Sally returned home and quietly shut the door behind her. She dropped her keys and let out a deep breath. She hated Lightning. Not really. She hated him because she loved him but just knew. Things would never be the same. Sally stood there a moment before Francesco walked up to and immediately noticed no kids so asked "Where are the children?" Sally sighed answering "With Lightning. He took them for a while.." Francesco snickered then walked up to his soon to be wife, caressing up her arm he smiled. "So we have the place to ourselves hmm?" Sally smiled a little. Francesco leaned closer and their lips touched briefly. But not even lasting a few seconds, Francesco pulled away.
"What is wrong?" he asked. He could feel her, taste her resistance. Something was wrong. Sally shook her head and shrugged answering "Nothing.. Sorry." Francesco just stared. He knew something was wrong and he hated that Sally did this sort of thing. Shut down and close up without a word. Now, Francesco wasn't stupid. He was pretty sure it was something to do with Lightning one way or another. But Francesco decided to change the subject. "What kind of flowers would you like for the wedding?" Sally shrugged answering "I don't know... What would you pick?" Francesco thought a moment.
What would he pick? Hmm. "Roses and sunflowers. They would make you shine." Sally kind of smiled at that. It was so sweet. "And vanilla cake. Right?" Sally asked. Francesco chuckled nodding "Ofcourse." he answered. Sally sighed and her smile faded. Francesco was really concerned. "Sally... Talk to me dear.." He begged. Sally stepped away and with a deep breath she began admitting "I.. I'm afraid I'm getting cold feet." Francesco frowned. It was gonna hurt but he asked "Why?.." softly. Sally crossed her arms, her back to Francesco, replied answering "Well.. Because... Because part of me doesn't want this.. To ever get married again. It's not you personally. I love you and you are a perfect man.." Francesco came behind her, wrapping his arms around her hips replying "I get it.. McQueen ruined your perspective." He kissed her head. Sally shook her head correcting "No.. That's.. Not exactly it." "And he made afraid to be with another man." Francesco added. Sally shook her head again. Francesco wasn't listening but she also wasn't being clear.
"Fran I don't want a big wedding." she admitted. Francesco sighed and nodded as she returned to face him. "Okay. No celebration ot is. Just a quick wedding and we leave. Did you find someone to watch the children a few days?" Sally frowned answering "Yes and no.. I know Lightning or his mom would in a heart beat. I just haven't asked yet." Francesco gave Sally this look.. Just this very suspiciously odd look. "What?" She asked. Francesco stared a few more seconds silently before blinking and answering "Nothing. Ti amo." Sally smiled warmly replying softly herself. "Ti amo."...
It wasn't to much longer, Lightning came by to drop off the kids. Francesco answered the door and the kids just ran in! "Hey! Don't run in the house! Your mom will kill me.." Francesco watched the kids run off then he and Lightning stared at each other. Francesco glared a little greeting "McQueen.." "Francesco.." Lightning returned the same glare. Francesco sighed and stepped outside with Lightning and exclaimed "Come.. I want to chat." Lightning rolled his eyes. He knew what was coming. Or at least he was pretty sure. Francesco placed an arm around Lightning and began his chat.
"So.. Sally and I will be married soon." Lightning nodded with a glare reminding Francesco "I know." "Are you? Do you plan to come?" Francesco asked. Lightning shoved Francesco's arm away and stopped their little walk before answering "No, yes, no..I don't know. She asked me to but.." Lightning sighed and frowned. Francesco crossed his arms and firmly exclaimed "I know. I know that you still love Sally. And I wouldn't ask you to stop loving her. But I will say this. Back off." Lightning just stared a little surprised by Francesco standing up to him. But Francesco wasn't done. "We are getting married. She is no longer of your concern. I understand that the two of you have children. And I would never dream of stepping between a father and his sons and his daughter. I swear it to you, that I will not make any decisions regarding them without consulting you first. They are your children and not mine. I must respect that."
Lightning's eyes widened and he replied "Wow.. Um.. that's good to hear actually Francesco. You know I really appre"-"But Sally is MINE." Lightning was in disbelief of Francesco's disrespect. "She is my wife now. So Francesco will only say this once... Eh how do you say it?.. Fuck off." He interrupted rudely. Lightning's brows lowered as he scowled in a low tone into Francesco's face. "She hasn't married you yet.." Francesco snickered and asked "What.. Exactly.. Are you implying?" Honestly, Francesco became a little nervous. Thinking that what if Mateo had talked to and told Lightning his betrayal!? Lightning took a deep breath replying "Sally is not owned by you. And I wouldn't talk to me like that.. Because I am NOT your friend. And I will never be. Goodbye Francesco." Then left to his suv. Furious. Francesco shook his head and called out "Buona fortuna a te, McQueen!" If Lightning stayed even a few more seconds he would have probably beat Francesco to a pulp...
