Author's Note: Hi there, readers! As promised, I've stated that I was going to upload sketches with as many of the new chapters as I can. Some chapters will not have sketches, but for this chapter I have uploaded a sketch on my DeviantArt page! Look at FanFic profile for my DeviantArt name, but to save you some time it's the same as my FanFic name. I would post the link, but as you know, FanFic doesn't let you post links. I've spent a lot of time on this chapter because I know some of you have been extremely patient with how long some of the chapters take to come out (thank you so much). I figured it's better to post a long chapter every once in a while than a short chapter every week or so. Besides, it's the longest chapter I've ever written for any of my fics.
I am also introducing faux voice casting for our new main characters, as I do with my other original characters if you've seen my DeviantArt page before. It helps followers "hear" what your original characters sound like if you haven't written a fic about them, but in this case I'm doing it for you guys anyway. :)
Jane would be voiced by Rachel Platten
Murphy would be voiced by James Marsden
Edit 12/12/16: I have decided to include you guys in my Spotify playlist for this fanfic. I made it public and I add songs to it that inspire me or remind me about the story and its characters. You could call it a "soundtrack". After all, it is themed towards Cars and this story. :) Check out my DeviantArt page (my name there is also 0lemons0) for the link because we can't link on this site. I'll have it in my latest journal entry, then post it to my DeviantID. You have to have a Spotify account though. So, if you have one take a listen sometime!
Chapter 23 - "The Rookies"
Still no sign of the crimson red mystery Mustang, the main suspect in the unsolved kidnapping that took the country by storm last year.
"Well, we've searched through almost every county in Arizona and we just ain't found any more leads," said the voice of a county sheriff, "But we ain't gonna rest until this woman is found."
On a cold winter's morning, Jane Taylor McQueen - daughter of Lightning McQueen and wife Sally Carrera, was taken by who Radiator Springs authorities and citizens believe to be a Mustang who came into town looking for a place to stay for a short period of time. Jane Taylor was soon reunited with McQueen on the side of route sixty-six. During that time, police asked little Jane what she remembered, but all she could tell police was that a - quote - 'mean red car' was trying to 'steal' her away.
Of course, this was one year ago and even though Jane Taylor is now a teenager, her memory of the incident is likely the same. However, police investigators interviewed the entire town's population and managed to learn that the woman not only came in as a tourist off of route sixty-six, but a tourist off of other routes as well.
Amongst the chattering cars, a female reporter's voice, "Officer? Officer, the name's Kori Turbowitz, a moment of your time?"
"Go ahead."
"Has the county narrowed it down to her? Or are there other suspects yet to be questioned?" asked Kori.
"At this time, we have enough evidence collected from Radiator Springs that supports the only suspect in this case that could have possibly been at that place and time was the Mustang."
"Do we know her name, Officer?"
"She simply goes by the name 'Vermella'. And nothing else."
And there you have it, ladies and gentlecars. The search continues on.
The little car in the alarm clock by Lightning and Sally's bed began to beep his horn, as usual, after the morning news came on. Just then, the routine was interrupted, as the bedroom door flung open, "Good moooornin'!"
Jane was a junior in high school, being that cars age quickly until they become adults and they usually finish school in just over a year. Just smaller than the size of an average adult Porsche, she jumped up on her parents' bed and snuggled in between them.
"Mooooom. Wake up. Mom. Dad. Wake up."
"This entire motel-," Sally mumbled, "-all rooms put together - is getting a little small for all three of us," she yawned into her pillow.
Lightning's eyes struggled to open, "Five more minutes."
"C'moooon!" Jane nudged her father. Her voice, uniquely raised in Radiator Springs had a bright feminine Midwestern tone, but just a hint of classic American drawl.
"Oh? So you can ask us for five more minutes, but when we want five more minutes-"
"Daaaaddy."
Lightning sighed, "Alright..," he stands on his tires and yawns, "Sally, what day is it again?"
Sally chuckled, "Let's see...hmmm…"
"Christmas passed right?"
"Yeah, that's when you promised me my first real racing lesson," Jane rolled her eyes.
"And if he gave you that lesson then, would it be as exciting today?" Sally asked.
Lightning's eyes widened, "Wait, you're actually letting me give her a racing lesson?"
"Stickers, I just woke up, I can easily change my mind if you want me to."
"Oh! Well, in that case..five more minutes," and he dropped back down into the mattress.
"DAD."
"Jane, he's only playing with you."
"But I wanna go before the school bus comes!"
"You physically can't get a lesson in that quickly."
"But-..Daddy, tell her."
"Mom's right. Do you know how many lessons those Piston Cup racers had in their lives?"
Jane narrowed her eyes, "At least one."
"In a minute the answer is going to be no," Sally's voice became a bit more stern.
Lightning leaned up again, "Now you're threatening me," he turned to Jane, "You can't just learn how to race in one lesson. It takes time. Did you think we were doing high speeds today? There are formulas to-"
"How do you race? Fifty miles an hour?"
"Jane."
"Mommy! He promised!"
"You're lucky I'm even letting you do this."
"You mean letting me do this," Lightning smirked.
"Don't even get me started with you."
Lightning gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Ugh," Jane looked away, lifting a tire up to block the view, "Just one lesson before the-"
A loud horn sounded outside.
"Wow, Sally! Look at that! We didn't even have to open our mouths to give her that answer!"
Jane wasn't amused. With narrowed eyes, she said, "Doc would have."
"Goodness, Jane," Sally furrowed her eyelids, but Jane ignored her. She scurried out of the bedroom and over to the front door.
"Teenagers..," Lightning said.
"I still don't like the way she spoke to you..mentioning Doc."
"I know how she feels," Lightning gestured over to her, "I didn't wait for my dad. I just went out on my own to do it. So, believe it or not, it's a good thing that's she's this patient. As for Doc, I know she didn't mean it. She misses him too."
Sally sighed softly, "It's alright..," and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Mornin', Jane Taylor!" called the school bus, "How are ya?"
"Hey, Miss Fritter.."
"Why the sad bumper?"
Jane shrugged her wheels.
Miss Fritter chuckled, "Come on the line and let's get you to school."
Jane pulled behind the school bus, pulling right next to another adolescent car larger than her height and width. A bit boxy in shape with brown eyes, he was painted jet black in his entirety - from headlight to trunk - except his headlights were covered with reflective silver duct tape.
