FYI! The prior chapter was updated and is no longer a few short words of me explaining something about stopping this story, so before reading this chapter, go back one and read it! Sorry for that!
Sally was out doing some light Christmas shopping in town when she saw someone that caught her attention, Jackson Storm. Sally called out to him, "Jackson!" He looked over and saw her, but tried to ignore her. "Jackson wait!" Sally called out and waved. Jackson sighed with annoyance as Sally caught up and approached him. "Were you avoiding me?" She asked. Jackson glared snarling "Well if I was, I was doing a pretty poor job of it." Sally's brows lowered. "How have you been Jackson?" She asked kindly. Jackson only rolled his eyes answering a little rudely "Fine, okay." He turned to leave, but Sally stopped him with her hand and asked "Whoah, now... What's going on?"
Jackson growled a bit and asked her "Why are you so kind!?" "Excuse me?" "You are so nice and kind, soft, gentle and laid back that no matter how many times that jerk you married wrongs you, you just act like it's all rainbows and butterflies! A suck up to that man and men like that!" Sally was shook. "How dare you! You have no idea what all Lightning and I have been through Jackson. The therapy we had to fix all of the mistakes and it's not butterflies and rainbows or whatever! It's called forgiveness!" "It's called being naive!" Shouted Jackson!
Sally growled a bit asking "What are you talking about?!" Jackson turned away snapping "Nothing." Sally was angry now as he forced him too look at her as she asked. "Is this about that kiss? Are you still on that?" "What!? NO!" Jackson answered quickly! "Ooh! I have really met some jerks, but you are just flat out annoying!" "ME!? I'm annoying!? You were the one leading me on that entire time!" He reminded!
Sally rolled her eyes and corrected "I never did anything! You took my kindness as some sort of hit on!" "WOW, you talk like your eighty something years old! Glad we never hooked up. I might brake your fragile, little, brittle boned body!" Sally's jaw dropped! She was furious with this young man. "When you decide to stop being such a jerk, come by the academy after the holiday break to see about getting you back into training." Jackson snickered at the thought. "I won't go back to McQueen. The only thing he can teach me is how to cheat on a woman and get away with it." With that he turned and actually left.
Sally's jaw dropped. How dare Jackson speak that way to her. She shook her head and turned to walk the other direction. "Oh hey darlin!" Greeted Cleo. Sally gasped in surprise! "Cleo!" She shouted. "I.. I didn't see you there. How.. How long have you been there?" She asked. Cleo smiled and shrugged answering. "Oh not long. You ready for the party this weekend? At the academy?" Sally nodded, though she wasn't. "This is a nice and.. Um.. Just a nice holiday party.. Right Cleo? Because everyone is.. All of the town is pretty much going to be there..." Cleo giggled a bit answering "Oh yes! For sure! I know I have said some things to make you and Lightning, my boss, think I'm like.. Out to get him. hahahah.." Faking a laugh there. Sally only glared at her as Cleo continued. "But I can assure you baby.. I have zero interest in Lightning now. Zero. He is.. Dead.. To me.."
Sally raised a brow hearing that. "Really?" She asked and Cleo nodded with a smile. But Sally was very suspicious. "Well.. Enjoy your Christmas shopping. I have some to do of my own. Rumor has it, a new baby might be on the way for a famous couple." Cleo warned with excitement. Sally raised a brow as that reminded her of the baby bottles and other baby items Lightning had received. "Wait.. What?" Sally asked, but before Cleo answered, she just left. Leaving Sally a little fearful and unsure of her trust in Lightning. Just after what Jackson had said, the boxes, and now Cleo to? It was probably Cleo who sent the boxes, like Lightning said. Which would explain how she knew about them. Still.. It put a knot in Sally's stomach...
Lightning was on the phone when Sally got to his office in the academy. Lightning saw her and held up his finger, saying just a minute. Sally walked on in and kind of paced around. She looked at the bolt and at the few pictures sitting in Lightning's office. Lightning hung up then stood up greeting "Hey baby, what brings you by?" He smiled. It was kind of nice seeing her actually. Sally frowned a little and it was clear that something was wrong. Lightning's smile faded. "What's wrong?" He asked. Now nervous that Sally might have saw the tape. No, if she saw it, she would be more man than upset and sad.
