Hi all, I've been in the Cars fandom for some time, and got a shred of encouragement to write a fiction about Jackson Storm from how little his personality was explored in Cars 3. This story contains an Original Character that will not impact the Canon characters. This is also my first fanfic, so let me know how you think I did in the reviews once you've read a bit Enjoy!

"Tell me what it's like?"

"Its tedious; she's been studying for half of the day, and is sleeping in more than she usually does. Hoping for the best going to classes everyday for a future that you may not have figured out yet."

"Hm," The Convertible pursed her pouty lips at her mother's honesty about her older sister's experience at college. Her doe brown eyes became distant as she thought about the last sentence. She wasn't certain about being ready for post-secondary school either, but it would come eventually.

Her mother sighed on the other end of the phone call after a brief moment of silence between the two.

"...Maybe she's just not ready for college," the speakers of the device vibrated under the Convertible's left tire, and she gasped at the volume and ticklish sensation on her axles.

"Melise, were you laying down on your phone, again?", her mother's voice went up an octave on the last word, as Melise's eyes widened and she giggled sheepishly.

"You called me once at 4am because of that, shesh!", Melise smiled to herself and adverted her eyes to the sun streaming through the dark red curtains of her hotel room. Her mother's lectures fading with her daydreaming.

She was on her own– alone for the first time, with an employment opportunity for the next several months. Maybe not the most glamourous job, but it was a new experience. An oil runner for The Piston Cup Racing Series, and yes, the excitement coupled with nervousness was a tinge overwhelming, but heck, Melise was just an oil girl, not a racer, her oil pressure didn't have a reason to rise.

But she was alone... it was beginning to settle in, and her cabin felt like a surge of coolant had run through it.

" ... and make sure your– are you listening to me!?" her mother's voice echoed the western-style suite. Melise's expressionless face glanced back down to the phone screen, which lit up with the graze of her bumper. The call duration read: 'Vanda Rūūnes (Mother Dearest)'

"Yes," she answered calmly, "I know, all doors locked, wash my tires before rolling around, and stay out of trouble, even though I've never been in trouble."

Vanda breathed a sigh through the phone, "Good, now stay safe, 'hun, no gasohol. I'll call later, and your first shift tomorrow– what time again?"

Melise reversed and reached for a folder donning the Piston Racing Series logo, she flipped it open to be certain for the third time.

"Seven AM to seven-thirty PM," she replied, doing the math in her head as she stretched her axles out and slumped on her chassis.

"Hmph," Vanda remarked simply. Melise didn't hesitate to roll her eyes where her mother couldn't see it.

"It's a job with the Piston Cup Racing Series, what else could you expect?" Melise grinned in spite of her overprotective mother. She wasn't a little car learning to drive, she could handle her own.

"With those hours, you best be getting me an autograph or picture with Darrell Cartrip!" She breathed a sigh after a moment, "I just don't want you to get hurt, you know how clumsy you get!"

"Yeah..." the peach-colored convertible chewed her bottom lip, hoping her tires could stay in a straight line this time around. "I'm going to try to do my best, Mom."

The two ended their nonchalant call with good-byes. Melise began to daydream, caught up in the spectacle of a new exciting life ahead.

A glare of sun rays peaked through those royal red curtains and pierced Melise's eyes. She leaned her frame on her right side, allowing her eyes to escape from the blinding solar rays.

The instructions presented to her in email specified that the racers were not arriving until the evening. Their time rich and productive with training. They were to not be disturbed, and staff were to revise any changes to supplies, orders or shift rounds with their supervisors.

The new age Honda convertible laid there in redundant thought as her left wheel traced a semi-circle against the soft quilt.

'If I stay lazy now, I'll be lazier later.' Her thoughts raced.

Melise suddenly perked up on all her tires, her axles warming up with her rush of excitement. She couldn't sit still until the action started, that was too boring.

"So let's explore this place," she said enthusiastically in her ambient voice– to no one in particular. She smiled at the weird behaviour. If anyone else were around, they'd muse at her as if she were a child, or perhaps the usual "weirdo" comment would spawn itself on the tongue of another car.

But that didn't matter right now. Melise rolled her way to the exit of her suite, making sure she had her key-card tucked under her fender.

'Just a little cruise around,' she mused in her thoughts, as she pushed open the suite door.

A Stormy race car is a brewing in the next chapters. Stay tuned!