As I was writing this chapter, I chose more "voices" for the characters. For those who follow my DeviantArt, you know that I always cast false voices for my characters, so I figured I would keep up the little tradition here.
Alyssa voiced by Lizzy Caplan
Austin voiced by Travis Atreo
Gianna voiced by Rachel McAdams
Miss Relay voiced by Lee Ann Womack
Principal Radner voiced by Bryan Cranston
You may know that this time of the year brings final exams, so unfortunately I won't be able to update this story until later this month, but I will be writing. The next chapter will just be delayed after my exams and final term papers. For those who are students as well, good luck on your exams too!
Happy holidays!
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 25 - "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
After three months into the semester, the young classmates were finally settled into their school year. No more traffic jams in the halls or trying to find the right classrooms to go to. No more fights over which car took the other's parking spaces in the lunchroom or any awkward tension hovering in the classrooms because all of the cars finally learned each other's names. Some of the cars made great friends, while others learned it would be best to separate themselves.
"There is no way I'm singing in the holiday show with Austin, Miss Relay. You can forget it," Murphy turned on his engine and reversed away from his desk, "We've been practicing for weeks and the kid can't memorize anything. I got my part. I don't need anymore rehearsal. I don't even want to be in it anymore."
"Please, Murphy, you park yourself back behind your desk," Miss Relay, known for her bountiful patience, even had her limits, "And you will sing because everyone in this room is going to be in the show."
"Since you said please," Murphy went to park himself again.
"Silver beeeelts! Silver beeeelts!" sang Austin, the small police car. Once a shy car with hardly any faith in himself, Austin now had a solid foundation of where he wanted to take his life. Fear no longer steered his aspirations. From that point on, he learned that justice would be the only thing allowed to steer his life. However, Austin was parked alone because his partner fell ill with the flu.
He turned around to the back of the class, where he knew Murphy parked: next to Jane since the first day of class.
"Shut up, you little-"
"Murphy!"
Little Officer Austin continued to sing his song, "Lights of viiibrance, police siiirens-," he turned on his light bar which was modified for the season in its correct colors, "Blink a bright reeed and greeeen!"
A couple of students laughed around them, including Jane.
"Alright, that's it," Murphy pushed the table, which made Jane's notebook fall. She gasped, as Murphy pulled around the desks and drove to the front of the room. A 2005 red and black Kia Sorento pulled ahead just in time to block Murphy from slamming the officer in training.
"HEY," yelled the Sorento, who was one of Murphy's newest friends in the semester, "You don't wanna ruin your paint job! It's only a few months old, man!"
Jane brought her tire over her mouth, watching in shock.
"Move it, Caleb," Murphy breathed heavily, "Wait until class is over, you fuckin'-"
"That is enough!" Miss Relay placed her chalk down on her desk, "I will not tolerate that language in this classroom. You are going to sing with Austin and Caleb. All three of you. Twelve Days of Christmas. This has been the plan since the beginning and that is how it'll stay."
"By the fifth day, he's gonna be a puddle of gurgling oil on the tiles," Murphy threatened.
Miss Relay pulled over to her desk and pulled out a pad of detention slips. She picked up her pen and began to fill it out, which Murphy saw at the corner of his windshield, "Oh, really, Miss Relay? How will I ever sing in the show when I have detention?" he asked sarcastically.
Miss Relay didn't answer, she just finished filling out the slip and ripped it out of the pad. She drove up to Murphy and handed it over, "You're dismissed," she looked at the rest of the class, "When class is over, you will all head to the auditorium and use this last - I repeat - last chance to rehearse your songs together, until I come back with Murphy," who she turned right back to, "I will see you in a few moments."
Murphy snatched the detention slip out of her tire, ripping it a little, and he drove to the door. He went to bash it open, but Caleb quickly called out, "Your paint!"
Murphy sighed and gently opened the door. Once he left, Miss Relay looked to Jane, "You and Austin don't have a partner now..so..so why don't you come up here?" she pointed to the empty spot next to him.
The plum race car nodded and moved away from her desk. As she drove to Austin's desk,her eyes stared at the classroom door, which Murphy left open to inconvenience Miss Relay.
"Hiya, Jane!" said Austin, "I still can't get over how different you look!
"Hey there," Jane smiled at him, "Thanks a lot.."
"I'm sure you must be getting a lot of attention."
"Well..," her hood turned a little pink by her windshield.
Miss Relay watched the two cars interact, "You know, Jane, instead of working on the stage set, I have the perfect song for you two!" she quickly went back to her desk and pulled out the lyrics to one of the holiday songs. Once she drove back to the curious vehicles, she gave both of them a copy.
"Baby it's Cold Outside?" Jane asked, reading the title.
"Ah, yes! The wonderful winter song about two cars who fell in love and the gentlecar doesn't want his wondrous lady to leave," she smiled, "Go ahead and try it."
"It's an easy song, Jane," Austin promised, "You're one of the smartest girls I've met. You'll have it down by tonight."
"I know the song..it's the performance," Jane held the paper in front of her.
"Performance?" asked a baby pink 2007 Toyota Prius, "Aren't you signing up for that Racing Sports Network thing? You'll be the only race car with a little stage fright if that's true."
"I'm not afraid of performing, Alyssa. I just don't want to look like I don't know what I'm doing."
"See, Jane? You have two great friends behind you," Miss Relay squeaked happily, almost forgetting what happened between her and Murphy.
"I'll try to act out some of my parts for you here and then I'll drive you through the rest of them when we get to the auditorium," said Austin.
"And I'll handle all of the sets for the stage," said Alyssa, "It's not your fault Megan got sick."
"Here goes nothing then..," Jane inhaled deeply and stood taller, like she was taught in chorus, and began to sing, "I really can't staaay."
"Baby, it's cold outsiiide," Austin sang back.
Jane giggled, "I've got to go raaaace."
"Baby, it's cold outsiiide.."
After about twenty minutes of classroom rehearsal, Miss Relay dismissed the class into the auditorium, but she didn't follow the students. Instead, she drove down the halls to the principal's office, where she sent Murphy to wait for her. She pressed her grille against the door, but paused, when she heard their voices. The nosy teacher listened in on the arguing cars before she made her entrance. The voices were muffled, but she could still make out what the cars were saying to each other.
"All I said was that I didn't want to be in that stupid holiday show anymore," argued the difficult race car.
"That's not what this notice says here," a hoarse voiced older car replied, "Foul language, threatening another student, making hostile advances on other students.."
"Miss Relay was bothering me, okay?"
"How so?"
"I just told you, dude."
"All you told me was that you didn't want to be in our school's annual holiday show."
"She kept asking me to be in it."
