The Dutch Grand Prix [EN] [16+]

6

He takes me into his arms straight away. "What do you actually do for work," he asks. I turn to look at him when I say, "You are quite curious are you not?" Then we both laugh. "I work as an IT consultant. We sell customised software to our clients. My work differs based on what the client wants but usually I make dashboards or optimise the code of processes that they already have," I explain to him. He listens with interest and than concludes: "So, you are beautiful and smart too." "Why do you keep complimenting me since the beginning?" I ask. "Because you are special," he replies. I turn to him again, "But I am just an ordinary girl who happens to love motorsports," I counter his comment. "Mauve, look at me." He pushes me a bit away so we can look in each others' eyes when he says: "I have never met a girl like you before. I think you are the first person who does not see me as the celebrity that I am. You treat me like I am just another human in the same place at the same time. And then you are just Mauve when you are with me, you do not try to pretend to be someone else for me to like you." He pauses a bit and stares to the roof of the camper. Then he continues: "I know it might be weird to say this after a couple of hours. I really really like you Mauve. I never felt this with anyone else." He has a serious look on his face. I give him a little smile. I know that he means everything that he says. But I am a bit more careful with my heart and decide not to say anything. There cannot be a future for us, we come from two completely different worlds. I wonder with purposes he is here with me in my bed now. As he could hear my thoughts he says: "I am so comfortable around you that I just have to spend time with you." Those words comfort me a bit so I dare to ask: "How was it for you growing up being famous? You do not have to answer if you do not want to," I quickly add. "I will answer. Even though you always have people around you, it is still lonely. Nobody really cares, they just care about the image of you. I mean my father and my brother were already into karting so I kind of had to follow. But I enjoyed karting a lot. Soon, I won more championships than my brother so I got more opportunities. When I was fifteen, I did not win the championship even though I did the four years before. My mom was afraid that the pressure was already too much for me. She stood up for me so that my father would not push me too much. With her support I could continue to leave karting and joining single seater racing. My name slowly became better known in motorsports. The next five years to come I won every championship that I attended. Until I started driving for Williams three years ago. When I entered Formula 1 suddenly everyone knew my name. Especially in England I cannot go anywhere without people recognising me. But they are fans, they never respect if you do not want to take pictures with them because you are just getting some groceries. So, I withdrew more and more from society in order not to have to deal with the fans. Today was the first time in two years that I went between the fans without security nearby or without needing to attend a planned signature session. But it was all worth it because otherwise I would not have met you. You make me believe that good humans still exist. They are very rare, that is why I probably cannot stay away from you." When I do not reply he continues: "That might have come out wrong, but I do really like you. I like the way you are so concentrated on the things you do that you do not notice anything else. I like it that you just wear what you want to wear. I love your silly jokes and that you do not let people walk over you but stand up for yourself. I like that you are so smart and still read fantasy books. All those things I like about you, I discovered them in less than a day! I want to get to know all of your quirks and qualities," he stops to look at me.

"Do you really think there will be a future for us?" I ask.

When he does not reply I continue: "I mean you are always on the road from track to track. What am I supposed to do, travel along with you?".

He thinks for a while before he replies: "You could if you want to, but I will not force you to do anything. Do we have to think about this now or can we just enjoy each others company for the next two days in the free moments we have and see where we go from there?" "It is better to try than to be haunted by what ifs, right?" is my reply and we both smile at each other.

"Do you have to work again tomorrow?" he asks. I tell him that I only work from Monday to Friday so that I have all the time to watch free practice three and qualifying. Then I ask him what time he must get up tomorrow. He replies that he must get up at 6 to go for a workout. I smile and tell him that I usually wake up at 6 to go for a run or a workout. But my workouts are probably a bit lighter than his. I reach out to my phone to set my alarm. It is already 10 o'clock, time to sleep.