"We're not doing that to her! She's already been through enough."

"Just a little while. She needs a break-"

"Those tracks are her break."

"She's sixteen years old, Lightning. She needs time on her own. We'll take her out for a few months, maybe a year, and then we'll let her stay."

I had been up early, eavesdropping on their conversation. I didn't know what was going on, and I didn't anticipate it being anything good.

"Sally, if you take her out, she's just gonna get worse! These races means everything to her!"

"You think I want that to happen? I hate having to do it, but what choice do we have, Lightning? She can't do everything at once! We'll be able to get a brand for her and everything for this, and it'll be okay!"

"No, it won't be okay! Sally, she's not gonna want a brand! The racing is her reward, not the stuff! You're sounding just like Sterling!"

Brand?

What did she mean by that?

Was she taking me out of racing?

"So, you would rather that she deal with her ex on the track?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Sal."

"Then, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that taking her out of the league isn't going to help her cope! It's only gonna make things worse! If you take her out, you lose your own daughter, which will make things worse! We're not taking her out!"

There was a silence.

"Okay," she said. "We won't take her out, but we will-"

I drove up, into their line of sight, my tired eyes brimmed with tears.

"You're taking me out?" I asked. They looked at me, a little frozen. Mom began to drive up to me.

"Alex, I-"

"No!" I yelled at her, seemingly waking up the others. Flo drove out, then Ramone. I ignored them.

"No, I'm not quitting!" I yelled.

"Alex, we're not-" Mom tried, but I cut her off.

"Yes, you were! I heard you!" I yelled, beginning to cry. "What is wrong with you?!"

Dad stared at the both of us, seemingly dumbfounded as to what to do. I'd broken out in a rant as Mom tried to calm me down, and as I went on, I hadn't even noticed Jackson driving into Radiator Springs, and that Cruz had woken up. She had been in the fourth cone.

"Alex, Sweetheart-" Dad managed, before I interrupted him. I wasn't even able to finish my rant. I had reached my breaking point. I felt someone touching my side, and turned to see Jackson next to me.

Then, he hugged me.

And, I broke down, while my parents, Cruz, and the rest of the town watched.

"I'm here, Alex," he said.

"I'm here."

---

Jackson had stayed overnight, after my breakdown. Mom let him stay in one of the cones, I assume a small gesture, to let him know that he was welcome in the Springs.

After I'd calmed down, Mom had explained that she'd been considering taking me out, but Dad convinced her not to, and that I would still be racing.

I woke up to Dad calling me, the next morning. Driving out of my cone, I did a small back kick on the door to Jackson's cone, to let him know we were needed.

Jackson didn't need to come; I just wanted him up. I heard him groan, and gave him a smile, as he opened his door.

"Alex, it's nine in the morning," Jackson complained. "Give me a few more minutes!"

"Sorry, Jack," I said (I wasn't really sorry; he was cute when he was tired.) "But, we're needed down near the dirt track."

He groaned.

"So, you chose to drag me with you?" he asked. "And, don't call me Jack. It's Jackson. Not Jack, not Jackie-Poo. Jackson."

"Okay." I said.

It was silent for a few moments.

"Jackie-Poo." I teased, speeding off.

"I said it's Jackson!" he scolded, chasing after me.

Oh, how I loved irritating him. I'd like to think that that's what made us such a good couple. We ticked each other off, back and forth, but we enjoyed it. That was the difference between me and any girl that tried to tease Jackson.

I was the only one capable of tickling these reactions out of him.

Upon our arrival, I recognized a certain car that my dad had raced before. I guess that both mine and Mom's brains turned into mush, at seeing him.

"If it isn't Señora Sally," he said.

Francesco Flipping Bernoulli. He was an Italian formula One race car, the one that Dad told me he had raced, in the World Grand Prix.

He seemed to notice Jackson and I, along with the look on my face.

"This is-a..Señorita Alex, no?" he asked.

"Yup! Haha.." Mom drifted off, looking at me, only after taking a glance at Francesco's open wheels. "This is her. Alex, this is-"

"Francesco Bernoulli," I finished. "It's a pleasure, Francesco."

"You've heard of me, no?" he asked, a little teasingly, though obviously, it was just a joke.

Jackson may have been two years older, but Francesco was about thirty.

"Makes sense," said Francesco. "Many have-a...heard of Francesco. He is...popular, along señoritas." he bragged.

"I can see why.." I muttered quietly, only to earn a punch from Jackson.

"I heard that." he stated, seemingly jealous of Francesco. I gave him a smirk, before turning to Bernoulli.

"Francesco, this is my boyfriend, Jackson Storm," I introduced. "Jackson, well...you know who this is."

"I have heard-a many things about you, Jackson," said Francesco. "You are good-looking. Not as good as Francesco, but still-a good."

Jackson didn't seem too fond of him.

"Well, uh, I'm gonna let you two get to know each other," said Mom. "Alex, you can come with me."

"But I-" I tried to whine, but Mom seemed to expect it, and interrupted.

"Come on, Alex." she cut off.

I took the hint, and followed her back to town.

---

Jackson's P.O.V:

I'd heard of Francesco before, but he seemed cockier in person than anywhere else.

I may have been cocky too, but at least I kept it under control.

"So-a, this girl, eh-Alex," Francesco said. "You know her long, yes?"

I looked over at the motel, where she and Sally had been conversing with McQueen.

"Almost a year now," I said, turning back to face him. "Why do you ask?"

"Well-a," said Francesco. "Francesco know señoritas long, and not many are-a...say "good" no?"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked. Bernoulli turned to me, and I could see what he meant.

"Wait," I said. "Are you asking if Alex and I-?"

