On and Off the Track

F O R T Y.

4th July
I was sitting drinking my morning coffee when I heard an unexpected knock at the door. After getting up to open it I was happy to see it was Charles, holding a bag full of clothes.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as he stepped inside, his focus on the room more than on me as he looked around.
"Good to see you too Bronte" he said through a chuckle, his facial expression being slightly offended.
"You know that's not what I meant" I shut the door behind us before crossing my arms across my body.
"Of course I do, I was just joking," he kissed my cheek then dropped the bag to the side of him. "I just came by to say goodbye to you before I left and I guessed Pierre is here so I got him some clothes so he won't have to do the walk of shame in a suit"
"Thankyou" I smiled up at him, "I haven't seen him yet but I have seen his jacket so i'm guessing he is here"
"Okay that's fine, there's clothes for him in the bag anyways." he looked down at his watch, adjusting it slightly on his wrist then patted his pockets. I stood there awkwardly while I watched him stall for more time.
"You okay?" my tone was unserious but there was a slight bit of concern hiding amongst the words.
"Yeah, I just need to go but really don't want to"
"It's fine you can go, I'm back in Monaco in 3 days so I can see you then"
"B, i'm going to be in Austria then, I will be flying out when you get in" I couldn't help but sense a slight annoyance in his voice as he spoke. It was almost as if he was annoyed at me for forgetting. I shook the feeling away almost as quickly as it came to me.
"Oh yeah. It's fine. I'll see you when you get back."
"In a week"
"Yes, in a week, it's fine. We can be apart from each other for a week. I'll call you every day"
"Alright, I just hate not being able to see you"
"Me too" I kissed him goodbye, waving at him as I closed the door.

As I walked back into the kitchen I could see that Mila and Pierre had finally emerged from her room.
"Good morning you two" I joked as I went to start taking food out of the fridge.
"My head is pounding," Mila cried out. I would be lying if I said that Pierre and her didn't look like they had been dragged through a hedge backwards. I laughed to myself as I watched Mila cradle her head in her hands as Pierre sat sipping from a glass of water, his face white with nausea. It's funny how the smell of the alcohol last night was intoxicating, yet this morning it adds to the sickness. I was slightly relieved to be avoiding the thirst that never leaves even after each slow drink of water and that feeling of your head that is about to crack open.
"I can tell, I'm making you some breakfast. Any requests?" I asked, slightly more aimed towards Pierre. I already knew what mila wanted: Two poached eggs on toast, extra crunchy, with a glass of orange juice, a glass of diet coke and a glass of water. She had the same hangover breakfast every single time without doubt.
"I'll have whatever you are cooking, thankyou" Pierre said as he looked up at me with the most pitiful look in his eyes I have ever seen. I began cooking their food, smug faced as I did so, happy with the lack of hangover I had. Unfortunately the pleased look faded as I realised I had to drive all the way to London in the car with a whiney, hungover Mila. The worst type of Mila.
"Mila I hate to break it to you but we have to drive to London today" she groaned, burying her face deeper into her hands, Pierre and I caught each other's eyes and shared a laugh.
"Can't we just drive up tomorrow"
"No, because we have our last fittings for the Prada show this evening. We can't miss it" I handed her her food in an attempt of an apology.

I scrolled on my phone while Pierre and Mila ate their food, in complete silence, too hungover to speak. Finally, my prying gene took over and I had an overwhelming urge to ask Pierre why Chalres was going back to Monaco. The rational side of me knew I shouldn't and should let him have his privacy but I physically couldn't. The temptation was too strong.
"Um Pierre" I asked wearily.
"Um Bronte" he asked just as wearily back. I had conversations with Pierre before but never serious ones, just pleasantries if we bumped into each other in the paddock or when we were out.
"Why did Charles go back to Monaco for just two days? Why didn't he just stay here then fly straight to Austria" I watched him shove his food round on the plate, contemplating on whether to tell me or not.
"His family does it every year"
"Like a family reunion" if it was a family reunion why didn't he just tell me that, that's not a bad thing to go to.
"Kind of," Pierre replied. I scrunch my face in confusion. What did he mean, kind of? "His family gets together every year on the 5th to celebrate the lives of Jules and Hervé and remember them" The guilt I felt in that moment was overwhelming, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. How could I be so self absorbed that I thought he was doing something wrong and shady when actually he was grieving loved ones. I instantly felt the need to apologise, but I couldn't as that would mean he would know that I snooped and asked his best friend about something he didn't want to tell me. I am such a bad person. I flicked my eyes across to Mila whose jaw was still frozen open as she was mid bite. She knew exactly what I was thinking and what I had just done. Pierre must have picked up on the look being exchanged between Mila and me. "Shit was I not meant to tell you"
"No it fine, I just didn't know" I eventually said
"Yeah Charles doesn't like talking about it" I smiled faintly in response, unsure how to carry on the conversation.