Lightning walked in the simulator room where Cruz and Cal were waiting. "Mornin." Cal greeted. Lightning nodded once. Cruz glared greeting "Well hello there Lightning." Cruz rudely greeted. Lightning glanced at her but before he could say anything, Cal sighed and slapped his head complaining "Oh please.. Tell me there's not something going on with you two AGAIN?.." He whined. Lightning glared answering "No. Cruz and I aren't together." Cruz snickered hearing that and snapped "Which is GREAT! Because your dick wasn't cuttin it anyway." "CRUZ!" Cal snapped! Cruz sighed and looked back at the simulator.

Jackson walked in and stared at the three waiting, standing there. "Oh.. McQueen?... Cruz.. I didn't"-"I asked for them to be here." Cal explained. Jackson stared at them. He was more nervous now. He just wasn't expecting to have people really watching him. He swallowed hard before getting inti the standard old simulator car. Cruz walked up to the window and assured "You got this Jackson." He stared at her. Cruz could see the nervousness in him in his eyes. Sense this was just a simulation, Jackson wasn't wearing the helmet. The only thing close to the real thing was the car itself sense it had ti be turned on and it ran like a real race car. Just as loud and strong as any of them.

Jackson started the race car up. Cruz walked back over next to Cal and Lightning. Cal nodded to the two operators to the machine and they started it up, giving Jackson the green light. Jackson hesitated. He just stared at the screen. "What's he doin?" Cal asked. Lightning motioned for them to stop replying "Give him a minute.." Jackson stared at the screen. It took him another minute but he shifted gears and hit the gas. At first Jackson took it slow, no more than 40 mph. He was swerving everywhere. That alone made Cal was concerned.

"Give him a minute.." Cruz repeated. Cal and Lightning glanced at each other. Both probably thinking the same thing. Jackson's racing days were over. Jackson sped up to about 55.. But he hit the wall. Over and over, scraping it. "Get off the wall!" Cruz yelled. Jackson growled yelling "I can't!" His vision was like a heartbeat. Faded then fine, faded then fine. He turned sharp and the car went straight into the field where he hit the brakes into a stop. He sat there.. Idling. Cruz began to walk up but Lightning put his hand out on front of her, stopping her. "Leave him be." Lightning ordered. "But what if he needs help!?" Cruz yelped. Lightning's brows lowered as he ordered firmly "Leave him be."

Jackson sat there. Breathing heavily. "Jackson.." Cruz called. Jackson shut off the car. He felt dizzy and sick to his stomach and he knew it too, racing was just over for him. He got out and was shocked to find a few students stopped and stared along with Cruz and the two old racers. He felt his heart panic. All these people just watched him fail. HIM! The JACKSON STORM! Couldn't even drive over 55 miles per hour!!! He panted in a way as he spoke toward Cal "I couldn't.. I just... Thank you for giving me a chance.." he turned away ashamed. "Jackson.. Jackson don't..Wait!.." Cruz mumbled but he hurried off. He was completely embarrassed and shamed. He was worthless and useless now. Worthless and useless because he couldn't race. "It's not fair.." Cruz whimpered. Lightning sighed. But Cruz was right, it wasn't...

Cleo walked into the office and shut the door letting out a sigh of relief. She needed to be alone to re think how she was going to deal with Rodney now! "Hello Cleo." A woman greeted from her chair at the desk. Cleo's brows lowered as she stared up at Sally leaned back and feet up on the desk! "What are you doing here?" Cleo asked rudely. Sally shrugged answering "Getting re aquainted with the office." Cleo snickered and rolled her eyes. "What could you possibly mean by that? You can't run again." she reminded. Sally stood up and admitted Cleo was right. "Unless that drug charge was.. I don't know? Magically just forgotten? Completely off the record." Cleo glared. "Oh.. Oh you poor thing.. That isn't a possibility." "Isn't it?" Sally asked. Cleo just stared and had to think. Was it?

"Well.." Cleo began to remind, "You can't anyway. If you did than Lightning wou"-"Would what? Have some outrageous problem on his hands?" Sally interrupted. "Go ahead. You'd be doing us both a favor destroying that man." Cleo just stared confused. "I take it that custody dinner didn't go exactly as planned?" she asked. Sally snickered crossing her arms answering "You have noooo idea.." Cleo was surprised. But.. Maybe that was a good thing. "Mmhmm.." Cleo mumbled suspiciously. Sally and Cleo stared at each other a moment. "Well I'd watch your back Miss Sally. There's only room for one mayor in this town." "I couldn't agree with you more Cleo!" Sally agreed with a smile. "Thanks for understanding." She added before walking out. Cleo stood there a moment. Did Sally just threaten her?...

