Chapter 8: A Storm for Cruz.
Around the same time that day, Cruz was getting out of her car. She had parked in a parking spot between the Hudson Hornet Museum and the driving school. It was time for a little snack.
She had her lunch box inside the classroom, already prepared from the night before, she liked to go to V8 with friends, but on other occasions (like this one) she preferred the food she made herself, this way she saved a little more time, and it was also nice to eat alone from time to time.
Lightning, Mater and the other students had gone to other places for lunch time, so Cruz could have her moment of relaxation before going back to training.
She usually accompanied McQueen and Mater for meals, today they invited her, but she excused herself to them because she wanted to be alone. More because it was very difficult to look her boss in the eyes during that first day, she wanted to avoid comments when they saw her rosy cheeks. She thought that that strange previous feeling was going to go away.
Curiously... Not yet.
The curly-haired girl walked to the school door, about to open it with the key McQueen left in her care, when she felt a hand placed on her shoulder.
-Ah! - She screamed, dropped the key that was now on the ground and immediately turned around to see who had left her almost spiritless.
-Hello, "My biggest fan"-
A tall guy with straight short black hair smiled at her mockingly, with a gesture that really wanted her to get a good scare.
Jackson Storm was now in front of her, just like on the track, but in a different setting. He took off his sunglasses to reveal his vain blue eyes.
-Jackson... - Cruz wrinkled her nose in displeasure, as if a stench was in the air. -I could already smell "sympathy" What are you doing here? -
-I... - He sighed, preparing his next sentence while hanging his glasses in the pocket of his leather jacket. -I came just to see you. - He said now showing some seriousness, his voice came to be heard very soft and his gaze became sensitive.
- ... - Cruz blushed a little when she heard that, it sounded like something... Cute? Even his eyes seemed tender to her.
-Ha! You fell. - He showed his mocking smile again. -
Cruz got pissed off and hadn't even been with him for 5 minutes, if he was already unbearable on the track. How could she fall into that? She should have seen it coming.
-Why did you come specifically to this place? If you never have anything good to say, you could have saved it for the races. -
-I heard that Mr. Bernoulli was passing through here... -Jackson got to the point. -I'm looking for some kind of training so I can crush you from next season and until I retire. -
-From Francesco Bernoulli? Bu-But... His track is not the same as ours. - Confused. - Also... I can't believe you have... Respect for him? When you're always making fun of past generations. -
-I know, I know he was racing on another track, I'm not stupid. –
-Oh, no you aren't? – She smiled.
Jackson rolled his eyes and shook his head.
-I don't have to explain it to you. The thing is, I asked people in town and they told me that he was coming to this... School... - He looked at the building from top to bottom, sounding contemptuous. –Although it seems that no one is there. -
-No, it's lunch time, everyone has gone to that. Maybe, he went to eat at the exclusive W.W. Motel. – Cruz bent down to pick up the key that had fallen earlier. – Now, if you'll excuse me... –
- "W.W. Motel"? Where the hell is that? Exclusive? - He interrupted her complaints, raising an eyebrow, questioning. - If you had informed me that there was another place to stay, I would not have taken something as ordinary as the Cozy Cone. - And since he was referring to that, there was no one there when he arrived and he could not enter his reserved cabin.
- Well, yes, I think you should read more for yourself when you go on vacation instead of leaving everything in the hands of your representatives... Although they would have to be aware, I suppose. - She shrugged and pointed to another place. - Anyway, follow the road that leads to that mountain past the waterfall, it is signposted, READ the signs, you will not get lost. "Unless you are too dumb." - She thought that last sentence, laughing to herself.
Jackson omitted to ask her what was so funny, thought for a few seconds and then reacted.
- Wait... Take me there! – He asked, but it wasn't a very subtle request, it almost sounded like something obligatory.
-Sorry... What? Should I take you? I'm sorry, I'm busy, my stomach demands its share of fuel or I won't perform in training, and if I don't eat, I'll get in a bad mood! And you won't like it, neither you, nor anyone else. – She spoke almost without breathing, ruffling some of her curls. – I'm also waiting for... –
-Understood, but if you take me. - He interrupted her again in the middle of a sentence. - I'll buy you lunch. Although it would be quite convenient for me if you didn't perform in training. - He suggested.
Cruz crossed her arms. What would the press who were around think if they saw them arriving together at the elegant place? Bad... They always distorted everything.
Speaking of lies, at that moment she wanted to invent that she was waiting for someone to see if Jackson would give up and leave her alone, although, it seems that on the other hand the guy was quite persistent. His interruptions were very uncomfortable.
And her box of homemade food? Maybe she'd leave it for dinner.
-Hey...- Jackson noticed her so thoughtful that he had to speak again. -Answer me. -
She snorted.
-Okay, come on, get in.- She exchanged the school key for the one to her coupe car, which was parked nearby.
They walked together to the parking lot. Storm stood on the passenger side. Cruz had to unlock the car.
-Nice car, small and not very powerful, it matches the town... And the owner. - He smiled mischievously.
