Sally went to the cafe to grab some breakfast after dropping the kids off at daycare. She saw Lightning's note.
Mom called, went to help her.
It was just a little odd that Lightning never returned after helping his mom. Part of Sally worried he wasn't really helping Minty at all. She stood in line at the cafe that was like the breakfast hotspot of the town. She took out her phone and decided to try and call Lightning while she waited. The phone rang.. And rang.. Nothing but voicemail. Hmm. Sally sighed and looked over to see Francesco walking up from outside. Crap. Why hadn't he left like she told him to yet? Sally shook her head and minded her own business. The line was moving so slow. Francesco walked in and saw Sally pretty quickly. He smiled seeing her. She just looked so beautiful. She had on this casual sun dress that was a light pink with a baby blue and soft looking blazer over it. Cute. And Francesco loved that she was growing her hair back out. Made her seem a bit younger.
Feancesco walked over and greeted "Good morning.." Sally ignored him. Francesco frowned and thought a moment as he stood next to her. "Sally.. Let me at least buy your breakfast.. Most important meal of the day? Yes?" Sally glared at him and asked "Why are you here?" Francesco sighed admitting "I had no where else to go.. I did not think you were this kind kf mad at me.." "Are you kidding!?.." she snapped and people stared. Flo saw him and shouted "Hey!.. He botherin you honey!?" Sally opened her mouth to answer and Francesco dropped to his knees in front of her! "Please I beg of you! I am so sorry!.. Do not just write Francesco off for things He regrets so much!" Sally looked at him with disgust.
"Get up." She growled. Francesco slowly stood back up and looked her with his pathetic eyes. Sally glared and staring into those brown eyes. She saw something. No, she didn't have feelings for Francesco. She just saw this pathetic cycle with Francesco and realized she and Lightning were doing the exact same pathetic circle. They would fight, one of them do something dramatic that tears a rip in their love, they part ways then after begging and such horrible pain they were back together. Were they really in that circle? Were they waiting on the fight to spin the wheel again? She was lying.. Lying could cause problems later.. "Sally.. Miss Sally.. Please let me make things right.." Francesco begged. Sally shook her head. "I don't want to see you ever again.. If you care for me at all?.. Than go." She ordered firmly. Francesco stared at her. He would do anything for this woman. He took a few steps back and nodded, turning, and leaving again. Sally sighed. Whatever with Francesco. What about her and Lightning?...
Sally barged into the academy asking Heather "Is Lightning here!?" Heather stared and shook her head answering "Think he's with Storm at the school." Sally nodded and began to leave but stopped and reminded the young girl, "If you need anything pregnancy related, you can come to me. Okay?" Heather nodded and Sally quickly left to find Lightning. She wanted to break this cycle for good! She did not want to fight and something happen like Cruz or Ben or Cleo and they break up again!
So Sally ran into the school and up to the rehabilitation center section of the school and found Lightning mor Storm actually anywhere there. She ran back down and to the desk asking "Is Lightning in? It's seriously important." The woman raised a brow and looked on the computer schedule before answering "Yes mam. He's in class room 17c. with Mr. Weathers." "Thanks!" Sally replied and ran through the halls pretty much. She made it to the class and caught a glimpse of Lightning up front. Sally basically barged in and Lightning immediately stared at her confused. Cal stopped talking as Sally ran up and wrapped her arms around Lightning tightly. "Hey-woah... Okay.. Everything okay?" Lightning asked. Sally stood in front of him and nodded. "Yes!.. Yes everything is okay! It's gonna be okay.. Because I love you and you love me right?" Lightning was really confused. Sally was acting jumpy maybe? Like she had fifteen cups of coffee or something.
"Because after everything, we want each other more than anyone else. I use to have your back no matter what and lately I've been questioning every step you take and honestly it's.. it's a bit crazy of me.. Because you drive me crazy Lightning!" Lightning just kept a plain stare as he listened to the bit of crazy from this woman.