Miss Relay nudged the door open and let it shut behind her when she drove inside, "Murphy, I was only trying to-"
"Stop talking to me."
"Young man, watch how you speak to us, or I will call your parents," said the older vehicle, who was revealed as a mint green 1963 Ford Ranchero. He wore thin, gold framed glasses. His brown eyes pierced through the ignorant little man in front of him.
"Go ahead, call him. Waste his time," Murphy challenged, "You'd be doing me a favor."
"Principal Radner, he's never been this brash before," said Miss Relay.
"Doing you a favor?" Principal Radner raised an eyelid.
Murphy's engine ran a little louder, slowly forming it into a soft rev.
"This attitude of yours is going to get you off the racing team," Principal Radner leaned forward, "It'd be a shame, considering you've been doing great work these past few months."
Murphy jerked forward, almost hitting his desk, "Which is why you wouldn't take me off the team."
"I wouldn't? I'll call the coach in right now," the Ranchero reached for his office phone, "You can bet there's probably another young man that would love to take your place."
"The team isn't even full yet, Radner," Murphy hissed, "There's still one more spot and if you drop me, you lose."
Miss Relay saw this as an opportunity to get on his good side again.
"I've ordered a detention," Miss Relay put her tire over Principal Radner's axle to stop him from taking the phone, "Not a prison sentence."
Radner thought about it, looking at Murphy's eyes, "Alright," he moved his axle, "Detention," he pointed to the very spot Murphy was idling in, "You will return here each day after school, after the winter break, for one hour. On Saturday, you will be here until lunch time."
"Saturday!?" Murphy protested.
"Yes, Saturday," Radner narrowed his eyes, "It's a punishment. One week. We're not here to entertain you."
Murphy groaned and slumped down on his axles.
"Now apologize to Miss Relay."
Murphy stared at the woodgrain on Principal Radner's desk for a couple of moments before muttering, "Sorry."
"And you will be in the holiday show," Radner demanded.
"You, Austin, and Caleb put in so much work for tonight," Miss Relay leaned toward Murphy, "Imagine if all that hard work went to waste."
"Then I'm not rehearsing today, because I can sing the song backwards at this point. Austin can't even count."
"That's enough," Principal Radner growled, "Go idle in the auditorium and watch 'em then."
"Fine," Murphy turned his wheels and rolled out of Radner's office.
The classmates were scrambled out on the stage, singing songs to each other and helping each other prepare for the holiday show. Some of the cars were busy hanging up lights and decorations around the stage. Blue and purple icicle lights hung from above emitting a soft glow against all of their paint and the fake snow glitter on the cardboard evergreen backdrop, which Jane and other students painted.
"I still don't understand why we're using pine trees," Alyssa criticized, "We're in the middle of a desert."
"It's for atmosphere," Jane gave a half-smile.
"Atmosphere? It snows here enough already."
"Yeah, but those few inches of snow look better on pine trees."
Caleb and Austin were facing each other, going over the Twelve Days of Christmas line by line without Murphy.
"For the last time, Austin," Caleb moaned, "It's eight tractors tipping, seven springs a'springing."
"Eight tractors tipping isn't even my part! That's Murphy's!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is, because then Murphy goes," Austin raised his voice, "Fiiive goooolden cuuups!"
"Very good, guys!" Miss Relay was just driving in with Murphy.
"See? I was right," Austin stuck his tongue out at him.
"Austin, how's your song going with Jane?" asked Miss Relay.
Jane's mirrors perked up at the sound of her name and she drove over to the front of the stage. Caleb moved over for her, then rolled down the stage ramp, and drove to the audience to park with his friend.
"Murph, how'd Radner go?" he asked.
Murphy just kept his eye on the stage after Miss Relay mentioned the duet, "When did Jane get a part with Officer Bonehood?"
"Go ahead and start when you hear the music," Miss Relay said. A 2005 Lincoln LS V8 painted green and red for the holiday show parked behind the grand piano. Some of the students were just finishing taping snowflakes on the piano when the young car shooed them away with his wheel. He placed his tires on the piano keys and began to play their song.
Jane sang, "I-..really can't stay.."
Austin sang right back, "Baby, it's cold outsiiide.."
"I've got to go raaace.."
"Baby, it's cold outside.."
Murphy's eyes narrowed.
Jane motioned to a painted clock up in the decorations which was drawn to midnight, "This evenin' has been-"
"Been hopin' that you'd drive in…," Austin drove closer.
"-so very nice.."
Austin brought one of his wheels around hers and looked her in the eyes, "I'll hold your tiiires…," he lifted her tire to his lips and pressed them against her treads, "..they're just like iiice."
Murphy grit his teeth behind his lips and Caleb snickered in the audience, "Officer Bonehood kissed Jane! Ahahaha!"
"Miss Relay!" Murphy called out over the piano, "If I go over my song, can I get out of here?"
Jane gasped on stage and quickly turned to the audience of only a few students. She had no idea Murphy was there. Austin snarled his lips, pulling them off of Jane's tire when he heard the racer's annoyed voice.
The pianist flubbed the next notes and slammed the piano with his tires, "Ugh! I'm trying to practice!"
Miss Relay forced a smile, "Alright, Murphy...I wouldn't want you to be any angrier before the show tonight, so go ahead."
The pianist quickly flipped through the songbook to the Twelve Days of Christmas as Murphy and Caleb both got up and drove to the stage.
"Nice idea 'cause then I go home early too!" Caleb smirked.
"I'm full of 'em," Murphy huffed. He glanced at Jane as they pulled into place. Jane nodded her hood and turned to go help Alyssa with the decor.
Alyssa grinned very wide at Jane, who drove toward her. She spoke with a loud whisper, "Did he just kiss you!?"
Jane was just as surprised, "I couldn't believe it either!" she pulled behind the curtain, "We didn't rehearse that!"
A small giggle squeaked out of Alyssa's grille.
"Why are you laughing like that? Creep!" Jane pushed her playfully. Alyssa's laugh turned more sincere, "I know something you don't know!"
The three young men lined up to an 'x' taped to the stage floor. Caleb was to the audience's left, followed by Austin in the middle, and then Murphy off to the right.
Austin leaned into Murphy, "Get kicked off the racing team yet?"
Murphy growled, "The only things that are gonna get kicked off of anything are you lugnuts in a second."
Caleb leaned forward and glared at Austin, "Knock it off, Officer Shortpit."
"Boys, listen now, from the top," Miss Relay motioned to the pianist and he began to play.
Austin belted out the first lyric, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, first place in the grand prix!"
Murphy was next. With a monotone voice, he practically spoke into the microphone, "On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two shiny headlights-"
"-and first place in the grand prix! On the third day of Christmas-"
"Austin, that's my part!" Caleb stomped his wheel, "C'mon!"
