Chapter 9: Good Enough?

Agent BM: You got that right

As the days went by Honey kept practicing racing. She kept getting better, but the others were still passing her on the track. After another practice, Honey took a little break.

"Whew, this racing is hard work." she said to herself.

"Tired already, Honey?" asked Gloyd.

"Just a little."

"Well you better toughen up, if you want to keep up with us." Gloyd then left, leaving Honey a bit concerned.

Then as she was heading back to her kart, she noticed that Taffyta had also stopped.

"All right, boys fix her up." she called.

And with that, a few men wearing white jumpsuits came to her and started working on her kart.

"You have your own pit crew, Taffyta?" Honey wondered.

"Of course. Daddy hired them."

"Wow, that's impressive."

"I know isn't it?"

Taffyta's kart was already state of the art, and now she had her own personal pit crew? How could she compete with that?

At her house, her family all sat down to dinner.

"So Honey, how'd practice go?" asked Wanda.

"It went fine." Honey replied simply.

"Something wrong, sweetheart?" Trevor wanted to know.

"It's just that the other racers seem so much better than me."

"That's only because they've been racing longer than you." Wanda comforted.

"You'll get better in time."

"You really think so?"

"Of course, you can. You can do anything you set your mind too." Trevor added.

Honey smiled at her parents' words.

On one Saturday morning, Honey decided to go to track for some extra practice.

"All right, time to burn some rubber." Honey told herself.

She put on her helmet, got in her kart, and drove off. She went around the track a few times and then as she was taking another, she felt something weird. As she was driving, one of the tires seemed to be moving funny.

So she pulled off into the garage, and got out. She looked at the tires, and saw that she'd run over a nail.

"Oh great." she complained.

"You okay, Honey?" asked Buzz.

"I'm fine, I just need to get my tire fixed."

But this was going to be a little difficult, considering she'd never changed a tire before. As she went to go find some tools, she accidentally ran into someone. It was Zeke.

"Zeke what are you doing here?" Honey wondered.

"I was just checking out track and the different karts. What are you doing here?" asked Zeke.

"I was just doing some practice laps, but it seems I ran over a nail."

"I can take a look at it if you'd like?" he offered.

"Oh yes, thanks."

And they went over to the kart, Honey watched at Zeke did his work. He was very good with his hands, and got her tire changed in no time.

"There you go, all fixed up." he told her.

"Thanks, Zeke."

"No problem."

The two were quiet for a moment, but then Honey spoke up.

"So...are you gonna watch the race?"

"Yeah, figure I'll come out and watch everyone."

"Cool, hopefully I'll be able to keep up with the others." Zeke noticed she looked a bit worried.

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm just getting a little nervous about the race. The other racers are so much better."

"You must really want to win this things."

"I do. It could help my family out a lot."

"I'm sure you'll do fine."

With that, Zeke gently took her hand. Honey was surprised, Zeke's hand was strong yet gentle, and very warm. Zeke didn't let go right away, and Honey didn't pull her hand away. When they realized what they were doing, they quickly stepped back.

Honey's cheeks turned red as she blushed.

"Well...thanks for helping me with my tire." she told him.

"Uh, you're welcome." Zeke said.

Then Bumble spoke in Honey's ear.

"Honey, this guy is cute. Talk to him some more." she encouraged.

"Are you crazy?" Honey whispered.

"Go on, Honey." added Buzz.

"What've you got to lose?" Stinger asked her.

"I don't know." Honey told them.

"You don't know what?" Zeke asked her.

Honey blushed again.

"I was just saying I don't know...what I should get for lunch today."

"Well if you're looking a for place to eat, I was just about to go to the diner and grab something."

He then rubbed the back of his neck.

"You wanna join me?"

Honey was surprised, did Zeke just ask her out?

"Uh sure...I'd like that." Honey finally replied.

And off they went.

At the diner, they got a table and ordered their food. At first they were quiet, but then Honey spoke up.

"So, why aren't you racing?" she questioned.

"Racing karts isn't really my thing. I'm much better at fixing them." Zeke explained.

"Well maybe you could be part of a pit crew or something." Honey suggested.

Zeke smiled at hearing that. Then their food arrived, and the two dug in.

"So you must really want to win this thing, if you're practicing on a Saturday morning."

"Yeah, I really want to win. But..."

"But what?"

"I'm really nervous. The other racers are so much better, and what if I make a fool out of myself and my family?"

"Hey, hey, hey, no need to panic. It's just a race."

"I know, but still."

"You'll be great whether you win or lose. And besides..." Zeke dragged.

"Besides what?" Honey wanted to know.

"Besides, I think you're brave for entering this race and trying to help out your family like this. You're really something."

Honey felt her cheeks heat up as she blushed.

"Gee, thanks Zeke."

The two looked at each other for a moment, but then they went back to eating their food.

When they finished, Zeke offered to take Honey home.

"Thanks again for the ride, Zeke." Honey told him.

"No problem, Honey."

She walked up to the door, and then turned back to wave goodbye and Zeke drove off.

"That was so romantic." said Bumble.

"I think that guy likes ya, Honey." Stinger told her.

"He may be right." Buzz replied.

Honey blushed and smiled.

"Well maybe he does. But maybe I am good enough to win this race."

And with that, she went inside.

That's chapter 9