It was Sunday, and the Florida 500 was only five days away. I had forfeited from today's race. For one, it didn't really count anything towards Florida, and to be honest, I didn't really feel like racing, after remembering the tiebreaker, with Jackson (though I pretty much expected it).

I listened to the radio, while helping Mom with a few things, back at RS. The reporters on the station would tell what happened throughout the race, today. Dad had been out with Cruz, training.

"Yet another lead by Jackson Storm!" said the reporter. I didn't know who was reporting, and I kind of ignored them in general. All I really cared about was whether or not Jackson won or lost.

Obviously, we all knew he would win this one.

I had to admit, it was getting kind of annoying knowing that he was just blowing past and winning everything, but of course, I would never tell him that. Though Mom and Dad were on okay terms with him, I could tell that they still didn't seem to approve of us dating, and not just because of his actions. Every now and then, she seemed to subtly throw the age gap in my face.

"Pretty surprising how an eighteen year old is winning against all these older, more experienced racers," she said, while working on cleaning the shop, where people would sleep in the cones, during long trips. "Huh, Alex?"

I rolled my eyes at her. I get it. She's my mom, and she's trying to help. But, as much as I respect her, she sometimes forgets to try and see things through my eyes.

"Mom, it's two years," I argued. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Oh, I know that," she said. "I just don't think it's right for a sixteen year old to be dating an adult."

I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry that you don't determine who I decide to be with." I remarked.

Okay, I admit that that was a little (very) disrespectful, but it was my life.

"Excuse me?" she asked, in that tone that mothers usually use, before preparing to go Mohammed Ali on your rear spoiler. I rolled my eyes, turning around to face her.

"Mom, I want to be with Jackson, and he wants to be with me-"

"It doesn't matter who you want to be with, Alex. I still don't approve of this, and neither does your dad-" she argued. I cut her off.

"So, you're saying that you want to choose who I love for me?" I argued back.

"I'm not saying that, Alex," she said. "I just don't want you getting hurt by him!"

"He's been the only light in my life since Dad's crash!" I argued.

At this time, Dad had been making his way back into town. The race had been over for the longest.

"Alex, I don't want you seeing Jackson, and that's that!" she scolded.

"It doesn't matter what you want, because I want to see him!" I yelled. Dad had just gotten back, hearing us. He drove over.

"Hey, hey!" he interrupted, as Mom began to argue. "What's going on here? When did this happen?"

"What's going on is she doesn't understand that you and I don't want her seeing Jackson." said Mom.

"What I "don't understand" is why." I argued, again. Dad looked to me.

"Alex, you're sixteen-" she began.

"What does it matter?" I interrupted, again.

"She.. does have a point, Alex." Dad said. I looked to him.

"Wait...what?" I asked.

"Well, you know Jackson's rarely ever here," he began. "Not only that, but between racing, and the past that he and our team have had, and now, the problems between you and him...it just...it isn't gonna work out, Alex."

I looked down.

"I'm sorry, SweetHeart," he said. "but, the last thing we want is for you to get too hurt by him. We don't want you to break up with him, but...sometimes, it just isn't meant to be."

I looked at my dad, upset.

"Yeah, and what about you and Mom?" I asked. "You only met once, and look at that, everything turned out just fine for you! What, do you just think that that can't happen to me?"

Both of them were quiet.

"You think I care that Jackson and I have had problems of our own? Because, far as I've seen, you guys argue all the time, and you're just fine.-"

"Alex-" Mom tried. I cut her off, again.

"I don't care what you guys think of him, and I don't care about some stupid two-year gap," I interrupted. "I love him. If you guys don't approve, that's your problem, but I'm gonna be with who I wanna be with." I finished, driving off.

"Alex." Dad called. I ignored him, going on my way.

Stupid Hillbilly Hell.

---

I decided to head off to the stadium. When I got there, I wasn't surprised, when I saw Jackson surrounded by paparazzi, his usual smirk on his face. The camera flashes seemed to be bothering me, for some reason.

Then again, when I first signed up for this, they always bothered me. I didn't drive up to Jackson, this time.

Instead, I waited for him to come to me.

He passed by me, and looked back. I gave him a smile, as he drove over.

"I almost skipped you," he said. "Why are you here so late?"

"I would ask you the same question." I answered back.

"Can't rest when you're living the fast life." he said.

"I do it all the time." I responded. He opened his mouth, and closed it, as if he were about to say something that he knew he would regret. I looked at him, confused.

"Good point." he said.

"What were you really gonna say?" I asked. "I know that wasn't it."

"It-ah...Nothing," he stammered. "It was...i-it was something about the tiebreaker. Don't worry about it."

Jackson never stammered.

"Look, you need to get back," he said. "I...I'll take you back home, alright?"

"That's the last place I wanna be, right now.." I said, quietly trailing off.

"Still, you-uh...you need the rest." he said.

There was something going on. He was never like this when I showed up.

"Jackson, is something wrong?" I asked.

"What? No!" he argued. "I just...you need to go!"

"Jackson, what's going-"

"Jackson? There you are!" someone said, driving up to us. She was a blue camaro, and had a voice somewhat about the same as mine, but a little bit higher. I looked to Jackson, who looked a little...frozen.

"Hey, I was looking for you, Babe," she said. "Where'd you go?"

She then looked to me.

"Who's this?" she asked.

