Just friends?

Chapter 51

"Are you ready to get that podium?"

Pierre is pacing up and down in his driver room, I've never seen him this nervous for a race. "No", he blurts out.

I give him a hug. "I know that it's hard, but you can do it, I believe in you. Today is the perfect day to prove them wrong. And if you don't do it, I'm still very proud of you."

Someone knocks on the door. "Come on Pierre, you have to go now." 

I kiss him. "Remember, no matter what, you're my champion. Go get them, and be safe."

Before the race starts there is one minute silence, and I can see that Pierre is crying.

The race starts, and Pierre launches himself in P3, but a couple laps later George overtakes him again. George wants to overtake Max he crashes into him, taking Max and himself out and the race gets red flagged.

The race restarts, Pierre is P2 because of the accident but he doesn't have the best start this time so Lando, who was behind, overtakes him. They have a good battle for a couple laps before Pierre gets his P2 spot again.

He and Charles battle it out, and behind them Esteban overtakes Lando for P3. With 5 laps to go Pierre overtakes Charles, and leads the race till the finish line.

He gets out of his car runs to me and gives me a big hug. "I didn't know if I wanted to win."

"Yes you did, you wanted it and you made it happen. Go celebrate with your team, they're waiting for you."

Before he goes Charles and Esteban give him a hug to congratulate him.

On the podium Pierre looks at me. I give him three options, thumbs up, halfway or down. He gives me a halfway before he has to pay attention because he gets his trophy.

After that he waits until Charles has his, and together they wait for Esteban. They clearly spoke about this, because they all raise it at the same time, and point up to the sky.

When the French anthem plays Pierre brakes down. They all agreed on not spraying champagne so they take the photo and come down. I see Pierre walking towards me, and I give him a big hug. "Come, I'll take you to your room."

"Hotel room?"

"If you're all finished, we can go."

"I've done my interviews before and the team said that they didn't really need me, so can we go now?"

"Of course, should I drive?"

"If you want to."

"Yeah you sure?"

"No, but it's fine for now." We laugh.

We arrive at the hotel and I lay down on the couch, opening my arms to Pierre. He lays down, and he starts crying again. I stroke his back. "It's okay Pierre, it's okay. Let it all out."

"I'm sorry, I'm an emotional wreck."

"Don't be sorry, I wouldn't be different in this situation."

"Yeah but you're a girl."

"So what?"

"I don't know."

"Men have emotions too Pierre, and they have all the rights to show them, just like women. And don't say I'm an athlete, I need to manage my emotions, you are human too."