"Sal' what's wrong?" Lightning asked again. Sally looked really nervous herself as she softly asked "Have you slept with someone else again?.. Is she pregnant? Is that why you received all that baby stuff?" Lightning stared all wide eyed at his wife. Usually, Sally would be much more afraid to ask such a thing, but after all the things Lightning had done to her, cheating. It became a normal conversation to bring up affairs. Lightning shook his head with no words. As far as he knew, Cruz was NOT pregnant and it was going to stay that way. Period.
"No lies... Right?" Sally asked as she forced a warm smile onto her face. "Total honesty.. Right?" She asked. Lightning sighed then gulped nervously before nodding and saying. "Total.. Honesty..." Sally smiled a little more real and approached her husband. Taking his face in her soft and gentle hands. "Good.. Because it's Cleo." "Cleo?" Asked Lightning. Sally nodded explaining. "I ran into her while I was out shopping.. She was trying to get in my head with a baby being on the way.." Tears filled Sally's eyes. "For a moment I.. I really thought that.. That you might have wanted someone else AGAIN."
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Lightning pulled her close, holding her loosely. "Awe, no.. No, Sally.. Listen, you are all I want. I promise you. I love you so much.. I won't let anyone come between us again, alright?" He asked. Sally wiped her eyes and nodded as she sniffled. She was just as afraid of losing Lightning to another woman as he was to losing her over a drunk mistake that he couldn't even remember. Wow.. So this is what it was like for Megan.
"Sally I love you, okay?" Lightning assured asking. Sally smiled and nodded replying. "Love you to Stickers.. Always and forever." As she nestled her head under his chin. Lightning held her close. Afraid. SO afraid about this party of Cleo's and Cruz.. Cruz was probably angry and now what if Cruz went to Cleo!? "Shit.." Lightning mumbled. Sally pushed away asking "What is it now?"
Lightning shook his head answering "Uh, nothin.. I just remembered this thing about a student.. Um.. Ken.. I got to deal with Ken. He was the one who stole the cars." he announced and sort of lied. Yes, Lightning did have to deal with that, but actually he was ow wanting to find Cleo or Cruz and make sure the two of them weren't going to some how team up against him, ruining his relationship with Sally that he seemed to have finally fixed pretty well...
Cruz sat in the doctor office. Waiting for her turn to be seen. Cleo walked in and straight to Cruz with a smile. "OH GOOD! I was so worried I'd missed your check up! I am so glad you can find out before the party! That way we know if you can drink or not at the party. But little secret.. I drank during my pregnancies. So glad I didn't miss the check up" She exclaimed. Cruz rolled her eyes muttering aloud. "Yeah, cause.. That would be.. Sooooo bad.." Cleo glared a second at her then asked. "So.. What do you think? Do you.. Feel pregnant by chance?"
That question made it clear to Cruz. Cleo wanted her to be pregnant. "Why do you care?" Asked Cruz. Cleo stared a second before answering. "I just know that.. You would love to have.. His baby.. Right? You can't tell me that you haven't honestly thought about it." Cruz frowned. Had she? Yea, a little. But Lightning wasn't the man she had fallen for before. And it was all THIS woman's fault. Cruz's brows lowered in slight anger. "You know, you really are a bitch." Cleo's eyes widened! "You don't have to be so rude." Scolded Cleo. Cruz only crossed her arms and looked away. She was angry, afraid and hurt. It was all to familiar.
"Lightning will never choose me..." Cruz mumbled. Cleo raised a brow then said "What if Sally wasn't around? Think he would then?" She asked. Cruz looked at Cleo and asked "What do you mean?" Cleo sighed. "Oh.. Just.. What if Sally was.. out of the way. Would Lightning choose you then?" "I don't know? Maybe.. I don't even think I care anymore Cleo.. If I am.. Pregnant.. I should just get rid of it. Terminate the pregnancy. Lightning made it very clear he does not want it when I spoke to him earlier." Cleo's eyes widened! "You two have talked about it?" She asked.