"I, uh...I would ask you the same thing." I said.

"Oh," she said, pausing for a moment. "I'm Casey; I'm Jackson's girlfriend."

That slick, little traitor.

I glared straight at him.

"I came here, because my dad still doesn't approve of you, and you pull this on me?" I asked. "Especially after I try to prove him wrong about you?"

"I'm sorry, is something wrong?" Casey asked.

"Alex, this isn't what you think-" Jackson tried to explain.

Oh-no.

Not this time.

"Oh, really?" I interrupted. "So, you're not trying to go behind my back and send me home so you can hang around with her?"

He immediately fell quiet.

"Okay," he said. "So, it's kind of what it looks like-"

"Kind of?" I interrupted, upset. "Jackson, do you think I'm stupid-"

"No!"

"That I wouldn't find out-"

"No, I don't!"

I was upset, but this time, I wouldn't cry.

Not in front of him, for that matter.

"So, I decide to help you because you had to change yourself on the track, and when I finally help you get yourself together, you decide to try and be slick?" I asked.

"You didn't help me, Alex! You just pointed it out!" he argued.

"Exactly, and if I hadn't, you would still do it right now, wouldn't you?" I argued back.

"Wait, what's going on?" Casey asked. "Jackson, you told me you never dated anyone, before me."

I looked to her, then back at him.

"You're unbelievable." I said, turning around.

"Alex, wait-"

I turned back, cutting him off.

"Don't talk to me," I interrupted, and he looked in pain, as if someone had just stabbed him.

That made two of us.

"Forget that we ever met, Jackson." I finished, turning back around, and driving off.

"Stupid," I muttered aloud. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

I wasn't talking about Jackson and Casey.

---

Jackson's P.O.V:

"I have to say, Storm," she said, soon as Alex was out of earshot. "you played the part pretty well."

Don't rant me out just yet.

I was forced into a deal by-...

I was forced into something. This wasn't of my own volition. It was to save my career, and hopefully, Alex's.

Someone was trying to push McQueen out of the season.

Casey looked at me as if I was her little toddler, and I just finished learning how to use the bathroom.

"Nice job, Storm," she said, satisfied. "Ruining your relationship, and possibly your season? Wow, I would not wanna be you, right now."

"My season? Is just fine." I argued. "That girl has done nothing wrong. She isn't involved between him and McQueen!"

"Oh, Honey," she said, a mischievous grin on her face. "you really think that you'll still be racing? You just got dumped by the daughter of Lightning McQueen!"

That shut me up.

She was right.

If someone managed to get our breakup on camera, my career was over.

If Alex's parents found out, I was dead. I had been caught supposedly cheating with a veteran racer's daughter.

My reputation was gone.

They ruined my life trying to ruin McQueen's.

"It's okay, though," she said. "It's just for publicity, right?"

She was there, that night.

This was planned from the beginning.

"You would have done better without her, anyways." she remarked, and that was that. She left me frozen in anger.

Alex was gone, possibly for good, my career was over, and my reputation was ruined.

Peachy.

---

Alex's P.O.V:

I stormed back into Radiator Springs, silent the entire way. Mom and Dad met me at the entrance to the town.

"Trouble in paradise, Babygirl?" Flo asked. I hadn't even noticed her there. Ramone was there, too.

"No."

Yes.

"What happened to Cruz?" I asked.

"Right here, Girly." she said. I turned to my left, to see her there, next to Sheriff, Luigi, and Guido.

"Why are you all here?" I asked. "Nothing's wrong, okay?"

"It was reported to me that there was an argument between you and Storm," said Sheriff.

Man, news travels fast.

"There was another person involved, supposedly. Nice lady camaro." he explained. I looked to Dad.

"Sure, nice," I commented, before frowning, and sighing. "Really, really nice..."

"Alex, did he...?" Dad asked, drifting off.

I teared up.

"Hombre..." said Ramone, drifting with him. Mom drove into her shop, seemingly upset, as if it was my fault. I began tearing up.

"You need something to drink, Baby?" Flo asked.

"Guys, can you just leave me alone?!" I snapped.

Everyone was quiet.

I looked down, after seeing the expressions on their faces.

"I-..I'm sorry." I said. Cruz drove up to me.

"Honey," she said. "It's okay. No one knew he would turn like that. If there was something I could do, I promise you I would do it. Okay?"

I nodded, as a tear streamed down. I looked up at her, beginning to cry, silently.

"I know how much you liked him, Alex." said Cruz. I shook my head.

"I loved him." I said.

"The question is: why?" Sheriff asked.

"Yeah, Jackson wouldn't just go off the handle like that." Cruz agreed. "Unless...unless he was bribed into it, or something."

Bribed..

There was only one car that Dad and I knew for his bribery. I looked to Dad, and he seemed to be thinking the same thing that I was.

"Dad." I said. He looked at me, then looked to Sheriff.

"We need an escort to the Rust-eze center." he instructed.

"It's a little late, McQueen," said Sheriff. "Don't you think that-"

"Now, Sheriff!" he scolded.

My dad wasn't usually one to yell at an authority like that.

"I can call Dinoco," said Cruz. "I can get Cal to help out."

"Guys, it's one car." I said.

"One car that owns an entire racing company, and is going undercover, looking for someone." said Dad. I was silent, realizing:

I was only part of the plan.

He was only looking for one person:

Dad.