A/N: First of all, I'm gonna warn you again and tell you that THIS IS A SLASH STORY! one male character romantically involved with another male character. such is the case with this story, anyway. so don't complain to me if you don't like it.
Second of all, I'm quite nervous about posting this. I originally wasn't planning to, but I've been encouraged to, so I did so, and I'm hoping it doesn't crash and burn like I think it will. This is a chaptered story, and I actually do have the next chapter finished, but I won't post it unless anyone wants me to. So please, if you liked this story and would like me to continue, pleasepleaseplease leave a review. It would make me oh so happy :D And yes, all of the characters are written out as humans. Just because it would've been like, impossible to write the goings-on of this story with them as cars XD. You'll see what I mean if chapter two is ever posted... so anyway, on with the story. -braces self-
Disclaimer: I don't own Cars, or any of its characters. The story, however, is mine. oh, and I don't own the lyrics to the song, "Heaven" with which I used for the title of this story, and this chapter. I only know of the remake DJ Sammy did, I'm not sure of who original wrote the song.
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"There Was Only You and Me"
"Chapter I - "There's A Lot That I Could Say"
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It was dark out as we drove home from the party. The town had decided to throw a surprise party for Flo and Ramone's tenth anniversary, and the celebration had continued on to the early morning. Looking at the clock on the radio now, it read 1:37 am.
But it had been fun. We all pitched in and booked a bowling alley outside of town, quite a ways down the highway, and we spent the time doing a bit of everything. Half the time we didn't even bowl, but just sat there and had fun with each other. I actually don't think I've eaten so much in one sitting before. And I was actually surprised to see how late it really was, since it hadn't seemed like we were there that long. But I guess that's what happens when you spend time with your friends.
It's still something I'm getting used to.
Now though, I was getting a ride back to town with Mater in his old tow truck, since my car was currently at Doc's getting fixed. And to be honest, well… I really would rather be elsewhere. We're not talking like we had been on the way here (I guess because we were both tired), and so I'm starting to think about things again.
There's been this… thing that goes through me every time I look at him now, and it came out of nowhere. One night we met up at the town's convenience store by chance, and we walked home together. And as we were talking, I looked over at him… and it hit me. It was like nothing I could ever remember feeling before, and it almost scared me. I refused to look him in the eye the rest of the way home. I don't think he noticed, but that was for the best. I had hoped that it would go away after I got some sleep, but it was still there the next day. I tried my hardest to ignore it, but that didn't work at all. It's there all the time now, every time I see him. But I try now to let it bother me. Avoiding him is the last thing I want to do. I doubt it work anyway.
I sigh, though as inwardly as possible, and carefully, so as to make sure he doesn't notice, I glance over at him. He has his same old hat with his junkyard's logo on it atop his head, reddish-brown hair that came down to just above his shoulders, and his ancient, weather-beaten brown flannel that I've yet to see him without. I've offered him to buy a new one quite a few times, but he refuses each time. He always says that it's "too old to be replaced." I don't understand it, but I stopped trying to understand his style of logic quite a while ago.
I averted my gaze back to the road ahead of us. Even though it was night out, you could still see quite a bit. There were no streetlights or any city lights to block out the natural glow of the moon and the stars, and this was one of the many things that I loved about living out here. On cloudless nights, things seemed even brighter than in the city, and so much more beautiful. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I didn't even know places like this existed. That if not for what had happened, I never would have known this place existed, that any of my friends were even born.
I shuddered. It's almost scary to think about. I was so thankful for all of this happening to me. I've yet to live an unhappy day since I moved out here with everyone in Radiator Springs. Well… actually, I've only had one. And that was the day… Sally and I separated. Well… make that about five days. Maybe a week. I really don't remember. But we had been together for about five months, and it really had been the happiest time of my life. I loved her so much, but sometimes I would just get the feeling that… it wasn't enough. It wasn't Sally, not at all, but… to this day I don't know how to explain it. It just felt like something was missing. I brushed it off the first time I felt it, but it kept coming back, more frequently and stronger each time. And after a while, I decided to tell her about it, and it turned out that she was feeling the same thing. So… we decided to end the relationship, and though the breakup had been mutual, it still had me in a state of depression for a couple of days. Sally and I are still friends though, and I'm glad for that.
