Midnight Rain | MV33

01.

The white density of the clouds engulfed the jet as it glided swiftly over the Arabian Sea, the sun was showering the air with warm rays as it had just began to rise in Bahrain. My body ached from being slouched in the comfortable but small plane of the jet my dad had us fly over in. Looking over to my right I found Azalea, across from her was Emery and to her right was Alannah. My three best friends since the first day we met in college at NYU as we all took journalism together, we clicked after immediately being put together in a group project and bonding over our love of both fashion, Taylor Swift and F1. Although we ended up choosing different career paths we never lost touch with one another and in fact we recently just moved to Monaco all together in the same apartment block. 

After college Azalea went down the route of becoming a press officer where she has just got her job at AlphaTauri as Pierre Gaslys' press officer starting this season. Alannah also emerged in the Formula 1 industry this year as she's just got her job as a journalist meaning she's also going to be around the track all year. However me and Emery went slightly astray and took the fashion route, but that didn't turn out too well. Well actually it didn't turn out well for Emery as she had an incredible job as editor for Vogue, but after an argument with her boss she got fired. I took a different career path completely as I ended up doing modelling in New York for quite some time and ended up being nominated for GQ Model of the year. I remember reading the email as if I only read it five minutes ago "Arabella Wolff nominee for GQ Model of the year" at first I couldn't believe it sending the screen shot to all my friends in our group chat to check I read it right. After the huge build up of excitement I didn't win, however I lost to Bella Hadid so I wasn't mad at all. But once Emery lost her job and Azalea and Alannah got their new position at Formula 1 we all decided we should leave New York and travel together. Which is exactly what got us to this point.

With my dad being Toto Wolff head of Mercedes F1 team it made it incredibly easy for us to get passes and hotel rooms for all the Grand Prix's of the season after I promised to be on my best behaviour. Emery was very keen on the idea of us going along as she said she needed a very long awaited catch up wither her childhood friend Daniel Ricciado. I decided it was best if I took a break from modelling whilst I was away so I could actually enjoy my time away from it all. It relieved us all when we made all the final plans about coming together as it relieved anxiety for both Azalea and Alannah who were both as anxious as each other about starting their new jobs.

As the plane began to take it's descent Azalea began to stir in her seat as her eyes opened as she stretched her neck it wasn't long before both Emery and Alannah woke up too. As the tires screeched across the run way we all began to have frantic anxiety filled conversation as to how were getting to the hotel and then to track having not thought this plan through entirely. When it came to stressful situations we were all as bad as each other so we end up stressing each other out even more. 

"Should we walk?" Azalea questioned in a dead serious tone. 

"Lea, love if we walk we're never getting anywhere today!" Emery deadpanned retorting back. The thing with Em was she never means to be rude she just doesn't always realise the tone she says things in, she's also very sarcastic and not many people get that.

As we strolled slightly disoriented into the unknown terrain I pulled out my phone only to see a text from my dad. As if the heavens had heard our prayers he said he was waiting outside with Bono, Lewis' senior race engineer for us all so we can go back to the hotel together. My dad loved the girls as if they were his own, he lets them come over for all holidays and always gets us plane tickets out to meet him in foreign countries. 

"Our prayers have been answered" I announce dramatically, "My dads outside with Bono so we can get to the hotel before track." I continued as we began to follow the exit signs with our luggage. After approaching the automatic doors we exit seeing a black Mercedes SUV, my dad stepped out as he greeted us all before giving me a hug since I hadn't seen him for a couple of months as we'd both been busy. We loaded the car with our luggage before getting in. We all say quick hellos to Bono before we began to be on our way to the hotel. 

"So how's everyone been, Minus Emery getting fired" My dad said with a laugh. "Hey it's not my fault she was trying to put in some of the ugliest designs I'd ever seen, I was just being truthful" Emery pouted back causing everyone to laugh. Small talk continued for a while as we drove for the next 20 minutes with my dad questioning both Lea and Lana on their new jobs in the industry. As we pulled into the hotel we were told we had half an hour to find our rooms put our bags away then be in the lobby to get to the track for practice.

We all successfully follow the plan accordingly making it back to the lobby then making the short journey to the track. Stepping out the car you could already hear the roaring of engines and the screaming of drills. The familiar sound of clicking and flashing lights were all pointed towards us as we made the quick walk through the paddock. Paparazzi were calling mine and my dads name from each direction as they swarmed around. The first garage we passed was the AlphaTauri where we quickly said our goodbyes to Azalea as she left going into the motorhome. A few moments later Lana left to go towards the bullpen to meet the rest of the sky sports media team. The remainder of our group which is me and Emery continue our walk as we make it to the Mercedes motorhome. As the door closed the peaceful hum of silence embraced me as I let out a sigh. "Me too girl, me too" Emery patted my shoulder before sighing herself. We took post on the sofas which were dotted around so we could see everything that was going on. 

It wasn't long before the world champion Lewis Hamilton walked in with Angela and Roscoe, I already knew Lewis from the multiple times he's been at one of our family homes or from the times he'd been at the track, or from the times I'd woke up next to him after we both had a bit too much to drink. Roscoe stopped walking before his head flopped to the side as if he were looking directly at me, and as though he recognised me he ran straight over before jumping up at my leg as I petted the excitable dog. "Hii!" I spoke toward the dog completely babying him, "Bella! I didn't know you were coming! Hi!" Lewis spoke as he came over to me hugging me in his fireproofs with his race suit hanging at his hips. This has to be the sluttiest outfit these drivers wear and damn it looks good.

"Well you'll be glad to know we're here all season!" Em cheered from the side before Lewis turned to her giving her a hug and saying hi to her too. "For real?" Lewis questioned to which me and the blonde as we nodded happily.

"Lewis practice let's go!" Bono called leaving the motorhome to go to the pits. Lewis said a hurried bye promising to catch up soon as Angela took Roscoe to his drivers room. It wasn't long till practice had come and gone and our group were meeting up to leave and go back to the hotel to catch up on some much needed sleep.

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Okay so I know this was a long one, but I felt it was necessary so you all get a feel for the characters and the book!

Max is going to be introduced in the next chapter so I hope we're all excited!!

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