Author's Note: I'm sorry for not updating in a while. I have been preoccupied with YouTube (look in my profile for my YouTube name) lately and it's been keeping me from in engaging in my other hobbies, but I am finally here with Chapter 4. I hope you guys enjoy.
And just so you guys know, I will occasionally post updates in the reviews between chapters, so please keep a look out for those as well. :)
Chapter Four: Meet-And-Greet
It was a peaceful Friday evening. Kevin came through into the hangar with a flyer lying on his right wing.
"What does that flyer say?", Shawna asked, she was a very curious plane.
"There is going to be a met tomorrow in Lincoln, Nebraska. I think it would be a neat idea if we went! Meet-and-greets don't come up very often.", Kevin announced.
Having gone to her first race just last weekend, Shawna didn't seem to excited with the idea. She was a small-town plane. She wasn't quite ready to be among the planes who probably felt as though they were superior to her.
"I'm not sure if I would like doing this. You guys know air-racing has never been my cup of tea.", Shawna replied, doubt was in her tone. "And I thought you said I didn't have to do anything with air racing if I didn't enjoy the race we went to a few weeks ago."
"Shawna, take a closer look at the flyer. This event is going to have a lot of fun attactions. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to meet a couple of racers and see which ones you hit it off with.", Sonja responded, persuading her daughter.
"Okay. I guess I can fly down there with you guys, but I'm probably going to spend most of the day playing DieselCrush SEGA on my SkyPhone.", Shawna warned her parents.
"There is going to be a lot of fun stuff at this thing, Shawna. I know you were never fan we were of air racing, but you can still enjoy something that's related to such. After all, it's not good to just fly around the hangar all day.", the father assured his daughter.
"I've been wanting to meet Ishani for months. You can go with me to meet her."
"I guess I got nothing to lose. I just don't see what I can gain from flying all the way to a different state just to meet some racers I probably won't get talk to ever again."
"You can get their autograph, you can ask questions. Maybe even take a picture."
"Okay. I could use a change of scenery anyway.", Shawna admitted.
"You and Bubba get some sleep. We're going to wake up early tomorrow", Sonja reminded her daughter.
. . .
The family got up at 7:00 sharp, so they could land in Lincoln by 9:00 and get to the meet-and-greet before all the other planes do. And they flew straight there. Since they got there just when the meet-and-greet was beginning, there won't many planes there yet.
"Hey, Shawna? Do you want to come meet Ishani with me.", Sonja asked her daughter.
"Sure.", Shawna answered her mom.
The mother and daughter rolled over to the sweet and beautiful plane.
Ishani was among the top female racers in the world and was voted to be the most aerodynamic air racer. She was an Indian racer with a beautiful firey paint job and emerald green eyes. And her personality was just as beautiful as her.
"Oh, hey", Shawna nervously greeted the fiery plane.
"My name is Sonja. I have been a huge fan since my husband introduced me to air racing. This is my daughter Shawna. She is new to the air racing hobby.", Sonja added.
"It's always nice to meet a fan.", sweetly replied Ishani. "Would you guys like a picture with me?", she offered. "We can take it together."
"Sure!", Shawna and Sonja replied in unison.
. . .
Kevin and Bubba were visiting Dusty Crophopper, their favorite air racer.
"Hey! Dusty! Wussup?", Kevin greeted the orange plane with excitement. "This is my son Bubba! He has been a fan of you since you first arrived in the racing industry."
"Aww, it's always nice to meet the planes who have supported me since the very beginning.
"Yeah, I remember watching the Wings Around The Globe rally back in 2013. I was really scared for you. It was amazing to see you come back and beat Ripslinger.", Bubba said.
"Aww, thanks. That means a lot.", Dusty replied, smiling sincerely.
"Can I get a picture with you?", Bubba asked timidly.
"Of course", Dusty replied. "Would you like your dad to join you?", he offered.
"Yes, please!", Bubba replied.
. . .
By the time Shawna and Sonja got through with talking to Ishani and Bubba and Kevin got through with talking to Dusty, the place was packed. Almost all the air racers had fans lining up to meet them.
Well, everybody except Ripslinger.
Why is Ripslinger by himself? Isn't he supposed to be the most famous plane in this sport, Shawna wondered.
"I guess I'll go and talk to him", Shawna said to herself. "I guess it won't hurt. It's not like I'll ever talk to him again.
"Hey.", Shawna timidly greeted. "You're Ripslinger, right?"
