AAAAAAAAAAAK YOU GUYS I'M REALLY SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT... I've had a bit of writer's block. This chapter? Probably not my best. BUT IT EXISTS! So huzzah for that.

MovieGirl44: LOL, thanks! :)

Titanic X: Dude, you practically read my mind. I am actually planning something similar for the "grand finale". Thanks for reading!

TwilitWolfGirl56: Oh, great. :) Holy crap, LOL, that's pretty crazy. No, I'm weirder - I had a dream the other night where I was Katniss Everdeen on a ski trip. xD No prob, same thing happens to me all the time. Thanks for reading! :)

StacyMcMissile: As always, your comment made me laugh. No, don't worry, Finn's safe. For now. *grins evilly* Yeah... :/

Ciriajacobs: Sorry, but this isn't gonna be a HolleyxFinn story. They're friends, of course, close friends, but not romantically involved. But thanks for reading!

Laur14: Thanks! Yup, here ya go. :)

Enjoy! And Titanic X still owns Spray.

...

Holley decided it would be useless sulking over Finn's absence, and instead decided to make the most of it. This meant working on regaining confidence and independence, two qualities she thought all women should possess. However, despite her beliefs, she realized that she had been subconsciously lacking in both confidence and independence, wishing to cling to Finn, Mater, or even Sally and hoping for them to guide her through these rough times.

So that was why Holley was quietly pulling into the Cozy Cone lobby, feeling mildly embarrassed at what was to come.

"Hello, Sally," said Holley, announcing her presence. Sally looked up from the paperwork that was spread across her desk and smiled at Holley.

"Hey, Holley. How's it going?"

"Fine, thank you." Holley took a deep breath and didn't quite look Sally in the eyes as she asked, "Um, would you be able to do me a favor?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if there are any - any jobs around here I could take," asked Holley, glancing down at her hood. She felt slightly ashamed that she was asking Sally to help her find a job. For one thing - Holley's employment (of lack of) was not Sally's problem. Holley didn't think it was very kind of her to ask Sally for help in this situation. Secondly, Holley felt embarrassment at admitting that she needed a job. At the moment, she felt so inferior to Sally, an intelligent, strong woman with a good career and a bright future.

Holley wasn't sure what she was expecting from Sally. An overactive imagination assured Holley that Sally would scorn her. Considering Sally's character, this was ridiculous. But still Holley worried. She didn't expect Sally to nod casually and say, "Sure. I've actually been considering asking for help running the Cozy Cones. I've been so focused on Wheel Well, I think I've been neglecting the Cones."

Holley shook her hood. "Oh, no, you haven't. They're really spectacular."

"Thank you. So what do you say?"

"If you don't mind, I think that'd be wonderful. Thank you so much."

"It's no problem. It's what friends do."

Holley smiled at that. "So, when do you want me to start?"

"Well, when are you available?"

"I haven't really got anything on my schedule, so I can start whenever."

"Would now be an OK time?"

"That'd be perfect."

"Great! Here, I'll show you around, just give me a second."

...

Holley was relieved that the meeting had gone so well. At first she felt awkward working for Sally, before she realized that wasn't how Sally was thinking of it. Sally felt that Holley was working with her, a fact that helped Holley to feel more at ease.

Helping Sally with the Cozy Cones was certainly an improvement from Starbucks. Alright, so helping to tidy up the Cones after people left wasn't the most fun in the world, but it wasn't too bad, either. Holley preferred to help Sally with the paperwork, something she was actually pretty good at. According to Sally, Holley had been a desk agent at C.H.R.O.M.E., so maybe her skills from her previous job were kicking in. Holley still didn't believe that she had been a spy, but as long as she was doing well with her current activities, she wouldn't complain.

A week after she had began work, Sally was already comfortable with leaving Holley to deal with the Cozy Cones while she went to work at Wheel Well. Holley was extremely anxious at first, but she found her jitters slid away when a familiar rusty tow truck rolled into the lobby.

"Hey, Miss Holley. How ya doin'?"

