I know I haven't finished LAL and LTF yet, but I wanted to try this. I really do. I've had it stuck in my mind since the second to the last chapter of 3IAC. x3 Note that I am only experimenting; please don't flame me if this doesn't go with the first movie.

And I had trouble differentiating Francisco from Francesco. D: xD

NOTE: This story is for fun purposes only. Don't expect me to go full-time serious.

A Different Life
Chapter One

He was the greatest racer in all of America. He was young, he was sly and smart, he was reckless, the women loved him. Everything, he knew it. Despite the crumby corporation he sponsored, he was at the height of his time. And he wasn't even twenty-five yet!

Rookie racer Lightning McQueen stood in his rented penthouse, gazing out into the Los Angeles skyline, a coupe of champagne in his hands. His next race was in Los Angeles, and all he had to do was to wait.

"Hey McQueen," his driver called.

"What is it, Mack?" Lighting frowned. He was expecting a serene night tonight. He didn't have to go out again.

"Er…phone. For you." Lightning beckoned the big man forward, and Mack slid the phone into Lightning's hand. "It's Harv."

"Hey Harv," he called into the receiver.

"Hey, who's my big star?" Harv crooned aloud, and Lightning smiled sheepishly.

"Who's my kick-ass agent?" Lighting replied smilingly.

Harv laughed slightly, then got down to business. "Look, some magazine wants an interview from you."

"Who?"

"Some mag called Cars Today," the agent replied. "Know anything from that?"

"Nah, all they'll probably want is pictures," Lightning said.

"Well, it's good for publicity. Dusty and Rusty want you to go in the interview."

"Man, do I really have to?"

"They said, if you want to keep your sponsorship, you should do it." Lightning swore he heard a page turn. "The gal that wants to interview you is an awesome writer."

Lightning pricked at the word 'gal', and instantly, his mouth figuratively watered. "When is this interview of mine?" he asked.

"Well, immediately after your next race in Fontana is the press conference in Vegas," Harv told him. "You're staying in Vegas for a week, yeah? So you might want to hang in there for a while yet."

I'll be checking chicks in Vegas though; how do I fix that? Lightning thought strategically, biting his lip. I don't want to be stuck all day with a journalist!

"Hey, dude, you still there?" Harv called out.

"Yeah, uh…this is just for publicity, right?" Lightning asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing," he replied. "Just…nothing."

"Well, you better get your racing pants on; you're leaving tomorrow," Harv reminded him. Lightning groaned. "Hey, hey, hey, none of that. You signed the contract, I'm just keeping you in line here."

Lightning exhaled. "Fine. Whatever."

"Well, you better do good," Harv told him. "Second to last race of the year, you still ain't happy? That's going to take the bosses' cakes." Harv sighed. "Well, gotta go; some chick wants to see me."

Lightning heard Harv greet a woman before the phone turned off, and a dial tone sounded. That kick-ass agent of mine is getting laid before me; why can't I? he thought angrily, and shut off the phone, handing it back to Mack.

"So, anything I should do now?" Mack asked.

"No, you're good," Lightning replied. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Mack replied, and left the scene.

Lightning breathed deeply, and continued sipping his champagne. He was going to have to turn in early tonight; he knew all too well how much he needed sleep before a race. After taking a quick shower, he turned in for the night.

But the bed was big. He felt cold and alone. He wished he would have someone by his side; he's been lonely for a few weeks now, unable to land a pretty girl. He closed his eyes, and he drifted to sleep with a girl in mind.

She lay there, in a hospital bed. She was quiet. He couldn't hear what the doctor was saying as he stared into the face of the girl. He didn't know her, but he knew he did, just that he couldn't recall.

No IV's were attached to her right hand. Her hair was dark and wavy. He knew it was unnatural to see her hair untied. His hand caressed hers as the doctor left, and he felt a wave affection wash over him.

He panicked. Who was this girl, and why did he have feelings for her? He didn't have any ties, at least, not like this.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and he stared into green eyes.

He blinked though, when he opened his eyes, he was in bed, but he wasn't in his bed in San Francisco. He was elsewhere, and he stared down at a head with dark hair that rested on his shoulder.

He turned his head. He was in a shirt. What? Why would he be in a shirt when a girl is just there?

The girl murmured something, and he answered something, and she looked up, smiling at him.

There he saw those same green eyes.

He woke with a start at the sound of his alarm clock. He tapped the snooze and got up, shaking slightly.

Who was this girl, and what did she have to do with him?

No matter, he thought, and shrugged the dream away as Mack entered the penthouse and helped Lightning up.

"Had a rough night?" Mack asked, noticing the circles under Lightning's eyes.

"Ehh," Lightning shrugged. "Must be the champagne."

Mack didn't pry, and they moved out. Lightning checked over his racing car, but he was still caught up in his dream. Who was that girl, and what did she have to do with him?

It continued all through the day, but at least he made second place, just next to the King. Chick Hicks was furious as usual, but Lightning didn't mind today. He was too caught up in his thoughts.

You guys might want to tell me how you hated it. :/