The next race Lightning won again, and the next one, and the next one. He did place second and third a few times to. As for him and Sally things seemed to be going great! It was summer time and Lightning and thw gang were on their way back from another race. Sally was at the diner, helping Flo out with all the customers. The town was super busy! Doc even had to get another doctor to be at the clinic. (Not Ben, FYI)
Flo asked "Is that man of yours coming back today?" Looking at Sally. Sally rang up a customer before answering "Should be. But.. Only for a day or two then back on the road." Flo nodded. Sally sighed and admitted "You know?.. I never realized how often Lightning would be gone. We barely get any real time together.." She frowned a little. Flo noticed and asked "You two do make time right?" Sally shrugged answering "Yeah.. I mean it's just hard to sometimes?.. You know how sometimes he doesn't even come back here for two weeks.. Then he comes back for two or three days and he's off again. Plus I run the motel.. Sometimes it feels like he comes back just to hook up.." Flo felt bad for that and replied "Hey?.. How long have you two been dating now?" Sally thought a moment before answering "Hmm... seven?.. Seven months." Flo's eyes widened "Mmmhmm Things are getting serious huh?" Sally giggled some "No.."
Flo rolled her eyes and suggested "Why don't you take him to meet your parents?" Sally frowned "I can't.. He never has enough time off to do that?" Flo nodded and began taking more orders.
Sally sighed. She just.. Didn't realize dating someone you can't travel with made it a long distance relationship really. But that was okay. She was use to being on her own most of the time anyway. And her birthday was coming up. Lightning did promise to make time for that. Which was really sweet of him. "What's he got planned for your birthday?" Flo asked. Sally shrugged answering quietly because of all the people around "I don't know. Probably just a movie on the couch and.. Sex.. That would be my guess." Flo raised her brows and leaned in near Sally replying "I wouldn't mind that." Sally giggled and pushed Flo away. Sally sighed and asked "Should I expect something else?" Flo shrugged "I don't think he should be just giving it to you? You're his girlfriend right?" Sally nodded.
"What are you planning for his birthday?" Sally fell silent. His was still months away but.. She didn't know yet. "You got plenty of time to think about it." Flo assured. Sally sighed admitting "I wouldn't mind seeing my family for my birthday.. My twin sister too.. I haven't seen them in forver ot feels like.." She frowned some. Flo frowned and lay her hand on Sally's shoulder "Well you are like family here. If that means anything.." Sally smiled, "It does Flo. You all are like family to me too." Flo Ofcourse smiled back hearing that.
They heard the sounds of car doors and Sally glanced out. Hoping it was Lightning. She had missed him so much. And it was! Sally rushed out the diner and ran to him! "Stickers!" She called and hugged him tightly! Lightning smiled "I missed you to Sal.. Were you bored without me?" he asked. Sally laughed and nodded "Most definitely!" Doc stood near them and greeted "Hey there Sally." Sally smiled "Doc! Good to have you all back." Lightning replied "Good to be back! I'm so glad we get over a week this time." Sally raised a brow asking "A week?" Lightning nodded.
Sally was a bit confused and asked "You get to stay for more than a few days than?" Lightning once again nodded. Sally smiled "That's great!" "Yeah it is, more time with my only girl." He replied. One time Lightning said best girl. He quickly learned to say only instead..
"Especially for your birthday." he added. Sally thought about that a moment and it gave her an idea. "Actually Stickers, I wanted to talk to you about that." Lightning stared awaiting her speach. "So.. I guess first I need to know kinda what exactly you had in mind for my birthday.. because I was thinking about asking we.. Do something different?" Lightning thought a moment. Besides her big gift surprise, he really didn't have all that much planned. Just sit around.. Maybe a movie and let nature run it's corse. So he asked "What did you have in mind?" Sally brushed her hair behind her ear answering "Well.. Maybe a trip?" "A trip? Where?" He asked. "L.A.." she said this softly. Doc spoke up "Just keep in mind that you two are a lot more famous as a couple now.. Not gonna just be able to go out completely fan free. And don't you forget that you gotta be back here in a week and a half well rested for racing." he said so firmly.
