Lightning waited outside the airport. Waiting for some time before the familiar old, beat up farm like truck pulled up. Chad's truck. The passenger door opened and Lightning was surprised with the sight of his Mother driving. "Mom?" He questioned. Minty smiled saying "Get in Mon." Lightning sighed and tossed his bag into the bed before getting into the cab of the truck and shutting the door. "Buckle up." Minty reminded and watched her son click the safety strap in before pulling off. "You sounded real upset over the phone." She pointed out. Lightning shrugged replying "It's not that bad. Sally and I just got into a bit of a fight." Minty snickered hearing that. "It's bad enough that it made you run back home." She pointed out. Lightning leaned his head back against the window and muttered "Yeah..." Minty frowned some. She knew Lightning loved Sally and that he thought the world of that woman. "You wanna talk about it?" Minty asked her son. Lightning was quiet at first. As if he wanted to, but didn't. "No.. It's stupid. We're not breaking up anyway. I just needed to get away from her for a while." "What did you do?" "Me!? I didn't do anything. I actually did exactly what she wanted and that's what lead us to this!" He shouted. Minty nodded. Just listening. "She wanted to take things slow, I did. Then I supposedly kissed her to hard, so she runs out and gets drunk. I literally paid thousands to keep her image clean from her stupid drunken dance on a bar counter." "What!?" Minty snapped hearing that. "Okay, what in the hell happened!? Sally doesn't seem like the drinking type." Minty was confused. It didn't make sense.

Lightning sighed and somewhat explained. "We got into a fight and she went to a bar. Some pervert there bought her a strong drink and she didn't realize it I guess.. She was drunk and started dancing ridiculously." "So you paid thousands to what now?" Minty asked. Lightning shook his head answering "The men there were taking pictures and videos of her.. I bought all of their phones.." "Monty..." "They were taking pictures and videos Mom!" Lightning whined and defended. Minty shook her head scolding "As proud as I am that you were willing to do that for a woman, you shouldn't have. Sally should be left to learn from her mistakes baby.. You're not responsible for her." She reminded. Lightning sighed and tears filled in his eyes. Minty noticed. She never saw her son cry over a woman before. "Mon?.. You okay baby?" Lightning nodded, but he wasn't. He felt like he was the only one fighting for his and Sally's relationship anymore. As if she didn't want to be in the relationship anymore. "Oh Mon.. Honey it will be okay. Remember, you were once in love with Mollie... Then you found someone better.." Lightning looked at his Mother with pain and snarled "There isn't better than Sally. I want to be with her. I want to be done with this fight already and go home. I'm happy." "Really?" "Yes." "Monty..." "I am! I'm happy." "You're really happy paying strangers your hard earned money for pictures of your drunk girlfriend?" She asked about rudely. Lightning didn't answer. No,he wasn't really though. Minty sighed and drove to the house. She was pretty mad at Sally honestly. Hurting her baby and making him so blinded by love that he was willing to do what he did for her. That was not right at all in her eyes as Lightning's Mother...

Minty pulled up to the house and shut off the truck. Lightning began to grab the door handle when Minty stopped him saying "Monty.. You can talk to me about anything. There isn't anything I haven't seen or heard from you kids." Lightning stared at her and nodded replying "Okay. Thanks." "And Mon. I'm glad you're home." She smiled. Lightning shrugged reminding "Sally and I visit." Minty snickered with a smile saying "Yes, but I'm glad you're home. Just you. It's different when you bring a girl baby. No matter. You'll understand that once you have kids." Lightning just smiled back before asking "Chad and Kristine here?" Minty nodded. "Chad is at work right now though. Hey, he's got his own girlfriend now. So feel free to pick on him." She winked before getting out of the old truck. Lightning chuckled a bit at her reaction and got out himself. Staring at the house felt good. It was nice to be home and a take a break from everything. He wasn't here for any really bad reasons and wasn't here to get with any girl, he wasn't here to cause trouble and wasn't here to live off his Mother. So it just felt nice, in general, to be back home like a mini vacation from the busy life he had.

