Sally waved goodbye to the last of the guests. Bobby was about to leave to when Sally stopped him, grabbing his arm saying "Thank you so much Bobby. You did a truly amazing job." Bobby nodded replying "Sure. Anytime. Long as you let me borrow my best boy here from time to time." "You got it." Lightning snickered with a smile to that then waved out at Bobby and bid goodbyes. Sally wrapped her arms around Lightning saying "And thank you Stickers. Tonight was great and just WOW. I mean look at this place! Its really amazing." She complimented. Lightning smiled and gazed into his love's eyes and said "You're welcome." Doc walked up to the couple and to Lightning, asked "Bolt put up?" Lightning sighed answering "Yes Doc. Not getting her back out until I get to Daytona." "Good. Congrats Sally. Place looks great." "Thanks Doc." Replied Sally.
Sally then looked up at Lightning with curiousity, "Daytona?" She asked. "Gosh this month has flown by... It's barely Christmas!" she exclaimed. Lightning shrugged it off saying "Don't worry. I'll be back here at least once or twice before the actual season starts. Plus I'm spending Christmas with you babe." Sally did smile hearing that, but this week, this month, his break had just flown by!
Carson appeared from a ways behind. Staring maybe. Lightning noticed, but pretended not to. It was for the best really at the moment. Sally noticed though to and patted Lightning's chest asking "Think you can start clean up for me?" "What? Clean up duty?" He whined. "Better get me more brownie points than." He griped. Sally giggled saying "Sure, whatever. I'm going to go talk to my Dad." She walked away and to her Father.
Sally stood next to her Father and asked "So what did you think?" Carson smiled a little before answering "It's a nice little place. I hate that you'd rather work hard at cheap motels than be home.. In California?" "Dad, I'm happy here.." Sally muttered. Carson frowned a bit and nodded as he looked at Lightning. "I know..." He whispered. He looked down at Sally and then took his daughter's hands in his own. "Is he treating you right?" Sally's eyes widened. She just wasn't expecting that! "Yes, Dad. Of course. Look, Lightning may not"-"My time to talk baby girl.. You listen." He gently scolded. Sally shut her mouth, letting her Father continue. First he sighed then stared at Lightning.
"I don't.. Exactly like him. But it's not because of who he is I guess.. He's just.. Slightly.. Immature and selfish and he seems so cocky all the time.. He acts like a know it all and he knows nothing about real life. He lives in a fantasy. He's the type of guy that women woek on and mold into a great guy, only to have him leave them for the next best thing." "Lightning isn't like that.. You know, I always made you proud and did what you wanted. I made perfect grades, I worked part time for you to learn how to be stable on my own, I dated the men you liked and never brought home a single guy you diliked. I went to the schools you wanted me to, and even married Ben like you wanted me to." "You wanted to marry him." Carson corrected.
Sally snickered and explained "I didn't want to marry someone you didn't like. Ben was a great guy okay? I lived close by like you wanted and became an attorney." "I wanted you to a lawyer." "Dad..." "Sorry.." Apologized Carson. Sally sighed and looked at Lightning "Moving to Radiator Springs and.. Being with Lightning is something I want to do. I'm going to do whether you like it or not truthfully." Carson stared at his daughter.
"And what if he leaves you for the next fancy trophy?" Carson asked. Sally looked at her Dad and shrugged saying "Than you get the satisfaction of being right. That's what you care about most, right?" She asked rudely before walking away. Carson's brows lowered. He wouldn't call her back or lecture her right now. Now was not the time. Instead he sighed and headed to his car. Sally noticed and just figured he was going back to her room to stay for the night.
Sally walked up to Lightning who saw a bit of that scuffle and asked "You okay?.." Sally nodded. "Yeah. My dad is just.. Ugh.." Lightning chuckled. "Well.. I'd say tonight was a sucsess." "For sure!" Agreed Sally. Minty walked up to the couple and complimented them. "Great job you two. Sally, you look gorgeous by the way. I would have told you sooner, but.. Your Father and I didn't get off on the right foot exactly." Sally's brows lowered. "You two met already? I was so busy with Wheel Well and seeing him that I forgot to introduce the two of you.. I am so sorry.." "Don't be.. I've met trees less stiff than that man. He needs to loosen up.. I mean I'm sure he's great.. Oh and CONGRATS... Lightning told me about the promise ring."
Minty said with a smile. "Um.. Where is it?" She asked, fading her smile. Sally grabbed her hand and frowned. Glancing at Lightning before answering "I.. Haven't told my Dad.. I may not honestly.. I mean.. He's so... Hateful.." Minty felt bad for Sally then brushed her hand over Sally's shoulder saying "Well I'm here for anything. You just give me a call and don't you dare be shy. You are like family already. Better treat her right Mon." Minty warned. Lightning nodded saying goodbye to his Mother for the night.
Sally sighed saying "I wish my Dad was more like your Mom a little.. Just a little bit." Lightning snickered and bobbed his head from side to side. "Maybe.. Might be more annoyed though. Hey, let's lock up and head back to my place for the night.. I'm lookin to turn in those extra brownie points." He teased. Sally giggled asking "Why are you so weird?" " I don't know, but you love me." Sally rolled her eyes. That was true.