The following day at work. Lightning, Cruz Jethro, Celia, Mack, Luige and Guido were having lunch together and discussing the matter of where to find students. The plan was now to find a hand full of students for free to start it. That was about it so far. Jethro was the first to ask "So?.. You want to pretend?.. You aren't you?" Lightning nodded answering "Exactly. If the racers don't know Lightning McQueen is watching, they are more likely to race as they always would. More real." Cruz butted in with "I totally agree with Lightning. I mean back when I wanted to race at the beginning, if any of my idols were watching and I knew!? I probably would have embarrassed myself majorly! Like peed my pants embarrassed." Lightning stared at her with a raised brow which made Cruz blush a little and brush her hair behind her ear.
Jethro shrugged and took notes. Celia seemed like she wasn't even paying attention as she randomly stated "You have two challenges sent in by students that are really getting popular." Lightning rolled his eyes but was polite and asked "What are they?" "The loop and wall of death." Most everyone gasped a bit and Lightning snapped quickly "I am not doing the wall of death. There's a reason racers call it that." Celia stared a moment before muttering "Loop it is.." Back to typing on her phone. Lightning shook his head, a little annoyed by the young employees and the attention grabbing ideas. "Hey what about my wife?" Mack suggested. Everyone stared at him a moment while he explained further "I mean she did work with movie producers as a make up artist?" Lightning sighed. Honestly this all sounded exhausting.
"Sounds like a joke." Jethro snapped. Mack glared at the youngster. Lightning rolled his eyes and defending his friend "Thank you Mack. It's definitely worth considering." Jethro rolled his own eyes at Lightning. Which really got on Lightning's nerves. Then a knock at rhe academy's door. Cruz stood up "I'll get it.." So she stepped away letting the others continue their spatting of ideas. Cruz walked back over clearing her throat. Everyone looked over and Lightning's eyes widened as Cleo rushed over to him shouting "Oh Lightning! How I have missed you!" She opened her arms to hug him but Lightning stopped her, standing he asked "What do you want Cleo?" Everyone was watching all nosy like as she answered.
"Well.. I want to apologize again... But.. Well, I know I shouldn't even ask of this but.." She pulled out a flier from her designer purse. Lightning glanced at it still unsure of her intentions. "I want you to join me in raising money for a park. For Radiator Springs. Could give some people small jobs, minimum pay, kids would have a nice and safe area to play, a place to go on walks and I myself may even start my own public stretching class." she smiled. Lightning raised a brow and asked "What's this gotta do with me? You want money?" Cleo giggled and joked "Oh Lightning, such a card.. No. I want to auction off a date with you. It's a date auction. Kind of need a celebrity to make people wanna come. And I thought of you.." She smiled with her perfect and white teeth.
Lightning snickered and handed her the flier back replying "I'm flattered. But no. That's.. Not really my thing. If you asked me?.. Twenty something years ago, mighta been a different answer. Plus you and I aren't.. On the best terms." Cleo took a deep breath so she wouldn't snap. "Okay. I deserve that.. I am sorry. But this is for the benefit of Radiator Springs." Cleo bugged. Lightning glared at her. Then Celia spoke up, "Actually it sounds like a good idea. Definitely would get a lot of attention." she suggested he actually do it. Lightning immediately snapped "Really?" She nodded and Jethro seemed to agree. "It's that or the loop?" Celia gave him a choice. Lightning sighed then turned to Cruz. Cruz shrugged and added her own opinion. "If you don't wanna do the actual date part? I could just buy you?" Celia quickly disagreed explaining "No. Not you. That would send both of you back down the affair path. Need to keep away from that." Cruz frowned at that shot down.
Jethro shrugged saying "It's not a bad idea though? You could hire a stranger to bid on you with your own money?" Lightning raised a brow confirming "Buy myself?" Jethro nodded "Yeah, basically you make it look like you let a random chick buy a date with you. But really you bought yourself out of it and donated a bunch of money to the town." "So lie? To the entire town?" Lightning asked rather rudely. Celia butted in with a snicker "No different than your disguise lie?" Lightning sighed then faced Cleo. Cleo smiled and sqealed "Great! So just show up two hours before time here." She handed him the paper back. "Thanks daddy." Lightning blushed a bit as everyone stared at him instantly.
Cleo then left. Lightning and his friends, team stared at each other awkwardly. Lightning glared and asked scolding "What? Never heard a woman call a man daddy? Get back to work." and sat down. Celia snickered a bit trying not to laugh. Cruz too as she replied "Yes sir. Daddy." Lightning glared at Cruz but she seemed to think it was funny. "Don't call me that." He scolded. Cruz stared wide eyed and blushed and quickly looked down at her papers and folders. Embarrassed. It amused Lightning. He obviously still had some kind of hold on Cruz. It was cute. "So I ran into Mateo earlier." Lightning let it known. Celia raised a brow asking "Whose Mateo?" Cruz pretended she didn't hear that.
