Lightning and Sally parked at the school. They walked side by side in the dark up to the race track outside. Sally stopped them asking "Wait?.. What are we doing?" Lightning took her hand replying "Don't think about it. Come on.. I got keys and Carl owed me a favor." Sally glared a little but let Lightning lead her onto the track way. They walked in the quiet. A few lights and stars lighting up the track. "So is?.. Carl? The same Carl you told me about years ago?" Sally asked and more of made conversation. Lightning nodded "Yup. The very same." "Wow.. Guess.. That's.. Funny.." She muttered. Lightning chuckled and it kind of was. "Hey.." Lightning began. "Thank you for everything." Sally raised a brow.
"You worked. You work so hard. But.. Back while I was racing.. You gave up so much. You did so much to make sure I succeeded. I was so caught up with.. In myself that.. I lost site of you. You did so much and I took all the glory. I would never be who I.. Who I was without you Sal." Sally smiled and leaned on Lightning's shoulder as they walked. "So.." she asked. "What's this thing we're doing? Why are we here?" Lightning stopped and smiled at her. "That." he pointed to a porsche race car. "Is that a porsche?" she asked. Lightning smiled and nodded explaining "Oh yea it is. But if you think yours was fast? You are gonna flip when you drive this." Her eyes widened! "Me?.. Wait!? I get to drive this thing?! But.. It's dark and night.." "Don't worry. I'm gonna go turn the track lights on. You go make yourself comfortable." Lightning walked away for a moment.
Sally stared at the beautiful car. She slowly approached it, grazing her hand across it's body. This was really nice of Lightning and confusing. Sally went ahead and got into the car. "Hey." "Aaah!" Sally screamed and julted! Lightning chuckled and got into the passenger seat and asked "Sorry..You ready?" Sally breathed heavy a moment answering "Um.. Are you sure um?.. Carl.. Is okay with this?" Lightning chuckled answering "Yes! Believe me, he owes me. Now start her up." "Don't we need helmets?" "You aren't going to crash into a wall and flip a dozen times in the air and barrel roll. It's not that exciting anyway." He snapped. Sally glared. "That's not funny." she groweled. Lightning shrugged. Sally sighed and added "You realize that's.. Like the first joke you made about your accident?" Lightning nodded replying "Yeah.. Come on.. Let's do it."
Sally took a deep breath and started the car. Revving it. They looked at each other, buckled in and just waiting on Sally. "Drive." Lightning said. Sally smiled and shifting the gears she gunned it!...
Sally sqealed the car to a stop! She was laughing from the sorts of high it gave her! "Wow! That!?.. Thank you! I mean that was thrilling!" she exclaimed with a smile. Lightning smiled back. He knew she'd love it! Sally unbuckled "Just.. Wow.. I.. I haven't driven like that in so long! Thank you. Seriously.. I.. I guess I did need this. I needed this more than I realized!" She stared over at Lightning in the passenger seat. Of course he was gazing back. It was quiet. Sally sighed and brushed her hair back, licking her lips, then she asked "Why did.. You do this?" Lightning sighed. Sally was staring at him with these needing eyes. Needing, begging for an answer. Lightning gently took her face and kissed her right there in that car. He expected her to want it. To want him. But she made this weird mmm sound. Not exactly a moan, then she pulled away and turned away. Looking out the window of her door.
"Sally.." Lightning whispered. Now he wished he hadn't done that. He was worried now and pretty sure he crossed the line. Although Chester didn't seem to have one. "Lightning.. We.. We can't do this.." She replied. The way she said it? She was serious. Lightning frowned and just lay back. She felt bad and turned back toward him saying "I'm... Sorry. I really want it to happen, but I"-"Wait what? If you want this to happen than what the heck is stopping you!?" Lightning interrupted loudly! It really started a fire in him hearing her say that. "I want this! I want this to happen Sally! If you do to than please!" Sally covered her eyes with her hands and took a deep breath answering "It's ridiculous but it's CHESTER!.. Chester is stopping me!" she shouted. Lightning stared all wide eyed. He sighed and stared out the window. He needed to tell her the truth. Sally took Lightning's hand and holding tightly, she asked "Why?.. Why do you.. Think Chester?.. Why would he?..." she paused and swallowed.
Lightning shook his head answering "I.. I don't know what.. Chester.. Was thinking.. But.. He.. I.. I don't know.." Sally nodded and sighed. They sat there in the silence for a few minutes before Sally spoke up. "Well.. Let's go back to the motel before anyone wakes up." She got out and began walking back to the car. Lightning frowned a little and sat there a few seconds. She deserved the truth and needed to know.. But what if it made her turn away from him further. He had just gotten her back, so it felt and he didn't want to lose her again!...
Sally was in her bed, the kids asleep in their beds, Minty on the pull out and Lightning trying to sleep next to Ece. But he couldn't stop thinking of Sally.. The kiss.. Her reaction. It was uncomfortable trying to sleep next to Ece. So Lightning got up and walked to the kitchen for a drink. He heard sniffling and crying? Coming from Sally's room. He set down the glass and slowly pushed the door open and called "Sally.." She was turned away and sniffled as she snapped "Please go away... I... I can't do this tonight..Coming with you was.. Was a bad idea.." Lightning stood there a moment. He was going to turn and walk away, go away like she asked. But he came in, shut the door and came over close. He got under the blankets and held her. She wasn't completely and full out crying. But just light tears and sniffling really.