So once it seemed all the guests had left, and locking up, Lightning and Sally walked to the red vette and got in when Sally noticed her Father's car still here. "Lightning, was my Dad inside when we locked up?" She asked. Lightning stared at Carson's BMW and shook his head. So Sally got out and walked up to the car. Lightning stayed behind and waited. Seeing Sally talking to her Father who was inside the car. She glanced at Lightning a couple times and part of Lightning was super curious and being nosy, he almost got out and walked over. Sally walked back though and got back into the vette, shutting the door. Lightning smiled at her asking "Ready to get freaky?" Sally snickered with a smile. Why was he so goofy right now? "Well.. No.. Um.." she mumbled with a suspicious look. Lightning's brows lowered.
"What?.." He asked softly. Sally bit her lower lip, remaining silent. "What?" Lightning asked again more clearly. Sally frowned a bit then answered finally. "His car isn't running right.." "No." "It's making this funny sound and running softly.. Barely making a sound as if it's struggling." "Nope, no." "Lightning." "No! I shouldn't have to help him out. That man hates me and plus, I'd embarass him more going over to help." "Lightning.." Whined Sally.
Lightning only whined back with "Plus, it's a BMW. I don't know much about them and even if I did, those cars are all side ways, backwards and upside down. I'd have to remove like half the engine to change the dam filter!" Sally raised a brow. "So if you don't know much, how come you knew that?" she asked. But Lightning wasn't budging. Sally smiled and teased "It'll get you more than just extra brownie points tonight.." Lightning glared at her and sighed. "Fine. I'll help him, but I won't like it. Talk about ironic.." He growled as he got out. "Thank you.." Sally called before he shut the vette door.
Lightning grumbled words to himself that no one but him understood before taking a deeo breath and approaching Carson's car. "What's the problem?.." He asked with slight smart tone. Carson looked up at the kid answering "I don't want you touching the car and braking it." "I work on and race cars for a living.. Let me just.. Take a look?.." Lightning asked. Carson didn't answer. Lightning sighed saying "Come on man.. Sally just wants me to look at it.." He whined a bit. Carson shook his head then popped the hood. Lightning thanked him rather rudely then looked at the engine. He did not expect to see the line 6 inside this thing.
"Alright give it some gas!" He called. Carson revved the car and Lightning shook his head then shut the hood before waling to the window saying "Could be the fan or a belt, but I think it's a pump.. Hard to tell without driving it.. Is it rough driving?" He asked. Carson smickered saying "You have no clue what you're doing, do you?" Lightning shurgged and admitted "This brand is a tough car. They are built great, but it's hard to work on most models. BMW and Mercedes are known for this..." Carson only snickered saying "You know nothing excpet how to run them hard and turn left. I told Sally you'd be useless." Lightning held his tongue, but had enbough of this man. He glanced at Sally and held up a finger, motioning one moment then asked CArson "Can I test drive it?" Carson looked up at the kid and chuckled. "You? Can you even drive manual?" Lightning just stared at Carson for a moment. Was the man seriously asking Lightning that?
Lightning took a deep breath before nodding. Carson shrugged then said "Fine.. But if you tear anything up, you are paying for it." He warned. Lightning nodded and watched Carson get out. As Lightning got into the driver seat, Carson got into the passenger. Sally was surprised to see that, as was Lightning. He looked at Carson almost with dusgust. "Uhh.. What are you doing?" Carson shut his door and buckled up saying "My car, my rules. Can't let you drive off with it and then it come back with some dent you try to lie out of because you don't have money." Lightning just stared at Sally's father in shock. How dare this guy! Really pushing buttons here. Carson looked at Lightning and asked "Do I need to help you shut the door and put on your seatbelt? Race cars do have seat belts right?" Lightning took a quiet, deep breath as he shut the door, buckled up, and started driving the car. It did startt slow.
Like it didn't want to go. 25...30...40... It was driving better at faster speeds. Lightning drove very well, very clean, very carefully, very quietly. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Carson began taling to Lightning. "Why race? I mean out of all the things you could have done with your life, why race?" Lightning glanced at Carson "EYES ON THE ROAD!" CARSON SHOUTED! It made Lightning swerve a bit, julting the car to te side a secind before straightening up. "GOD DAMMIT! Some race car driver you are!" Shouted Carson! LIghtning quickly defended himself, "I'm sorry! You just yelled at me suddenly and"-"Is that how you drive on tracks!? With my DAUGHTER!? Jesus Chrysler, you're going to kill her!" "NO! No.. I.. I don't..." Lightning mumbled and drove slow and careful. Carson was making him nervous.
It got quiet in the car. Lightning could feel a bit of the problem though and slowed at one corner to a stop, backing up and turning around and headed back up the pass where they began. "I think it's an easy fix.." "Sure is, you should really think about what is best for Sally." "I meant the.. Car.." Lightning muttered. "I know what you meant. Listen kid, I don't personally hate you. I just know what is best for my daughter and you are not it." Carson explained. Carson then began talking about Ben, Sally's past, the future he had all planned out for Sally, the future again now. "Kids? A home? Mini vans?" Carson asked. Lightning didn't answer. Carson became angry and snapped "Are you even listening!?" Lightning snapped back in and it was obvious the kid had tuned Carson out a little! This made Carson EXPLODE!
