**AN: Hey guys, I totally forgot to put in my disclaimer before posting my last chapter. I do not own any of the Planes or Cars movies, I only own my OCs I have added in my story. Oh BTW, I have not written a story in quite awhile and would appreciate some constructive criticism if you would like to share (I always love making my writing even better). However, throw flames at me, you will be banned from reading my material. Lastly, just to let you know, I work full time in addition to being a full-time student. My updates will be infrequent, just a warning.
Chapter 2
Rev…rev….revvvvv….BOOM!
"Ah!" Sky cried, rolling over in bed…straight to the floor.
"Ouch," Sky moaned, "what the heck was that noise?"
As she pondered what the mystery noise was outside, she grabbed the side of her bed and pulled herself to her feet.
"Sky, are you up yet?" Bella called from downstairs, "the qualifiers are tomorrow, don't you need to finish the last of your prep today?"
Sky immediately jumped to her feet, throwing the blankets off her to the bed in a heap. She ran out of the bedroom to the top of the stairs, calling out, "Good morning Bella, thank you!"
"You're welcome, now go get ready!" Bella shouted back.
"You got it!" Sky shouted back, before turning around to head into the bathroom behind her. Bella proceeded back into the kitchen to make breakfast, muttering under her breath about 'crazy kids'.
Just like Audie, Sky was also an orphan. She had never met her mother, her father claiming she had disappeared shortly after she was born. Her father had been a firefighter and was killed on the job when she was 8. After his death, she had been sent to live with her mother's sister, Laura. Laura was not a nice woman and only loved one thing. Just after she cashed in her brother-in-law's insurance check, she had decided to start a new life elsewhere. While skipping town with the money, she quite literally abandoned Sky on the side of the road. After several days walking, Sky had finally on the outskirts of Propwash Junction. The residents there took her in and nursed her back to health. Thereafter, they made her a part of the Propwash family.
That was how she came to live with Dottie and Bella, inhabiting the second-floor bedroom of their apartment. Like with Skipper's hangar, the apartment was retrofitted for both human and vehicle. The second floor was more of an alcove, only housing the bedroom and bathroom that Sky used. Just off that bathroom was a set of stairs that led to the main floor. Once at the bottom of the stairs, to the left was Bella's bedroom, to the right was the big kitchen. Right past Bella's bedroom was a cross between a living room and garage. The living room housed only a buffet against the wall, where the TV sat, a small rug with a coffee table, and a big plush leather couch. The other side was the garage where Dottie slept; it was drawers and boxes of tools and oil cans (organized to a T). The apartment was attached to the shop and could be easily accessed through a door in the kitchen. Sky's bedroom basically sat on top of the shop, hence the reason for her early morning wake-up call.
To finish off her morning routine, Sky then pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. She then skipped back to her bedroom to grab her clothes she had set out the night before. She put on an old t-shirt and Nike shorts, slipping on some water shoes.
Once she was dressed, she bounded down the stairs straight to the kitchen. Sky sat down at one of the bar stools in the kitchen, right across from the stove where Bella was cooking. Right when Bella heard Sky sit down, she pushed a plate of pancakes, sausage, eggs, and some fruit. Sky thanked Bella and dug right into her meal, occasionally choking on a big bite. Bella then walked to the fridge and poured a glass of milk, placing it next to Sky.
"Slow down there, champ," Bella laughed, "you're going to choke."
Using her milk to wash down the last of her pancakes, Sky then came back up for air.
"I know Bella, but Dusty needs to be washed and checked over before we leave tomorrow morning," Sky responded.
Smiling at Sky's enthusiasm, Bella responded, "Ok, you know where the soap and hose are, and I'll put the toolbox on the bench." With that, Bella walked out into the garage to grab said toolbox.
"Thanks Bella, and thanks for breakfast," Sky called out as she took her dirty dishes to the sink. After rinsing them and putting them into the dishwasher, Sky walked into the living room.
In the back corner of the living room, just past the TV, sat a large radio. The radio was one of the larger models so that Dottie could roll on the transmit button to operate it. This was what Sky had been heading towards. After dialing to the right channel, she radioed to Dusty in his hanger (which was only a short distance down the road).