Lightning walked in carrying his bag and stared up the stairs towards his room. He could use a hit right about now. He glanced back at his Mother who walked into the kitchen. "I'll make some burgers tonight. Sound good Monty?" She asked. Lightning nodded answering "Yeah, sounds fine Mom. I think I'm gonna go take a nap.. I feel.. Sort of tired." He lied. Minty nodded though of course as she didn't think anything of it. Lightning headed up the stairs and to his room. He dropped his bag down and shut and locked the door. He then opened his closet and patted the floor until he found the certain board he was looking for. He pulled a small toolbox forward from the back of the closet and grabbed a screwdriver out then used it to pull up the board. There in the board was a box. Lightning put the board aside and lifted the box out. Just an old wooden jewelry box technically. He opened it and was surprised to still see his old stash inside. He was surprised that no one ever found it. Just some weed, a small jar of moonshine and some sex toys. He was pretty glad Sally never saw this in the house either. Lightning only took the weed out, but he stared at the toys. Some cuffs, a gag, a blind fold. He put the weed in his pocket then put the lid back on the box and placed the box back into the hole. He stared once more before putting the board back on good...

Chad walked into the house greeting "Hey Mom, I'm home." Minty calling back with "Great! Monty's here for the week!" Chad walked into the kitchen asking "Where's he at?" "His room. Said he was tired." "Huh. Okay. Did he bring the princess with him?" He joked. Minty glared, but that was kind of funny. "No." She answered. "Those two are in a bit of a quarrel." "Surely they'll be fine. They've been together for a few years now." Chad reminded. Minty sighed and nodded then asked "You have any plans with Emma tonight?" Chad shook his head. "Nah.. She has to close tonight." He explained. Lightning walked in greeting "Sup bro." Chad turned around and grabbed him in a head lock fast! "Let me go!" Lightning whined! Trying to push through and escape his brothers hold. Chad laughed saying "Not until you admit that I'm better lookin." "But that would be lying. Mom said we shouldn't lie." Lightning growled as he tried getting loose. No use though. Chad was much stronger. Chad shook his head, mocking Lightning and said "This is just sad.." Lightning pulled and pushed trying to get free. Nothing. Chad laughed asking "Do you even work out?" Lightning pulled with force and Chad rolled his eyes, finally letting go which made Lightning fall straight back to the floor. Thud. Minty glared at her boys and scolded "If you two tear up the house again I'm making you BOTH sleep in the barn!" Chad shrugged saying "We're just playing." Lightning stood up and fixed his golden blonde hair and walked up to Chad saying "One of these days Chad. One of these days I will catch you by surprise." "Yeah, sure." Chad agreed sarcastically. Minty then ordered "One if you go grab Kristine from her room. Dinner is about done. Monty, I expect that you'll make yourself useful while you're here?" She asked. Lightning nodded answering "Yea." "Good. I'm sending you out in the truck tomorrow to pick up some fencing I ordered. You two boys can repair the north corner." "What happened to the north corner?" Lightning asked. Chad looked at his brother answering "Some idiot teenagers took out the fence plowing their Daddys new F150 down the back roads." Minty glared and growled "Don't act like you never did anything like that Chad." Chad stared at their Mother, crossed his arms and growled "You don't have to bring up old stuff..." Minty snickered with a smile then told them to get their sister again...

Lightning lay in bed that night. Staring up at his ceiling. Thinking about Sally. Thinking about himself some to. Wow.. He had changed a lot sense leaving this town for school and that first sponsor. What was it? Smell well. That was the worst. But he changed for the better, right? He grew up. Everyone had to grow up at some point. He grabbed his phone and checked to see if Sally had messasged him. Nothing. He sighed. He was awful mean to her. He hated making her leave like he did, but he needed a break. They needed a break. He pulled up her name and almost called. Almost texted, but he thought about their future. What if she was like that with sex.. Forever? He couldn't do that. Not that sex meant the most to him, but.. He needed that from her. Lightning decided to text her anyway. Just before going to bed for the night.

