Good evening readers! Thank you so much for your support thus far, I've received some great reviews so far and I am eager to continue! Please sit back, relax and enjoy this next installment of Chasing Heart!

Vanessa sat in deep thought at lunch with Gregory the next day. "There's got to be a reason why he doesn't want me on the team. It can't have anything to do with my performance... and I've also kept my nose clean here. My grades are decent and I stay out of trouble for the most part."

Gregory pouted his lip a bit in deep thought. "Hm... maybe there's something they don't WANT you to know. I mean... I don't know if it would help, but maybe if I try to ask him something, maybe he'd be more likely to tell me."

"But everyone knows we're friends... it wouldn't work." Vanessa pointed out.

"I'm going to try anyway." Gregory responded.

Vanessa shrugged. "Suit yourself. Say, any luck on that favor I asked you for?"

"I haven't gotten a straight answer yet from mom and dad. But don't worry... my mom will help convince my dad. See, my mom kinda hates my grandpa because she was set up with my dad. I mean, she loves my dad, but... see, she told me about my aunt. Well, my half aunt. She died before my mom was born. She said it was my grandpa's fault. She didn't want to end up the same way so she did what he told her to. But now that he's older, and my dad controls the company... maybe there's a better chance." He said, turning around to look at the clock. "I'm going to head to Mr. Kingsley's office. I'll meet you back in study hall."

"Okay. Good luck, soldier." She smiled.

"Hey come on, just because my dad was a soldier doesn't mean I am! 'Brad the Nomad...' it sounds so stupid!" Gregory headed out of the lunchroom, shaking his head a bit as he smirked to himself. His expression dissolved into something more focused then, the hallways a bit emptier while students were eating lunch. He turned the corner to head into the principal's office, when he heard voices inside. When he realized there was a conflict, his eyes widened, staying hidden and out of sight while he eavesdropped.

"I don't know what you want me to do, Coach Bill! You know our number one sponsor doethn't cough up the dough until the final rathe! And you know the only way that happens... you HAVE to make sure that girl doethn't get on the team, do whatever you have to do!"

"But sir, she's better than all the other people I have... isn't the point trying to win against other schools?" Bill asked monotonously.

"Of courthe it ith! But I'm under a lot of pressure here Bill, a LOT of pressure! We have to sthtall thith girl for one more year and I can finally get thith headache off my hands until the next Mith VonSthtark showth up!"

Gregory gasped, furrowing his brows as he listened closer.

"Isn't there anyone else that can sponsor the track team, sir?" Bill asked.

"No... you know there ith no one elth who will pay as much as we're getting paid now, I tried. We have no choice but to depend on thith money every year or we won't have a track team at all. I have to do what I mutht to get that money Bill, and if it means breaking a few hearths, then that'th what I have to do!"

Gregory shook his head in disbelief, when the bell shook him out of his shock. He gathered himself up quickly and quietly, avoiding being seen as he headed straight for study hall. He couldn't wait another moment; he had to tell Vanessa what he'd heard.

After school, Vanessa's eyes widened in both shock and anger at what Gregory had told her. "So he's keeping me off the team because of MONEY? That makes NO sense! I'm gonna march back over there RIGHT now and give him a piece of my mind!"

Gregory grabbed her hand as she went to go back. "Vanessa, don't! You can't go around like that or we really won't get anywhere! Just calm down and listen to me." Gregory blinked as he realized he was holding her hand, shoving them in his pockets as he cleared his throat. Vanessa blinked, slowly smirking at that and giggling. "S' not funny!"

"Yeah it is! Anyway... what was it you were gonna say?"

Gregory grumbled a bit before continuing. "Okay. First thing we need to find out is who the sponsors ARE. I mean, I remember Mr. Kingsley saying something about how the first sponsor won't pay because of you... someone doesn't like you, Vanessa."

"Well, I dunno about anyone hating me THAT much. Here's a better idea. We need to get an even BETTER sponsor."

"How? Mr. Kingsley said he tried and tried but no one will take the bait!"

Vanessa gave him a flat look. "If you saw Mr. Kingsley walking up to you asking for money, would you give it to him?"

"Huh, good point. Well, we have to find something. Who could we ask?"