His eyes quickly snapped over to her. Jane cringed and looked away, "Cool paint job.."
"Thanks. I wanted blue, but my dad wouldn't let me."
"Why not?" Jane asked, following the class on their way to school.
"He said it brought back bad memories. I dunno what that means. He's weird. I'll get a design or something soon."
She giggled, "I'm Jane Taylor," she finally made eye contact with him, "You can just call me Jane."
"Murphy," he paused, "Murphy Junior, really, but call me Murphy," he snickered, "My dad is really petty. It used to be 'Mike', but he got in a huge fight with his girlfriend before she left and he retaliated by completely changing my name and naming me after him," he shook his hood and yawned, "Not even in class yet and I'm already tired.."
"I hear ya..," Jane replied, as her body instinctively yawned too.
About twenty minutes later, the class made it to Carburetor County High, a short brick building with two floors. The bricks were a light coral, faded by the desert sun, and single windows covered all the sides with the exception of two large garage doors at the entrance and two large garage doors in the rear for their lunch hour in a gated section of land.
The bell rang.
"Alright, kiddos. Make sure you all know your room numbers and have a wonderful day!"
"A113," Jane said under her breath.
"Hey, that's where I'm going too," Murphy replied, "Home Economics."
"Who wants to wake up this early in the morning just to learn about where they just were?"
"Right?" he shook his hood, "This way," Murphy lead Jane through the hall of cars parked by their lockers, gossiping about their friends.
He pointed at the classroom door, already opened and waiting for students, "Looks like we're being seated now."
They both drove into the classroom and Jane pulled behind one of the desks up front.
Murphy stopped short, not expecting her to stop so abruptly, "This is where you park? The front?"
"Why not?"
"Um..you're literally right in front of the teacher."
"But-..," she looked down at the desk, then back up at Murphy, "You're right. Where do you park?
"Back there," he motioned his hood to the back of the classroom, toward the windows, "C'mon. Don't be a nerd."
She followed Murphy to the back of the class, pulling behind a desk that had plenty of art on it. Unfortunately, it wasn't very pleasant.
"Heh...so this is what they learn in the class after this one..," Murphy commented, noticing the naughty doodles.
An older woman came rolling into the room as the rest of the seats filled up. A light brown, 'almost tan', 1976 Chevrolet Opala with eyes that must have once been a crystal blue, but are now graying from age.
"Good morning, class," she dipped her hood to the students. A few students around the room answered her, while the rest were still half asleep. Jane didn't answer either, but only because Murphy didn't. Miss Relay's southern belle vocals matched her eyes, something that must have been vibrant, but was now tired and soft.
"Welcome to home economics. My name is Miss Relay. Today we'll be starting off slowly, since I know you all want to run on out of here. Hmm…," she studied the faces of the young cars, "When I look around the room, I see the faces of the young men and women who'll be runnin' this country one day."
She pointed to one of the students in the front row with a flick of a tire, a 2006 Ford Police Interceptor painted black and white, but didn't have lights or sirens yet.
"You there," Miss Relay said, "You seem like you'll be one of those young men," she smiled warmly, "Why don't you tell the class your name?"
"Austin..," he cooed, scuffing a wheel against the tile floor.
"Austin, you look like you want to be a police officer. Is that right?"
"Yeah..yeah I was born this way.."
"You were born to save the lives of others," said Miss Relay. She sighed happily, "That's what that means."
"I think so.."
"You think so? I can picture it now."
Austin perked up a bit, "Hm?"
Miss Relay looked at the ceiling and started moving her tire like a paintbrush in the air, "Your lights shining as far as the windshield can see. Your sirens letting the entire world know Austin is here."
He smiled, "Hm, hm.."
She gasped, "My goodness! Did you see it too?"
"Yeah.."
"Then if you see what I see, what's your name?"
A couple of students in the back chuckled, including Murphy, but Jane kept quiet. She watched with a tilted body.
"Shh, shh - class, be considerate," Miss Relay shut her eyes and cheerfully sighed again, "Now where were we? Oh! That's right! Look there!"
Austin couldn't help but look up at the ceiling too along with a couple of other students, even though there was nothing actually there.
"What does it say on that badge you're wearing on your door?"
"It says..Austin..?"
"Wh-are you sure? I know my eyes aren't what they used to be, but does it really only say Austin?"
Murphy rolled his eyes in the back of the room and mumbled to Jane, "This guy wouldn't even intimidate a buggy."
"Officer Austin," the young man replied. He stood taller with a grin.
"Very good!" Miss Relay exclaimed, "Officer Austin, let's see who your classmates are going to be someday. How about someone from the back of the room? Don't be shy!"
The young cars proceeded to pretend that they were looking at more interesting things around the room.
"How about-," she pointed to Murphy, "-you!"
"Who?" Murphy asked.
"You," Miss Relay noticed that his headlights were covered, "You look like you want to be a racecar one day? An athlete?"
Jane's mirrors perk up and she turns to Murphy.
"I already am a racecar," Murphy scoffed, "Dad just covered up my headlights last week, actually."
"Oh? Why don't you introduce yourself. Tell us your accomplishments!"
Murphy forced a breath out from between his lips, "My name is Murphy."
"Murphy. I like that name!" she grinned, "But don't racecars introduce themselves by their full name?"
"Uh..Murphy Hicks Junior."
"That surname name sounds famili-"
"Bet it does, my dad is a race car too. He's been training me since I was able to pull out of second gear," Murphy revved his engine loudly, a little grin forming when he heard himself.
The class gasped, almost letting out a "whoa!" at the same time. Jane jumped to the side, not expecting the surprise so close to her. Her mouth hung open.
"Impressive!" Miss Relay praised, "It sounds like your dad did an amazing job! You should join the school's racing team! You do know that Racing Sports Network is going to choose one student from select schools to be picked to join a professional racing team, right? You'll have one of those trophies in no time, I'm sure."
"A Piston Cup," Jane said, "Well, now it's actually called the Hudson Hornet Piston Cup."
The class all looked at her now, including Miss Relay and Murphy. He raised an eyelid, intrigued.