"I have to let go of what happened.. I need to set myself free of that pain and I could leave you!.. I could leave you, but hell no!.. You are mine. Always!. And I'm gonna fight for you til the end! For you and with you. I love you, only you, I choose you!.. And, and after seeing Francesco again I.. I realized how close we are to having everything we had.. Maybe something even better! And also.. How close we are to ripping apart again.. I don't want that. So before I get to the point, I lied. I lied about Cleo and Jackson and the remote.. Because I didn't want to hurt you!.. I didn't want you to suffer anymore from that woman! So, so tomorrow we can go down and talk to her together about the stupid remote okay?.. I am so sorry I ever lied to you and kept that from you.. And I promise it will never happen again!.."
Lightning was a little angry upon hearing about that and Francesco. "And I always liked to plan everything ahead.. You know that! You know I like my life laid out and you are the complete opposite of that! You live for that thrill of the moment and just.. And I wanna be like that, like YOU for once!.." Lightning nodded slowly. A little concerned for her sanity maybe even. "Now the normal me would.. Want to wait until I thought I could trust you to never sleep with anyone ever again or lie to me to.. Especially with Cruz.. Cause god!.. That woman is so desperate for attention from you.. but.. If I do that, I don't think we will ever be together really! That we will spin around like hamsters in a wheel until one of us die of exhaustion." "Um.. Sally..." "And that's my fault!.. because of my own self doubt. Especially lately.. I was even up debating if we should even be together again at times.. So I'm gonna do something so absolutely not me. Something I did not want to do at ALL anytime soon!"
"What is that..?." Lightning asked as he grew a little scared now. Sally sighed with a smile answering "Lets get married. Today. Right now. Just go down to the courthouse and do it! No more games. If we're in this, we're in this. Right!?" She asked as she took Lightning's hands. Lightning was a little red and stared at her all wide eyed. "Lightning will you marry me? Today?" she asked. Lightning was speachless and that's when Sally saw the entire class of students staring at them with Jackson in the front row. "Oh god..." She mouthed. Cal staring right behind Lightning. Then one female student shouted "Uh.. Say yes!?" Lightning looked at her and that was kind of funny. He snickered and shook his head then looked at Sally and answering with "Yeah, yes.. Ofcorse I'll marry you." The students immediately cheered and clapped loudly for them. Cal couldn't help smiling himself here. It was a heart warming moment in Sally and Lightning's own weird way...
The couple left the class room together and Sally was happy about this! She was excited as she felt she finally broke the cycle! Then "Oomph!" Lightning grabbed her arm and yanked her close and pushed her against the wall! He was obviously mad! "What was that!?" He asked rudely. Say was confused. "Wha.. I.. I want.. I don't want to wait. I wanna get married now.. Today." She answered softly. "Not that!" Lightning yelled! "You saw Francesco! When!?" He was furious. Sally shook her head answering "The cafe. When I went for breakfast..." Lightning growled and continued "And you lied!? You lied to me about Cleo!? About a remote that would regain Jackson's sight!?" "I.. I only lied to protect you.." "You lied for yourself! You did not lie for me and don't pretend or say that you did! That's not protecting me! I can protect myself!" God he was so angry. Sally rarely saw him like this.
"Cleo is in fucking jail! She can't touch me! And doubting yourself?.. What does that mean!?" Lightning yelled and turned away and Sally reached for him calling "Lightning.. I" "Know what? Don't!" He snapped! "You messed with someone's life! Jackson is depressed and in pain! Cleo took his sight away to control him and then you lying about that remote? You took it away because you were selfish with ME!? And you don't even see it, but that makes you just as bad as her!" He shouted. Sally's eyes began filling with tears as she defended. "What!? No! I'm not like her at all!.. I.. I really was trying to protect you Lightning!" "The only person I need protection from is you!" He did not mean that at all! He was just angry!
He began to walk away but Sally grabbed his arm begging "I'm sorry I lied okay! I am! That's why I had to come clean!.. Because I want us to get married again and I want us to be okay and honest and up front like you said! I thought this was the right thing to do!?" Lightning took a breath, trying to calm down and nodded saying "It was.. Just.. Gah I.. I can't look at you right now.." He pulled away from her and continued to walk away. Sally called out asking "What about my proposal?.. Isn't that what you want to?.." Lightning stopped and was silent a moment. He looked back at Sally answering "You cornered me in there Sally.. What was I suppose to say in front of all those people!?" Sally had tears running down her face. "But.. Last night?.. I.. I thought you wanted to get married?" She cried. God she was crying.