Sally replied "It's okay. The trip can be just a few short days.. Just if you want to Stickers?" Lightning thought about it. But his insecurities got to him as he had to ask "Why L.A?.. Do you mean with Ben again?" Sally raised a brow answering "No? Just us.. Although we will probably visit some people. Sense it'll be my sister's birthday too.."
Lightning sighed, "If you want to I guess.. What about rooms? We've never even.." He stopped and glanced at Doc a moment before quietly continuing "We've never even slept over with each other yet?" Which was a huge one for Lightning. He had already slept over night with different women before. But Sally wouldn't budge. She had weird rules that some made no sense.. Some she broke when she felt like it and some new ones and some she even forgot about. And Sleeping overnight together was one of her do not do rules..
Sally nodded "I know.. We can get separate rooms.. If it's too complicated, we don't have to go? I just thought for my birthday if.. You didn't have much planned.. I haven't seen Samantha in a while and.. Thought it'd be nice.." Lightning shrugged "Why not.. If you wanna go, we'll go. Only bebecause I love you." And this means lots of sex.. his mind added silently. Sally smiled "Thank you Lightning. This is going to be great, you'll see." She kissed his cheek and walked back into the diner. Doc stared at her a moment then spoke up "She really likes you." Lightning snickered "Who wouldn't." Doc glared and scolded "You better be treating her with respect. Don't toy with her feelings. It's not right, not fair." "Geez Doc?.. I'm not.." Lightning whined. Doc shook his head and walked off. Lightning gazed at Sally from outside the windows. He wasn't toying with her? He loved her..
Flo and Sally worked hard that day. Sally told Flo about the trip she and Lightning planned on taking now. Flo had to ask "So you're taking him to meet your sister?" Sally shrugged answering "Maybe.. Actually I want him to meet my dad." Flo smiled "Awe.. Now that's just sweet. You gonna share a room?" She winked. Sally laughed "No!?.. I don't want to yet.. Once that magical feeling goes away.. It just.. With Ben it got boring and.. I don't want that to happen to Lightning and I." Flo frowned a bit replying "You know this honey moon faze won't last. I'm honestly surprised it's lasted this long between you two." Sally agreed "Exactly. I don't want to ruin it.. But I do love him. And I'd love to see how my family reacts to him. And this trip will be good. I'm hoping we can get closer and more.. Personal and have deeper meaningful conversations. . Not just sex."
Flo giggled "So you think he could be the one? Or.. The next one?.." She asked cautiously. Sally shrugged explaining "I don't know.. I just.. I'll have him in a car for a few hours and maybe I can see what he thinks.. About.. You Know?.. Marriage and long term things.. Kids.. Gosh I want kids one day and.. thats a deal breaker." Flo nodded saying "I get what you mean. Makes sense. You don't wanna waste your time. But you're young. Got plenty of time to think anout that stuff." Sally sighed and overthinking asked "You don't think I'll scare him away?.. Do you?" Flo stared a moment. Unsure really. She shrugged "I don't know.. But if he did shy away than he wasn't the one. Right?" Sally frowned a bit agreeing "Yea.."
That evening Sally had stopped by the court house for some papers for her motel and noticed something that really upset her. But she was going to hide it and not ruin this trip woth her boyfriend. She had to pretend it didn't bother her and didn't matter. There was nothing she could do about now anyway...
Within two days maybe.. The couple had packed up the porsche and left early in the morning. Now, the drive from Radiator Springs to L.A was about 6 hours. Lightning knew he could make the drive easily if they got an early start. And this is what Sally wanted. Stuck in the car. Can't leave the conversation and see if Lightning was someone she could actually be with in the long run. They'd never had conversations about marriage or anything yet. and Sally really wanted to know what Lightning's perspective was. After seven months, almost eight. She felt she could try asking and talking about it.
So about two hours passed. Sally had fallen asleep in the passenger seat pretty quickly. She woke up and rubbed her eyes. "Morning again sleepy head." Lightning joked. Sally looked around at the road they were on. about 4 hours left. "Are you sure you wanna drive the entire trip?" Sally asked. Lightning shrugged "I think I can handle it Sal." He replied. Sally nodded and sipped some water from a bottle. Then she thought about how to ask him these deeper questions without seeming to weird and without scaring him. "Wanna play a game? Sorta?" she offered.