"Hm..." Vanessa pondered. "I've got it! There's only one place in this town that's got all the latest gossip and knows EVERYONE."

"Who's that?"

"Tipsy Tipper's! Mr. Tipper's gotta know someone. I know he can point us in the right direction!"

Gregory's eyes widened. "Are you kidding? My dad'll kill me if I go in a booze joint! He's always saying, 'Son, places like that are for the big lads!'" He frowned. "I'm nothing like my dad."

"Hey, come on! We're not going in there to taste, just to talk!" Vanessa took his arm, dragging him down to the establishment. They entered, a bell ringing as they did, and Mr. Tipper turned to welcome his clients, a bit surprised at who he saw.

"Well, aren't you kids a bit young?" He asked in a kind tone. He was a bit vertically challenged, with a thick brown mustache and blue eyes.

"We're here just to talk, Mr. Tipper, don't worry." Vanessa said, hopping up on a stool along with Gregory. "We need to ask you a very important question."

"Hm... well, flow's been a bit light today so I suppose I have some time to talk. What's on your mind, young lady?"

"See, here's the thing, Mr. Tipper. I really want to get on my school's track team but, there's been a bit of trouble with getting good sponsors. Apparently their top sponsor is a bit... picky. We were wondering if you knew of someone who could help."

Mr. Tipper thought for a moment, rubbing his chin until he reached an ah-ha moment. "I know of one person who can help. His name is Sonny Hedger. See, since he was a boy, he loved to run. He-"

Vanessa's eyes widened. "Sonny Hedger? THE Sonny Hedger?"

Mr. Tipper laughed. "The very same! Anyhow, for the last five years or so, ever since he made it big in his career, he promised that he would sponsor the winning school on Long Island in the finals, giving them enough for the following school year. Every year, he goes to the final race location."

"That's... that's PERFECT! I... I had no idea this was even... thank you, thank you so much, Mr. Tipper!" Vanessa beamed, and the man laughed as she dragged Gregory yet again out of the building.

The next day before school started, she looked around, making sure the coast was clear. She then headed into Mr. Kingsley's office, shutting the door before he could say anything and sitting at his desk.

"Mith VonThtark, what is the meaning of-"

"I have a solution that can help both of us, Mr. Kingsley. Please give me just a few minutes to hear me out."

"I'm thorry, but I don't have time for thith. I have a lot of paperwork to get through before-"

"I know how you can get the money you need to fund the track team!" She exclaimed.

Mr. Kingsley stopped, furrowing a brow as he looked up at her. "How in Tham Hill do you-"

"Does it matter how I know? All I know is you need a reliable sponsor, and if you listen to me, I can tell you how to get one." She received a small nod, signalling for her to continue. "Do you know who Sonny Hedger is?"

"Hm... sounds familiar, ithn't he a famouth track athlete?"

"He is. Did you know that when a school here on Long Island wins, he funds that school for the next year? He goes to all the final races across the island."

The man blinked, his eyes widening. "Ith thith true, mith VonThtark?"

"It is. I can guarantee it. I can also guarantee he can probably pay more than all your sponsors combined. But the only way we can do this is if our school wins. Look... Coram high has outdone our school for almost a whole decade. I can bring the glory of our racers back like Mr. Turner once did. I know he would support this too. In fact, I'm gonna go and tell him this after I leave here and see what he-"

"No, no no no." Mr. Kingsley waved his hands. "Lithen very clothely. I'm going to make a few callth and thee what thith ith all about. Thith doeth not leave thith office, you underthtand, young lady? You do not tell anyone about thith. Thith ith between you and me." He straightened up. "I will speak to you after school. Go to clath now."

Vanessa nodded, beaming. "So, you'll give me a chance?"

"We will dithcuth it after the final bell. Now hurry out of here, not another moment Mith VonThtark!"

Vanessa nodded, unable to stop smiling as she headed to class. Once there, she told Gregory everything. The day could not go by faster, and when the final bell rang, she practically flew out of her seat. When she reached the hallway, she felt someone take her by the hand, and she gasped as she was pulled over by a stairwell.