"Is that what they're called? I should have know from their shape, right?" Miss Relay giggled at herself, "You'll have to forgive me. I don't watch much racing myself," her eyes scanned the classroom as she spoke, "But I'm here for all of you. I'm here to be one of the mentors you'll all meet in your lives. Some of you haven't met one until today and others have met some along the way already. Usually your parents-," Miss Relay caught herself, "Oh my, I haven't asked your name, dear, and what do you want to be when you graduate?"
"My name is Jane Taylor McQueen," she replied.
Murphy's pupils constricted.
"McQueen? As is Lightning Mcqueen?" Miss Relay pulled a bit closer, "You know, he's a great actor too!"
"Yep! That's my dad!" Jane smiled proudly, even if they had a small disagreement that morning.
"So you want to be an actress, is that right? You have a wonderful name for that."
Jane's smile faded and she blinked, "No, ma'am..I wanna race for the Piston Cup."
Murphy turned his front wheels in, pressing them into the floor.
"I'm sorry, dear, did you say you wanted to race?"
"I want to earn myself a shiny new Piston Cup with my name on it."
Miss Relay smiled through the doubt she tried so hard to suppress, "I'm...I'm proud of you for your courage! And I love your optimism! There aren't many female racers out there."
Jane looked over at Murphy, knowing she'd get a reaction from him, but Murphy didn't break eye contact with the wall in front of him. He was no longer paying attention to the teacher, nor Jane, or if he was even breathing. In fact, the rest of the class stayed that way between them. He didn't even ask her for the time. Miss Relay continued to ask around the class for their names and their plans in the future, then finished off her lecture.
"Now I want you to all go home tonight and think about what you've told me this morning and what I've told you," she straightened up some papers on her desk as she spoke, "Don't forget, you can be anything you want to be. No matter what how you were built," she lifted the papers up in one of her tires, "Is there any car who has not been called during attendance?"
She glanced around the room and received smiles and nods from each car, except for two.
"Wonderful! I'll see you all tomorrow then!"
The bell rang, which meant it was time for the cars to either go home or go to their next class, if they had one. Jane's next class was History of Racing Legends. She had the option to choose between that class and an extra math course. All of the young cars scurried out of the classroom. Amongst them, Murphy, who seemed to be in quite the rush to leave.
"Murph, is everything alright?" Jane asked. She looked very concerned. Murphy's tail lights flash and he looked at her in one of his mirrors, "I gotta go."
Jane quickly pulled up beside him, "Do you have another class after this? Maybe we're in the same class again!"
Murphy didn't answer.
"Hey...didn't you hear me?"
"I said I have to go," Murphy cut her off at the door so that they both wouldn't fit. Jane stopped in her tracks and her mirrors lowered.
Miss Relay saw Murphy's action, "Jane? Are you alright?"
Jane shook herself out of it, "Yes, ma'am.."
"You can talk to me whenever you'd like, you know."
"I know."
"Okay," Miss Relay smiled, "You have a good day now..do you have another class?"
"I'm..actually gonna go home."
"Alright then."
Was this the competition she was warned about? She remembered her father and Doc telling her about how competitive the racing world would be. She also remembered all of the reasons why her mother never wanted her take interest in it in the first place. She remembered, but was it really all that true? Or was it all just an act for television? Maybe Murphy wasn't feeling well. After all, he didn't seem so fond of his father. Maybe he was going home too and had to face him.
It was wrong to cut class, she knew that much, but she didn't feel up for idling in another classroom that day.
Jane turned out of the classroom and drove down the hall. She passed the classroom she was supposed to be in next, then headed straight for the front doors. She nudged the doors open and pulled out into the sun. The warmth holding onto the air would soon turn crisp later in the month. Autumn was on its way. She took a deep breath in, feeling the air tingle inside of her grille while she shut her eyes.
"You holding up alright, Stickers?" asked Sally. Lighting turned to her, "Yeah..just can't believe how fast the time passed," he took a quick glance at the sky, "And I think Doc would have wanted to be here to see her."
"He's with all of us," Sally pressed her lips against his fender, "Doc is probably watching her right now. She won't get away from us ever again."
"Thanks, Sally..," a small smiled appeared on his bumper, "You think I can teach her as well as he would have?"
"Of course. Doc was just going to give her some tips here and there. I think you're worrying too much again."
"You're right. I don't want to let her down again, is all."
"Impossible," Sally leaned her wheel against his, "You're going to make her the happiest girl in the world when she gets home today."
"You know what? I'll go get Mater and we'll get a little Vermella hunting in before she gets back."
"Just be careful, okay? Both of you."
The dry road rushed underneath Jane as she picked up more and more speed.
"Can't go high speeds, huh?" she pushed a bit harder, going faster, "Not so many female racers out there, huh?" she pushed even harder.
As cars on the opposite end of the road passed her, they were pushed from the air of her velocity. Her eyes were narrowed, determined to win the race against her shadow.
The Radiator Springs billboard came into view and she zoomed right past it. Unfortunately, a sleepy old police cruiser jolted awake, looking around quickly, "Huh? Hm…speeders."
Sheriff turned on his sirens and pulled onto the mother road.
"Pull over," he said in his speaker. It took some time, but he finally started catching up to her, "I said PULL OVER."
"Huh?" Jane blinked quickly, not noticing the lights in her mirrors before. She came out of her daze. This wasn't a racetrack. She was still on a community highway. She kept her gaze in her mirror and pulled right over to the side of the road. She took her bottom lip between her teeth, "Uh-oh.."
Sheriff, a bit out of breath, pulled alongside her, "License and regis-HEY," he pulled in front of her, "Little Miss McQueen. I'm shocked," he snarled.
Jane looked down at her hood in shame, "I'm sorry, Sheriff..I was just trying-"
"You were trying to get yourself hurt," he interrupted, "And no school bus? Did you skip school? Jane, you're leavin' me with no choice here but to drive you back and tell your parents."
She quickly looked in his eyes, "Please don't!" she panted, "I-I'll get in so much trouble."
Sheriff looked down at the young girl with cold eyes, but gradually, his eyes softened up again. He looked both ways, making sure no one was looking, "Alright..but this is the only warnin' you're ever going to get. Next time I catch you racin' 'round innocent cars, you're in a heap of trouble."
Jane exhaled a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Sheriff.."
"Now let's get you back to school."
