Adopted by McQueen (Humanized) Book 3

Chapter 7

In the morning, McQueen, Chloe, Mack, Luigi, and Guido got ready to hit the road. Luigi and Guido got in their own car and McQueen, Chloe and Mack got in the truck. 

"Rust-eze Racing Center here we come!" Mack smiled, "Good times ahead!"

As they left, everyone waved and Red cried. The drive was long. But Chloe found ways to pass the time. She talked about hoe excited she was to see the racing center and Lightning agreed. Once they arrived, they were immediately greeted by paparazzi.

"McQueen over here!"
"McQueen, how are you feeling?"
"Have you seen the latest records Storm's been setting?"
"Have you given any thought to retirement?"  

"Okay, that's enough." Luigi spoke as he and Guido were on both sides of Lightning and Chloe, "No Questions! Scusi. Out of the way!"

Paparazzi continued to crowd them as they walked. Luigi still yelled at them.

"Coming through! Okay, back up. Back up! No pictures. No, no no." He continued, "Okay thank you. Bye-bye."

Once they got through the entrance doors, Luigi sighed, "Guido, can you believe them?"

"Paparazzi." Guido spit.

"Wow." McQueen and Chloe spoke as they walked up to the huge "95" sculpture.

"Looks good, doesn't it?" Dusty asked.

"Hey guys." McQueen smiled.

"What do you think?" Dusty asked.

"What do I think?" He questioned, "It's unbelievable!"

"Yeah, you know, it's kind of a cozy, humble little place." He said.

"Oh Chloe look at you." Rusty softly smiled, "I remember when Lightning brought you as a little kid. Stop growing up!"

"I can't stay a kid forever, Uncle Rusty." She smiled.

"Guys, how did you ever do this?" McQueen asked.

"You wanna tell him or should I?" Dusty asked.

"No, you start." Rusty replied, "go ahead."

Dusty cleared his throat, "We sold Rust-eze!"

"W-What?" McQueen's smile dropped, so did Chloe's.

"What? You think a couple of jabronis like us could do this on our own?"

"Wait. You sold Rust-eze?" Chloe asked.

"It's all good news." Dusty spoke, "we just realized that you needed something that we couldn't give you. It felt like the time was right for us, too. I mean, we're not as young and handsome as we look." 

They both chuckled.

"Oh that's true." Rusty chuckled.

"Besides, this Sterling fellow? He's got every high-tech thing you'll ever need. Everything we wanted to give you, but couldn't."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." McQueen spoke, "Sterling? Who's Sterling?"

"Lightning McQueen!" A gentlemen with salt and pepper hair yelled from the balcony, "you made some serious time, partner."

"You're new sponsor." Dusty said, "He's the Mudflap King of the Eastern seaboard."

"Welcome to the Rust-eze Racing Center!" Sterling, the salt and pepper hair colored man said as he walked down the stairs, "you have no idea how much I've been looking forward to this."

"Thanks, uh, Mr-"

"Please, no "mister". Just Sterling." He spoke, "I have been a fan of yours forever. And to be your sponsor? How great is that? I can't thank Rusty and Dusty here enough. Tough negotiators, by the way."

"Oh, you flatter us, but don't stop." Dusty said.

The 3 of them laughed. But Chloe was puzzling this Sterling guy, giving a glaring stare.

"Anyway, just wanted to say a quick hello." Sterling spoke, "take as much time as you need. Door's always open, guys."

With that said, he walked away.

"See?" Dusty said.

McQueen and Chloe followed Rusty and Dusty to the entrance.

McQueen sighed with a frown, "I sure am gonna miss racing for you guys."

They looked at him.

"You know, you gave us a lot of great memories, Lightning. You did too, Chloe. With your sweet generous smile and absolute love for racing. Your father's biggest supporter at that. You both gave us memories that we'll remember." Dusty spoke.

"Wow." Rusty said, "that's good."

McQueen and Chloe smiled at them.

"Hey Lightning, whatever you do-"

"Don't drive like my brother." Rusty finished the sentence.

"Don't drive like my brother!" Dusty smiled.

They then walked out of the Rust-eze Racing Center door and was greeted by the paparazzi. McQueen chuckled, but Chloe was still figuring out why she felt like something bad was about to happen.