There is a song in this chapter, and there are multiples singers, so I will clarify which stanza style belongs to.
Eleanor - "!"
Sadie - "!"
Both Eleanor and Sadie - "!"
Chapter 7 - Titanium
As Eleanor sped down the street and out of Radiator Springs, the pain of nostalgia suddenly swept over her, as she didn't even look where she was driving, to which she finally realized she was going over the speed limit when she heard the sound of a blaring siren.
Eleanor slowly pulled over, and she felt ashamed when a black Lamborghini with her light bar flashing glared at her after pulling over beside her.
"Care to tell me why you were going nearly seven miles over the limit, Miss?" Angel asked calmly, but her tone was still firm.
"I'm so sorry, Officer, I wasn't paying attention!" Eleanor quickly replied.
"Well, right there's your problem. You need to be more careful; this is a road, not a playground."
"I know, I know…it's just that…someone I haven't seen in years just suddenly reappeared…and I don't know else to react."
"Oh, someone from your past, huh? An old friend, I presume?"
"A VERY old friend, my first friend ever, in fact."
"Really? And what's so bad about seeing them again?"
"Oh, you don't understand, Officer…"
"You're right, I don't understand," Angel joked with a smirk, but it soon fell when she noticed the apprehensive look on the Toyota Innova's face, "look, it may not be my business, but I'll let you off with a warning this time if you promise me one thing, ok?"
"What's that?" Eleanor sniffled, nearly on the verge of a sob.
"Don't ignore him."
"H-how did you know it was a he?!"
"I didn't." Eleanor couldn't help but blush when she realized she was just dooped. "But whether or not it's a flame that was never kindled, you shouldn't just ignore it. It's like you said, he's your best friend, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is," Eleanor sighed in defeat.
"Then what's the worse that could happen? Look, just talk it out, just the two of you, alright?"
"A-and…you promise I won't get a fine if I do?"
"That's the deal—but don't just do it for you, do it for him," Angel began with a chuckle, but then her tone and expression turned completely sincere, in which Eleanor couldn't help but smile.
"Ok…thank you, um…"
"Deputy Angel, Miss."
"I'm Eleanor Lark," Eleanor informed while sticking out a greeting tire to the Lamborghini, who soon grasped and shook it.
"Well, Eleanor, do you need a police escort back to the café, or do you think you can go on your own?" Angel asked with a smirk.
"I think I'll go back on my own, thank you…but wish me luck," Eleanor chuckled while turning back around.
"Good luck!" Angel called while waving a tire at the Toyota Innova as she headed back to the café, but she failed to notice the neon green car sneak up behind her.
"You think you're so powerful, don't you?" Angel nearly jumped when Wingo broke the silence, and she never heard him coming.
"W-what?" Angel asked shakily while trying to calm down after the jumpscare.
"You think that your stature as the town deputy can let you manipulate anyone ta do anything," Wingo replied matter-of-factly with a sneer.
"How could you possibly say that?" Angel asked in disbelief.
"Well, this morning you said you woke us up just because you found it amusing. Second, you tried talking me into bettering myself for the town. And third, you literally JUST did the same thing to that girl, except the only difference is that you're obviously trying to play match maker!"
"Your point?"
"My point—is that you need to take a break, girl," Wingo informed with a cocky grin.
"What?" was all the Lamborghini could say.
"You heard me, you work too much. When do you get off work tonight?"
"Ten PM, same as always…wait, why?"
"Then how 'bout you and I meet up tonight at the Impound Lot at ten-fifteen, and we head up to the Wheel Well for a couple drinks."
"What's the catch?" Angel asked with suspicion while sending Wingo a cold glare.
"There's no catch. Just you and me, I promise," Wingo retorted in defense.
"What would it even prove, Wingo?" Angel scoffed.
"You wanna turn me into a better citizen? Then show me a cop can live a little; be a 'delinquent' as you called me, right?"
Angel could only stare into Wingo's eyes for a moment, and then looking down at her hood or the ground in deep thought.
"And if I DON'T meet up with you…?" she finally asked.
"Then I guess we'll both regret it, won't we?" Wingo sighed while driving around Angel, and he never looked back as he left her, "Tonight, ten-fifteen, Impound Lot! Think about it!"
"It's NOT a date!" Angel quickly informed.
"Whatever!" Wingo laughed back, only making Angel scrunch up her face at the Gashi Wingo's cocky determination…but maybe this was the only chance she could convince him to better himself…oi, the sacrifices she makes sometimes…
Despite Angel's good intentions, Eleanor still couldn't bring herself to face DJ again, as she didn't even head back to her mother's café; instead she followed a lonely dirt road that lead out of town and onto a rise that looked over a huge dirt track way out in the desert.
Perfect place for her to compile everything on her own, and in peace with the comforting sight of the sunset…or so she thought…
The sound of another soft engine slowly approaching snapped her from her thoughts, and Eleanor's engine nearly died when she looked in her left rearview to find none other than DJ approaching her.
"E-Ellie?" DJ began meekly while parking beside, a soft yet worried expression on his face.
"Please, don't call me that," Eleanor whimpered and shut her eyes tightly to avoid looking at him.
"Well, it's just that you kinda left the café, like, out of the blue…you ok?"
"Yes…no…I don't know…"
"Y-you're mad at me, aren't you?" DJ sighed while staring down at his hood in shame.