Jane reversed quickly, "No.."
"Why not?" he turned off his lights.
"Because I can't," Jane put herself in park and stared down at the reflection of her eyes in Sheriff's grille. It moved with every word he spoke, "What's the matter with you?"
Jane backed up behind the billboard and Sheriff followed.
"I just wanna go home.."
Sheriff kept his stare on her for a moment more, "This will never happen again, understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll just tell them you radioed..and that you weren't feeling good."
Jane's smile returned as quickly as it faded, "Sounds like a plan, police man!"
Sheriff groaned, "Don't push it, little star."
Little did Jane know, Murphy did cut class as well, and he too was on his way home. His eyes fixated on the horizon, undeterred by the threat of a truancy officer who might catch him. His commute wasn't very long. He arrived home in 15 minutes.
The little desert town in the middle of nowhere, Couperville, was as quiet as Radiator Springs once was, but unlike Radiator Springs, it was quiet because it was strictly residential. Each home very small, very flat, practically blending into the dirt below them, but they didn't all look the same. Some windows were punched out while others were decorated neatly. One roof caved in next to a home with a roof that was in perfect condition. Some cars had the keys to their front doors, some cars were stuck outside because they cut class.
Murphy made a right, nudging his gate open and pulling between two rusting wire fences. His front bumper had a gouge in it from pushing the gate in the same spot every day; some days more aggressively than others. The gate squealed shut behind him and clashed when it met the fence.
As always.
Murphy lowered his body to the pavement and creeped up to the front door. His home was flat too, like the others, with a sandy color as well, and a dark brown roof in otherwise good condition, but missing some shingles. He knocked into the silence. The floor inside of the home made cracking noises as a car came closer to the other side of the door.
It swung open, hitting the side of the house and knocking some of the cement onto the sand.
A green-with-envy race car littered with sponsor stickers stood in the doorway. A layer of dirt covered his body, peppering his mustache and the stubble on his chin. With a dry throat, as if he was just waking up, he said, "You're home early. Bring home a trophy yet?
"Class ended early today," Murphy said, not making any eye contact, "But I signed up for the Racing Sports Network program after."
"Good boy, now go do your homework if you got any," the race car turned back around to the living room. On a coffee table stained with coffee and condensation rings from bottles of beer were a stack of magazines dated back to 2006. One of the magazines, The Rolling Tire, was flipped open to an old interview with the race car.
"So, Mr. Chick Hicks, do you think this is going to be the season you finally beat The King?"
"Absolutely. After all, it's said the best is saved for last. Unfortunately for him, that 'best' is going to be saved for me."
"You sound very confident, sir!"
"You have to be in this world. If you lose your confidence, you lose everything."
Murphy dragged himself to his room. He gave the door a heavy push, knowing that his room door usually gets stuck in the frame, then rolled inside and opened his trunk. He dropped his books off, putting them on the floor where the rest of his belongings were.
"You hungry?" called Chick's voice from the living room.
Murphy didn't answer him. He pulled one of his desk drawers open and removed a hidden pack of cigarettes in his wheel with a pack of matches stuffed inside.
"HEY, do you or do you not want pizza?"
"YES," Murphy yelled back, "But I'm going out for a bit. Practice racing."
Chick could be heard grumbling things to himself, as well as pulling a phone off its hook.
After concealing the cigarettes, Murphy left his room and as he slipped out of the home, Chick said, "Bring a trophy home this time," and smirked.
"Yeah," Murphy giggled, "Got it, Pops.."
Murphy pulled away from his home and drove back down the street he came from. As he pulled back onto the main road, he pulled out one of his cigarettes and held it between his lips, "..got it, Pops..," he lit a match.
Once the cigarette was lit, he threw the match in the wind and continued on, speeding up. He passed the high school again and drove toward Ornament Valley, only to pass through, eventually leading to a billboard:
"Welcome to Radiator Springs: Gateway to Ornament Valley"
He could already feel his gas tank was nearing empty.
He sped right past the billboard, where Jane and Sheriff were still speaking, and their bodies both jerked in the wind from his drive by. Mid-sentence, Sheriff stopped speaking, turned on his siren, and accelerated onto the road.
Jane watched in disbelief. That black blur...why was it so familiar?
"Pull over!" Sheriff's voice echoed in the canyons. It took no more than that for Murphy to pull over to the side of the road. As Sheriff pulled to his side, he said, "Where are you off to in such a hurry, boy?"
Murphy didn't speak, exercising his right to remain silent, but when Jane saw him from the distance, she couldn't help but drive over.
"Murphy..?" Jane's eyes immediately focused on the cigarette in his mouth.
"Huh?" he turned quickly, "Jane?"
"You know this boy?" Sheriff asked.
"He's my classmate."
"Oh! So he's a smoking high school student who covers his headlights and enjoys speeding through my town. Wonderful. I love cars like you, boy," he snarls, "You're the easiest ones to put away."
Murphy lowered to the ground, "Ugh.."
Sheriff brought a tire up and pulled the cigarette right out of his mouth, "To the impound. Let's go."
"Wait, Sheriff!" Jane pulled between them, "It's cool, you know?"
"Cool? Did we not just have this conversation? You're lucky I'm not telling your parents."
"Murphy, it's alright. This is Sheriff..he's my friend."
"You're friends with a sheriff? Really?"
"Tell him, Murphy, you weren't doing anything wrong, were you?"
"I was hungry, officer, was just looking for a place to eat."
"How about school food? If you didn't cut class you wouldn't be hungry right now."
"Ah, BEST friends with the Sheriff. I can tell," Murphy rolled his eyes.
Jane looked up at Sheriff's eyes, "C'mon...let him go too.."
"How am I supposed to explain that I brought you home from class and some punk kid came along?"
"Uh-..," Jane looked at her hood, trying to think of how Lightning or Sally would react.
Murphy cut in, "I'm helping her with her homework."
"Yeah! He's helping me with my racing history homework."
Sheriff narrowed his eyes, "You sound like you're a professional at this lying business, Murphy."
"Gotta be good at something, right?"
Jane nudged him, "Don't start him.."
"So, in other words," Sheriff stood taller, more confidently, "I am letting two kids off the hook for cutting class and speeding."
"And driving with covered headlights."
"Murphy!"