Lightning sighed and shook his head. He walked back up to her explaining as he lifted her chin "God yes! I do!.. I did.. Definitely.. But not like this!?.. On our own time.. On your time.. When we are ready.. But.." "BUT!?" Sally shouted. "But what!? Now you don't want to marry me at all!?" Lightning shook his head scolding "I never said that." But.. She did lie.. And this lie.. Sally was willing to make someone innocent suffer for her own selfish reasons. Lightning shrugged continuing "Sometimes I wonder who you are anymore.." Sally didn't even understand that. She never changed. Or at least she didn't see it if she did. Lightning turned away and walked away. Sally called his name "Lightning!.. Lightning stop!..Don't walk away from me!" but this time, he ignored her. "Lightning I'm sorry!"
"Are you?" A deep voice asked. Sally quickly looked behind her. "Jackson.. Oh god.. I.. I"-"Save it." He snarled and shook his head. "I'm not even mad.." the kid admitted. "I just hope one day, I can return to you the same kindness you showed me.." After that, he used his cane and the walls to walk back to the class room. Sally felt very guilty now. So guilty and hurt she felt sick to her stomach. And now.. She wondered if in trying to prevent her and Lightning from fighting and breaking up.. If she actually set it in motion by accident...
Sally got the kids, bathed, fed, played along with them, bedtime for each one, put Colton to bed twice, showered, waited up for a while, checked her phone constantly, then giving up on Lightning returning home for the night, she went to bed herself. Scared that she may have wound up ruining them now and because of that, she began crying...
bbbzzzzz. bbbbzzzzzzz.
Sally was woken up by her phone. She prayed it was Lightning. Yes! It was! "Stickers!.. Oh thank god.."
Hey.. Sorry for just. Running off on you.
I was honestly only worried I may have.. I mean we.. We are.. Are we broken up?"
What? No. No, I'm just.. Angry.
"Oh man.. I.. I was so worried we were..
No. I don't want to leave you Sally. Like I said, just.. Angry..
"Okay.. Yeah, I completely understand that so.. Are you on your way home?"
Um.. No. I.. I'm out of town actually.. I wasn't gonna even call, but.. I didn't want you to worry and over think.
"Oh.. So... You're.. Alone?"
Yes. Definitely. I'm not gonna go down that road again. I just need to make things right.. So I'm gonna see Cleo tomorrow.
"By yourself?.."
Yea.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea Lightning.. Let me drive up and meet you there."
This is something I want to do alone.
it was silent for a moment after he said that.
I'm gonna get some sleep.. I'll be home tomorrow.. I love you...
"Love you to.. Please.. Be careful and again.. I'm sorry."...
Early morning. Cleo sat down and picked up the phone on her side of the glass. Lightning on the other. She smiled asking "Wow...How are you doing Daddy?.." She made this ridiculous pouting face. Lightning glared. He didn't want any games and asked "What did you do with the remote." Cleo smiled and licked her lips answering "You wanna know?.. You gotta give me something in return.. Just a conversation here and there. I wanna know how things are on the outside. How is ny town doing?" she asked.
Lightning, still glaring corrected her "It's not your town Cleo. Where is the remote?" He asked. Cleo sighed asking "Not in the mood to play are we?.. Hmm.. Here's what I'll do for you baby.. Each time you come and visit me.. I'll give you a hint. Evantually you'll have it in your hands. If it doesn't get destroyed before you figure out. I placed in a place so obvious no one will find it!" she laughed. Lightning was already angry still from his fight with Sally. He hit the glass and yelled "Where is it!?" The guards immediately came over "What did you do with it!? Tell me Cleo!" Lightning yelled! The guards forcing him to leave. Cleo did this stupid finger wave flirting. Because she just knew.. He'd be back. They would always come back...