"Yo Jackson! Wait up!" Lightning called as he caught Jackson leaving the school. "What do you want?" He asked in this pathetically miserable tone. "Where ya going? You aren't trying the simulator again?" Lightning asked. Jackson snickered shaking his head. "You saw me in there! Fuck, they all did! I can't race anymore.. I'm done.." He admitted with a frown. Lightning hated seeing thw spirit broken in thia kid. Cruz was right. It wasn't fair. "Let me try to help you." Lightning offered. Jackson stared at the old man asking "How? How on earth could you help me?" he was actually rude about it.

"Well for one, I looked over this other eye surgery you could.. I don't know? You might be interested in?" Jackson took a step back disagreeing "Oh no! No more surgeries! I'm just done!" He began to walk away. Lightning sighed. "Well I also read that your vision could be trained. We could try it?" Lightning shouted. But the young man only flipped Lightning off and continued to walk away...

Cleo stood by the window. Waiting.

Waiting..

waiting..

Then a knock. She quickly turned answering "Come in!" Jackson stepped in, shutting the door. "Jackson!" Cleo greeted as she walked around and sat on hee desk. "How are you doing?" she asked. He shrugged with a frown. "I like the glasses." she complimented with a giggle. Jackson shook his head. He hated them. They were just a reminder that he would never race again. "Come closer." Cleo ordered. Jackson sighed and walked over sitting in the chair right in front of her.

"You look hideous." She snarled as she looked at his face. Jackson didn't have anything to say to that. Cleo sighed and asked "What um... What happened out there?" Jackson looked up at her and stared. It hurt to think about it. "I.. I killed fourteen racers.." He softly admitted with tears coming to his eyes. Cleo's eyes widened. He didn't suspect she had anything to do with it? Perfect!!! "Oh Jackson.. Sweet, sweet Jackson.. You did no such thing.." Cleo softly said with a smile as she stood up.

Jackson frowned and felt a bit differently about that. Cleo came around and rubbed Jackson's shoulders as he vented "Cruz keeps telling me that too.. That it wasn't my fault.." Cleo nodded listening. "I was fired.. I can't see properly and I cant hear.. I have a stupid hearing aid for Chrysler's sake!" he snapped. Cleo sighed and knelt down in front of him. "Well you have me and.. I promise to get you the best medimedical treatment possible.." She smiled. Jackson stared at her. He was thinking about how he had betrayed her now too. How he was going behind her back to help get rid of her. Jackson turned away.

Cleo frowned a little feeling guilty. She caused this. Poor Jackson just didn't know it. "McQueen seems like he wants to help me to.. I don't know why? I basically ended the guys career.." he admitted. Cleo stood up raising a brow. "Really?" she asked. Jackson nodded. Cleo slowly smiled as she sat in her chair. "This could be good for us.." she explained.

Jackson raised a brow now. "What? McQueen helping me?" he asked. "I really don't think he can." Cleo snickered and laughed "Oh no! But it'll keep him distracted. Take the offer. Let McQueen help you in any way he can. Keep him super busy for me. Kay?" Jackson stared a moment. "What would I get out of it? I mean you promised me the cup race and well.. Now that's out." obviously he reminded. Cleo nodded and smiled asking "What if I could promise you that I could PROVE the accident wasn't your fault? Hmm? And sense you can't race, give you your own brand and academy?"

Jackson stared a moment then just bursted out into pure laughter! Cleo glared as the young continued to laugh! "I'm serious." Cleo exclaimed. Jackson stopped staring. "Wait... How could you prove it wasn't my fault? The car"-"Was tampered with." Cleo explained. Jackson stared at her like a deer in headlights. He lost communication and it ceased. "No.. No one would do that.." He replied. Cleo snickered and snarled "Oh please, this is racing Jackson. Everyone cheats at one point in the game. Just keep McQueen busy helping you and let me get to the bottom of this accident." Which really meant plant evidence on someone else.

"Can you do that?" She asked. Jackson hesitated but nodded. The idea of being let off the hook by fellow racers and fans and sponsors was to much! He had to get his name back and cleared! "But.." He said. Cleo raised a brow asking "But what?..." She was suspicious. Jackson knew it and swallowed hard answering "But what if.. He knows I'm just.. Using him?" he asked with a nervous smile. Cleo glared and sighed, rolling her eyes before explaining "Open up your eyes Jackson. It's everyone for themselves these days.. It's nothing personal just.. The best way to survive. He isn't helping you, he's making himself and that school or academy of his look good. He doesn't have any students. Think about it.. The academy that helped get back Jackson Storm! Think of the credit he'll get!"

And Jackson did, he did think about it. But he wasn't getting that kind of vibe from Lightning. But it made him wonder about Lightning's true intentions. "Go on now boy.. Mama's got work to do.." Cleo said with a smile. Jackson sighed and left. But now he had a choice. Help get Cleo out of the office.. Or help her keep control...

sorry for another short chap. got tired sense i have to take meds for an infection. ill be okay no worries. thanks to everyone reviewing. its awesome of you guys! love you all!!!!