Chick, Jackson and Francesco all came and sat down to meet with Cleo. She had enough of Lightning and his silly games. She had to squish McQueen like a bug amd assure her people she had things handled. "I don't even know why we try anymore.. McQueen got Cal the school back, Sally doesn't want Franny here and now he's racing the cup." Jackson griped. But Francesco agreed. Chick kinda did but wouldn't say so in front of his woman. Cleo shook her head explaining "We are fine. Lightning thinks he's winning but he's not. Tonight we strike." "We strike?" Francesco asked. "How?" Cleo sighed and smiled answering "Really simple. I'm gonna make him hurt a little.." "What's that mean?.." Jackson asked. Cleo snickered answering "Don't you boys worry.. I got it taken care of." Francesco stared hard at this woman. He didn't trust her anymore...
The car door shut and he walked up to the academy doors and on inside. Interrupting the lesson Lightning was about to be giving Dan. Bobby's eyes widened and he loudly cleared his throat to grab Lightning's attention. Lightning looked over and was a little stunned to see Cal. Cal looked upset. Not angry upset. More like sad or hurt. Maybe? It was odd. Cal stared at the ground and walked closer greeting cautiously "Hey.. Um.. I'm sorry for a lot of things.. That.. That I've done.." Lightning and Bobby glanced at each other. Bobby was just curious as to see if Lightning actually would forgive Cal for eveything lately.
Lightning stared at Cal. Thinking. He sighed and walked over to Cal. "I need your help." Lightning said. Cal just stared. But after what Lightning did.. And after everything. Cal nodded. Lightning then asked "Am I going to be able to trust you?.." Cal stated into Lightning's eyes for a second but nodded again. Bobby watched from the front desk and just watched cautiously. He, himself didn't trust Cal so much and would keep an eye on his former friend. "I wanna show you something.." Lightning said and took Cal up the elevator and up to his office.
"What do you wanna show me?" Cal asked. Lightning looked at his friend answering "You'll see.." Cal was a little unsure and nervous. What if Lightning was just taking him back up to his office to beat him up again. "Cleo, the mayor.. She has a lot to do with our fights lately.." Lightning exclaimed. Cal didn't believe that and replied "Don't you do that. I hate that you blame your problems on other people. Now.. I have to thank you and I owe you.. I owe you for what you did for me and my job with the school but.. But I don't have to listen to your crap." Lightning glared and stepped out the elevator, leading Cal to his office. Lightning opened the door and stepped back, letting Cal in first.
Cal gasped seeing the mess, the ruins.. The bolt... Cal turned to Lightning and asked "Who did this?.." Lightning stepped up next to Cal before answering "According to the note left on my desk, you did." Cal's eyes widened. Quickly he defended "No!? No, I never did THIS!?.." "I know." Lightning snapped. Cal was shocked by the damage here. "But Cleo wanted me to think you did." Cal shook his head and defended "That doesn't make any sense.. Cleo helped me. A lot.. She wouldn't want to frame me?" Cal was shocked. Lightning frowned and decided to tell Cal the truth "She drugged Megan. Sent me and Megan in a cab back to my place that night you got busy.." Cal's brows lowered.
"Wait, hold on.. Cleo? The mayor? Drugged Megan?" he asked. Before Lightning could answer Cal went off "Oh come on! That's low Lightnin! Even for you! Blaming all of this on your ex!?" "Did you do this than?" Lightning asked. Cal looked at the mess answering "No, ofcorse not!" Lightning and Cal stood silent a minute. "What kept you busy that night Cal?" Lightning asked. Cal thought back to that night for a few minutes...
Cal sighed and some girl handed him a clip board and he signed it. "What's that?" Lightning asked. Cal glared a bit explaining "Well, with Tex coming... I want the entire place to be spotlessly perfect. The school, the students, teachers all here! He's coming tomorrow." Lightning's eyes widened replying "Geez.. That's not much time to prepare Cal?" Cal snickered "Tell me about it. But it is what it is. Get that student that is leaving, out today. I don't want Tex hearing about it." Lightning nodded.
"So what about the track?" Lightning asked. Cal raised a brow, "What about it?" Lightning shrugged explaining "Well..What's Tex gonna say when he sees you closed it? I think you should consider buying it back and opening it up. I would love to help! I can be the tracks.. Uh.. I can maintain it for you. You'll never have to worry about it at all!?" Cal sighed scolding "No!? What don't you get about that old track!? It is closed! Sold! I have to train these kids in a way that they want to be trained Lightning!"
