Whee! Getting started! This is going to be fun!!
Title: Where Angels Fly
Chapter One of Ten: Reckless Anger
Anime/Manga: Speed Racer
Rating: PG-PG13
Warnings: some violence, alcohol use, mental angst
Summary: Speed was on top of the world. Beautiful girlfriend, loving family and living out his dream of being the world's greatest race car driver. One night changed everything.
Mood: Deviously creative and highly caffeinated
On the tube: NASCAR
Listening to: Susanna Hoffs, Creed, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, 80s Rock, "Weird Al" Yankovic
Story:
"Okay, Speed. One more lap and we can call it a day," Pops stated. "And don't forget, you have a date with your mother as soon as you're done."
"Roger that," the dark-haired youth replied then put the receiver back. Pressing the accelerator to the floor, Speed whizzed by his father and his best friend, waving as he went by. With the ease from many years of practice, he went into Turn One of the race track and continued on. Five minutes later, the Mach 5 was in park and he was climbing out. Pops handed him a towel as he approached.
"That was a good run," the older man said appraisingly. "Best time yet."
"Thanks," Speed smiled. "Car's running a bit loose, though. It was getting harder to turn at the end."
"We'll take a look at it," came the promise. "Speed . . ."
"Yeah . . ."
"Are you going to be all right?" Pops inquired softly. Speed hesitated for a moment, knowing to what Pops referred to. It had been a few weeks since he had accepted a racing challenge that he had believed had come from the Car Acrobatic team . . . and had learned the true identity of Racer X. It had hurt to have his brother walk away from him for a second time in his short life. Then he nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be all right. It isn't like I'm used to having him around anyway . . ."
"Speed . . ."
"I'll be all right," he assured his father. "Really, I am. I'll see you when you get home tonight, okay? I better hurry before Mom thinks I've forgotten all about her. Give Sparky a ride home for me? Please?"
"Sure," Pops nodded then Speed hurried away. He quickly fished an extra set of keys from his pocket. As fast as he dared, Speed drove home. Once there, he quickly showered and changed into a suit. His mother had left him a note, stating she'd meet him at the restaurant.
Speed had just picked the keys up again when the phone rang. With a sigh, he picked it up.
"Hello? Racer residence."
"Hi, Speed!"
"Hi, Trixie," he smiled. "What's up?"
"Oh, not much," came the coy response. "I was thinking that you and I could go out tonight. There's a party over at . . ."
"I can't, Trixie . . . Not tonight."
"And why not?" she demanded, sounding hurt and upset.
"I've already made plans for tonight," he began. "Maybe tomorrow night we could . . ."
"Speed, this party is tonight," Trixie exclaimed. "And it isn't the kind of party you want to pass up, either! There's going to be all sorts of sponsors there and Hollywood producers. This could be huge for the entire team!"
"I'm sorry, Trixie . . . I can't go. I've already made plans . . ."
"Oh. I see." Speed felt the icy in her tone, and he frowned. He knew he had told her that he had made these plans. Why was she acting like this now?
"Listen, I'll talk to you tomorrow, Trixie. I'm going to be late . . ."
"Of course," she replied stiffly. "Have fun."
Before he could say anything else, she hung up the phone. Speed shook his head then sighed.
'I'll call her later to talk to her. Mom's waiting for me,' he thought as he left the house.
* * *
Trixie let out a frustrated growl as she slammed the phone down. Of all the times for him to have made plans, it had to be tonight. This party was the chance of a lifetime event and she was certain she had told him about it.
"He isn't going to come with us, is he?" Janine inquired. Trixie shook her head.
"No . . . said he had plans for tonight. You'd have thought he would have rescheduled them for this."
"You'd think," the other girl agreed. "But he didn't. Not much we can do about it except go ourselves and have a good time."
"Yeah . . ."
"Come on," Janine stated, smiling a little. "Let's get ready. It can be a girls' night out thing! Wouldn't that be great?"
"I suppose," Trixie frowned. Then she shook her head and smiled. "What am I saying? Of course, it will be."
"And it'll be Speed's loss for not coming with us," Janine winked.
"Right."
As she got ready, though, Trixie couldn't help but feel that there was something she was forgetting about tonight. Something very important. Then she shrugged it off. If she couldn't remember it, obviously it wasn't that important. Her anger at being brushed off by Speed about tonight slowly began to eat away at her, anger that would permeate the events of the night.
* * *
"Wait right here," Speed told his mother. "I'll go get the car."
It had been a few hours since he'd met her at the restaurant, and it had been one of the best times of his life. Of course, when he'd informed his parents about Rex, his mother had taken it the hardest. Speed had hated to see the tears on his mother's face and that's when he'd promised to take her out. They stayed a little longer than what they should have, but Speed felt that his mother was entitled. She did so much for the family, it bordered on being unbelievable. His mother smiled at him then nodded.
"Okay. Be careful, Speed."
"Mom," he chuckled. "I'm just walking across the street! What could possibly happen?"
"Nothing, if you're careful."
He laughed again and gave her a hug then started to cross the street. Speed dug into his pocket to retrieve his keys, dropping them almost instantly. With a sigh, he knelt down to pick them up. Headlights shining at him and the sound of tires squealing caught his attention and he looked up just as a car came barreling towards him . . .
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