To: Sally

Night love. Hope you sleep well. Remember, I am not leaving you. I'm not mad at you anymore. I just needed some family time. I love you and I'll call you tomorrow night.

Sent. Received. Seen.

To: Stickers

Night. Love you to.

Sent. Received. Seen.

Lightning pulled up to the co op that his Mother sent him out to. He shut the door of the truck and walked up to the garage where a man was inside stacking boxes. "Hi, I'm here for a pick up order." Lightning announced. The man lifted his ball cap and wiped the sweat from his brow then placed the hat back on his head before answering "Name?" "McQueen." "Awe, Minty's fencin. You just back up your trailer and I'll get the stuff." Lightning nodded and turned around, but the man continued "Wait, aren't you her youngest boy? The one that went off racing?" Lightning turned back around answering "Yea, that's me." The man chuckled asking "Why in Sam's hill did you change your name son? And why Lightning of all things?" Lightning shrugged explaining "It's more of a nick name really. A lot of big name racers use to. Some still do." "Well.. I'll bet it's all fun and games round there. Nothin like what you use to huh?" "Uh.. it's nice. I don't live in the city. I actually live in Arizona." "Yeah. Minty said somethin about that before. Well I'll go get that fencin." The man left to the back. So Lightning went and got the truck and pulled it around, got the fencing packed into the bed and thanked the man and left. On his way back home, he saw an elderman having trouble with a flat tire and sighed. He didn't have to, but the better in him had to. Lightning pulled up in front of the older man in the gold colored Toyota truck and approached asking "You need a hand Sir?" The old man looked up from where he was knelt over trying to loosen the front right tire off answering "I hate admitting it, but yea.. I'm not as young or strong as I use to be." Lightning smiled and took over for the elderman. "It's no problem Sir." He assured.

Lightning had to put some effort into it as it seemed stuck, but he finally got it to start loosening. The old man man cocked his head a bit and watched. He leaned on his truck then asked "Do I know you? You look familiar." Lightning glanced up for a second answering "I don't think so.." "You from here? You sound like it." "Yeah. My Mom is Minty McQueen." "Oh you're Minty's boy!" The man exclaimed "You own the little shop down town right?" He asked. Lightning shook his head and corrected "No, that's my older brother, Chad. I'm Monty. I actually moved out of state a while back." "Oh okay. Shame what happened to Robert. He was a good kid. Back when he use to work for the ice cream parlor in the summers, he always gave my wife an extra cherry and a wink when we came in." He chuckled. "He was a spunky fella. Always made my wife feel young and put a smile on everyone's face that kid."Lightning paused a second saying "Yeah.. Robert was a good kid." "You ask me, that kid shouldn't have ever got into a race car. It's not even a sport. Now foot ball. That's a dam good sport. I remember when Robert and that other one played line backers in highschool. Robert was a darn good one to, but.. Well sometimes people make mistakes." Lightning ignored this though and began to put the spare on the man's truck as the man continued "Is Minty living alone?" Lightning glanced up answering "No. Chad and Kristine live with her." "Kristine is her last one right? I mean.. Eight kids.. I don't know how that woman looks as good as she does." Lightning raised a brow and explained "You do know that five of those kids are adopted, right?" "No, but that explains a lot." The man chuckled. Lightning looked at him asking "What does that mean?.." The man shrugged and blushed a bit as he answered "Well..You know. I would never tell Minty this, but most those kids wound up screw ups. I think it's mostly because children shouldn't be raised by just a woman. I mean, one of them turned to being a pill popping whor-woman.. Then Robert went into a dead man's game and Kristine is.. Well she gets around from what my grandson tells me and what kind of man lives with his Mom? That one boy should have moved out years ago. Then there's the youngest boy who was always gettin into trouble with the law and parents. Finding ways to get into trouble all the time." The man stared at Lightning then began to ask as Lightning finished with the tire and stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans, "Wait a second.. Are you that one th"-"Well there you go Sir.. Try to take it easy on the way home. Your suspension is too tight for the roads here and that body style of truck." Lightning interrupted. The man thanked Lightning with a hand shake and rolled the flat into the back then got into his truck saying "You take care kid. Hey, tell Minty that Ginger has some more of the lavender scented soaps for her that she likes." Shutting his door and driving off. Lightning sighed and got into the truck then went on to meet Chad in the field to fix the fence. Partly remembering why he wanted to leave Small Town so badly before...