"Whoops!"
"Officer Austin," Miss Relay said, "Remember that you're only going in order, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Relay," Austin grinned.
"This is the guy that's gonna save our lives one day," Caleb rolled his eyes.
"What do you know that I don't?" Jane asked. She nuzzled her nose underneath a big wooden snowcar. Alyssa drove around to the other side and did the same, helping her lift it up.
"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else," she paused, "Well...I mean...everyone else..knows.."
"Knows what!?"
"Ever since you got that paint job," Alyssa reversed while Jane drove forward, moving the snowcar onto the stage. The young ladies couldn't help but look over to the singing boys.
"Yeah?"
Alyssa dropped her voice, "Austin really took notice," she pushed the wooden snowcar up with Jane and they stood it against the backdrop, "Kinda like how the cheerleading team took notice ever since Murphy got his paint job," she motioned her nose to the audience where a group of seven other teenage females were gazing up at him.
They were all sunset orange with black racing stripes which trailed from the tips of their hoods, continued onto their roofs, and ended at the tail of their trunks. Most noticeable was the head of the cheerleading squad, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis, with winged eyeliner heavier than a semi truck, and pink dipped lips.
"Or rather..just the way Gianna took notice..," Alyssa continued, "I can't believe out of all the girls in school, she's Murphy's girlfriend," her expression ran blank when her eyes hovered over Gianna's curves, which she envied, "Whatever...anyway, yeah..Austin has a huge crush on you."
Jane was too focused on Gianna when Alyssa mentioned her that she didn't hear what she said. She blinked quickly, "Huh?"
"I said Austin has a major crush-ola on you," Alyssa smirked.
Jane looked over at Austin, who was just finishing up the song with the other boys. Alyssa pulled up to Jane's side, "So? What do ya think of 'em?"
"He's..," Jane checked him out up and down, "He's not too bad, actually."
Alyssa pounded the stage with her wheels, "Ahh!"
The boys all turned to the girls, hearing Alyssa's noise. Jane and Alyssa quickly jumped and zipped off the stage. Once they were hidden again, Alyssa continued her gossip, "You always struck me as the type of girl who'd date a man in uniform," she winked.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never said I'd date him, I said he's not too bad," Jane's hood started to turn pink again.
"Look at you! Oh my goodness!"
"Alyssa!"
"Alright, kiddos!" Miss Relay called out. Jane and Alyssa followed the students who came rushing out onto the stage.
"I'm very proud of your efforts," Miss Relay smiled sweetly, "You have all worked very hard to get where you are today and I'm confident that your performance tonight is going to be the best in all of Carburetor county," she pointed to Jane and Austin, "Are you sure you two are going to be okay?"
Austin nodded eagerly, "Yes!"
"Very good!" Miss Relay looked at the time, "Austin, just work on the order for the Twelve Days of Christmas tonight and we're golden. Just think, everyone! After the performance, you all have no school until the new year!"
A few students cheered, while the rest smiled at the thought. All of them except Murphy.
As the class broke away, Jane went to drive to Murphy, "I'm gonna go see what's up with him."
"Forget it. Leave Mister Moody alone," Alyssa narrowed her eyes at Murphy's taillights, "No one needs his mood swings."
"Don't you think today was beyond mood swings?"
"Maybe it's his time of the month."
"Alyssaaaa."
She shrugged, "If you're going to talk to him, the least you could do is lend him one of your-"
Jane immediately pulled her attention away from her, "I'll see you laaaater," but just before she could reach Murphy, the Hyundai Genesis who was once in the audience forced herself in front of her.
"Muuurphy," Gianna bat her big green eyes at the racecar.
Caleb nudged him, then whispered, "I'll leave you two alooone."
Murphy's eyes sailed across her curvaceous figure, "Hey, baby girl."
"Are we still hanging out after school?"
"Of course," Murphy rolled up to her and pressed his lips on hers.
Jane's mirrors slumped down, reversing away from them before either of them could notice her.
"Jane!" called Austin, who was idling with Alyssa. They both looked very excited and were driving tall on their wheels. Jane quickly turned around, "Yeah?"
"We almost forgot, but we're taking you right now!" Alyssa grabbed her wheel.
"What? Where?" Jane followed, as if she had another choice.
"To sign you up for the racing team!" Austin replied.
Jane pressed her brakes, "Gee, guys, you don't have to come with me..I could-"
"Blah, blah blah," Alyssa led Jane out of the auditorium with Austin and into the halls. Both of the cars steered Jane toward the outside of the gym by driving on both sides of her so she couldn't turn away, "The deadline is coming up and you might not have the chance by the time we're back from winter break."
"Guys, it's cool, don't worry about it," Jane insisted. She pumped her brakes again and the rest of the trio stopped.
"Don't you want this, Jane?" asked Austin, "This is..your life."
"I just want to talk to one more person before I-"
"Here we go with the excuses again," Alyssa shook her hood, " You had months. How many more cars do you have to talk to? They all tell you the same thing. It's now or never."
"The spot isn't filled right now, so it'll definitely be open by the time we-"
"I'm so picking up that pencil," Austin grabbed the stubby pencil tied to a string, which was attached to a clipboard hanging on one of the gym doors.
"No!" Jane nudged Alyssa out of the way and pulled up next to him.
"You write your name or I will!" Austin snickered.
Alyssa chanted, "Do it! Do it! Do it!"
"Okay...okay..," Jane took the pencil from Austin and exhaled a small amount of anxiety out of her engine, "Here goes..nothin'..," she pressed the pencil to the lined paper and wrote her name in cursive, right underneath Murphy's name.
"That reminds me! Anyone have an eraser? I'd love to ruin this kid's life," Austin teased.
"We only have time to do one name," said Alyssa, "But, Jane! You did it!" she leaped up and hugged her entire front end with her axles, "I'm so happy for you! Now we all have to go home and practice."
Jane's eyes were attached to her own name on the paper. She dropped the pencil and it steadily swung on its string.
"A unisex team and you're still the only girl on that list," Austin looked at each of the names, "Wait until those guys are left in your dust."
"There is one more girl," said Alyssa, who pointed to Murphy's name, "Jane and I just found that out before we left."
Jane let out a small laugh, beginning to smile again.
"How could I forget?" asked Austin.
"There you go," Alyssa tapped her rims against Jane's, "Watch out, Carburetor County High. We got a badass over here."
Jane rushed all the way home to Radiator Springs, gasping for her next breath. The entire town was lit in Christmas lights with garland and tires hanging all around.
"Mom! Dad!" Jane looked around, quickly driving past Mater's and to the Cozy Cone, "Mom?"