He shrugged, "What? He's letting us go," he looked at Sheriff's eyes as well, "Right?"
Sheriff shut eyes eyes, breaking eye contact with the both of them, "...right."
Murphy breathed a sigh of relief and Jane smiled.
"Alright, kids, let's go..," Sheriff turned to lead them both back into Radiator Springs, "I'll buy you lunch, Jane..to make it more convincing."
"What about me?" Murphy asked.
Sheriff growled, "You don't have money? Did you plan on stealing food today too?"
"No, but you don't pass off a chance to let someone else buy your food," Murphy smirked.
Sheriff shook his hood, "Unbelievable."
As they pulled into town, cars were everywhere buying goods, but not nearly as much as they were in the Summer months, when everyone was on vacation.
Sheriff rolled up to Flo's Cafe with the kids, "Park in one of the bays over here. I'll stand by."
Jane pulled up to one of the pumps and Murphy settled down next to her, both turning off their engines. A bell sounded as their wheels ran over a small wire, signaling to Flo that they were there and ready.
The classic mint green car came out of the kitchen almost immediately, cheerful as ever, with two menus on a tray attached to her side.
"Hiya, Jane! School end early today?" she asked, putting a menu down in front of her, "Who's this?"
"Oh, no, I just wasn't feeling very well today..so my friend came with me to help me with homework. This is Murphy," Jane gestured with a tire, "Murphy, this is Flo."
"Oh, dear," she put the other menu down in front of Murphy, "How are ya, Murphy?"
He took a deep breath in, taking in the scent of the food cooking, "Much better now."
"I hope ya feel better, honey," Flo said to Jane, "You want some soup?"
"Anything Sheriff wants to buy us," Jane replied.
Sheriff shook his hood, "No, no, anything you two want."
Flo swatted the air with her tire, "As if I would ever make you two pay for your meals. Don't you worry."
"In thaaaat case," Murphy pulled the menu closer.
Sheriff sighed, "I'll be parked behind the billboard then. Thanks, Flo," and he drove off.
"I'll give you two a minute, if you'd like," Flo said, "To give Murphy some time to read his menu."
Jane nodded, "Sure, sounds good."
"Miss, may I have a refill?" called out a little Corolla across the cafe.
"Coming right up!" Flo pulled away and helped her customer.
"What's good here?" Murphy asked.
"Everything is good here," Jane said, "I live here. Trust me. It's all I eat," she pointed to an order of curly fries, "You should get the spicy kind."
"If you say so," he continued to look at the menu, "And this bacon cheeseburger..oh wait..my dad said he was going to get pizza..hm..whatever, I'll be hungry by the time I get back."
"I guess if you're having a burger, I'll have chicken tenders."
"Aren't you..sick?"
"Shoot, you're right.."
Flo cruised on back to the kids, "Here's some soda for you two," she brought over two cans of carbonated oil and placed it in front of them.
"Thanks, Flo," said Jane, "You happen to know where dad is, by the way?"
"He's out with Mater searching for-," she glanced at Murphy, then focused back on Jane, "-you-know-who.."
"Oh..right.."
"Come now, sweetie. Tell Flo what you'd like and I'll make ya feel better."
"Okaaay," she said, a small smile forming again. She loved it when Flo referred to herself in the third person, "Whatever the soup of the day is."
"Alright," she nodded. She never needed any notepads to write anyone's order down, "It's lentil. Want some crackers on the side?"
"Please!"
"You got it, little star," she smiled over at Murphy, "How about you?"
"Bacon cheeseburger and spicy curly fries," he replied, taking Jane's menu and putting it on top of his. He then passed them over to Flo.
"I'll have that out to you guys in no time!" she scurried off to the kitchen.
Murphy looked over at Jane, "Why did she call you 'little star'?"
"My parents named me after the lady who wrote twinkle twinkle little star."
"Huh..that's unique for such a plain-Jane name."
"Very funny..," Jane bit the inside of her cheek, "Can I ask you somethin'?"
Murphy raised a lid, "Uh, sure."
"In class, you kind of just, you know, left."
"Mhm..it's not you, it's about my dad."
"I had a feeling you weren't too happy about going home."
"No...well, sure, but not that…and I wasn't supposed to go home. I had another class."
"And then you cut me off."
"Look, I didn't mean to do that..I mean, yes I did mean to, but not because I wanted to. Listen..," he looked at her, "Jane-"
"Is it because I want to race? Is this competition?" she asked with wide eyes.
"What? No. Besides..what competition?" he looked her up and down, "No offense."
Jane's eyelids furrowed, "You don't think I can-"
"It was because of our dads."
"My dad? What does he have to do with anything?"
"He's Lightning McQueen...and my dad is Chick Hicks."
"So what?" Jane shrugged her axles, "You're not making any sense."
"They hate each other - duh."
"My dad doesn't hate anyone. He said there's competition in racing, but there's no hate."
"Oh, really? You realize my dad hasn't been racing because your dad hasn't been racing?"
"Sounds like your dad is obsessed with my dad."
"In your dreams," Murphy rolled his eyes, "My dad can throw your dad right off the track."
"Yeah, 'cause your dad isn't a racer. He's a cheater."
Murphy growled, "What did you just say to me?"
"Your dad hasn't won a race in his life. Even the ones that got him to the Piston Cup races."
Murphy grit his teeth and revved threateningly, "Why am I evening listening to you? You don't know anything about racing."
"Oh yes I do!"
"Oh, really? What position did you finish in your last race? Huh?"
"Alrighty, kiddos," Flo said, as she pulled up with their food. She set the soup down in front of Jane and the burger in front of Murphy, "Let me know if y'all need anything else. You two can just drive on outta here afterward, okie dokie?"
Jane lowered a bit, "Okie dokie…"
"Aww..feel better, sweetie."
As Flo continued on to the next customer, Murphy said, "You still didn't answer my question," and he smirked.
Jane looked down at her reflection in her soup and pushed it around with her spoon, making her face wobble and disappear, "I've never..actually been racing."
"Hah!" Murphy chuckled. He took a bite of her burger. He kept his eyes on Jane, as she took a spoonful of the soup in between her lips, "I knew it."
Jane's spoon slowly pressed back into her bowl, piercing her reflection.
