Chick came into Cleo's office with some news and the empty gas can Cleo asked for. "Hey babe." He greeted. Cleo smiled. Not her normal peppy smile. She looked tired and stressed. Chick set the can down kissed Cleo lightly on the cheek. "Did you know that Francesco left?" he asked. Cleo nodded. "Um.. Isn't that a bad thing?" Chick asked. Cleo shook her head. Chick sat down and raised a brow. "You okay? You seem... Extra quiet.." He pointed out. Cleo stared at her fiancee and put on a smile answering "I'm good. I'm just tired." Chick nodded.

"So we don't need Francesco now?" Chick asked. Cleo shook her head admitting "I told him to leave. With Lightning out to get him he was a liability. He had to go." Chick nodded then replied "So we're done? With all this? Right?" Cleo sighed and rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe she had to explain this. "No, I still have Jackson. And if I'm gonna make Lightning realize that I am the boss I have to do something that will show him just how far I'm willing to go.. Something that will scare him into submission." Chick snorted as he tried not to laugh. Cleo raised a brow and asked "Did I say something humorous?"

Chick shrugged and explained "Just.. You been gettin a little crazy about all this. You are the mayor, you have money. No body really wants anything from you. You could just let this go and live your life." Cleo cocked her head to the side. "Lightning needs to learn that I will not allow the things he's done.. Hes gonna regret racing this weekend.. And Jackson is going to take the fall."...

Lightning just sat there staring at the phone on the main desk of the school. Staring. Heather stood a distance just watching Lightning and staring. Bobby finally got there and walked up to his wife and asked "He okay?" Heather shrugged explaining why she called Bobby. "He looks like he's been strangled or hung.. He won't talk to me and he's been staring at the phone for two hours now.. It rings from time to time but he doesn't answer it.." Bobby nodded and walked up to Lightning.

"Hey.." He greeted. Lightning didn't budge or say a word. Bobby sighed and looked at the phones screen.

4 missed calls

"You don't wanna answer any of those?" Bobby asked. Lightning still didn't budge or say a word. Bobby knelt down and took a look at the bruises around Lightning's neck and immediately became more concerned. "Lightning... Talk to me bud." But he didn't. Bobby sighed and wasn't sure what to do. The phone started ringing again. Bobby reached for it but Lightning snapped "Don't answer it.." Bobby looked to Lightning. "It's Sally.. I can't talk to her." Lightning added. Bobby's brows lowered. "I should have went to the Sheriff.." Lightning admitted softly. Bobby watched the phone stop ringing.

5 missed calls.

Bobby cleared his throat and tried to talk some sense into Lightning. "Um.. Look uh.. I know I've never been.. The best role model or I mean.. I don't do well in marriages and relationships.. I know that and.. Usually I wouldn't give the slightest fuck about your girl problems but.. Man Sally needs to know you are okay. You've been in some shit lately and.. You're scarin me man." Lightning looked up at Bobby.. He was thinking. Bobby sighed and picked up the phone and said "Call her man. She is like.. The only person who knows how to get through to you." Lightning looked away. Back to ignoring everything.

Bobby frowned and hung up the phone then walked back over to Heather. "What do we do?" she asked. Bobby shook his head answering "I don't know.. Call Cal maybe, his mom? You stay with him and don't let him leave. I'M gonna go see the mayor myself." Heather sighed and kissed Bobby goodbye before he headed out. Heather stared back at Lightning who just sat there. She decided to try again to help and walked over.

"Do you want a drink or something?.." She asked. Lightning didn't budge or speak. Heather thought for a second. "Here, let's call Sally okay? Bobby says she can get through to you.. Come on." She tried coaxing. But again, Lightning didn't budge or speak. The phone rang again. That same number. Heather waited to see if Lightning would answer this time but.. Nope. So Heather reached for it but Lightning grabbed her wrist stopping her. Heather was confused. The phone stopped ringing again. "You know she's probably worried.." Heather muttered. Lightning shook his head and explained "If she hears my voice?.. She's going to know I'm not okay.. She'll come back.. She can't come back.. She can't come back yet.." Heather sighed and nodded. Lightning lost it. He let go of her though and went back to just sitting there.

Staring...