Sally looked up from her desk, "Jane? You're home later than usual," her expression fell into concern, "And you look like you've just seen a ghost."
"You remembered that school show Ramone and I were painting things for?"
"Of course I do," Sally rolled around her desk.
"Our class is down one car and I was chosen to take her spot..so the set design was given to Allie."
"Alyssa is working on set?" Sally's lips formed a smile, "So you're singing?"
"Yep!"
"That's wonderful news, honey!" Sally gently nuzzled her.
"I have to tell you something else!" Jane's engine purred.
Lighting drove in from outside, "You know I saw a purple blur fly right past us while I was at Mater's and for a second, I thought it was Boost."
"Dad! You're here!" Jane quickly turned to her father and hugged his tire, "I signed up for the racing team!"
"What!? You did? That's great!"
"Annnd she's going to sing in the concert today! Her classmate couldn't make it."
Lightning smiled at Sally, "Oh, we'll definitely be there. What are you singing?"
"A duet with Austin," Jane let go of his wheel, "Baby it's Cold Outside."
"That's the police car kid?" Lightning looked back at Jane.
"That's the boy..," Jane's voice trailed off.
Sally leaned against her, "Hey, little lady..something still looks like it's bothering you."
"Alyssa told me that Austin has a crush on me and-"
"And you like him back?" Lightning asked, "Was waiting for this day.."
"I don't know..maybe? I don't think so.."
"Oh! Then that's good."
Sally took a deep breath in, "If you're not sure, then you shouldn't make any moves."
"But, mom...he likes me."
"Why shouldn't he? You've grown into a gorgeous young woman," Lightning pulled closer, "You said Alyssa was the one who told you he likes you. That means he's not ready to tell you yet."
"I could tell she was serious..," Jane looked up at Lightning, "And he kissed my tire during rehearsal...but tonight he has to actually kiss me...I just feel weird doing the song with him knowing what I know now."
"He kissed you?" Lightning's eyes widened, "And he's gonna do it again?"
"Not on the lips, dad..on my tire..but there's a part in the song where he does have to kiss my lips too.."
"Lightning, not now..," Sally looked up at the time, "We'll worry about it when we leave for the show."
"You don't have to kiss anyone you don't want to," Lightning reversed out of the lobby, giving the ladies room to follow him out as well, "No one in the audience is going to think any less of either of you."
Jane stared at the reflection of the streetlights in her hood, "I wonder if he's a little nervous too.."
"I have an idea! Let's talk about racing again!"
"Stickers.."
Once it was time for the holiday show, all of the teenage cars' parents drove them to the school. The students all met up with each other, chattering about their songs, and talking about their plans for the holiday break. At the same time, the cars' parents all lined up outside of the auditorium and slowly drove into the building in a single line. Once inside, the parents all found their desired parking spots and settled in.
Austin turned on his holiday lights and sirens and flashed them around, looking for Jane and Alyssa. Jane was parked by the front door of the school, explaining the last minute details Alyssa needed for the set.
"Jane!"
Jane and Alyssa both flinched at the sound of his voice.
"I'm so excited!" Austin hopped on his little wheels, "So excited!"
"You sure look festive," Jane joked, staring up at his light bar.
"You like 'em?!"
"I think they look great on you."
Austin chuckled nervously, "Heh..so..uh..so.."
Alyssa couldn't hide her amusement from Austin's nerves, "Uh-so-soooo," she mimicked.
"So! Are your parents around? That race car and your mom?"
"They're inside," Jane shifted her weight on her axles, "What about yours?"
"My mom couldn't make it tonight because they called her in," Austin's lower lip pushed out, frowning, "I was singing to myself in the mirror for hours because I was home alone."
Alyssa cringed, "Yikes."
"Aww...Austin you could have texted me," Jane brought a tire to his fender and tapped it, "I would have totally practiced with you."
"What about your dad?" Alyssa asked.
"Mom and dad don't live together. He lives up in Nebraska and since my mom is an officer too, she doesn't have a lot of time to waste her idle time singing songs with me."
"Next time text me, okay?" Jane lowered her front end, "Try to cheer up though."
"How could I not be happy?" Austin's entire expression lit up in an instant, "I get to sing with you!" he turned around and puttered off into the school.
Alyssa raised her eyelids at Jane, "Hubba hubba."
"Will you just go inside!?"
The audience turned their engines off to keep quiet, but continued to converse with each other until they were told otherwise.
"You think she's gonna do it?" Sally asked Lightning.
"She didn't sound very ready for her first kiss when we were talking about it."
"Is anyone ever ready? I wonder how she really feels about-," Sally gasped, "Stickers..look to your left."
Lightning took a glimpse to see that on his left was Chick Hicks, parked in the aisle spot, "Chick?"
The green race car looked around, hearing his name.
"Over here," Lightning said. Chick followed the sound of his voice and locked onto the sight of his racing rival, "McQueen?"
An empty parking spot next to Lightning waited for Chick to come over. Chick slowly rolled past a few cars and backed into the parking spot, "How've you been McQueen? You here to watch Jane?"
"I've been alright..and how'd you know that?"
"About Jane? You didn't think I forgot about her, did you?"
"Of course not..no."
"Ah, I don't blame you if you did. It's not like we've seen each other since. What, did you lose my phone number?"
"You could say that..," Lightning raised a lid.
"Is that Sally?" Chick moved forward to see her, "Hey there, Sally."
"Hello…," Sally cleared her throat, "Who are you here to see?"
"My not-so-little man," Chick replied, "The champion."
"I didn't know Mike was enrolled here," Lightning looked ahead. He saw some of the students, but none of them looked familiar.
"Mike?" Chick sucked in air between his teeth, "We really haven't spoken in a while, huh? We - actually - I changed it when my woman and I split."
"Why would you ever change his name?" asked Sally.
Chick looked ahead at the stage, pretending not to hear her question. He narrowed his eyes and hunted for the gray flames on his child. He looked at every kid with a black paint job, until he stopped on one, "There he is!"
Lightning and Sally both looked forward.
"I don't see-"
"Look, there's Jane!" Sally stood taller on her axles and waved her tire around, "Jane over here!"
Jane's mirrors perked up at the sound of her mother's voice. She turned to the audience and spotted them with a proud grin, except for Chick, who she didn't notice with the spotlight shining so brightly on the stage.
"Don't you see him?" asked Chick, pointing again, "He's right there."
Lightning was just finishing waving to Jane when he said, "I honestly don't see him."
"He's following Jane right now. See? He's right behind her. Look, look, quick before they go behind the curtain."
"No, no, that's Murphy," Sally observed.
"Yep, that's him."
Lightning and Sally's expressions turned pale.
"Come again?" asked Lightning with a dry mouth.
"Murphy..what are we not getting here?"
