One Day // Daniel Ricciardo

CHAPTER 15

The flight attendant handed me my passport back after checking in our luggage and we made our way to security. I felt weirdly anxious about travelling, for the past eight years I have travelled more for work than I have stayed at home and it never bothered me but today felt different. The airport was extra busy and it had taken almost an hour just to get through security but eventually we made it through and started roaming around the huge airport.

We found a space near our gate and got comfy; it was still a two hour wait before our flight was even boarding. Danny disappeared to find us something to eat so I took up my usual hobby of people watching.

It was full of holidaymakers, couples going on their first holiday, families going on their millionth, business men and women running through the terminal with their briefcases. Some old couples fumbled through with their hand luggage, looking lost but in no rush.

My favourite thing was to find random people and make up stories about them, Susan the businesswoman was running through the terminal so she could fly home to her husband. The family of four with the new baby were flying back to one of their home countries to visit their parents and introduce their baby for the first time. I wonder if anyone ever did that about me, I wonder what story they would make up about me. Going on a couples

holiday for the first time? Running away from life? Going on our honeymoon or even look like we had been together for a long time and purely travelling for convenience?

"You know, some people will take that loo as a death glare." Danny interrupted my sitting beside me and handing me a sandwich. "Are you doing your people watching stories again?"

I smiled and nodded; I couldn't deny it I loved it so much.

For the next two hours we sat and made-up stories about anybody we found interesting. It passed the time quickly and multiple times we had each other in fits of laughter, hopefully it gave the illusion to anybody doing the same as us to make a perfect little story for us.

Our flight finally boarded and I took the window seat. The flight to Austria was only 3 hours so we had no movies or tv shows to keep us occupied. I wriggled around on my seat trying to get comfy but trying not to disturb Danny too much, he had already tipped his head back and shut his eyes.

"You can cuddle in to me, it's not weird Jess you usually do it."

I stopped shuffling and looked at him funny, he hadn't opened his eyes. "I'm not making it weird; you're making it weird by saying I'm making it weird."

He opened his eyes and smiled at me.

"I'm just getting comfy now so I don't get comfy later."

He rolled his eyes, still laughing at me "Whatever you say Jess."

Nothing had changed between us; we still weren't together but I was opening up to it a lot more. I depended on him way too much to drive him away entirely and the more I tried the more it would happen.

I finally got myself comfy as the seatbelt sign came off. I didn't cuddle in to Danny like he had suggested but eventually I reached over and took his hand in mine. He opened his eyes to look over at me but I quickly shut mine, a smile sneaking over my face and blushing in embarrassment. He squeezed my hand and rubbed it with his thumb so I left it there.

When we arrived in Austria the weather was a lot cooler but the land was breath-taking. We rented a lodge in the mountains with a hot tub surrounded by snow and hiking trails. The Austria id seen at races was completely different from this area and I was completely in awe.

We took a walk down to the lake our cabin was overlooking, not a single sound was heard throughout the whole area, the water was completely calm, not a single cloud in the sky only birds soaring around.

"I think this is the most peaceful place I've ever been to," I whispered "I don't even want to talk and disturb the peace."

"You're crazy." He laughed, skimming rocks across the lake.

I took a seat on the rocks and watched as he continued to skim them. I was happy watching; I didn't feel the need to fill the void with talking but I knew for sure after a week here id feel grounded and relaxed again. It was like a natural form of rehab.