Lightning unbuckled Colton from his seat and set him out the suv, so he took off toward the door of Sally's. "Colt, slow down!" Lightning yelled as he got out the twins. Sally greeted him and the kids at the door. Colton running by. Lightning let the twins run on in as he spoke to his ex wife. "Hey. Thanks for um.. Inviting us over like this. Kind of nice." Sally nodded with a smile replying "Well.. Don't thank me yet. There's a reason for everything Lightning." Lightning wasn't sure what that meant.
He walked in closing the door. "Would you like a drink?" Sally asked. Lightning nodded so they walked into the kitchen as the kids played amongst themselves. Sally smiled asking "Water, red, or juice?" "Uh water is good. Thanks." Sally poured him a glass and handed it to him. Lightning stepped close in front of her. Both staring into each others faces.
"How um..About I cook lunch than." Sally suggested as she turned away to grab different ingredients. Lightning sighed letting it be. He couldn't push her. That would only push her away anyway. Maybe it was best to just pretend to be uninterested. "So do you have a bunch of students for your school yet?" Sally asked nicely. Lightning shrugged answering "A few. Two. At the moment. Three once I finish the student transfering over from the school." Sally cocked her head a bit curiously. "You're taking Cal's students?" Lightning just stared without a real answer. Sally snickered and her expression changed. "That's not exactly nice." "Well the student asked. I wasn't going to say no." Lightning explained. Sally raised her brows for only a second. But Lightning could see the judgment in her eyes.
"How about while I'm making lunch, you go on and find a game in the chest that the kids might wanna play afterwards?" Sally suggested. Lightning was happy to but was suspicious and asked "I will. I love the idea. But..." "But?.." Sally muttered. Lightning sighed asking "What's really going on?. Cause this is all too well planned for you to just wanna spend some random time together as a family." Sally stared at those big blue eyes. She hated lying to him. She didn't want to hurt him but she chose Francesco. Mostly because unlike Lightning, Francesco was constantly at her feet, daily, he was open about his feelings and confident in them, he was much stronger in the emotional way too, not affected by others judgment as easily, less dramatic in a different way, and most of all, Francesco was stable. Lightning was flaky. Sally knew he wanted her back and seemed ready to try again at their relationship. But he was possibly still the Lightning that hurt her.
The Lightning that broke her heart and plotted a revenge after her mistakes.. The man who pretended to be trying to have a baby with her as it turned out and lied for his own gain constantly, the man who continuously said he would choose her but actually ran to Cruz everytime. Sally took a deep breath answering "Francesco.." she paused. A long pause. Lightning raised a brow and felt s knot growing in his stomach as he asked "Yes?..." Sally felt panicked! And that's the moment she realized this would NEVER work! "Francesco.. is looking for a new job." She exclaimed with a smile. Lightning just stared. "That's right.. He doesn't have one still.." He sounded way to happy saying that. "That isn't it though." He added in a mutter. He knew better and she was hiding something. Lightning grabbed her hand and asked again "Sally... What's wrong?" Sally pulled her hand away answering "Um.. I want.. To know if.. I have your vote for mayor again." Lightning knew, once again she lied. Covering whatever was bothering her.
"Sally that's not it either and now you are starting to scare me." Sally frowned a bit. She hated that Lightning just knew. "I um.." she began and then the kids ran in! "Mommy!" Colton screamed! He ran up to his parents along with his siblings and begged "I want tv Mama. Please tv?" Clasping his hands together and everything. Begging to watch tv. Lightning and Sally glanced at each other when Lightning smiled answering "Come on, why don't you guys show me where the game chest is and we pick out something fun to play after lunch?" he asked. Landon started flapping his hands up and down with excitement and Ece jumping, barely. And Colton yelled "Yay! A game! I want fishin game!" And he took off toward the chest. He knew exactly where it was. And his siblings followed quickly. Lightning looked at Sally stating "We can talk about it later." Sally nodded and watched Lightning disappear into the hall.
