From Deep End to Surface and Everything In Between (Sebastian Vettel FanFic)

Prologue

Switzerland - December 2020

She was shaking from head to toe, her sweaty palms against her toned legs when she moved them up and down. Then, with headphones on, she closed her eyes, letting the music take over, focusing on her unsteady breathing. 'Scar.' Her eyes flew open to land them on her coach, Bob. She moved the headphones slowly off her ears. 'Breathe, Scar.' Bob hummed, shaking her from her shoulders in an attempt to make her relax. She shot a thin smile towards him, her body still stiff. 'You got this.' She nodded, feeling unsure. 'Scar?' Her haunted eyes shot up. 'Swim with your heart and soul - nothing else.' Bob's words were like a warm blanket that wrapped around her, shielding her from anything else than the task at hand, giving her the confidence she urgently needed.

'Alright, 100m freestyle finalists - let's go!' Scar's anxiety grew higher before she gathered herself as soon as she saw the glimpse of the arena; Scar was okay, she got it. In the end, she had arrived in Beijing to race.

'Lane three - Scarlette Smith, representing the United Kingdom!' The announcer boomed through the speaker, and the cheers carried through the swimming arena. Scar waved her hand and flashed a timid smile. 'You got this.' She rethought nervously on her mantra when all nerves in her body were on overdrive.

'On your marks.' She stood up to the podium, squeezing the rough edge tightly with white knuckles when she waited for the command. 'Piip-' She flew forward until her fingertips met the calm surface that she had grown to love over the years. She dove under the water before her hips began moving with the dolphin kicks.

She began the first stroke after her fingertips tickled the surface, inviting her to rise above. The first stroke, second... she continued in her bubble until she noticed the familiar T-formation at the bottom of the pool. 'Time to turn.' Her legs touched briefly to the chilly tile before she pushed forward to the direction where she had come from seconds before. '50 metres left. Push, Scar.'

The acids crept into her body, and she felt how her body became stiffer and how her stroke got shorter. 'When does this end?!' Until her palm met the tile. She lifted herself up, catching her breath. She was confused when she received hugs and claps on the shoulder from others, saying, 'Well done!'

'Congrats!'

She turned around and gawked at the results. Her name was written with big, bold white letters next to number 1, 'Scarlette Smith, WR'. She had won with the world record. 'Holy Shit.' She whispered in awe when she kept staring at the results. 'This is a surreal dream. Is this real?'

She spotted a familiar pair of blue eyes from the audience, a smirk visible on his curved lips. She beamed and blew a cheeky kiss towards him before her attention landed on her coach, who grinned as widely as possible. She dropped her stuff to the ground when she was hugged by Bob. 'Wow.' He spoke in wonder. 'Well done, well done indeed. Not a single flaw. Brilliant job, Scar!' She beamed happily. 'Thanks, Bob. This is...' Her body took in the atmosphere around her; the screams, claps and music. '... Surreal as hell.' She finished laughing when her attention was back at her coach.

Bob opened his mouth to comment on her words whilst she was timeously pushed forward to the cool down area out of the way of the upcoming final that got the stage it deserved. She smirked, and her thoughts danced back to the moment her hand met with the white tile and digits on the board. Her body tingled with excitement and euphoria, feeling satisfied that her hard work had paid off. The acids were secondary when she glided forward in cloud 9 and shrieked when someone pulled her aside from the busy corridor, tugging them away from the busy crowds.

'Emerson!' She whispered-yelled when his lips landed inches away from hers, eyes pouring down on hers hotly before they travelled down to her body. The acids were edging to her muscles, but his body against her was a perfect distraction from the situation. She didn't mind their little cat and mouse game that had begun in the preparation camp before the Olympics. 'Brilliant swim, love. Mind-blowing.' He hushed her in a sultry voice. The butterflies swooned in her stomach when his hands moved up and down on her curves. 'Scar? Where are you? You have 10 minutes to cool down before the relay starts!'

Scar and Emerson shared an amused smile. 'You're a busy bee, sweetheart.' Emerson said in a low voice when the team head coach's voice boomed and passed their hide-away. Scar giggled. 'Well, time to get back to work.' Then, with a lingering look in her eyes and hesitant wish of what-ifs, she was ready to go.

'Don't go there, love.' Emerson said sternly when Scar's hesitation grew. She loved their flirts, almost kisses and whatnots. She slipped past him, but not before planting a soft kiss on his cheek. 'Thanks for finding me.' She said cheekily, ignoring his words after she began her journey forward.

'I'll always find you, Scarlette Smith. I promise you that!'

She turned on her feet, a cheeky smile playing on her lips before blowing a whimsical air kiss towards him before she shouted. 'Then you better be ready for the chase, Emerson James, because I'm not giving up that easily!'

She woke up panting, thrusting her hair out of her face shakily. 'What was that?' she grumbled, her hand gliding down on the silk sheets, feeling their softness underneath her palms until her hand stopped against a firm object. Her eyes trailed behind her arm, arising inch by inch to land a person sleeping beside her. She gulped nervously when the reality sank in. The Viking looking blonde sleeping peacefully beside her was from her current fantasy; she had dreamed a beautiful dream with a beginning, middle and an end from the past.