"Hi, Mater," said Holley, smiling. "I'm good, thanks. How are you?"

"I'm purty good," Mater said. "How's everything here?"

"It's good," said Holley, wishing she could have said something more interesting. So after a moment, she added, "A bit quiet, but that's fine. I'm a little nervous, to tell the truth."

"Why, don't be nervous. Ah think yer doin' great."

"Thanks, Mater."

"Tell ya wha'. Ah'll pretend ta be a customer, and you just practice whatever yer supposed ta do when somebody comes, if it makes ya feel better."

Holley smiled. That was really sweet of him. "Sure."

"OK." Mater backed up out of the building and re-entered. Holley could see he was serious about this, so she refrained from giggling.

"He really is quite cute," thought Holley. "Wait, what?"

"Hello, dere," said Mater, trying to behave business-like. "Ah'd like me a place ta stay. Is dere anywhere round here?"

"Why, yes there is," Holley said, her tone light and airy. "If you would like, I could find you a room in one of the Cozy Cones."

"Dat'd be wonderful! How much would it cost ta stay a night?"

Holley continued with the procedure, and when she had successfully completed it, Mater exclaimed, "Dad-gum, dat was great, Holley! Ya did real well."

"Thanks," said Holley, a smile on her face. "I feel more comfortable now."

Mater looked delighted. "Great!"

Holley wasn't sure if she actually still had a physical heart, but she was pretty sure there was something within her skipping a beat. Whatever that something was, it also must have been the reason why she couldn't find anything to say, or do, except just stare at Mater with a smile frozen on her face. It stayed like that for a full ten seconds, and it would have become extremely awkward if a customer hadn't driven in and asked for a room.

"Yes, of course," replied Holley, and before she knew it, the customer was happily situated in his own Cozy Cone.

"Great job, Miss Holley!" congratulated Mater. Again, Holley beamed at him.

"Thank you."

"I'm with Mater," said a new voice, and Holley jumped - she hadn't noticed Sally parked by the front door. "You did really well."

"Thanks, Sally," said Holley, smiling at Sally. Somehow, this smile felt different on her face than the one Holley had given Mater. Feeling mildly confused by this, Holley stopped grinning. "So, uh, how's everything at Wheel Well?"

"Fantastic," gushed Sally. "It's really so amazing to see business booming here. I can't believe how far it's come since Stickers arrived."

"What about me?" asked Lightning as he pulled up. Sally smiled warmly at her fiance as he gave her a kiss.

"I was just saying that the town has come far since you came here," Sally explained.

"Well, I didn't really do anything," said Lightning modestly.

"Yes, you did! Come on, you repaved the road - "

"Only after destroying it."

"Well, still - "

Holley and Mater exchanged a look, and Holley gave a giggling before quickly clamping a tire over her mouth. Sally and Lightning noticed the response to their banter, which caused Holley to giggle even harder. This set Mater off, and soon they were all laughing. As Holley looked around, she became aware of how glad she was to be there. And once again, she realized - she didn't want this to be a hallucination.

...

"Good night, Sally. I'll see you tomorrow," said Holley, giving Sally a wave before heading toward the door.

"Wait, Holley."

Holley paused and turned around. "Yes?"

"I was wondering - could you be a bridesmaid at Lightning's and my wedding?"

Holley blinked in surprise. "Me?"

Sally nodded, smiling slightly. "You."

"I - that'd - of course! It'd be an honor."

"Great," said Sally. "Thank you."

"Thank you, Sally." Holley waited a moment before adding, "I've never had a friend like you, Sally. Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

...

Thanks for reading! Please review.

I should update again after my exams, so hopefully I'll have a new chapter within a month or so. For my Different readers, a new chapter of Different ought to be up by the end of my exams (June 5). I've been taking a writing class for the last month and a half, and the final class is tomorrow. So without homework from that class, and summer coming up, I should be able to write more! I can't wait for summer. I plan to finish up this book, then maybe I'll start another fanfiction - I've got several ideas.

OK, I'll shut up.

(Review!)