She didn't want to marry Francesco she realized. Not yet anyway. But she also did not want to get hurt again by Lightning, so he was out of the question...
So after lunch, which the kids chatted the entire time. They were happy and excited. They played a few games, even the fishin game Colton really wanted to play. The kids and the parents put on a movie and sat down watching it for a while. The kids seemed busy watching their movie, so Lightning got up and motioned for Sally to follow. Sally reluctantly did. They stepped outside the room where Lightning leaned against the wall and asked "So what's going on?" Sally sighed answering "I um.. Francesco and I are getting married." Lightning's eyed widened "What!?" He snapped! Sally rubbed her hands together replying "I love him Lightning. I mean.. He is such a great man and there's really no reason for me not to marry him." "There's me! Because I want you back! Why is it you can't give me just one more chance!?" Lightning yelled! The kids all glanced over.
The couple glanced at the kids and quieted down. Sally shook her head answering "Lightning we tried. It didn't work and I do not have the energy to put back into it again." "Well I do? And you did not try, you quit. I told you I did not care about any of the past"-"But I do!" She yelled grabbing the kids attention again, but not noticing as she continued "YOU slept with Cruz and chose her over me! You ran to her when I NEEDED you! You loved her the way I WANTED you to love me!" Lightning snapped back "Sally I could never and never did love anyone like I LOVE you!" "Stop it! Stop lying to me and stop saying you love me!" Lightning grabbed her shoulders but she shoved him away then they heard Colt scream "Daddy!"
Lightning and Sally stopped and stated over seeing Colton run up and grab around his fathers leg and looked up saying "I wanna go home.." Lightning sighed. Sally spoke up kneeling down, "You are home Colton." Colton shook his head saying "I wanna go bye daddy.." Sally and Lightning glanced at each other. Landon and Ece were staring. Ece just sat in her seat and back to the tv. Sally knew this fighting was getting to her and Colton. Landon didn't really seem upset by it though thankfully. "I think it's time I just go home.. I got work to get to and looks like the kids are tired.." Lightning muttered.
Sally nodded and stood up calling "Hey you two. Come on. Daddy is taking you guys." Ece looked over whining "No... stay" Which was painful because Ece rarely talked at all. "She can stay with you tonight. I had to bring them back tomorrow anyway. Landon! Come on." Lightning called. Landon stared but sat there. Obviously not wanting to go. Lightning sighed again. Sally shrugged saying "Just bring Colton tomorrow.." Lightning raised a brow asking "Should we seperate them? they've never been apart?.." He started to think twice about taking only one of his kids. Sally glanced at the twin who were watching the tv again. She nodded answering "Just.. Bring him back like usual. Or if he wants to come home early." Colton smiled and hugged his mom. and asked "Why can't daddy spend the night?" Sally sighed and stared up at Lightning. Lightning rolled his eyes.
"Cause Mom's house gives me allergies son. Get your stuff. Let's go." He answered. Colton frowned but seemed satisfied enough to not ask again. "Hey," Lightning added with a smile. "You and i can have some guy time. Just you and me bud." Trying to cheer his son up. Colton smiled and ran off grabbing his stuff before running back. "Bye Lightning." Sally softly said. Lightning only snickered. And so Lightning and Colton left...
The coming week came and Lightning was at his academy. Talking with Luige and Guido as they wanted to work there too and begin to invest their tire business into the school with their own brand of Lightning McQueen Racing tires, sports tires, street tires, white walls. A whole brand. It was funny. Lightning never saw himself as a brand, but having his own school and own brand of racing. Was actually great and felt exciting!