Cal looked over some things then added assuring "Oh! And don't worry, we are still on for drinks tonight. I could use it after this day!" Lightning smiled agreeing "Great! Definitely. I'll see you after work then." Cal nodded and ordered "Yes, now get back to work Light. Please?" Lightning glared "Alright Cal. Just for you... Sense you said please." Cal shook his head. He didn't have time for Lightning's attitude. He was busy with making eveything perfect for Tex's arrival...
Cal looked at the time on his watch. He sighed. He needed to get going. Cal grabbed his files and began cleaning up his desk when someone suddenly knocked. Which was weird sense he thought he was alone at the school. He stared at the door and watched as Cleo came in. Cal let out a sigh of relief greeting "Oh.. Cleo.. Scared me there." Cleo giggled lightly and was hiding something behind her back. "What are you doing here?" Cleo walked up and revealed a plate of cookies.
She placed it on the desk answering "I wanted to bring you this. To celebrate everything. Thought you and your team could eat these little treats tomorrow. Make cookie points with Tex." Cal was curious and suspicious but let it go and thanked her. "Well i gotta get going. I got plans with"-"Lightning. Yeah, he told me. He's running late thanks to me.. Woopsie.." She said in a flirty almost slutty way. Cal snickered and shook his head. Disregarding that. "Right.. I gotta go.. Megan will be waiting.." He repeated. Cleo stopped him asking "Will you just taste one..Before you go? I did make them for you and Lightning and Tex and Meg too. I won't be here to see everyone else's reaction. Just a taste sweetie?" Cleo asked in this cute little girly way. Cal sighed but gave in.
"Sure.." He took one and bit into it and instantly tried not to make a terrible face. "Oh.. Oh god.. So.. So.. good...". No.. It was terrible. The most bitter ass cookie ever! Cleo smiled and set them on his desk proudly. "Alright than. Thanks and you enjoy those. Try not to eat 'em all up before Tex and Lightning get to try them." she giggled with a hair flip. Cal forced that thing down in one rough swallow.
He watched Cleo leave so he could lock up. And throw out the rest of those cookies. But as he grabbed his jacket he felt sick. He covered his mouth to keep what was coming down. He quickly opened the drawer of his desk for a bottle of water and drank it down slowly. He sat down for just a minute because he started feeling a little dizzy...
"Cal?.." He was asleep, hunched over on the desk. It was sad. Mostly because she betrayed such a hard working man. A hardworking and faithful man. She came closer softly coaxing him up, "Cal.. Baby.. Cal." He suddenly jumped up! Breathed heavy a moment and looked around. "Did you sleep here all night?" Megan asked. Cal blinked and rubbed his eyes answering "Yeah I? Guess I did?"...
"She drugged my wife...? That bitch drugged me and my wife!?" Cal yelled. Lightning nodded. Cleo was a danger to everyone. A lot of things that had happened between him and Lightning and Cruz made sense now.. The letters, the hooker, box.. It was all Cleo! Cal and Lightning looked at each other. "Lightning.. She's gotta pay.." Cal said in a deep tone. Lightning nodded again. "Partners?" He asked and held out his hand. Cal stared at Lightning's hand a second then shook his hand agreeing "Partners."...
It was late and Bobby was the last one to leave next to Lightning. "Alright! I'll see you tomorrow man!" Bobby called and waved as he left. "Yea you to." Lightning waved. Lightning began shutting off lights and equipment around the academy before leaving himself. He went into the main lobby, shut off the desk computer sense Heather forgot too once again. The last bit of lights and out the door he began locking up.
Aa he locked up a large suv. Similar to his pulled up. Lightning glanced at it but paid little attention as he finished locking up. The suv parked next to his. Lightning made his way to his vehicle but stopped feeling uneasy. Bbbzzzz. Lightning glanced at his phone real quick there in the parking lot. That stupid unknown number again.
Unknown
Glad I'm not you.
"What?" Lightning muttered. Then a door slammed shut. More than one. Lightning looked up to see five guys all in black coming up to him and he knew this couldn't be good. He had no pocket knife, no gun, nothing but his phone. Lightning swallowed nervously ans loudly asked "Can I help you?.. Gentlemen?.." One immediately knocked Lightning's phone out of his hand and it broke hitting the pavement. "Oh geez.. Well.. There goes 1200 bucks." Lightning griped. "Give me your wallet." one ordered. Lightning wasn't even going to try to fight it. He reached in his pocket and handed the man his wallet.
