Chapter Five
I groaned, trying to ignore the pounding on my bedroom door. Seriously? Don't I ever get any peace in this town? "Rise and shine, Little Red! We've got a big day ahead for us!" Dad cheered, his happy voice making me want to chuck my pillow at him.

I opened my eyes, taking a glance at the clock. "Are you serious, Dad? It's not even 6!" I whined, hoping he would go away.

"Perfect! Then we can warmup as we watch the sun rise."

"We're training? But I just ended the season!" I exclaimed.

"Gotta stay in shape if you want to beat Storm's bumper!"

"But all my other friends get to sleep in! That's not fair!" I whined. They all got to truly have a break from the season while I was forced to train all year long. Wasn't I allowed to have a life, too?

"Well, they don't have a racing legend as their crew chief." He laughed.

"Or as their father." I mumbled.

"I heard that. Now get your fat trunk out of bed and meet me outside in five minutes!"

I gasped, opening my bedroom door. "I do not have a fat trunk!"

"You will if you don't start training." He teased, making his way towards the kitchen.

Mom strolled out of the bedroom, her eyes halfway shut. "Can you two be quiet? I'm trying to sleep." She yawned.

"That's what I was trying to do!" I blamed, pointing towards Dad. "He's making me train during postseason!"

She sighed, shaking her head. "Just listen to your father. After all, as much as I hate to admit it, he does know racing. Now go outside and make him happy."

"Can't I ever catch a break?" I groaned, driving towards to bathroom to freshen myself up a bit.

"Do you really think you'll wake up this early everyday? Please, I give your father a week." Mom chuckled, heading back to their bedroom.

xxx

We stretched beside Willy's Butte. The sky was a hazy gray as the sun began to rise. "I missed our Daddy Daughter Dates." Dad spoke, looking at me.

I chuckled, rolling my blue eyes at him. "We have Daddy Daughter Dates everyday. You are my crew chief after all."

"Yeah, but that's not the same," he replied, shaking his head as he looked towards the sky. Warm colors began to trickle from the dusty ground. "We're forced to uphold a perfect relationship. Here, we can be ourselves."

I bit my lower lip, looking towards the ground. "That's true. We don't have any cameras out here, judging everything we say and do." I softly spoke.

We were silent, parked beside each other as we watch the sky light up over our Butte. Willy's Butte was mine and my father's place. If we were missing, you knew where to find us. Right here. Slowly, the temperature began to rise. The cool breeze gently transformed into a warm wind.

"Well," Dad stretched, turning to face me. "Should we get to training? I've got a big day set aside for you, Little Red." He grinned.

"Oh, goody." I chuckled as I playfully rolled my eyes.

Dad really did have a big day planned for me. It was a rigorous workout, filled with many obstacles that challenged my acceleration, reflexes, and stamina. To say I was exhausted by noon was an understatement.

I rolled towards him, my tongue nearly dragging on the ground. "Dad, please? Can we take a break. I don't think my tires can take much more." I panted.

He softly chuckled and shrugged his tire. "Fine, only because you're out of shape and I don't want to overkill it on the first day," he replied. I was about to jump for joy, when he cut me off. "But, but, but!" He exclaimed. "You've gotta take ten laps around Willy's Butte as a cool down."

I groaned and rolled my eyes to the back of my head. "Dad! A cool down? That doesn't even-"

"You don't want your axles getting sore. The cool down will help prevent you from spraining something." He sternly answered, his blue eyes glaring into mine. I knew no matter what I would have to do ten laps, but I had one more trick up my sleeve.

"I won't complain as long as you do it with me." I cheekily grinned, trying to suck up.

"Stella, I think you've forgotten how old I am. I'll probably have a heart attack even attempting-"

"Please!" I interrupted, nuzzling against him. "Come on. When's the last time we raced? Don't you wanna feel the dirt beneath your tires?" I smiled, hoping my charm was working.

I saw a flash of curiosity cross his face. Bingo. I had him. "I don't know-"

"Come on, Dad! Don't you want to show me up?" I asked. "Or are you too chicken? After all, you're probably afraid you'll go flying into the cacti like usual." I taunted, driving away from him.

"Now hold up," he declared. I grinned, my back turned towards him. "You do know who you're talking to, right? I'm the legendary Lightning McQueen, who, by the way, was mentored by thee Fabulous Hudson Hornet. I do not go flying into the cacti. Ever!"

I flipped around, a smirk on my face. "Then prove it!"

"I will!" He replied, rushing over to the starting line. I jumped beside him, shaking my body loose.