"Well Francesco Bernoulli's brother and.. Cruz's ex fiance." Lightning answered. Celia smiled and glanced at Cruz asking "What happened there?" she was very interested. Cruz turned pale stuttering "I-um-well-it-he... It's.." she and Lightning made this weird and awkward eye contact as she continued "Complicated..." Lightning stared at her. Very curious and very concerned. What the heck happened anyway? Cruz cleared her throat and mumbled "Back to work anyways!.. R-r-right Mr M-Mcqueen?" Lightning just stared a moment and slowly nodded. "Uh... Yea, yes... Back to work.." But was really curious and concerned...
For dinner this evening, Lightning was alone at the cafe or diner if you call it. He finished eating and paid Flo happily. On his way out he noticed Cal and Megan and their little girl all eating together as a family. He sighed. He hated that he and Cal were so.. tense and messed up now and really needed to fix things. And how else without talking was he suppose to try to fix anything? So... Lightning cautiously walked up to the table and gently cleared his throat and started with another apology as Cal and Megan stared up at him. "Cal.. I am so sorry.. Again. I want to really try to fix this. Anything... Because we don't need this constant fighting between us and we aren't setting any kind of good.. Examples... For our students or our kids." Megan frowned and gave her husband this come on and make up please kind of look. Cal glared at Meg then at Lightning and snapped "Last I checked, you didn't have any students McQueen."
Lightning sighed replying "Yet... But Cal come on... You.. And I, need each other. Plus we both know you needed my help to get half the students you even have!? We are partners. We were partners. I can't.. I hate this between us.. And we both know this ends with you coming to me and things winding up fine? Like always. Our schools could really benefit from each other and isn't our friendship better than this? What happened was a mistake.." Cal looked pissed as he stood up and into Lightning's face said. "Things are different now McQueen. I may have use to be under you and always fell second to you or third to Bobby, but not now. Now I'm top dog and this is MY territory. You WILL KNEEL to ME. I am NOT your partner or your team mate! I am not helpless anymore! I don't even need my family's name to get whatever I want! I don't need you anymore. In fact, all the racers i use to race! Fuck them all!All of you who looked down on me and treated me like nothing and made fun of me, will see! Especially you with your fucking ego! Walking around like you can do whatever you want! You pushed me around to long! Then fucked my wife!?" Cal poked Lightning's chest hard, pushing him back some.
"Our schools will never work together, in fact, I will destroy your school and you and your name along with it!" Megan immediately snapped "Cal!" "No Meg! And the best part is, I will enjoy watching you be destroyed, and watching you cry!" Lightning, not gonna lie. felt a little fear as he replied "Cal.. You are acting like Chick.. Storm.. You aren't you.." Cal snickered and snarled back with "I've never felt more me in my entire life. I will no longer be in the back seat. And I'm enjoying watching you get a little fear struck.. This is the new me. And it wasn't so long ago, you were just like Storm and Chick yourself! I will crush you for what you did. And will happily wave bye, bye as you drown." Lightning nodded and asked "That really how it's gonna be?" Cal crossed his arms and shrugged. Lightning sighed replying "Okay. But you know me Cal. I WILL NOT... Back down." Cal glared into Lightning's eyes "You don't scare me McQueen. Give me your best shot." Lightning shook his head. Angry and walked away.
What the two didn't know.. That a few of Cal's students snapped photos, a video, and posted this...
As Lightning left he saw Cruz outside. She didn't notice him. Yet. So, still curious about what actually happened between her and Mateo. Lightning approached her and tapped her shoulder. Cruz turned and was surprised as she greeted "Oh. Hey? Lightning. What's up?" Lightning rolled his eyes answering "Cal and I got into a friendly disagreement. Anyways, about earlier? You acted really strange when I brought up Mateo?" Cruz frowned admitting "I know I did.. I'm sorry.." Lightning was trying to read her but couldn't, "What happened?" he asked. Cruz hesitated Nd just stared. Lightning half smiled and assured "Come on Cruz, it's me. You can talk to me." Cruz's chest ached. And she would have told him if it weren't for who she saw in the background. "Um..' she mumbled. She suddenly looked a little nervous?
"I can't.. You know?.. It's just personal.. I should go.." She turned and left rather quickly. She seemed afraid? It wasn't like Cruz. It was weird. What did she see? Lightning turned around and the only thing or person noticeably there was?.. Francesco Bernoulli? Lightning was getting really suspicious and concerned and worried.. What was Sally marrying into?...
Francesco stared at Lightning and realized.. Cruz was going to possibly be a problem. If she confided in Lightning, Lightning would immediately talk to Sally. So.. Cruz was going to have to be taken care of...