive."

"Really?" said Jill.

"Traffic's tight." said the man. "But if you can get a clear road, it's heaven."

"Especially if you miss a turn." said Jill. "What's your name, by the way?"

"Adam."

"Nice to meet you." said Jill.

"We should trade cell phone numbers if we should set up a race." said Adam.

"Sweet." said Jill.

"Nice to see you're bouncing back." said Scott.

Jill turned around to see him. "Hello, Scott." she said.

"I've heard about your work out there." said Scott. "Can't believe you bested Norman."

"Yeah, well the guy needs to know how to use his nitrous." said Jill.

"He overshot a turn?" asked Scott. "He did that when I raced him too."

"There's plenty more to go." said Jill.

"I see you're setting those up right now." said Scott.

"Don't you have a party to get to?" asked Jill.

"Sure thing." said Scott.

Out in the living room, Tony and Caesar continued to speak with Oswald.

"This guy's got a Peugeot with a couple of nitrous tanks in the back." said Oswald. "We swears he has taken on Aston Martins with that thing. Vanquishes, I might add."

"Wow, all these racers." said Tony. "I had no idea there was such a scene in London."

"I wish it was easier to come by parts." said Oswald. "Most of the parts shops in London have really attrocious selection."

Tony perked up. "How does Speed Zone compare?" he asked.

"Oh, much better." said Oswald. "The shops back in London could learn a thing or two from you Yanks."

"You know what could change their ways?" asked Caesar. "Competition. I'm thinking that we should talk to your dad about opening a store over there."

"I don't know." said Tony. "We've already got shops in twelve major cities, but I'm not sure about going international."

"Plus, as our man Oswald has just pointed out," said Caesar "the automotive market is much different in Europe. We'd have to do some research first to know what we're getting ourselves into."

"True." said Tony. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask."

Jill walked into the kitchen and found a couple made up as zombies making out. "Hey, get a room." she said.

The zombie couple shambled out of the room. They brushed past Scott on their way out.

"Evidently, you are still bothered by your loss at Speed Wars." he said. "Maybe we should talk about it."

"Not now." said Jill.

"Then when?" asked Scott.

"Look, this is not the time or the place." said Jill as Marcie walked in. "This is a party, a celebration. This is not the place for a confrontation."

"Oh, so you find me threatening?" asked Scott. "Unlike your friend, I don't bite."

Jill looked at Marcie, then back at Scott. "What is it you want?" she asked.

"I want to explain that your defeat was likely to happen." said Scott. "I've already been where you are. You shouldn't have tried to take me on so soon in your career. Try building up some experience and skill first. I don't race amateurs."

"Then why did you race me at Speed Wars?" asked Jill.

"Sometimes, I like to make an exception and race an amateur anyway." said Scott. "You know, give them a wake up call or a reality check, whatever you want to call it."

"What, you think I can't defeat you?" asked Jill.

"Not now." said Scott. "Maybe in a few years, you'll be at my level, but not now."

"I bet I can kick your ass in a year!" said Jill.

"Jill!" yelled Marcie.

"One year?" asked Scott.

"You got it!" said Jill.

"Okay." said Scott. "Sometime before Halloween next year, we'll race again. Stakes will be determined then and there."

"You're on!" said Jill.

"Alright." said Scott. He returned to the party.

"Are you out of your mind?" asked Marcie.

"Relax." said Jill. "I know he's defeated me once, but I'm sure in a year I can improve my skills to the point where I can defeat him." She started to get more frantic. "Sure, he's the biggest racer in the city and I'm just an upstart from out of town with a small crew, few connections, little experience. Oh God, what have I done?"

AN:Now, that's scary. Please review.