"Anything else you would like to say, before leaving, Mr. Storm?"

There was a moment of nothing but static on the radio.

"Alex," said Jackson. "If you're out there, I just want you to know that-"

Lizzie shut off the radio, driving inside her shop, and I wasn't able to catch the rest of what was said. I did know one thing though:

I would definitely be returning to the tracks.

---

"Are you sure about this?" Dad asked. I had come out of Ramone's with the same design as given to me by Cruz.

"Dad, I have to go back," I said. "After what Jackson said on the radio, I can't just leave him hanging like this. Besides, both you and I have to go to that race, tomorrow, anyways."

"I'm not sure about this, Alex," he said. "You know what happened to me at the Dinoco 400."

"That's in the past, Dad," I said. "Besides, you've been racing for years. It's your gift. You can't just throw it away over one crash. Doc didn't, did he?" I asked.

Dad smiled at me.

"Look who got confident, overnight." he said.

"I had a good teacher." I responded.

"Enough Daddy-Daughter time, yo! You gotta go!" Ramone pushed on. I laughed, as he pushed me towards the road.

"Come on, Dad, let's go!" I insisted.

"I'm going, I'm going." he said, defensively.

---

I'd noticed Jackson talking to other racers when we got to the stadium. However, I was too blocked up by cameras and yelling to reach him.

"Jackson!" I shouted. He seemed to not hear, but the paparazzi may have been what turned his attention towards me. He glared at me, as my dad and I tried to push past the photographers, and journalists. I could hear my dad faintly, saying, "Give us some space, guys."

"Is it true that you were Storm Swift, Miss McQueen?"

"What happened between you and Jackson?"

"Are you still going to be racing?"

"Has your father decided to retire, Miss McQueen?"

"When did you realize it was your daughter, Mr. McQueen?"

"Are you planning on going back to being Storm Swift?"

The questions were starting to tick me off, as I finally pushed past them all, making my way to Jackson.

There was an awkward silence between us, when I got to him.

"I see you're back." he spoke, as the silence ended, and another one took over.

"I heard what you said, this morning," I explained. "On the radio?"

He gave me a look, as if to ask, "And?"

I frowned, staring at the pavement beneath us.

"I just.." I trailed off. "...Look, I know that you're still upset, and...well, I mean..."

"I know what you're trying to say," he responded. "Makes sense. Overprotective racing dad has a deadly crash caused by me. You tried to help him out, and I got in the way."

"That's not what I was gonna-"

"No, it's fine," he cut off. "I get it...and I want you to know that I understand."

He was just about to drive off, when I spoke back up.

"Jackson." I called. He stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry, for everything. I didn't even realize how you felt about the whole situation, and that's my fault."

I began to tear up, which wasn't good, being there were numerous cameras around.

"And, you can ignore me as long as you want to, and that'll be okay, because I was selfish, and a liar, and I blamed you for it. I'm just a stupid teenager who thought I could handle everything on my own, and I got you stuck in my problems with me, and pinned it on you."

He didn't seem to care. I shook my head, tearing up even more (which I seemed to be doing on and off at that point), and began to drive back to my dad, who stood waiting for me.

"Wrong way." said Jackson. I turned around to him.

"What?" I asked.

"You're facing the wrong way," he said. "I'm over here, not over there."

He gave me a smirk, and the silence came back, though this time, it was brief.

"Who said you were a stupid teenager?" he asked. "I mean, obviously, if you can learn in a week what takes most racers three years to learn, you're smarter than the rest of us."

"Jackson-" I tried.

"It's alright," he interrupted. "And...if you want...we can give us another shot."

I looked up to him.

"Jackson," I said. "What about-"

"The lies?" he asked. "What you said at the Speedway?"

I fell silent, again.

"Alex." he addressed, and I looked him straight in the eyes.

"You're a racer." he said, and I remembered what he told me, when we first really talked, before my second race. I then realized:

That was his way of saying it was in the past.

"I hurt you." I argued back, softly.

"And?" he asked.

I smiled a bit, and that awkward silence came back.

