The Principles of a Grand Hunt // Part 1 - A Cars Story

Chapter 13 - Sidequest of a sidequest

Earlier...

For the first time in their lives, they could finally have a relaxing vacation. Away from the press, the fans, and the job itself – they were free of tasks. Rush, El, Del, Jim, and Cal all sat at Miami's most prestigious café – Le Huile Gourmand – for the best quarts they'd ever laid their lips on.

"Mm... mm, mm, mm!! Damn these are good." Rush admired, smiling.

"That might be the most 'mm's I've ever heard you say in a sentence." El quipped, the rest of the group laughing like a sitcom audience.

"It's well-deserved! So damn good!" Rush exclaimed happily.

"You got that right." Cal agreed.

"So where were we?" Del asked.

"Something about my past?" Jim picked up.

"Oh, right! Here's a good one; Jim leaked oil during one of his final exams!" El quipped. The group subsequently laughed, all except for Jim.

"Hey, I told you that in confidence!" Jim blurted aloud.

"Sorry, it's just light-hearted, friendly banter!" El said, nudging him.

"Doesn't sound so light-hearted to me," Jim responded, rejecting her nudge.

"Hey, I got you, man." Rush whispered to Jim. He turned around and stretched his axels out, smiling as he laid out some juicy gossip.

"What about the time that El stared incessantly at Dash's rear bumper during the Piston Cup trials?!" Rush mocked.

"What?!" El gasped.

"You had a thing for him?" Jim said, concerned.

"Hey! All of us academy girls had a thing for someone... he was just that someone for me." El admitted.

"Gee, thanks." Jim sighed, a bit saddened.

"I mean, he's not now." El tried to defend herself.

"Still hurts." Jim retorted, unable to bring himself to look her way.

"I gotta admit though, you were keeping right up with him," Del interjected.

"Agh, really? He was probably slowing down." El chuckled nervously, smiling and averting everyone's gaze.

"Maybe he knew... or maybe you were just hypnotized by his rear bumper!" Rush quipped, smirking widely.

"Shut up!" El laughed, blushing out of embarrassment.

"I will not." Rush assured.

"You're one to talk, babe. You lost a drag race to a truck once when we were on the freeway." Del interjected, laughing. The rest of the party laughed in reply.

"I told you before, my tires were slippery! My wheels spun the whole time!" Rush snapped.

"Wow, that's low," Cal said, laughing.

"Quiet, Strip Weather's son." Rush remarked.

"Oh, uncalled for." Cal sighed.

"Hey, leave Cal alone. He's been berated his whole life. Besides, he needs warm love and support after staying in his father's cold shadow for so long." Del quipped.

"Thank you, and hey!" Cal responded.

"Alright, are we done with the embarrassment? I think that's enough already." El interjected.