The auditorium lights dimmed into darkness as the stage emitted a cold winter's glow on all of the cars' faces. Miss Relay drove out from behind the curtain, tapping the microphone in her wheel. She drove up to the microphone stand and popped it in, "Good evening, ladies and gentlecars, and welcome to Carburetor County High School's annual holiday show."
A few cars honked in applause.
"Thank you! As you all know, our students have been working on our show for some time now and we would like to present to you all of the incredible effort and heart that was put into it. Our first song of the evening will be 'Silver Belts'," Miss Relay pulled the microphone stand lower for the student who would be singing.
As the show went on, Lightning and Sally couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"What are the odds of Jane knowing?" he asked her.
"Definitely..she has to know."
"Please don't say that.."
"She ate dinner at Murphy's a couple of months ago."
Their words caught Chick's attention.
"But..Jane would have told us if she met another racer..right?"
"Lightning, should we really be treating this as if it's that big of a deal?"
"It's Chick."
"It's Murphy," said Chick, "And if it makes you feel better, I didn't even recognize her either. Besides, when I found out about you, I wasn't angry when she told me."
"I'm not angry," Lightning insisted, "Why do you two think I'm angry?"
The music continued student after student until it was finally time for Murphy, Austin, and Caleb to come out for the Twelve Days of Christmas. The three cars huddle out from behind the stage as the audience cheered for them.
"Caleb, honey!" called out Caleb's mother from somewhere in the audience. She whistled at him.
"MURPHY!" Chick waved his wheel in the air, "YO!"
Lightning and Sally cringed at his yelling, but they understood his excitement. They looked at each other for a moment, then decided to cheer for him too.
"Alright, Murphy!" Lightning called out. Chick's lips parted in disbelief that his rival would ever support anyone or anything that had to do with him.
"You can do it, Murphy!" said Sally.
Some classmates who were only there to see the show and not participate were cheering loudly for Murphy, who was becoming one of the most popular boys in the school because of the racing team. Gianna screamed obnoxiously loud, "Yeah, baby!"
Austin's mirrors drooped, hearing the parents cheering for his classmates, but not hearing a single utterance of his name.
"Woo hoo, Austin!" said a voice from his side. He glanced over and right at the side of the stage were Alyssa and Jane. He stood taller, feeling a wave of pride rush over him.
Austin pulled forward to the microphone to start his song, but he drove a little too close, and bumped into it. A loud hiss travelled through the speakers and assaulted the audience. The adults groaned in reaction, cringing along with Murphy and Caleb who grit their teeth. Neither of them said a word to Austin, however, because their parents were watching.
"Heheh..sorry, everyone," Austin said. He signalled the pianist to begin playing.
"On the first day of Chriiistmas my true love gave to me, first place in the grand prix!"
Murphy leaned up, smirking at his girlfriend in the audience, "On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two shiny headlights-"
Austin continued, "-and first place in the grand prix! On the-"
Caleb sung over him, "ON THE THIRD DAY of Chriiistmas my true love gave to me, three window decals-"
"Two shiny headlights-"
"-aaand first place in the grand prix!"
Once the boys were finished with all of the days, they all bowed their hoods. Caleb and Austin were smiling, but as Murphy's eyes trailed over the audience, he noticed Chick and kept his face blank. Chick tilted his hood, confused and noticing how disturbed his son appeared. Caleb and Murphy pulled off of the stage, while Austin stayed right in place because it was time for him to sing with Jane.
"Oh! It's Jane's turn!" Sally exclaimed, as Jane pulled out onto the stage. A few students cheered for her, but not nearly as many cheers as Murphy received.
"Let's go, Jane!" Lightning called. Although Chick would have cheered for her, his mind was now very preoccupied with his son.
Jane parked right next to Austin and acknowledged him with a warm curve of her lips. Austin smiled back, but then her smile caused a wave of nerves to come over him. His rpms began to run a little high and his pupils constricted.
Jane saw this and quietly whispered to him, "Don't worry about it. I remember all my lines."
Austin nodded, "Yeah, yeah.."
The pianist began to play. Jane raised her voice to the microphone, "I really can't staaay."
"Baby, it's cold outs-side.."
Jane raised a lid, hearing the change in Austin's voice, "I've got to go raaaace."
"Baby, it's c-cold outside."
"This evening has beeeen-"
"Been hopin' that you'd drive in."
"-so very nice."
"I'll hold your tiiires-...I-...," Austin froze in place. The pianist kept playing until he finally realized no one was singing anymore. He glanced up from his sheet music.
Jane's eyes widened and she looked back and forth from Austin and the audience.
Austin tried to continue, "Th-They're...just..l-like... i-.."
A couple of kids started laughing behind the curtain, along with the entire cheerleading team in the first row of the audience, and Caleb was hysterical. He pointed at him, almost falling in reverse at the sight, while Murphy watched with pleased eyes and a sneer.
Miss Relay frowned and motioned for Austin to come over from the side. Austin's hood immediately flushed up and he pulled away from the microphone, stumbling over his tires to the concerned teacher.
"Nice going, officer," Caleb taunted, "While you ran from the scene, forty cars were shot!"
"Caleb, enough!" Miss Relay lowered on her axles to Austin, "What happened out there?"
"I can't kiss her in front of all those people!" Austin said.
Jane stood with everyone's eyes on her. Her eyes couldn't help but trail over to Lighting and Sally, who both looked very puzzled, but anxious for their daughter. The audience began talking amongst themselves.
"It'll be over before you know it," Miss Relay said softly.
"I can't..I can't the parents are all watching.."
"But, Jane can't sing it on her own...and it's too late to pretend we never had the song planned.."
"Miss Relay, I-I really can't do it.."
Miss Relay looked around at the student staff backstage, "Does anyone else know the words? We just need someone to sing the lyrics with her."
Austin breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you.."
"Anyone want to give it a shot?" Miss Relay looked out on stage at Jane, who lowered on her axles, feeling the pressure from the audience. Gianna glared up at her, like she does with every other female car that isn't in her squad.
Alyssa raised a tire, "I could-"
"I know the words," Murphy looked to Alyssa, then Miss Relay.
"Murphy?" Miss Relay turned to him, "I didn't expect you to be so eager to sing."
"I know the words."
"But the rehearsal..and the acting..?"
"I'll roll with it," Murphy pushed the curtain away and drove out onto the stage. Alyssa drove to the edge, waiting to see what he would do. Not expecting to see his son up there again, Chick stood tall on his axles. Gianna gasped and her glare turned into a wide beaming smile when she saw her date.
Murphy adjusted the microphone to his height, then turned to Jane.
Jane sank on her axles, "Murphy?"
He gently brought his wheel around one of hers and held it, "I'll hold your tires.."
