He's my teammate

17 - Truth, Lies, and Broken Hearts

August 2024 - Dutch Grand Prix

The past few weeks since Arabella had woken up had been a whirlwind and in many ways, it was a good thing. She didn't quite remember the coma, but she knew it felt good to be up and moving around. It felt good in her muscles and bones. Almost like her body remembered how horrible it was to be immobile for so long. There were nights she would wake up in a panic, terrified that she was back in a coma. For a few moments, her entire body was paralyzed, she could move. Then, slowly, her body remembered that it was no longer stuck.

She felt free.

In other ways, the whirlwind was terrifying. A part of her knew there were things in the missing memories that had been important to her. Memories that she cherished and had now lost. It was a subject she didn't like bringing up, at times it felt more like a reminder that she had lost them instead of the hope that she would one day regain them. The few times she did bring it up, no one seemed inclined to tell her much. With Max, she preferred to focus on the present and how he made her feel alive, but the few times she did ask he brushed her off. He would tell her that he loved her, and she was alive, which was all that mattered to him anymore. It had started out subtly, but she was starting to notice it more and more.

Then with her brother, he just claimed ignorance.

The part that was the most terrifying was that Arabella had started to notice that something was missing, and sometimes it felt like more than just the memories. It felt like a part of her, that perhaps was hidden in those memories. She had tried to explain it more than once, but it never made sense her, or to anyone else. Especially Max.

When she saw Katie Desmond at the Dutch Grand Prix, it was like a piece had fallen into place somewhere deep in her mind. It felt like getting hit by a truck, the realization that she had forgotten about her. Not just the memories she no longer had, but also the memories before her father died. The friendship that had formed between her and her biggest competition. Somehow that friendship had slipped her mind.

It was one of those double-take situations. Arabella was walking down the paddock towards the Red Deer motorhome. She noticed first the woman standing there gawking at her as she walked by, gave her a small wave and a smile then it hit her and she turned towards her friend.

"It's true." She breathed as Arabella walked closer to her. Katie remained frozen, Dimitri also frozen standing beside her.

"Katie." It wasn't a question, it was almost like she was connecting the thoughts in her brain to what she was seeing in front of her. Like the connections took longer than usual.

"Oh my god." Katie had tears streaming down her face as she wrapped her arms around her friend. "I wanted to believe it so bad, but I just..." She sniffled. "I needed to see for myself."

"I'm so sorry I didn't call, I just..." Katie leaned back shaking her head violently.

"It's okay." She said through a tear-filled smile. "You're awake, that's all that matters."

"I don't know about either of you, but I could use a drink." Dimitri said and Arabella turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Dimitri." She said his name the same way she had said Katie, although the connection to him was quicker.

"I could also use a drink." Katie said as she sniffled again. "Maybe we could all go for dinner tonight like we used to. Unless you and Lando have plans." She swallowed, trying to stop the tears. "Why are you in Red Bull clothes?" She motioned to the Red Bull shirt.

"Well, I am a Red Bull athlete after all." She said letting go of her coach she frowned at her friend. "And I'm also supporting my boyfriend."

"I thought Lando moved to McLaren?" It was Dimitri who spoke, which pulled Arabella's attention to him, and she frowned again.