Hey, it's me Pancake. xp So one of my great penpals wrote this AWESOME story, and I have to post it for her, because of technical problems. I DID NOT WRITE THIS. ALL CREDIT GOES TO MEREMCQUEEN314. I, personally, love this story and think it's amazing. So please drop a review, and PM HER if you have any questions.
From Mere: This Fanfiction is titled "Life's Highway". It is a fanfiction based off Disney/Pixar's Cars. All recognizable characters belong to Disney Pixar, and the rest of the characters are my original characters. Please ask before you use them! I'd appreciate if you read this you give me a review. I'll try to post more chapters as often as I can.
Background- this fanfiction is humanized. (sorry) people are just easier to write than cars. It is set in Radiator Springs, Arizona. Lightning and Sally have known each other for two years. The King is younger, but recently retired to spend time with his family. Doc is also younger, and married. Cars 2 happened, but there was not the five year interval, and Doc is still alive. So, on with the story!
~MereMcQueen314
Chapter 1- Missing You.
It was a sunny day in Radiator Springs. Everything was quiet and peaceful. Too peaceful. Sure the town may have been put back on the map, but until Lightning McQueen's racing headquarters was built, there wouldn't be a lot of tourism.
" Lightning McQueen..." Sally Carrera thought while gazing out the window of the Cozy Cone lobby at the familiar, yet lonely these days, landscape. She missed him. They had been dating for a year after all. She missed his smile. She missed his laugh. She even missed that goofy little 'Ka-Chow' thing that he did, that he thought made him sound cool, though she'd told him that it made him sound like a dork. But more than anything, she missed him holding her in his arms. When he held her, all her problems went away and she felt safe. Protected. Loved. He had been gone for two months for the NASCAR racing season. However, with any luck, he'd be home tonight. Lightning had invited her on numerous occasions to go with him to the races, but for reasons he couldn't understand, she'd always turned him down. Sally sighed. She would have to tell him soon. She glanced up at the clock. 12:45 it read. In Fifteen minutes she could turn on the tv and watch the Dinoco 400, the final race of the 2006 NASCAR season.
RING! Went the phone, pulling Sally out of her thoughts, and scaring her half to death.
" Hello, Cozy Cone Hotel, This is Sally speaking."
" Hey, Baby." Lightning's voice said through the phone. " How has your day been?"
" Oh, it's been fine. Not too busy, kind of dull. How bout you?" Sally asked.
" It's okay." Lightning replied, then hesitated. " I uh, actually called to tell you that there's been a change of plans and...I'm not going to make it home tonight." Sally's heart sank.
" Why?" She asked, obviously disappointed.
" Buisness and such." He said. " They need me to do a press conference. I'm really sorry, Babe. I know how much you wanted me to get there tonight."
" It's okay." Sally lied. " Just do what you need to do."
" Okay. Hey, I'm almost at the point where I don't want to be here either."
" Why?" Sally, mystified, asked.
" Just all the stress and stuff that goes into these races." Lightning replied.
" You sound nervous." Sally noted.
" Well, I always am a little, before a race." He explained.
" I know that you'll do great, Stickers." Sally assured him.
" Thanks, Sal." he said. " That means a lot to me. Ugh. Hey, I gotta go. It starts in ten minutes and Doc is getting impatient."
" Okay. Good luck. I love you, Stickers." Sally said.
" Love you too, Hun."
" Bye."
" Goodbye."
Sally hung up the phone and sighed with disappointment. How she had wished that he would be home tonight. Enough pity party. She picked up the remote and turned on the Speed channel. At the track they were doing driver interviews. Right now they were interviewing Chick Hicks, Lightning's biggest rival.
" ...Yes I'm going to win." Chick was saying. " After all, Lightning's getting slower with every race. You know he says that whole 'Thunder comes after Lightning' thing? Well he means I'm going to be passing him, and putting him a lap down!" Chick said with a laugh. Sally sighed. Chick and his jerky, cocky, attitude. No wonder Lightning didn't like him. Just then the call came for the drivers to go to their cars. The camera focused on Lightning, who looked at the camera, smiled, blew a kiss, and mouthed 'Sally'.
Sally smiled. This was something that he'd done for the last two months. Just another way he told her that he loved her. The cars lined up and they were led around the track by the pace car. It was then that Sally noticed the lineup. Chick was in front. After the king retired, this had been Chick's spot in the field. But right behind him was Lightning. Always. Then Sally noticed who held the third place spot: Steven Hicks, Chick Hicks' cousin.
