Bang (Speed Racer: The Next Generation)

Two

The next week Professor Winn decided to assign another history project. It seemed the class was back on that odd history kick. What did the American Revolution have to do with racing? Nothing, but it was still a functioning academy. On the projector, the assignment read about the 1990's. It seemed the requirement was a five page essay on a significant event from the 90's that took place in America.

Professor Winn sighed, "As you students can see, this essay must be five pages," the students groaned, "and it is due in two weeks. There is no restriction as long as it is between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 1999. It must have been something important and widely known."

Lucy had immediately decided to do politics, and Conor wanted to do either the OJ conviction or the Oklahoma City Bombing. X for some reason decided to do the Jeffrey Dahmer trials.

"Dahmer happened in the 90's right?" X tapped on Speed's shoulder. Speed glanced up at him.

"I think the trials did so... Do you even know anything about Dahmer?"

"He ate people right?" X scoffed.

Speed blinked, "There's more to it than that but yeah."

The clock ticked close to the end of class after everyone was allowed the rest of class to start research. Speed impatiently opened and closed tabs on his tablet. He couldn't think of anything to do. Conor had left to check out books from the library. Speed judged ten minutes was a good enough time to at least browse books. He left, wondering to the library. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, not in a menacing way, just lightly. He thought it was X at first until he saw Alec next to him.

Alec removed his hand, "So what'd you decide on. Or haven't decided on?"

"I got nothing."

"Of course you haven't. I'm doing the Columbine Massacre," His grin faded into an awkward smirk. Speed gave him a quizzical glare.

"Don't look so happy while saying that," he shivered, "well. I guess whatever we choose will be bad. The 90's may be the last great decade but it was full of bad stuff. And Columbine. I think I watched a documentary on that. Or at least part of it... I fell asleep."

"There are a lot of stuff on it. It's a fun thing to research. I already know stuff about it. Really interesting."

"I'm sure it is," Speed sighed, "But that's not helping me any. I guess I could do... that Bill Clinton scandal."

Alec nodded, going silent as they ascended the stairs. The library came in sight. Speed figured Alec could help him find a book to read, "Hey have you-" No one was on the stairs with him, "Damn kid is Houdini."

During his lunch breaks, now Speed sat quietly in the library. He typed out what he could on the essay. Lucy had him spellcheck stuff for her and Speed was helping Alec with his own essay. Alec went far i depth with his report. He focused on causes and leading up to it, barely spending any time on the actual massacre. Speed supposed that worked too, but Winn might not like it. Alec shrugged off it, saying she's going to get what she's going to get.

Alec propped his feet up on the desk, pulling the bill of his cap down, "Wake me up when you're done."

Speed shook his head. Was Alec his friend? Seemed like it. Annalise strode up behind Speed, grabbing his hair and pulling it back.

"Hi Speedo. You actually writing that stupid essay? I'm just having Stan write it for me," She let go. Jesse nudged his twin with a smile.

Speed huffed, "I don't have goons to do everything for me, Princess."

"You're missing out," She laughed loud, earning her a glare from the librarian, "It's lame in here. I'm leaving. Jared, Jesse, come on."

Her little pack left.

"How do you even stand her?" Alec asked quietly from his place. He turned his baseball cap backwards, sitting up. Speed watched her leave. He sighed, as he did often now. She stressed him out sometimes but it didn't feel like it mattered.

He scooted forward in his seat, closer to the table, "She's a nuisance but not a real problem. Besides, my brother is dating her. I have to deal with it."

"It's pretty ridiculous for you just to be passive about it, but oh well. You aren't me, I'm not you," He chuckled to himself. The bell rang. Alec slammed his feet down to the ground, standing up swiftly, "See you in class."

Speed left to go too class too.
At one point, he passed Alec in the hall. It was the first time he ever saw Alec wearing a black coat. Speed approached him, drying off his face. Alec asked what happened, noticing his clothes were wet too.

"I got tripped into a puddle," He nibbled on his lip, feeling ashamed for some reason. He sighed, starting to get angry over it. He tried to distract himself, "That's a nice trench coat you have."

"It's actually a duster. Very similar though. I understand the confusion," Speed flinched. He knew that. Now he looked liked an idiot.

Alec removed it from his shoulders, taking it off. He tossed it at Speed, who caught it. Alec told him to keep it. It actually kept off the ground when Speed put it on. He hadn't noticed before the height difference.

"See ya," Alec left.

"Oh uhh, bye? Thanks?" Speed replied frantically, but he had already turned down the hall.

Two weeks went by awfully fast. It was time to turn in the essays. Speed wasn't too confident in it, himself. Lucy told him it was pretty good. Each student had to present their information in front of the class. Alec went nearly first, showing a powerpoint. The long leather duster Alec was wearing caught his attention, it was just like his. Where did he get them? Winn didn't seem to appreciate it. The rest of the students went in a blur. He waited to be called to go, but it never came. He turned to Conor after he came back to his seat.

"Why hasn't Winn called me?"

"She did, Speed. You were like right after Mitch. He went first. You've been acting off lately but I didn't think you were losing time," Conor commented quietly.

"I'm not..." His stomach turned. He hoped he hadn't.

"Maybe you should see the doctor again, he said if anything started-"

He cut him off, "No, I'm fine!" Conor quit the conversation.

"But your fashion choice made Winn look scared."

He was wearing the coat Alec gave him. He didn't know how it and the Bill Clinton scandal made a scary mix. If anything it was Alec in trouble. X came down a row and sat by Speed, "Nice presentation by the way. I like the coat. Extra touch."

Speed scratched his neck, "Uhh thanks. I liked Alec's though on Columbine."

X paused, furrowing his brow. Conor turned and looked at Speed too. X shook his head, "Dude, you did that."

"No I did Clinton. What are you talking about?" Speed replied quickly, feeling scared himself.

"Lucy did Clinton," X felt his forehead, "What's going on with you? Are you feeling alright? Did you hit your head again?"

"I'm fine. I think I am at least."
Whoops. Anyway. It's funny how my friend has no clue what this show even is but she's giving me advice on story elements.

Please review? If not there's no point in writing more.