Game On || C.L.16

0.4

You'd think Formula One drivers would choose to take a plane over an eight hour car drive. My stupid brother, however, decided that it was a good idea to drive from Paris to Val-d'Isere.

Eight hours. In a car. With just Pierre.

I've been on long road trips before. But usually I'm in a bus with the whole team, and I'm craving every little bit of privacy possible. When there's not a second of silence. Right now, I'm on an eight hour road trip with my brother.

We just passed Lyon though, and I know that most of the road trip is behind us. I'm craving dinner already. Even if it's barely 6PM.

The car right now is filled with silence, as we ran out of topics to talk about. It's a comfortable silence though, which is sometimes interrupted by one of us as we spot something interesting. I'm jealous of Charles and Esteban who are driving up from Monaco. Their trip is roughly two hours shorter than hours.

In the distance, I can see the outlines of mountains appearing, and I know we're closing in on the Alpes and our destination. I suddenly feel really excited for the two weeks to come. Not even knowing why I was doubting to stay in the busy city, rather than going to the mountains.

"Do you remember when mom and dad used to take us skiing?" I ask Pierre, knowing he must remember, as he's a bit older than I am.

"I do." He nods, his eyes focussed on the road ahead as it just started snowing, making the whole canvas in front of me look more magical.

"You used to be terrible at it." I laugh, remembering how he'd go really slow or let himself fall on purpose.

"I was scared I'd fall and break something." He admits, making me laugh. "I was serious about karting, and I was definitely not going to break something. That would keep me out of the karts for too long."

"YOU WERE NINE!" I yell, while laughing.

"Yes, and very serious about karting, which is why mom and dad stopped taking us skiing after that."

"So you were the reason?" I huff. "You're the reason I never went snowboarding after that?"

"You went with each year, just not with us. Don't make such a big deal out of it." He counters, making me laugh again. He was right, I went each year until I signed my second contract at PSG when I turned 21.

The rest of the ride to Val-d'Isere we spend talking about the different skiing trips our parents took us on. That one time we went snow tubing, and Pierre bumbed into this lady. She broke her leg, and dad had to pay a good amount of money to her. Definitely not his proudest moment. Or that moment when I had my snowboarding teacher and snowboard class looking for me, while I was already in the lift. I had decided I was too good for this class and could go out on my own. It was pure chaos, and I hadn't even noticed it at the time. I just did what I felt like was right.

"You could've gone professional with snowboarding." Pierre states, after reciting the little tournament that was held at the end of each week. The one I won after just starting snowboarding. It was in my age division, but everyone could see I had potential.

"I know, but I knew we'd have to stay where we were living for your career. So I focussed on football instead." I was very well aware of the possibilities within snowboarding for me, but I also know that I wouldn't be happy doing a sport that has a 5 month season. I live for my sport.

"You don't regret that?"

"Not at all, P. Don't worry." I say sincerely. Although the fact that I loved snowboarding, was the reason PSG changed my second contract. They thought my frequent snowboarding trips were dangerous, and clearly they wanted to keep me as fit as possible. I was sad to hear that that was a non-negotiable part from the club, but I did understand it. They can't have me getting injured doing a sport that is borderline classified as dangerous. I mean it happened to Bayern Munich goal keeper Neuer earlier this month. I respect it, but I can't help and feel the pit in my stomach that I can't go on the slopes the coming weeks.

Maybe I'll do it without anyone else knowing?

We pull into the driveway of the cabin, Charles' Ferrari already in the driveway. I take a deep breath as Pierre parks the car. Gathering all my thoughts, calming my body before going into the cabin.

I can do this.

Pierre gets my giant suitcase from the trunk, followed by his, a lot smaller, suitcase. "I've got this," I tell him taking the suitcase from him. Trying to roll it through the snow, not a very good idea might I add. Snow clunking to the small wheels of the suitcase, while I get it to the cabin.

I take another deep breath, moving the suitcase slightly from the ground and carrying it to the doorstep. All those hours in the gym, this is where they pay off. I set the suitcase next to the door, right at the moment it swings open. Making me jump back a bit.

"Good afternoon, Gasly siblings." Esteban says welcoming us.

"Please tell me you've left the best bed room for me," I mutter, dragging the suitcase behind me.

"Don't worry princess, we left the downstairs bedroom for you. You don't even have to carry your suitcase up the stairs." Charles adds from behind Esteban. I'm guessing these two weeks will be filled with sneers towards one another.

I follow the direction Charles pointed at, not responding at his words. Just dragging the suitcase to what is apparently my bedroom. "I'm in my room unpacking." I say in general before closing the door to my room and opening my suitcase.

I'm already starting to regret coming.

I take the clothes from my suitcase and put them in the small closet. I then decide that eight hours in a car was way to lazy, and change into my bikini. I'm gonna go get some exercise in. Just as I'm about to exit my room, I hear the boys talking.

"You really had to call her a princess and go and make things awkward immediately?" Esteban asks, to who I think is Pierre.

"Well if she's behaving like a princess, I'm calling her a princess." Charles counters.

"I scared her. She had all the right to make that comment." Esteban defends me, and I smile as he does so.

"If I didn't know you and Elena were together, I'd think you were fucking. Seriously Ocon, back off." Charles snaps and I can hear him walk away.

"Let him calm down, he'll come back." Pierre says to Esteban.

"What the hell did your sister do to make him this salty? I knew they didn't get along but this goes much deeper." Esteban sighs.

"Let's just say she fucked up big time, and Charles is being the protective brother." Pierre says.

I take that as my cue to open the bedroom door, not wanting him to say anything more to Esteban. What I did to Arthur is between me and him, and maybe our families. But there's no way I'm letting Pierre tell Esteban what I did.

"I'm gonna go for a swim." I tell them. "Este, can you please show me where the pool is?" Esteban just nods, walking me to the pool.

I drop my robe on one of the lounge chairs next to the pool. My bare body, only covered in my bikini. Slightly thinner than the last time Esteban had seen me in swimming clothes. "I hate that you did that to yourself." Esteban says quietly, but just hard enough for me to hear.

"I hate that I did that too." I admit, I mostly hated that I lost so much muscle in the process. But I know that is now what he is referring to. I jump into the pool, starting to swim from one side to another.

"Are you okay with me staying here? I'll just read a book or whatever." Esteban asks, once I've started my third lane.

"Sure." I don't think they're gonna leave me alone the coming weeks, if I start acting out already. So I play by their rules, I'll show them that I'm doing alright. And maybe, maybe if they believe that, I'll start believing it too.

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Hi everyone! I just got home from a party in Amsterdam (1.5 hours from where I live), we went into summer time and it's currently 4.30AM here. I decided to make you guys happy with an extremely early upload.

And because it's that early, I might double update. But it also depends on how much writing I can get done.. since I'm fully book tomorrow (or today, it's how you want to view it..)

Anywho, I'm gonna go to sleep now. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please give it a vote!