Lightning and Chad worked on the fence for a few hours. As they did they talked some. "So Mom says you got your own girlfriend now." Lightning said in a playful way. Chad looked over at his brother answering "Yea, Emma." "She cute?" "I mean yeah. A bit on the heavier side. I guess curvy rather than heavy, but she's nice. Works at John Deere." "Oh ho ho. When you aim, you go high don't you?" Lightning teased. Chad rolled his eyes then asked "And what about you and Sally? Mom says you two are fighting." Lightning sighed answering "Yeah, it's... Silly." "Maybe Sally's just a little too high maintenance for you bro." Lightning glared replying "Haha.. Funny. No, it's because she isn't into the same stuff I am in during sex." He explained. Chad's brows raised and he placed his hands on his hips saying "Well... Tone it down a bit." "I did. Sally told me that the BDSM had to stop. So I got rid of everything and basically vowed to never touch her like that again and only to be attentive and gentle from here on out, but then I supposedly kissed her to hard and she freaked out, got drunk and wound up dancing half naked on a bar counter then told a cop I hurt her, then just... She's a lunatic." He growled. Chad faked a smile saying "She sounds fun.." "She's just a bit bossy and whiny. But I've been with her long enough, it's fine. We both just needed some space. We'll be fine by the time I get back." Lightning assured. Chad nodded. Not sure that's how relationships worked or not.

Lightning and Chad worked some more and talked. "I ran into Ginger's husband today to." Announced Lightning. Chad raised a brow asking "Who's Ginger again?" "That woman Mom buys those soaps from." "Ooohh! Hank. Yeah, he's such a pervert.." Chad griped. Lightning then said "He thinks we're screw ups." Chad stared at Lightning for a moment before shrugging and saying "Well.. I wouldn't call us screw ups, but.. We aren't exactly honor students. Well except for Neal." Lightning's brows lowered. "I'm serious. That guy even thinks Robert made a mistake quitting football to race." Chad sighed replying "Well.. He'd still be alive if he didn't.." Lightning and Chad stared at each other for a moment in silence. Chad apologized saying "Sorry... But.. Sometimes I do think about the what ifs.. Like.. What if Robert stayed in football? I doubt you would have raced." Chad chuckled. Lightning thought about that for a moment. What if he had never gotten into racing? Where would he be right now? Probably still dating Mollie. Mollie. "Hey Chad." "Hmmm?" "How's Mollie doing anyway?" Lightning asked. Chad frowned asking "You not know?" "Know what?" Asked Lightning. Chad wiped his hands on his pants before answering "She quit school and started working at Alan's place." "The strip bar? Why?" Chad shrugged then answering "Not really sure why, but.. She's not doing great. She moved to the outskirts of Small Town.. Where Barb use to..You know." Buy drugs. Lightning kind if hurt hearing that. Hearing that one of his friends who had high potential were doing poorly. He frowned. Maybe he should go see her. Chad continued with "Money is just tight probably. If I know Mollie, she'll be back on her feet at some point." Lightning nodded and hoped so. Still, he wondered. Where would he be if he never began racing? And what about Sally? Where would she be if they never met?...

