The One That Got Away (Sebastian Vettel)

6. Meltdown

Zurich

February 2016

Seb smiled at the blonde, Russian woman sat opposite him. For the first time in a long while he found himself interested in more than just a one night stand.

Elena was a driver too. She understood the life. Currently racing in Italian Formula 3 , she was one of the top ranked women drivers in the world. 

The sex was fantastic! She was tall and slender, with legs that seemed to go on for miles.

They'd met at Maranello, as she was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. He'd been instantly attracted to her.

He'd asked her out before the end of that first day and now two months on they were officially a couple.

Seb was happy, really happy, for the first time since Mollie had walked out of his life. Mollie. He didn't think of her so often now, but every now and then she'd creep back into his head to taunt him.  He briefly wondered what the sex would have been like with her. How would it have felt to have her suck him off? How would she taste?

He forced his attention back to Elena.  It had never happened, and it never would. Elena was his present, and his future.  Mollie was history. There was no going back.

                      ***

Indiana

April 2016

Mollie pulled the neon purple and blue helmet down over her head.  Once she was sure it was all secure she stepped into the car. She slid down into the cockpit and the mechanic did her belts up. She pulled on her gloves and flipped the visor down.

This was the first time since her accident that she had set foot inside a single seater racecar. She'd tested sports cars but this was where her heart really was.

She'd been offered a test with Brooke Racing at Indianapolis with a view to a seat in Indy W for 2017. Part of her was excited. It was great to be driving again and on such a historic track, but there was part of her that was scared. What if she couldn't do this any more? This really could be make or break time.

"OK, Mollie, in your own time. Take it easy first couple of laps." said the calming voice of Stewey Wade, in her ear.

She breathed in deeply and headed out onto the track. At first it felt alien to her. These cars were different to what she was used to, but after a few laps she was really getting the hang of it.

Then as she was gearing up for a fast lap, she lost the back end and span around, clipping the wall. It wasn't a major hit but as she sat in the motionless car her memories came rushing back and she couldn't keep them out.

Silverstone. Will's car spinning back towards her. Darkness, pain, fear. She felt herself shaking, the sobs rising in her throat. No, she had to calm herself. Breathe Mollie, breathe.

"Mollie, everything OK?" asked Stewey.

Mollie couldn't talk. If she spoke she'd break.

"Mollie, are you ok?" he repeated.

She felt sick, she had to get out of there. The marshalls arrived. She was already undoing her belts.

She shakily climbed out of the car. She headed back towards the garages, embarrassed by her failure. She locked herself in the bathroom and began sobbing.

After ten minutes there was a knock on the door.

"Mollie, sweetheart, are you ok?"

It was her new PT, Ashley Bradman, a fellow Brit trying  their luck in the States.

"Not really Ash. I made a right fool of myself out there." She pulled some tissue out of the dispenser and blew her nose noisily.

"Mollie, everyone understands. They know what you went through. Come on out. You can't stay locked up in there all day."

Mollie slowly unbolted the door and emerged, helmet in hand, with red, blotchy eyes.

"I can't do it Ash, I just can't do it."

She broke down sobbing again. He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.

"I want my dad Ash, I want my dad."

Ash was very concerned. He'd never seen Mollie in this state.   Sure, she'd had some insecure moments over the four months he'd been working  with her, but she was bordering on a complete breakdown.

He held he her until she was all cried out.

Back in the garage, team owner Franklin Brooke stood talking to engineer Stewey Wade.

"She just choked when she span," Stewey said. 

"It was too soon. She wasn't ready.  Give her time Stewey.  I don't know what it is but there's something about this kid. I have a feeling and my feelings are rarely wrong."

"You're wasting your time Franklin. She's broken."

"You'll eat your words one day Stewey. Believe me. She's the real deal. She just needs time."

"And therapy!" Franklin smiled at Stewey.

"Yes, perhaps she does. I'm going  to see she gets what she needs. I want her in the car next year Stewey. This is Dionne's last season. Mollie is the future of Brooke Racing in Indy W."

Stewey kept his mouth shut. He'd believe it when he saw it. Mollie Rashford was just a scared little girl. She wasn't a winner. And if Franklin Brooke thought that she was, well more fool him.

                            ***

"Has she said anything else?"  Oli asked Ashley after the trainer had called him and told him what had happened. 

"She's just laid there, curled up in a ball staring at the wall. I think she needs help Oli."

" I feared this would happen one day. She never really dealt with her accident and injuries psychologically. She bottled it all up. She's hit the wall."

"She was crying for her dad earlier."

"That might be a good idea. She's very close to her dad. He might be the one person who can talk her into getting help. I'll give him a call."

"Worth a try."  Oli hung up and scrolled through his contact list until he found the number for Darren Rashford. Mollie would be pissed off with him but it was for her own good. She was a mess and it was time to stage an intervention before it was too late.

                     ***

Three days later Mollie and Ashley arrived back in Orlando. Mollie still wasn't talking  much and most of the fight seemed to have gone out of her. She was just a ghost of her usual self.

She sat down on the sofa and began flicking through the channels.

Ashley looked at his watch. It was nearly time for Oli to arrive.

"Fancy pizza tonight?" he asked her. "We can have a cheat day." She shrugged, not really interested in food.

"Well I'm going to order one anyway. There will be plenty to go around."

He rang the order through and went and sat out on the balcony, enjoying the evening sun.

He saw Oli's car pull up outside. He returned inside.

"Oli's here," he informed her. No reaction.   He went to open the door ready.

Mollie wasn't looking forward to seeing Oli. She was bound to get a lecture. She heard his voice talking  to Ashley. Then she heard a voice that she hadn't heard in person for nearly three years.

She glanced up and saw her dad stood in the doorway.

"Mols," he said, holding his arms open.

She got up and ran into them, sobbing.

"It's OK, Mols I'm here, I'm here. Come on, let it out darling."

"Daddy," she cried. "I need help Dad, I need help."