Chapter 6: Strange feeling.
The next morning, everyone returned to their routine as usual. Before going to open the school, Lightning stopped by the Cozy Cone to drop off a folder containing papers that Sally left forgotten on the table at their house before leaving for work.
Seconds after being able to enter the place, he met Cruz who was leaving after Sally asked her for a small favor, since her night shift assistant had left before, Sally could say anything to Camille. So, right now, Cruz was going to check out the cone number 1 of the hotel, she didn't have a very comfortable expression.
Since she was a little distracted and, in a hurry, she bumped into Lightning without thinking twice.
-Ouch! - She fell to the floor, sitting down.
McQueen barely staggered, nor did he drop what he was carrying in his hand.
-Oh! Cruz, I'm so sorry, let me help you. - He offered, bending down to help her.
-No, it's okay Mr. McQueen... It was my fault, I almost ran out, I wanted to finish this quickly, I was doing a favor for your wife. Are you okay? - She stood up quickly and stared at him.
Lightning laughed lightly. Because of her momentum when she stood up at that speed, then he also stood up.
-How can you ask me that? You fell, nothing happened to me. Are you okay? -
-Yes... Thank you. - The girl relaxed knowing that everything was okay. She noticed that he was carrying something that she immediately recognized by the color of the folder, Sally mentioned them a million times while searching through the drawers of the counter in the lobby. -Ah! Those papers, your wife says that she went crazy looking for them... And yes, I saw her mess up a lot of things in there. - She got nervous again.
-Yes, I brought them precisely because Sally said they were important. But relax, Cruz, you're bursting. -
-I know! - She sighed. – Your wife just gave me some bad news. – Like a pissed off little girl, she stomped her feet on the floor.
– What happened? – He asked curiously.
– It's just that... Jackson is coming to town today... And just because I was a good girl and went to ask Mrs. McQueen if she needed help, she caught me and now I have to make sure that the room for 'The King of the Bad Losers' is in order. Now I understand why the idiot didn't send me more messages by cellphone, he wanted to come and bother me personally. –
-I understand you; I feel the same way with Francesco hanging around, and now they'll be two unbearable show-offs in town. - He complained, although in his next sentence he seemed somewhat resigned. - Well, I'm going to leave this to Sally. See you later? -
- Please, Mr. McQueen, let me carry that for you, I have to go back to the lobby anyway. - She reached out to take the folder, but was so fast and impatient that she took them from the man with some momentum, so the papers ended up scattered on the floor.
- Damn! How clumsy I am. - She immediately bent down to pick them all up.
- I'll help you, Cruz... Don't worry. - He also knelt down to help her.
After a few seconds they gathered most of them, although one of the documents was carried by an unexpected breeze, a little far from both of them.
Cruz and Lightning thought the same thing and ran after it.
He threw himself to the ground, grabbing the paper with one hand before it went any further and shouted in a tone of accomplishment.
-I caught it! -
-Ouch! - The girl tripped and fell on McQueen's back. -S... Sorry Mr. McQueen... I'm so sorry... - She blushed, even though she knew she was invading his personal space, she didn't get up immediately, she did so after about ten seconds.
-No problem, it was an accident. Cruz, calm down, you're too nervous, forget about Jackson. - He also stood up when she got off of him, wiping the dust off his clothes with one hand, finally he gathered the paper with the others, arranging them back into the folder. -Here, they're all here, if you can give them to Sally, please... -
-Yes... yes... Right now. - She smiled, trying to concentrate.
-Thanks, I have to go, I'm going to buy some time, see you later. – Lightning said goodbye to Cruz momentarily and went his usual way.
-Yes! ... I'll be there... soon – She whispered, when he had gone quite far away.
Then Cruz went back into the Cozy Cone to deliver the documents to Sally.
-Mrs. Carrera... – The girl called.
-Oh, Cruz, what's wrong? Have you seen the room? – The owner asked from behind the counter, while the baby was sleeping, she was distracted with a magazine and eating a chocolate candy that she took out of a very pretty box full of them. Curiously relaxed after all the mess she made looking for her folder.
At that moment everything was in order, as if nothing had happened.
-No, but... I came back to bring you this. – She left all the papers inside her folder on the furniture.
-How did you get them so fast? They were at my house and I didn't have a copy. – Sally looked at the girl, with a lot of questioning and some emotion in her tone.