"Hey, what the heck do you think you're-!" She gasped. "Mr. Turner? What are you-"

"Shh..." He put a finger on his lips, silently apologizing for startling her. "Come with me to my classroom, Vanessa. There's something we need to talk about."

Vanessa nodded, silently following him to his classroom. Once inside, he shut the door and the blinds, and she sat in a chair. "What's wrong, Mr. Turner?"

The man sighed, frowning a bit. "Vanessa, I understand you spoke to Mr. Kingsley again this morning. It pains me to see someone so determined get their dreams crushed so... I must say this to you. And you must keep this between us... if it got to the principal that I told you this, he'd fire me for sure."

Vanessa blinked. "But you've been a part of this school for so long... he could never fire you!"

"Oh, don't let that fool you. Mr. Kingsley is nothing short of a tyrant. All he cares about is himself, he doesn't care who suffers in the process. When he wants his glory, he will sacrifice anything he can to get it. He'll sacrifice a mountain for a single gold coin, Vanessa, you must understand this. Mr. Kingsley cannot be trusted. He told you not to tell anyone what you spoke of, am I correct?"

Vanessa bit her lip. "Y- Yeah..."

"Do you know why? He is a corrupted man, Vanessa. He is ruled by greed and pride. If people knew what he really was he'd be ruined. What did you say to him?"

Vanessa looked down. "I... I promised him I wouldn't tell... I said I wanted to tell you but he said-"

"You must tell me what you said, Vanessa, I need to know!" He gripped her shoulders, and when he saw he'd surprised her, he composed himself, he cleared his throat. "I apologize. But Vanessa... you must believe me. I have been a part of this school for many years. I know how this man works. If you tell me what was said, I can try to help. Put in a good word for you, at least."

Vanessa sighed, nodding. "Okay... well, I found something out yesterday that I told Mr. Kingsley can help be a solution for everyone. I told him that-"

Her sentence was cut off by a knock on the door, and Gregory entered, walking up to Vanessa. "Sorry to interrupt Mr. Turner, but Vanessa and I really have to run somewhere!" Without another word, he took Vanessa's hand, much to her protesting, heading out of the classroom.

"I'll tell you later, Mr. Turner!" Vanessa called out as she was walking away.

Mr. Turner's expression hardened a bit as he stood, his grip on the desk tightening a bit as Vanessa disappeared from sight. He glanced towards the blinds, casting stripes of black and white upon him, his amber eyes seeming to glow in the low light.

"Whatever that man is planning... I will not let him get away with it." Bo muttered lowly to himself.

"Gregory, what do you think you're doing?"

"Mr. Kingsley told me to come fetch you! He says he's got something important to tell you!"

Vanessa tore her hand from his, sighing as she shook her head, pacing a bit. "Gregory, we can't trust Mr. Kingsley. He's only seeking money. That's all he wants... he's not going to support me if something better comes around."

"Something better WON'T come around. If it's money he wants, he'll get it! I don't know if I can trust him either but if he gets what he wants, so do you! Just talk to him, Vanessa. Please..."

The girl turned, staring at Gregory for a few moments before nodding. "Okay. I'll do that." She smiled, heading into the principal's office. Mr. Kingsley quickly ushered her in, shutting the door and sighing.

"Here ith what I have to thay, Vanetha. I'm going to make a deal with you."

"Yes?" Vanessa listened intently.

"If I let you rathe in the finalth... you MUTHT win. You mutht train on your own time and I will guarantee you a spot on next year'th track team if you win that final rathe. That ith my deal. Do you think you have that it taketh to win againtht Coram High?"

Vanessa's eyes widened. "Yes..." She breathed, a smile stretching across her face. "Yes, I do! I... I'll train harder every day, I will be more than ready when the finals come! Thank you Mr. Kingsley, thank you!" She beamed, sprinting out of the office.

The older man sighed, resting his head in his hands and rubbing his temples. "Thith hath to work... thith jutht hath to work..."

Well well! What have we here, a conspiracy? Who is going to win in the end? I promise, Ralph won't be staying in the shadows for long, his part in this story will become more prominent in later chapters. So for any who are disappointed that he did not make an appearance this time, don't fret! In the meantime, please leave your lovely thoughts and reviews! Thanks for reading! :D