Lighybing glanced at her and asked "A game? We aren't children?" Sally giggled "No, but.. Just a game of questions. I can ask you anything about anything. And you HAVE to answer honestly." Lightning raised a brow admitting "Sounds like a trap..." Sally laughed "No silly! You can ask me anything to. And I have to answer honestly. Look, I'll go first. Easy one, Why don't you talk to your parents anymore?" Lightning chuckled just because the question amused him. "It's not that I don't but... Just not all that much. They aren't my real parents anyway." Sally nodded. "My turn." he added and thought a moment before asking "Why the tattoo?" Sally stared a moment before answering "Peer pressure. I was hanging out with this group of friends.. All the girls were getting tattoos.. And we had drank a little.. This girl named Laura got.. Well, the more... flirtatious the tattoo, the more attention you grabbed.. I was stupid." Lightning was surprised a little by it. But fun to know. "So you mean there's an entire group of girls with tattoos like that?" Sally glared but giggled "No!?.. Look, my turn!.. um.." She thought a moment.
"Okay, do you think that I'll ever meet your family? Visit Texas?" Lightning shrugged "I don't know. I'm just not close with them. I'm pretty much a whole lot closer to everyone back in town than them." Sally nodded "Your turn." Lightning smiled asking this one "Have you ever kissed another woman?" Sally's eyes widened! "Where did that come from?" She asked trying not to laugh. Lightning defended "You said anything!?.. So?" Sally rolled her eyes answering "Okay well, no. I've never kissed another woman. That was a weird direction to go." Lightning shrugged again. Sally sat there a moment before asking this one, "Do you see yourself getting married one day?" Lightning didn't answer immediately.
It worried Sally at first but he did answer "I don't know. Marriage is a huge commitment. I don't think.. I don't know. I never really thought about it. Just.. It's something that I don't want to.. it's just a big commitment that I really don't want to deal with." Sally stared a little concerned by that answer. Lightning stared and decided if she went there, he could ask one he wasn't going to for a while, "Why did you really leave Ben?" Sally frowned a little thinking about that before answering "I told you. I fell out of love with him." Lightning shook his head correcting "You can't fall out of love with someone." "Yes you can. I did." she scolded. Lightning disagreed. "I don't think so. You either loved them or you never did." Sally was a little defensive and snapped "Excuse me?.. So what? I went around telling him I loved him and lied?" Lightning glanced at Sally answering "Well.. Yeah.. You can't say you loved him and take it back." Sally was really surprised about that.
"So what about us?" she asked. "You say you love me but what if something happens and we brake up?" she added. Lightning sighed answering "I wouldn't stop loving you." "But you'd stop saying it?" she kinda asked. Lightning sighed again "Look we obviously don't agree on this? I don't think you can fall out of love. Just sometimes love lies." Sally shook her head. This was a weird disagreement. "What about kids? You want kids one day right?" She asked.
Lightning muttered "Alright this is a trap." "No it's not! Just answer the question!?" She raised her voice. Lightning sighed again answering "I don't know!? Kids are.. Bigger than marriage!? Maybe one day.. Like way, way, WAY into the future. Kids are for old people.." "I had a kid. So that makes me old?" "No.. Sal.. I just I'm not in a place where kids are on my mind okay? And I don't want to get married because it's a long term commitment and I can't do that! I don't want to!" he yelled. Sally was hurt and snarled asking "So what about me? Am I just some fling your dragging around? Because I thought we were dating for the long run?" Lightning frowned trying to explain "It's not you? It's me!? I'm just.. I'm not marriage material! I mean have you met me!?.." He couldn't believe how Sally was getting irritated quick. "What's with you? You're acting all?.. Touchy?" he asked. She didn't answer though. Sally just shook her head and glared out the window.
Lightning felt bad a little. Becuase this was a really stupid fight. Just a stupid disagreement. He sighed and tried getting her to forget about it.. "You wanna... Stop for coffee?.. Maybe something to eat?.." Sally didn't budge. "Maybe under the seat there's mail or something.. You could work your magical organizing skills? Hmm? Alphabetical order?" Nothing. He sighed and continued to drive silently..