"No, no, no! I'm not mad at you!" Eleanor gasped and finally looked at him, but she soon regretted it as her eyes darted everywhere awkwardly, "I-I…I just…I want to know what happened that night."
"That night?" DJ questioned with a cocked brow.
"You know what I mean—the night of the party," Eleanor replied firmly, and the look in her eyes slowly started to help the Reko-Do Spinner recall what happened that night…where it all went wrong.
3 years earlier…
It was a very important for Eleanor Lark and her second best friend and band mate, Sadie Red, as the two girls would be performing at their graduation party in honor of all of the students who graduated, including herself and Sadie.
But this is also the biggest crowd Eleanor has ever had to sing for as well, which rather scared her, even though she's never been afraid to sing in front of others.
"Sadie?" Eleanor piped up with worry, staring out of the single large window of the room she shared with her said roommate.
"What is it, Ellie?" called a feminine voice from the bathroom, as the sound of liquid being squirted could be heard, and the strong smell sweet perfume filled the air.
"Do you really think I can do it? Sing in front of all those cars?"
"You mean nearly all five thousand students? You'd better be ready ta perform by tonight 'cause they're expecting a grand show, after all," Sadie replied as she backed out of the bathroom; was a Mercedes Benz e350 with lipstick red paint and bright brown eyes, and she was well known for having a cocky and competitive attitude, and she always put the reputation of her band first.
"I don't know, Sadie…I'll need all the support I can get," Eleanor whimpered.
"Hey, the only support you'll EVER need is right here," Sadie informed while pointing a front tire inward.
"Heart," Eleanor sighed with a smile.
"No! Me, duh!" Sadie protested, "now, quit bein' such a baby! I promise, you'll do just fine!"
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
"Ok, but…do…do you think…DJ will be impressed?"
"What? DJ? Out of thousands of other cars, you're worried about what your boyfriend thinks alone?!"
"He's not my boyfriend!"
"Then why do you care so much about what he thinks about you?"
"Well…because…I, um…"
"Right," Sadie muttered grimly while rolling her eyes at her blushing room and band mate, "listen, Ellie, don't let some hopeless little crush distract you tonight. Ever! Think about it, if you keep your head in the game, we can BOTH get rich and famous! And then, we'll be loved by EVERYONE! Don't you want that?"
"Well, I guess so, but…" Eleanor agreed awkwardly, but then her eyes shifted.
"But what?" Sadie demanded with a sneer.
"But I would like to have someone love me for who I am too." Sadie could only scoff and drive back into the bathroom to continue to pretty herself for tonight's show.
"You're such a dreamer, Ellie!" Sadie mocked.
"I am not! Don't you ever want a lover, or a husband, or even a family at some point?" Eleanor argued.
"Husband?! Family?! Ha! Ok, I'll settle for a few lovers here and there, but none of that life-ruining stuff! No, thank you!"
Eleanor could only sigh and shake her hood at her friend's opinion; she really did think about what it would be like to have a significant other and maybe even a few kids at some point in her life, and sometimes just the thought of it made her excited.
But maybe Sadie was right about one thing. Family was no doubt a life-altering decision, and would definitely cut into time for fame, but it was precious gifts like families that made it totally worth it.
Still…Eleanor didn't want to let Sadie down, and she would never give up on her singing career. Tonight would be no exception.
And that night, there was no going back now, as Eleanor herself was now the next up on stage to get her college diploma. She was finally here, and she couldn't be more excited, as it felt like her heart would pump right out of her from adrenaline and apprehension.
But there was more ecstasy to come when she was going to perform with Sadie as soon as she was given her diploma too, and she honestly thought she couldn't wait to start singing.
"Alright, we've all been waitin' on a show, right?!" Sadie suddenly announced into the mic on the stand in front of her, and as the huge of newly graduate students cheered loudly, Eleanor was frantically scanning over the hundreds of cars in search of one in particular…but as hard as she looked, and as hard as she hoped, she could never find her best friend, DJ.
She couldn't believe it…her best friend in the whole world was missing one of her most important shows; he wasn't there to support her, to congratulate her, nothing…he just disappeared without a trace. What kind of best friend does that?
No friend of mine…Eleanor thought sadly, as she fought back her tears, but one just managed to slip and slide down her hood, but it luckily went unnoticed due to being too high up onstage.
The band, consisting of forklifts, one who played a grand black piano and two others that played violin, soon started up and played the sad yet peaceful music for the girls.
And then, Eleanor began to sing on her own.
You shout it loud, but I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up
Sadie then started singing her first part.
I'm bullet proof, nothin' ta loose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
For the next verse, the girls began harmonizing.
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Cut me down, but it's you who'll have further to fall
Ghost town, haunted love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm bulletproof, nothin' ta loose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
I am titanium
I am titanium
Stone hard, machine gun
Firin' at the ones who run
Stone hard, though it's bulletproof glass
When the song once again calmed down, Eleanor suddenly couldn't find it in herself to hold back her tears anymore; she let them flow, but even though she couldn't smile, she was able to keep herself from the embarrassment of sobbing in front of everyone. So, instead of crying like a baby, she just sang her poor little heart out.
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
Shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
"Titanium" belongs to David Guetta and Sia. The cover used in this chapter belongs to Madilyn Bailey. Please, support the official release.
Well, we seem to get a little more backstory between DJ and Eleanor, right? But keep in mind that this was only Eleanor's side of the story. We have yet to hear DJ's side of it all.
Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!