"No! No, no!" he answered, almost immediately. "It's like-a..she have good personality, no? Eh..she good on the track, no?"

I could see straight through his lie, and I was uncomfortable after our little "chat" ended..

"Yeah, yeah she's..." I began to drift, but caught myself. "She's a keeper, heh."

"Good, good." Bernoulli answered. "Well, Francesco need to go now. He-a...he's-a not a country person."

I nodded, and decided to drive off first.

I couldn't have been more uncomfortable.

---

Alex's P.O.V:

Jackson seemed twitchy, when he got back.

I found it cute.

He was adorable, when he freaked out. I gave him a smirk, when he pulled up next to me.

"Uh...you alright, Storm?" I asked. He opened his mouth, and two seconds later, he shut it.

"Hey, what were you gonna say?" I asked.

"Ba-Nothing, why?" he asked. I smiled, and leaned into him.

"He creeped you out, didn't he?" I asked. Jackson's expression gave me my answer. I laughed a little.

"He's a lot easier to be around when he's on a screen...or something." said Jackson. "I can see why you don't like him, Mr. McQueen."

"I could name a thousand reasons why I don't like him," Dad responded. "That's only one."

"Right...Can I get back to sleep, now?" Jackson asked. I thought for a minute.

"Nope." I answered, driving off.

"Alex!" he whined, driving after me. I decided to lead him up to Wheel Well.

When he finally got up to the top, he was out of breath.

"I didn't get out of my cone this morning to chase you up here, McQueen." he remarked.

"I didn't get out of my cone this morning to hear you complain, Jackie-Poo." I retorted.

If looks could kill, I would've been a pile of ash.

"I'm never letting you live that name down." I warned him, teasingly.

"Well, if I'm Jackie-Poo, then you're Ally." he proposed, a smirk on his face. I smiled, driving closer to him.

"I'm intrigued," I answered, sealing his deal. "But, tell me: what other catch do you have up your engine?"

"Well, I could get you into a nice nursing-maid design," he teased, pulling up closer to me, as I laughed. "You can stay with me at night, but I won't let you go in the morning, until you make me a good sandwich for breakfast."

"Hah, I'm guessing that that's the nicest you're gonna get?" I asked. "What happens if I'm a bad maid?"

"Well..." he trailed off, as I let out a small laugh.

"If I have to be painted in the design of a nursing maid, you can't punish me if I screw up."

"Aw, where's the fun in that?" he said, a small smile on his face. I laughed again, placing a peck on his lips.

Turning around, I looked down at the Springs, from behind the two parking spots placed at the edge of the cliff of the butte. I could see why my parents loved coming up here, so much.

I let Jackson drive off, to go back to bed. For now, I would take a minute, to admire the hometown where I lived.

To think, my parents had gone through so much in this town, and I just added to their busy lives.

My dad was a race car, my mom a lawyer and the town's attorney, and now, me being a racer, too? It was a lot.

We barely had time to take it in that we lived in such a beautiful place. I heard someone drive up behind me, but I didn't really think on it, until I heard their voice.

"I always love coming up here." she said.

Mom.

I turned to face her, then turned back.

"I remember you telling me that this was where you found everyone." I said.

I was only around seven, when she told me about Wheel Well.

"Yup," she said. "I broke down here, Flo, Doc, and everyone else fixed me up, and I never left."

I turned to her, again.

"You think that'll happen with Jackson?" I asked.

"Maybe," she answered. "I wouldn't think so, since Jackson runs on electricity, and not gas. But, it's a good possibility. If he does, then...that means he's forever ours."

"Especially mine, Mom?" I asked. She gave me a smile.

"Especially yours."

---

Nothing.

It's all I had seen.

A big bunch of nothingness.

"Alex!" he called. I looked to him.

"Where are you?" I called back, questioningly.

"Alex!" he called, again.

"Jackson, I can't see you!" I responded, panicking. I was lost. I was afraid.

"Alex, help me!"

He disappeared.

"Jackson?" I called.

There was no response.

"Miss McQueen," someone said. It sounded like a reporter. "Miss McQueen, how are you responding to the claims of your father retiring?"

"Miss McQueen!" someone else said.

Another reporter.

"Miss McQueen, what was your response to your father, Lightning McQueen's crash?"

"Miss McQueen, tell us about Jackson."

"Is this a forced relationship?"

"Will your father be retiring?"

The reporters disappeared.

I felt myself spinning, as if I was airborne, as if I was...falling.

Then, I hit something:

The pavement.

I flipped over and over, hitting the ground multiple times, embers and sparks flying everywhere.

My spoiler was ripped off.

My side had become nothing but dents, scratches, and peeled-off paint.

"Alex!" someone called.

Jackson.

"Alex, wake up!" he yelled. I was numb.

"Alex!" he called. "Come on, get up!"

"Alex!"

Waking up, startled, I realized it was just a nightmare. I heard Jackson's voice, outside my cone.

"Oh, uh, yeah!" I responded. "I'm up, I'm up!"

"Come on, McQueen!" he remarked. "We have a race, today! We're gonna be late!"

"I'm going, I'm going." I muttered, pushing the button to open my door. Driving out, my mom rushed me to the entrance of Radiator Springs.

"We'll be there before the race starts," she informed. "Be safe, okay?"

I nodded, and she pecked the side of my headlight. We then drove off to the airport. It was the second race of the season.

Dad, Jackson, and I met Cruz at the airport.

I didn't take Lena with me, and decided to let Mom take her, since she had driven me crazy the last time that I'd ridden in a plane with her.

I had been slow driving.

That nightmare was so brutal, and it felt so real.

It scared me.

What was going to happen, this season?