"Of course I am! Who else would I be?", Ripslinger responded in a smart-ass tone.
"It was just a question. Geez.", Shawna responded.
"So, are you a fan? What is your name?", Ripslinger asked.
"I'm not gonna lie. I had to fly here against my will. My parents and my brother watch a lot of air-racing, but I've never been a big fan", Shawna admitted." And my name is Shawna.
"Why are you talk to me if you don't even like air-racing?", Ripslinger asked.
"Excuse me?", Shawna responded, disgusted by the Mustang's attitude.
"You're excused.", Ripslinger grumbled, rolling his eyes.
"If you must know why I came over here, I was curious to why you were the only one who didn't have fans wanting to meet you.", Shawna said.
"Yeah, well. This orange farm plane named Dusty Crophopper flew in and took all of my fans away.", Ripslinger angrily responded.
"Dusty Crophopper...I've heard a lot about him", Shawna responded.
"I thought you didn't care about this sport.", Ripslinger wondered.
"Yeah, well. My dad and my brother are both huge fans of him!"
"Your family clearly doesn't know what a REAL racer is!", Ripslinger responded firmly.
"Who's to say what planes are real racers and what planes are?", Shawna asked.
"Sweetheart, I have been in the racing industry for almost 15 years! I am a 4-time Wings Around The Globe rally champion! Dusty is nothing but a worthless flying tractor! He needs to go back to the corn field!"
"Rude much?", Shawna retorted.
"Hey, I only speak the truth."
"What if Dusty heard us? That would probably hurt his feelings.", Shawna reminded Ripslinger.
"Hurt his feelings?", Ripslinger replied, followed by a laugh. "What are we? Five years old?!"
"Any plane of any age can get their feelings hurt. What? Do you just excect everyone to become emotionless once they reach a certain age?", Shawna asked.
"If Dusty wants to be in this industry. He has to be able to put up with hate.", Ripslinger answered.
"You know, just because you guys are rivals, it doesn't mean you guys have to hate each other.", Shawna reminded the green plane.
"HE ALMOST RUINED MY CAREER! I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HATE HIM!", Ripslinger snapped, startling Shawna.
"Well, according to the RSN website, you aren't very nice to him either. I heard YOU tried to ruin HIS career."
"If you don't give two shits about air racing, why do you care?", Ripslinger asked.
"My parents had me read about you on the RSN website. They don't even want me talking to you, to be honest."
Ripslinger rolls his eyes. "You guys are too soft.", Ripslinger thought. "So I play a little dirty once in a while. Just because I may act a certain way to another racer, it doesn't mean I would act that why towards an air racing fan."
"Fair enough", Shawna shrugged.
"You know, it only took me one WRTG rally to be known for role model and racing champon I am.", Ripslinger conceitedly said.
"I see you're very modest about it.", Shawna sarcasticly replied, rolling her eyes.
"I know.", Ripslinger responded under his breath. "To be as good as I am...it takes velocuity, tenacity, and most importantly..."
Ripslinger rolls towards Shawna until his nose cone is touching hers.
"Humility.", Ripslinger finished, smiling with confidence.
Shawna backs up a few inches. "You wouldn't know what humility was if it knocked your propeller off!", Shawna argued.
"I'm sorry, is Ripslinger making you uncomfortable?", a voice called from behind.
Shawna looks behind her. It's Dusty.
"Nah. He's just full of himself.", Shawna answered. "You're Dusty Crophopper, right?"
"Yes, I am. And that's Ripslinger for you. He has a huge ego!"
"Yeah, I've kinda noticed.", Shawna replied nervously.
"If I were you. I'd stay away from this guy...um. What's your name?", Dusty asked.
"Shawna.", she answered.
"I'd stay away from Ripslinger if I were you, Shawna! He is incredibly selfish!", Dusty strictly warned the cute pink plane.
"You do know I'm right here! Right, farmboy?", Ripslinger reminded Dusty in anger.
"Just reminded Shawna what's best for her.", Dusty responded.
"I'm pretty sure can figure out what's best for her! You don't even know the woman!"
"And you do?", Dusty retorted, scowling.
"No, I don't! But I'm not gonna tell her who she can and can't talk to."
"It's called giving someone advice! If you weren't suck a JERK to everyone, I wouldn't have to warn other planes about you!"
"Shawna, was I being a jerk to you?", Ripslinger asked.
"Well, kinda.", Shawna admitted.
