~ Outside The Speedway ~ (Lightning McQueen x OC)

Chapter 39

So, no, we did not leave for the school right after I fixed myself. We did  leave the car, but I backed up against my door, trying to calm my anxiety down.

I think maybe Lightning may have started getting really annoyed with me, but if he was, he wasn't letting it on.

"I can throw you over my shoulder and we can make a big entrance if you want?" He teased, reaching for my waist. I moved out of his way and he walked into the driver's door. I burst with laughter, clenching my stomach at the sight. He truly was an idiot.

"I did that on purpose! See, now your laughing." He grinned at me with immense pain in his eyes, and I could see the way he gripped his wrist.

I moved towards Lightning and gently grabbed his hand, pulling the sleeve down and the glove up, examining his wrist. "Mmm...I think you'll be fine. Maybe a small bruise, but nothing a little ice won't fix once we get back to the motel." I mumbled.

He gripped my waist and pulled me in while I still held his wrist. "Awwwe, was that you caring about me?"

I rolled my eyes as I always do at his antics. "Don't get used to it."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." It was his turn to roll his eyes.

Something in my brain bugged me to ask Lightning why he was here, and why he was weaning his racing suit. "Hey, why d-"

Suddenly, my phone started ringing, and I leaned over to grab my clutch from the top of the car. Sally's name lit up my screen as I answered.

Oops. I completely forgot I was supposed to meet up with her before going into the school. Sally had taken her own car to get here, claiming it would be rude to steal my spotlight.

Whatever that meant.

"He-"

"Where are you?!"

I pulled the phone from my ear, and to my surprise, Lightning let me go and stumbled back because even he could hear my sister's yells.

"Um..." I softened my voice to calm her down. "I'm still at my car. My anxiety started acting up and I really don't know if I should go in or drive back to the motel." I glanced up at Lightning, who moved to sit on the hood to give me some privacy. His arms were crossed and waiting for me to finish.

I heard her sigh on the other end of the line. "Listen, Olivia...I know you don't want to hear this, but I really think it would be good if you started tak-"

"No," I cut her off. My voice became very serious, if not a little angry. I whispered harshly into the phone, "I am not going to start taking my meds again. I want a clear head when I race, and I don't need to be accused of taking drugs or steroids."

"Okay, fine, fine. What about seeing Cruz again? She helped you a lot, so don't try and deny it." She spoke quietly. At the mention of my past therapist, I had the urge to hang up.

Yes, Cruz helped me through my mental health issues after my parent's death before she took on physical therapy. And yes, I took anxiety meds and only a few anti-depressants. But I quit taking them once I knew I was getting somewhere with my racing career. It was hard when I stopped, with the sudden dump of anxiety and depression I experienced, but I still set appointments with Cruz in downtown Phoenix, very frequently at that.

Then I stopped seeing her altogether. Racing had become my outlet, and with the sudden spike in costs, I had to save money considering my insurance didn't cover visits with a psychologist. She supported my decision, of course, but stressed that if I ever needed to talk to her, she would welcome me with open arms even if she wasn't working in that department.