The guy looked at it, in it. "The Lightning McQueen hmm?" he asked. They snickered. Lightning didn't say anything. One asked "How's it feel to be a racing legend?" Then another shoved Lightning down, face forward onto the pavement. Lightning breathed heavy and tried to keep calm. He reached for his phone but one guy kicked it away. A ways away. Lightning cautiously stood up and announced "Look... I .. I don't want any trouble guys." One snickered replying "Oh you scared to fight?" Lightning hesitated but shook his head. He looked at them. One had a gun. This was bad. This was bad and absolutely terrifying. All he could think of was Sally. Sally getting some crazy news that he was shot in the parking lot of his academy and the next time she saw him would be in a body bag!
The guy then punched Lightning in the side of the face, Lightning fell but a guy pulled him back up and held his arms back letting another guy punch Lightning in the stomach before letting Lightning fall to his knees. Lightning fell. He fell and then was shoved face down then kicked in the ribs multiple times! Finally one guy stopped it and yelled "That's enough! Woah stop! STOP!" They all stopped. Letting Lightning catch his breath on the ground. The five guys looked at each other. One pulled Lightning up to his knees and another kneed Lightning in the face! The guy slung Lightning around and let him trip or fly, into the grill of his suv.
Lightning hit it hard then fell to the ground. The men still surrounded him. One took all he could or wanted from Lightning's wallet then tossed what was left of it next to Lightning and snarled "Some legend." They joked and laughed. Lightning sat up and breathed heavy but managed to say "Tell Cleo.. I said... fuck you.." With that one guy shoved Lightning back down! Lightning rolled over onto his back on the ground. Blood coming out of his nose and he coughed pretty painfully. He heard the men all get into their suv and leave.
This had to be Cleo. Cleo had to have done this! Lightning breathed painfully, heavily and used his own suv to pull himself up. He leaned over the hood and caught his breath. Sitting there for a moment. He began crying. He covered his eyes and began crying. He didn't feel strong enough for this. He was terrified for Sally and the kids! Thankful they weren't here! Thankful they were safe! Thankful these guys didn't shoot him! He was terrified he was never going to see Sally or his kids again...
Lightning sat on the steps of his house. Just sitting outside in the dark and thinking. His phone was so messed up that he couldn't call Sally tonight. He wanted her voice but at the same time he didn't want to tell her what happened and worry her. Tomorrow was his last day in town and to help Dan practice before leaving to California. He knew Sally was at her dad's and maybe if he found the time he would just drive the extra hours and go see her there in person. For now he would shower and take some pain killers and sleep this off for the night...
Knock, knock , knock.
"Come in." Cleo called. Lightning walked in and shut the door quietly. Cleo stared at him, his bruises. They weren't as bad as she hoped they'd be. "Hello there Lightning. How are you feeling?" she asked in such a snotty way. Lightning walked over and sat down. Staring at this woman. "What do you actually want from me?" he asked. Cleo smiled softly before answering "Poor you.. I told you to decline the offer.. You didn't listen." "So you want me to just?.. Obey you?" he asked. Cleo sighed and just stared at his pathetic face. "It would make things a lot easier on yourself." Lightning shook his head.
He felt like giving up but remembered, he already got rid of Gage and Chick.. "I'm gonna take Francesco down today. Then you will have no one ele guarding you. And then I'll enjoy slowly destroying you." He was angry. He wanted her to hurt at this point. Cleo snickered. She wasn't going to go down so easily. She leaned close and explained "I already told you... You can't beat me.. Take Francesco down." she said with a shrug. "I don't need him anymore." Lightning was confused. She didn't need Francesco anymore? That didn't make sense?
"Who else is working with you?.." Lightning asked cautiously. Cleo snickered with a smile and snarled "Oh if you only knew.." Lightning and Cleo stared at eachother pretty intensely. Lightning was trying to figure her out, her plans out. "Enjoy the dildo on the car?" she asked while trying not to laugh. Lightning glared as she continued "See if we were together? I'd put you on quite a show on top of that hood. I'd show you how deep I can make it go. How low I can go over it hmm? I hope you think of that image next time your alone." She said seductively. Lightning's nose cringed. He hated her dirty game and tricks.
"When does this end Cleo?" Lightning asked firmly. Cleo let out a sigh and cocked her head answering "At the funeral march would be my guess." Oh that done it. Lightning nodded and accepted this. "I enjoy this baby." Cleo admitted with a smile. "Every bit of this. It's my high.. And in the end I win. I always win." Lightning just stared at her. He needed to find out who else was working for her ir cut her where it hurt. Make her cry blood. Lightning stood up still staring at this woman. He turned and left. He had just figured it out. Cleo gave it away. She loved this game. This was her high. The fighting back and fourth. She liked this because she was married to this for years. Lightning had to get her ex husband here. Some how.