Steven was known around the track as a cheater, a liar, and an overall jerk. He'd already been on probation twice for wrecking other drivers this season, and fined three times for unsportsmanlike conduct. But Sally's bitter feelings for him ran deeper than that. Just then, the door to the lobby opened and Flo walked in, carrying a paper bag.
" Hey, Honey Bee. I brought you some lunch. You worked right through it." Flo said, handing Sally the bag, which she excepted gratefully. Sally tried to cover the sadness in her face. But it didn't work. Flo had known her longer than most of the townsfolk and could always tell if there was a problem.
" Why Honey! What's the matter?" She asked, putting a hand on Sally's shoulder. Sally took a deep breath.
" Lightning called a little bit ago." Sally said, tears gathering in her eyes.
" Is he alright?" Flo asked, seeing the tears. It took a lot to make Sally cry, so Flo knew that Sally was really upset.
" He's fine, it's just that...he won't be able to make it home tonight." Sally replied. Flo smiled. She knew the real reason that Lightning would be gone an extra day, but he had made her swear not to tell Sally.
" He'll be home as soon as he can, Hon." Flo replied giving Sally a side hug, then sitting down on the sofa beside her. They watched as the green flag was lowered.
" Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Boys! Let's go racing!" Darrel waltrip's voice said. The lobby door opened again, and Alice Hudson walked in. Alice was Doc's wife, and they had been married for ten years. He was 34 and she was 33. Together they owned and managed the 'James Hudson Hospital and Medical Center'. It was a Hospital, Doctors office, eye doctor, dentistry office, veterinary office, and any other medical field you could think of. It was the fourth biggest hospital in the country. Doc was head doctor, dentist, (judge and racing expert) orthodontist, eye doctor, veterinarian, and main manager. Alice was a doctor, nurse, assistant in almost everything, and obstetrician. She walked over to Sally.
" Am I late?" She asked, pulling up a chair.
" No, they just started." Sally replied.
" What place is Lightning in?" Alice asked.
" Second, but he's trying to move up." Sally said. " It's his strategy. He'll make Chick think that he's going to take the lead for about twenty laps, then he'll move back to sixth or something, until fifteen to go. Then he'll move up and take the lead."
" Ah." Alice said. " I get it." then they turned their attention back to the screen.
Sure enough, twenty laps later, Lightning moved back to sixth.
" Nice job, Rookie." Doc's voice said through Lightning's radio. " You nearly got hit by the sixty-six,( Steven) but he saved it."
" I hate that guy." Lightning said. It was true. Steven was Lightning's second biggest rival, and had been a pain in the neck all season.
The race continued with minimal excitement. A few spin outs, some flat tires, one wreck that took out three cars, but Lightning wasn't caught in it. 20 laps to go. Lightning was lost in thought, thinking about Sally. She had sounded so sad on the phone earlier. Can't wait till I aske her to be Mrs. Sally McQueen, though. Lightning thought. Now if only I didn't have to wait till tomorrow to pick up the ring. Yes, that was the real reason that Lightning would be home a day late. He was jerked out of his thoughts when he nearly hit the wall of turn three.
" What was that?" Doc asked. Lightning smiled sheepishly.
" Sorry, Doc. I...was...um, thinking about Sally." He confessed. Lightning thought that he heard Doc laugh.
" Well keep your mind off of Sally, and focus on making your move to the front in a few laps." Doc said. " Dang, this being your first chance at a win for points, and the championship, I'd think you'd be a little more focused. Think about Chick instead."
" Who wants to think about Chick, when you could think about Sally?" Lightning asked. " I'd rather think about Sally."
" Just focus on the race!"
Ten to go. Lightning began to make his move to the front. He passed the fifth and fourth with ease. The third with slight difficulty. Now he just had to pass Steven and Chick and he would have this won! He tried to pass Steven, but was cut off. He tried passing him on the inside, the outside, and even the middle. Time was running out.
" Doc, how do I pass this guy!" Lightning asked, getting frustrated.
" Why don't you try acting like you'll pass on the outside, then switch to inside in time to make the pass?" Doc suggested. Lightning tried this approach, and it worked.
" Great job, Kid. Now all you have to do is pass Chick and-wreck behind you!" Doc tried to warn, but it was too late. Sally watched, holding her breath as Lightning's car spun into the infield and hit the wall.
" You okay?" Doc asked.
" Yeah, but that's going to leave a mark." Lightning replied.
" Bring it in and we'll take a look at it." Doc instructed. Lightning drove the car to put road, and after a few minutes of repair, it was ready to go back onto the track.
" Better hurry." Doc said. " You've Got to beat Chick back out there, and he's right on your tail."