And now… there was this thing with Mater.
Tiredly, I stared ahead at the blurred white road lines, and I felt my eyelids start to grow heavy. Funny… I didn't feel this tired a few minutes ago. Maybe because it was warm out. I was always prone to sleepiness when it was warm enough. And the cool breeze coming in from the windows, the smell of the night air on the desert…
My eyes only halfway open, I turned my head toward Mater and looked at him for a little bit. I was glad he didn't look over, or else he might've been a little confused as to why I was staring at him with what could've been described as a zombie-ish look on my face. A thought crossed my mind… but no, I couldn't do that. Unless I wanted to be asked some questions I probably couldn't answer. But… I was so tired…
Before I could tell myself not to, I inched across the bench seat closer to him and rested my head against his shoulder. I closed my eyes, and suddenly felt so comfortable.
He jumped. "Lightnin', what –,"
"Mmmtired," I interrupted. My heart finally began to calm down. "Lemme sleep."
He didn't say anything, but I felt his shoulders relax right before I drifted off to sleep.
Something was poking me in the arm. Why? I moved to swat whatever it was away, but my whole body felt so heavy. I grumbled in frustration. The poking stopped for a moment, and then I heard someone say something. But they were so far away that I couldn't make out what it was. They should come closer if they want to talk to me.
And now the poking was starting up again. That was so annoying, why won't it stop?
"Lightnin'!" the voice now said. It was whispering, but in an urgent way.
"Hey, we're here!" it continued. Here? Where's here? The poking on my arm grew more persistent, and it was beginning to hurt. But now my senses were starting to come back to me. I was up against something warm, and the scent of sawdust and rusted metal filled my nostrils as I breathed. It wasn't exactly an unpleasant smell, but rather, made me feel at home. It kinda reminded me of someone, too…
My sense of movement suddenly returned to me, and I felt my eyes flutter open. Drowsily, I glanced around at my surroundings, and it only took me a moment to remember where I was. Mater and I had been on our way back to town, and I…
In a flash, I realized what the warm thing was that I was up against. My eyes shot open and I hoisted myself up, but only to find myself in an even more awkward position. I guess Mater had been looking down at me, and I moved to suddenly for him to react.
We were nose to nose with one another, eyes wide and staring into the other's. My heart pounded in my chest so hard that it almost hurt, and I felt my face grow hot. And I was pretty sure I could see some color in Mater's cheeks as well. With the truck off, the only light came from the moon, and there was an absolute silence around us.
"Mater, I…" I had found my voice for a moment, but then lost it again. I wanted to say something to him though, right? My mouth hung open stupidly, and I didn't dare move. I didn't know what to say. Why was it that I haven't moved away yet? The guy was my best friend, and… a guy! Why the hell don't I want to move away, but… move closer? And why hasn't he moved either?
I saw his mouth move slightly, as if to say something, but I guess he was at a loss for words as well. It's not like I could blame him though. Here we were, two friends in a dark vehicle, completely alone, and in closer proximity than two friends should ever be. I could even feel his breath…
All of a sudden, the feeling that had been plaguing me every time I saw him hit me like a tidal wave, one hundred times stronger than it ever had been. I nearly jumped, but I managed not to. But… I couldn't take it anymore. As slowly as I could, I shifted myself the tiniest bit forward, my heart rate increasing by the second. My eyes began to close, and when Mater didn't show any signs of protesting, I kept going. I had no clue what it was that I was doing, but God did it feel good.
But then it happened. My lips brushed over his, and all at once reality came flying back at me. My eyes grew wide, and I jumped away from him as quickly as I could. For a moment, I just stared at him, absolutely terrified of the situation. I thought he was going to kick me out of his truck and never speak to me again, but he just stared right back. His green eyes wider than before, and his mouth hanging open in a stupor behind his two large front teeth. And he didn't look angry at all, but just confused and shocked.
Desperately, I grabbed hold of the door handle and yanked it open. "Thanks for the ride," I muttered before hopping out of the truck.