All of Me (Sebastian Vettel)

65. Facing His Fate

Seb looked at his reflection in the mirror in his drivers room. He looked rough. His eyes were so red from crying. Thank God for the pair of Oakley sunglasses that were laid on the  table to his right. Even though short, his hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions. He ran a hand over his stubble. He'd managed a shave a week ago so he didn't look like a complete caveman.

He didn't want to be here. He wanted to go home, to shut himself away from the world so he could wallow in self pity,  but he had a world championship to win. Besides his kids that was all he had left.

He'd lost Alyssa and he knew it was completely his own fault. Would she be here? Did everyone know what he'd done?

He looked at the table. Next to his sunglasses he spotted Alyssa's phone. He'd found it in the footwell of the Porsche when he'd moved it into the garage a couple of days after Joel had returned it.

He'd brought it to give it back to her. It gave him an excuse to talk to her. Thats if she was even there. If not he'd give it to Joel. There was a knock on the door.

"Yes?" he called out. The door opened and Seb smiled as he saw Britta enter the room.

"Britta, hi. How are you?"

"I'm good thank you Sebastian. I'd ask how you are but you look like shit." He gave a bitter laugh. He could always rely on Britta to be honest.

She smiled at him. She knew about what had happened. Seb had called her a few days ago to fill her in, just in case the press had cottoned on to Alyssa and him not being together anymore.

"Is she here?" he asked.

"Yes." His heart began to race.

"Have you spoken to her?"

"No. She went out the back when she saw me."

Seb sighed.  He picked his sunglasses up and put them on before taking the team cap Britta was holding out to him.  He pulled it on. 

He picked the phone up and headed out of the door.   Walking into hospitality he felt like every pair of eyes in the room were on him.   The place fell silent as he approached the counter.  Hannah looked at him. 

"Can I help you Sebastian?"

She definitely knew something.  She never called him by his full name.  It was always Seb. 

"I need to see Alyssa.  Is she around?"

"I'm not sure what she's doing.  Can I pass on a message?"

"I can wait," he replied.

He sat down at the table nearest to the counter.  Britta sat opposite him.  

"Seb, don't you think it would be for the best to just leave things.  Give Hannah the phone.  She will pass it on."

"No," he snarled.  "I have to see her.  I haven't seen her for nine days!"

Britta held her hands up in defeat.  His stubborn streak was coming out. 

In the kitchen Alyssa peered around the door.  How long was he going to wait?   She'd heard him asking Hannah about her.   She really didn't feel prepared to face him.  The pain was still too raw.  

Maybe she should just walk out there, get it over and done with.  She couldn't avoid him all weekend.   Maybe now would be the best time, while it wasn't too busy out there.  

"I don't think he's giving up," Hannah said, walking through the door, carrying several dirty plates.   Alyssa sighed.  She was going to have to face him.