"Jane?" Murphy grabbed one of his fries and tossed it in his mouth. Jane didn't answer. Murphy thought for a few moments, seeing how upset he made her, then sighed.
"Fine, you can have a fry," he nudged one over to her, but she didn't take it, "C'mon."
"I wish my dad let me race like your dad," Jane said with a softer voice.
"Really sounds like you need a fry."
Jane looked up at him and raised a lid. Murphy smiled, "There ya go. That got ya to look," he took his fry back and put it in his mouth, "You have to understand that my dad's only goal in life is to make sure he wins at something."
"So, it's my dad that's selfish?" Jane asked.
"I dunno. I've never met him. All I know is that my dad doesn't like him. If my dad knew I was even speaking to you right now he'd blow a gasket. He said I'm not allowed to talk to any other racer in the school, but your last name? Oh boy.."
Jane brought the spoon back up to her lips.
"So it's not you, alright?"
"Alright," she took another sip of her soup.
The silence between them grew into a couple of minutes as they finished their food.
"Never raced," Murphy shook his hood, "My dad took me out racing once a week. He lets me go on my own now because he's preparing for the next Piston Cup season. He's too busy to coach me. So I just leave - hm - about every other day without even asking."
Jane quickly brought her attention to him, "You don't even know how lucky you are."
"Lucky? Please. There's no luck. I can take you for a race," he continued, "I can do it right now. Let's go."
"What? Really!? But, I can't just leave! I'm sick remember?"
"If anyone asks, just say you drove me home."
"I have to tell Sheriff so he can cover for-"
"When was the last time you did something without one of these townies knowing your every move?"
"Well.."
"You want a Piston Cup or not? Sheriff is cool with it already. He'll cover for us," he revved his engine twice and reversed, "You can either come with or wait for daddy to hold your tire across the finish line."
Jane bit her bottom lip, looking over at Flo, then up at the sun which was just beginning to set a little earlier because of the season. She shook her hood and threw herself into reverse, "Yeah, let's go.."
The kids pulled onto Route 66. Murphy drove confidently while Jane's eyes appeared to shift back and forth, looking for someone who may catch her. Murphy peeked over at her, raising a lid. Maybe taking her mind off of running would loosen her up.
"So what else am I missing?" he asked.
Jane shook herself out of it, "Hm? What do you mean?"
"Besides our dads, you knowing the entire town, and never racing before," Murphy chuckled, paying close attention to her eyes, "Hey! How are your eyes doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"They're two colors!"
"I was built this way," she smiled softly.
"That's craaazy."
"It used to be more noticeable but my green eye started turning more blue in the past year. My parents said it was because of something that happened when I was younger."
"What happened?"
"I don't remember all of it..but there was a car who took me from them. They haven't found her yet."
"Was that who- Flo? Flo right? Was that who she meant when she said your dad was out looking for 'you know who'?"
Jane nodded. Murphy lowered on his axles, "Maybe we can pick up some speed?"
Jane's smile became wider. She pulled ahead of his nose by a few inches.
"I see how it is," he pulled ahead much farther and quicker than Jane was driving past Sheriff earlier. Jane gasped and felt her body begging to jump forward, but this road..the chase away from town.
"What's the hold up? Go ahead! Match my speed!" Murphy called out from ahead. He adjusted his mirrors so that he could see her.
Jane peeked in her mirror too, as if there was a car driving after her.
A Mustang.
Memories flooded back into her mind.
"You betrayin' lil' bitch."
Murphy raised his voice so that she could hear over the sound of their engines, "Don't let the asphalt intimidate you! Keep your eyes ahead of you!"
She accelerated some more, zipping right up to his side. She listened to him, keeping her focus where the fiery orange sky met the darkening desert earth. While they were only going around eighty miles per hour, what was so terrifying at the start became so freeing for Jane. Her cheeks lifted against the wind, smiling wider than she's ever had before.
Sheriff saw the setting sun and figured Lightning would have been back by then. He pulled onto the road and drove into town, noticing Sally parked in the Cozy Cone lobby through the window. He turned into the lot and pulled his nose into the archway, "Evenin', Sally."
Sally looked up from her desk, "Hey there, Sheriff! Everything alright?"
Sheriff nodded, "Everything's fine. You spoke to Jane, right?"
"Haven't seen her all day. She's probably home at the Wheel Well doing her homework."
Sheriff's eyes widened up, quickly trying to figure out what to say. He doesn't want to upset Jane if Lightning and Sally haven't figured out she came home earlier. Flo was the only other car who knew.
"Was there something she needed to tell me?" Sally asked.
"Nope, just keepin' an eye on everything," he reversed, "Lightning back?"
"He called earlier and said he was taking Mater out for some ice cream. He'll probably be on his way soon."
"I'll go check on the others then," Sheriff dipped his hood, "Have a good rest of the evenin'."
"Thanks for stopping by!"
Sheriff made his way on over to Flo's cafe. Many cars were lined up at each bay for dinner, but none of the cars were Murphy or Jane. Sheriff quickly pulled up to a couple sharing a slice of apple pie and ran his wheel over the wire underneath them. As the bay bell rang, the couple gasped and looked in confusion at the officer.
"Sorry," he muttered.
A little red Miata with Lightning McQueen memorabilia came trotting out of the diner. Her license plate read: MIA
"Is the pie okay? Would you like me to bring you some more coffee?"
"I'm afraid I rang the bell, Mia," said Sheriff.
"Oh? What's wrong?"
"Have you seen Jane anywhere?"
"Jane? She was just here with that boy. I cleaned up their dishes about-," she looked up at the air, thinking, "-about twenty minutes ago."
"Where did she go?"
"They both left town actually. Went down the road," she pointed with a wheel.
"Hmm..," Sheriff squinted down the road as far as his eyes could see, "She must have drove him home.."
"Mia, honey! Pickup for number seven!" Flo called out.
"Coming, ma'am! See you around, Sheriff. I have to finish up my shift."
Murphy brought Jane to an empty karting track out in the valley. It was very small with only four turns.
"This little thing?" Jane asked, "This is it?"
"This is it? What do you mean 'this is it'?" Murphy shook his hood, "Did you think I was going to take you to a speedway?"
"Something bigger than this at least.."
