Chapter 12 - Morning Truth

Five-year-old Queen was being pushed into her bedroom by her mom, who was a Ford Mustang like her, with light green paint and icy blue eyes; the neighborhood was asleep, and Queen and her mom were all alone in their house with a monster.

"Mommy, what's happening?" little Queen asked with fear when Lucy slammed her bedroom door shut and locked it.

"Shh, shh, shh! Don't speak! It's ok, but you need to stay here, and don't come out until Mommy says so, ok?" Lucy instructed in a whisper, and she pushed Queen under her bed.

Lucy was to big too hide with her, but while Queen was hidden and could only see the bottom of her bedroom door, she heard her mom open her bedroom window, but that was when three gunshots could be heard splintering wood.

"I know you're in there, bitch!" called a guttural voice on the other side of the door, "get out here before I break the door down!"

"Leave us alone, Sawyer, please!" Lucy begged with a sob, but then Sawyer suddenly bust through the door, ripping it off its hinges. Queen could only stare in utter terror at the large tires of a Ford f150, and she backed up even further under her bed.

"Sawyer, no! Please…NO!" Lucy's cries were immediately drowned out by another gunshot, and the loud thud of a large object hitting the ground could be heard.

Queen couldn't hear her mom after that, and tears stung at her eyes when she assumed the worse. But she had to keep herself from sobbing when she saw the huge wheels get closer, and they stopped for a while, listening for the slightest peep.

Suddenly, blaring sirens filled the night outside, and the truck huffed in frustration before dropping the gun by Lucy's front left wheel, and he darted out of the room, leaving a traumatized Queen all alone with that horrible event forever trapped in her mind.

"Queen?"

Queen was jerking back and forth on her bed, and her teeth were clenched tightly as tears drizzled down her hood.

"Queen?!"

Queen couldn't hear the voice calling to her, as it was drowned out by the screams of her mother before she died, along with the gunshot that killed her.

"QUEEN, WAKE UP!" Her eyes snapped open and she gasped in horror, only to be greeted with Boost's face just inches in front of hers. She glanced around frantically to find that she was still in cone fourteen, and the morning rays of the sun seeped through the windows.

"Boost, I…" Queen began meekly, but then she paused when she noticed the tears rolling down her hood, "was I…crying?"

"You weren't just crying, you were bawling like a baby. What the hell were you dreamin' about?" Boost questioned with impatience, but Queen could hear the concern in his tone.

"I-I wasn't dreaming…I was reliving a horrible memory," Queen replied while inhaling and exhaling slowly.

"Well, what happened?"

"I…don't wanna talk about it." Without another word, Queen climbed out of bed and opened the door, and she drove out of the building to stretch a bit, but Boost was persistent.

"You sure? Ya don't even wanna talk about Sawyer?" Queen gasped once more and looked at the Kyoku Jitsu with shock. "You kept mumbling his name in your sleep."

"W-what else did I say?"

"That he got away…oh, and who's Lucy?"

"Sh-she was my mom."

"Was?" Boost repeated in surprise, but then he regretted saying it when he saw Queen close her eyes tightly, and more tears started spilling from her eyes. "Ok, ok…look, I'm sorry…I guess it ain't really my business."

"No, it's not," Queen sniffled, "but I'm glad you care."

"I-I don't care, I just…I'm just curious. Your crying woke me up, and now I've got a splitting headache," Boost denied while rolling his eyes.

"Then let's go get some coffee at Flo's," Queen suggested after wiping her tears away, and she meekly smiled at Boost, who only scoffed at her sincerity.

"Yeah, ok."

DJ awoke to a brittle dryness in his mouth and throat, and groggily blinked his eyes open to the bright morning sun seeping through the window, and it glimmered on his right side since the window was on his side of the bed.

But that was when he remembered last night, and how he and Eleanor had to share a bed at the Cozy Cone—and their kiss. DJ smirked at how proud he was to finally show Eleanor how he felt about her, and speaking of Eleanor, the said white Toyota Innova suddenly moved closer into DJ's touch.

DJ smiled at the beautiful sight of his best friend sleeping soundly, and he tried to keep as still as possible to let her sleep in. Sadly, his wish wasn't granted when Eleanor's eyes soon fluttered open, and she let out a long and soft yawn.

And when she saw DJ snuggled next to her, she closed her eyes and blushed.

"Good morning, DJ."

