Sally was busy with some work when Flo rushed in with the dress. "Oh honey I had to bring this down when you asked me to pick it up and see your face!" She shut the door and hung the dress on the coat rack. Sally stood up and walked over next to her old friend. "You gonna open it?" Flo asked. Sally stared a moment. The dress was still inside the cover. She let out a deep breath and admitted "I wasn't going to even bother with a wedding dress.. Francesco convinced me into it. Said he had one and it was my size.. never saw it. Ever. Francesco said it was his mothers.. But she never got to wear it." Flo lay a hand on Sally's shoulder apologizing "Honey we don't have to open it." Sally sighed but disagreed "You open it. I need to see it at least." Flo smiled and unzipped it and pulled the dress gently out of the cover. It hung there.
It was wide thick sleeveless straps. A deep V in the middle of the chest but it was simple silk or satin. No beads, no jewelry. Plain but beautiful. It went straight down to the floor and did not drag. It was barely a wedding dress. It had a veil that was a lot longer than even the dress. Off white in color. But was so simply beautiful. She stared at it and felt the rush of emotion. Her eyes teared up. Flo grabbed her asking "Are you sure you wanna do this? What's wrong? Is it the dress? Because.. It's not that bad a dress?" Sally wiped her eyes explaining "I'm fine, I'm fine. The dress is beautiful. I want this. It's just.. You get married once and think that's your forever. But I'm fine. I promise.." She put on a smile and was strong enough to push back her true feelings once again. Flo sighed but didn't push. But she knew she needed to get Lightning to talk to Sally now before Sally made a mistake. Because the wedding wasn't too far away.. Just a few weeks left.
"Have you invited Lightning yet?" Flo asked. Sally frowned answering "No.. I mailed out all the invites but his. Thought I'd give him his in person." Flo nodded agreeing sense that seemed like the better and more tender way to do it. "Think he'll actually come?" Flo asked. Sally shrugged. "It maybe best he doesn't really and truly. I think he may just be upset and make the entire event.. Depressing.." She sighed. Flo warmly smiled and rubbed Sally's back. "It's all gonna work out sweetie. You just need to do what you want to do Sally."...
"So, before we head out to the simulator, I want.. James and Kate. You two are learning how to use the machine. So you two watch this round. Kay?" Cal instructed. Students began grabbing their things and getting ready to head out to the simulator. Lightning was outside the door and took a deep breath before just walking in. Cal immediately glared at him and snapped "What are you doing here McQueen? Get out!" Lightning approached Cal. And all the students slowed and stood there. Most thinking they were about to see a fight between these two.
"Uh.." Lightning muttered as he glanced at the students. No. Show full confidence. Don't be afraid to be cocky.. That's what Cruz said. Lightning smiled and said "I challenge you to a race." Cal raised a brow, kind of jaw dropped. "What?" "That's right. You and Me Cal." Cal shook his head snapping "I'm not racing you? Get out of my school!" "Oh why not Cal? You gonna pass up the chance teach your students something real and not on just a simulator?" The students stared at their teacher. Cal glared at them and Light replying "Stop it. I'm not racing you." Lightning crossed his arms and nodded with a shrug "Oh okay. I get it. You're afraid your students are gonna find out the truth." Cal raised a brow and asked "What truth?" Lightning got up in Cal's face answering in a low tone "That their race instructor doesn't even know how to race." All the students really stared wide eyed at Cal. "What? No? Wait that's ridiculous McQueen. I am not stopping down to that. I have NOTHING to prove." Cal whined.
Lightning snickered with a smile and added "Nothing to prove? Or Something to lose?" He asked. Cal glared and glanced at his students. "I mean I get it. I wouldn't want to race a SEVEN TIME PISTON CUP champion either. You're probably doin the smart thing anyway. Wouldn't want your students to know what I already do. That you.. Can't measure up to everything you are promising them here." Lightning added. Cal frowned a bit seeing his students actually think about this and a few talking in whispers to themselves. He could tell Lightning get out but deal with these guys, his studnets later. Or show Lightning a thing or two. And kick his ass on the race track.
"So? Guess I'll just go. Sense you're obviously too scared for any real racing that's not on a simulator. That's why you sold the track right?" Cal glared and snapped back "Fine. You got yourself a race McQueen. Sense you wanted to keep that track so badly, how about there?" Lightning snickered with a smile and made it more interesting, putting Cal out of his element because truly Cal was a good and great racer. "Oh? Too scared to get your tires dirty Cal?" Cal immediately snapped back "I'm not scared of anything." Lightning and Cal stepped to each other. "Willy's butte. Sunrise. Tomorrow." Lightning stated. Cal nodded "I'll be there." He answered. Lightning smiled and looked at the students who a few were already on their phones. "You all come on out and I'll teach you a thing or two about real racing." More students immediately grabbed out their phones with excitememnt. Then Lightning left.
Proud and satisfied. Cal on the other hand was a little embarrassed and felt stupid for agreeing to this...