"You have to start small and you can't drive on dirt," he flicked out his tire, pulling out his box of cigarettes again, "No one does that anymore. At least, not in our sport," he wraps his lips around one of the cigarettes and pulls it out of the box, storing the box in his wheel again, "Go on to that starting line before the sun goes down."
"No big deal," Jane said, making her way over to the faded checkered ground, "I have headlights."
"Not when the real deal happens," Murphy lit a match and it glowed against his paint. He brought it to the end of the cigarette, then tossed it away, "Not good to start any bad habits on your first sprint."
She stopped at the starting line and revved her engine.
"Now when I say-"
"Weeelcome to the ornament valley piston cup seeeerieees!" Jane exhaled her breath, mimicking the sound of a cheering crowd.
"Oh, Chrysler.."
"At the starting line, we have Jane Taylor McQueen, rookie, and ready for bolt rattling speeeeed! Thank you, thank you!" she waved her tire around.
Murphy took a drag of his cigarette and the smoke exhaled when he spoke, "This is gonna take all night."
"Staaaart yooooour ennngiiiinneess!"
Jane revved and mimicked the crowd again.
"Couldn't even hear you from here," Murphy muttered.
"And here comes the flag.."
Murphy groaned, "GO."
Jane's rear wheels spun, kicking up dirt behind her, and she zoomed forward.
Murphy watched carefully, taking verbal notes, "Pretty good start."
"And we're coming to the first turn!" Jane yelled. She tapped her brakes and turned her tires.
"What?" Murphy couldn't believe he even saw her brakelights.
"And the next!" Jane repeated the same motion for the next three turns: braking, turning, then accelerating.
"Jane is in the lead! She's gonna win the piston cup!" she shut her eyes and smiled wide for the imaginary cameras, as she passed the finish line.
She hit her brakes and turned to Murphy, "Let's see what the commentary has to say!"
Murphy just blinked. His cigarette burned halfway through without any ash falling off, as he couldn't even pay attention to it.
"Commentary? Where are you?"
"Okay, that-," he finally flicked the ashes, "-was different."
"What? That was amazing!" Jane huffed as she drove closer to Murphy.
"You're already out of breath too..," Murphy sighed, "You have a lot of work to do."
"What did I do wrong?" her expression dropped.
"Ehh..everything except your initial acceleration."
"Aww...thought I did really well.."
"Before you get upset," he tapped her chin with his tire to look up at him, "It was your first actual race-thing. So chill."
Jane scrunched up her face at the smell of smoke on his grille, "So what were the problems?"
"I've never seen anyone brake during a turn," he chuckled, "Unless there was something they were about to hit."
"How else was I supposed to get through those turns?"
"That goes back to when you first saw the size of the track. It's not very big, so there was no reason for you to go as fast as you did. It was alright to accelerate that hard, but the experience comes with knowing how much room you have to work with. You don't have any room here to go as fast as you were trying to go."
"Right..ugh..," she rolled her eyes, "Now I look so stupid."
"I wouldn't say that, but you did look funny," he took another drag and blew the smoke away from her face, "You accelerate, then pull off of the gas. Once you get to that turn? Then you pull off of the gas again. Go as fast as it takes. Not as fast as you can go. Pace yourself."
Jane nodded with every other word. Suddenly, it didn't seem as easy as her father made it look, "Did your dad teach you that?"
"My dad taught me as much as he could possibly teach me without experiencing things for myself eventually. I can't train you to instantly know how fast you should go. That comes with time."
"You seem like a professional already."
"Maybe I am," he stood proudly, lifting on his axles, "I can feel that piston cup already, but even though last semester I failed my racing history class, I can tell you that it takes a lot to be considered a professional. It's not all about driving in circles. There are so many different kinds of racing..," he scoffed, "I doubt anyone is actually a professional racer. Just really good at their type of racing."
"I never thought of it that way..and you failed that class? Out of all the cars in the school?"
"Yep, that's why I'm taking it again this semester. I'll look as silly in that class as you did racing," Murphy's eyes widened up, "OH. There was one racer I'd consider a real professional," he took his cigarette in his wheel and twisted it into the dirt, "The Fabulous Hudson Hornet. If I got any questions right in that class, he was the topic."
"He knew everything," Jane kicked the cigarette away from them, "Why do you smoke anyway?"
"Let's get to what's more important here," Murphy replied, "What do you know about the Hudson Hornet?"
Jane shook her hood with a smile, "I know everything about him."
"You know everything about the hudson hornet, but skipped your first day of racing history class? Nice try," he went to pull out another cigarette.
"Why would I need to be in that class to know anything about him when he was my neighbor?"
Murphy quickly put his cigarettes away, "What are you goin' on about?"
"The Hudson Hornet. I knew him," she grinned.
"Look, I get that you think you know everyone in the world because you've never been outside of that town but-"
"He was my father's crew chief," Jane batted her eyelids, "And he taught him a few things."
Murphy rolled closer, staring at her eyes, "...you're being serious...aren't you?"
"Mhm..," she grinned even wider.
"This is gonna sound pretty weird, but do you think I could come back into town tomorrow and see that racing museum? I saw it while we were going to Flo's."
"Why would that sound weird?"
"Because I have to ask you so much about him. You have no idea how-," he gasped, not realizing the sun has completely set now and the moon was just over the horizon.
"What's wrong? You look scared," Jane turned on her headlights.
"It's dark..and I don't have headlights," he looked down at her headlights and grunted, "I mean I do, but-" he turned his headlights on, which left a faint glow behind the duct tape over them. He sighed, "This is gonna sound weird too...but do you mind driving me home?" he turned off his headlights.
"That doesn't sound weird either," she turned her high beams on, "Just tell me where to lead the way. What town do you live in?"
"Couperville," he pointed, "That way."
Jane and Murphy's bodies rumbled over the rocks as they made their way back onto the main road.
"Don't drive so quickly until all the rocks get out of your treads. You'll scratch your paint," Murphy said, driving the actual speed limit.
"I know," Jane said with a little laugh, "I know an expert in body art," she lit the entire road ahead of them with her bright white bulbs.
"Of course you do.."
Sheriff gasped heavily as he braved the winding turns of Tailfin Pass, making it up the mountainous terrain to the Wheel Well Motel. His siren was off, unusual for the officer who usually loved making his presence known. Only his headlights guided him in the night. Once he arrived at the motel, he looked around to see if Lightning made it before him, or if any other customers were around enjoying themselves, but only the sound of dying crickets could be heard. The Autumn air was too chilly now for any of the cars to be out overlooking the view and the busy season was over. Soon, the crickets would be gone too.
