(From Pancake: Sorry guys for the late update, but here's two chapters to make up for it!)
From Mere: Thank you to Pancake3298 and Nals-25 for being awesome readers/reviewers.
They are both authors in 's Cars archive, and really, REALLY good authors at that.
Check them out, read their stuff, and leave them a review. You will not regret it.
Chapter 21- The Headquarters. (otherwise entitled, MereMcQueen314 can't come up with creative titles. *dies*)
The day came that the headquarters was to open. Tourists had flocked the town the day before. People were coming in from other parts of the country to witness the grand opening. The Cozy Cone was full to bursting. Flo was on double duty, trying to feed all the customers. Trailers and cars had been parked up to a mile away, and some people had slept in them.
Yes, the papparazi was there. Photographers and journalists were present, also. There was a news center truck, too.
Sally took a deep breath, standing in front of her bathroom mirror. She wore her dark blue buisness suit today, the same one she usually wore for court cases. Her black hair was tied up in a bun. She had only put on a tiny bit of makeup, and she wore the black pearl necklace that Lightning had given her before Christmas. Sally sighed a little, thinking about Lightning, but shrugged it off. There was no time for that today.
A knock was heard against the wood of the bathroom door.
" Who is it?" Sally asked, drying her hands on a towel.
" It's Me." Sean's voice said, slightly muffled.
Sally opened the door. " Hey, you about ready?" She asked him.
He smiled. "I guess so. Is this outfit okay?" Sean asked, referring to his khakis and red polo shirt. (A/N: He's a target employee! Sorry, couldn't help it.)
Sally was confused. " Why wouldn't it be?" She asked him.
"Well, I mean, you're wearing your nice buisness outfit, so."
They began to walk to the door together. "Sean, I'm only wearing this because the news wants to film me cutting the ribbon since Lightning isn't here. Your clothes are fine."
Sean nodded. " Okay, Le."
Sally smiled. Sean had been calling her 'Le' since he could talk. "Have you been out there yet?" Sally asked him. Spot ran up to the two of them just then, and Sean bent down to scratch behind her ears.
"Yeah. It's...terrifying?" Sean replied, looking back up at Sally.
" How so?" She asked, taking Spot's leash off it's hook.
Sean shrugged. "No reason, except that you can hardly move down the road, due to the massive throngs (A/N: Throngs is a word. It means lots of people. At least my ipod's autocorrect feature didn't make me write 'thongs'.) of tourists and papparazi."
" Really?" Sally asked, a twinge of excitement in her voice.
Sean looked up at her in surprise. "You obviously haven't been out there, because it's not worth getting that excited. It's really crowded. Think like, Disney world type crowded."
Sally, her excitement causing her to not hardly hear him, looked down at her watch.
" Time to head out there, Sean." She said, helping him up. She clipped Spot's leash on, and then they went out the door.
Lightning was in his trailer, waiting to see the opening of the headquarters. It would be shown
live in about ten minutes. He was trying to think of a way to be able to visit Sally before June.
No ideas yet.
Lightning sighed. It just didn't feel...right when he and Sally were apart. He had joked once though, that she was the other half of his brain. And, logically, if you didn't have half of your brain, you wouldn't feel right.
His phone buzzed, bringing him out of his thoughts. Lightning picked it up to see a text from Sally.
" Hey. They're about 2 show the opening. R U watching it?"
He smiled, then sent a reply. "Yeah. Hey, has RS ever had that many people at 1 time?"
" Not that I can remmbr. Sean sd it's like Dsny Wrld."
Lightning smirked. Leave it to Sean. "U better head out thr. Luv U, Baby."
"I Luv U 2."
Lightning set his phone down and stood up. Right after watching the grand opening he needed to get down to the track for qualifying. The race was tonight.
"Daytona Under The Lights."
(A/N: my favorite race. Or, well, one of them. Ps- the track is always lit.)
Sally stood in front of the headquarters, waiting for everyone to quiet.
Once they did, she took the microphone from the news reporter.
"I'd like to thank you all for coming out today for the grand opening of the Lightning McQueen racing museum, shop, hotel, and headquarters. As much as he wanted to, unfortunately, Lightning couldn't be here today, due to tonight's race, which, as a special gift to all who are here today, will be shown on the huge flatscreen in the meeting room. We encourage all of you to stay and watch it, completely free of charge."
There were cheers and clapping as Sally took the ceremonial scissors. "And now, without any more delay, Lightning McQueen's official headquarters is now open." She announced, clipping the red ribbon that decorated the entrance. There was a satisfying 'SNIP' and the ribbon fell to the ground.
"So, Lightning, particular strategy for tonight?" Kori asked him, holding the microphone towards him. It was about an half an hour until the race started, and Kori was interviewing the drivers.
