Are you scared?

10. Cactus ditch

I was sitting on the bonnet of my car with a milkshake in my hand and sunglasses on my eyes.
Willys Butte was once my nightmare, yet after seeing Francesco struggle to stay on the track without getting stuck in cacti, I began to love the place.

Maybe I mocked him too hard, but sipping my milkshake while grinning at him every time Mater pulled him out, was satisfying. "You aren't listening! I told you what to do." I slipped my sunglasses down, looking at his now dirty dress. He turned to me with a frown before he yelled: "Turne right to go left is not advise for Francesco!" I wanted to care for him with his little pout and dusty cheeks. Adorable. I must've looked the same to Doc when he first took me to Willy's Butte. I remembered our race quite vividly; the start, where I felt like that wasn't even a challenge to the bitter end.

"Well, this advice won me 10 Piston Cups." I took the last sip of my strawberry milkshake before I stripped down my jacket and t-shirt. It felt nice to feel the cool breeze on my bare chest. I must say, Doc knew how to choose a spot for looking at my failures.

The Italian didn't stop cursing for one second when he again sat in my old car (it felt like seeing your lover in your hoodie) to attempt this little trick of mine. However, the cactus ditch found him in its embrace once more. He's not taking my advice. I closed my eyes, knowing it took a while to pull the car out, even with Maters help.
A set of footsteps came closer to me, eventually blocking the sweet warmth of the sun.
"How are you doing it?" I stood up and looked at my car in the patch of cacti. Mater was already pulling it out, but Ramon won't be happy after seeing my car in that state.

"While I am sweaty and naked, it should be easy for you to watch me as I use my advice." I winked at him before mockingly petting his shoulder. My car was out of cacti when I walked to it. It looked hammered, so I pat it with a reassuring smile. I listened to the purr of the engine when I started the car. The smoke that came out of it only made me chuckle - it reminded me of learning the trick.

I rode around Francesco slowly so I could wave at him. It didn't take more than a few seconds to get to 75 m/h (120 km/h). The familiar feeling of adrenalin made me a little dizzy.
I watched the road and the turn with excitement. I wanted this to go well and for my car not to give up since I saw almost nothing through the smoke. I waited just a second before I turned my wheel sharp right. Although I could feel the car fighting against me, I chose to step on the accelerator harder instead of letting it go.
'Well done, rookie, well done.'
A nostalgic smile formed on my lips; moments like these made me always smile. I saw the dust on my left side and remembered the first time with Doc in the driver's seat with his laugh. 

The drive came to a stop sooner than I could properly enjoy it. I nodded as if saying goodbye before stepping out of the car. There was Francesco with his eyes wide open and Mater with his everpresent goofy smile. "That's how you do it, pretty boy." I laughed before placing a hand on my hip. I was becoming aware of my bare chest and how my breath became ragged. The adrenalin tinting my cheeks red also didn't help my look. "I remember Monty starting here! Oh, he was here all the time! Yeah, those were fun times!" Mater slapped Francesco across his back before hooking the car up. It looked like it needed a lot of repairs, and I was ready to pay for it. I would never leave my buddy in this shape.

"Monty? Who is Monty? Another racer from here?" Francesco asked as I put on my white shirt. "That's-" "Mater! Stop and think for a second. You're not dumb." I put my hand on Mater's mouth with raised eyebrows. I hoped he would get the idea or at least would shut the hell up. Mater pulled my hand down with a frown on his brows. He was thinking for sure.
"Oh! Yeah, I get it!" He smiled at me victoriously before turning to Francesco. "He died yesterday." I started to choke on my saliva as I heard him say it. I coughed so hard I fell to my knees, worrying Francesco. Mater looked like it was the most normal thing he saw today, which probably was, considering how often he sent me in this state. "It's okay. He does this often, but yeah, Monty's dead. Like 6 feet underground dead. Nothin' can bring him back-" "I think he gets it, Mater." I gasped and grabbed his leg. I stood up, still a little out of breath. It wasn't until I was sure I wouldn't buckle down again that I put my hand on Maters mouth. Then I leaned to his ear; "He doesn't know, and I don't plan on telling him. So shut it." I pulled away and patted his back. I love him, but, dear God, he must've been dropped as a baby. "Don't mind him. You know how he is." I smiled at Francesco with a big bright smile that I usually only gave to the paparazzi. "Francesco wants to" "Learn the trick so he can beat me? Awesome, that makes two of us! But I need to give you a different car. Otherwise you're gonna kill yourself."