The sounds from the audience dissipated into the echo of his voice as the young race cars continued right where the song left off.
"..they're just like ice.."
Lightning, Sally, and Chick glued their eyes to the stage.
The pianist looked down at his sheet music and brought his wheels back to the piano keys.
Jane playfully pulled the tire away and motioned it to the audience, "My mother will start to worry."
"But, beautiful," he brought the same tire under her chin, "What's your hurry?"
"My father will be pacing the floor.."
He revved twice, "Liiisten to my engine roar."
"Really I'd beeetter scurry..," Jane turned more.
Murphy tugged her axles back to face him, "Beautiful, pleeease don't hurry."
"Well, maybe just a Dinoco more.."
"Put some music on while I pour."
"Our fans might all think-"
"Baaaby, it's bad out there..," he winked.
Jane smiled, "Hey! Was that a wink?"
"You'll drive, then you'll need a spaaare," Murphy smiled back.
Gianna's joyful expression yanked itself right back into anger, watching another girl even think about looking at him.
"I wiiish I knew how-"
Murphy drove closer to her again, "Your eyes are like starlight now.."
"-to driiive in snow.."
"Oh, sweetheart, dooon't you tell me no."
Jane shrugged, "I ought to say no, no, no, sir.."
"Miiind if I cruise in cloooser?" Murphy rolled forward, stopping just before his bumper met hers.
"At least I'm gonna say that I triiied.."
"What's the sense in driving? You'll sliiide."
Jane's reverse lights came on, "I have to go raaace.."
"Baby, don't roll out," Murphy physically stopped her by the bottom of her jaw, then they sang together, "But, baby, it's coooold outside.."
As the instrumental break played, some of the audience audibly applauded their performance thus far.
"I could have played the gentlecar better than him," Austin complained.
Alyssa batted her eyelids, "Because every lady loooves it when a guy embarasses her in front of so many cars."
"No one's talking to you, Alyssa."
The duet began to sing again.
Jane sighed, "I siiiimply must gooo.."
"Baby, it's cold outside.."
Jane pulled around Murphy, "I'll drive really slooow."
Murphy's speed caused him to rush to her side again, "But, baby, it's cooold outside."
"Your welcome has been-"
"I'm so lucky that you drove in."
"-so nice and warm."
Murphy gestured to a window that wasn't actually there, "Look at our driveway in that storm."
"My goodness you're quite ambitious."
"Because your lips look delicious."
"I'd really love to stay and talk more."
"You really shouldn't make this a war..," Murphy moved even closer.
"..you're makin' our minds so vicious..," Jane lowered her eyelids.
"Mmm..your lips are-," Murphy was only a centimeter away from her mouth when he shook his hood out of it and pulled himself away before they touched, leaving the pianist playing without any singing between either of them for the moment.
"He didn't kiss her..?" Austin asked, eyelids raising in surprise.
"Nope," Alyssa confirmed.
Gianna leaned back in relief.
"I don't think he meant to pull away..," said Sally.
The two cars finished their song.
"I really can't staaaay."
"Get rid of that old doubt."
And together they turned to the audience, "Ah, but baby it's coooold outsiiiide!"
As the pianist promptly turned the page to the last few songs of the evening, the audience applauded the kids, even if the song turned out to be a little messier than they had expected.
Away from the microphone, Jane looked up at Murphy and said, "Thank you."
Murphy nodded and drove off the stage. Jane followed behind him. Passing them were the next few students who would sing in the show.
"Hey, wait up!" Jane said to Murphy, who wasn't slowing down.
"Jane, I'm so sorry!" Austin tried to stop her for a minute.
"Not now..," Jane drove around him and continued following Murphy, "Where are you going?"
Murphy slammed on his brakes and turned to her, "I did you a favor because you did one for me, alright? That's it."
Jane furrowed her eyelids, "What are you talking about? Why are you acting like this today? I don't understand.."
"You were right, okay? You were soooo right," he shook his hood, "You have no idea how unbelievably right you were."
Jane's engine turned, feeling uneasy, "You're not making any sense.."
"No, I'm making a lot of sense."
"Don't you trust me?"
Murphy laughed.
Jane reversed a little, "Did something happen at home..?"
"Psssh..," Caleb scoffed, as he passed by, "He wasn't home. He spent the last few hours messing around with Gianna."
"O-Oh..," Jane bit the inside of her cheek at the thought of them being so intimate. Especially since she spent the evening panicking about a small kiss.
Murphy angrily pushed the stage doors open. When he left, Jane idled in the silence. Her eyes rolled down to her hood, staring at the reflection of the glowing red exit sign in her paint. The silence was only broken by the sound of the audience cheering for the end of the holiday show and Miss Relay's voice coming over the speakers thanking them for their time.
The McQueens met up with Jane outside of the school after the show. Chick pulled next to them, "Hey, you did really good up there."
"Thanks, Mister Hicks.."
"Have you seen Murphy? I've been looking all over for that boy."
Jane shook her hood, "I haven't seen him after we went backstage.."
"Huh..," Chick looked around the students who were pouring out of the school doors with their parents.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" a voice called out. Jane turned and saw Austin navigating through the crowd toward her and her parents, "I'm so sorry for doing that to you up there. I don't know what came over me."
"It's okay," Jane said, but she was frowning. Austin looked up at her parents and gasped, "And the McQueens! Oh, Chrysler! I'm sorry to you guys too!"
"It's alright," said Sally, "We all have moments like that."
"You guys aren't mad?"
"Of course we're not mad!" said Lightning.
"Honey, where's your mom?" asked Sally.
"She's out working. She couldn't make it, so I'm driving home alone."
"You know what? Why don't you come with us into town?" Jane managed to make a small smile on her bumper, despite what she's seen with Murphy, "You can stay with us for a few until your mom gets back?"
"That would be awesome!" Austin's trunk wagged with excitement.
Chick was just arriving home. He hit the gate latch with his wheel, still not fixing it after all this time, and pulled into the front yard. He drove up to the front door and unlocked it.
"You home, Murph?"
He listened carefully, believing his son probably sped home without him. Although the house was quiet, light came through a crack in Murphy's door. Chick shut the door behind him and drove through the living room. He drove down the hallway to Murphy's room, trying to keep himself as quiet as possible, until he nudged it open some more and it creaked.
"Champ?"
No answer, except for a penetratingly crisp breeze coming through an open window. The older race car groaned. How many times does he have to tell him to keep his window shut when it gets cold? He rolled inside, steering around the mess on Murphy's floor, and yanked the window shut. When he turned back to the room, he noticed that one of Murphy's desk drawers was ajar. He raised an eyelid and cruised over. He lifted his wheel just off of the ground to open it.