"Good morning, beautiful." Eleanor could only blush even deeper and giggle like a school girl. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, I did, thank you—especially after last night. Did you really mean that kiss, DJ?"

"I wouldn't've kissed you if I didn't. in fact, I'm gonna tell you a secret, Ellie—I've had a crush on you since third grade," DJ admitted with a chuckle, and he started blushing too.

"R-really? I s-started having f-feelings for you in fifth g-grade," Eleanor stuttered with a small smile.

"I can't believe we've loved each other that long, and we never even knew it," DJ pointed out in awe.

"Well, we know now. I love you, DJ." Eleanor then gathered the courage to give DJ a little kiss on his fender.

"I love you too, Ellie," DJ sighed lustfully, and kissed gently her back on the lips.

"Want to go get some breakfast?"

"That'd be great."

Wingo and Snot Rod woke up to the horrid screeching rust of the gate to the Impound Lot, as Angel stood on the other side. But strangely enough, they were as tired as they usually were when Sheriff or Angel woke them up; they felt much more rested than usual.

"What time is it?" Wingo asked groggily.

"It's eleven thirty—thought I'd let you guys sleep in this morning," Angel replied with a soft smile.

"Well, aren't you just a peach?" Wingo chuckled sarcastically, as Angel unlocked his parking boot.

"I'll take that as a 'thank you'," Angel informed with a smirk, and she then went to unlock Snot Rod's parking boot, "but you boys just keep this to yourself, ok?"

"Wait, your uncle doesn't know about this?" Wingo laughed in surprise, and Angel nodded in response, "wow, it seems even the deputy has a little bit of bad girl in 'er!"

"No, it's just gratitude—last night was fun, so it was the least I could do," Angel quickly corrected, and drove out of the Impound Lot.

"Oh, c'mon, that doesn't count as a thank you in my book!" Wingo called while quickly driving up by her side.

"Then what does?"

"A little kiss would suffice."

"Not until you've proven to me that you're a peaceful citizen, but not try." Wingo couldn't help but chuckle and roll his eyes at Angel's stubbornness, and he slowed down a bit, allowing Snot Rod to catch up and talk with him alone.

"At least you HAD a date last night, Wingo…the girl I like's still mad at me," Snot Rod pointed out with a sad sigh.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Girl? What girl? You're hidin' feelin's from 'er Snot, so spill!" Wingo demanded and screeched to a halt, and he smiled at the Bragatron Roadburner in expectance.

"I-I kinda wrecked her side by accident, and now I'm pretty sure her dad's out ta get me," Snot Rod shamefully explained.

"Well, do ya like her? Like REALLY like her?"

"Y-yeah…"

"Well, if ya want her dad off your back, then ya gotta grow a pair."

"Pair of what?"

"Oh, Snot Rod…" Wingo sighed in disappointment while shaking his hood slowly.

"What? What'd I say?" Snot Rod urged, but then he suddenly felt another sneeze coming on, and it larger than he anticipated, sending him in reverse in the other direction.

"Whoa! Snot Rod?!" shouted the voice of a car Snot Rod whipped right passed and barely missed, and Snot Rod couldn't believe it when it was none other than Charlotte.

"You two know each other?" Wingo cut in with a knowing smirk.

"Yeah, Snot Rod and I kinda bumped into each other not long ago—and speaking of which, are you ok, Snot Rod? That sneeze sounded awful," Charlotte asked Snot Rod with conern.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine…I'm fi-ah…ACHOO!" Snot Rod lied while blushing a bit, but he was once again cut off by a large and unpleasant sneeze.

"No, you're definitely not fine, Snot Rod. Come with me, I know just the thing that can help," Charlotte insisted while grabbing one of Snot Rod's front tires with her own, and started dragging him into town.

Wingo couldn't help but chuckle evilly at how Snot Rod was too scared to stand up to his crush, but he silently wished him luck, anyway.

Sorry that Snot Rod and Charlotte never got a date in the last chapter like the others, I just didn't think I could add in a fourth couple. Yeah, I know it's a poor excuse, but just stay with me, alright? Just be patient. It'll be worth it, I promise.

Anyway, jeez, Queen's got some traumatizing childhood memories, huh? And who is this Sawyer character? All I can say is that you'll want to remember him because he may just be an important part to the story, specifically with Queen(not to give away any spoilers or anything).

Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!