-No, honestly it wasn't me, Mr. McQueen was about to enter when I found him with this, he knew immediately that you needed them so he brought them. – Cruz explained.
-Did Stickers come here? – Sally's eyes sparkled, she didn't know why, now she really wanted to see him. – Why didn't he stop by to say hello? How strange, he sends me boxes of chocolates in secret and even he gets mysterious with his presence. –
-He went to driving school. – She shrugged her shoulders. – Well, I'm going to what you asked me before about the room. –
-Yes, thank you very much. – Sally felt relieved with her documents there.
At the same time Cruz left, Francesco came in.
-Well, good morning Mr. Bernoulli. – The girl greeted and left.
-Good morning, darling... – The Italian smiled at her, holding the door for her to leave, then going to the service counter. – Good morning, Sally.
The woman quickly swallowed another of the chocolates and at the same time put her documents under the counter where she had folders full of them.
-How are you, Francesco? I thought you would go with Stickers, like the previous days, he told me that there have been times when you help with advice to the new students. –
-Francesco has other plans today... - He replied. - I see you liked the chocolates I sent you. -
- What? You sent them to me? I thought it was my husband. - For a moment the taste of the chocolate left in her mouth felt different. Not bitter, or unpleasant, just different... inexplicable. -Well, thanks, I guess... -
- Just an excuse to stop by here, and I also wanted to know if you wanted to go to dinner with me tonight or tomorrow... -
Did he need excuses to visit a friend? Or to invite her to dinner?
He didn't finish speaking when she abruptly interrupted him.
- Oh, no... I can't... I have a lot to do here, I have to take care of my son and I don't think Stickers would approve of something like that... - She got extremely nervous when she answered.
-... As friends, obviously, if that's what worries you. - It was what he was going to add before the interruption. - Although there are many pretty girls around, you are the only one I know a little more, it will only be a dinner. What's wrong with that? – Typical of the Italian guy persuasive power. - I will return to my country in a time and that will be all, maybe until who knows when. Francesco will be quite busy from then on. –
Sally listened attentively to Francesco and convinced herself that it was actually just a dinner... with friends. So, she accepted, but she was sad to hear that he would be leaving the town soon. And he was right, Lightning was retired, but Francesco continues on the racing tracks, so, more busy means no traveling back to Radiator Springs soon.
-Sure, okay... How about tomorrow night? I just want to talk to Stickers about it and get a babysitter for Lance early, in case my husband gets home late. –
-No problem. – He answered. – Oh! One more thing, if it's not too much trouble... I want to move here, to one of the cabins at the Cozy Cone, I know that the luxury suite and everything at the W.W. Motel goes with me, but I would like to be around here these days. –
-Yeah, sure, it doesn't bother me, it's my job to serve the customers, there are a couple that don't have passengers, so I'll send someone from the motel for your things, you'll be settled soon. - She nodded as she spoke.
-Thank you, in any case, I will let you know if Francesco is changing his mind. – Smiled flirtatiously, taking his way back. – Then, I'll see you later. –
He didn't say anything else, when he left the lobby, Sally looked at the box of chocolates, she didn't continue eating them, she felt a little strange. Better continued with her work.
Meanwhile, that morning, between the time Francesco visited Sally, before he could go help Lightning, Cruz, who was still inside the motel room, began to think about something, there was something in her mind that wouldn't leave her alone.
Sitting on the bed, for some strange reason remembering the stumble she had with McQueen, she couldn't help but think about his body scent, when he fell on his back. She blushed, closed her eyes and her heart beat a little faster.
-Eek! No! No, no... I can't. – She opened her eyes scared, bringing a hand to her mouth. – Why? Why am I thinking about Mr. McQueen as if he were... someone I want? No! No... This hadn't happened before. I'm going crazy. –
Her own reaction made her fear that capricious... feeling. McQueen was her boss, her boss only, and her friend. She couldn't let that go. She didn't want this thing that was born from a small moment to become something bigger.
Or maybe it was just a momentary thing.
Whatever it was, it had to end right then.
To be continued...
Disclaimer:
-This story belongs to me, as does the character of Lance. (c) Shadoru.
-The other characters belong to the Cars canon. (c) Disney. PIXAR.
-Sorry my bad English.