McQueen's Kid

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Chapter Three
"God, my parents absolutely hate me." I groaned, hanging out with Ethan at Wheel Well. The place was deserted, most cars off admiring Radiator Springs. So it was just us two, just the way I liked it.

"They don't hate you." Ethan replied, slightly rolling his brown eyes.

"Fine, they don't hate me. They're super pissed at me because I'm falling for the son of their most hated rival." I fired back, glaring off into the distance. Even though my parents acted like they supported me, I knew deep inside that they wished I was with someone else. But how can you change love?

"Stel, you've got to give them a chance to try to accept this. After all, you've never really had a boyfriend." He offered, his brown eyes studying the white, fluffy clouds above us.

"I'm sure they would accept my surprise relationship if it was you instead of Nick. After all, they thought we were officially together initially." I sighed, laying down on the ground.

"Can you really blame them? We would be an adorable couple." Ethan teased, slightly bumping my side.

I let out a little chuckle, picturing it in my mind. "I bet they've been planning our wedding since we were toddlers. Too bad that's another one of their dreams flushed down the toilet."

"What was the first?"

I softly vibrated my lips, thinking it through. "They probably thought I was going to be their only son."

Ethan laughed, tossing back his head. "I'm positive they were planning for a girl."

"Okay, fine. Then they didn't exactly want me to race. My mother was always terrified of losing my father. Now she's terrified of losing me to the sport."

"Stella, please. I don't think you've disappointed your parents that bad yet." He assured, giving me a soft smile.

"Well, it sure feels like it. I wish I would have told them before I left for the next season instead of when I actually did. Now I have to hear them chatter about me and my terrible boyfriend instincts." I confessed, my blue eyes meeting his brown ones.

"Well, your mom isn't really allowed to judge you." Ethan lightly laughed.

"Why's that?"

"Well, she did fall head over heels for your dad when he was still a jerk. So her boyfriend instincts aren't exactly perfect either."

"Yeah, at least Nick is sweet," I softly chuckled. "God, I wish they wouldn't judge him based on his father. It's not fair, really. They know I hate being judged based on Dad. Why can't they see that the same rules apply?"

"Well, the lug nut doesn't fall far from the wheel." He replied, letting out a soft sigh.

I turned towards him, sending him a soft smirk. "Are you saying that I'm like my dad?"

He shrugged his shoulder, a smile growing on his face. "Well, you do have the same temper."

"Temper!" I exclaimed, a grin now plastered on my face. "I'm the calmest car in this whole county!"

He vibrated his lips and rolled his brown eyes. "You can dream, Stel." 

"Obviously," I replied, rolling my blue eyes. "I thought my parents would accept my new boyfriend."

"Who says they won't?"

"Me. They've basically already told me how much they hate him."

"They've never met him. How do you know they'll hate him?"

I shook my head and laughed. I wasn't going to go over this again. "You're crazy, Ethan. I know for a fact they're just going to judge him based on our fathers' rivalry. Can't you see the headlines already?"

"'McQueen and Hicks marriage announced! Will the fathers be able to restrain themselves through the ceremony?'" Ethan teased, waving his tire like a rainbow.

"Basically." I laughed, nodding my head.

Silence fell over us as we watched the sun sink behind the canyon walls. This was the calmest moment I've had in my life since Jackson Storm showed up and flipped everyone's life upside down. "I've missed this." I softly spoke.

"I've missed this, too, Stella." Ethan agreed, a soft smile on his face.

Why couldn't life be this simple?

xxx

My day of peace turned into a morning of hell. Everyone was freaking out, trying to fix whatever mess I made now. Though I never announced the news, it seemed like the media discovered my relationship with Nick.

"I told you not to go to that interview! Look what's happened!" Dad scolded, anger and worried flushed on his face.

I rolled my eyes and let out a long sigh. Of course, they couldn't scold me in the private of our home. I was beginning yelled at in public at Flo's. Not only were my parents freaking out, but so was the town. Apparently my parents never told the town about my love interest so this was news to them, too.

"Dad, it's no big deal. The media just wants something to gossip about. They have no proof that me and Nick are talking. They're just saying that they ship us and want us to get together." I explained, annoyance slipping into my voice.

"Oh, yeah? Then how did they get this picture of you and Nick together?" He exclaimed, pointing at the picture on the tv.

"As far as they know, we were talking before the radio show. They just want to get everyone riled up. Just ignore them." I shrugged.

"It's hard to ignore it when I see my daughter plastered all over the news with Nick Hicks!" He fired back, narrowing his blue eyes at me.

"Dad," I began, trying to stay calm. "Listen to me. They just want other cars to ship us so that we'll date."

"Ship you? What?" He asked, slightly scoffing.

"Please. Don't pretend like that didn't happen when you and Mom were dating."

"Um. I don't have to pretend. That didn't happen!"

I groaned, looking to Ethan for help. Being the wonderful best friend he is, he came to my rescue. "What Stella is saying it that people just want them to date. They're coming up with nicknames for the two of them; like Nilla, McHicks, or Stellicks. Really, it's just gossip."

"You sure?" Dad asked, studying Ethan.

Ethan softly smiled and nodded his head. "They're just blowing steam to get attention."

"Okay," Dad replied, lowering his voice. He looked at me and gave a gentle smile. "I just want you safe." He explained before he drove off.

I let out a groan and looked at Ethan once Dad was gone. "Why does he believe you and not me?"

"Because he knows I would never lie to him." Ethan laughed before he drove off.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys! I'm back! Summer break has finally begun and so has my writing inspiration for this book! I can't want to see how this book pans out and to see your lovely comments, so please leave them here!