"Enough pitying yourself, Alex," he scolded, when the silence ended, and I could spot a teasing grin on his face. "Are we a thing again, or not?"

I rolled my eyes, returning his grin with my own.

"No deals?" I asked.

"No deals." He answered, and I could feel my smile grow.

"Good," I said, driving up, and nuzzling my hood to his. "I like it better that way."

He looked at me, and tsk'd, a small smile showing.

"I have an idea." he said.

"What?"

"Let's go for a drive." he said. By this time, my dad had caught up with us.

"If someone will let us." I said, gesturing to Dad. He smiled.

"Bring her back in one piece, Jackson." said Dad.

"Yeah, yeah," he responded. "I think she can handle herself."

"I do, too," said Dad. "so, bring her back in one piece."

"Hey!" I yelled, defensively. Jackson and Dad smirked.

"I apologize, for what I said at that race, McQueen," he said. "You're not over with, just yet. I think I was just...too caught up in myself..."

He trailed off, and I looked to Dad, who smiled.

"Well, thank you; I appreciate it." Dad responded.

"Wait," said Jackson. "You're not gonna argue back, or-"

"There's no point in arguing about what's past us," said Dad, cutting him off. "Now, you see what happens, don't you?"

Jackson was quiet, eyes widened. I smirked.

"Wow," I said. "For the first time ever, he shut you up, not the other way around." I joked. Jackson punched me with his tire.

"Ow!" I yelled, through a giggle. Dad smiled.

"Watch over her, Storm." said Dad, and he drove off, ignoring the camera crowd following him.

"I think he's getting used to you." I said. Jackson smiled.

"Yeah, yeah."

I followed him, as he exited the stadium, and we drove off.

"I'm guessing it's back to Thomasville, then?" I asked, following Jackson.

"We're not going to Thomasville." he answered.

"Then, where are we going?"

"You'll see."

I huffed, and continued to follow him, up until we got to...

Wait for it...

Thomasville.

"You're a liar." I said, annoyed. Jackson chuckled.

"Well, if I told you the truth, you would have wanted to take the lead." he explained.

"Just like I will in the race." I smarted back.

"That's the tiebreaker," said Jackson. "I'm talking about the Florida 500, the first race of the new season."

"I'll lead in that one, too." I teased. Jackson smirked.

"We'll see about that. Besides, aren't you racing for your dad, not to win?"

I was silent for a moment.

"Yeah, about that..." I drifted off. Jackson stared at me a moment.

"Wait a minute," he said. "You're not-..."

An awkward silence, before a mischievous grin appeared on his face.

"This isn't about your dad, anymore, is it?" he asked.

"Wait, wait, Jackson, I never said-"

"You're enjoying all this-"

"I never said that-"

"You actually want to be the first female racer." he figured out. I sighed.

"Please don't spill to my dad," I said. "He'll be heartbroken."

"Wait, you're just gonna admit it?" he asked. "No smart remarks, no faces?"

"What's the point?" I asked.

Another stare from Jackson.

"You alright?" he asked. I turned away, and drove around the track.

"Alex?" he asked, again. I kept driving. He drove in front of me, abruptly.

"Hey, talk to me," he said. "What's going on?"

I looked down.

"Alex-"

"You're planning on winning that race." I cut off.

"Everyone is." he responded.

"What happens after that?" I asked. He was quiet.

"You're gonna be going places, and doing things, and I'm just gonna be...here."

Jackson laughed a little.

"You think you're just going to be nobody once the season's over?" he asked. "You're the first female to race in history-"

"Yeah, and that's all I am. Well, other than McQueen's daughter. I wanna be known for more than just the "first female racer". Besides, I know the whole thing is just going to die over after a week or two. What happens after that, Jackson?" I asked.

He remained quiet, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was.

"Neither of us know what the future holds." I said.

"That's why I don't worry about it." He responded. I smiled a bit. He looked at me and sighed.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, just," he said. "Look, I know I've been a jerk to you for the past few weeks, so..."

He drifted off.

"So?" I asked.

"I mean, well," he said. "You, with your dad, and-... I mean...You and I-..."