Lightning went as fast as he could without getting a penalty and...pulled into the lead!
Lightning and Chick were in a fierce battle for the lead, driving towards the white flag. They fought it out, they were head to head, neck and neck, both rocketing down the frontstretch towards the checkered.
" Come on, Stickers!" Sally shouted, causing Alice and Flo to roll their eyes.
Lightning pulled ahead. Then Chick pulled ahead. Then... They crossed the finish at seemingly the same time. It was quiet in the lobby.
" Who won?" Sally asked. Alice shrugged. They looked back at the screen where it showed Lightning climbing out of his car to be greeted by a reporter.
" I'm Kori Turbowitz, reporting live from the Dinoco 400, where we have just seen an AMAZING finish." The young reporter said. " Standing in front of me is Lightning McQueen. Lightning, how do you feel about today's race?"
" Well, " Lightning started. " I think we ran well all day, great race, great team. We've done well all season, and even if we didn't win, well 'win some, lose some'."
" You know Lightning, I think everyone is wondering, you're entire outlook on this sport seems to have changed since two years ago." Kori said. " And after you're interview yesterday, some people were posting on twitter that you seemed more easy going, and less self centered."
Lightning laughed
" Less self centered...um..wow. Hope I can live up to that one." His face became more serious.
" Well, I guess that I met some people who really taught me more about kindness, and humility, and how to really slow down and enjoy life."
" Okay." Kori said. " So what are your plans for the off-season?"
" I'm going to be heading back to Radiator Springs." Lightning explained. " Next week construction on the headquarters starts, and I also want to spend some time with my girlfriend."
" Oh!" Kori, surprised, said. " I wasn't aware that you were in a relationship." Lightning smiled.
" Yes, I am. Love of my life, Sally Carrera." He replied.
" Well, I think that I speak for the entire nation of fans, when I say, congratulations."
" Thanks, Kori." he said.
" Thank you, and good luck." Kori said, leaving to go interview Chick. At the lobby, Sally let out a sigh, almost sounding frustrated.
" You okay, Honey?" Flo asked.
" Fine, Flo." Sally said. " Just fine." Flo was unconvinced, but decided to let it go. They looked back at the screen.
" Alright, Race fans." The announcer said. " After much reviewing of the tapes, and some careful determining, we are going to announce, that the winner of the Dinoco 400... Is... Lightning McQueen!" lightning walked up to the stage to accept the prize as the fans cheered.
" SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!" they chanted. Lightning stepped up to the microphone. The fans quieted as he cleared his throat.
" I have so many people to Thank for this win." Lightning started. " I want to thank the fans for their support. You guys are what makes this sport keep going. I want to thank my team and crew chief. They have been doing amazing work, and I don't think that they get enough recognition. So thank you, guys. And lastly, but NEVER least, I would like to thank my girlfriend, Sally Carrera. You're the love of my life, and you always support me and are there for me, on, and off the track." Lightning stepped off the stage to thousands of applause. He made his way towards his trailer, stopping and signing about three hundred autographs along the way.
Back at the lobby, Flo had left and Alice was getting ready to.
" I'd better get going." Alice said, standing. " There's no telling what kind of trouble the staff has gotten into in the last four hours. Especially Gary." Alice rolled her eyes. Gary was a fellow pediatrician who had an uncanny ability to annoy her. " Do you know when they'll be getting home?"
" Tomorrow afternoon, I think." Sally replied. " But I wish it could be sooner."
" I feel ya, Girl." Alice said. " I wish that James was here. Running a hospital without him will prove to be difficult." Sally shook her head.
" I don't know how you do it." She said to Alice, who shrugged, then left. Sally's phone rang.
" Hello?" She said, though she knew who it was.
" Hey. Did you see it?" Lightning asked.
" Yeah, you were great. It's just..."
" What?"
" I wish that you wouldn't talk about...US... In public." Sally said. Lightning sighed. This wasn't an uncommon request from her.
" Sally, I love you. And I want to let the entire world know that I've found the sweetest, kindest, amazing woman there is. I'm not afraid to scream it."
" Look, I just wish you wouldn't." Sally said." Please. For me."
" Alright." Lightning agreed. " Hey. I love you."
" I love you, too, Stickers." Sally said. " Bye."
" See you tomorrow."
Sally hung up the phone and sighed.
" Well." She said to herself. " Don't you sound cheerful today."
That's Chapter 1! Please review!
Sally has a secret? What is it? Stay tuned!
MereMcQueen314
Ps- if you read this before I edited it, Steven Hicks is my new bad guy.