i want to apologize for only writing and updating this story. but i need to be on it if we want the opening of L's racing academy on Sunday. Probably sunday night! I can't wait. I don't want to spoil, but I have to get to the part where Cal and L have enough of each other to the point something happens between them. Still working on it. And Cleo is a little bit of a B word. lol. but she is a spoiled rotten woman who knows she has got the looks and knows how to handle men, so she thinks...

Sally had just dropped Colton,Landon, and Ece off at the daycare. Friday. So Lightning would be picking them up and she didn't have to worry about them for a few days. Sally was in a bit of a rush to leave sense the magazine got out to well.. Everyone. She did not want to deal with Cleo and her crew.

Sally was so close to getting out of there when Cleo came up greeting "Hey Sally.." Sally sighed and turned and faced Cleo without a word. Cleo rubbed Sally's shoulder "The girls and I were talking and... We all feel so bad about that article. We all were wondering how you're doing with it?" Sally took a deep breath but couldn't hold back anymore! "Oh shut up Cleo! I know it was you! You better back off and stop trying to ruin my life. You got Lightning, what more do you want!?" People were staring. Cleo's brows raised as she denied "I swear Sally.. I don't know what you mean? I would never do that?" Sally noticed the other parents and grabbed Cleo, pulling her outside and continuing.

"You can stop the act. I know it was you! And I have had it with your games! You do not fool me for ONE SECOND. I have brought down people who think and act just like you, only ten times bigger the ego! And I have no problem doing it again." Cleo smiled partially and crossed her arms replying "So what if I did? You have no proof. And if you dare to so much as try and touch me? I will put an end to your town. Mayor Cleo De Frank! Has such a nice ring to it. And tell the kids their step mom says hi, won't you?" Sally's eyes widened and that done it! "Excuse me!? You had better not touch My children! And.. Please, like Lightning would marry you?" "Oh he will when I lock him down. And I WILL. Lock that man down sweetie. You may have scared Cruz off, being the little girl she was. But you don't scare me. I bite back." Sally was so furious!

And snapped back "Oh you just wait until I talk to Lightning!" Cleo snickered replying "Go ahead. But I'd say I'm doing a great job convincing him your crazy. He's going to choose me." Then Cleo ''Accidentally'' spills her drink on Sally's blouse! Sally jolted and gasped then smelling it asked "Alcohol!? At the daycare!?"Cleo shrugged and walked off, swaying her hips on her former model cat walk way. Sally couldn't believe this woman and HAD to warn Lightning!...

"Lightning!" Sally yelled! Interrupting him with a student. She sounded distressed and angry. Lightning, actually Lightning and his student looked over to her marching in. "Uh.. Keep going, I gotta deal with this.." Lightning told his student. He then met up with Sally asking "What are you doing here?" Sally smiled. Maybe proudly? "Well she's done it. She has done it and I am not gonna say I told you so." Lightning raised a brow and was just completely lost and confused. Sally snickered continuing "That little girlfriend of yours threatened me, my town, our kids, you! She says she's going to lock you down! You!?" Like it was funny. Lightning glanced back at the student who was now just being nosy then whispered "Come with me to my office. NOW."

Once inside, Lightning shut and locked the door and asked "Alright, what exactly are you talking about now?" Sally sat on the edge of Lightning's desk and answered "Cleo De Frank. She really is great isn't she? She says that even if I told you what she did, that you would think I'm just crazy! But SHE is the crazy one! I warned you. I warned you and you didn't believe me." Lightning shook his head and asked "What actually happened?" Sally stepped up and close to Lightning and told him just that, "Cleo first admitted to telling that magazine about me, but told me I have no way to prove that. Then she said she was going to be our children's step mom and that she was going to lock you down and marry you Lightning. And threatened to become mayor of Radiator Springs!" She stopped. Lightning just stared. Which worried Sally as she asked,

"Don't you believe me? I am not making this up." Lightning sighed muttering "Sally.. You smell like alcohol.." Her eyes widened as she yelled "Because Cleo spilled it on me!? She had it at daycare!? Oh my gosh.. She did it on purpose.. She said she was making you think I was crazy and she did! You think I'm crazy!?" Lightning shook his head. Still silent though for a moment.

"You don't believe me... Do you?.. You would really believe her over me?" Sally asked kind of rudely. Lightning shook his head slowly and explained "No, I believe you.." But he seemed upset? "It's just.. You are so happy about it. I finally moved on and found someone else. Which is what you wanted.. I was happy. And you found a way to ruin it. And that makes you so happy." Sally felt suddenly really bad. She didn't realize it and she hurt Lightning almost as much as Cleo. "Well you done it. You got what you wanted." Lightning mumbled. Sally reached for him calling "Lightning.. I'm sorry.." Lightning shook his head again and took a deep breath saying "Okay. Great.. Now will you just leave. Please.." Sally nodded and opened the door, "And Sally." She stopped. "I don't think we should see each other anyway anymore.. Those meetings?.. I can't keep that up.. Not when.. Just go."

