Chapter Five

It was a still night in Radiator Springs. There was a full moon in the sky and Drewster was restless. She, DJ, Wingo and Snot Rod had been staying in the old garage, while Boost was under the care of Doc. Boost had finally been released from the clinic and began staying with the rest of the group in the old garage.

Drewster shifted on her tires, frustrated at the inability to sleep. She looked around at the rest of the tuners, who were all asleep, but noticed Boost was absent. She snuck out of the garage and drove along Main Street, hoping to make herself sleepy.

Movement down one of the side streets caught Drewster's eye and she stopped. Boost slowly approached her; the moonlight danced off his new iridescent violet paint job, courtesy of Ramone.

"Hey, Boost," Drewster said quietly. "What are you doing out this time of night?"

"I dunno," Boost muttered. "What about you?"

It had been a couple of weeks since the accident and Boost was recovering remarkably well, thanks to Doc. Yet, he had become moody and had lost some of his self confidence. He often distanced himself from the group and was short-tempered the times he joined them.

"I guess the full moon is keeping me awake tonight," Drewster commented. She studied Boost for a second. He seemed pensive. "What's wrong?" she asked him.

"I been thinking," he said, then looked around, spotting an abandoned warehouse down a side street. "C'mon. Follow me." Boost took off down the road to the warehouse and went inside.

"What are we doing here?" Drewster asked as she entered behind him.

Moonlight streamed in through the broken windows and illuminated the sleek contours of both cars. Boost pulled in very close to Drewster, backing her up against a wall. Her instincts told her where his actions were leading, and she gulped nervously.

"Since I'm the leader of this gang," Boost began, pushing in even closer, "I need to initiate you."

Drewster was backed into a corner, and Boost started passionately kissing her. She pulled away for a second.

"Boost, we shouldn't."

"Don't say no," Boost said. He held her with his tires and continued to kiss her. He felt her relax and give into him.

"Boost…please…don't…," Drewster half-heartedly pleaded, but found it hard to conceal her attraction to him, and her engine purred in ecstasy as he had his way with her.

"You are now officially a member," Boost said when they finished. He rolled up alongside Drewster. He reached a tire out to touch her but hesitated. "Goodnight," he said and drove off.

Drewster watched him drive away, savoring the experience she just had with him. He was so good, she thought to herself, but then a flood of mixed emotions came over her. She felt guilty over her recent trysts with DJ, Wingo, and now Boost, and that she had somehow betrayed Snot Rod.

"I hope Snotty doesn't find out," she mumbled to herself as she drove back to the garage. She parked next to Snot Rod, and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

--

Morning broke and Wingo's laugh could be heard echoing through the trees in the woods behind the garage. Snot Rod and Drewster were parked outside, looking toward the woods, when DJ emerged from the garage and joined them.

"Whassup with Wingo?" he asked, blinking.

"I dunno," Snot Rod answered. "He's been out there for a while."

"Ahahahahahahahaha!!" laughed Wingo.

"I think he's had too much coffee," Drewster guessed. Wingo roared with laughter again from the woods.

"Nah," DJ said. "Is he burning stuff again?"

The three cars looked at each other, then out toward the woods.

"WINGO!!" they all yelled in unison, as if on cue.

"Shaddup!" Wingo shouted. "I'm on the phone!"

DJ, Snot Rod and Drewster looked at each other and shrugged.

"He never talks on the phone," Snot Rod commented.

"Yeah," agreed DJ. "That's not Wingnut's style."

Drewster grinned. "Maybe he's talking to a girl," she suggested.

DJ and Snot Rod looked at her and shook their hoods. "Nahhhhh," they both said.

Wingo emerged from the woods, grinning. He paused in front of his puzzled friends.

"Whut?!" he questioned and drove into the garage. The three watched him as he drove back out, obviously very happy about something.

"Okay, Wingo," DJ said. "Whaddup?"

"Yeah," Snot Rod added. "You hate talking on the phone."

Wingo drove madly around the group and was barely able to contain himself.

"Dude! Stay still already!" DJ scolded.

"I got a girlfriend!" Wingo excitedly announced.

"I told you it was a girl!" Drewster said, poking DJ. "I rest my case!"

"So who is it?" asked Snot Rod. "Tell us, man."

"Her name is Candy!" Wingo answered, driving in circles. "She is so cute!"

DJ rolled his eyes. "Okay, this is crazy, man!" he mumbled.

"Hey," said Snot Rod, looking around. "Where's Boost?"

"Boost is on cloud nine," Wingo said, bouncing around. "Wingo's on cloud ten!"

"Can it, Wingo!" DJ snarled, annoyed. "How much coffee have you had?"

"Ten cups!!" Wingo gleefully did donuts around his friends and giggled.

Snot Rod stared at Wingo. "More like ten nitrous canisters," he remarked.

"Speaking of nitrous," Drewster began, "I haven't seen Boost since last night, just before we went to sleep." She pretended she hadn't seen Boost after that, but she did wonder why he never returned to the garage after their late night encounter. She became a little concerned.

"Maybe we should go look for him," Snot Rod said with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Yeah. Let's leave mister "I'm So Happy" here," DJ snorted. "He drives me nuts sometimes."

"Is that why you call him 'Wingnut'?" Drewster asked.

"Something like that," replied DJ. "C'mon, let's find Boost."

He, Drewster and Snot Rod drove off in search of their leader. Wingo noticed them leave and chased after them.

"Hey! Wait for me!" he shouted, speeding to catch up with the group.