Luige showed Lightning a photo of the ad design for the racing tires. Lightning nodded complimenting "It looks good. I like that you want to use the original 95 car but a more recent photo of me next to it." Luige smiled explaining "We thought you might. It shows who you have become as a racer." Lightning nodded pretty happy with the idea. "How much is this gonna cost me?" he asked. "Because I only have two students right now. At this point it'll cost me more to keep the place running and I'm losing money unless I can get a minimum of thirty students soon." Guido and Luige glanced at each other and were about to give McQueen the numbers when,
suddenly the doors opened wide with a SLAM! Luige, Guido and Lightning all stared wide eyed at? Cruz? Cruz rushed in and up to Lightning in panic warning "Okay so.. I might have told Cal you offered me the job and did not know you slept with his wife!?" she said dramatically. Luige and Guido looked straight at Lightning. Lightning glared at Cruz correcting firmly "I did NOT sleep with her. Cal just keeps saying that." Cruz nodded and walked up asking "So I mean.. I am..Only assuming here," She shrugged. "But... Cal and you? You two didn't make up, did you guys?" Lightning opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted "MCQUEEN!" Cal screamed as he shoved through the doors.
Lightning sighed muttering a soft "Nope.." To Cruz then stepped up in front of her and his two friends as Cal approached them yelling "So sleeping with my wife wasn't enough!? You had to go and take MY racer!?" Lightning glared answering "I did not sleep with Megan! And I didn't take Cruz. I offered her a job." Cal faked a laugh snickering "Oh right! Offered. You stole her from me!" he snapped! Lightning rolled his eyes and shook his head replying "Whatever Cal. I don't have time for this.. I have students here.." Cal crossed his arms snapping back "You plan to fuck with them to?" Lightning glared, stepping up into Cal's face and threatening "Get out of my academy before I have you taken out." By this time, the only two students Lightning had peeked around the corner. Listening and being nosy.
Cal stepped back at first but with a deep breath snapped back into Lightning's face "The racing school is my terf. You will NOT take it from me. Cruz was MY racer, and you know you only offered her the job out of spite!" Lightning shook his head snarling "Maybe I wouldn't have if you hadn't fired me." Crossing his own arms. Cal was furious.Pure hatred at this point for Lightning. That's when he noticed the two students in the corner and snickered a smile. "Fine." He replied "You can have Cruz. But I'm going to make sure you fail." Lightning raised a brow. Cal was wanting revenge. But it was Cal. So doubtful he could or would actually do anything really.
So Lightning snickered a smile and chuckled asking "Oh wow, I'm soooo scared. What are you gonna do? Ban me from your car wash?" He joked sarcastically. Cal glared but happily corrected "No, I'm gonna take your students. Hey! You two boys want full scholarships to my school?!" Cal called loudly. Lightning's brows raised and his expression changed as Cal approached his only students, "What! You can't do that!?" Cal chuckled answering "Uh? Think I just did?" Lightning watched as Cal offered the two new racers up a deal that they obviously wouldn't refuse. They glanced at Lightning with such a pitiful look. They were taking Cal's offer. And they should! Lightning would have! He frowned as Cal walked back up to him and added "And the racer from my school? Don't worry about that transfer. He will be racing against Cruz." "What?" Cruz asked confused.
Cal snickered adding one more thing, "Thanks for training him for me. He will know all her moves." Then waved at the two students calling "See y'all two tomorrow!" Leaving."Ph and Light?" He turned adding. Lightning frowned looking at Cal. "Every student you got?.. I'll be right there with a better offer so.. save us both time and just send any you find over kay?.." then left. Lightning sighed and glanced at his well..Now Cal's students. They both felt a bit ashamed "Just go." Lightning ordered them. And they just left like that with a short glare from Lightning of betrayal. But it was a fantastic offer! Even if it was Cal's revenge. They were gone and it was quiet a moment."Now what?.." Luige asked. Lightning had no students.. A racer who was his old flame...And was going to go bankrupt if he couldn't get students in here before long...
And so it began...
Lightning would have a student, Cal would make them an amazing offer they couldn't refuse. And again, and again, and again. Lightning wasn't finding any students that wanted to train with him sense he couldn't offer free tuition like Cal. He was going to have to find Students that had passion rather than those like Cal was grabbing who were more just kids wanting to race to say they could and did and become famous. He needed to find kids like Cruz and himself use to be and offer them a cheap schooling. kids who were rougher edged then the well polished kiss asses Cal was taking. But where?