Herbie Fully Loaded

Chapter 7: calm before the storm

Maggie's POV:

I get in the house late from working on Herbie with Kevin when I hear hushed voices in the backyard, I creep up to the kitchen window and see Sally and dad talking.

"You can't let them drop us, it will break Ray's heart" my dad says referring to my brother but I don't know what he means by 'drop us'. "Ray junior is not cut out for racing, we held out as long as we could" Sally says sadly then it hits me, one of our teams many sponsors are dropping us, we will have no funding left for the race!

"Wait please!" Dad runs after Sally and sighs in defeat, "if Ray doesn't place I'll close shop, I'll sell motor oil or something. Just stay until the race please" dad gives Sally a pleading look and it breaks my heart, I didn't know they were doing this bad!

Sally nods and walks off into her yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Dad walks slowly into the kitchen and I don't bother moving, I need to confront him. "How long were you standing there?" Dad questions me

"Long enough" he sighs once again dramatically,
"I didn't know the team was doing this bad" I admit because the last time I was in town our team were mid field in the pack of racers. "I am glad your not part of this, at least I did something right" my dad mumbles while walking away, if only he knew.

———-

"I'm gonna go sign us in" I say to Kevin, we pulled up to Trip's racing competition and Herbie is fully restored on a trailer with a cover over him. Kevin nods and I walk confidently to the portable desk. "Maggie Peyton" I hear a familiar voice say, it's Trip.

"I haven't seen you in a while, who are you here for? In the way Ray?" He smirks and a devilish grin appears on my face. "Actually, I'm sponsoring Maxx" his face drains of colour and stares at me and on the inside I do a little victory dance.

"So do you like the makeover?" I say and at that very moment Kevin takes the cover off and Herbie stands proudly in the sun for everyone to see. After a few moments Trip says cockily, "you can take the car out of the junkyard Maggie but you can't take the junkyard out of the car" I roll my eyes at his comment.

"How do you know this Maxx anyway?" Trips asks curiously. My minds panics before I come up with an average answer, "oh we go way back" Trip nods unconvinced. "I'd like to meet him, can you arrange a face to face?" He asks cockily and I won't let it pass.

"Oh no he's meditating" I say sarcastically and he chuckles, "sure, the pressures getting to him?" Trip teases but I have the upper hand. "He's not worried, he beat you once" I watch as his face drains of any amusement and shows nothing but anger.

"Beginners luck" he spits and I laugh at his cockiness. "Is that what you tell yourself? In your trip Murphy pyjamas?" I tease and his face grows even angrier. "Hey, you tell Maxx I'm excited for the rematch" Trip says with a smirk but before I can reply Kevin trips over to us not noticing Trip next to me.

"Get a load of all this Trip Murphy craaa-hey" Kevin says awkwardly and Trip storms away angrily, "see you later Trip" Kevin replies awkwardly once again. I internally roll my eyes but continue filling in the sign up sheet. "I don't know if I can do this" I blurt, Kevin gives me a comforting look.

"Time to suit up Maxx"

Fun fact: I have a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle called Sally but what do you think of the chapter?
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