Lightning walked into his academy and into his office where he was a little shocked and surprised to see Cruz and a young man and young lady with glasses working with her. "Uh?.." He muttered. Cruz smiled exclaiming "And there he is! Okay, don't be mad. But I hired you these guys to help. Sense I'll be racing here again and won't be able to help as much as you're gonna need." Lightning raised a brow staring at the two people. Had to be around Cruz's age or maybe a little younger. "This is Jethro." A brown haired young man with a horribly long beard. Dressed like a hono hippie like look. Skater boy! "He is your personal photographer and he will help you plan out different things to be grabbing attention." Jethro smiled and shook Lightning's hand explaining "I'm thinking we bring out all the old Lightning McQueen stunts and re do them all. Each and every one and take on a few challenges from things similar to the hot wheels stunts." Lightning raised a brow but nodded for now.
Cruz then introduced the girl. "And this is Celia. She is your social bug. She is going to pretend to be you on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. So she is going to be following you around a lot." Lightning opened his mouth to kind of disagree on this but Celia grabbed out her phone and snapped a random photo of Lightning next to Cruz. Then muttered as she typed "Hard... At... Work.. At.. the... academy. Posted." Lightning just stared. Completely lost. Cruz then asked "So? What did Cal say?" Lightning glanced once more at the kids then answered "It's a race. Tomorrow morning and I got him out here on the dirt track. He doesn't stand a chance." "Great job Mr McQueen! And the students?" She asked. Lightning about answered but Celia did raising her hand "Already talking about it. But they are mostly rooting for Cal. Naturally. I'll just post something about it to your profile." Lightning just stared at her then at Cruz. Cruz smiled and seemed positive so Lightning sighed but went along with it.
Jethro then asked "You have a suit to wear right?" Lightning shrugged answering "Well.. I was going to wear just jeans and a shirt?" Cruz butted in explaining "No.. Jethro is going to need you to look professional and race ready. Get the bolt and get a suit. You need to look serious. Over do Cal Weathers." Lightning nodded thinking. This could get a little annoying with Jethro and Celia following him constantly...
After work, Sally went on to her normal routine and went to the daycare to pick up the kids before heading home for the night. She parked the porsche and as she walked up to the entrance she saw Cleo handing out something to everyone coming to pick up their young children out of her designer handbag. Sally was curious and approached Cleo with a fake smile asking "What you got there Cleo?" Cleo smiled answering "Um well.. Just..Some button pins." Sally was really curious. Cleo pulled one out and handed it to a passing mom. Sally still curious asked "What for?" Cleo sighed explaining "After seeing you and how.. Successful you were and the way Lightning obviously respects you. I wanted to contribute to the town of Radiator Springs myself." Sally nodded. Suspicious.
"By handing out? Pins?" Sally asked. Cleo smiled a little and continued to explain "Well yes.. But more than that. You seem so stressed constantly and need a break so I took it upon myself to do you a favor." "I am not stressed. And?... What favor?" Sally asked. Cleo reached into her bag and handed Sally a pin. Sally stared at it a moment before mumbling "You're running for mayor?..." Cleo smiled and nodded. Sally couldn't believe this woman! Sally handed the pin back and said in a low and very obviously annoyed tone "Good for you.." with a glare. As she walked inside, a bunch of parents were talking. Staring at her? Sally was confused and asked one of the parents "What's going on?" The man answered showing his phone "Haven't heard? Lightning and Cal are racing against each other." Sally grabbed the man's phone "What?" She stared and read over some students post. Lightning challenged Cal?
"What is he thinking?" She muttered. The man, parent next to her then asked "You didn't know?" Sally frowned a little answering "No.. I didn't.". The man snickered replying "Well it's tomorrow morning. Looks like the entire racing school is gonna be there." Sally sighed. Part of her missed that Lightning. "He's gonna race again?.." She muttered. "Looks like it." the man replied taking back his phone. Sally thought about this in her mind a minute. She had to work but.. She wouldn't miss this...
Early morning
"Alright Mr McQueen! You ready?" Cruz asked as she stood outside his office bathroom. Lightning answered from the other side of the door "Uh this isn't my old suit?" Cruz giggled "I know. Jethro and I were talking and thought to grab even MORE attention, you should race that new paint scheme Ramone painted. So the suit matches. That black matte race car that turns red when it gets wet! Genius! So naturally the black suit with neon Ferrari red outlines was an eye catching choice. Plus.. I made sure we add that lucky sticker again." Lightning opened the door and stepped out. Cruz squealed a bit admitting "Oh my gosh.. This is a bad ass look. Definitely says you are BACK and you are SERIOUS!" Lightning looked down at his suit and asked "You sure? To me it says I wanna be like Jackson Storm." Cruz rolled her eyes then FLASH "Hey!" Lightning snapped at Celia. She immediately began typing on her phone. Cruz apologized "Sorry.. Updating your status." Lightning glared with a sigh then asked "How many people even see that thing?" "What thing?" Cruz asked.
