Something Gained

Chapter Five

"Have you ever been here before?" Daniel asked as we walked the streets that played host to this weekends race.

"I mean I was here last year when I first got the job, but otherwise no, I never travelled before, never stepped foot out of England until last year" I replied

"This must be amazing for you then"

"Definitely. I love my job and it gives me reason to go to all this different places now" I responded, "is it still nice to come back to the same places?"

"Yes and no" he replied, "sometimes you like the new challenges, but then there's places that always feel special for some reason or another, or it's got a homely feel to it"

"You're experienced in this sort of thing now, not like us newbies" I laughed

"Experienced, you make me sound old" he sounded shocked, as he stopped walking.

"Oh I didn't mean it like that, I-" I panicked, thinking I'd offended him already

"I'm messing with you" he laughed, I rolled my eyes but let the smile dance across my lips anyway. We both carried on walking for a couple more minutes.

"Where are we going?" I asked, after a brief silence.

"I'll show you when we get there" he said, "with my experience-"

He played on the word, earning an eye roll from me.

"- I could show you a few things from the best places we go to... if you want?"

"I would like that, I love exploring" I looked up at him

"You can be my best buddy" he said

"Ooh that hurt, buddy" I laughed. He laughed also, at our new joke we seemed to have got.

Minutes later, he grabbed my hand and pulled me in front of him and put his hands on top of my shoulders. Stopping me from looking anywhere but where he was directing me.

"Wow" the view was beautiful. The skyline was beautiful from up the hill we had walked, and the sun was setting across from the buildings in the distance. Casting an orange pink glow across the whole sky.

"Its beautiful isn't it" he said, a little quieter then he usually was.

I didn't miss the way his hands were warm against my nearly bare shoulders, making me feel a little bit tingly. I wasn't one for personal touch, I liked my space, but it didn't offend me that he had grabbed me and was now standing so close to me.

I could feel the heat from his entire body, against mine as he stood right behind me. Both of us watching the sunset.

I almost had to stop myself from relaxing against him as we stood.

It was getting a little too close for comforts, and I wasn't sure how or why this was happening. But I did know my principles, and my job, and my position.

"Anyway-" I spoke suddenly, breaking the silence around us, shifting away from him, "-it's race day tomorrow and we should probably head back so you can get some rest" I said. He cleared his throat and nodded.

"Yeah erm yeah you're right let's go" he adjusted his hat and we began walking back to our hotel.

Just like that, the silence between us was now awkward and I couldn't get past it. Wondering what he was thinking, why he asked me to hang out, why we stood so close like that, why I let him stand so close like that.

Something weird had come over me, and the more I looked at him, the more I liked it.

I was at my door, scanning my key card to get in. After the most awkward and tense ride up to our floor. I felt flustered and hot, and every-time I seemed to sneak a glance at Daniel, he was looking at me.

I had to force myself to act normally, because I could feel the warmth creeping up my neck, and I was sure my cheeks were showing the blush that I could feel.

"Right I'll see you in the morning then?" I said as I turned to Daniel, my hand on the open door.

"Yeah I'll see you in the morning" he came towards me and my heart skipped a beat. Before he bent down and picked up my lip balm that I hadn't even noticed had fallen from my bag.

He stood up again, holding his hand out. I took my lip balm back, my hand brushing his. I met his eyes once more before he turned and walked up the corridor a couple of paces and disappeared into his own room.

I didn't realise I hadn't moved from my spot half way in my room until my phone pinged.

I'll give you a knock about 8am, for breakfast, sleep well

Lando.

I locked my phone and put it on charge next to my work phone and got my stuff ready for the early morning start we had.

My mind was still spinning slightly when I got into bed. Lando texting me about going for breakfast wasn't weird. So why was going on a walk with daniel?

I gently stroked my hand, where his had touched mine, like it still burnt from brushing of his skin against mine.

This wasn't me. I always kept a cool head. So why was Daniel sending me all haywire.

At 8:00 on the dot there was a knock on the door. I was already showered up and ready to go, my bag was ready, I was ready. It was Sunday, it was Race day!

I swung open the door to see both Lando and Daniel standing there.

"Picked up a stray to join us" Lando said, gesturing at Daniel before he took off down the corridor. 

"Thought you might" I replied, I glanced at Daniel who didn't even make eye contact with me, I shrugged it off.
I had to keep myself up to standard.

We all walked downstairs to the hotel restaurant to have breakfast , where Michael and Jon had met us.

Everyday was an important day for training, but today was the most important. They had to get the drivers in the zone, keep them mentally in it, do stretches to get them prepped. Race day was the best day, but it was also the longest and most mentally draining but that was all part of the fun.

Me, Michael and Jon discussed the timings of the day around the race and confirmed our schedule.

"You have it easy you know" I told Lando, as he dropped into the seat next to me at the table.

"Oh yeah because driving round a track at 200 miles an hour for two hours is the easiest thing in the world"

"Yeah while everyone else plans your day for you" I replied laughing

"I mean it is tough being this talented and handsome" Daniel piped up, joining with his plate of food now.

The boys all laughed and I looked up across the table at him to find him staring at me, his brown eyes felt like they were looking into my soul, it took everything in me to pull my own gaze away and focus.

The rest of breakfast, and the journey to the track felt like torture. I did my best to shove down any ridiculous thoughts popping up in my head, before finding myself sat beside Daniel in the minivan taking us to track today, since we were all going together it was easier for one vehicle.

Daniel's leg grazed mine on more than one occasion. I sipped on my takeaway coffee and desperately tried to focus. Because every single time he did touch me, I could feel it like a sizzle of heat. Tingling every-time.

My body betraying every form of self control I ever had, making me want to lean against him. The last sip of my coffee came in time with us pulling into the car park of the track. I was the first to jump out, in desperate need of air and an escape.

I had to get my head in the game.

I had to make sure his head was in the game and I wasn't being stupid here. I had my job, and he had his. I had never ever had this problem, but something about Daniel was getting under my skin, and I had no idea how to stop it.