Lights Out

Mexico City

Thursday 4th November.
"Jessie, any updates on your status for next season?"
"No, I don't have any updates. Um, we are working to try and secure potential places but I can't say anything more about it at this time."
"Pierre, you've been consistently in the points this season. Were you not disappointed that you are not the one moving to Red Bull and Sergio Perez is?"
"Um, a little bit. Obviously, I feel like I've had my best season in Formula One so far and some talks did take place but, ultimately they decided that I was not ready to be moved up again. I think otherwise but, that's just how it is. There's always 2023 and I'm excited to show how much better my performance will be next season."
I took a sip of my water. It felt like the press conference had been going on for ages. I knew it was almost over from Katie constantly checking her watch, but it seemed as if time could not go any slower even if it wanted to. Pierre answered a few more questions, and I refused to comment on a few that were asked of me, and then it was finally over and we were free. Katie handed me a Red Bull as we walked out of the building, talking over the other things that we, sorry, I had to do for the rest of the day. One of those things involved begging Christian, although I would not allow myself to beg, for a job as a reserve driver. What Alex had been doing this season was completely fine with me, I just needed income and a chance to return to Formula One. I just needed something, anything, that would better my chances. I was still in talks with McLaren, which was promising because Zak Brown and Andreas Seidl genuinely did not want to see me disappear. It was going to be fine. There was still time left in the season, and a lot could happen in a month.
"Hey," Harry said, dragging out the last letter and catching up to walk with us, his hand snaking into mine.
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" I asked.
"I snuck out to grab a moment with you," he replied, leaning down and kissing me quickly on the lips.
"You've got a camera pointed your way," Katie said. My head swivelled to find Netflix glued to us.
"Fuck sake," I sighed.
"They still want to interview you."
"And I still say no. They caused me enough grief last season, I couldn't give a fuck this season. I have bigger things to focus on. I'm agreeing with Max, I don't care what they want. I'll probably be spoken about by Christian anyway about what a shit teammate I am and how Checo is so much better for the team. Not like I've consistently been in the points with consistent podiums throughout the season, or how we're so close to overtaking Mercedes in the Constructors' because of me, or how well Max and I get on because we're mates and we literally fly together and have done for like three years, or how I do everything I'm supposed to do, even going out in the car when I'm freakin ill or sacrificing my mental health just to get the results they want."
"Don't get yourself worked up over it," Harry sighed. "You'll find something. And hey, I'm still gonna be with you even if you do suck at racing."
"Oh, piss off," I scoffed, nudging him to the side and making him laugh. "Go back and pretend to know how to fix cars. You'll see me later anyway."
"Oh, won't I just," he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes at him and he shot me a lop-sided grin before he walked away.
"I don't even want to know," Katie laughed, holding up her hands.
"It's nothing, he's just being an arse, as usual."
"As usual."

I got back to the hotel earlier than usual, absolutely mentally exhausted from the amount of media I'd had to face all day, which was the usual outcome of my least favourite day of the race weekend. I opened the door, getting frustrated when the key card didn't scan properly the first two times. My head fell back and I closed my eyes with a defeated sigh before I tried again, slower this time. The door beeped and blinked green, and I let myself into my room, taking off my trainers and dropping my backpack onto the small counter on top of the shoe cabinet. I walked around the corner towards the bedroom and bathroom before something caught my eye. On my bed laid a beautiful light blue dress beside a small silver clutch. I picked it up by the spaghetti straps, the neckline admittedly rather low, with extra material dripping down. I put it back down again, admiring the delicate light blue heels that sat on the floor. Next to the dress was a light blue lace set, the bra strapless to allow me to wear it with the dress. I chuckled, cursing Harry under my breath for his sneakiness.
"I'd better not look like Cinderella," I muttered under my breath, brushing my now blonde hair away from my face. I turned away and saw a note on the chest of drawers.
'Dinner tonight at the Raíz, 7pm? I hope you like the clothes I bought you, I think they'll go very well with the earrings and necklace that are waiting for you in front of the bathroom mirror with your makeup xx'
A small smile curled my lips as I felt a pink tinge settle on my cheeks. I set the note down and wandered into the bathroom, seeing two boxes of similar size. In the first was a dainty silver necklace with three small light blue gems spaced out in the middle. The earrings in the second box were of similar design: silver with chains hanging down that held the same blue jewels. I bought the boxes back into the main room, placing them by the note and checking my phone. It was five o'clock. I decided to put some music on and jump in the shower, not washing my hair as I'd washed it the day before. I treated myself; shaving and using the fancy bottle of body wash that I reserved for special occasions before getting out and putting on some scented moisturiser. I hummed along to 'Almost' by Hozier in the process, my mood having obviously lifted significantly. Then I went back into the bathroom to do my makeup. I only did a simple look, a light, low coverage foundation with concealer and contour. I set under my eyes and under my cheekbones and brushed a faint silver eyeshadow onto my lids, adding a small wing of eyeliner and then applying mascara. I filled in my eyebrows and then brushing off the setting power to put on some crème blush, finishing the look with tinted lip gloss. I slipped on the lingerie, examining it all in the full length mirror. I was surprised that Harry had actually got all the sizing right, but he definitely got help from the people in whatever store he got it from because the cups for the bra were very supportive, which wasn't exactly too common to find with D cups. I liked them, and my face heated up a bit at the knowledge that Harry also liked them, and would no doubt be seeing them again at some point later on in the evening. I turned away from the mirror and pulled on the dress, which was surprisingly easy to do. It hugged my curves, something that I wouldn't normally like, but I was a fan of it right now. I brushed through my hair with one of my brushes and ran some oil through it using my fingers, just to make sure that it wouldn't frizz up with the current humidity in Mexico. Then I retrieved the jewellery from the other room and put it on. My phone pinged and I picked it up.
Turismo: Miss Osbourne, your taxi is waiting outside the lobby.
Read 6.42pm
I bit my lip in excitement and sat down on my bed to put on my heels, taking up the silver clutch that still remained before putting my phone, wallet, and key card in there and leaving the hotel room.