"Jane," Sheriff whispered, "You better be-," he looked up at the windows to see if any lights were on inside, but it looked like there wasn't a single car in the entire building, "I know you ain't sleepin' this early," Sheriff whispered to himself, "You ain't even home."
Two familiar voices from between the pine trees spoke in the air around him.
"I can't believe I let myself watch you eat that much ice cream."
"I had to beat the truck from the next town over!"
"No, Mater, you didn't."
Two pairs of lights came through the darkness, following the streetlights.
"Ever since you got them headlights you've been actin' all healthy."
"What does that even mean?" Lightning chuckled, "No I haven't."
"Ya do too."
"No way."
"You've been actin' all healthy! You've been actin' all healthy!"
"Real grownup, Mater.."
"You would know with those headlights o' yours!"
The voices came even closer - just around the bend. Sheriff quickly turned around, facing outward and standing up tall like he was keeping a close watch on the motel.
Lightning and Mater's attention focused on Sheriff as soon as they arrived.
"Sheriff? What are you doin' up here?" Mater asked.
"Makin' sure that Mustang don't come around here."
"Aw, thanks," Lightning said.
"Have you two found anything?"
"Not-a-one. Nothing," Mater replied, while Lightning shook his hood.
"I'll see ya later, buddy! I'm gonna go eat supper!"
"You just had ice cream!"
Mater quickly turned around and went on his way.
"Mater! Ugh..," Lightning looked up at the windows and noticed the lights were all off too, "Jane home?"
"I-..Jane called me and said she wasn't feeling well, so I picked her up from class and brought her to Flo's. Her friend was there to help with some homework, and she drove him home."
"Not feeling bad enough to not drive him home then I gue-...," he narrowed his eyes, "Him? A 'him-friend'?"
"They were bickerin' the entire time. Don't get all worked up."
"Alright..I'll ask her when she gets home."
Murphy stopped by the gate in front of his house. Jane brought her wheel to the gate lock to open it up for him, but it didn't budge.
"Hold on," Murphy said, "I got it," he reversed, then pushed forward, busting the gate open like he did earlier. It hit right against the same gouge on his bumper.
Jane's eyes widened at the violent sight.
"Thanks for the drive, Jane. I'll see ya tomorrow."
"Wait! Is your bumper alright?" she pulled closer. Her headlights pointed at the window and since they were high beams, they went through the curtain.
Chick flinched from inside the living room, squinting in the light, "What in the.."
"I do this every single time I leave and come back," Murphy said, "My dad doesn't want to fix the place up because he said we're moving to California soon. Maybe in another year when we graduate."
"That make sense," Jane replied, "I think..but..hopefully inside is more comfortable for you?"
Chick peeked through the curtains and saw Murphy speaking to the unknown girl. He raised a lid, "So that's racing practice, huh?"
"My room is," he chuckled, "It's my space away from everyone. So, uh, listen...I'll catch you tomor-"
The front door ripped open, "Murph! You're home! That's just great," Chick smirked, "I saved you some pizza."
Murphy jumped, as did Jane. She turned her wheels in.
"Who's your friend?" Chick asked.
"This is Jane. She was driving me home."
"Hi there, Jane. That's was nice of you."
Jane nodded quietly. Now that she knew Chick and her father didn't like each other, she wasn't sure how to react.
"Are you hungry, Jane? I have some pizza."
Jane shook her hood quickly, "No, no..that's alright..I just ate."
"You just ate. Hmm..you two go out to eat?"
Jane went to answer, but Murphy spoke for her, "She insisted on grabbing a hotdog while she watched me race."
"Hm," Chick looked Murphy right in the eye, "You think that alone would fill her tank up?"
"It did. She's not hungry," he turned to Jane, "I'll see you in class..," he lowered his voice, "..go home."
Jane cleared her throat, "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Hicks..," she quickly turned around and went on her way.
"Nice meeting you too, Jane!" his eyes shot to Murphy, "Get inside, champ. It's cold out here."
Back at the Wheel Well, there was a knock on the door.
"Stickers, it's me...Lightning? Jane? Anyone home?"
Lighting smiled, still so in love with his wife's voice. He rolled to the door and opened it up, "Hey, baby."
Sally brought her tire under his chin and pulled him in for a gentle kiss, "Hey there. How was the search?"
Lighting stepped out of her way as Sally rolled inside, "The same as the others..nothing."
"The most important thing is that we have our baby. Remember that," she looked around the home as she pulled forward, "Speaking of her, she usually comes right up to us when we come home.."
"Not home yet," Lightning replied, "She drove her guy friend home."
"Aww that's nice of- what?" Sally turned and made eye contact with him, "Sheriff didn't tell me that."
"You spoke to Sheriff too?"
Sally nodded, "Asked me if I spoke to her."
"That's very..different of him. He told me Jane was kind of sick and he drove her home. Her friend helped her with some homework and she drove him home."
"Why wouldn't he tell me that?"
Another knock on the door caught both of the cars off guard.
"Mom? Dad?"
"It's Jane," Sally said.
"Alright, let's go with it.."
Sally opened up the door with a smile, "Hey, little star!"
Jane stood sunken on her wheels. Her eyelids were half shut and she trembled, "Hey mom..," her voice was hoarse, "How was work.?" she looked up at her slowly.
"Work was work..come on in..daddy said you weren't feeling well today."
Jane carefully drove inside and gestured her nose to Lightning, "Hey, dad..what's up?"
"I was gonna ask you the same question..you look awful."
Sally shut the door.
"Sheriff said he picked you up early today," Lightning continued.
"He did and I ate some soup at Flo's.."
"Finished your homework?" Sally asked.
"Uh-huh.."
Lightning smiled. It was wonderful to know Sheriff wasn't lying.
"You know, kiddo, Sheriff said you drove your friend home."
Jane inhaled deeply, "I-..I did, yeah..his headlights were broken."
Sally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's our amazing girl," Lightning grinned, "I'm so proud of you. We both are."
Sally pulled along her other side, "And you know what? You've just earned yourself your first racing lesson."