Lightning helped his brother in his shop the next day. It was good for him. Getting back in touch with his family and without Sally. As much as he missed Sally, he was feeling a bit angry with her. She seem to be trying to confuse him sometimes. Like she was crazy or something. It did make Lightning think about their relationship. He didn't want room break up with her, but surely he didn't hurt and scare her that badly. Did he? None of the other girls acted that way. Lightning wasn't use to this reaction. After a good day of working on a few junk worth of cars, Lightning grabbed out his phone and glanced at it. No text or calls from Sally. He sighed. Maybe he hoped she missed him a little. Chad walked up to his brother while cleaning his greasy hands with a rag and asked "I'm going to lock up and then we can head home." Lightning looked at his brother and thought about their conversation at the fence. "Actually.. Could we go to Alan's place? I'd like to see Mollie." Chad made a worried or concerned expression and asked "You sure that's a good idea?.. You're with someone else." "I just want to see her and talk to her. I said nothing about hooking up or anything. Why does everyone assume the worst of me when it comes to women?" Lightning growled. Chad shrugged answering "You do have a... A reputation Mon. Plus it's Mollie. You two have always had this continuous relationship. " Lightning rolled his eyes and asked "Can we or not?" "Sure. Just.. Play it smart. I mean my lips are sealed dude, but.. Just be smart." "Chad. Stop. I just want to talk to her." Lightning defended. Chad sighed and nodded...

Chad and Lightning walked into the Strip bar. It was small. Not very many customers inside. Place was dim lit with bright neon beer signs. Two stages on either side with poles. Some blonde in what light pink lingerie dancing on one side and on the other Mollie. She was wearing dark make up and a black lace bralette, black leather mini skirt that bounced as she walked, wait was that a choker and nose ring? Black cowgirl boots and her hair all curly and up in a messy, curly, big bun. Chad patted his brother's shoulder and let him know that "I'll just wait by the bar. Think this is somethin I'll stay out of.." Lightning nodded then walked up to the stage where Mollie was dancing. Leaning and sliding her backside up the pole then turning around and grabbing it before snapping her neck and head back in a deep arch. Sliding down, falling to her knees then lifting her head up and resting it on the pole briefly. She bounced her ass on the stage while on her knees. She got a whistle from one older gentleman. If that's what you could call him. Mollie stood up and bent over, shaking her ass towards the crowd. Lightning blushed and looked away. Seeing her tiny little thong between her cheeks and covering her area. He wasn't happy. Mollie was better than this. Mollie stood up straight and turned around and that's when she and Lightning locked eyes. Mollie turned a bit pale in her cheeks. In shock to see him there. It was to much for her and she walked off stage, grabbing one of the girl's attention and that girl took Mollie's place. Mollie disappeared behind a red curtain and Lightning chased after her.

"Mollie?" He called. He snuck behind the curtain calling "Mollie. Mollie wait!" He called and then entered the dressing room of the strippers. He stood there frozen a moment. He had never been in a room with so many strippers, dancers, basically naked women at once. Oh fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck. Was all he could think. His eyes were wide and he blushed big time. The girls all stared. There was about... six of them. Six and then Mollie. So... Seven. Fuck. Lightning smiled awkwardly and greeted "Uh..Hi." The ladies didn't seem happy. One grabbed a shoe and threw it at Lightning screaming "Perv!" Another threw a compact mirror yelling "Get outa here creep!" "Security!" Another! Mollie furiously stepped between them and stopped them saying "Chill! He's with me!" Then grabbed Lightning's hand and pulled him to the back of the dressing room at her corner and asked "What are you doing here?" One of the strippers passed by at this moment. She was wearing this chain like metal fish net looking swim suit thing with a chain lock choker and shiny heels and "Hey!" Mollie snapped "Eyes on me!" She ordered and snapped him back to her. "Why are you here Monty?" She asked. Lightning frowned saying "I can ask you the same. What are you doing being a.. A stripper?" Looking down at her outfit. Mollie's brows lowered "Because I'm a woman and I can." "You were going to vet school I thought?" "I was, but.. Well people change. You know that more than anyone." She snapped. Lightning shook his head replying "No... Mollie you are way better than this. You shouldn't be doing this.. This isn't you." "WHY do you care?! You don't live here." "I care because you're still my friend. Come on.. Talk to me. Is this about money? I can give you money." "I don't want your money Monty." "Than why are you doing this?" He asked again. It just hurt him to see her like this.