Cruz turned a bit pale as she stared at Cleo. She kind of just figured Cleo did know about it. "Um.. Well.. Yeah, I mean.." She turned a bit red in the cheeks there. Cleo smiled and assured Cruz that she was there for her. "Look, Lightning has some.. Stress on him right now.. If you want him for yourself, now is the perfect time, your perfect chance." Cleo explained. Cruz raised a brow and asked "How? Besides, I thought you wanted to be with him?" Cleo shrugged and explained "I did want him. Once upon a time my dear... He just.. There is no way he will be with me. Not after all the bad blood, you know?"
Cruz snickered agreeing. "Yeah, I think there is too much bad blood between Lightning and I now too." "Nonsense." Said Cleo. "A man like Lightning just needs a.. Push.. In the right direction." It would be a lie to say that Cruz didn't sit there and think about it, but her feelings for Lightning and his friendship were stronger than her need of revenge. "Thanks, but.. Lightning is my friend.. I don't want to make him do anything." Cruz replied. Cleo was upset hearing that and crossed her arms and a knee over the other as she snickered. "Doesn't seem to stop Lightning from making others do what he wants now, does it?" She asked.
That was.. Kind of true it seemed lately. "Cruz Ramirez." Called a nurse. Cruz stared at the lady nervously. She swallowed loudly and Cleo rubbed Cruz's back assuring her that she was there for her no matter what. "Pregnant, or not." Cruz sighed and stood up. "Can I just.. Go alone?" Cruz asked. Cleo smiled and nodded. Feeling that Cruz was no actual threat to her as she felt before. It seemed Cruz was more of a scared little girl rather then a threat Cleo had thought. SO Cruz walked back to find out the news ... Not sure what she was even hoping to hear...
Ollie went over to his friend Patricia where she greeted with a smile "Hey, where you been man?" She asked. Ollie quickly yanked his friend aside and said "I think Mr. McQueen is having another affair-or HAD another affair with Cruz Ramirez." "What? What are you talking about?" "I heard them, him, Cruz! They were talking about this possible pregnancy and how their is this tape of them. I think Mr. McQueen was drunk." Ollie exclaimed. Patricia snickered and crossed her arms saying, "Wow, you think?"
Ollie glared a bit continuing. "I'm serious and the way Mr. McQueen was talking to Cruz, I don't think he wants the baby or Sally to know." "We need to tell Sally." Said Patricia. Ollie's eyes widened! "What!? NO! We can't do that!" "It's the right thing to do." "But Mr. McQueen is our teacher! He will kick us out of the academy if he ever found out." Ollie whined. Patricia glared and only argued back. "Sally is a dam good lawyer. She could help us stay or move to another academy even maybe. She deserves to know that her husband is a sleeze ball." Ollie just frowned.
Yes, he knew it was indeed the right thing to do, but it made him sick to his stomach. "I just can't believe that.. This is the real Mr. McQueen.. Do you think he's been cheating on Mrs. McQueen the entire relationship?" Patricia shrugged answering "I wouldn't doubt it. Guys like him think they can get away with anything. Never learn. And Cruz is nothing but a whore in all honesty, I never liked her." Ollie just stared a moment. Then an idea, "Can't we just.. Leave Mrs. McQueen a note or something..." Patricia raised a brow and asked "Would you believe some random note?" Ollie hesitated, but answered. "...No..." "Alright then. We tell Mrs. McQueen first thing Saturday." "But.. Saturday is that Christmas party.. At the academy..." Ollie reminded.
Patricia forgot about that. None of the students really planned on going. "That would be pretty awful timing.." Patricia admitted. Then an idea, "Let's just find her now! I think Mr. McQueen is at the academy.. So if we can find her now, we can tell her before she does anything at this party to make him sound like a good man. Because I am so sick and disgusted with him at this point." She explained. Though Ollie agreed to that he also had something else to say in defense. "Mr. McQueen maybe not exactly a great husband.. But he is an AMAZING racer Patricia.. He's our mentor.. Let's not forget that." Patricia only rolled her eyes to that then went on. "I'll text you when I find out where Sally is." Waving goodbye for now. Ollie frowned a bit. This was bad. This was so, so bad...