"ARE YOU KDDING ME!? Is this how you treat my daughter!? Look, I know deep down that you just want her for the sex. There is no reason to drag her around to just dump her off! You want to be with my Sally, get a real career! You're young. You have the time to go back to school and get a higher education." "Carson, look! I am a piston cup Champion! I drive cars for a living! I have and will always drive cars! I can make a lot of money doing it if I stick to it! JUst like any job! IN FACT! I can make so much more and I plan to! I plan on making so much money just to throw it in your face! I will make sure Sally lives better than she ever could have with BEN! GAH! If I gotta hear one more stupid comparrison between Ben and I, I, I"-"What? Drive in circles? This is going to go no where with you. I am trying to get you to better yourself and drop the teenage dream of being a cup driver." "It's called the PiStOn CuP!" Lightning shouted and swayed into the other lane. Carson noticed and yelled "WATCH THE ROAD!" Lightning hit the brakes, HARD to a sudden stop!
Carson only yelled "If you drive race cars like my car, than you have a failing career in the making. One cup does not make you a champion kid! Grow up and stop racing cirlces!" Lightning nodded. He nodded and looked at Carson saying "Alright. Alright, I'll stop racing cirlces." "Good. Finally! See, start listening to me and we might along in the future." Lightning sighed and continued to drive. 25...30...35... Lightning shook his head and muttered "I dount it.." Carson snickered saying "Hey, get on the right side of the road. Geez.. Do you drive on the left side to?" Carson asked in a snarl. 40...42...45... Oh Lightning knew he shouldn't and slowed down. 45...40...
Carson then said, "I'll just take this by a real mechanic tomorrow. Get someone whose paid to know what he's doing to see what the problem is." Lightning glanced at Carson and asked "You think racing is easy?" Carson chuckled answering "Yea. Any weak car owner can drive fast. I've even taken this baby out over eighty." "Eighty huh? Top out should be close to one sixty." "And what's the fastest you actually drive those race cars on average?" Asked Carson. Lightning shrugged explaining "Well, my average speed is only about ninety. Average and top differ though because"-"HA! Well, by that standard, I should be able to become a professional race car driver. That is great! Thanks, I'll consider telling my janitior." Carson laughed. Lightning had it!
He shifted the gears and gunned it! THe car made a loud rour! 45...55...60...65. "WOAH! HEY! What are you doing!" Shouted Carson! 65...70...73... "SLOW DOWN!" 80...85..88..95... Sliding, driting around the ledges of the steep hills and rocks of the pass! The rear tires dangled off once or twice! "STOP! STOP THIS CAR RIGHT NOW YOUNG MAN!" Jerking the car side to side as LIghtning drove hard and maybe a little rougher on purpose. 100...110...112... "THIS IS INSANE! YOU ARE GOING TO KILL US!" Carson yelled!
Holding on for his dear life as he felt he was being tossed around loose in a can! "FFUUUCCKKKK STOP THIS CAR!" Carson ordered as he panicked! 120...135... "But anyone can do this, REMEMBER!" Lightning yelled like a smart ass! 138...140... "I LIED I LIED! JUST PULL OVER! I'M GOING TO HURL! OH FUCK! I'm getting whiplash!" Carson shouted as he covered his mouth! LIghtning was so fast he even made the car jump a little over the final hill. Hitting the ground right in front of the bolt and screeching to a drfting, side ways stop! Dust flew everywhere! Sally was shocked and ran out to them!
Carson fell to the ground outside his door and gagged a bit, spitting and coughing. Sally ran up to him and called "Dad!? Daddy!? Are you okay?!" She asked. Lightning slammed the driver door shut and walked around saying "He's fine." Carson heaved a bit then looked up at Lightning and shouted "You are INSANE!" Sally looked at Lightning and her face said it all. Lightning knew he messed up. Sally's brows lowered as she asked "Why did you do that!?" "I.. He.. He was mocking me and telling me how I am suppose to live, to work, telling me anyone could be a racer!" "And you needed to PROVE yourself!?" Sally snapped harshly!
Lightning as quuiet. A little unsure what to say sense he knew he messed up. Carson stood up and Sally helped him balance. "Come on Dad.. I'll drive you home.." Sally helped her Dad back into the BMW and shut the door. As Sally walked around to the driver side Lightning let her know that "Pretty sure it's the pump... Won't really hurt it as long as he gets it replaced.." "GREAT! Thanks Lightning.." She said before slamming the door shut. Lightning felt really bad right now. "I'll.. Call you.." He muttered. Then watched as Sally backed up before pulling out and leaving.
Lightning stood there a moment alone. He shouldn't have done that. He knew it. But he was pretty sure Sally would forgive him, but would Carson?...
i apologize for this onw being so short, was tired and sick still. anyways. so heres a shorter one. hope you enjoy!!!