Right On Track

Chapter 3

The rest of the week went by quite fast.So much so that Kiara was even surprised that the next race weekend was already knocking on her door.She had only arrived in Jeddah on Thursday.It would have been Wednesday,if she hadn't attended two meetings on that day.But it wasn't as if arriving a day later was a problem.
"You have an interview with Sky Sports after free practice."Lydia reminded Kiara while they walked through the garage that Friday.
Kiara was about to reply,but Lydia interrupted her."And no,you may not hide in your driver's room this time."
"But they get so boring."Kiara complained as she started to ready herself for FP1.
"Still no excuse."Lydia said as Kiara grabbed her ear plugs and balaclava.
Kiara was in the car not long after,waiting to drive out.She pulled down the visor of her helmet and waited to hear that it was clear for her to go.
"All right," Santiago,her race engineer,said on the radio."The track is green.Let's put in those laps."
The mechanic ahead directed and gave the gesture for her drive out.Soon,she was collecting laps under her belt as free practice proceeded forward.
Max put in the fastest lap during FP1 and Kiara found herself at P2,ahead of Fernando at P3.George finished at P5,and Alora at P6.It gave Kiara the urge to have an I told you so moment with her sister.She felt some regret after that thought,though,after seeing how stressed her father seemed when passing the garage.He didn't seem to be happy with the pace.He looked as though he expected more than what was given.When Kiara asked about Ferrari's position,she was informed that Charles was at P11.And Carlos at P7.
When it came to FP2,Fernando managed to replace Kiara at P2,sending her into third while Max still held his lead.At this point she was starting to think that Max would gain pole position during qualifying the next day.But something began to motivate her into believing that she could beat him to it.
By the end of it all,she still found herself in a good mood.She walked through the paddock with Lydia and found Alora after some time.
"Nice job,Ki."Alora said.
"You didn't do so bad yourself."Kiara told her.
She shrugged,her sunglasses glinting against the sunlight."Not exactly what I was aiming for."
"I'm sure you'll get where you want to be."Kiara tried to encourage her.Alora smiled down at her,seeming grateful for the motivation.Though Kiara and Alora were twins,Alora had always been the taller one.And Kiara was the one to have the dark brown shades of hair,like their father,and Alora had gotten their mother's ash blonde hair.One of the only features the twins shared was their honey brown eyes and a few other facial features.
"Hey,"Kiara said."There's still qualifying and the actual race."
Alora's shoulders seemed to relax a little.
"Easy for you to say."Someone said from behind.
Kiara shut her eyes for a moment,then turned around.
Carlos,who had quite a tired expression on his face,said."I don't know what engine they put in your car,but it clearly does most of the work."
Kiara frowned up at him."Are you suggesting that I'm only where I am because of my car?"
"Yes,Princesa."He said,taking a sip of water from his flask.
Charles,who was standing nearby,shot Kiara an apologetic look and approached.Alora soon said."I have to go."Charles seemed as if he had wanted to say something to her.But he was clearly left to search for another opportunity.
Kiara hadn't broken the gaze she held firm with Carlos.He held it too,making it seem as if it was so easy.
Lydia cleared her throat."My apologies,Sainz.But Kiara has an interview to attend."
"I'm not the one stopping her from leaving."He said without looking away."That's clearly her own choice."
"Carlos."Charles called his teammate."Fred is waiting for us."
The Spaniard finally gave in and pushed past Kiara without another word.Charles mouthed a sorry to Kiara and followed behind his teammate.
"Come on."Lydia put a hand on Kiara's shoulder and started to lead her to the part of the paddock she needed to be in at the moment.