Sky-High, this is Sky-High, come in, over
Sky only had to wait about two minutes before the radio came to life.
Sky-High, this is Crophopper, go ahead, over
Dusty, I'm all set, come down to the shop so I can get you ready for today, over
Roger Wilco, over
Sky signed off with Dusty, then turned to head to the garage. She pressed the button at the side, and the door opened to reveal a dirt paved driveway. After setting out the hose, she grabbed the big plastic bucket and Dawn soap. She then darted back inside to grab the toolbox Bella left on the workbench. Just as she came back outside with her tools, Dusty had just pulled up. Though today was his day off, he still was partially caked in the nasty compost he sprayed on the crops yesterday.
"Good morning Dusty!"
"Morning Sky!" Dusty called back excitedly, rolling right up to his friend.
That was when the stink hit.
Pinching her nose, Sky said, "Ugh, Dusty, I love you, but you need a wash!"
Leaning over to sniff himself, Dusty cringed, spouting out, "Yeah, yeah, let's go with the wash first."
"Your system check won't take long, plus I'll need a bath after this myself after I get you cleaned up."
"OK, I'll pop the engine cover," Dusty agreed, opening said cover, "Just can't wait to get on the road tomorrow."
Chuckling at Dusty's comment, Sky commented, "yeah me neither, Chug, Dottie, Gus and Audie should be getting there around the same time we do tomorrow."
As neither of their friends had wings, they were resigned to drive the 17 hours from Propwash to Nebraska. Audie had surprised them all with wanting to come see the qualifiers as well. Unfortunately, he was crammed into Chug's cab for the whole drive. Unfortunately for him, Gus and Chug tended to sing off-key to the radio nonstop during long trips.
"Oh, you know what I mean Sky," Dusty said as Sky leaned over, starting her maintenance check.
"Yeah, I know," Sky replied, cheeky, "you're just too fun to tease."
"Oh yeah," Dusty fired back, "well maybe I should find a navigator with less sass!"
"Well maybe I should find a plane who doesn't keep breaking something every time we train!" Sky belted back, leaning up from the engine.
"Loudmouth!"
"Stinky butt!"
"Grease monkey!"
"Farm boy!"
"Slowpoke!"
Sky then gasped in exasperation at her friend, slowly lurching up from her crouched position.
"Slowpoke...slowpoke... I'll show you, slowpoke..."
With a cheeky evil grin on her face, Sky jumped down and ran to the hose and turned on the water. She then ran around to where Dusty was trapped against the garage door.
"Sky!" Dusty called out nervously, seeing her aiming the hose.
"Sky!" Dusty called again, knowing what was to happen, "come on, we're friends right?"
"Sorry buddy, all is fair in love and war," Sky teased, right before she squirted the hose at Dusty.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Dusty cried out, squealing about how cold the water is. Sky just doubled over laughing. In her moment of distraction, Dusty turned slightly, lowering his flaps. The water bounced off and hit right at Sky, soaking her from head to toe. Sky then closed off the hose, plane and human were silent looking at each other, soaking wet.
All at once, both doubled over laughing until they were out of breath.
"Ah, ok, ok, uncle, I surrender...truce?" Sky said holding her hand out.
Now knowing that the white flag had been raised, Dusty moved the edge of his wing into Sky's hand in his version of a handshake.
"OK, let's get started, we have a qualifier to get to!" Dusty cheered in anticipation.
"Oh yeah, let's do it!" Sky cheered right back.
At 8 the next morning, Sky came barreling out the front of the shop to the runway. Waiting there was Dusty, all clean and shiny and stink-free. Sky was decked out in her handmade pilot suit. As Sky did not have a proper flight suit, she had bought some old clothes from a secondhand store and made it her own. The whole thing was nothing fancy, but it would do in a pinch.
*link to see Sky's flight suit:
To complete her outfit, she had on combat boots, a flight helmet, goggles and gloves. As soon as Sky jumped into Dusty's cockpit, she slipped on her radio headset. Dusty was already powering up, his propeller spinning and engine running.