Sally felt so bad now. She hurt him. But she didn't want to do more damage so just left.

Lightning sat down in his chair in the quiet alone. Thinking. It hurt how happy and satisfied Sally seemed to be, being right about Cleo. His phone buzzed. Another revealing picture from Cleo. He sighed. He'd have to leave Cleo. If she was really doing that kind of thing.

Cleo

We need to talk...

Lightning was cleaning up his office and finishing up some minor things when Cal came in greeting "Hey Light." "Hey Cal." Cal stepped in and immediately knew something had Lightning off most the day. "Everything okay at home? Sally? Cleo?" Lightning sighed and nodded but answered "Yeah, uh... Kids are absolutely fine and I'm sure Sally's great right now. No the uh... The whole Cleo thing didn't work out." Cal snickered replying "I'm sorry Lightning. But honestly she wasn't right for you." Lightning shrugged "I know. I didn't care though. She was just enough to get Sally out of my mind." Cal frowned asking "You still want her? Sally?"

Lightning shook his head snarling "Not after this little stunt. She told me about Cleo and warned me and I have to believe Sally. But she was so overly happy to see me admit defeat basically. I guess Sally's always been that way a little but this time it hurt. I was happy and she messed with it." Cal sighed and shook his head replying "I'm not sure that's how she sees it. But hey, enough of this negativity. You wanna grab some drinks next week after work? When you won't have the kids. I feel bad for how been keepin at each other's necks. And you look like you could use it. Meg and I would love having you." Lightning shrugged answering "Sure. Next week sounds great. Thanks." "Alright. You keep it together man. See you Monday." Cal said with a wave and left.

Lightning sighed. Now he needed to pick up the kids and talk to Cleo in person, ending it...

So Lightning went to the daycare to mostly pick up his kids. He knew he'd see Cleo there and needed to get that over with to. They were adults. She could handle it. Plus they hadn't really been together officially. Or he didn't think so. And the car. He needed to give that back to her. Which was fine because it wasn't really his type either. Cal was right. Cleo wanted Lightning to show her off in that kind of car and not the old worked on junk he would usually buy and mess around with.

Lightning walked inside amd saw his kids all playing together with two other kids. Not Cleo's son. "Daddy!" Cleo called. Lightning glanced over and sighed "Hey Cleo." Cleo grabbed his arm and asked softly "So? What was that text about earlier? We need to talk?" Lightning nodded and pulled her grip off him answering "Yeah I made a mistake. I'm just.. I'm not ready for a relationship like I thought. I just.. It's a little much. The car, this kids, you.You are great but.. Bad timing." Cleo raised a brow and asked "Seriously? Alright, I'll bite. What did she tell you?" "She?" Lightning asked. Cleo nodded "Your ex. Sally."

Lightning took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes answering "She told me what you said to her. I get it, she's.. Intimidating at times. Sally is just high strung. But she is my children's mother. She will always be part of my life and you can't treat her like you did. It's not okay. And if you really wanted to be part of my life than you would have truly accepted Sally to." Cleo snickered reminding "But she's your ex?" with a bit of a giggle. Lightning nodded "That means I should be all the more respectful. I'm sorry. But maybe we can give it another try one day. Just not now. I'll have the car delivered to you to. I think it's more your taste and I'll bet you could use the money anyway." Cleo's jaw dropped. "How dare you dump me like that? I won't allow it Lightning." she scolded.

Lightning chuckled adding "You don't have a choice." Then walked off to grab his kids. As they left, passing by, Cleo grabbed Lightning's arm and muttered quietly "Don't walk away from the best thing that's ever happened to you like it was nothing?" Lightning sighed replying "I couldn't do that anyway." Cleo kinda smiled but it faded as soon as he added "Because I've already done that. I'm just walking away from you." He was mean. Became cold. Over a stupid break up like an immature teenager! This infuriated Cleo De Frank. She wasn't going to let her Daddy slip away that easily. And it was all Sally's fault...

Sally just got out the shower and stared out the window of her home, wrapped in a towel. She was happy that she was right about Cleo. But didn't mean to hurt Lightning because of it. She felt bad and needed someone to talk to. Someone like Francesco. Sally first got into her silk robe then sat down at her laptop. Staring at Francesco's name. She sighed but wanted to talk to him and just.. Hear his voice.

She called and it rang.. And rang.. And rang..He wouldn't answer her. He was probably with that new person he said he met. Which hurt. Sally was just feeling all alone. Completely alone...

Sorry this was another shorter one. Hope it was still good. ALSO if you guys wouldn't mind, to maybe start coming up with ideas for L's soon disguise. Its not quite happening yet, but i need to have an idea before i get there or it will freeze the story for a few days or a week. Any ways, onto monday!