Mollie crossed her arms answering rudely "Because I want to." Pouting a little. Lightning shook his head replying "No, I don't believe that." Mollie looked away. Lightning grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. "Talk to me. Why?" He asked firmly. Mollie looked up at her former boyfriend and answered "Because Monty.. Please just go. I want this, okay? Just go." She whined. Lightning stared at her. There was no way Mollie actually wanted to be a stripper, but what else could Lightning say or do? "Well..." He began. "If it's money, I want to help.. Whatever it is that put you here, I want to help.. You know you're better than this.. I know you're better than this." He said softly. A few of the other stripper girls awed Lightning and the way he was talking to Mollie. Mollie and Lightning glanced at them then back at each other as Lightning continued "Please let me help if I can.." he pleaded. Mollie shrugged explaining "I just got tired of school Monty. I was stressed out and tired and left. I didn't have much money and the truck started breaking down a lot." "Okay, but why stripping?" "I'm not stripper idiot. I'm a dancer." Mollie finally corrected with a glare. Lightning rolled his eyes saying "Same difference." Then all the girls in the room snapped "No it's not!" Lightning sighed then continued "Why not a diner or the store or the co op? Why this place?" Before Mollie could answer, a man walked in and stood next to her as he stared at Lightning. "Extra to be back stage man." He announced and held out his hand. Lightning's brows lowered as he glanced at the man's open hand then up at his face. Mollie then introduced "Monty, this is Kaleb. He's my boss. Kaleb this is Monty.. He's a friend..." she mumbled quietly as if she were ashamed or afraid. Hard to tell which one. "Kaleb is also my boyfriend.." She added. That explained it. Kaleb was dressed in black dress pants, black button up, black tie, black hair that was done up with a full bottle of grease by the looks of it. He had big blue eyes that stood out making them sharp. His skin was pale, his build a little smaller than Lightning's. He was chewing on what seemed to be a toothpick, had one gage in his left ear lobe,but what really stuck out were his bright red dress shoes. Lightning glanced down at them and complimented "Nice shoes..." not really. Those were some weird shoes. Like clown shoes. Lightning looked back asking "You take those from the circus you escaped from?" Caleb's brows lowered. He turned to Mollie asking in a deep voice "What have I told you about bringing clients back here without making them pay first?.." Mollie shook her head and explained "He's not a client.. He just folllwed me baby.." Kaleb gently placed his hand on Mollie's back and turned her away from Lightning as he leaned into her hear and growled "You better pay me for this trouble you caused later..." "Of course Sir.." "In the mean time... Take care of this and make sure word doesn't get out that he got back here for free.. Understand? You wouldn't want to cause Daddy to lose business, would you darlin?" He asked. His other hand rubbed under Mollie's chin then down the side of her neck and he gently and briefly wrapped his hand around her throat. Lightning didn't like this guy. And with this being Mollie, he sort of jumped to full conclusions here and did something stupid. Kaleb turned around and smiled saying "So! Sense you're a friend of Mollie's, I'm gonna pretend you-" THUD!

Lightning punched the guy in the nose! The man fell back onto his ass. Stumbling over a few people of high heels. Mollie gasped shouting "Kaleb!" And knelt down to him. Kaleb's nose bleed out. He wiped his nose and became furious! Yelling "I was going to say pretend you paid to get back here so that tumors didn't start up and ruin business here! But after that!? Get out! Get out now before I call security!" Kaleb was beyond pissed. Lightning was confused. "Mollie.." He started, but then Mollie snapped at him yelling "Get out!" As she pointed to the exit. Lightning shook his head. Still confused. "But.. I thought-he- he just.." "Go! I'll call you later!" Mollie yelled! Lightning frowned and walked back out and grabbed Chad saying "We need to go." They got into the truck and Chad asked "What happened?" "I don't know." Lightning snapped. He really didn't either...