Sky-High to Crophopper, come in, over
Crophopper to Sky-High, go ahead, over
We are ready for takeoff, let's head out, over
Crophopper to Sky-High, roger that, proceeding to runway for takeoff, over
10-4 Crophopper, over and out
With that last transmission, Dusty flew down the runway and soared into the sky.
Sometime later, Dusty was touching down at the runway of Lincoln Airport, the site of the qualifiers. Just after landing, Dusty wheeled over to a paved parking area that had been designated for the contestants to set up shop. Chug was already there, Dottie backing up out of the flatbed behind him. Gus and Audie were standing by, walking up to Dusty as Sky jumped down from the cockpit. Bella unfortunately had to stay behind to man the shop.
Unlike the other four, shaking in excitement, Dottie and Audie seemed a bit subdued. Neither were very supportive of the whole air-racing idea, but both were there to show their respective loved ones' support. But unlike Audie, Dottie decided to openly voice her annoyance.
"Ok, let's get this show on the road so we can get back to Propwash," Dottie belted out annoyed.
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence Dottie," Dusty retorted back, partly joking.
"Yeah, we can really feel the love," Sky added on in the same tone.
"Relax, Sky, we're both just concerned about you," Audie put in, "someone is just in a cranky mood."
Dottie gave Audie a side glance of annoyance, who just responded with a nod.
Chug then jumped in saying, "ok, we're all here, let's go get you guys checked in."
With that, all humans and vehicles in the group began to walk/wheel to find the sign in desk. As they were moving along, Dusty, Chug and Sky were admiring all the different planes that were present.
"Oh look, a Red Tail P51!" Chug pointed out, looking to said plane under an awning labeled 'Judy Davis'.
"Oh look, a Sea Fury!" Dusty spotted another plane, sitting under an awning labeled '23'.
"Guys, look up!" Sky shouted out, pointing above her head.
The others looked up just in time to view a Boeing-Stearman Model 75 flew above them.
"Wow!" Dusty commented in amazement.
Their attention was soon drawn to a stage near the runway, where two twin Zivko Edge 540s, one green and one white, were shouting into their microphones. In between them were two guys who were also twins, their pilot suits color-coordinated to mark which plane they were the navigator for. The navigator of the Zivko with a green body and white wings had a green suit with white seams. The navigator for the Zivko with a white body and green wings had a white suit with green seams. They were all wearing headsets, each taking turns giving commentary.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may we have your attention please," the green Zivko announced.
"Kindly direct your eyes to the heavens above and give a warm welcome to our special guest," his navigator continued.
Everyone looked up to see a custom P51D Mustang plane flying fast performing a radial G up and over maneuver. As he was coming down, he leveled out flying perpendicular to the runway.
The white Zivko then shouted, "the prince of propellers, when he's speeding, he's leading…"
"Get my good side fellas," the Mustang called out the photographers, leaning on his right side as he flew past. He then went back for another fast turn, lining up for the runway, still trailing the green smoke.
"When he's grinning, he's winning…" his navigator continued.
As the Mustang was coming in for a landing, both Zivkos and navigators finished with, "the one, the only…"
"Ripslinger!" the Mustang called out, stopping just past the smoke, several giant sparklers going off behind him.
From the cockpit, the Mustang's hatch opened to reveal a tall intimidating guy in a pilot suit with the same color and theme as the plane. He had a red bandana wrapped around his head, highlighting his spiky black hair and sharp red eyes.
The moment he popped out, he stood up and made a motion with his fist pumping it to the sky, "and Tyson X!"
In sync with the plane, they both shouted, "Caught in the riptide!" They both then laughed haughtily going towards the cameras, asking who wanted pictures next.
Finishing choking on the smoke, Dottie said, "With all that self-promotion, at least he's modest."
"Yeah," Audie added, not liking how Sky was eyeballing the guy.
"Guys, that's Ripslinger," Dusty said in awe.
"He's captain of team RPX, they call him…" Chug started.
"The green tornado!" Dusty and Chug chimed together.
