Lightning Storm

#2

'I lost...again'
Jackson thought as his head started to become fuzzy and his stomach churned.

The anger inside him started burning in his chest as he gripped his steering wheel.

'This was supposed to be my win. I was the one who was going to pass the finish line. I was going to beat McQueen.
Why did it turn out like this. This was not how things supposed to go'

He trained so hard for this. Waited so many years for his chance to defeat McQueen. Spent so many sleepless nights just to practice.
And today was finally the day. The day all his efforts would be worth it. The day he would defeat McQueen.
But that trainer stole it from him.

Jackson felt furious and the crowds cheering for Cruz did not help.
Storm stopped his car and glared at McQueen, who was cheering for Cruz.

'How could he. How could he bail the race for that trainer. Even putting his racing career at stake.'

Jackson huffed and got out of his car. Angrily slamming the door shut.
But as soon as he got out, Reporters started swarming him like bees on honey. Pushing themselves against him and asking him ridiculous question.

"Mr Storm how does it feel after coming second to Mr McQueen?"one of the reporters asked him

Jackson felt one of the veins in his forehead snap.

'Are they fucking serious? What kind of question is that?What do they expect my answer to be?Happy? Happy that lost to a trainer?Happy that I lost my chance at defeating McQueen. Are they seriously retarded??'.

Jackson was just a breath away from slapping the lights out of that reporter,
Luckily Link intervened just in time.

"Now now please maintain distance, All your questions will be answered soon but for now make way. The race was long and I'm sure Jackson is tired." Link told the Reporters as bodyguards came and pushed the reporters back and cleared a path for Link and Storm.
Link thanked them and speed walked out, before any of the reporters could say anything more, with Storm silently following behind.

Before leaving the stadium, Jackson turned his head and stared at his left. Looking at an extremely happy McQueen high-fiving Cruz. His baby blue eyes shining brighter than the stadium lights.
Jackson gritted his teeth and left the stadium and got into the car sent by the company to drive after the race.

As soon as they were out of the reporter's gossip preying hungry eyes. Link sighed deeply.

"Jackson I swear if I hadn't stopped you, you looked like you we're gonna punch them"Link said

Jackson just stayed silent, crossing his arms and looked out the window.

Link sighed again.

"You know you can't get afford to get any bad publicity, you just started your career as a racer. Think about your future for once. You're still young and got loads time. And I don't want Regina nagging me about you". Link said, half warning Jackson and half worried for him.

When Jackson just stayed silent, Link frowned but kept quiet.
Rest of the car ride none of them spoke.

When the car stopped at Jackson's apartment (in an expensive neighborhood,lent by the company).
Jackson got out and angrily walked to his floor.

Slamming his apartment door shut, he leaned against the door.
Not a single movement.
The silence of the apartment made Jackson's head ache and the anger inside him started burning his chest.
He stomped to his in-house gym and put on his boxing gloves.
Storm clenched his fist and started aggressively punching the boxing bag. Sweat formed on his pale skin as he was he was still in his racing suit.
After an hour of cursing and aggressive boxing, Storm felt his energy drain and collapsed on the boxing mat.

The last thought that came to his mind was how his second loss was because of McQueen and the said racer's face popped into his head Before he blacked out.