Rise Up

Chapter 4: Big Chance

Yesterday night Suz, Mike and I celebrated the big news with pizzas and good music-aka my playlist called "Serotonin Booster"- in my hotel room. They asked me to go out and have an easy night but I wasn't in the mood, or better, I was in the mood but my knee started to hurt so bad after the long day. In fact after dinner Mike had to give me my usual heparin shot to get rid of the burn that I was feeling in the inside of my sore leg.

It's Monday morning and I'm still in Hungary because the FIA and of course my team, gave me the opportunity to get to know the car a bit better, above all because of the upcoming race after the summer break in Belgium. So Pierre and I spent our day on track, doing some laps, talking about strategies, joking with each other, enjoying our company, the team and the empty Circuit.

Later the long and exhausting day at work, I had dinner with Pierre and also some other guys from the team, before he left for his summer vacations the day after. Instead I had to stay there for a few more days, but definitely not alone.

On Tuesday morning, I was walking to my box with an iced tea in my hand, some sunglasses on my nose and some papers that I was using to create magic cool air to fight the burning Hungarian sun. I love summer but I hate the terrible sweat that was spreading on every inch of my body.

I finally reached my box and wished a good morning to everyone there. Then I walked up to the pit wall where Franz and Fred were and I pushed my head over the wall to see the track a bit more closely. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the smell of the hot asphalt, burnt tires and car fuel. But then an orange beauty spread in front of me, breaking my moment. I didn't even have the time to react that another orange car passed by, this time the driver was waving at me.

It was lunch time, basically I had a few hours to eat something before going back on track, so I was waiting for my colleagues in the cafeteria of the paddock when an orange army walked by, taking a seat all together at a table on the side.

"Hey, you're still here too?" Lando patted my shoulder. 

"Yep, these are my holidays" 

"Your holidays are sweating in a hot suit while driving fast in a hot car, doing hot laps in a hot day like this?" 

"Did you maybe say "hot"?" 

We laughed but got interrupted by an Aussie. 

"Heya, you're the new girl, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Daniel Ricciardo, the best driver on the grid, but also the most good-looking and the funniest." He said while grabbing my hand to shake it. 

"Are you also the most modest?" 

The three of us laughed again and chatted a bit, before grabbed some food with our own team.

I was sat against my car still in the parking slot, talking on the phone with my parents. They were so proud of me for this new experience but I knew they were also so worried even if they didn't show it- I just knew it because I was it too.

"Hey Kiara, you ok?". Daniel was walking slowly but in a funny way to me. 

"Absolutely, I was just lost in my thoughts." 

"Yeah, I imagined. You were staring at your shoes, smiling like a psycho."

"What can I say? I really like my shoes." When I realised that it was actually true, I started laughed so hard that my belly was hurting, above all from the livid side where I usually have the shots. 

"Hear me out, what do you think of hanging out tonight? I'll call Lan and we could go for some food and a walk before leaving for the holidays. Are you in?" I was tired but I was in a good mood after these days in the car. Perhaps I couldn't say no to this smiley Daniel. 

"Yes, why not?" 

"Great, give me your number and let's meet in an hour, ok?" 

"Sure, see you in a bit.".

I drove back to the hotel, had my usual phone call with my parents and answered a few text from he day, Then I took a cold shower and put some cleaned clothes on- a simple jeans skirt and a white shirt, quite basic.

I was waiting for the boys already in front of the restaurant, a little bit earlier than I should. The sunset was amazing in the background, there was also a fresh wind that kept swaying my hair in the air and I was feeling so good- tired but content.

I saw Lando crossing the road, alone. 

"Hey, sorry, I'm a bit late." 

"Don't worry, I was a bit early." 

He chuckled in a funny way. He was dressed with a nice white shirt and some black jeans. In his hand he was handing also a hoodie, maybe for later. We started walking around the restaurant, just to not be too creepy at the entrance waiting for Daniel who was nowhere to be seen. 

After a while, we gave up because being together but just the two of us was a bit embarrassing.

 "Ok, I'll just call him, give me a sec." 

Lando walked away just a few meters while I put my phone out of my small bag to take a few photos of the sunset.

"He's not coming. Apparently he found a last minute flight to go back home." 

"Oh, that's ok. Ehm, well, I'll head back to the hotel then, I guess I'll see you after the break." 

"Wait. Don't you want to grab dinner?" 

Just the two of us?

"Well, yeah,I'm starving." 

"Then let's go inside".

The night went by quickly and was amazing. I felt so comfortable around him, he was easy to be with and very funny. We talked about our past back in the karting days and he also showed me some photos of us on various podiums that his mother apparently found on her phone and in some old photo albums. 

After discussing for almost half an hour, we split the bill and walked together to the hotel. 

With a quick goodbye and a last laugh, I went to bed, still smiling for the day but mostly for the night.