"He is so good, he's prequalified," Dusty added in.
"Yeah, and his navigator, Tyson," Sky put in, "I hear has mad skills and trains with the latest navigation tech."
Noticing Sky from the cockpit, Tyson sent her a flirting wink, turning Sky's cheeks a blush pink.
"Oh, and those two," Dusty pointed to the Zivkos, "Ned and Zed…"
"The twin turbos!" Dusty and Chug chimed together again.
"Mhm, their navigators Brett and Rhett are also a force to be reckoned with," Sky pointed out.
Dottie then narrated, "I heard they used to be one plane, and were separated at birth."
"Wow, I wish I were separated at birth," Chug noted sadly, Gus just turned and laughed into his arm.
Audie then tapped Sky's shoulder saying, "ugh, don't you still need to register?"
"Oh shoot, thanks Audie!" Sky squeaked out, running to the check in station. Audie chuckled under his breath, thinking how cute she was.
Running up to the desk, Sky immediately belted out, "here to check in for the race."
The small red forklift behind the desk said, "ok, name please?"
"Sky Hartwell, ma'am."
The forklift checked her list, tapping on a name when she found it.
"Ah, here you are," the forklift noted, "navigator for…Strut Jetstream?"
Sky silently grumbled in her head, vowing to never let Chug and Gus fill out the paperwork for her again.
"Yes maa'am, that's us," Sky sweetly spoke, smiling in discomfort.
"Ok, you're all set," the forklift replied, "grab your plane and head over to the main stage, we're going to start explaining the rules."
"Ok, thanks again," Sky replied.
She then walked back to her friends, grabbing Dusty and moving to the front of the stage. Around them were several humans and planes waiting to compete for their spot in the rally. Up on the podium was a small forklift dressed in typical referee fashion. He had a whistle around his neck and a clipboard in his hand. Behind him was a scoreboard with every plane's name listed. When all planes and humans were present, the forklift leaned over to the microphone to speak.
"Ok, all planes and navigators present," he began, "at this time, I would like all navigators to please be seated and buckled in their respective cockpits; we will take a 10-minute pause for you all to complete your pre-flight checks."
With that, Dusty opened his hatch and Sky climbed in, though she didn't close the hatch just yet. Looking out at all the other planes and navigators, seeing how confident they were, had her questioning herself. What if she screwed up and gave Dusty the wrong advice? What if she cost them their place in the rally? She would never forgive herself.
All at once, the pressure started to get to her, her palms starting to sweat. Feeling her hands shaking while adjusting her equipment, Dusty asked her if she was ok.
"I'm fine, Dusty, just nervous," Sky sputtered out, "now that we're here, I just want to make sure I do right by you."
"Sky, you always do right by me," Dusty encouraged, "let's just fly like we always do and show them what we're made of…we can do this!"
Taking a ragged breath, Sky wiped off her palms, sitting up straight in her chair. Dusty's vote of confidence giving her new strength.
"You're right Dusty," Sky admitted, "let's show them what we can do!"
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Dusty cheered happily.
With that, Sky completed the pre-flight check just as the referee called out again.
"Ok planes and people, you all should be done with your pre-flight checks," the referee called out, "raise your hand to signal if you are."
When all hands were raised, the referee continued.
"Ok people, this is the last of the four time-trials being held worldwide," the referee informed, "today's qualifying round is one lap around the pylons."
He then gestured to the obstacle course behind them.
"The top five finishers will qualify for the Wings Around the Globe Rally! Oh yeah!"
The crowd cheered at his words.
"Fanzarelli," the referee called out to a small yellow plane, "you're up my man."
After his name was called, Fanzarelli then hocked a big loogie and wheeled up to the runway.
"Oh, that's just nasty!" the referee called out. Sky had to agree, that was just gross.
Fanzarelli then lined up and started his engine. Once he got going, he flew down the runway, taking off. He then headed through a pair of giant yellow cones, which was the start gate. The referee narrating out every move that he made.
~~~~~88888~~~~~
Fanzarelli then flew out a bit, taking a big right turn. In his path were a pair of giant blue cones, and beyond that was a pair of red cones.
