Chapter Text
"I can't believe it!" Cal Weathers stormed from his trailer. "I don't understand this."
The purple racer Bobby Swift, as well as the one and only Lightning Mcqueen, were quickly aware that their friend had some mishap befall him.
"What's up Cal?" Lighting asked as he and Bobby rolled up to Cal.
"She just- she said-" Cal was to worked up to talk.
"Well what is it bro?" Asked Bobby.
Cal thought a minute. He was a little less shocked. He could think sort of clearly. He knew telling ran the risk of getting made fun of. But that was nothing new.
"If I tell you guys I'm just gonna get made fun of!" Cal said with a bit of a pout.
"That's a possibility." Said Bobby.
"Or we could make fun of you for not telling. It's your choice." Lighting offered.
That was true. They'd always find something to poke at. All and all they were great guys. They never were hurtful, it was just how the three of them communicated. That and prank wars.
"I can't. You read it." He held up his phone for Lightning to read.
"Oh you got a DM from your girlfriend." Lightning said as he started to read.
"DM means direct message, Cal." Bobby explained.
"I know what DM MEANS!" Cal spat with frustration.
"Keep readin' Lightnin'." Bobby encouraged. He scooted closer to see the message.
"Cal I think this has been a long time coming. I think we both know we're better off as friends." Lightning gave a questioning look to Cal.
"Keep going."
"I know you have a big race but I can't keep up the charade." Lightning continued. "Sad-face emoj. I hope this doesn't affect our friendship. I don't want it to be awkward if our social circles intersect."
"Aw man, you totally got friend-zoned." Bobby said.
"Yeah I hate it when that happens." Said Lightning. "Except that's never happened to me."
"Yeah friend zoned and dumped by text message. That shouldn't even be legal." Bobby sympathized.
"Well I can ask my lawyer girlfriend." Lightning said.
"You're not helping!" Cal hollered. "Right before my race! She didn't even say she was sorry!"
"Cal. You've got to calm down. We've got a race in a couple of hours." Bobby spoke in a serious tone. "We wouldn't want the Blue Falcon off his game. That'd give Lightning and I an advantage." Bobby said with subtle smirk.
"I just want to eat ice cream and cry. Is that normal?"
"I think it's kinda normal. Standard break-up coping mechanism." Lightning said. "I wish Doc were still here. He'd know what to do." Lightning said a little bit sadly.
"You guys weren't too serious... were you?" Bobby asked.
"No but I thought we were doing good. There was nothing to point out that there was a break-up was coming. It caught me off guard."
"Listen Cal. She wasn't the right one. The right one is going to communicate with you, not ambush you." Lightning said.
"It's just embarrassing. She's probably already told her followers. It's gonna be all over the internet."
"I-don't-want-it-to-be-awkward-if-our-social-circles-intersect" Cal Said mockingly. "She was always thinking of her circle. Not me. My circle's a period. Got my team, you guys and my Uncle and Aunt."
"So... you feel better yet?" Asked Bobby.
"No not really." Cal stated plainly.
"Hey tell you what." Said Lightning. "After the race, we'll go get ice cream."
"Really?" Cal said innocently.
"Yeah really. We'll get you a break-up sundae." Said Bobby, before he and Lightning burst out laughing.
That was it. Cal had had it. He felt his usually blue face turning red. "No we'll get YOU a break-up sundae!" He didn't even think before spewing out that comeback.
"Good comeback Cal." Lightning and Bobby said in unison.
It was then that another Dinoco blue racecar rolled up. The Plymouth Superbird was completely silent until Lightning and Bobby stopped laughing.
Realizing the older car's presence, Lightning regained his composure in record time.
"How do you do Mr. The King?" Lighting said with practiced charm.
"Wipe that smirk off Lightnin'." Strip knew Lightning well. And he knew these three could get wrapped up in some shenanigans.
"Of course Mr. The King." Lightning said still smiling stupidity.
"Who wants to tell me what's going on with my boy?" Both Bobby and Lightning backed slightly.
Cal shifted slightly on his tires. He knew his uncle was a no-nonsense kind of guy. Straight answers were expected. But the fact that he had called him his boy... made Cal relax a little.
"Well Calvin?" Strip pressed, impatience growing in his voice.
Getting called by your full name is never good. 'It was just a minute ago he called me his boy. And now he's calling me Calvin!' Cal thought. Cal knew his uncle wore a lot of hats. His Uncle, his father-figure, his crew chief. And to top those roles of he was a racing legend. Sometimes it got a little overwhelming to try to live up to that.
"U-Uncle Strip." Cal managed to studder out.
"He and what's-her face broke up." Bobby spoke up.
Cal was still holding his phone. Strip turned all his attention to Cal. After he got him straightened out, he'd deal with Bobby and Lightning. "By phone?" He asked
"Mm-hmm" Cal nearly whimpered.
"Use your words Cal." The uncle prompted firmly but gently. Bobby and Lightning weren't sure if they should quietly leave. This looked like a family moment.
"We broke up by text." Cal admitted.
Strip drew out a sigh. "Cal you were raised that if something was important, you say it face-to-face."
"Yes." Cal answered confidently.
"So how can you justify breaking up like that?"
Cal kicked a pebble with his tire to avoid eye contact. He could hear disappointment in his uncle's voice. He couldn't believe his uncle had that little faith in him.
"She broke up with me."
Strip wasn't expecting that. He'd thought the worst in his nephew and was wrong. He felt terrible for assuming something he knew Cal would never do. "I'm sorry Cal, I was in the wrong. Shouldn't of accused you. How you holding up otherwise?"
"Embarrassed, modified and slightly upset?" Cal said. "But I'll be OK. Embarrassment can't last forever."
"Hmm. That's true. In a couple minutes I'll send you out for a couple laps around the track. You can take some of your frustration out on the track. Ok Cal?"
"Yes chief."
"But first, I want to see how these two got involved." Strip focused his attention to Bobby and Lightning. "How 'bout you tell me your involvement in this thing?"
"We just knew something was up and... Lightning actually had some decent relationship advice for two seconds. Then I told a joke." Bobby rambled.
"A joke at Cal's expense?"
"Yeah I know it was bad timing." Bobby said sounding guilty.
"And I laughed at the joke." Lightning confessed.
"I see." Strip said.
"We were trying to help! And I didn't mean any offense to Cal!" Bobby said.
"I'm fine Uncle Strip. I find myself on the wrong side of jokes more often than not anyways."
"And if I'm guessing, judging by the context of the situation, Cal gave you one of his 'signature' comebacks."
"Right again." Lightning said.
"Hey! I'm right here!"
"Well you three didn't get into any real trouble, thankfully. Y'all ought to be prepping for the race now." Strip said. There were affirmatives from the three younger racers, and Strip slowly turned to start some 'prepping' of his own. He didn't get far when he heard a new conversation to evesedrop on. Strip tucked himself behind an empty trailer to listen to the aftershow.
Lightning had the most confused look on his face. After a few seconds of confused silence he had one question.
"So, your real name is... Calvin? He asked with disbelief.
"Yeah. And what's your real name, Lightning Mcqueen? Hmm? Cal drew out every syllable, because for once, he had Lightning right where he wanted him. Cal Weathers would have the last laugh today.
Lightning squirmed a bit as his befuddled mind tried to catch up. He never thought that that question would backfire. And he was never at a loss for words. "I-I'm not telling you my real name!"
Strip emerged from his hiding spot.
"Now that, Cal, was a good comeback."