-Do you have complexes with that? "Small and not very powerful" - Cruz said that with a double meaning.
-Do you want to see? - Jackson kept smiling. He didn't believe she would say such things.
-Crazy! I-It was a... Joke! - She admitted, her face almost smoking from being so red. That answer was not what she expected. Now she felt more uncomfortable, and worse, she had to concentrate on driving.
Moments later...
Despite everything, it didn't take them long to get to the W.W. Motel, they got out of the car and headed to the entrance.
-Nice place. - Jackson said, taking a look at the facade and the tables of the outdoor restaurant.
-I know - She looked from side to side, it seemed there was no journalist in sight. Strange. Did they get bored of chasing Francesco? Maybe they already had what they wanted.
Cruz went straight to the bar, Guido was there, while Luigi was tending to "La Casa della Tires" in the town. Apparently, the old people of Radiator Springs didn't trust new people to take over the older businesses. That's why most of the newcomers founded their own. Except for Sally and Red, (since there were more recruits working at the station, with the growth of the town.) the others had another kind of thinking about their significance.
-Hi Guido. –She greets the older man pleasantly and smiles. Finally, someone she liked. –Uh...Francesco? – Since Guido only spoke Italian, she asked a direct and easy question. It was hard for her to realize, but he, curiously, understood English perfectly.
Guido greeted her with a friendly "Ciao, come va?", while he placed some freshly washed glasses on the shelf and after his question, he pointed with his finger to one of the tables near the bar, there was Francesco, drinking a glass of whiskey.
-Grazie! – Cruz said and observed. –How strange, he's alone. Not a girl in sight. -
-Have you seen him yet? – Suddenly Jackson came up behind her. –You left me abandoned out there. –
She smiled at him. She didn't get scared like the first time, because she turned around in time.
-Why? Did you miss me? –
-Continue dreaming, Ramirez. –
-Okay. – She says. – Francesco is over there. Go and chat, I'll wait for you at the restaurant, I'll order my lunch immediately and in abundance, if you don't mind. I need to eat. –
-I don't mind, I'll see you there in a few minutes. -
Cruz retired to the restaurant that was in a large room past the bar, while Jackson walked to Francesco's table.
The Italian man invited him to sit down, he already knew this guy, from those things in the press, and in a way, he liked that part of him constantly making fun of McQueen before his official retirement.
They talked for about fifteen minutes, because Storm went straight to the point, the experience of a world champion like Francesco, who had faced Lightning on the track several times, could bring him quite a few benefits.
Francesco agreed to take him as a student for a couple of days, he was curious to know what kind of results he could bring to someone who raced on another circuit and with so many technological advances. Although, races were races. Everything would be seen later.
...
On the other hand, Sally spent the hours after lunch at the Cozy Cone just exploding her brain with ideas to make the subject of the damned dinner come to light without causing major dramas.
-This is already giving me a headache. – She massaged her temples. Luckily her son was usually calm, now she had Lance sitting in a stroller next to her. The baby was biting a rubber toy.
Suddenly someone enters the lobby and approaches the service desk.
-Mrs. McQueen... Good day. –
-Jackson Storm... Oh! It's true, you had a reservation here. – Sally had forgotten.
-Yes, what bad service, I arrived here hours ago and there was no one who could help me to install my luggage in the room I reserved. – He points to a corner of the lobby; his suitcases were there on the floor. He looked upset. -Luckily I found a space to park my Viper. - One of the cars he is using when is not on tracks.
-I'm very sorry, really. It's the first time something like this has happened to me... Oh Chrysler... – She really felt bad about this, she had a worried expression, more so because of where the woman had been thinking the last few hours. –Look, don't be angry, I won't charge you for the first three days as compensation. Would that be okay with you? –
-I'm not angry... Oh, yes, I'm upset. But the idea of free days seems tempting to me. But with everything I had to pay for what Cruz ate... I didn't think a woman could put so much in her stomach. -The last thing was like a murmur, like he was talking to himself.
-Sorry... Seriously... - Then from a drawer Sally took a copy of cone number one. -Come, I'll take you to your room. -She took the handles of the baby stroller and went in front of the counter, next to Jackson. -This way. -
Jackson blinked and looked at the child in surprise.
-Is it... Mr. McQueen's son? –
-And mine... - Sally added. – Our Lance. –
Lance looked at Jackson, but for some reason, he immediately lost interest in this new face and continued to pay attention to his toy.
-He looks a lot like him... - He sighed. – Anyway, where's the baggage handler? – He asked, looking around.
-I'm sorry, but I don't have a bellboy... Could you...? – Sally excused herself.
-I'm definitely not going to recommend your hotel on the social medias. – He twisted his mouth in disappointment and walked to pick up his two suitcases.
At that moment Sally felt her headache increasing. What a day, she really needed a couple more hands to help her.
To be continued...
Disclaimer:
-Lance Carrera-McQueen and this story originally belong to me. (c) Shadoru.
-The other characters belong to (c) Disney. PIXAR.
-Sorry my bad English.