Lightning pointed to Celia's phone answering "That." Cruz raised a brow, as did Celia for a moment. Celia then answered explaining "Um.. Their called followers and.. You have a couple thousand." Lightning smiled replying "Good! That's great! Right!?" Cruz didn't seem impressed. Neither did. Celia stared explaining "A few thousand is okay. But really you need hundreds of thousands to be anywhere near someone like?.. Storm or Cruz here." Lightning sighed feeling a little pitiful. "This isn't gonna work.." he griped. Cruz quickly reassured "It will, it will. You just need to remind them that you are still alive and still got something in you. That's all. This is just the first step. All you gotta do is win." she smiled warmly. With those big brown eyes. Lightning snickered and smiled warmly back. That connection between them was still there.
Lightning cleared his throat and turned away adjusting his sleeves on the wrists. "All you gotta do.." Cruz mumbled. Lightning nodded finishing "Is win." "Exactly." Cruz smiled. Lightning stepped out onto his balcony. Looking down at a lot of Cal's students who were eager to see this race and Cal was already there. Waiting next to his old dinico car. Lightning stared down. A few students even took a picture. Lightning looked intimidating as he stared down at the track. Cal glanced up from his car. He was angry and definitely was ready to give Lightning a fight.
Lightning frowned a bit. Seeing Cal filled with so much hatred for him.. Lightning betrayed his friend. And he was about to race Cal and win.. Beating Cal like this didn't feel right. He put Cal in a position that Lightning knew he had a very small chance of winning.. On purpose. Then she caught his attention. Lightning stared down grabbing the rail of the balcony. "She came?" Sally. Sally was among the students and few other people that showed. "Alright. Perfect." FLASH. Jethro snapped a photo of Lightning from behind. Lightning turned and glared. It was a little annoying. "You ready?" Cruz stepped forward asking. Lightning sighed but nodded. Lightning glanced down at Sally once more and just had to go talk to her.
Lightning walked down and made his way straight to Sally. She stared at him and that new suit and snickered "Wow. You look different." Lightning smiled replying "Just going for a new look." Sally nodded agreeing with that. But then she asked softly in a worried tone "Lightning what are you doing?..." Lightning raised a brow answering just as concerned now "I?.. I'm racing Cal. Thought that was obvious." Sally sighed adding "No, I mean"-"Hey McQueen!" Cal interrupted loudly. Lightning turned and glanced at Cal. Cal who was angry and ready. "Let's do this. I need to get back to work. Some of us, have REAL jobs here." Lightning's brows lowered as he approached Cal smiling. "You're right. And some of us have real racing to teach." Cal snickered asking "So where's your car?"
Lightning sighed not sure when suddenly the loud and familiar race car engine revved and pulled up next to Cal's. Cruz slid out the window asking the two former racers, "Somebody order a car?" Lightning snickered and turned to Cal. Smiling a cocky smile and said "Let's race." Cal glared heavily face to face with Lightning. "Let's do it.." Cal replied...
The two racers got in their cars, helmets on. Lined up. Engines idled, revved. 3.. 2... 1... The two race cars, one black, one blue sped off! Cal was behind a little. Lightning ahead! The first turn Cal made it up.But Lightning knew.. The third turn would stump him. Cal never had to race off road. Cal never trained on dirt. The second turn cam and as they came into the stretch Cal gained on Lightning. Way to fast. Yeah, Cal waa about to be in the tulips. The third turn Lightning slowed, turning right to go left! But Cal didn't. Cal turned immediately left and went into a slide! Everyone gasped as Cal's car went straight off the ledge into cactus!
Cruz and Lightning's team cheered for him. But Lightning knew better than this! Suddenly Lightning skid his car to a stop between turn three and four! Right in the middle of the race! "No!? What is he doing!?" Celia yelled! Lightning got out the window of his car and took off the helmet and tossed it down and rushed over to the ledge and without hesitating, slid down the steep of it. "Cal! Cal!" He yelled and ran to the car. Cal just got out the window and was taking off his helmet as Lightning asked "You okay?" WHAM! Right in Lightning's nose! Lightning fell straight back into the ground. Cal threw his helmet next to Lightning's head and it hit the dirt with a THUD! Cal was angry!
"You set me up!" he yelled. Lightning sat up but was pushed back down with Cal's foot to his chest. Laying flat on the ground. Cal was beyond furious. He was only making himself look like a bad sport... Like Chick or Storm... Students and fans and folks all stared down as Cal glanced up. Megan screamed and cried out "Stop! Just stop it! Please!" She begged. Cal panted heavily glaring down at Lightning. Lightning was at his mercy. Cal shook his head and stepped off Lightning's chest. He knew better when he had his own students watching. "Next time..." Cal snarled.. Then lend his hand out and pulled Lightning up. Lightning stared with a bit of frown as Cal finished saying "Next time I don't care who sees. I'll fuckin kill you." Lightning just stared. He made a big mistake.. And even bigger enemy...