"Looking for something?" asked a voice from the doorway. The race car flinched and his eyes snapped over to where the voice was coming from.
"Murphy! You were here? You got home pretty quick."
"Yeah," his eyes looked down at the drawer, then back up to his father, "Yeah, I did."
"Looks like you're getting faster," he pushed the drawer shut, "Proud of you, champ. You put on a great show tonight, by the way," he steered over to the doorway, where Murphy blocked him in, "But..I'd never expect anything less from the son of a champion."
"Son of a champion?" Murphy's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I had a hard day on the team yesterday," Murphy said, "Coach really ground my gears yesterday about weaving the heat into my tires every time we started another race," he raised his body on his axles, trying to appear taller, "And you know? I thought I'd come home and get some inspiration from you. Watch some of your techniques."
"That's right..you never did ask me for-"
"No, you shut up."
Chick furrowed his eyelids and revved his engine, "What did you just say to me, boy?"
"Knock it off with all your fake horsepower."
"One more disrespectful word out of you and I'll-"
"SO while you were passed out in front of the TV, I went to check out your trophies!"
"Murphy Junior, I specifically told you not to-"
"And I looked for the biggest-," he reversed out of his doorway and turned down the hall. His voice trailed off with him, "-fattest box I could find."
Chick instantly followed after him. Murphy stopped in front of the closet door, "Look," and he pushed it open with a tire. It flung open and slammed against the doorstopper. Murphy pointed to all of the boxes that he pulled down from the shelves.
"Easter decorations, fourth of July decorations, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations...which you should put up before the year is over," he stopped at a box with nothing written on it, "And that right there was the only box that was left," Murphy flashed his teeth, "Let's both take a look!"
Chick swallowed hard when Murphy wasn't looking at him. He pulled halfway into the closet when Murphy jumped on top of the unmarked box. He smashed it flat against the wooden flooring underneath his body, "EMPTY."
"Son, I-"
"I don't wanna hear it," Murphy moved onto a stack of old magazines caked in dust on a shelf. He yanked them off, causing all of the dust to poof up into the air and the old scattered pages to float onto the floor, "I'm glad you always bought the alternates, dad. You know, those magazine covers they print two of when something big in history may or may not happen so they can sell the right one?"
Chick's eyes hovered over the falling dust and magazine pages. One of the old pages landed on his hood, showing a picture of Lightning McQueen that never actually occurred: winning the Piston Cup race in 2006.
"Because if you never bought both copies, I would have never found out how big of a fucking phony you were."
"HEY," Chick shook the magazine cover off of his hood, "You watch your mouth RIGHT now."
Murphy began reading one of the alternate magazine articles out loud, "Chick 'Murphy' Hicks won the 2006 Piston Cup race after a near fatal crash involving The King. Race car rookie, Lightning McQueen, pulled behind him and graciously pushed him across the finish line for his final race."
"You weren't even built yet. Let me explain."
"While the notorious-," Murphy glanced up at his father, "-RUNNER UP-," he glanced back down to the article, "-took the first place position during the final lap, the mere fact that he caused the crash puts him in the history books - in the minds of many racing fans - as the car to never win a first place position in any race again."
"That was written when-"
"Ain't that the truth?" Murphy threw the magazine on the floor and picked up a couple more, which showed Lightning McQueen winning all of the Piston Cups all those years Chick told Murphy he actually won.
"Okay, listen to me."
"I'll never listen to you again," Murphy threw the rest of the magazine covers onto the floor.
"But, Champ.."
"STOP IT," Murphy stomped a tire, "STOP IT."
Chick jolted back a couple of inches.
"Are you trying to tell me this entire time I've made a complete fool out of myself in front of everyone? When I told everyone how amazing my father was? How much of a winner he was? You realize you're the damn reason I failed my racing history class last semester?" he motioned to the articles on the floor, "Because you've been feeding me this garbage for YEARS."
"Can I talk?"
"You had years to talk to me, dad," Murphy drove forward, almost hitting Chick, but Chick moved out of the way just in time. Murphy drove out to the living room and stopped at the trophy case. His eyes narrowed and locked onto the lone Piston Cup.
"Boy, you better get away from there."
"Chick Hicks," Murphy started, grabbing the television remote, "CHAMPION," he flung the remote and it crashed through the glass.
"MURPHY!" Chick yelled, as pieces of shattering glass rained down upon his son's roof.
The remote knocked into the Piston Cup and it wobbled around in a revolving motion. Chick gasped and accelerated over to the trophy, but before he could make it, the trophy wobbled out of the case and fell onto the floor. The cup broke away from its base and one of the wings snapped off.
Chick's axles began to tremble. He could feel one of his eyelids beginning to twitch over his constricted pupils, "O-Oh.."
"Here's somethin' I learned in my racing history class the first time I took it," Murphy panted heavily, "Darrell Cartrip once said 'if you cheat and don't get caught, you look like a hero'. I agree with him. You were my hero, dad."
"..were?"
"But if there's one damn thing you personally taught me over the years about racing..," he stared at his father, "..it's..with all that hard work you put me through...you never deserved that Piston Cup."
Chick stared down at the broken trophy again as if that would be able to fix it.
"And you will never be my hero."
Chick collapsed on his own body. His tires sunk into his wheel wells.
Murphy turned away from him and drove back to his room. He slammed the door shut, causing a few more pieces of the shattered glass to fall against Chick's face.
Jane posed in front of her mirror, checking her appearance before she finished getting ready for bed.
"Hey, you," said a voice from the hall. Jane looked to the edge of her windshield and saw her father.
"Hiya, daddy," Jane grinned.
"I just wanted to tell you again how incredibly proud I am of you."
Jane's voice softened, "..thank you."
"It was a really nice thing you did for Austin, inviting him to hang out with us. I couldn't have raised a more amazing little gi-.."
"-young woman," Sally said, passing by to their bedroom.
"Young woman..," Lightning repeated. He sighed, "Now I just wish you'd slow down.."
"Dad," Jane rolled over to him. She lifted up and hugged him with her axles, "I'll never slow down."
Lightning nuzzled against her, shutting his eyes, "You're gonna do great things on that team."
"I love you, dad," Jane reversed off of him.
"I love you too..," he reached over to the light switch and turned her main light off for her, "Goodnight, little star."
"Night," Jane rolled over to her bed and pulled onto the mattress. She fluffed her pillow by pressing her tires into it a few times before gently placing her tired chin down on top of it. She spread out all her axles and listened to the heat coming on in their home. Her eyes focused on the dimmed string lights around her room. The warm glow brought her comfort in the dark, which she feared. She kept her gaze on them until she couldn't fight her eyelids any longer and they shut.