Later on that night,when Kiara was back at the hotel and ready for bed,she sat on the floor at the foot of the bed with her phone in her hands.She was on a call with her mother,who was currently at home in Austria.
"How did practice go?"Her mother,Lina,asked.
"It was fine."Kiara said.
Lina sighed."I'm sorry.I didn't get the chance to watch it earlier."
"That's okay.Nothing interesting happened,really."Kiara ran a hand through her hair and looked through the glass doors that led to the balcony,which had the view of the many city lights.
"I spoke to Alora some time ago."Her mother said."She told me that you did a good job."
Kiara nodded,her eyes drifting back to the screen."It was all right.I couldn't get P1,though."
"But you were still in the top three.I think that it's still a good result."
"It is.I'm not complaining about it."She admitted with another nod.
A moment of silence passed by,then her mother asked."How is Nathan?"
"Really,Ma?"She groaned and leaned her head back against the mattress of the bed.
"What?"Lina asked,clearly puzzled."I only asked-"
"It's been two months,"Kiara tried not to sound rude,but it all just made her angry."Two months since we announced it."
"Wait,"Her mother said."I don't remember."
"I told you the day after,Mama."She dragged a hand along her face."You even asked Alora to make sure."
Her mother was quiet for some time,most-likely trying to recall it.
Kiara didn't want to drag the topic of her ex,so she said."Forget about it."
"Sorry."
Kiara shook her head,saying in her home language."Das ist gut(It's fine)"
She stood up from the floor and sat on the edge of the bed."I'm tired.So..."
"Good luck for the rest of the weekend."Her mother said.
"Danke(thank you)."

The next morning,Kiara was readying herself to leave for the track.She would leave for the track with Max,Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries.The day before,Christain had informed het that he wanted both Max and her some time earlier to be at the track.
She stood in front of the mirror in the room and adjusted the collar of her Red Bull polo shirt.She then pulled her hair into a pony-tail and pulled on her Red Bull cap.She put her phone into the pocket of her pants and slipped on her watch.When her gaze moved towards the hands on her watch,she noticed that there was still about ten minutes till she had to leave.
She decided to walk out onto the balcony and just look at the view for a little bit.The coolness of the air-conditioned room left and she immediately felt the heat of the sun on her skin when she stepped out and leaned against the railing.She could see the circuit with the angle she stood in.Her eyes drifted from one of turns to the next,studying the track for a long moment.
Max had won the Saudi GP last year.And it all seemed as if he would do it again.But Kiara tried to encourage herself that maybe she could prove many of those views wrong.This was a race she that she wanted to win.Winning on a narrow and closed circuit like the Jeddah Corniche Circuit could assist her in showing that she could win on such tight-spaced tracks.It was another reason as to why she also looked forward to racing at the Baku City Circuit.
She looked down at the busy street,but soon looked back up as if sensing something.She looked to her left,at the balcony of the hotel room two doors away from her.Her gaze landed on none other than the Ferrari driver himself.
He leaned forward against the railing,also seeming to catch a view of the track.Kiara watched as he seemed to mutter words to himself,which she found a little funny and softly chuckled to herself.Carlos was just sometimes in his own world and everyone knew that,mostly because of the memes that would make appearances on social media.
But after a minute,he paused and took off his sunglasses.He looked to his right and spotted Kiara.
Her smile turned into a frown as he arched a brow and showed a hint of his smirk.
She diverted her gaze and clenched a fist,speed-walking back into her room and sliding the glass door shut.
She knew that there were obviously other drivers in the same hotel.But she had expected the Ferrari drivers to be in a different one,like the year before.
Her sigh was interrupted by the beep on her watch.It was already time for her to go down the lobby.
Max was in the room next-door.He would probably be making his way down already.So,she grabbed her key-card to the room and made her way out of the hotel room.
She started down the hallway and saw Max getting into the elevator.She called his name as he stopped the elevator doors from closing.
Kiara picked up the pace of her walk,trying not to stall the elevator for too long.
"Thanks."She said to Max after stepping inside.
He clicked the button and the door closed."No problem."
They both got to the lobby and looked around for Yuki and Nyck.The two Alpha Tauri drivers were already making their way out to the car,taking pictures and signing items for fans that waited outside to see the drivers.
Max and Kiara proceeded forward and caught up with Yuki and Nyck.
"Hey,Yuki."She said to the Japanese driver.
"Hello,Kiara."He said with his bright smile.
"And what about me?"Nyck asked Kiara as they approached the car.
"Hello,Nyck."
The dutch driver lifted his sunglasses,saying."Come on,now.My name doesn't deserve to be used with such a boring tone,Wolff."
Kiara gave him a look that clearly said
Really?