Lightning opened the door for his girl, trying to be a gentleman as they entered the lavish restaurant. A young woman's eyes widened as she saw Lightning and she quickly made her way up to the couple. "Lightning McQueen." She called, grabbing the couples' attention. The woman smiled, looking very pretty in a dark red gown that went to the floor, sticking to her body like a towel. Her bright blondes hair was wavy and done so perfectly with some dark red lipstick and brown smoky eyes. "Yes?" Lightning answered. Sally grabbed his arm, subtly claiming what was hers. The woman stepped right up to Lightning and brushed her hand across his shoulder as she asked, "Do you think you would have the time for a photo? An autograph, maybe?"
Lightning cleared his throat before answering, "Um.. I'm here on-um.. Family.. Matters.." He had trouble thinking of words in front of such an attractive woman. Especially since Sally was gripping his arm tighter by the second. The woman smiled wider, showing off her Snow White teeth. "I see." She replied. Looking him up and down. Sally suddenly jerked him a step back and butted in, "Haha.. Well! Lightning and I have a dinner to get to. It was nice to meet you." She then pulled Lightning along. Trying to get away from the pretty and slutty lady. She may not have been slutty, but in Sally's mind right now, slut.
Lightning chuckled a little, "Are you jealous?" He asked. Sally stopped dead and turned, facing him. "Me? No." She snarled. Lightning rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "You are. You are jealous and for no good reason." He teased. Sally's brows lowered as she glared at her love. "I hate when women hit on you." She quietly growled. Lightning snickered, "Phh. You got nothing to worry about. You are the only woman for me. I can't help that I'm just so irresistible." He gawked. Sally shook her head, "I think it's more of your money with women nowadays." "I am pretty rich." He agreed. Sally slapped him gently across the chest. Scolds him silently. Lightning smiled at her. Gazing down into her beautiful eyes. "I love you Sally Carter's." He cooed. Sally glared a little more. "MMhmm. Better. Now, come on. My Dad is waiting for us." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along to the table. Lightning loved it. Loved having her pull him along wherever she pleased.
Carson stood up as the couple approached. Instantly hugging his daughter. "Hey, baby." He greeted. Sally smiled and wrapped her arms around her Father. "Hey, Dad." She replied. Sally sat down as Carson held his hand out to greet Lightning. "McQueen.." He spoke as he and Lightning shook hands. Lightning nodded greeting, "Carson." The men sat down. Carson sighed and asked, "How are things going? The wedding is almost here." Sally smiled so widely. Glancing at Lightning before answering her Father. "Yeah, it is. We're excited." Carson smiled a little Seeing his Sally so happy after everything she had gone through with Ben. That made Carson beyond happy and thankful. Carson looked at Lightning and asked, "Plans? For the Honeymoon? Or is it... A surprise?" Lightning leaned back in his seat before answering, "Well, it's.. Not planned.. At all. Yet." Sally then butted in with, "We don't want to fly out of the country or too far really. We would rather have a homey honeymoon. Besides, with Lightning's career and all my jobs, it's hard to step away for more than a few days!" Carson raised a brow asking, "Really? You'd think the two of you could afford a few stand-ins." "Yeah, well.. I rather do the work myself." Sally reminded. Carson already knew that though.
Carson snickered saying, "Better not get too busy to give me grandkids." Lightning turned a bit red and replied, "NO, no.. Of.. Of course not.. Not yet, not.. Anytime soon though.." He smiled awkwardly. Carson raised. a row and asked, "I thought you two planned on trying once you were married?" Sally nodded and explained, "We did but... We've decided to wait until next year. That's only like.. seven-ish months form now, Dad." Carson nodded. LIghtning then asked, "How are things with you? Work going well?" Carson raised a brow, hesitating before nodding, "Yeah. Yeah, things are good as usual. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the rehearsal." Sally quickly assure that "It's fine. I get it. You are a busy man. Always have been." "Yeah, well... I hated missing that. I want to see you happy, Sally." "I am happy, Dad. Extremely." She assured. This did make Carson feel better but he looked at Lightning as he continued, "I will want to speak with Lightning-you, alone tonight too. If you don't mind."
Lightning didn't mean to but glared a little at his future Father in law. "Sure. I don't see why not." He growled quietly. Sally gently slapped his shoulder. Silently scolding him for his tone and expressions. Carson snickered at that. The family ordered the meal, drinks, talked about how the motels and racing were going and whatnot. Carson cleared his throat and began, "I am proud of you two, The both of you have come so far." Sally smiled replying, "Thanks, Dad. That really does mean a lot." Her eyes lit up and got glossy with overjoyed emotion. Carson then noticed back behind Lightning and Sally, a few people taking photos. Of Lightning probably. He sighed and asked his daughter, "Are you sure you can handle Lightning's uh.. Image?"