Lightning smiled his 'celebrity' smile. "I'm sorry, I cannot disclose that information at this present time."
Kori laughed and tucked a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. "As far as matters go off the track, most people know that your racing headquarters opened today, but there are rumors going around that you and you're fiancé Sally Carrera are going to be married soon. Is that correct?"
" Yes, it is." Lightning replied. "We'll be getting married in June."
Kori turned to the camera. "There you have it, race fans. You heard it from him. Lightning McQueen, starting fifth in tonight's race."
After she walked away, Lightning walked back to the trailer area and tried to call Sally.
As it turns out, she was too busy to answer.
Alice walked into the headquarters to check on Sally and see how things were going. And it was a good thing too.
Sally was apparently trying to answer twenty phone calls, man the front desk which had a long line of people, mop up a spill, and help the poor lost family that thought they wee in the left wing of the museum. (A/N: about as busy as our church's first night of VBS. you would not believe how stressful it is with all the food that needs to be made for 80+ kids and 90+ workers.)
Sean was trying to help a customer who was unsattisfied with a shirt price, answer the gift shop phone, and manage the long line of people at the gift shop desk. The other employees were just as busy.
Alice walked up to Sally and helped her get everything sorted out. Once things were calm again, they all sat down at the desk, and Sally began to straighten up all the papers and pens that were strewn around.
Alice took a seat in one of the chairs. "Sally, is that your lunch?" She asked, indicating an untouched sandwich sitting on a plate.
Sally sighed as she put away some papers in a filing cabinet. "Yeah. I never got around to eating it. Probably explains my migraine."
"Oh, I hate migraines." Alice said, then handed Sally some pills. "Take these, and for heavens sake, eat something."
Fifteen minutes later, the crowds had mostly cleared out of the lobby and either into town for dinner, or to the meeting room to watch the race.
Sally stood up. "Alice, I think I'm going to head home if you don't need me here. I'm going to get some food and go to bed early."
Alice nodded. "Sure. Sean and I can hold down the fort."
Sally smiled a weary smile. "Thanks. Now remember, the hotel has six rooms reserved, and it's on the computer who. They need to show ID. Okay?"
Alice stood and pushed Sally out the door. "Go. We can handle this."
"If you're sure." Sally questioned.
"GO." Alice prompted.
So Sally returned home.
The race wasn't very eventful. A few spin-outs, some blown tires, and one big wreck that didn't involve the RS team. Lightning got second to Steven. After the race, Steven approached Lightning.
"You put up a good race, McQueen." He said with false kindness. "So, how have things been?"
Lightning was wary. "It's been fine. Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering. How is Sally?" Steven asked with a crafty smile.
'I knew it' Lightning thought. "Why do you care?" He asked accusingly.
Steven raised an eye brow. "I was just wondering. Whether or not you're her boyfriend, she and I still have something."
Lightning was bewildered. "Um, have you heard? We are engaged." (A/N: I'm sorry if that didn't fit with a previous chapter. I can't remember if Steven knew already, and I would look back, but if I navigate away from this webpage to check, it will delete what I've typed so far in this chapter. Sorry. Just go with it.)
Steven was shocked. "How could you?" He asked. "Sally and I-"
"Whatever you and her had, it is over and gone." Lightning interrupted. "It was over and gone when you got her arrested, spying!"
Steven folded his arms. "I'm not arguing with you." He said calmly. "But Sally is MINE. Even if I have to take her back personally."
Lightning stepped forward, ready to throw a punch. "If you lay a finger on her-!" He began to threaten, but Steven walked away.
"Goodnight." He called over his shoulder, before disappearing into his trailer.
Lightning hurried back to his trailer to call Sally.
No answer.
Doc entered the trailer just then and saw Lightning looking nervously down at his phone. "What's wrong, Rookie?"
" I just tried calling Sally and didn't get an answer." He replied.
Doc set down some papers he had been carrying. "Did you try calling Alice? She might've invited Sally over to our house."
Lightning did so. After a few rings, Alice picked up.
" Hello?" Her voice came through.
" Alice, this is Lightning." He exclaimed. "I was calling to ask if you knew where Sally was. I tried to call her, but she didn't pick up."
He heard Alice sigh. "She went to bed early with a migraine. She didn't eat lunch till late and then because of the migraine she threw up." (A/N: No, she is not pregnant. I know that's what you're thinking, Pancake3298.)
Lightning was bewildered. Sally didn't get migraines often. "If, um, If you're not too busy, do you think you could check on her? Please?"
" I was just about to, actually." Alice replied.
"Thanks."
Alice was smiling. "You're welcome. Bye."
"Bye." Lightning replied, then set his phone down.
Needless to say, it was a long night.
Ending sucks. Again.
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