Author's Note: Hey, everyone. I really appreciate the support. Getting positive reviews encourages me to keep going. I know I update more frequently than most writers. Life is a little slow right now with waiting for college to approach and writing keeps me occupied. I apologize if you notice any spelling/grammar errors or places were I forget to adjust the aliments and bolding/italicizing/underlining. I go through my story on the Copy/Paste to help me. I try to leave as few mistakes (and better yet none) as possible.
Without further ado, here is Chapter Three!
Chapter Three: The Disaster
It was a peaceful evening in Radiator Springs. Everyone was getting off of work for the day, stars began to fill the sky, and the small city of the town was beginning to light up. All the vehicles that that it was going to be an ordinary evening of relaxing and recharging for the next day, but they were wrong.
Chick was still in Texas from the race yesterday, so he decided to go check out Radiator Springs, while he was only 30 minutes away from the small town. None of the residents were expecting him to visiting their town. All they were expecting was the sound of the crickets chirping.
Chick Hicks's P.O.V.
The race went pretty well yesterday. I won and I think I have my first fan in 11 years...and she isn't bad lookin' either. I feel kinda bad that she has to put up with all the peasants in Radiator Springs. I really want to go check on the little town and see if Shawna is telling the truth about the economy being better and the town getting a much-needed makeover. Of course I might have to deal with the almighty Doc Hudson possibly throwing me in jail just for visiting a town I probably won't ever set wheel in again, but at this point, I just don't care anymore...I'm sick of not being able to go to certain places because I'm scared of all the vehicles there. What's wrong with me?! I'm supposed to be the tough alpha-car that never let's things get in my way! If my instincts tell me to do something, I'm gonna do it!
Normal P.O.V.
For some reason, Chick wanted to check Radiator Springs out. He might have liked it back in 2006 when the town was going through an economic depression, but for some reason, he wanted to see if the town is seeing better days, even if he doesn't want to believe Shawna when she says that the town as changed for the better. After he finished drinking a quart of oil from the local gas station by the race track, his thirst was quenched and was eager to drive!
Sheriff's P.O.V.
There is a reason I keep an eye on the road that goes into to our town at night; to watch out for trespassers and speeders. I deal with one of those two almost everyday, but Chick is the last car I thought about. He wasn't speeding, but I did ask him why he was here.
Normal P.O.V.
"Why are you here, Chick?", the sheriff asked firmly. "You've got a lot of nerve coming down here, you know?"
"Relax! I'm not plannin' to do anything that will break the law, or whatever. Shawna suggested I check the town out. See if it's gotten any better since 2006.", Chick answered with sass.
"Shawna wouldn't invite anyone who had a criminal record! Are you up to something?", the sheriff wondered.
"She said I can have a little tour of the town... Look, I'm just planning to take a little tour. If it's REALLY that important to you, than you can get Doc to keep an eye on my ass, but I'm telling you right now that it isn't worth it.", Chick argued.
"Fine...I'll let you in, but you screw up once, and you will not be coming back ever again! Understood?", the sheriff asked firmly.
"Yes, I understand. Happy?", Chick answered as he rolled his eyes.
"Okay, remember Doc and I are watching you...", the sheriff warned Chick.
Shawna was really happy to see Chick so early. Since Chick was feeling a bit doubtful about the residents of this town, Shawna didn't know if Chick would even come. The residents of this town (except for Shawna, of course) have totally cut Chick out of their lives. Shawna loves these residents to death, but she did wish they were a little more forgiving. Chick was just like everybody else; he had his weaknesses and his times of wrong doings, but he was a vehicle that had the same needs as everybody else. The residents of Radiator Springs had no right to treat Chick the way they have been for the past 11 years. At least that's what Shawna thought.
"Hey Chick, I'm really happy you decided to come.", Shawna began. "Every has just finished closing up for the day, but they still keep their buildings lit to spice up the town a little bit."
"Uh okay. Lead the way then...", Chick responded. "I just hope no one will be too disgusted with my presence."
"Oh, they won't.", Shawna promised "I'll let everyone know that Sheriff allowed you to stop by."
Most of the residents were in there designated spots sleeping, but Doc caught Chick. Needless to say, Doc got pretty pissed off at Chick.
"Oh, what are YOU doing here?! And why are you with Shawna?", Doc asked Chick.
"Shawna said I could come down here and check the town out to see if it the town has improved somewhat...I figured since I was only 30 minutes away, I'd go ahead and do it tonight. Sheriff said I could come in.", Chick answered.
"What are you? A town critic?", Doc rhetorically asked "I thought I made it clear that you were not allowed to set wheel in Radiator Springs?!"
"What did I ever do to YOU?! NOTHING!", Chick snapped. "You can't keep me from going to a certain town all because of an incident that happened, like, what? A decade ago?"
"As the judge of this town, I will do whenever the hell I want! I could put you in jail right now just for mouthing off to me!", Doc warned him.
"Look, Doc. He was just here to take a small look of the town. I have to agree with Chick here, Doc. You can't just tell him to keep out of this town all because of something that happened over 10 years ago. Don't you think that's a little harsh?", Shawna wondered.