Lightning raised a brow as Sally asked, "Why would you ask that?" Carson stared at the people behind. Lightning turned and glanced at them. Making the strangers smile as they had Lightning looking straight at them. Lightning turned back around and griped, "Some people have no respect for privacy." "We are in public." Sally reminded. Lightning nodded, "Sure, but it's common sense. At least you would think. If I'm not in my suit or on the track, I'm not there for the fans." Carson stared at the racer a moment before asking, "How are you doing? Since the accident?.. They caught the guy, right?" Lightning frowned before answering honestly, "I"m alright. I guess I could be better.. That is actually why I.. I not we, aren't taking the Honeymoon outside the country. The man hasn't been caught and the guy they thought was him, wasn't."
Carson stared at his daughter with such fear. "Wh-what if the guy came back? Seeing as how you are alive?" Carson asked in such worry. Sally shook her head and assured, "It won't happen." "You don't-you don't know that. Lightning..." Lightning saw the fear in Carson's eyes. He was afraid for both, sure, but he was afraid of losing his daughter. Lightning sighed, "I know.. I know.. I won't let anything happen." Carson leaned back in his seat. Stomach a bit in knots knowing that the man was still out there. It became quiet. No one saying anything.
So Sally announced, "We bought our wedding bands!" Carson smiled at his daughter, So happy to see her happy. Lightning proudly placed an arm around Sally in the chair. Gazing at her. Carson was glad to see it. Happy to see Sally happy and thankful to know that truly, she was taken care of...
Sally stood up, stretching a little before yawning, "Well, I'm tired. Think I'll go clean up in the restroom. He right back." She smiled and scuffed off. Lightning watched her go. Just keeping an eye on her Carson then grabbed his attention asking, "Are you sure? About the marriage? I don't want you breaking my little girl's heart." LIghtning easily answered, "OH yes, Sir. I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life. I love Sally. I can't wait to marry her." Carson snickered with a small smile. "You promise to take care of her? Over racing, right?" Lightning nodded, "I do, I got this, Carson. Relax.. I know Ben made a wound that was hard for everyone to heal from but I won't do that to her. I love her way too much to hurt her like that." Carson nodded and sipped his drink. Mumbling, "People change.. sometimes, want different things..." Lightning shook his head assuring, "I don't want anyone else. Just Sally"
Carson nodded and sipped a bit more of his drink before placing it on the table and then pulling out his phone. Pulling up a photo and sliding it over to Lightning. LIghtning glanced down at the photo and he may have turned a bit pale. It was a photo of him and Josephine. The two of them entered the motel room together. He sighed. This looked really bad. Lightning slid the phone back to Carson and announced, "Sally already knows about that." "You cheated?" Carson asked rudely.
Lightning shook his head answering, "No, I never slept with that woman while Sally and I dated-or been together. That's no one." Carson snickered then pressed another button on his phone showing the public images in search of him and this girl, this woman. Lightning stared at them. So many pictures of him and Josephine on the internet. Lightning frowned a little seeing the photos. Looking at Carson and explaining, "She was-is an ex. I dated her before Sally. Besides, That recent one you showed me means nothing. I didn't cheat, I won't cheat and Sally already knows about it." Carson nodded and put his phone away. "I just wanted to ask about it." He replied. Lightning sighed. Feeling a bit interrogated with that. Sally returned and hugged her Father, bidding goodbye for now. As the next time, they would see each other, would be the wedding day!...
Lightning walked outside of his home. Drinking his morning coffee while staring out and the fog and roads, mountains. Radiator Springs was beautiful and quite peaceful in the mornings. Sipping his coffee. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and glanced at it.
Mack
Need get down to the trailer fast!
Lightning stared at the text. A little worrisome. What could be so urgent? So he rushed back into the house, grabbed his keys, jacket and as he made his way to the garage, Sally stopped him asking, "Where are you going so fast there Stickers?" Lightning smiled seeing her. "Morning, Beautiful." He greeted. Walking up to her and kissing her lips softly. Sally smiled and repeated, "Where are you going?" Lightning sighed, "Mack texted me. I must get down to the trailer. I don't know why yet though." "Oh. Well, hold on, I'll come with you. Just let me throw on a hoodie." Lightning was happy to wait and let his girl ride along. Nothing could be better. He so loved truck by the coming wedding that nothing could get him down. Nothing at all!...