She turned into his chest and she calmed down. Her breathing normaled and she rested in his arms. Lightning kissed her forehead and whispered "I'm here. Always and anytime you need me and.. I'm.. sorry for tonight.. I messed up.. I shouldn't have kissed you like that.." Sally didn't say a word back. She did like that kiss and it only made her see how much her heart wanted Lightning back but.. He was still playing this double life thing. He wasn't a good choice for her anymore and he was a horrible person if he really was willing to drag her and Cruz through this. "Lightning..." Sally muttered. "Hmmm?" She waited a few seconds.. Maybe a good minute before continuing "Nevermind..." Lightning sighed. Really he wasn't sure what he was hoping for. He just hated that she backed out of it...
Knock, knock, knock. "Sally? You okay dear? It's nearly one o clock and Monty won't answer the phone. Maybe he's at the school already." Minty shouted from the other side of the door. Sally rolled over with a slight moan and looked at Lightning who was just waking up to. "Crap..." She whispered. "Yeah, I'm sorry! I'll be right out Minty!" Sally called then slapped her hands over her eyes and sighed. Lightning smiled and snickered then snuggled up to Sally. "Calm down.. Just stay in bed with me.. Just a few more minutes.." he whined. Sally snickered herself and snapped "You act like we slept together." "We did." he corrected. Sally rolled her eyes and snapped "You know what I mean." Lightning snickered "You wish we did." he joked. Sally slapped him with her pillow. "Ow.." he griped. Sally got up and out some slippers on. "Sally.." Nothing. "..Sal." Lightning called but she ignored him.
"Sally." he called again and this time she stared directly at him. "Sally?.. If you wanna talk"-"No. No, I don't wanna talk about it." She was snappy and quick and a little rude, cold. "Hey.." Lightning added "Today I have more to do at the school, but tomorrow I'm all yours and the kids. All day." Sally smiled a little. With that she stepped out, shutting the door behind her and leaving Lightning alone. He sighed. Maybe there was just no getting through to this woman. What was he suppose to do? What was Chester needing to do? Lightning grabbed his phone and had to figure this out. How to tell her.
Sally,
I want to video call you tonight. Here's the account, here's my number. I'll let you call me. Call after nine. I want to talk to you.
Chester Vitte...
A hand went up. Carl motioned for the young female student to stand up. "Hi.. I'm Lucille Grable. I just started this last year so. I'm still pretty new and I think I speak for all us fresh meat here um.. That.. Training is.. Super hard. And.. There's been days I wanted to quit. Um.. So my question is what was it like trianing back in your school days here? And honestly, did you ever think of quitting?" Lightning snickered before answering as he found the girl kinda funny "Well I never wanted to quit. I will admit I had been in a few really bad places where.. I could have quit but.. I never wanted to. And.. Trianing was a lot more.. Physical rather than mental. Now days I see class rooms and simulators and VR and we didn't have that back when guys like Carl and I were training. Just.. We had what we made ourselves. Training was tough. No, I didn't want to get up every morning.. But I did. Training takes a lot of hard work and pushing yourself."
Another hand, another student. "What was it like trianing with the Hudson Hornet? Moat of us will never be lucky enough to be trained by someone like that." Lightning nodded and smiled gor a second. Maybe his mind was getting slow. Or maybe he was remembering all the times he had gotten to train with Doc. Celia nudged Lightning with her elbow. Lightning cleared his throat and shivered even a little before answering "Doc was more than a trainer, a mentor, a coach. He was.. A best friend.." He couldn't talk more about it right now. The emotions were coming on too much. "I'm sorry. Any other questions?.." Carl then spoke up "Actually I have those racers I told you about outside and practicing. Wanna see them on the track?" "Yes!" Lightning answered with a smile on his face. Celia already took off hearing that.
So as Carl and Lightning made their way out to the track, Carl curiously asked "So how did last night go?" Lightning sighed but put on a smile "Well.. She loved it and thank you Carl. She needed that." "Why don't you invite her and the kids over tonight for dinner. Not here. At my house with my wife and kids. They would love to meet you." Carl suggested. Lightning thought about it but instead put it off until tomorrow.
Together they stepped out and watched the best racers rush around the track. Definitely, Liam and Dan were the best. Liam was more like a younger Lightning in the way he liked to show off and bounce around, never staying around in one spot. Dan was more firm and stuck in place. He got comfortable and stayed there. Careful to think every move out before acting it. "So you got your eyes on two I see." Carl exclaimed with a chuckle. Lightning smiled agreeing "Yes. Liam is fast and fearless." "Told you." "But Dan is careful and thinks ahead." Lightning pointed out. Carl laughed "Almost perfect right." Lightning nodded. Watching and thinking. Liam took first in the practice run and Dan second. followed by the others.
"Tomorrow is my last full day here Carl. I promised my family I was gonna spend it with them. So I have to find my racer by the end of the day." Lightning was stressed. Carl raised a brow replying "Sounds like you're in a pickle. My opinion is Liam. He's faster, stronger, and really.. He's just better." Lightning nodded and watched the racers and Celia down there chatting. "One on one race. Dan and Liam. Can you set that up tonight." "At night?" Carl asked. Lightning nodded again. "My racers never raced at night." Lightning snickered and replied "If I can coach Sally to race this track in the dark, your racers should be able to handle it." Carl shrugged but agreed "Alright. I'll set it up. Tonight you find your racer."...