"Remember, it's ten laps." I spoke, eyeing him.

"I know. I know."

"And no cheating, Dad." I added, lightly laughing as he wiggled into position.

"What? Come on, Doc always got to. It's my turn now, rookie!" He whined, a smile growing on his face.

"Doc was old. You're still young. Well, an older young." I teased.

"Oh, shut up, Hotrod." He laughed, facing forward. We both leaned ahead and rubbed out left tire in the dirt, feeling the dusty earth underneath us. Before I had time to react, Dad took off, leaving large cloud of dust behind him.

"No fair!" I laughed, chasing after him.

xxx

We parked in the shadow of Willy's Butte. Dad and I always pack a lunch so we don't waste time going to and from town when we train. As usual, we were screwing around and chatting.

"Do you ever feel like you missed out?" I asked before I took a sip from my quart of oil. He eyed me, a weird expression crossing his face.

"Missed out on what?" He asked, confusion now present on his face.

"Well, ya know. Everyone always has big dreams of moving their kid into college and wishing them a heartfelt goodbye," I lightly explained, slightly shrugging my tire. "Weren't you at least a little crushed that you never got that experience?"

He shrugged his tire, tossing the idea around in his head. "I suppose. I always pictured us giving you some huge send off party and then me and your mom helping you move into your new place." He replied.

"Oh, that's it?" I laughed.

"Yeah, and then you'd come back for vacations and suddenly you'd be an adult and I'd wonder where the time had gone." He added on, a smile on his face.

"So what? Since I didn't go off to college I'm not an adult yet?" I giggled.

"Well, not in my mind. I spend all day telling you what to do through the headset. It's like I'm parenting you all over again," he laughed, slightly bumping my side. "But I guess it was kinda stupid of me to assume I would think you'd just become an adult."

I furrowed my eyebrows, confused with what he was saying. Of course, I became an adult. He quickly noticed my confusion and shook his head. "What I'm saying, Little Red, is that you'll always be my little girl. I don't think I'll ever see you as some adult."

I awed, understanding what he was saying. "Is that how Doc felt about you? Like he was caring for some adult sized toddler?" I teased.

"Probably. I did a lot of stupid things growing up." He grinned.

"Like what?"

"Well, let's just say there's a reason no ones allowed access to Bessie besides Sheriff."

"Bessie? Who's Bessie?" I asked, lightly laughing.

"You don't want to find out."

xxx

After our lunch break, Dad and I resumed our training. It wasn't as hard as this morning, but it still made me sweat like crazy. The sun was high in the sky, beating down on my cherry red paint and I was still sore from the morning.

Thankfully, Dad didn't want me to pass out from dehydration, so he allowed me a water break every so often. Slowly, our training became less intense and more of a Daddy Daughter Date.

We watched the sun sink behind the horizon together. Somehow, we ended up wandering over to the tractor pasture. And yes, Dad and I went tractor tipping, even though I hadn't done that in years. And, per usual, we were chased away by Frank.

On our way back to town, we got hit with a swarm of bugs. And when I mean hit, I mean I'm pretty sure I swallowed at least five bugs and we were absolutely covered in them. I even got a few in my eyes.

"Wow, look at the bug catchers drifting into town." Flo teased as she caught sight of me and Dad. Everyone was outside at her café admiring the gorgeous night.

"I know. Isn't it disgusting?" I laughed, holding out my tires to them. A few cars backed up, not wanting to be near me and Dad.

"So, how was your DDD?" Mom asked, smiling at us.

"If you mean Deadly Dad Drills, then it was terrible. I don't think I'll be able to leave my bed tomorrow." I answered, earning a few laughs from the town.

"She meant Daddy Daughter Dates and it was enjoyable. And besides, the workout wasn't even that bad. You're just out of shape." Dad teased, rolling his eyes at me.

"Rude." I replied, playfully shunning him.

"You two look like you need a drink. I'll be right back." Flo grinned before driving off.

"Well, I'm glad you two had fun. It's nice to see Stickers and Little Red getting along so well." Mom cooed, lightly pinching our cheeks.

Dad and I playfully whined, brushing her wheels away. Obviously, my mother was the more affectionate one of my parents, but I wouldn't trade her for anyone. My dad on the other hand, well...  I wouldn't trade him either.

We all laughed the night away, telling stories from the time Dad and Guido pranked Mater into believing the Ghostlight was haunting him to the time Ethan and I hid in the impound lot and fell asleep while the town was on a huge hunt for us.

~~~~~~~~~~