Half an hour later, there was a sound outside of her window. Jane's face scrunched up in her sleep. Without any warning, a rock hit her window. The sound of the loud clank jolted Jane awake and she cowered against her wall. Her eyes locked onto the window, watching.
A dark face appeared, looking around until its eyes met hers. Jane squeaked and covered her mouth. The car knocked on the window with its tire. Jane calmed down only when she realized someone trying to break in wouldn't actually knock.
"Mater? Is that you?"
She stepped her axles off of her bed and rolled to the window.
"This isn't funny, Mater, you had me wor-... Murphy?"
Jane pulled the window open and shivered the moment the chilled air blew against her metal.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a whisper, "It's so late."
"I came to drop something off."
"And it couldn't wait for the morning?"
"Let me in."
Jane scoffed, "After the way you spoke to me at school?"
"Stop being so sensitive. Not everything's about you, okay?"
Jane stared at him with a blank expression and went to shut the window.
"Dammit, that came out wrong. I'm sorry."
She stopped and moved her tire away, "I can't just let you in this late."
"But, Jane, it's cold outside."
"...fine. I'll meet you out front," Jane shut her window and turned to her door. She quietly opened it up and sneaked down the hall. Once she got to the living room, she slowly opened the front garage door just enough for Murphy to drive in. Murphy drove inside and helped Jane close the garage door as quietly as she opened it.
"You better be dropping off a million dollars," Jane said, "Because that's how much it'll take to stop my parents from killing you."
"Better," said Murphy, "Follow me."
He drove around her and down the hall back to her room. Jane followed and shut the door behind them. Murphy motioned for her to come over to her desk. Jane drove slowly so the floor didn't creak.
"I can't give this to you any later," he said, shuffling around his wheel wells. Jane watched him with furrowed eyelids. His carton of cigarettes fell onto her desk as he pulled out a small wrapped box. He took the carton of cigarettes back and he gave her the box.
It was a poorly wrapped box with tape all over reindeer tractors galloping against a starry night pattern.
"Merry Christmas...you're getting it now because I'm not gonna be here."
Jane looked down at the box, then up at Murphy, "Where are you gonna be?"
"Just open it."
Jane put the box on her desk and rubbed her treads against the wrapping paper. Some spots were more difficult to take off than others because of the amount of tape he used. Once the paper was all off and on the table, all that was left was a tiny red box. She carefully removed the top and slid the item onto her desk.
Her pupils widened and she gasped softly. She brought a wheel over her mouth.
Sitting atop her desk was the porcelain Piston Cup from her first Christmas. The cracks were visible, but glued together perfectly.
"Look closer," Murphy suggested.
Jane leaned in and saw, written on the empty space, her name engraved into the trophy.
"Thank you…," she looked at Murphy and nuzzled her nose against his fender, "Thank you so much."
Murphy shut his eyes, letting her nuzzle him, but after a moment, he pulled away roughly.
"I wish I had something for you..I didn't expect to have gifts for anyone until next week."
"It's fine," said Murphy, "Not like you knew I was running away."
Jane blinked, "Running away..?"
"Yesterday I found out all those trophies my dad said he won never existed..," Murphy inhaled deeply, "I wasn't gonna tell him I knew...but I thought about it all night and it ate away at me in school.."
"Is that why you were so..harsh today?"
"I guess.."
"I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I tried to-"
"You don't know the half of it. Girl, I smashed his Piston Cup. His only Piston Cup."
"You did what?"
"It was the right thing to do."
Jane scuffed her wheel, looking down at the floor, "So you're gonna run away too?"
"I don't want to be in the same garage as him."
"But..where will you go?"
"I can't tell you. That being said, don't tell anyone I left...I want you to use all those fibbing skills I taught you. You're the only one I told, so I'll know if you tell."
"What about your girlfriend? Gianna? She should know.."
"I dropped her gift off in front of her house. Just some cheap pineapple scented wax crap that she likes."
"I mean that you're leaving Carburetor County."
"I'm leaving more than just the county..I'll let her know when I get where I'm going."
Jane turned her tires in, "...when will you be back?"
"Can't say.."
Jane frowned, "Murphy..I.."
"Hm?" his mirrors perked up.
Jane rolled to her closet. She slid the folding doors open and pulled on a string that turned on a small light. As soon as the light flashed on, one of Doc Hudson's Piston Cups revealed itself - one of the only trophies that were kept away from the museum - and the only one Jane had for herself.
Murphy's lips parted in astonishment, "You have one too?"
She reached for it and pulled it out of the closet.
"..what are you doing?"
She nudged it over to him and stared at her reflection in the trophy, "I..just think..since your house is short on Piston Cups now..," she looked up at him.
Murphy's jaw dropped and he looked down at the trophy, "Are you-..."
"And..just like what Miss Relay told us..we all need mentors. He was a part of my family and one of my mentors..but I think my memories with him are enough to keep me goin' now," she looked in his eyes, "Take it with you. Keep it safe in your trunk."
Murphy brought a tire to the wings of the trophy. The bottom of his windshield fogged into a mist of tears, "This is the best gift I've ever gotten.."
"Merry Christmas," Jane saw his tears, but decided it was best not to point them out.
"I'll pack it up in my trunk right now," he opened his trunk and Jane helped him get it inside.
"Chrysler this is so much heavier than it looks..," his body leaned backward, but he rocked forward to compensate.
Jane nodded, "Uh-huh..that's what I said the first time I-..wh-.."
Murphy drove forward and pressed his grille against her cheek. As his engine purred, heat from his engine swirled against her metal.
Jane's eyes were frozen, "-I.."
"Thank you..," he whispered, shutting his eyes, "Thank you so much."
"You're so very welcome..," as the heat from his engine continued to warm her, she lifted the nearest tire to his cheek.
Bzzz...bzzz..
Murphy's eyes shot open and he reversed, "..my phone," he moved his wheel and his phone poked out of his wheel well. On his screen, Jane could read: GIGI
Murphy took the call, "Gigi, hey….nothing I'm getting ready for bed...I know...you should get some sleep too..I'll see you soon, baby girl..night..," he hung up his phone.
Jane looked down at the edge of her hood, "You lie to her too.."
"Everybody except one..I should be going," Murphy drove to her room door and Jane followed him all the way to the front garage door. When it opened, Jane followed him outside.
"Be careful..," she said softly.
"I will be," Murphy glanced at Jane.
"Will you see me soon?" Jane pulled her bottom lip in with her upper teeth.
Murphy paused, then shook his hood slowly, "Goodbye, Jane Taylor.."
Jane pressed her tires into the dirt outside. She could feel herself becoming numb to the cold air around her.
Murphy took one last look at her, then turned onto the road.
"Bye, Champ.."