Heartdriven

23. Roar

Alice and Daniel arrived at the circuit the same time as Fernando. He walked with them in, leaving Daniel behind at the Toro Rosso garage, as they continued further down.
It was race day in Singapore, which meant a busy paddock. This was the first time she actually noticed photographers clicking at her.
"Do you ever get used to this?" she pondered at him.
"To what? I barely even notice." He put on his sunglasses, and gave thumbs up and a smile to a photographer.
Alice felt uncomfortable being in front of a camera.
"Why don't you take some photographs as well?" he patted on her camera bag.
"Fernando, I'm not allowed. You were there. Trackside only", pointing her index finger disapprovingly at him.
Fernando jokingly attempted to open the bag, "I won't tell if you won't."
She pulled the bag away from him, laughing, "Okay, then I will tell!"
She gave him a little elbow nudge and he let go, putting his hands up in surrender, "He-he, okay then, someone is a rule abider."
She removed her hair from under the strap of the bag and Fernando rubbed his hand between her shoulder blades. "I won't get you into any trouble then."

They walked into the Ferrari garage, the mechanics hard at work, as he went around greeting them all. But her eyes fell elsewhere. Maybe she should just pop in quickly. She went to the back of the garage and put down her equipment.
"Are you already bored, Alice?" said Fernando behind her as she aimed to leave the garage.
"I was just gonna..." she pointed her thumb to the outside, "... I'll be right back."
Fernando closed his eyebrows at her. "Don't get lost out there."
She nodded at him and left, turning around the corner in short steps, her feet reluctantly making their way to a garage at the end of the paddock. She looked down at herself, covered in red, her hand attempting to cover it up before adjusting herself.
She popped her head in the garage and gave a quick look around, looking for him, but not wanting to appear like she was snooping.
"Excuse me?" she tried making eye contact with literally anyone in there, but they were just as busy as their own garage.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," said a voice coming up from behind, moving in front of her, shaking her hand, "Hello, Mr. Horner." He raised his hand to stop her, "Please, Christian."
Alice nodded and let go of his hand. "Hello, Christian."
He looked at her shirt and chuckled, "You switched the blue out for red, did you?" She put her hand on the Ferrari logo on her chest.
"You know, I was never actually blue," and smiled at him.
"I guess it would be too hard to call you a traitor, then".
Someone from the Red Bull team walked up and whispered something in his ear, quickly walking away again. Christian was busy and she didn't want to take up anymore of his time.
"It was great seeing you again," he started walking away but her words followed him, "Have you seen Sebastian around?".
He pointed towards the other garage, "Isn't that him over there?" Alice gave Christian an appreciative smile and made her way to Sebastian. She had stupidly walked into Mark's garage.

Sebastian had his nose deep in papers and data. He was so focused, his eyes concentrating. She didn't want to interrupt... but just... just for a quick moment. She stood next to him and placed her palm on the table to catch his attention without disrupting him.
He looked at her hand, his eyes following up her arm towards her face, "Alice." She nervously tapped her fingers on the table.
"I just wanted to wish you good luck for the race."
He turned his body around towards her and leaned his hip up against the table... right next to her hand.
"I would say likewise but..." he jigged his head jokingly to not finish the sentence. Sebastian's racing suit was open, revealing his undershirt and she caught herself staring at his chest.
"How are you guys feeling ahead of the race?" he questioned suggestively.
"I'm not gonna give you an insight into your rival team," she got out through a laugh, putting her other hand on his shoulder, giving him a slight push.
"Alonso did look quite chipper arriving this morning, with you."
She pulled her hand back to herself, and put her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, he was in quite the mood," she chuckled, looking away from Sebastian.
He didn't reply and her eyes went back to him. He had a frown between his eyebrows, looking at her hand on the table. She folded it into a fist and pulled it back to her body.
"Anyway... I should get there back there."
He looked her in the eyes. "Yes. You should get back to Alonso now."
She mirrored his frown in confusion. "I hope you enjoy the race, Sebastian."
He looked down at the Ferrari logo on her chest, "I'm sure I will."
He went back to his data and she left the garage, confused.

Alice was running to the podium ceremony. Not to photograph, but to be there. She wanted to see his face. She wanted to share the feeling with him. She barely caught a glimpse of the lights on his helmet, as he celebrated on top of the car, but she tried her best to make her way to the front. She got caught up in all her fellow team members celebrating, but couldn't make it far enough forward to truly see anything.
There were so many people and they were ecstatic. She backed out of the group and instead went over to the other side... in blue.
Having forced her way to the front, she could hear the applause for the three podium sitters entering the cooldown room, and she patiently waited for them to arrive on the balcony.
People were rushing less after the drivers had left, and she got to keep her position up front, amongst team Red Bull.
The music started played and the announcer's voice was heard through the speakers; "Here they come, ladies and gentlemen: Sebastian Vettel, the winner! Jenson Button in second place and Fernando Alonso in third."
Sebastian jumped up on the first position and tears started filling Alice's eyes, as she saw his happiness of being back where he belonged, while the German National Anthem started playing.
They all stood looking proudly up at their goldenboy, taking their team to places unimaginable. She stood looking up at someone she had refused her heart to love.
The fireworks went off and the champagne rain fell, as Alice subtly backed out of the crowd, and walked back to the Ferrari garage to gather her equipment.

Daniel was going to come pick Alice up from the Ferrari garage after his debrief, so she sat waiting, watching the mechanics pack up.
Fernando entered the garage, ready for his own debrief after the press conference, congratulating all the mechanics for their effort.
Walking over to her, he sat on the table next to her camera bag, "We'll get them next time."
She looked up at him, "You think you can do it? You think you can actually beat him?"
He patted his hand on her shoulder, "He's only a man."
She got up from the chair and crossed her arms, "As are you, Fernando."
He clenched his jaw, "A better one than him".
Releasing her arms, she walked slowly away from him, whispering to herself, "We'll see."