"No, I don't it's harsh. In fact, I could give Chick a harsher punishment if I wanted to. He almost KILLED Strip Weathers, for goodness sakes!"
"As a former racer, you really don't know much about racing, do you, Doc?", Chick asked. "Crashes are a part of racing. I was just trying get passed Strip by mildly bumping into him... I didn't mean to violently crash into him."
"Well, Chick. I'll have YOU know that I also suffered through a violent crash back in '54. And I took TWO WHOLE YEARS to fully recover! Strip had to get several surgeries all because your selfish ass couldn't deal with coming in at 2nd place! Face it, Chick: All you care about is yourself! Next time you ask yourself why you don't have any fans, or friends, or even a family: It's because you have never given a crap for anyone but YOURSELF!", Doc yelled at Chick.
"Listen, Doc! You only know a small portion of my life. You know that I race. That's it! You have NO idea what the other details of my life are about! So, I'd suggest you'd THINK before you make judgmental remarks towards someone, Mr. I'm So Perfect!", Chick responded.
Chick had enough...he couldn't take anymore of Doc's BS, so Chick made a fast turn and drove out of the town. Shawna tried catching up to him
"Chick, I'm really sorry about Doc. He tends to-", Shawna tried to apologize to Chick about Doc, but he cuts her off.
"No need to apologize...", Chick responded, seeming depressed. "I should have never came down here. I knew Doc would do this to me..."
"Look, I know Doc can get out of hand sometimes. He doesn't even want you with me. But I really want to try being your friend...", Shawna said sincerely.
"Face it, Shawna! We both are going to get in trouble if Doc catches us together. I think it's best if we just stay away from each other.", Chick suggested.
"Doc may be the judge and mentor of the town, but that does not grant him the right to tell us we can't be friends.", Shawna reminded him. "I think I need to give him a good talking to."
"This is Doc Hudson we're talking about, Shawna. He doesn't let anyone talk him into/out of something. If he makes a decision, he doesn't let anyone change his mind. I guess I'll see you at the next race. Goodbye, Shawna...", Chick's words were before he turned the opposite way to exit the town.
Shawna felt broken. Not because of Chick, but because of Doc. What was Doc's problem? Why was he so oppose to Shawna being friends with Chick? Chick never did anything to hurt her. As the judge and CEO of the town, Doc had a huge tendency to abuse his powers. He always made sure the town was perfect, keeping anyone with the slightest criminal record out. Sadly, Doc tries too hard at times. While he is keeping Radiator Springs safe, he ended hurting two cars this evening by doing so. Chick didn't do anything criminally wrong in 11 years, so Doc was being way too hard on Chick. Shawna wanting to talk to him about it so bad. She knew she wouldn't win the argument win, but it was worth a try, right...?
"Look Doc, I know you are just trying to keep the town and its Residents safe and happy, but you went way too far.", Shawna began. "Chick left the place seeming really sad."
"Oh, he was sad? He doesn't have the mentality to actually feel sad. I think he was just trying to make you feel bad.", Doc guaranteed
"Here you go again! You're trying to make Chick seem as bad as possible. What you said to him about him not having anyone in his life was pretty harsh, you know."
"I'm trying to make him realize something. You're still young, so you know know this yet, but sometimes we just have to be brutally honest sometimes."
"You, Lightning, and the other residents of have been doing that for YEARS? And it hasn't worked? Let me ask you this: Have you guys at least TRIED being friends with Chick, or are you only trying to get him to change to make yourselves feel proud of yourselves?!", Shawna wondered. "Chick is probably self-centered because he has no one to care about. If you guys tried being friends with him, he's probably be more open and willing to listen to what you guys have to say. I wouldn't listen to anyone who I don't consider a friend or a family member!"
"I'm not gonna to be nice to Chick until he proves to me that he has changed.", Doc responded.
"Then I guess you're gonna have to let me be his friend! Let me be his guide. We've been getting along quite well. I wanna give myself to him. He needs someone that cares about him, Doc...", Shawna promised "Face it: If you aren't willing to take the time to get to know him and make friends with him, then it's gonna have to be me. If you want Chick to redeem himself as bad as you seem like you do, than you'd let me interact with him."
"Fine, Shawna...", Doc said in a frustrated tone. "I guess you aren't necessarily braking the law by hanging out with him...but if he tries anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you get away and you STAY away from him. Do you understand?"
"Thank you, Doc. Don't worry, I won't give him a reason to make me feel uneasy. It's too late to go find him and talk to him about it now, but I'll try to get in touch with him tomorrow."
While the evening didn't go as planned, Shawna was still able to convince Doc to let her try being friends with Chick. Doc obviously didn't feel too good about it, but at the same time, he was proud of Shawna for wanting to help Chick. Deep down, Doc had faith in Shawna. Of course, getting close to Chick and helping him make amends with everything and everyone wasn't going to happen overnight. But that's what makes building friendships and making amends worthwhile. The best things in life take time and hard work.