"The racers must pass through the blue pylons on the horizontal…"
Fanzarelli then passed through the blue cones straight.
"…and around the red pylons on the knife edge."
Fanzarelli then rotated left 90 degrees to pass through the red pylons.
"Now he's coming back to gate three!"
Fanzarelli then took a hard left turn 180 degrees and leveled out before flying through the blue pylons once again.
"Nicely done, my man!"
Fanzarelli then started heading towards a group of red pylons set up in a diamond pattern.
"Ok, now he's lining up for the Quadro!"
Rotating again, this time to the right, he flew right in between the pylons. He then turned hard and came right around to go through them again at another angle.
"Cleanly through! A hard right with a 270-degree high-G turn! Yeah!"
"That guy is good," Dusty commented. His navigator barely answered with an 'uh-huh' from the cockpit.
Fanzarelli then passed through another pair of blue pylons, taking a left turn toward three red pylons that were lined up and spaced out. The referee still going strong.
"Oh, now lining up for the three-pylon chicane…"
Fanzarelli then swerved through the cones, rotating 90-degress with each turn.
"Amazing pitch control, smooth, fast and clean! Woo!"
Fanzarelli then turned and flew back towards the blue pylons, shooting straight up to make a high vertical G turn.
"He's going into the final turn, into the half Cuban 8, pulling an aggressive 9.2 Gs!"
Fanzarelli then pulled up and over, going higher and higher into his turn.
"Attacking the climb, now that's some speed right there!"
Exiting the turn, he darted back and flew past the starting gate.
"Coming out of the Cuban 8 at the end of a fantastic first run! Final time: 01.24.16. A fantastic first time for the other racers to try and beat."
~~~~~88888~~~~~
As Dusty and Sky were the last on the list, they got to watch all the other competitors run. The whole time, Sky taking note of any corrections she could warn Dusty on.
The next plane that was to run blew their engine, the plane landing in shame at disqualification.
A white plane took a turn to hard and swiped the pylon, eliciting a major penalty.
Another black plane that had finished was sloppy, landing him in last place.
~~~~~88888~~~~~
As another plane was doing his run, Sky noted that they were next. Chug was fueling up Dusty, and Dottie was doing a last check on Dusty's wings. While she was doing this, Audie jumped up onto the wing to talk to Sky.
"Hey Audie," Sky greeted.
"Hey Sky," Audie said, grasping one of her hands with his own, "just wanted to wish you luck."
"Thanks bud, I appreciate it," Sky thanked him.
"You're welcome," Audie said back, starting at Sky.
"Um Audie…" Sky hinted, motioning to her hand, "kind of need that back."
Finally noticing what she was getting at, Audie let go of her hand and jumped to the ground.
"Alright guys, last on the docket, from Propwash Junction," the referee called out, "Strut Jetstream, and navigator Sky Hartwell."
At their name being called out, Dusty started wheeling towards the start line.
"Strut Jetstream?" Dottie asked Chug.
"Yep, awesomest call sign ever," Chug chuckled, "it was my idea."
"That explains it," Dottie commented.
"Ready Dusty?" Sky called out.
"Oh yeah, let's do this!" Dusty called back, closing the hatch for Sky.
But just as they were approaching the start line, the referee started yelling at them.
"Hey ag-plane, landscaping was yesterday man, get off the runway!" he called out as Dusty tried to convince him otherwise.
Sky pinched her nose in annoyance as the referee made another call for 'Strut Jetstream'.
Finally, when Dusty could get in a word, he shouted, "I'm Strut Jetstream!"
"You're Strut Jetstream? A crop-duster?"
"Yep!" Dusty replied back.
"Man, what is going on here? Is everybody getting to fly today?"
After spewing a few more insults at Dusty, she could tell he was getting discouraged. Getting fed up, Sky did the only thing she could do.
"Hey!" Sky yelled, opening the hatch back up, "stop insulting my friend, we came here to race, and that is just what we're going to do! If you have a problem with that, then say it to my face! But don't go taking it out on him!"
