Racing Hearts - Blood and Steel

Chapter 3

The other four cars looked just as confused as the red Corvette did, giving the Ford Fiesta a look of bewilderedness, as he approached the group. It was a rare sight to see such a common car coming to a place like this... a racetrack.
"Are you Clarence Wagner?" The young adult asked the Corvette, who let out a sigh in return. Word must have spread around that Clarence would partake in the upcoming season. And now other cars were already having high hopes in his skills, even though he hadn't even set a tire on the coarse asphalt of the Nürburgring for nearly two years.
"Yeah, that would be me." The red Corvette with the blue flames replied, an annoyed sounding undertone in his taspy voice. Immense headaches still causing him pain inside his skull. Clarence clearly not being in the mood to have a conversation right now. Yet the Ford didn't seem to be bothered by the other vehicle's reaction.
"Good," the young Ford Fiesta replied, "good to hear that you'll be taking part in races again. You know, you were always one of my favorite competitors. A shame that you weren't able to participate for the last two years. But that's not exactly what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to know whether or not I could race you. Just you and me and the road. What do you say?"
He asked with a calm voice, just as if the young car was talking about something as common as the current weather.
The Corvette gave the Ford a look of disbelief.
He raised an eyebrow, his emerald green eyes piercing the silver car. "You've got some balls to ask me this. But I'll have to decline. I don't think that it's a good idea. I haven't set a tire on these roads for a long, long time..." he shook his head and turned around to his friends. Yet he still could feel the glance of the Ford resting on him. He wouldn't let go of him that easily.
"Hey, it would be the perfect opportunity, don't you think!" Thomas replied, keeping his voice down so that the silver vehicle couldn't hear him, "he's just a Ford, you can take it easy, memorize the track and warm yourself up." The dark blue Audi nodded into the direction of the stranger, keeping eye contact with the Corvette at the same time. "Come on. What's the worst that could happen?" He asked again, with a slight look of triumph on his face, when Clarence turned around to the young Ford once more.
"Alright I'll do it!" He told the young car in an unfriendly manner, who still didn't seem to be bothered by the old sports car's behavior. "Oh really?" The young one asked, wanting to make sure that it wasn't just a bad joke that would lead to nothing but disappointment.
"Yes really and now follow, I can get us onto the track before anyone else does!" The grumpy Corvette replied, making his way over to the official entrance of the Nürburgring. He could feel his own heartbeat, strong and powerful under these sheets of metal, as if this vital organ wanted to break free. It had been a while since he had been here and now his whole body filled with excitement. But there was something else... dread maybe? However it wasn't just Clarence who felt that way.
Something about the young Ford Fiesta had changed. Even though he had seemed calm and collected prior, it was quite obvious that he was nervous by now. Before the two cars could drive onto the famous race track however, they were stopped by a black BMW, who must have been around the same age as the Corvette was. She clearly was part of the staff and seemed to know the red vehicle in front of her. And vice versa.
"Ah Charlotte, nice to see you." He greeted her with a slight smile on his lips. She nodded in return, before saying anything. "Clarence Wagner. After all that time you haven't even changed the slightest. Always the first to enter. I'm glad you're still the same." She pointed out in a friendly manner, recalling her memories of the old sports car. "And who's that?" She then asked, looking over to the silver Ford Fiesta standing right next to the Corvette.
Before the young car even had a chance to introduce himself, Clarence explained why exactly he was with him.
"He's with me." The older sports car stated, "said he wanted to race me."
The BMW nodded a second time, before letting the two cars go through. "Alright you two, have fun. Oh and before I forget it. Clarence, do me a favor and don't make it too hard for him." She added, noticing the look of protest on the Ford Fiesta's face. An expression that made her chuckle a bit.
"Don't worry. I will." The red Corvette replied, driving onto the race track, the Ford in tow.