racing hearts - a Fabio Quartararo fanfiction [🇬🇧]

chapter 23

[Atlantis - Seafret]

Because suddenly he was different. Suddenly Fabio became so dismissive. Not that he never got in touch, he did, but when he did, his messages were always very short. You could say maybe he was just having a bad day, but this has been going on for two weeks now.
As if someone had flipped a switch, he was suddenly completely different. Ever since I arrived in Monaco, there has been such an uncomfortable tension in our chats that came from him. The phone calls also dropped out very often. Sure, we still talked to each other, but not as often as two weeks ago.

I was just sitting in my drivers room and soon had to get out because the race was starting soon. Today I was particularly looking forward to the race. Because finally the Grand Prix of Austria will be driven.
We were back in my home country and I will do anything to win here today. In front of my home crowd.
This is my fourth year in Formula 1, but I have never managed to win this Grand Prix, let alone stand on the podium. And that should change this year. At least already saved the pole position yesterday.

I was just texting with Fabio, but most of the conversation being led by me. As already mentioned, he was quite dismissive.

Are you gonna watch the Grand Prix?

As soon as I pressed the send button, I got a bad feeling. Somehow I suddenly felt an inexplicable fear inside me.
I stared at the screen. He was texting.

Probably

That was the only word that came back. It wasn't an unequivocal yes, but I tried to look at it positively.
I quickly said goodbye and then made my way to the box, where I met Christian.
"And? Ready for the race?" he asked me after a greeting.
"Couldn't be more ready to finally win on home ground."

And I didn't just say that sentence like that. I really did. I won the Austrian Grand Prix. I finally made it to the top of the podium at my home race. And I was aware of one thing.
Nothing in the world could top the feeling of standing up there when you know very well that a whole country was behind you today and was also here. Maybe this feeling also topped my first world championship title. Although... That stayed the real number one.

After getting lots of congratulations from my team and all the drivers, I finally entered my drivers room and I could only hear the music and voices muffled.
I sat down on the bench and took a deep breath to feel this feeling all over my body again.
Then I picked up my phone because something inside me said I should text Fabio.
So I sent him a photo with me and the trophy with the caption "I finally made it".
At least I didn't have to wait long for an answer because he came online right away. As so often in the last few weeks, only one word came back.

Cool

Seriously?
Cool?
Now that might sound very selfish, but he knew that this was one of the biggest goals of my career and then he just answered cool.
I got goosebumps when I thought of this word in this context. That was a lot more than just cool. As a racing driver, he in particular should understand the feeling.
I stared at the screen for a moment when suddenly a second message came.
A laughing smiley.
Maybe he understood that his answer was rather disappointing.
However, I didn't want to let the good feelings of victory be suppressed because of a message and put the phone away when a knock sounded.
I opened the door and Daniel and Mick were standing in front of me.
"How did you two get in here?" I asked in astonishment, because actually drivers from other teams weren't allowed to enter pits which weren't theirs.
"We asked Christian if we could come to you. I think he's in such a victorious mood that he didn't even notice that he answered yes, but we still made it count," Daniel replied and Mick continued, "Yes, and we're off to the party soon. You're there, aren't you?"
I immediately nodded.
"Of course."