"You know, Rip? With all the fame and fortune you have, you should be a little more grateful for the life you have. Face it, Rip! You're life is perfect!", Dusty believed.
"Listen up, Crophopper and listen good!", Ripslinger began in anger. "You don't know me, OK?! You don't know my life outside of racing! Don't you DARE make assumptions about my life because YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT about me!".
The way Ripslinger said that. It scared Dusty and Shawna. His tone was venomous and his expression was angrier than Dusty had ever seen. Ripslinger just stormed off quickly afterwards.
Dusty was in shock. He and Ripslinger were never on the best of terms, but this is the angriest he had ever seen the Mustang.
"Okay, Ripslinger may be a jerk, but that was uncalled for.", Shawna thought.
"I just think he should be more grateful for the career he has.", Dusty replied.
"Just because he has a good career, doesn't mean he has a good life outside of it.", Shawna reminded Dusty.
"That's very true, but that doesn't justify treating others like they are inferior! Before I went into air racing. I was a huge fan of Ripslinger. But when I met him in New York I realized he only cared about himself."
"There has to be some reason why he acts the way he does", Shawna believed. "One does not simply come out of their mother's under carriage knowing how to be a jerk. And I'm pretty sure fame alone can't make you like that either."
"He's none of my concern.", Dusty said.
"Well, I'm gonna go talk to him".
"Good luck", Dusty responded, rolling his eyes.
. . .
Ripslinger had isolated himself from the other planes. Dusty's words played over and over again in his head like a broken record.
You know, Rip? With all the fame and fortune you have, you should be a little more grateful for the life you have. Face it, Rip! You're life is perfect!
Contrary to popular belief, Ripslinger's life was far from perfect. And it was very inconsiderate of Dusty to assume this. He didn't know him! All of this fame and money that he had built up over the years means absolutely nothing! Everyone saw him as the happy, bad-ass, and overly confident plane who had everything he could ever want and need, but on the inside he was slowly dying. No one knew the true Ripslinger. No one knew the Ripslinger who was bullied by his schoolmates and abused by his parents as a child. No one knew the Ripslinger that never once felt an ounce of love in his life. This was taking a toll on his mental health and no one ever cared to realize it.
"Hey, Rip. Are you okay?", Shawna asked.
He already knew who it was by hearing her. It was Shawna's voice, of course.
"I'm fine!", he answered curtly.
"Are you su-"
She was cut off by Ripslinger.
He turned around "YES! Now leave me alone!", he snapped.
"Okay, Rip.", Shawna replied, her voive shaking. She tuned away from the Mustang. "If you say so."
She goes back to her parents and brother. It was about time for them to fly back to Texas anyway. There was a lot of tension today in Lincoln that Shawna witnessed and heard and she was tired from it.
"It's time to go!", her father announced.
"It's about time. I'm tired!", Shawna moaned.
"Did you have fun at least?", her mother asked.
"Yes, I guess I had a pretty good time.", Shawna admitted. "Something broke out between two of the racers."
"Who?" her mother asked.
"It was Dusty and Ripslinger.", Shawna answered. "I might be over-thinking this, but I think Dusty almost had Ripslinger in tears."
"Wow! What happen?", her dad asked, surprised.
"Basically Dusty assumed that Ripslinger had a perfect life, so he stormed away from the rest. I tried asking if he was okay, but he was refusing my help.", Shawna answered.
"Well, that was sweet of you for trying to help.", her mother said in a sincere tone.
"I thought you'd be upset with me, to be honest.", Shawna said sheepishly.
"No. You did the right thing. It was very considerate of you to reach out to him. He may have refused your help, but what matters is that you tried.", her mother said to her daughter, lifting her spirits.
"Wow. Thanks, mom.". The pink plane then snuggles against her mother's fuselage.
"You know. I wouldn't mind going to these events as a family regularly. This event has intrigued me.", Shawna admitted.
"There's another race coming up this Sunday that we can go to!", her father said in excitement.
"Count me in!", Shawna cheerfully replied.
But above all of this, Shawna was worried about Ripslinger. She had just met the plane. She wasn't expecting him to deeply open up to her, she just wanted him to let her reach out to him a bit. She knew something was going on with him. She heard the argument between him and Dusty. She heard the sadness and anger in his tone when she tried talking to him. However, it wasn't good to push the issue. He'll open up when he's ready. She may not get to talk to him often, but a little hope never hurt anyone.
. . .
I'm going to help you, Ripslinger. I promise.