Sally set her phone down. She was worried. Lightning wasn't answering or calling anymore. It had been two weeks sense they even saw each other. And Cleo was bad news. The kids were content watching tv and eating junk snacks at the moment. Sally went into her father's office. "Hey Dad.." she called. Carson looked up at his daughter and took off his glasses. Sally looked sick maybe. "What's wrong?" Carson asked. Sally frowned answering "Lightning isn't.. Answering and.. If you might watch the kids for the day and just tonight I might go check on him." Carson sighed and frowned himself. "Sally"-

"No Dad! Look, Lightning.. He needs me.. And.. I need him. I know you don't like him and I know he.. Can be a jerk and selfish and crude but he Is also so kind and gentle and an amazing father really.. I just need to go see him and"-"No. Sally you came here for a reason! You know he called me? After you called me and told me you were headed here, Lightning called me himself. He told me he needed you safe and as much as I dislike the man for once he put you first and I respect that! He told me you can't go back to that town and I'm not gonna let you! If I have to lock you in your room than I will! So, NO! You are staying here until further notice!" Carson yelled. Sally stood there and stared. She honestly couldn't believe Lightning had called her Dad behind her back.

"Okay.." Sally muttered with a frown. Carson sighed and saw Sally was hurting emotionally. "I'll try to get ahold of him for you." He offered.. Sally put on a smile and left the room. Carson thought about how many times he just.. He just hated Lightning for cheating on Sally and tearing her apart. Carson grabbed his phone out and hesitated but went ahead and called Lightning. No answer. Just as Sally said. Carson honestly just figured Lightning was sleeping around at this point. He didn't trust Lightning at all and Lightning was a whore of a man in his eyes. But.. Sally loved the bastard. He tried again but still no answer. But he wasn't worried about it like Sally was...

Cal, Bobby and Heather stood and stated at Lightning. Lightning who was just frozen in the seat and silent. "So he's been like this for hours?" Cal asked. Heather and Bobby nodded. Cal sighed and stared. Lightning was just motionless. "Go say somethin." Bobby said and nudged Cal. Cal glared and snapped "Hey! Look just because Lightnin and I are partners doesn't mean we're freinds!" Bobby got mad and defended "Lightning saved your ass and your job!" Cal got up into Bobby's face and Heather quickly got between them and shouted "Hey! Enough! Lightning needs you guys!' Cal and Bobby both stated at each other.

"I can't do anything for him." Cal exclaimed. Bobby frowned because he just didn't know what to do. Then Megan walked in and the three of them stared at her. Cal's brows lowered and he quickly scolded "I thought I told you to wait in the car." Megan rolled her eyes and snarled "You can't keep tellin me what to do." She looked across the room at Lightning. "What happened to him?.." She asked. Bobby shrugged explaining "He's been this way sense he got here.." Megan took a deep breath and began to walk up to him but Cal grabbed her wrist tightly. "Let me go Cal!" She snapped. Then she yanked away from his grasp. Cal rudely snarled back "No. I don't want you around him. Ever." "Well Sally wouldn't want him this way and she's my friend! I have to for her!" She yelled then walked up to Lightning. Cal didn't try stopping her again.

Megan walked up to Lightning and glanced at the missed calls. She frowned as she looked at his neck. "Lightning.. What happened to you?" She asked. Lightning looked up at Megan then turned away answering "You should go back to Cal.. Cal wouldn't want you near me.." Megan sighed and glanced over at Cal. Then she knelt down and got serious "If you don't tell me how you got those bruises around your neck I'm going to call the police and Sally." Lightning looked at Megan. His eyes.. He looked terrified. "Cleo..." "Cleo did this?" Megan asked in disbelief. There was no way this was Cleo herself.

Lightning closed his eyes continuing "No.. Cleo.. I can't win.. I can't make the town safe enough for my family.." Megan looked to Cal, Bobby, and Heather. "What if I fail her again?.." Lightning asked in a whimper. Megan felt so bad and thought a moment. She took Lightning's face in her hands and smiled saying. "Lightning.. Forget Cleo.. You gotta race coming up in two days. Your suppose to be leaving TODAY. Forget Cleo, forget the mess and go race.." Cal watched from across the room. He didn't like Megan being so?.. Kind and.. Soft and.. Normal with Lightning. It was unsettling for him.

"Megan!.." He called. Megan looked over at her husband who was obviously pissed off for her touching Lightning. Megan pulled her hands away and added "Sally would want you to race.." Lightning looked at Megan and her kindness. She was right though. Sally would be encouraging him. Sally just didn't know his recent actions though. Lightning felt different. He wasn't even sure he wanted to race anymore. But he knew he couldn't talk to Sally right now. Talking to her now would actually make things worse...

i know this was a short one. gonna go to Race day next. I hope everyone is enjoying the story!!! Gonna get real bumpy here soon! But stick with me.guys!