LOVE AT LAST// GEORGE RUSSELL

TWO

TWO

"Tala, are you free to judge the designs for our helmets?"

Mick Schumacher smiled at his friend, seeing the Filipino girl laugh as she nodded her head.

"I'll try to not be biased, but sure." Tala smiled at the young German, watching as he shouted for his other friends.

Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi ran to their best friend, seeing her checking out the design of the Schumacher boy.

"Dakila says that he's going to win because he's your brother, Tally, it's not fair!" Lance whined at his best friend, seeing her smirk.

"If I was going to be biased, it was not for my brother."

Mick laughed as he noticed the Russell boy approaching with their friends brother, their designs in their hands.

"Victory tastes so good." Dakila cackled as he patted his sister on the back, seeing her squirm away from him.

"George wins."

____________________________________________________

Tala crept out of her bedroom in the middle of the night, hearing voices from the living area.

She looked worse for wear, in the hoodie that she had worn for the past week, whilst her hair was tied back in to a messy bun since she didn't feel like brushing it.

She crept her way in to the kitchen, not feeling ready to face people, since she could hear multiple voices and not just the voice of George.

As her feet made it in to the kitchen, she let out a squeal in fright at the presence of someone else in the kitchen.

"Tal, hey."

Mick Schumacher smiled sadly at his friend, surprise filling him at her presence, knowing that she barely left her bedroom, even when they were around.

"Bro, are you okay? We heard you sq-"

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton arrived at the kitchen, their eyes widening at the sight of the Villanueva girl.

"Tal." George breathed out, a small smile on his face.

"Uh, hi guys." Tala smiled uncomfortably, a feeling of nausea forming in her stomach.

"Tala, please come and sit with us. Even if its just for a little bit." Lewis Hamilton stared gently at the girl, seeing her picking at the skin around her nails.

"Please, Tal." Mick's voice broke, surprising the girl who stood next to him.

"Tal?" George watched her carefully, seeing her face draining of its color.

"Just for five minutes." Tala submitted to their pleas, glancing down at her feet as the three of them quietly cheered.

As George and his team mate, Lewis, made their way back to the living area, Tala grabbed a glass from the cupboard, moving to the sink to fill it with water.

Mick's eyes became glassy as he saw the girl who was one of his best friend's looking so vulnerable.

"It's not your fault, you know." Mick whispered to her, careful not to speak too loudly so the boys in the other room couldn't hear.

"It was because I wasn't there." Tala mumbled underneath her breath as she tried to reach for a box on the top shelf.

Mick moved to help her, until he smiled at the sight of his best friend climbing on to the counter to reach it.