The Team // A Formula One AU

Mick

It's our first proper bus journey together, from Indianapolis to Chicago. I never expected to see so much of the USA, if any of it at all, but here I am riding through the endlessly flat landscape alongside a bunch of new friends.

"Have you travelled much?" I ask Charles who's sitting beside me. He seems like a cool guy but it's only been three weeks and I haven't had time to get to know anyone very well yet. For most of the two hours' journey he's been swivelled round chatting with Carlos and Lando.

"Yeah, quite a lot," he says. "My dad goes on a lot of business trips and sometimes if they're not important I could go with him, but I haven't for a while."

"Why not?"

He shrugs. "I guess I grew up and started spending too much time at the track on weekends. Having a girlfriend takes up a lot of the time."

"What's her name?" I grin.

"Charlotte... She's amazing. I met her at a café actually and it sounds so... What's the word? It's French, how could I forget it? Cliché! It sounds cliché but it was love at first sight..."

I allow him to go on but turn my attention back to the window. The state border is coming up and I've quickly learned that Charles is the most talkative person I've ever met, especially when it comes to his girlfriend, which makes it seem like this friendship will take care of itself. We pass the big sign for Illinois and I let out a small breath. On to round two.

"Alright lads, listen up." Tom stands at the front of the bus and we mostly settle down, except for Charles who continues his talk on a typical weekend in Monaco in a slightly quieter voice. "We've just passed into Illinois and it might be our last chance, so does anybody want to stop for a break?"

"ME!" I hear a scream from behind and recognise the voice as Lando's. Not by the accent or the tone, but mostly by the volume. I spin around to look at him.

"Do you actually have to pee though, or do you just want to run around?"

"He has to run around every so often Mick, he needs to be walked, like a... Like a dog."

"Did you just forget the word for dog?" I laugh at Max. He's sitting across the aisle with Daniel, my other best friend on the team. We're as close as George, Carlos and Lando are, but right now George is at the back of the bus with his headphones in and a hood covering his face.

"I know the word for dog. I just temporarily misplaced it in my head."

"Lads, listen! Do you want to stop or not!?"

I'd forgotten Tom had asked a question. Max hisses reminding me that his English is very good and I snort while Charles is still giggling about whatever it was we were talking about.

"I think we should carry on, Tom," the Finnish guy says from the front of the bus. V... Val-something. I have no idea on his last name.

"Carry on? Any objections?"

The noise of conversation begins again and Tom takes it as a sign to give up. He tells Erik to keep driving and I sit back down from craning around like a meerkat. Charles is once again talking about Monaco and Charlotte and whatever else and I'm not sure he actually ever stopped. I smile at him and check my phone. After finishing tenth yesterday I can't wait for round two.

"Mick?" Carlos calls for me and I groan as I twist around to look at him again. This cannot be good for my back.

"Yes?"

"Where are we going after Chicago?"

I think for a moment, then it comes to me. "New York."

"See Lando," Carlos says, "we are visiting the Big Apple."

"I thought the Big Apple was in Los Angeles," he frowns.

"It's not," I say, "but we're going there too. We'll see the whole of the USA which means we're in for some really long bus journeys."

"That's fine, I like the bus," Lando chirps and Carlos gives me a look to say he thinks he's lost his mind. I cast my eyes around the rickety, rusty interior and return Carlos' expression. At least Peter managed to fix the luggage compartment so we have some room to breathe now.

"Well I'm most excited for Las Vegas," Daniel grins, leaning his body over Max's and into the aisle to join our conversation. "I want to sneak into all the big casinos and maybe a party or two while we're there."

"You want to get arrested?" I chuckle.

Daniel shrugs. "As long as it's not a grid penalty."

"We have casinos in Monaco too," Charles tells us. "One time when I was on a date with Charlotte-"

"Seriously?" I interrupt him. "How many Charlotte stories do you have!?"

Charles blushes almost as red as his signature Ferrari shirt and I ruffle his hair amicably. "Only kidding. Of course I enjoy hearing about how in love you two are."

It doesn't take long to get to Chicago. The traffic thickens and winds start rocking the bus so strongly that our bin-bag flies off the broken window and we're all blasted with cold air. I reach into my backpack but find I must've left my coat inside my suitcase. I guess they don't call it the windy city for nothing.