Everybody was taken back just a bit. The referee had a shocked look that a little girl could raise her voice that much. Getting his composure back, he then motioned to the starting gate saying, "proceed to the start line."
"Thank you," Sky curtly answered, slipping back into her seat, and buckling up once again. Dusty then again wheeled passed the other planes to the start line.
Crophopper to Sky-High, come in, over
Sky took a moment to realize Dusty was calling to her through the radio. Clicking it to life, she responded back in earnest.
Sky-High to Crophopper, go ahead, over
Sky, thanks for standing up for me, I'm glad you have my back
Anytime Dusty, now let's show these guys what we're made of
Copy that, over and out
With that last transmission, Sky closed the hatch and Dusty lined up. Once he started up, they took off.
~~~~~88888~~~~~
As the two passed through the start gate, the referee began his narration once again.
"It's going to be a tall order to knock Fanzarelli out of fifth place!"
Dusty flew through the first gate, and then headed for the second.
Sky-High to Crophopper, adjust angle of bank left 90 degrees now
Roger Sky-High
Dusty did as instructed and passed through the gate on his knife-edge, leveling out as he came around the turn. As he did, he brushed the edge of his wind against the ground, stirring up the dirt.
"Coming through gate three, practically moving the lawn! Come to my house man!" the referee called out.
Sky-High to Crophopper, Dusty you're looking awesome, great turn, keep it up
Crophopper to Sky-High, thanks Sky, keep up the good work
Roger Crophopper
Even over the sound of the engine, you would not be able to hear the conversation between plane and partner. Their movements timed correctly as Sky called out directions to Dusty as he twisted and turned through the obstacle course. The referee continuing to shout out they were cutting it close to beating Fanzarelli. Before they knew it, they were approaching the last hurdle.
Sky-High to Crophopper, line up and push throttle to max, more lift, more speed
Roger Sky-High, pushing to max
With that last transmission, Dusty pushed the throttle and Sky held on as Dusty turned his nose up to ascend straight up. Once they reached high enough, Dusty pulled up and over to head back down…right through the start gate.
"Oh yeah, now that's what you call flying!" the referee shouted out, impressed that a crop duster could be so fast.
Dusty then landed on the runway, slowing down as their friends all ran up to them. Sky jumped out of the cockpit so fast, she slipped and fell right off the wing. However, instead of rough concrete, her fall was halted by two well-built arms.
"You know, you're heavier than you look," Audie chuckled, looking down at the still frazzled navigator in his arms.
Even though she knew he was joking, she still turned and smacked him in the back of the head with her palm.
"Ouch, is that any way to thank your friend who saved you from a nasty spill?" Audie said with a fake-frown and puckered lips.
"Audie, one, thank you for saving me, and two, can you put me down now?" Sky asked, eyebrows raised and hands gesturing to her current bridal position.
Clearing his throat, Audie put Sky back on her feet, trying to hide the soft blush in his cheeks. Sky turned to congratulate Dusty on an excellent run. The two sharing their version of a high-five. However, Audie's staring was interrupted by a bump to his shoulder. Turning, he eyed his friend Gus, who was giving him a knowing look.
"When are you gonna grow a pair and tell her how you feel?" Gus teased.
"Huh, when you grow a pair and tell Bella how you feel?" Audie teased right back, savoring the satisfaction of Gus's flabbergasted face. Audie took one last look at Sky, then raised his arm to pat his friend on the shoulder once again.
"Just face it bro, when it comes to confessions…" Audie indicated towards the two girls in question.
"We're cowards," Gus dejectedly admitted.
"Yup," Audie agreed, emphasizing his words, popping his lips.
With a joined sigh, the two guys walked over to congratulate their friends on a great run.
"Man Sky, I'm so psyched, we both did awesome, and your advice was on point!" Dusty complimented.
"Thanks Dusty, and you are one kick ass plane!" Sky commented back.
But just before Dusty could talk back, the blare from the microphone sounded. Both planes and humans in the group turned to the scoreboard the referee gestured to.