About an hour passed and Lightning pulled out on an exit to fill up the car. Grab some coffee or something. Sally still hadn't talked to him sense the little fight. She sat alone in the car. Waiting on him to get back. She sighed and started thinking about what she saw in the files of town. She felt like she couls cry. Part of her heart broke. It really hurt. Lightning walked back and noticed she was really upset. He didn't realize those questions meant that much to her? Or at least thats what he thought. But then he began overthinking that. She was acting moody.. Emotional.. Asking about marriage and kids.. Fuck. He sat in the driver seat and Sally wiped her eyes. He stared at her with this strange look. Sally stared asking "What?" Lightning thought about how to ask this one but just decided to say it and ask,
"Are you pregnant?" Sally's eyes widened answering quickly "No! Why would I be!?.. Why would you think I am?!" She asked shocked. Lightning felt relieved. "Just the questions you were asking and you are obviously really upset about it.." Sally shook her head explaining "No.. It's okay. I'm glad I know how you feel about love and marriage and kids.. I'm not upset.. Maybe a little disappointed. But nothing is wrong with how you feel Stickers.. But... I do have a confession.." she blushed a little. It made Lightning nervous aa they sat at the gas pump. A car behind them honked. Lightning flipped them off outside the window.
Sally sighed continuing "This trip.. Is so you can meet my Dad.." Lightning's eyes widened. It was a trap.. They heard a car door slam and a man slapped the tail of Sally's porsche and yelled "Why don't you move your dam car!" Sally and Lightning looked back and Lightning had enough and got out the car "Why don't you buzz off pal!" he yelled. The man got up in Lightning's face and snarled "I have work! I have to get fuel! You're blocking the dam pump!" Lightning nodded and shrugged "Well maybe I really this spot." The stranger growled "Move!" Lightning glanced at Sally then muttered "Fine.. You're not worth it." he began getting into the Porsche. The man snarled "Learn how to fuckin drive." Lightning nodded and reversed enough he on purpose alomst hit the man's car. The man yelled "What the fuck! Just go!" Lightning went forward some then back again, and back again touching bumper to nose gently. "Fuckin drive!?" Lightning smiled and waved "Sorry.. still learing how to drive manual." He went forward and back again almost hitting the man's car. Sally raised a brow and scolded "Stop playing with this guy." Lightning rolled his eyes and spun out before taking off fast..
They drove another hour in mostly silence before Lightning spoke up "I'm sorry." Sally stared. "For what?.." She asked. Lightning frowned answering "Well for upsetting you. But for making you feel like you had to trick me and lie into meeting your dad. You could have just told me you wanted me to meet him." Sallt frowned replying "I thought you'd freak out and make some kind of excuse.. I'm sorry.." Lightning grabbed her hand then continued the game, "My turn.." Sally was surprised he wanted to continue too.
"Why don't you build your own home? Why do you live in one of your cones?" Sally smiled answering "For one,money. Radiator Springs isn't exactly the wealthiest town.. But it's easier too. Especially now that the town is so popular. Thanks to you." she smiled. Kinda a flirty smile. Lightning snickered at that. It got quiet. Sally grabbed out her phone and said "I'm gonna call my dad and tell him we won't make it until tomorrow." Lightning raised a brow and whined "But we are like? An hour away?" Sally nodded and explained "I'm too tired to deal with him and my family today.. I'd rather spend the rest of today with you and at our hotel.. If you want to?.." She rubbed his knee. Lightning snickered again and asked "I won't say no. But I don't want to push you." "You're not? It's my idea. And if you're up for it, I'm thinking.. One.. room.." Lightning's eyes widened as he had to ask "Are you sure? That's braking one of your rules?" and he honestly felt a bit nervous about it now. Sally nodded "I'm sure.. Think it's time we broke a few.." Lightning sighed.
Yes, he was excited that he would get to spend a full night next to Sally. But it was also the first time they would sleep over together. And he felt nervous. He loved Sally and wanted to make sure it was perfect..