Game On || C.L.16

0.9

I had absolute fun while snow tubing. At first we just did different slopes, one by one. It might surprise you, but you're actually able to steer the tubes. Which means you can actually be good or bad at it. And I must say, Charles was horrible at it. While Pierre and I got really competitive and matched each other very well. Esteban was the midfield, he wasn't really bad or good at it. He just went along.

We were surprised when one of the employees came over to us, and asked us if we wanted to do the time trials. Which of course we wanted to do, we're athletes after all. Ready to compete and be the best, whenever we need to. We ended up going down from a certain slope one by one. The employee doing the timing.

In last place we had Charles, who actually went into a curve a bit too fast. It led to him tumbling over, losing his tube in the process. The tube awaiting for him at the bottom of the hill. Of course we're not horrible people, we let him do another run. In which he fell again, this time holding on to the tube. He got back in it again, but had lost so much time already that it was never even a competitive time.

In third place finished Esteban, as we had expected. He did quite a good time actually, but he tried to brake to hard a few times. It actually cost him a lot of time, which meant that it was going to be a sibling duel. Either Pierre or I would win. Determination on both our faces as we did rock-paper-scissors to determine who was going first.

Pierre won and decided I should go first. He wanted to have a time he could aim for, and I was all for that. I prefer a strategy in which you just set a crazy fast time and all the others can't reach it. Of course Pierre is slightly bigger, and therefore heavier, than I am but I was gonna use my length to my advantaged. I must have the aerodynamics in my corner. I went down the slope confidently, hitting every corner almost perfectly. It felt like I was flying, and I loved the feeling. And just then it was Pierre his turn to go down the slope. I watch as he hits every corner as well, it looks like he was flying. And judging by the employee our times could be very close together. 

"So in fourth place we've got Charles." The employee announces, and we all clap sarcastically for Charles. The four of us laughing as we do so. "Then onto the podium." She says a smile on her face. "On a honourable third place we've got Esteban." Once again we cheer, but I can feel my heartbeat starting to pick up. I wanted to win, I needed this win. "And then, our first place contender and runner-up. You two were only one hundred of a second apart." Pierre and I look at each other, wearing matching smiles. Whomever has won will rub this into the other's face until eternity. "The runner-up is Pierre which means the winner is Amelie."

Fuck yes.

It brings us to me researching different restaurants in the area, as I've won the privilege of choosing our dinner spot. I am feeling like it could be sushi, but I'm not certain. Which is why I'm going through TripAdvisor recommendations, I could ask my Instagram following too. But I might get too many options then.

It feels like it took forever to find something suitable, but once I saw this restaurant I knew it was perfect. There's this Korean barbecue restaurant near our cabin, which meant we could walk there. Maybe I could even trick the guys into some wine, and make them let loose a bit.

"So what's the dresscode for tonight?" Charles asks, as we're all sipping on some hot chocolate to warm up.

"Just casual." I shrug.

"You're not going to tell us anything, are you?" Esteban laughs.

"Nope, you didn't tell me anything this afternoon. Take this as my pay back." I say smiling. I know the guys love these kinds of dinners, as they get to discover multiple options. Although, it's been a while since I had dinner with all three of them, and it might be complete chaos as well.

After we all finish our hot chocolates, we pile into the car again. This time I'm in the back with Esteban, although I'm pretty sure it was Charles while I was blindfolded. All for of us talk, and for the first time it feels like we're really a group. Even if just this morning Charles and I were very awkward, you could now feel that the tension has lightened a bit. And if the atmosphere in the group is something to go by, there's a lot of relief about that.

Once we are back at the cabin, we all change into our dinner outfits. Surprisingly, I am the first one ready to go. But then again, I'm really excited to go to this dinner. I've done Korean barbecue before in Paris, with the team and absolutely loved it.

I sit down on the couch, taking my phone out. I text Lila a quick update on the situation, before scrolling through the group chat of my team. Every single one of us is somewhere else in the world, enjoying the break we've got. It's not necessary to train that much, but we have to be fit when we return. I'm almost at the bottom of the conversation, when I notice a message of Jackie in the group chat.

Amelie, you could've told us you were going to be spending time with the three hottest boys on the F1 grid ;)

I smile at my phone, I didn't even know I was going to come here during our last training. The fact that they know, must mean that it's all over the internet too. I don't mind, it's exactly what i expected, and I'm owning the extra exposure it'll give me. I quickly press the text box, wanting to reply as soon as possible.

Didn't know it back then. Having fun though!

I add a picture of the four of us at the snow tubing slopes, and tug my phone back into my jeans pocket. I notice Charles walking down the stairs.

"Hi." I say quietly, not wanting to implicate anything with my words. "You look good."

Why did you have to say this Amelie.

"Uh." Charles stutters, looking around as if he was expecting someone different to be there. "Thanks, I guess."

I can feel a blush creeping up on my face, this was definitely not what I had wanted to happen.

"Are P and Este coming soon?" I ask changing the subject slightly, hoping that he gets the hint. Let's move past me making it awkward.

"Should be down soon, they were discussing something. Didn't want to mingle in it." Charles says, sitting down opposite of me.

"Hmm." I say continuing to scroll on my phone, chatting with my teammates a bit.

Charles didn't lie and soon Pierre and Esteban came downstairs to go with us to the restaurant. The small walk I suggested we take to get there, threw the boys off. They had probably expected us to go into the town's centre. But the restaurant is located near us and bit more secluded. I just hoped that it would mean we wouldn't draw that much attention to our little group.

We have had enough attention while snow tubing. Often times we were interrupted by fans asking for pictures. Well the boys were, me not so much. And if we're being honest, it didn't bother me that much. I prefer being in the background a bit more anyway.

"This looks amazing, Lie." Pierre says as we enter the small restaurant. I tell the waiter that we've got reservations under Amelie. I had used only my first name to not draw any attention to us before we arrived.

"I hoped it would. I just saw some pictures online." I admit as we follow the waiter to the table.

"I'm sure the food's good too." Esteban says while we sit down around or barbecue table. The idea is you order different meats and such and you grill it yourself. There's many side dishes prepared in the kitchen that you can order to add to your menu.

"I sure hope so." I say smiling while the waiter takes our drinks order.