"Man, what a heck of a day, all our racers did fantastic," the referee noted, "and for our last competitor, Strut Jetstream, the final time is…"
Sky crossed her fingers, Dusty held his breath, this was the moment they were waiting for.
"One minute and twenty-four point two-six seconds, sixth place, but what a close one people," the referee noted, ending the competition, and leaving the stage.
Neither Dusty nor Sky could believe it, just one-tenth of a second disqualified them from the rally. It was like all the excitement from their time trial was zapped from them both. All at once, their group now sported a very somber mood.
"Hey kids," Dusty and Sky turned to see Fanzarelli there, "sixth place ain't nothing to be ashamed of, that was a heck of a run."
"Yeah, you both were awesome," his navigator replied.
"Thanks," Dusty replied, the loss still heavy.
He felt a hand on his wing and looked to see it was Sky. He could tell she was as heartbroken as he was, yet she still managed a small smile.
"Fanzarelli is right, you know," Sky and Dusty turning to Audie, "you both were amazing out there."
Dusty muttered a thanks and Sky turned into the hug Audie was offering.
"Come on, we rented a space for the night," Gus chimed in, "we'll sleep on it and get home tomorrow."
At his words, everyone followed, a good night's sleep sounded good.
~~~~~88888~~~~~
Later that night, all vehicles and humans were bunking in the small hangar at the motel they booked. Though she was exhausted from the day, after hours of trying, Sky still could not sleep. In aggravation, she threw off her blankets in favor of a midnight walk. After throwing on her boots and nightrobe, she walked outside into the warm night breeze.
Right when she got outside, she noted the small orange plane sitting in the parking lot.
"Sleep evading you too?" Sky asked, making Dusty jump in surprise. Though he immediately relaxed knowing it was his friend.
"Jeez, Sky, you scared me," Dusty chuckled, "but yeah, I can't sleep."
Sky noted the disappointment in his voice, walking over to the plane. Letting out a loud sigh, she leaned against Dusty's side.
"One-tenth of a second," Sky noted, "one-tenth."
Dusty could not tell if she said it in anger or disappointment, but she started narrating before he could get in a word.
"I cannot tell you how impressed I am," Sky beamed, smiling up at her friend.
Confused, the plane asked, "are you happy that we lost Sky?"
"Dusty, we've lost nothing," Sky countered, "if anything, this just proved to us and them that we can fly with the big dogs!"
The puzzled look on Dusty's face only became more pronounced.
"She's right you know."
Dusty and Sky turned to see Audie heading their way. His oversized t-shirt and sweatpants blowing in the wind and highlighting his unkempt hair.
"Can you both clarify for me what you're talking about?" Dusty asked again.
"Well think about it Dusty," Audie explained, "a crop duster and novice navigator with no formal training came this close to being in the rally."
Seeing Dusty's frustrated glare, Sky added in, "Dusty, our trial today proved that we have the stuff to compete professionally."
At Sky's words, Dusty's puzzled look turned into a small smile.
"So, you're saying even though we didn't qualify, we have what it takes?"
"Yes, Dusty," Sky boasted, "we have what it takes, and more."
Dusty nudged his friend with his side, returning her big smile with one of his own.
"Thanks Sky, I needed to hear that," Dusty accepted, "we'll get better and compete in next year's race."
"That's the stuff," Sky agreed. With a last nod at her words, Dusty turned and wheeled back into the hangar, finally feeling like he could sleep.
Chuckling at the plane, Audie turned to Sky, noting that she was also starting to get a bit sleepy.
He walked up to her, turned around and kneeled, showing his back to her. Sky chuckled and leaned over, wrapping her arms around his neck. Once this was done, Audie hoisted her up and wrapped his arms around her legs. As he carried her back to the hangar, Audie noted that Sky had already fallen asleep. Audie chuckled under his breath, knowing that this was the closest he was going to get to Sky.
Audie had always had a soft spot in his heart for her, but never voiced his feelings for fear of ruining their friendship. Despite this, Gus's words rang through his head again. He was scheduled to return to the Flysenhower in a matter of weeks, if he was going to 'grow a pair' and confess, he was going to have to do it soon.