The Big Race - Lightning McQueen x Reader

Chapter 6 Part 2

Carack and I were returning the tables to their original places as the clock struck midnight. The concert had ended an hour ago and the staff who were still here were all working to clean up.

The crew was still here packing up their belongings, rushing back and forth to put all the speakers and microphones in the eighteen-wheeler out back. One of the crewmates had asked for help earlier, so I got a glimpse of the hardened machinery in all his glory. His strong build, visible from a mile away. My type had always been large multi-wheeled cars like the one I had put the speaker inside of not too long ago. But even with all that beauty, the thing that was stuck in my head was the way that dark, mysterious singer from earlier had looked.

As we were cleaning up the bar, I had kept my eyes peeled for that familiar ebony car with the piercing apple eyes, but the entire band was nowhere to be found, they probably had already moved on to another city if I had to guess.

I tried not to let my disappointment peak through. I didn't even know why I was disappointed, I couldn't even recognize the car, and I would probably never see him again, so it didn't affect me. But nonetheless, that underlying feeling stayed.

I paused for a second, mentally shaking off the thoughts. I had to get my center console off this. I looked at the clock as I pushed the final table back into its place. It was getting late and I had to make my way back home before Stella started worrying.

I finished up wiping down the bar, sneering at the sticky residue that clung to my tires. If I didn't have to get a car wash before, I definitely did now with the mess that the audience had left behind. I had been putting off my wash for an extra week now, trying to save up my money, but upon seeing my new filth, I mentally planned to visit that cheap wash station on the other side of town this weekend.

"Hey Y/N, We finished up everything else so the rest of us are heading home." Carack called over to me as I was wiping my wheels on the towel rug to get all the dirt off.

"Okay, I'm just gonna finish up around here before I go. I can close up the shop." I responded.

Carack rode over to me and placed the key on the bar counter.

"Have a good night, Y/N." They said before heading to the exit where most of my coworkers had previously left through. "Try not to stay too late." They added before disappearing through the garage opening.

"Goodnight," I called back.

The bar was now silent, a sense of stillness flowing throughout the room. The only sounds heard were the clinking of the final cups I was putting in the cupboards.

I now stood parked in the center of the room, doing a final glance over the bar. Once everything looked good, I grabbed my things and left the building, locking the door on the way out.

The cool night breeze held a mixture of calmness and edge. The streetlights added some warmth to the dark starlit night sky.

The streets were empty, and the sounds of Carckets came in surround sound, coming at me from every angle.

I began roaming the blocks heading towards my apartment, I was so tired, I could feel my windshield getting heavier.

I always knew driving tired was dangerous, even more so than driving drunk, but I could not deny that tonight, I was driving a bit recklessly.

My eyesight was blurring, and my engine beat slowing down, and I thanked Chrysler that the roads were abandoned tonight, or I might have a lot more than a few dents along my sides.

I could suddenly feel myself wake up again, my side mirrors picking up on a foreign sound, not native to the night ambience.

I stopped my driving, now sitting still in the middle of the road, and listened for the sound again, my side mirrors moving in all directions so as to not miss it.