Lightning and Sally pulled up and parked next to Lightning's race trailer sat. Mack, Ramone, Luigi, Guido, and Mater stood near the opened rear entrance. Lightning got out and asked, "What's going on? What's so urgent?" Mater assured, "I did not do it." Sally walked up and glanced at Lightning. LIghtning who was growing a little worried more and more. Mack sighed and motioned for Lightning to go into the trailer. So slowly, Lightning entered the trailer. Bolt was still there. Good. Because his first thought was someone stole his race car. But upon further investigation, The Bolt was all scratched up. Badly. Down the sides as if someone was buffing it with keys! Then the hood too. The word DICK is keyed on it. The roof was even keyed and his name was completely scratched out! He peeked inside the Bolt to see the kill switch smashed up and the little button broke off. He stood up, staring at the car then asked Mack, "Who had access to the Bolt this week?" MAck walked in and pointed to the wall of the trailer. Lightning glanced up to see that the person didn't just mess with the bolt, they ripped up photos on the wall, scratched it up just like the car! Lightning bit his lips. Trying to think of how to calmly react.
Mack finally answered, "Only people with the key. I went ahead and checked locks and nothing was tampered with.. Also, it was locked back up.. SO whoever did this.. Wanted you to see this at the next race." Lightning nodded. Thinking. He was furious. The only people with keys were him, Mack, Ramone, and the pit crew members. None of them lived in Radiator Springs. Lightning knew Mack didn't do this. He stepped out of the trailer and looked at Ramone asking, "You lend your key to anyone?" Ramone shook his head. LIghtning sighed then turned to Sally and said, "I need to go the race early. I need another car and I'll need to meet with the crew and talk to them. One of them did this." He growled...
Lightning stood in the front for the seating area of the Rusteze tent. Standing with his arms crossed as he stared at his pit crew sitting before him in the plastic chairs. Rusty and Dusty standing a little ways back with Sally and Mack. Lightning stared at them. Glaring and asked, "I think at least one of you knows why we are here right now." Watching the crews' reactions. Nothing suspicious yet. "Someone went into the trailer and keys the Bolt. Trashing the trailer wall. Destroying my property, Rusteze's property. A three hundred thousand dollar car!" He yelled! becoming angry. One of the crew members spoke up saying, "We didn't! We would never do that to you!" LIghtning snickered and shook his head, rolling his eyes. Another crew member asked, "What happened to the car?" Lightning held up a finger and then walked over to the connected trailer of Rusteze. Opening it and saying, "GO on and take a look." The crew members all hesitated. But slowly, one by one walked up and took a look in the trailer at the car and wall. All standing with Lightning. Staring. A crew member assured again, "We didn't do it!" Lightning lost it! "One of you did! One of you messed with the Bolt and locked it back up once you were done! I know dam well, Mack didn't do this! So which one of you have a problem with me and decided to take it out on the dam car!?"
No one in the crew answered. Lightning had to take a deep breath. "One of you messed with the kill switch." A crew member then reminded, "Didn't you just get shot!? What if it was that guy?!" Lightning shook his head and shouted, "You guys would have had to hand him the key! That's it! Is the person responsible gonna step up or not!?" He asked in anger. No one said a word. It was frustratingly quiet. Rusty and Dusty glanced at each other. Sighing and wishing that the culprit would come clean. Finally, a crew member broke the silence with, "Even if the person who did this wanted to brag about it, they wouldn't. Because you are marrying a freakin lawyer." Lightning glanced at Sally then back to the team and growled, "Excuses. Fine. My attorney is here. Sally, come here." Sally heisted and slowly walked up and stood next to her very angry fiancé.
Lightning glared at his team as he talked to Sally, "This is on record and my Attorney as my witness. I can't go back on my word here. If and I mean IF whoever is responsible for this, steps forward and admits their doings, I will fire them but I will not press charges, I will not say another word to them and for future employer reasons, I will say that you quit." "Lightning-"-"So who did this?" The crew members stared at each other. Quietly. Lightning waited and still nothing. So he nodded and with anger said, "Fine. Whoever you are won't step up? You are all fired!" He yelled then stomped out of the tent. The crew members try to reason and beg for Lightning to let them keep their jobs. Sally stopped Lightning outside and said, "You need a team to race." "In the cup. I'll be fine. I've done it alone before." He reminded us he walked away angry. Sally sighed. Hating seeing Lightning like this.
A few crew members begged Sally to talk to Lightning and get them their jobs back but Sally didn't trust them One of them messed with the kill switch. That could have been a deadly mistake...
