Winning You

Four

Maxim

It was the day for qualifications, determining which pole position we'd be taking for the actual race the next day. I had my favorite tracks and this one wasn't one of them. I knew the track well though, as you had to for safety measures of not only yourself but everyone else.
I woke early and had breakfast at the hotel before I was shuttled to the track. My physical therapist would be there for warm up stretches and our warm up laps. Just like any time I was competing, I was hyper aware and amped to just start and see what the track had to offer me for the day. Every race wasn't a win and the circumstances of the races could always change. It was always the smartest idea to walk in fully prepared for anything to happen.
When we arrived to the track, I was then inundated with the press and my team trying to get me before I got caught in the media frenzy.
I had respect for my peers and although we all competed through the year against each other, there was a level of respect that we all had for each other's safety and the rules of the sport. I went into my bay and said my regards to the mechanics and staff, also making small talk with the other driver of the team.
"This should be an interesting race," commented by director.
"Why?" I replied as I walked to the bench where my items were.
"It's Mercedes first race with new members on the team. Since it got bought out he's been placing some new players in."
"Well I've always liked a challenge," I finish. As the bay windows are open I can see people walking to their respective bays and I know everyone behind here has access so the drivers are pretty relaxed and in their zone. Sometimes press is let through, but since each team is pretty protective of their technology no one gets too close. As I sit and take a deep breath, I watch as people walk by.
I spot her as soon she makes her way across my field vision. I've never seen her before, but she has on a Mercedes team shirt. I don't know what it was about her that made me so captivated but she was trying so hard to be low key. She also had a matching Mercedes team hat and sunglasses but something in me knew that she would absolutely blow me away if I saw her up close. Without even realizing it, I've gotten up and I'm moving towards the bay doors.
"Vincent, Alvarez wants you out back to go over some new team shit," a crew member startles me and makes me realize what I had been doing. I shook myself out of the trance and replied appropriately to the crew member and looked back out into the crowd. She was gone. It was just as well that I did not get to her. I needed to focus on qualifying for my position in the race tomorrow.