I stifled a laugh. It was cute seeing him struggle.

"You and I?" I asked, gesturing him to continue.

I mostly did it just to see him strain.

I decided I would wait, before making the next move that I planned to make.

"I just wanted to say-well, not say, more like-...I mean say, but I just-...I mean-well, anyways. I know that you've been going through-well, not going through a lot, but a lot has happened, and-"

"You can't do it, can you?" I teasingly interrupted.

He glared at me, and sighed.

"You know what I'm trying to say, don't you?" he asked, giving up.

I smiled, and kissed him.

"Nope." I said, before driving off, leaving him in a state of shock.

---

We got back to the stadium just in time. The only problem was the paparazzi that found us. Within seconds, Jackson and I were surrounded.

"Mr. Storm, are you and Ms. McQueen in a relationship?"

"Have you decided to ally with Lightning McQueen?"

"Are you still going to be racing as Storm Swift?"

"Where did you go?"

"Did Mr. Storm kidnap you?"

At this point, the questions were just getting ridiculous, and I was tired of the microphones that were being shoved in my face.

"No, Jackson didn't kidnap me, and any other information is classified." I answered, shoving past interviewing cars.

You get rid of one, and twenty-five more appear in his or her place.

"Tell us, what happened between the two of you?" asked one car.

Then, worse came to worst.

The News Channel arrived.

"I'm Kori Turbowitz," said, well...Kori. "And I'm here, with Jackson Storm, and Alexandria McQueen, on the topic of what was once Storm Swift, the first female rookie to ever race!"

Wait, "was"?

So, I wasn't anymore?

Or, was I never the first to begin with?...

"Alex," Kori addressed, and I jumped.

"Huh?" I asked, looking to her and the camera-car.

"Can you tell us what motivated you to join the season?" she asked. I looked to Jackson, and he gave me a confused expression, as if to say, "What am I supposed to do?"

I gave him the same expression, then looked back.

"Well, uh," I started. "I mostly did it for my dad, I guess?"

"Had Mr. McQueen insisted before that you join the racing league?" she asked.

"U-uh, no," I stammered. "I mean, he'd asked before, but I never really thought on it."

I looked to Jackson, then back at Kori.

"I guess seeing my dad crash onscreen...I just...turned." I continued.

"Can you tell us about you and Jackson?" she asked.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on," said Jackson. "What happens between her and I isn't anybody's business, alright?"

The demand in his voice was obvious, and it scared me somewhat. At the same time, I felt...satisfied.

That boy could do magical things.

"I didn't know you would be so offended, Mr. Storm," said Kori. "I apologize."

"You can take your little news crew somewhere else," said Jackson. "We don't need any cameras in our faces twenty-four/seven."

I smiled.

It really wasn't about publicity. I watched, as she took the TV crew with her, to interview other racers. I made sure to signal to Dad that they would be coming after him. He gave me a wink, as if to tell me he'd be fine, and left. It was good to know that he was coming back.

He was coming back slow, but nonetheless, he was coming back. I looked to Jackson.

"You think he'll be alright?" I asked.

"Absolutely..." he said, trailing off. "...No, not at all."

I smiled. He nuzzled his hood to the side of mine, and I laughed.

"As much of a jerk as I was to you," he said. "I'm glad you came into the season."

I looked in his eyes, and realized that

that was what he was trying to say, back at Thomasville.

"Hey," I said. "It's growing late. You mind driving me home?"

"Well, you have your dad to do that, don't you?" he asked.

"Yeah," I answered. "but it's more fun when you're around."

He smiled.

"Yeah," he responded.

"Let's take you home."

---

It had been a long trip home, but it was completely worth it.

"This is where I leave, and don't see you until the tiebreaker," said Jackson. "I'll see you tomorrow. Alright?"

"Goodnight, Jackson." I answered. He smiled at me, and I returned the grin. We were just about to share a goodnight kiss, when someone interrupted, by clearing their throat.

"O.M.G." said the car. "Alex!"

I turned to see Lena, standing by Mom and Dad.

No one even needed to tell me, because even I knew I was blushing.

Jackson stifled a chuckle.